The Games we Play

RP Includes: Tranquility and Rabidporcupine

Premise: Our RP takes place in London, modern day. Our characters are the best of mates and have a (secret) shared interest in gaming. Soon an online game is released, one our characters have been eyeing for several years during its development. Our characters have gotten part-time jobs to pay for it and finally get their hands on it upon its release. The game is a fantasy virtual reality. For whatever reason, one friend hasn't admitted they have purchased said game, having voiced ambivalence about it, and plays in secret. The two friends run into one another online, unbeknownst to them. Either they hit it off well or they don't.

We would then explore their offline relationship as best friends, and their online relationship, either as rivals or potential lovers. Will the truth be revealed when they want to meet offline or will the friend with the secret, finally admit it before then? I see our characters here, being in high school but it's possible they're in college or even the workplace. It's also possible to maybe have a same-sex romance develop? And yes, this is inspired by dot hack.

So our characters are starting college together, probably 18 or 18 years old. Maybe they've been friends since they were 12 or 13? So about five or six years or are you thinking a longer friendship or even a shorter one?

And since your guy is going to be the one secretly into the game are you thinking he'd claim to not like any games or just say, that one in particular?

Lastly, should we have them click in the game or see one another as rivals or something? The only challenge with the later option is that it's difficult to justify them teaming up if they're not on good terms.

And we should probably develop the game a bit unless you'd rather just let it happen naturally?

And regarding character sheets, do you want something basic or somewhat detailed? And anime pictures okay with you?

And we could keep things simple and say they're at East London University? Probably in dorms?

Alright, cool! So, I'm gonna go with the idea that he usually loved games, but he was just nervous about this game specifically, because of all the stories and animu focused around the idea of virtual reality games going terribly wrong. Later on, he realises that he still really wants it, but he's not gonna say he was wrong!

Would you be opposed to the friendship starting a little earlier, like maybe around ten or something?

As for in the game, maybe something like friendly rivals who tend to irk the crap out of each other, but get pushed together so often that they end up liking each other anyway? Or maybe just let it go naturally and see how it ends up.

I feel like we could afford to leave the game mechanics a little open ended, just so we can have a bit of fun with it in the IC. Unless you want it to be properly laid out right at the start, in which case go ahead.

I feel like it might pay to make a more detailed character sheet, considering they've been best friends as long as they have. It would be kind of weird if they didn't know certain things about each other.

And the stuff with the university and dorms are fine, yeah.

Finally, the same sex part. I don't wanna seem like an ass or anything, but it wasn't really what I expected when I came in. I mean, I could probably still give it a try, but I'm not sure I'd fully be able to get into it, you know?

Okay, pride gets in the way at times so that makes sense.

And nah, a longer friendship is fine with me! It's sometimes tough to illustrate in a story between strangers but I've had things click well in the past so it's something I'm totally open to.

Maybe them getting pushed together is how the game works? Maybe there's a function to pair people randomly for quests perhaps?

I think we would play things by ear and maybe tack on pictures or concepts as we go but I think once things get established in the story, it might be good to pin details down in the OOC so we don't overlook something accidentally.

And a same-sex romance isn't necessary at all. I haven't done them in ages so I'd be rusty anyway but I kept it on the table since we didn't really establish a preference and it seems same-sex romances are 'hip' again. But hetero is probably what I'm better at anyway, yeah.

Ooh, that actually sounds interesting... An MMO based around a buddy system. I guess it might be kind of like the more recent fire emblem games, with special bonuses and limited sharing of stats between partners.

And yeah, I guess you're right about making sure we don't miss game details, but maybe just the basics. Then we can make new aspects up in IC and maybe note them down in the OOC so we don't end up forgetting them.

I don't think I've played the new FE game. Is that the mobile one?

And yeah, we don't need to compile tons of info but just so we're on the same page with the basics.

So in terms of getting a CS (you wanted more detail which is fine with me) up, I can try for tomorrow night otherwise it might happen Tue after everyone has calmed down from XMas excitement. Anime pictures is what I'm gonna go for. And since you said detailed, I may just throw everything into the CS. -laughs- Usually I try to keep them barebones/basic but doing a more extensive one might be fun.

I assume we should also have a section for the game's avatar/online persona yeah? We were still thinking fantasy like knights, mages, ninja? Or something else? Or some kind of hybrid. My inspiration was .Hack but I'd rather not jump in with that in mind if you've got another reference in mind like DA or FE.

@Tranquility
Nah, I just meant from awakening onwards, with the pair up system, you know? Everything else sounds good! It can be based on .Hack if you want. I don't remember a massive amount about it, but what I do remember looked pretty cool. I remember liking the environments an awful lot. But yeah, high fantasy all the way!

Ahh, I haven't played Awakening in a while though Fates I've spent many hours on playing again and again. Though with those, we tend to be able to pick who we fought alongside iirc.

Haha okay so it sounds like we just gotta make some sheets and we can get things started. -grins-

.Hack holds such a special place in my heart. We can probably go for that vibe, inspiration but we can totally make our own towns and dungeons. I tend to like to find pictures of said places, should I try finding some to float it by you?

@Tranquility

Sure, go ahead. It'll be nice to see how everywhere looks. However, could you maybe just send me the links to the pictures instead of putting the actual pictures in the posts? For some reason my phone won't show any pictures on this site, and just leaves a blank space where it would be. And same, I tend to replay awakening and fates far more often than healthy, just to fill out all the ships and pick new classes for the avatar.

Also, just so I don't end up forgetting like an idiot, Merry Christmas!

Sure, I'll PM you when I have some time to settle in, right now I'm just hopping online on and off, when I can. And FE had so much replay value, it's almost insane. I think the different shipping options are great and you seem to always learn something new about the characters each time.

And Merry Christmas to you too! :)

And you're not an idiot, I'm way more forgetful I think! -hangs head in shame-