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How many is too many??!

Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2025 6:49 pm
by 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!

Re: How many is too many??!

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2025 1:35 pm
by 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.

Re: How many is too many??!

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2025 4:16 pm
by SashaMoh
Redman wrote: 1 month ago 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

Re: How many is too many??!

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2025 4:38 pm
by 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.

Re: How many is too many??!

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2025 4:42 pm
by SashaMoh
Rtj65 wrote: 1 month ago 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

Re: How many is too many??!

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2025 12:10 pm
by RopeBunny
Rtj65 wrote: 1 month ago 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 :lol: times (sorry not sorry :lol: :D ) 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.

Re: How many is too many??!

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2025 4:17 pm
by SashaMoh
RopeBunny wrote: 3 weeks ago
Rtj65 wrote: 1 month ago 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 :lol: times (sorry not sorry :lol: :D ) 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

Re: How many is too many??!

Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2025 11:02 pm
by Rtj65
RopeBunny wrote: 3 weeks ago
Rtj65 wrote: 1 month ago 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 :lol: times (sorry not sorry :lol: :D ) 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!

Re: How many is too many??!

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2025 8:40 am
by RopeBunny
Rtj65 wrote: 3 weeks ago 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.

Re: How many is too many??!

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2025 9:28 pm
by Rtj65
RopeBunny wrote: 3 weeks ago
Rtj65 wrote: 3 weeks ago 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 :)

Re: How many is too many??!

Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2025 12:10 am
by 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.