Role Play General Chat

Such great tips and insights for successful games, they're really helpful to read!

I'm like Cheddar, in that I don't feel like I'm ready to tackle being a GM, since I've only been RPGing since January. With that being said, I still can think of lots of games I would LOVE to be a player of...maybe I'll just throw some ideas out there for y'all.

-Historic RPG (Pirate adventure, Civil War, Colonial, Salem Witch-trails, ect) or Time-travel

-Animal Kingdoms

-Lock-down Murder Mystery (everyone is guilty until proven innocent )

-Government Overrules Society type of thing, where certain people are held hostage and forced to develop their skills for the benefit of the government

I'm sure anything new would be cool...I've noticed that we have mostly sci-fi and fantasy.

Also, I was wondering does the RPG forum typically speed up or slow down in the Summer months?

 

Animal characters was actually an idea I had for an RP, taking heavy influence from the wonderful world of Brian Jacques. I can see the world in my head, the only problem is writing a fun interactive story within it. If I can put one together though, I'd happily GM it. (I've been wanting to become involved in a second RP for a while.)

 

I suppose I come from a different school of thought. I almost always quote what my character is responding to. It saves readers from having to scroll back up and re-read previous posts to get an idea of what's going on. Quoted text is bolded in my posts, so people can clearly distinguish quotes from new material (and skip the quotes, if they are so inclined). Also, it gives a clear representation of what my character was thinking or doing during the previous post; without that, people will make assumptions about a character's reaction to things. (For example, they may say your character has a shocked/surprised/horrified expression, when that's not true at all.) Quotes are useful for filling in the things previous players or characters overlooked, omitted, or simply weren't aware of.

Also, in three-way conversations, you don't want to move the conversation forward too much, because the third player will start to get left behind. Quoting is a useful way of integrating your post with the one before it; you can provide additional reactions/observations/opinions and maybe even a few lines of dialogue without advancing the scene too much. Basically, you're increasing the "depth" of the scene instead of explicitly moving the story forward. And, that additional depth can sometimes prove useful.

For example, in War on Kalicas, SpitFyre's character, Darrius, was fiddling with a "contraption." In my post, my character, Amira, was watching him, and there was a paragraph where she was wondering what kind of "power coupler" that is. In his next post, Darrius asks if anyone knows how to get more output from a power coupler. The little details you add to a post can help set up moments like that. It may not have happened if I hadn't written Amira's observations. There's some slight meta-gaming involved, but the things your character thinks in a post are just as useful in advancing a story as the things s/he does.

One way to avoid heavy quoting is for players to avoid dumping too much "stuff" into one post. When another player monologues for five paragraphs or moves the action from 'Point A' all the way to 'Point X' in a single post, others have to find a way to respond to all of that, and it usually involves some degree of quoting. But a balance must be struck. It kinda bugs me when I put a lot of thought/effort into a post and see no direct response to it in the posts that follow. It's kinda like the other players just said "well, that happened.... moving on now."

However, I see where you and losthawken are coming from, Fox. If people are summarizing previous posts without adding anything of substance, that's a wasted post. I don't support that kind of quoting. I don't like to see posts that begin with "John Doe watched as [insert recap of previous post]." Ideally, quoting should be used to add something of value to the scene, not to provide a "here's what happened in the post you just read" summary. This isn't Cliff Notes.

 

I can appreciate that and agree that it's important to have character's react and develop with the changing scenarios and different personalities around them. It's a vital part of these RPGs which should not be sniffed at.

However, like you say, if they dont add value to what has already been told then it can just feel like a repeat of words. And as another player I don't want to be sat there reading every other player's intrepretation of my character's actions. But as I have said, as long as it is used in the right way and written correctly these thoughts adds to the moment. Generally I'm just agreeing with all the points you made .

Fox

 

Earphone - I love Brian Jacques. Redwall is my favourite series, if you do a redwall-esque rpg I'm in

 

I agree completely with this (although I'm not innocent). One of the main reasons I prefer playing an RPG on a writing forum rather than an RPG-exclusive forum, is that the RPGs here are so much more enjoyable to read: it's like reading a story! But when people repeat things in their own character's perspective multiple times, it kind of ruins the flow. I think it works much better when the players continue the story afterwards.

