G'day all. Right then, first post to this section of the board, and hoo-boy, I'm predicting it's gonna be a big one.
SithLordWiccan - Okay, with a screen name like mine, is it any surprise that I love the idea of a Star Wars crossover? So you can mark down one tick in the 'would like to read' column.
Moving on to the idea you've mentioned for the actual plot, I do have a few comments. I can't speak for how useful they might be, but here they are anyhow.
Now, are you just paralleling the relationship with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, or replacing them with Willow and Tara? I suppose you could do the character swap thing, but that seems a touch ripe with problems to me. I won't go into them now, in case that wasn't what you meant.
If you are talking about using Willow and Tara as separate characters to those in Star Wars cannon, it sounds good. I don't know precisely what you've got in mind plot wise, but I would suggest it might be an idea to keep them, at most, on the periphery of the story shown in the movies. That will allow you greater flexibility to take the story in whatever direction you want to, while still allowing the set course of cannon history play out in the background.
I do have plenty of other comments to make, if you're interested in hearing them. Just let me know, or if you prefer, just ignore me completely.
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nerdbert - Okay, even if you do detest Star Wars, I'll forgive you.
But beside that, a serial killer story with W/T? I'm there! I'm a sucker for that kind of story, which might not say too much for my mental stability. Pfft! Sanity is for boring people!
Seriously though, I also don't know that much about the mechanics of a criminal investigation, and the only deranged mind I've ever delved into is my own, but I have read a lot of freaky stuff over the years. So here's my two cents.
Okay, about your main cast, I can see Willow and Tara in either of the two roles you suggested. Tara could make a good profiler since she is so empathic, though if you did go that way, I would suggest making her more than a little bit troubled by what she has to do to get into a killer's head. Willow, being the learn-o gal that she is, could be either, though I would expect her to take a more scientific approach to either field rather than the instinctive path I see Tara using.
Faith, I think would have to be the local detective, because I can't see her as a reporter really. It could work, especially if she was one of the really combative types, maybe? Buffy could probably be either.
One comment I do have to make is that I doubt a reporter would be an official part of a homicide investigation, unless she's a witness or attempted victim. They might use her for misinformation purposes, or to try and draw out the killer, but we know how that turned out in Red Dragon, don't we?
Using the rest of the cast to fill out the dramatis personae is a good idea, and there certainly are plenty of them to use. I always like OC's; they give you more room to play with when you're writing.
Right, on to the plot itself.
Okay, so is your killer working Sunnydale exclusively? I think that's a pretty small stalking ground for a serial killer, since SunnyD isn't really that big. I think it could work though, because I believe it's more likely that the local PD would be left in charge of such an investigation. If the killer were crossing state lines, I think it would end up the purview of the FBI's Behavior-something unit. With such a small area, it would be more likely that a couple of FBI specialists would get farmed out as a loaner. This all has to be taken with a grain of salt of course, because I could be talking out of my arse.
The Collector works as a suitably dramatic name for your killer, though I would suggest that it would be media that comes up with it. From what I understand, the police tend to discourage such things. (I think because it kind of makes them a celebrity)
You said that your killer is harvesting body parts as trophy's. Is it the same body part each time, or is he taking a different part ala Buffalo Bill?
There are a couple of things that serial killers seem to have in common. There should be a common Modus Operandi (though not always) or something that indicates that each murder is the work of the same perp. There has to be a common link between the victims, besides that they are all women. There has to be something that makes the killer select them.
You should have a firm grasp of the killer's motive too. Is he just a random loony, because they don't tend to be as engaging. Does your killer do so because they want to, or because they feel compelled to? Is he actually mentally ill, or is his motivation revenge of some kind?
On the the style in which you plan to write. Do you plan to make the killer's identity know to the reader, or keep it hidden. If you reveal it, the story is more focused on how they catch the perp, as opposed to a whodunit story.
I've got other suggestions, but I'll hold off before I accidentally overwhelm you. Basically, it sounds like a good idea. If you want to bounce some ideas off me, feel free.
Cheers,
Paul.