Interest Check -- One Man Shows

[DoctorZettabyte]

In light of an outcry for bringing more people into the RP forum, I've come up with an idea to get newbies started on the basics, and in some cases, finer points of RP'ing.

Many think that an RP post has to be a long, drawn-out post that expands literally anything and everything. That doesn't have to be the case.

I propose a number of mini-RP's, if you will, to get new people more interested in the RP forum. The only catch is to complete the RP (although not necessarily the story) in three posts or less, and make no mention of other RP'ers.

You can design the plots, your character, anything you'd like, so long as it follows the above guidelines. The entire RP is left up to you and you alone, and all of these mini-RP's are contained in one thread. A small character sheet with basic information (what that is can be your choosing, but give us something) must be provided in the first post.

This will hopefully remove some of the more binding constraints placed on larger-scale RP's, while giving newbies a taste of role-playing on the whole.

So, for the tl;dr's out there, it's one thread, three posts or less, no other users, total control.

Thoughts, approvals, disapprovals and constructive criticisms are always welcome.

-DocZetta

[Giggilyomeromicon]

So, basically, write short stories?

[DoctorZettabyte]

Yes. It's mainly designed to remove inhibiting factors in larger RP's. Getting newbies' feet wet in a quick fashion.

It should emphasize on the character more than the backstory, however. 3 posts or less doesn't leave much room for legends that began in the twelfth century. ;-P

-DocZetta

[RavenCrusade]

I like it. The thread could be pinned as an almost practice board for people just delving into character development, is that what you're suggesting, along with those rules?

[Giggilyomeromicon]

It'd also be nice if you could give us a topic to write about, or a set group of characters and personalities for them, as I think people have difficulty controlling other characters, or RPing in restricted environments, i.e. very specific places with no real goals.

[Vhaeraun]

If we do something like this, people would believe that this is where they post short stories, and we would have double and triple posting running rampant.

Call me a naysayer, but something like this has too many unknown factors and too many unknown results. While I do believe we need some sort of introduction for new RP'ers, this could fall off the intended wire.

[DoctorZettabyte]

So perhaps a set of boundaries need to be set. Topics have been suggested, and I like that idea. Perhaps we could pull some ideas from current and past RP's, as well as the scratchpad, to get things going in that department.

If we do something like this, people would believe that this is where they post short stories, and we would have double and triple posting running rampant.

That's why we make it clearly known that the focus is on RP'ing, and not posting short stories, and report errant posts. ;-)

Perhaps it would be too tough to impose a three-posts or less limit, and make it a rule that you can't double or triple post. It may need to be toned down to one long post or so.

Just some ideas.

-DocZetta

[Giggilyomeromicon]

What your describing seems like it'd belong more in the Creative Concepts forum rather then Online Roleplaying.

[MattTheFighter]

I think it's a great idea Doc

[Icarus]

I would think that interaction with other RPers would be the most important thing

[SolidSamurai]

I could run by a few fairly short RPs. Set up some scenarios.

They could be anything from trivial (ie. caught up in a shopping center and having to get to work in time) to downright dangerous (in the midst of a zombie apocalypse and/or demonic invasion, you get an email or skype call from friends that they've found a place for you and them to hide out at; get to the location in one piece; npcs can be controlled by players but outside events such as the national guard popping up or a hoard of zombies arriving from the inner city and hot on PC's trail, are GM'd), so I'll wait for participant input on this.

And, is that three posts per person or just three posts in all?

[Jaxander]

Whatever you decide on, Doc, I'd more than interested.

[DoctorZettabyte]

And, is that three posts per person or just three posts in all?
Three posts per person/RP, but I'm still working this out.

Thanks so much for the input -- I may be starting this early next week (tentative date), so keep your eyes peeled!

-DocZetta