I'm actually pretty surprised that this one hasn't been touched yet. Fantasy and Sci-fi are great, but what about a World War Two RPG? Or a Mafia RPG? Nothing wrong with those.

 

I would totally join in as well Earphone. I LOVED the Redwall series.

 

You've got one more player here too. Redwall was my absolute favorite in middle school. Right now I'm reading Brian Jacques' Flying Dutchman series, seriously anything he writes is awesome.

 

Ooh! I read that series first! It was so good and heartwarming!

 

New RPG

So, I have been throwing around in my head a few new ideas for RPGs, and I wanted to know what people were willing to play. I would like to get a consensus of how many players will play what, so I know which idea to get ready. So, below are my ideas. Post up your top pick and your second pick, and then I will decide which to do.

1- a survival race: the Earth has just learned an asteroid will be hitting in less than a few months, and states are holding competitions to see who would be best fit to go on the few ships they have to leave the Earth. The competition will be serious, with regular people trying their hardest and going to great lengths to escape a doomed planet

2- freaky experimental lab: just as the characters are heading home for the night, they feel a tiny bite on their neck. The next thing they know, they are part of a strange experiment in a lab. The scientist in charge is using the characters for inhumane experiments, and the characters must escape from the labs.

3- thief RPG: top thieves will different skills attempt to steal precious items from various locations, without getting caught. Surveillance, teamwork, and of course, double-crossing will be involved. Two teams: law enforcement, and thieves. Will be played in "zombie" type (if your thief dies or gets caught, you have a back-up character that is a cop).

4- Pet story- very rough idea, but a group of pets in a home. Unsure of plot, but saw that some people liked the idea of playing as animals.

5- SWAT team- go on various missions as part of a SWAT unit.

Again, let me know what you think. I am hoping to have another RPG up (one of the above) within the next 2 weeks.

 

If I had to choose

Top choice
2- Freaky expreimental lab. However this sounds very similar to Eximus Coventry.

Second choice
1- a survival race.

Just a note on 4- Pet story, the animals thing we refered to is from a series know as redwall where the animals are humanised (talking, cooking, etc). They're not proper animals or pets.

 

I like the ideas of

5) being part of a swat unit

and

2) Freaky Experimental Lab. Sounds like it could be very interesting and hard to write. But I enjoy a challenge.

 

Still need some more votes on upcoming RPG

Also: I had forgotten the idea of a large city of superheroes. Some sort of league (similar to Avengers, or Justice League, etc.). I think that might be fun, especially with all of the different superpowers.

And @MrMr- not like Coventry.

 

Oh ok. The Hero city one sounds fun, could we be villains?

 

Well, perhaps... but the idea of the game would be to bring down villains. I guess if you don't mind playing characters that are constantly dying/getting thrown in prison, sure.

Also, I decided to drop the animal story... can't really think of a plot.

 

Okay everyone, here are the new RPGs I've come up with. I'm looking to see which one people will commit to. The basic stories are listed under each, so you have a fair amount of information before deciding which RPGs to vote for. Again, I am looking for your top pick and your second pick. Please be able to commit to your choice, just don't vote for it because you want to read it. I need players.

Superheroes

Story: With population becoming an issue, a cities are now being built on man-made islands. In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, Europe and North America made a joint effort to create Atlantis, a revival of the rumored city that sank to the bottom of the sea.
After the city grew, a strange force created individuals with superpowers of all sorts. Not all of these citizens, however, decided to use their powers for good. Some of them turned bad, lustful for more power. Those who did adopted secret, superhero identities. Now they, the Atlantians, converge to take down ordinary criminals, as well as the supervillains who threaten their home. They must also deal with ordinary life, and controlling their powers.


