Post by Amandus on Jan 17, 2016 22:38:11 GMT -5
What are the major differences between the two series?
Though it is obviously based on Warriors heavily, the Outcast series has had a few liberties taken in certain parts of the society and plot, mainly due to the change in species and environment. These changes have also created good opportunities to give the series a certain feel and personality of its own. This thread would probably be more useful for people already familiar with Warriors.
Differences in Plot Points
From what I remember, much of the Warriors series was centered around a period of growing tensions between the Clans mostly because of TigerStar's antics. Tons of drama, surfacing secrets, and death ensued. These sort of events are what make an interesting series of novels- crucial conflicts that progress the story. The entire series is made up of a small portion of the entire existence of the cats' society, just centering around this turning point for them, more specifically the protagonist FireStar.
From grade school you might recall the three major types of conflict: man vs. man, man vs. nature, or man vs. self. Tons of man vs. man (or cat vs. cat) in Warriors, with its many intense battle scenes, and someone dies in every single one of them. But one thing that has bothered me about the series is the lack of focus on any man vs. nature conflict. They do have a medicine cat, but disease doesn't seem to be commonplace, and when it does appear, it usually doesn't kill. Though this is probably because they are cats who have been born and accustomed to living in the wild, man vs. nature really doesn't go beyond "I couldn't catch that mouse...no dinner for me tonight." The Outcasts series puts more emphasis on man vs. nature because of their transition from the developed world to the Yosemite wilderness, and their struggles in developing and coping with that change.
The main point here is that since the Outcasts spans a very vast timeline, there won't be as many major conflicts as there were in the Warriors books. If you look in the canon timeline, yes, there are some periods where literally nothing is going on, at least between the Clans. The excerpts from the series can often be slow, but they can indicate something bigger in the future. The same will go for the RPG; when there isn't major conflict between the Clans or environment, you may want to take advatange of that to develop your character's relationships with Clanmates, personality, etc.
What the Warriors have that the Outcasts don't
The Nine Lives System
Cats are supposed to have nine lives, right? Well...humans don't. In this system for the Warriors, you would get nine chances to "die" before actually dying to join StarClan. The Outcasts can only die once, that's it.
Kits, Queens, and Elders
Since the Outcasts only consist of one gender, and that most aren't old enough to, they don't reproduce. They must populate the Clans by recruiting tourists to join them, instead. Additionally, they don't live to become elderly in the first place, unless you count someone who is 17+, which can be considered "old" for their typical lifespan.
BloodClan
Though it was never an actual Clan affiliated with the other four, this was a group of rebellious rogues that threatened them. For the Outcasts, rogues have never banded together to try to take over the six Clans. It would have been too big of a task, since there are probably at least seven times as many Outcasts as rogues, and Yosemite's terrain and size can be daunting.
What the Outcasts have that Warriors don't
More Complex Relations with those Outside the Society
In Warriors, the cats had little interaction with anyone outside the Clans due to the difference in species. The Outcasts, however, are very aware of what the other people in their environment are up to, and make a full effort to make sure they are never exposed to them. They can easily notice patterns in the Domestics' behavior to search for the missing or heighten security.
Calling Clanmates by their Domestic Names
It can overwhelming to memorize at least twelve formal Outcast names. The Outcasts typically call their Clanmates by their Domestic names instead, and their formal names are only used by Outcasts from other Clans at the Gathering.
The Solstice Festival
To honor the longest/shortest days of the year, the Outcasts go to the Gathering Place on June 21st and December 21st to celebrate the solstice. This event is considered a "bonus" Gathering that is less formal, and where trade and lore are put into focus.
Formal Legal System
In addition to exile for Outcasts who have made multiple or serious offenses against the society, there is also a suspension system for more minor cases. In this, the guilty Outcast will be handed over to a different Clan for one to six months depending on the infraction. Hopefully, during this time, the other Clan will instill discipline and respect in that Outcast, though they shouldn't be too severe. Afterwards, the Outcast will be given back to their home Clan at the Gathering after their sentence is up.
An Economy
With a real society comes trade. The Warriors didn't have it because they didn't keep a store of items besides food or the medicine cat's herbs. The Outcasts, on the other hand, have many more options from the campgrounds they raid. Sometimes, they even steal things they wouldn't even use; they'll sell or trade it for something they would actually need.
Raids
The Warriors did not associate themselves with the Twolegs at all because they were potentially dangerous, and their establishments had nothing to offer in the first place. The campgrounds within the park, for the Outcasts, are cornucopias for everything they can't sustain themselves. They aren't at all self-sufficient.
