Role Play General Chat

Makes two of us, mate! Although I'm hoping to try and nail the style in my next RPG. I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Of course, since being here, I've had about 1034231 ideas for RPGs, so I've got plenty of experimental ammo left.

 

I have a whole bunch of RPG ideas as well.
I really want to start this one called Edge. Its in my blog.
And I made up my own races and stuff.
But its an alien one and these are alien race.

 

My RPGs (I'm GMing one other successful one over on wf.com) tend to start with the idea for a world. I have a habit of picking little things out from books I read or films I see and melding them together into a foundation for a world that I then build on. Once I have the world established, I can usually see space for a story. For example, Exodus started with the post-apocalyptic, survival of humanity ideas. I had the idea of a world being destroyed, and since I've been reading this webcomic Drowtales, I saw the humans retreating underground.

Thus I had a basic world established - which I then embellished on. And the story just kind of evolved itself. If humanity had fled to subterranean caverns, it was a pretty natural step to then thinking that eventually they would want to explore the surface again. The story developed from there.

For me, designing an RPG is kind of like working out a basic plotline for a story or novel - like I said before, I have a beginning, an ending to aim for, and trigger points in between. The only difference is with one I let other people run with my ideas and just guide them towards the ending, and with the other it's my character's following my ideas - and often they veer off in totally unexpected directions too as they evolve!!

Half the fun for me is letting go and seeing how things unfold. It means I often have to think fast to keep things rolling and on track and I have to be flexible and change my ideas and triggers to fit where the characters are headed. I like to think that helps my creativity.

The hardest part for me is adapting when things go in a completely unexpected direction. Usually I have an idea of where I want to go, but I also have an idea of where things could go. But occasionally players have totally surprised me - a few times I've been left reeling and going "Whaaaaat?" Then I have to really change and adapt things to keep the RPG on track to the ending I have mapped out and I find that a lot harder that adapting to foreseen changes.

That's my experience from playing in several RPGs and GMing three.

Sorry, I kind of rambled on there ... anyway. Hope it answered your questions.

 

It did help, thank you Blossom.

So um my next question, how do you develop a technique for Gming?

 

You're very welcome.

Um, I don't know if I have a technique as such ... but really, just getting experience teaches you a lot about how to effectively GM. The RPG I'm GMing over on .com is about two months away from its two year anniversary (!) and over the course of that time I've learned a whole lot, and improved both my writing and my GMing. I'm taking everything I've learned from that and using it when GMing Exodus.

I think my personal number one weapon when GMing are plot twists and triggers. If I had to name one thing every GM should know it's this:

Players like action.

Character interaction and dialogue is fun, but usually only involved two or three players at a time and after a while can get forced or just flood the RPG. So you need to have action posts and triggers at your fingertips, ready to go.

But don't set them in any particular order or on a timescale - be flexible with them. Say you have five ideas for triggers - A, B, C, D, E. Don't plan to post them in that order, because you might find your players veer off in a different direction where C would be great for guiding them on and spicing things up a little.

Be able to shuffle your ideas, basically, to keep your players interested and your RPG exciting.

(I hope that made sense but I'm really quite tired, so I think I'm gonna be quiet now and toddle off to bed.)

 

Everyone has their own technique but it isn't something they chose to do. It just grows as they gain more experience.

 

Hey, I've got a good idea for an RP I'd like to pitch. What do I do? Where do I pitch it?

Do I just start a thread in the RPG section, or what?

 

While you're here, maybe you could answer my question: how do I pitch a new RP? Just post it up?

 

Thats what I do...you could PM Raven about it but it isn't really necessary I don't think. Just post everything up and after a time Raven will approve it.

 

post up your idea and rules and everything, then raven will either approve or deny it. If it's approved then he'll give you a start date and then people will start joining.

 

Basically thats the gist. I'd rather you not PM me your game because I come online to a lot of Forum related PMs and your game could get forgotten. So if you post your game in RPG you'll get a message explaining a Moderator will approve the game later. I'll give the game a read through then approve or Deny. You'll know if its approved because I'll put it in the RPG games coming soon thread stickied in the main RPG section.

It will be deneid if its weak and you've not put enough background and game play effort into the game post.

Providing the game has been given good background and a good fair set of rules as well as a good discription I'll approve the game.

 

Are Zombies too cliche?

 

Depends what we get to do to aforementioned zombies.

Running and screaming only?

Attacking with shotguns and chainsaws?

 

Well I was thinking RE meets Silent Hill.

So yes heavy artillery if wanted.

 

Sweet. I'd join it. I'm not big into the horror/zombie/vampire/ghost type stuff, but what the heck. Gotta start somewhere.

 

I think I might go and start on one.

But with all the games coming out I don't want to take away from any of the other ones.

Like Carnapolis 2 and Ryboks Rat Pack, no including the RPs that seem to still haven't neared the end

 

Aye, I've got one planned meself, but like you said, I'm gonna wait for the smoke to clear a bit before I dive into that.

 

Yea I am siked to finish ICE and hopefully get on the boat for Ryboks and Carnapolis

 

i want in on that Carnopils... i can damn near taste it...

 

It is gonna be hella nasty when the flags have to be put down. lol

Is it just me or has it been slow lately?

I know I haven't been around for personal circumstances but doesn't seem like anything major has gone on in anything

 

a little slow... and i been waiting to start work, so i've had hella time on my hands...

 

Yea I thought the government would give me back my license yesterday.

But nope, It wasn't the SIXTH... It was the sixthTEENTH...

 

Raven approved my RP, 51, and set the opening date at the 14th. Somehow I get the feeling that, being a noob around here, I wont get as much attention as the big boys, though

Anyway, is shooting/sawing all you guys care about in an RP?

 

I like good chances to solve problems and interact with other characters.

 

Uhhhh, If you haven't noticed or read any of the other RP's that isn't all that goes on but ok