RPGNews ver 2.27.14

Special: The Guild Is Dead, Long Live the Guild

As you may have noticed, we've had a rocky last couple months as the old Guild website went down due to funding issues arising from the loss of Google Adsense, the backup got flushed by the hosting company and mahz decided to write a new guild software from scratch while we tried to run things on a backup site. Luckily, we're past all those humps and are still intact as a community. To put it mildly, things happened, but we managed to get past it and are totally back in business.

There are still bugs and organizational issues being worked out, but the chance to reboot the Guild means more than just the software; it also means that we're going to use the software to eventually expand the horizons of the Guild as a community to support roleplaying on the internet. For now, we've got enough to work with and a place to post, play and discuss our mutual interest -- roleplaying.

As you have seen, some things have changed. New sections have been added, such as Tabletop Roleplay for dice-based systems such as D&D and Nation Roleplay for RP's centered around the player controlling an entire nation. These expansions happened because of the community's interest in these sorts of games. Other ideas, such as one mahz proposed for a user-created worlds subforum, are being contemplated as we speak. If you have suggestions, you should be sure to voice them. Users, after all, came up with the request to implement Tabletop RP's and it happened. mahz is listening.

On the other hand, be patient; mahz has stuff to do in real life and the updates are more technically demanding now.

Contests are coming back online. The WOTM staff is working out the logistics of how and when and what, but they are committed to bringing the contests back to the community, and the recognition for our writers/artists that comes with it. This news is created for the community and the community is writing it -- if you wish to get involved, please inquire as we are always looking for user suggestions and submissions.

2014 started off rocky for the Guild, but we're back, and that has to do with everyone's effort in this community. You are all appreciated for what you've done to help get us through these adversities and for sticking with the Guild when it was probably tempting to leave. Now that things are back to a (new) normal state, we just need to stay Fonz cool and keep on writing.

Looking Ahead

- Writer of the Month (WOTM) (the Guild's writing competition) is due to come back in to the Guild in mid-to-late March thanks to the dedication of its staff.
- Guild Chat (on IRC) is working on an upcoming guide designed to help users get set up in the chat and how to navigate Internet Relay Chat with more confidence.

New Guild Features

- Tabletop Roleplay - For dice-based system roleplays.
- Nation Roleplay - A section devoted to roleplays where the player takes over the role of a head of state or similarly politically-oriented roleplays.
- Added "Invisible Mode" and "Hide Signatures" settings to the Edit Profile page.
- "Who's Online" system introduced.

In Their Words: Chev

Guild user and RP GM Chev talks about how he runs his RP's.

Player Interview [+]

The Advantages of GMing

GMing gives you a chance to help resolve disputes that may arise among the various Rpers and help improve the Rp and keep smaller problems from turning into bigger ones. I've seen more then a few Rps pretty much killed by disputes and I'm glad I can help solve the disputes and keep the Rps going. It's also pretty fun to help plan out the various plot twists and turns.

How to Run a Good RP

Well, I think one of the big aspects of running an RP while also GMing is to not abuse the power you have. As a GM you have a bit of power and I've seen it happen before when RPs fail when people get angry with GMs who try to force everyone to do things their way simply because they feel they have power over everyone.

I feel another quality helps a GM run a good Rp is having a good understanding of what goes on in Real Life. Stuff eventually happens in Real life that can affect the Rp such as delays and computer issues. A good GM understands this and can help adjust the Rp itself to keep it going.

GM Challenges

I think one of the most difficult challenges is dealing with someone who throws off the plot and keeps on attempting to do so In essence that person is pretty much trying to turn the Rp into their own personal playground. To overcome the problem I think one of the best things to do is simply ask the player to stop it. If that doesn't work the player may have to be ejected from the Rp which is something I'd really rather not do. The best thing you can do to avoid it is to try and have everyone follow the plot to the best of their ability. If someone does have a good plot idea they should PM the GM and see if their idea can be brought into the story somehow.

Staying on Plot

Usually I can keep my RPs running by keeping Players interested and bringing their ideas into the plot as best as I can to make sure everyone contributes something. Keeps it a bit more interesting that way when everyone contributes a unique idea and it's brought to life by the players. As for staying on plot...that can be a bit difficult when you have different people bring different ideas to the table, but usually we can fit the ideas that people bring into the main plot of the RP and that can keep the Rpers interested in the plot. I usually prefer my RPs to have acceptable spelling so everyone can understand everyone else's posts.

Words of Wisdom

Pretty much just show respect to the people who Rp with you. It's pretty much all about respect if you ask me.

The Conversation: User Run Worlds

[Idea]User Run Worlds - Mahz asks for feedback on an idea to expand the Guild to include a section specifically designed for user-generated setting content so that other GM's and players can use this information to craft their own roleplays.

Ask Away

Which roleplay section do you write in the most and what do you like about it? What do you think of the other players in that section? What are your thoughts on the other section? What does the term "High-Casual" mean to you? Please feel free to post your answers in this thread!

Up and Coming

Interest checks are often the first stage in recruiting players for an RP, and a really good one can net you a lot of applicants. These are some of the interest checks that caught our attention recently. Best of all, they're looking for players!

Notable Interest Checks [+]

Current and Cool

Roleplays on this list have already started (but may still be recruiting, please consult the GM) and also caught our attention; the hard work the GM and players put in to setting up the RP, writing their sheets and hashing out the details have paid off and now they're writing their in-character (IC) posts.

Notable Roleplays [+]

On Display

- Art: Brands Gallery - Brand has a few pieces up and they are gorgeous. He prefers to work with digital art and is heading to school soon, so we are hoping to see more out of him in the future!
- Writing: Orbital: A Story about Time Travel, Dimension-Hopping, and a Gorgon's Daughter - Queen Raidne posted a story "of time-travelers, top-secret trans-dimensional military forces, and a gorgon's daughter. Updated at least once a month, so long as people and myself are interested." We're certainly interested.

About RPGN

RPGN is produced on a bi-weekly basis by a volunteer staff of elite alien-hunting commandos who share the goal of bringing Guild members current and useful information about goings-on in our community. We are always accepting suggestions on categories and content. We're particularly interested in displaying people's artwork as a banner (and will fully credit it and link your gallery -- woo). For more information, feel free to PM RPGN.

Get Involved [+]

RPGN Staff [+]

One of my RP friends suggested that I list our RP as one of the surviving roleplays. Dawn of Superheroes.

We were just fortunate is all. Initially I wasn't going to continue the rp. but just in case, I did a bunch of research and managed to recover the majority of the first post in the OOC using webarchives. It was an old version of the post but it was mostly up to date. I had managed to get in contact with everyone who had been participating. Despite informing them that I probably wasn't going to continue, they all showed interest in keeping things going. I was kinda flattered. And so I went to work on starting the rp up again. And here we are. we may only be like 7 posts in, but that speed is normal for us. We post whenever we have the time.

RPGN Under Construction...

Ruby No One Cares

Alphakoka

Zacharius

Cath So this is what we're up against...

Ruby No One Cares

Drakel

idlehands heartless

Rare The Inquisitor

Meth Quokka This Was Nutter's Idea

Dervish Let's get volatile

ApocalypticaGM

stark snarky genius

Jorick Magnificent Bastard

Pezz

Brand

Rin

Kaga just passing through

Kestrel

Ellri Lord of Eat / Relic