Art
Though supplies can sometimes be insufficient, the Outcasts have created works inspired by their environment.
Though it is obviously based on Warriors heavily, the Outcast series has had a few liberties taken in certain parts of the society and plot, mainly due to the change in species and environment. These changes have also created good opportunities to give the series a certain feel and personality of its own. This thread would probably be more useful for people already familiar with Warriors.
Differences in Plot Points
From what I remember, much of the Warriors series was centered around a period of growing tensions between the Clans mostly because of TigerStar's antics. Tons of drama, surfacing secrets, and death ensued. These sort of events are what make an interesting series of novels- crucial conflicts that progress the story. The entire series is made up of a small portion of the entire existence of the cats' society, just centering around this turning point for them, more specifically the protagonist FireStar.
From grade school you might recall the three major types of conflict: man vs. man, man vs. nature, or man vs. self. Tons of man vs. man (or cat vs. cat) in Warriors, with its many intense battle scenes, and someone dies in every single one of them. But one thing that has bothered me about the series is the lack of focus on any man vs. nature conflict. They do have a medicine cat, but disease doesn't seem to be commonplace, and when it does appear, it usually doesn't kill. Though this is probably because they are cats who have been born and accustomed to living in the wild, man vs. nature really doesn't go beyond "I couldn't catch that mouse...no dinner for me tonight." The Outcasts series puts more emphasis on man vs. nature because of their transition from the developed world to the Yosemite wilderness, and their struggles in developing and coping with that change.
The main point here is that since the Outcasts spans a very vast timeline, there won't be as many major conflicts as there were in the Warriors books. If you look in the canon timeline, yes, there are some periods where literally nothing is going on, at least between the Clans. The excerpts from the series can often be slow, but they can indicate something bigger in the future. The same will go for the RPG; when there isn't major conflict between the Clans or environment, you may want to take advatange of that to develop your character's relationships with Clanmates, personality, etc.
What the Warriors have that the Outcasts don't
The Nine Lives System
Cats are supposed to have nine lives, right? Well...humans don't. In this system for the Warriors, you would get nine chances to "die" before actually dying to join StarClan. The Outcasts can only die once, that's it.
Kits, Queens, and Elders
Since the Outcasts only consist of one gender, and that most aren't old enough to, they don't reproduce. They must populate the Clans by recruiting tourists to join them, instead. Additionally, they don't live to become elderly in the first place, unless you count someone who is 17+, which can be considered "old" for their typical lifespan.
BloodClan
Though it was never an actual Clan affiliated with the other four, this was a group of rebellious rogues that threatened them. For the Outcasts, rogues have never banded together to try to take over the six Clans. It would have been too big of a task, since there are probably at least seven times as many Outcasts as rogues, and Yosemite's terrain and size can be daunting.
What the Outcasts have that Warriors don't
More Complex Relations with those Outside the Society
In Warriors, the cats had little interaction with anyone outside the Clans due to the difference in species. The Outcasts, however, are very aware of what the other people in their environment are up to, and make a full effort to make sure they are never exposed to them. They can easily notice patterns in the Domestics' behavior to search for the missing or heighten security.
Calling Clanmates by their Domestic Names
It can overwhelming to memorize at least twelve formal Outcast names. The Outcasts typically call their Clanmates by their Domestic names instead, and their formal names are only used by Outcasts from other Clans at the Gathering.
The Solstice Festival
To honor the longest/shortest days of the year, the Outcasts go to the Gathering Place on June 21st and December 21st to celebrate the solstice. This event is considered a "bonus" Gathering that is less formal, and where trade and lore are put into focus.
Formal Legal System
In addition to exile for Outcasts who have made multiple or serious offenses against the society, there is also a suspension system for more minor cases. In this, the guilty Outcast will be handed over to a different Clan for one to six months depending on the infraction. Hopefully, during this time, the other Clan will instill discipline and respect in that Outcast, though they shouldn't be too severe. Afterwards, the Outcast will be given back to their home Clan at the Gathering after their sentence is up.
An Economy
With a real society comes trade. The Warriors didn't have it because they didn't keep a store of items besides food or the medicine cat's herbs. The Outcasts, on the other hand, have many more options from the campgrounds they raid. Sometimes, they even steal things they wouldn't even use; they'll sell or trade it for something they would actually need.
Raids
The Warriors did not associate themselves with the Twolegs at all because they were potentially dangerous, and their establishments had nothing to offer in the first place. The campgrounds within the park, for the Outcasts, are cornucopias for everything they can't sustain themselves. They aren't at all self-sufficient.
Art
Though supplies can sometimes be insufficient, the Outcasts have created works inspired by their environment.