Grand Theft Auto: State On The Edge Of Forever

[Nefarious Money Man]

I really don't see the reason for wanting to keep quiet about things. Unless you haven't worked them out. If you're writing stuff, show it off. 

 

What years would SOTEOF and RATE take place exactly? I'm guessing the latter would be early-to-mid 80s and the former in 1990, but I think you said before each part would be set two years apart. The story seems more backstory focused just from your plans. It's like you have the 80s planned out, but the 90s is a little more up in the air.

 

There's really no reason why a lot of it can't be backstory. What are you set on actually plotting out in-game, and what could be hinted to have happened? I mean, CIA involvement in cocaine for me is covered well in SA and is pretty much common knowledge, so I'd simply make reference to it. And I think if you just include a black dude with ties to that whole part of history, we can already tell it's Ricky Ross.

[Liver Buster]

Okay, I'll bite... if you say so.

 

8 hours ago, The Nefarious said:

I really don't see the reason for wanting to keep quiet about things. Unless you haven't worked them out. If you're writing stuff, show it off. 

 

What years would SOTEOF and RATE take place exactly? I'm guessing the latter would be early-to-mid 80s and the former in 1990, but I think you said before each part would be set two years apart.

What I have in mind is Rough Around the Edges covers about a decade: Main story stretches from 1981 to 1987, and I'm thinking of a DLC called Thin Edge of the Wedge which is set in 1989, about a "cat-and-mouse" chase across the border. For now, it's hard to explain why but once State on the Edge of Forever drops, it might make some sense... And SOTEOF? It starts in 1990 and ends at the last quarter of 1991, shortly before the beginning of San Andreas.

 

8 hours ago, The Nefarious said:

There's really no reason why a lot of it can't be backstory. What are you set on actually plotting out in-game, and what could be hinted to have happened?

This is kind of a long story but all that actually started with a project called San Andreas Stories: San Fierro in 1968, Las Venturas in 1979, Los Santos in 1987. Naturally, last of the three was the proto RATE... to quote myself:

 

Quote

"...and Los Santos in the '80s (A bunch of "stray dogs" trying to get a piece in the reforming drug trade scene. Individualistic Afro-American drug barons and more actively dominating South American cartels before the street gangs sweep in. DEA putting pressure, CIA objects. Many unexpected players becoming turncoat. Glam metal scene and coked up Vinewood...)"

 

8 hours ago, The Nefarious said:

I really don't see the reason for wanting to keep quiet about things. Unless you haven't worked them out. If you're writing stuff, show it off. 

Time to answer this. My brain has been grinding like a factory machine, but "fully working it all out" is out of discussion... yet. Rough Around the Edges, as the title suggests and by philosophical means, actually revolves around the idea of some key individuals getting bend and shaped, becoming the man they are. I've said 'individuals' but the main focus is on a dude named Elwood Clinton "Woody" Murdoch: Dishonorably discharged Vietnam vet and former rip-and-run thief turned nightclub entreprenuer who serves an intermediary between street gangs and their coke connect. He makes appearance in State on the Edge of Forever. 

 

And there's another character from SOTEOF, could do well with the philosophical back-logic of RATE... and that's Big Poppa. He's the big bad  in SOTEOF: an insecure bully, an all-out narcissist and a pathetic glory hound. However, along the way, you get glimpses on why he's such a complexed mess: A mentally challenged step-brother, and a seasoned feud with an old friend. And maybe RATE could come into picture to humanize him. My basic inspiration comes off from David Barron Corona: Serves time with a Mexican gangster to be trained as a sicario, comes back in town to paint it red, pays the price by taking part in the bloody, traumatic schism of the Mexican Cartel... 

 

8 hours ago, The Nefarious said:

I mean, CIA involvement in cocaine for me is covered well in SA and is pretty much common knowledge, so I'd simply make reference to it.

I agree, and San Andreas actually makes a historically accurate job on it: From what I've read, a lot of cocaine to Los Angeles was provided by the CIA-backed sources from Nor-Cal. So, Loco Syndicate makes a lot of sense. What I've been thinking about lately is that Loco Syndicate is a co-op of CIA-backed drug lords around San Andreas, previously known as Ocho Loco - integrated by Mike Toreno himself. Works much like how it's in The Wire: a state-wide council where they share and solve problems. 

 

8 hours ago, The Nefarious said:

And I think if you just include a black dude with ties to that whole part of history, we can already tell it's Ricky Ross.

Back in the San Andreas Stories days, there's this character called Richard "Dickie Dean" Dennis: Main coke guy for the African-American drug dealers in Los Santos and beyond... eventually gets bumped out by the rise of street violence. There's no emphasis on his character in SOTEOF, but that's the way I'm thinking: West fills in his place, and maybe that's why Ballas act out as more of a narcotics conglomerate rather than a street gang.

 

And Freeway Rick's story is really captivating when you really dig upon it: Actually a bright guy, maybe could've become the MJ of tennis if his path hadn't been blocked out because of his illiteracy. Wanted to become a Crip, but that never happened and Tookie got locked up, then was condemned to death penalty. Eventually becomes the top dog fueling them with their livelihood: drugs. Really fits for the philosophical and psychological theme of RATE. Not sure if Ricky would be cool with it, judging by his view on Snowfall. 

Edited April 6, 2024 by Liver Buster

[Nefarious Money Man]

Yeah you can definitely riff off that stuff, but does a whole chapter in your story need to be told just to cover these things? I've learned over the years, what might be interesting to you, might not necessarily be interesting to the audience.

 

You want to tell all these things, but we want to know about Combo's gradual downfall, how Kane in your story becomes the Kane in Rockstar's. And this all happens in the late 80s/early 90s in the lead up to SA. I'm sure you want to put your spin on real life, but this can easily be woven into the story rather than a side journey or a whole part of its own.

[Kiro Ivo]

It kind of sucks to play as a man that got killed less than a year later.

[Guest]

11 hours ago, Kiro Ivo said:

It kind of sucks to play as a man that got killed less than a year later.

To be fair, we also have Victor Vance canonically