Time for a Talk

[Doombringer64]

I think we need to have a talk guys. Has anyone else noticed a disturbing lack of commitment to the RPs? People create characters then dropping them, or just randomly leave before the story has hit a climax. It's not just "newbies" either. Veteran RPers seem to have low attention spans when it comes to RPs. I know there are quite a few RPs going on right now, but this problem has been around for awhile.

Do we need to try and setup a system to try and regulate RPs? Anybody have any thought, opinions, or ideas?

[SterlingRat]

it's hard to regulate player interest. This is one of the main reasons I prefer sitting around with a group of friends and playing face-to-face (as do you, I believe).

people have different things that they want to do in rpg's. Some people like to make lots of rapid, 1-line posts while others prefer to type 4 or 5 paragraphs with dialogue and NPC's involved. Both methods of play are valid and fun, but they are incompatible... you can't have one player playing one way and another playing differently. Some people like lots of battle with stats and stuff, others like 'narrative combat' where the player can describe the entire fight scene without a DM involved.

unless everyone in an RPG wants to play the same way, someone will get frustrated and give up.

Then there are games like PvR... where I was perfectly willing to play with the others how they wanted to play. I had a team of Party personel against a radical mage and it was a fairly even match. then 2 extremely powerful mages appeared on the radical side and had me completely out-classed, unless I write in an orbital laser platform or some kind of advanced technology on my side, which is a bit silly.

[Doombringer64]

You bring up an interesting point. Prehaps a simple way to solve the issue would be for RP creators to make it clear what players should expect from a RP, and what is expected of them. Something more then just basic ground rules.

[Seal]

Along with that, I'd like to have some kind of character bank of users (sticky, each RPer posts one post with his/her characters and their backgrounds, with the link to corresponding thread where the char is being used), for reference in longer RPs.

[Subjukator]

That's would be unneccessary Hylje.

There is also the point, of some being younger and older (like ones 13, the others 16), typing in less sophisticated ways than other more experienced writers. Its a big age difference where much can happen and it can widely influence the type of language and creativity used to write posts by either side.

But this topic is very hush-hush so sorry for bringing it up.

[Geno]

I can always offer this suggestion for the above... Dictionary.com <-- This saves me sometimes. I am a Senior in English IV, and I have learned much through my years, not from the class, but from others! This is a way for you to extend your speech and vocabulary. Trust me there... Also, for lack of commitment... That might have been my bad in the Karen Jesha role I am playing, but that was due to the fact that I've not been able to think up anything for me to go on about. If you are not refering to that, I will refer to it myself. I should be trying to advance what little story there is. That's another issue I'd like to bring forward...

A good RP is developed in it's opening pages. If the story dies early, the RP will die early. This is shown in Ender's thread. He has many characters playing, in the same area, and they were branched to begin with. I think we are on page 6 or 7 now? That's still the Prologue. Think of the story! You can go on forever on such a thing. Other RP's, like *Hates bringing his own* the 'First new RP' which had very little story (So I was new-forum happy and wanted to be the first to post... So sue me :p), it died fast... No story, nothing. It wasn't developed.

I think we should also say there is to be one and maybe two, emphasis on the maybe... For an 'Open RP' or such... And personally, I hate that war thread, which is like an Open RP, but less organized. It's total and utter spam anymore, which is like what book created back at BF... Let's leave those in the dust. Anyone can RP in those. And I admit, I have posted in them, but that's because I felt in the mood to. But I posted IN CHARACTER, IN FULL RP LAYOUT... The only lacking thing was a character development sheet. Other than that, it was full character. If you stay in character, I can see how it helps, but spam? That's not an RP... You see what I'm saying? Anyone else with comments, feel free. And don't be afraid to stand up for what you think. We all RP, and all are friends. Let's keep this clean to a debate style (RP style if you wish ;))

~Larry "Geno" Meyers

P.S. Character: Geno, Age: 17, I hail from Illiopolis, and stand up for what I believe in. I have RP'ed for a long while, and hate to see good things go to waste. Always willing to say what he thinks, but trys not to offend.

/\Felt like adding that ;)

[BlackHawk]

You all bring some good points to the table, and they are all acceptable, and I personally agree with most, if not all of them. And I know I am one of those who has, of late, been a bit less active then I would like to be. But we must all understand, we are very different people, living in different places, with different lifestyles. And we all (most at least) have school, and so we have to take that into account. So although sometimes it is slow, we can at least be thankful there are times when it gets fast paced. So I personally think it evens out most of the times, though there are times when it is less active. But with most of us in highschool, one of the most important points of our school careers (since we are all in the later grades of highschool, and need good grades to get into a University / College / Program of our choice) you have to cut people slack sometimes. Though, over this long weekend, I hope to make up the time I've missed, and would like to apologize for my in-activity lately.

[Whiteknight]

I agree that we should have some sort of open RP, although we would require a pretty good GM who can post at least once a day and can oversee the thread.

A thing I'd like to see sometime is an IM RP with some of the people in this forum. Any takers or starters?

About the dropping out, I wonder if an influx of people would help? I agree with doombringer, though, to post what to expect in a thread.

My suggestion:

I don't think that a person should start more than one RP at once, so that he/she may focus directly on regulating that thread, instead of more than one.