SWAT

Story: In the large city of San Riona Beach, California, the police squad handles crime well. The city itself is rather safe, and criminals are quickly apprehended by the SRPD. However, sometimes they need a little extra assistance. The San Riona SWAT team is trained especially to handle more difficult criminals. Using teamwork, specialized training, and awesome equipment, they bring down these criminals while keeping the citizens of San Riona safe.
The San Riona SWAT team will deal with the following situations, in a mission based RPG, under the guidance of Captain Jack Ruiz, the leader of the team. Not only will they be dealing with criminals, but each other, difficult choices, whether to follow orders, and of course, their own limitations. The following situations will be dealt with: Hostage rescue, Riot control, Security for officials, Rescuing efforts in gunfire, Counter-terrorist operations, Resolving situations with suicidal subjects, Special stealth operations (pulled from Wikipedia. I know, bad reference…).

Thieves

Story: There are several high-end items in Europe, priceless in cost and value, guarded by the most high-tech security systems, locked away in nearly fortress-like buildings. Only the best thieves, working together, could possibly manage to steal these. It will take all of their skills to get the goods from their safe keeping. But… will everyone agree to split the pot?

Experimental Lab

Story: Just as you are headed home for the afternoon, whether from shopping, or a job, or school, you feel a pinch in the back of your neck… and black out. When you awake, you find yourself in a padded white room, with an outline of a knob-less door on one wall, and a window on the opposing wall. There is a bed, a toilet, a mirror, and a shower, along with various other items of which you see little use for. “Welcome to Aklin Labs” a voice says. “Make yourself comfortable. You will be staying with us for quite some time.” It is then, after the voice goes silent, you realize the band-aid on your arm, right above a vein. Someone has injected you with something… but what?

Survival Race

Story: Citizens of the United States: With Earth set to be destroyed by Asteroid 8935 in less than 2 months, we, the government, have decided to use an emergency resource: rockets, hidden in a secret location in each state, designed to ferry people off the planet in such an emergency. However, these rockets have limited capacity. Thus, we have decided to hold competitions to find those citizens best fit to travel in the rockets to a new planet, one that might hold unexpected mysteries. Therefore, the competition will subject you to harsh environments, with limited resources and provisions, difficult choices, and test you both physically and mentally. If you should enter the competition, only the 2 winners of each will be allowed on the rocket in their state. In addition, their family will be allowed with them. Each state will choose how many competitions to have, based on their population, how many seats they have on their

 

I would be interested in getting involved in another RPG. My first choice would have to be the SWAT scenario - sounds like alot of fun and seems like we will be able to fit alot of action into a small amount of posts, page turning kind of writing. My second choice would be superheroes, it would be brilliant to write a good old supervillian > However I know that there is the Eximius Coventry RPG currently running which many would see as very similar.

It will be interesting to see what other's think.

 

Superheroes and swat! You can never have too many superhero stories.

 

Still could use some more votes. I'm having a hard time deciding myself... I know what my top picks are, but I'd like to do both.... I must be crazy

 

Not crazy...just a RPG addict. Like me!

 

For the experimental lab option, what exactly happens after the characters are injected with the mystery substance? That makes a big difference as to whether or not I would vote for it.

Are they just put in a room together? Are they told to fight each other? Are they sent back home? Currently, it seems as if it doesn't have a solid plot. Could you elaborate by any chance?

 

Well, the idea is that people are taken to these labs, and experiments are run on them. Largely, the plot deals with the characters' ability to survive the experiment, learn information and try to get out. The characters will have to deal with day-to-day things, learn patterns, etc. It is largely an emotional RPG, with not much action, probably not until the end when everyone tries to escape. They each have their own room, so they have to survive solitary confinement, and they will undergo certain changes, in addition to side-effects of whatever is injected into them.

The nice thing about that RPG is that you will get to decide what the experiment is on your character. This will make it easier for you to write your part. There will be some opportunities for character interaction, like during meals, exercise, etc.

Hope that helps you out. And again, I know my two picks, just looking for more votes.

 

Hmm. The lack of interaction between characters makes that one uninteresting to me. Interaction is always one of the best parts!

So for my votes...

Top pick: SWAT RPG
Second pick: Superheroes RPG

 

Anyone else for a vote? I'm making my final decision on Sunday, and should have the new RPG submitted to the moderators by Tuesday.

 

Top - superhero
second - probably SWAT