How many is too many??!

[SashaMoh]

Hey everyone. I thought Id once again turn to the community for story advice. I have been working on a Holiday Special story idea involving a lot of people getting tied up at a Christmas party in various themed ways. Naturally theres so many fun ideas but at the end of the day its a story and too many can make the story a bit too much. So I was wondering on everyones opinon. How many people involved is too many? the number you would select is the maximum you would enjoy reading about before it felt a bit too overwhelming for the storys flow. Feel free to also comment! Thanks everyone!

[Redman]

Four, but only if there's three characters in the story.

All jokes aside, there's not really a hard number. It just has to make sense. Let the characters tell you what they want, and flow with it. It probably won't seem excessive at all.

[SashaMoh]

Four, but only if there's three characters in the story.

All jokes aside, there's not really a hard number. It just has to make sense. Let the characters tell you what they want, and flow with it. It probably won't seem excessive at all.

good advice! The main reason I thought to ask was because I didnt want the story to get to the point of people reading are like "wait, who is who again? oh I forgot about them. wait how many poeple are there here again?" or something like that.

4 captees is how it started off but I think i had like 6 or 7 ideas of "How" lol so I didnt was trying to decide how many to go with

[Rtj65]

I feel like it depends on the context, but the more people you involve the harder it will be to give them all enough attention in the story. Personally, I'd prefer a story with two well-established characters than ten characters you only get a brief look at. But you can definitely make it work with plenty of people involved - just take your time when adding more characters and it should turn out nicely.

[SashaMoh]

I feel like it depends on the context, but the more people you involve the harder it will be to give them all enough attention in the story. Personally, I'd prefer a story with two well-established characters than ten characters you only get a brief look at. But you can definitely make it work with plenty of people involved - just take your time when adding more characters and it should turn out nicely.

thank you! I agree. I think its mainly going to revolve around 1 "main" character, with the others being more background/side characters and "props" lol

[RopeBunny]

I feel like it depends on the context, but the more people you involve the harder it will be to give them all enough attention in the story.

Agreeing, mostly, with this.

I've done multiple TUG's, multiple times (sorry not sorry ) and it largely depends on context. Can't add nearly as much detail or interaction without it becoming confusing.

However, as a set piece, someone walking in and finding the entire football (insert sports or other team/group here) team bound and gagged, I'd say it totally works under those circumstances. You get to describe the scene, the carnage of it all, after which you bring the focus back down to the two or three main players in the unfolding story.

Just my thoughts, take.

[SashaMoh]

I feel like it depends on the context, but the more people you involve the harder it will be to give them all enough attention in the story.

Agreeing, mostly, with this.

I've done multiple TUG's, multiple times (sorry not sorry ) and it largely depends on context. Can't add nearly as much detail or interaction without it becoming confusing.

However, as a set piece, someone walking in and finding the entire football (insert sports or other team/group here) team bound and gagged, I'd say it totally works under those circumstances. You get to describe the scene, the carnage of it all, after which you bring the focus back down to the two or three main players in the unfolding story.

Just my thoughts, take.

Thank you! I agree. I’m starting to get a better idea of the number that suits the POV of the story without being too oversaturated

[Rtj65]

I feel like it depends on the context, but the more people you involve the harder it will be to give them all enough attention in the story.

Agreeing, mostly, with this.

I've done multiple TUG's, multiple times (sorry not sorry ) and it largely depends on context. Can't add nearly as much detail or interaction without it becoming confusing.

However, as a set piece, someone walking in and finding the entire football (insert sports or other team/group here) team bound and gagged, I'd say it totally works under those circumstances. You get to describe the scene, the carnage of it all, after which you bring the focus back down to the two or three main players in the unfolding story.

Just my thoughts, take.

That's a really good point, situations like that where you want to convey the chaos could work better if you're flashing from captive to captive. Spend too long on each and you might risk it becoming repetitive; sometimes less is more.

And you've got to pick the right sized team for the right amount of carnage you want!

[RopeBunny]

That's a really good point, situations like that where you want to convey the chaos could work better if you're flashing from captive to captive.

Flashing from captive to captive, love the way you put that

Brilliant imagery there.

[Rtj65]

That's a really good point, situations like that where you want to convey the chaos could work better if you're flashing from captive to captive.

Flashing from captive to captive, love the way you put that

Brilliant imagery there.

Thanks! It's definitely a nice visual to imagine

[Kyle]

I don't think there's a real limit if it's well written, but once you get more than 3 or 4 it does feel like most characters are in the background. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just means not everyone is going to get focus.

Some years ago, back when I actually wrote and posted stories here once in a while, I had two ideas for stories involving multiple people tied up. My idea would've been to just write from one character's POV and leave it at that. Some people might want several POVs, others might be happy just seeing it from one perspective.

[YourCaptor75]

I happen to know from experience that when you have 2 people tied together, their natural instinct is to become a pair. Their individuality and ego takes a back seat and their sense of connectedness with their fellow captive takes the wheel.