[Modred]

I usually roleplay in third person. This gives me more freedom to be descriptive, and thus I use it most of the time. However, I haven't had time for much RP in the last couple of months... :(

[OboeGuru]

As soon as summer break hits, I'm sure there will be a boom in the RPs.

Time is the biggest enemy to any RP, in my opinion.

[Doombringer64]

I think the last thing we need right now is more RPs.

BTW BH I do believe you have the decency to inform people when you, are or at least why, you are unable to post. This is not the same thing abandoning an RP.

[ShawnManX]

OMG my bad, I forgot all about this after spring break, truely sorry.

[Geno]

I agree that we should have some sort of open RP, although we would require a pretty good GM who can post at least once a day and can oversee the thread.

A thing I'd like to see sometime is an IM RP with some of the people in this forum. Any takers or starters?

About the dropping out, I wonder if an influx of people would help? I agree with doombringer, though, to post what to expect in a thread.

My suggestion:

I don't think that a person should start more than one RP at once, so that he/she may focus directly on regulating that thread, instead of more than one.

Once one or two of the RP's I'm in currently die off, I have an Open RP I am building on the way... I am developing a character sheet, an overworld map (In notepad :p), and a few other things... Spells, towns, shops, etc. You know the deal. It will be somewhat expansive, but at the same time, confining. You will see when I bring it about...

~Larry "Geno" Meyers

P.S. It's far from done, and I might need another GM for it. When the time comes, I will be PMing around to see who else can help me out with it...

[Protosschick99]

I apologize to everyone if you all are referring to me and my absence. But, I got in trouble so my computer access is limited to when my parents are asleep--Like right now it's about two in the morning.

Also, when I'm not at home I'm at church; and since Easter has just ended, I was at church practicing for our Easter play and I'd be there at church after Easter practice ended because my parents were working on other things for the play. I've been doing my best you guys and it's hard to get to the computer now.

I try to tell you guys where I'm at but sometimes that's kinda hard if I can't get to a computer to tell you all where I am going. Also, here's another factor. Recently, my cell phone has been shut off and to me--That sucks because my work calls me through there and my other contacts for business and such.

I paid my phone bill like two weeks ago but for some reason it didn't go through, so what I need to do is call the phone company to let them know that I've paid it. Here's the thing though--I've been so busy in church and stuff that I don't get home at a reasonable hour. I've been getting home at ten, eleven, and even twelve at night.

I've got this really cool e-mail feature on my phone where I can e-mail ppl, but how can I e-mail ppl to let them know where I am if my phone has been shut off?? :(

So you see....I am in a bad predicament. But I'm gonna call that stupid AT&T company first thing in the morning! :D

Anywayz, as to this discussion--I like what WhiteKnight said--Maybe when we start RP's, we shouldn't have more than one. It would be better that way. In my opinion at least. But--If you are able to keep up with two RP's then by all means go ahead--If you can handle it you can handle it.

Maybe we should have a rule that you can only be in so many RP's at one time. I think I am currently involved in......Five. I can handle those though. I think maybe we should have a rule that we can only take on as much as we can handle. That way things don't die :)

[Geno]

I apologize to everyone if you all are referring to me and my absence. But, I got in trouble so my computer access is limited to when my parents are asleep--Like right now it's about two in the morning.

Also, when I'm not at home I'm at church; and since Easter has just ended, I was at church practicing for our Easter play and I'd be there at church after Easter practice ended because my parents were working on other things for the play. I've been doing my best you guys and it's hard to get to the computer now.

I try to tell you guys where I'm at but sometimes that's kinda hard if I can't get to a computer to tell you all where I am going. Also, here's another factor. Recently, my cell phone has been shut off and to me--That sucks because my work calls me through there and my other contacts for business and such.

I paid my phone bill like two weeks ago but for some reason it didn't go through, so what I need to do is call the phone company to let them know that I've paid it. Here's the thing though--I've been so busy in church and stuff that I don't get home at a reasonable hour. I've been getting home at ten, eleven, and even twelve at night.

I've got this really cool e-mail feature on my phone where I can e-mail ppl, but how can I e-mail ppl to let them know where I am if my phone has been shut off?? :(

So you see....I am in a bad predicament. But I'm gonna call that stupid AT&T company first thing in the morning! :D

Anywayz, as to this discussion--I like what WhiteKnight said--Maybe when we start RP's, we shouldn't have more than one. It would be better that way. In my opinion at least. But--If you are able to keep up with two RP's then by all means go ahead--If you can handle it you can handle it.

Maybe we should have a rule that you can only be in so many RP's at one time. I think I am currently involved in......Five. I can handle those though. I think maybe we should have a rule that we can only take on as much as we can handle. That way things don't die :)


I'm similar to that... I have a ton of things going on all the time (Yearbook, work, church, anything else Sister Lois wants me to do... o.O, parents stuff, chores, etc.), and it's hard to find time. If I close at work, I get home about 11:30-12:00, so don't feel bad for not being on... It's just one of those things. And if you have to, and aren't sure if you can get on, E-mail one of us, and we can post how long you'd be until you get back... (I wish I had a phone for E-mail... :()

~Larry "Geno" Meyers