You can expand upon this significantly. If you have a room full of, say, captured tied up guards, they almost become a single entity to be managed.

The same principles of holding them captive still apply but the psychology shifts. In a bank heist scenario irl, the hostages feel a sense of groupthink, and tend to make decisions based on the wellbeing of the group.

All that to say, you can have dozens of captives in a single scene because there is basically only 1 dynamic; that of the captor and the captive(s)

[SashaMoh]

I happen to know from experience that when you have 2 people tied together, their natural instinct is to become a pair. Their individuality and ego takes a back seat and their sense of connectedness with their fellow captive takes the wheel.

You can expand upon this significantly. If you have a room full of, say, captured tied up guards, they almost become a single entity to be managed.

The same principles of holding them captive still apply but the psychology shifts. In a bank heist scenario irl, the hostages feel a sense of groupthink, and tend to make decisions based on the wellbeing of the group.

All that to say, you can have dozens of captives in a single scene because there is basically only 1 dynamic; that of the captor and the captive(s)

deep input!

This post was in relation to the christmas story I was working on. Its finally posted! If you give it a read, Id love to hear what you think!

[YourCaptor75]

Christmas fiasco? I'll check it out

[SashaMoh]

Christmas fiasco? I'll check it out

yep!

[Rtj65]

I happen to know from experience that when you have 2 people tied together, their natural instinct is to become a pair. Their individuality and ego takes a back seat and their sense of connectedness with their fellow captive takes the wheel.

You can expand upon this significantly. If you have a room full of, say, captured tied up guards, they almost become a single entity to be managed.

The same principles of holding them captive still apply but the psychology shifts. In a bank heist scenario irl, the hostages feel a sense of groupthink, and tend to make decisions based on the wellbeing of the group.

All that to say, you can have dozens of captives in a single scene because there is basically only 1 dynamic; that of the captor and the captive(s)

Interesting, I do like the idea of there being a sort of shared camaraderie between multiple captives like that. I don't think that necessarily has to be the case, even though I'm sure it's the most likely one.

You could have a situation where a captor pits multiple captives against one another, or if they show signs of favouritism to one captive over another. But that definitely depends on the scenario and the people involved, of course!

[YourCaptor75]

I happen to know from experience that when you have 2 people tied together, their natural instinct is to become a pair. Their individuality and ego takes a back seat and their sense of connectedness with their fellow captive takes the wheel.

You can expand upon this significantly. If you have a room full of, say, captured tied up guards, they almost become a single entity to be managed.

The same principles of holding them captive still apply but the psychology shifts. In a bank heist scenario irl, the hostages feel a sense of groupthink, and tend to make decisions based on the wellbeing of the group.

All that to say, you can have dozens of captives in a single scene because there is basically only 1 dynamic; that of the captor and the captive(s)

Interesting, I do like the idea of there being a sort of shared camaraderie between multiple captives like that. I don't think that necessarily has to be the case, even though I'm sure it's the most likely one.

You could have a situation where a captor pits multiple captives against one another, or if they show signs of favouritism to one captive over another. But that definitely depends on the scenario and the people involved, of course!

I will never argue against this, but it's something of an 'exception makes the rule' scenario.

The only example I can even remotely think of would be the show prison break, and that, unfortunately, had very limited bondage, mostly just cells. Damn good show, but it showed that interplay you mentioned

[Rtj65]

I happen to know from experience that when you have 2 people tied together, their natural instinct is to become a pair. Their individuality and ego takes a back seat and their sense of connectedness with their fellow captive takes the wheel.

You can expand upon this significantly. If you have a room full of, say, captured tied up guards, they almost become a single entity to be managed.

The same principles of holding them captive still apply but the psychology shifts. In a bank heist scenario irl, the hostages feel a sense of groupthink, and tend to make decisions based on the wellbeing of the group.

All that to say, you can have dozens of captives in a single scene because there is basically only 1 dynamic; that of the captor and the captive(s)

Interesting, I do like the idea of there being a sort of shared camaraderie between multiple captives like that. I don't think that necessarily has to be the case, even though I'm sure it's the most likely one.

You could have a situation where a captor pits multiple captives against one another, or if they show signs of favouritism to one captive over another. But that definitely depends on the scenario and the people involved, of course!

I will never argue against this, but it's something of an 'exception makes the rule' scenario.

The only example I can even remotely think of would be the show prison break, and that, unfortunately, had very limited bondage, mostly just cells. Damn good show, but it showed that interplay you mentioned

That's a valid point. Not seen Prison Break myself, so I'll take your word for it! Either way, seems to me like there's a need for more representation of it in some form or another!

[YourCaptor75]

I'll take that as a challenge @Rtj65 haha

[Rtj65]

I'll take that as a challenge @Rtj65 haha

Glad to have provided a little inspiration in that case!

[DerSvartHundr]

3 at most I think, otherwise it gets a bit....well crowded! Even in the "adult videos" that I can neither confirm nor deny i enjoy, three seems to be the sweet spot