Karkinos

Roleplay about being trapped inside a roleplay: Adventures from the Place Holder

We In Boyz

Character Creation Opinions/Methods/Discussion.

@Dervish Honestly that campfire collab sounds like a lot of fun. And writing exercises for RPs are very under-utilized! Thank you for reminding me about those. That might actually work better than samples with more or less the same effect, lol. Like the GM still gets a sense of players' writing styles beforehand that they can consider.

Character Creation Opinions/Methods/Discussion.

@Dervish Oh yeah, always smart to prep ahead of time, and the best RP I've been in used deadlines to great effect.

I would think writing samples would be more on the players than the GM in terms of getting the RP started. The last RP i started on a different site ran into that roadblock where I had an established, seemingly-invested player base, but the moment it came to signing up, interest pretty much evaporated. So I'm paranoid about super-extensive sign-ups because it was at least a fourth my fault, lol.

Character Creation Opinions/Methods/Discussion.

Things, especially aesthetic shit, are conditional based on the preference of the player... at the time. I change the way I write sign-ups literally every time I make one! But from the perspective of being GM, I've been swinging back and forth with introducing something, and the way I've been approaching sign-ups depends a lot on the "point" of the RP -- they're an extension of the tone, plot, and themes. Just like a superpowers section isn't always relevant. Say in one RP I ask for characters' -- they're teachers -- their specific positions, and their personal motivations for working in those positions, because it's plot-relevant. I wouldn't ask for their "inventories" because it's a contemporary RP mostly limited to a public school campus, not an adventure story where the items you bring with you matter.

I have a list of essentials much like Dervish, but mine's a lot shorter; right now it's only really the character's name, age, and their height/weight and/or build. I also would like for players to sell a character with the fewest words possible; a 150/200-word summary is recurrent.

Right now, as someone who's very frustrated with arbitrary character information, I'm debating whether writing samples are helpful. Because it's essentially asking for a short story, and not everyone may be that motivated, or be able to tackle it in due time. A lot of RPs die because they take too long to start, and I'm unsure whether writing samples add to that problem. Because otherwise I would love to throw prompts at people and it would make for shorter sign-ups, since longer ones make me itch. So if writing samples have or haven't worked for you...

Some notes about my reactions to other peoples' sign-ups: I think the "some-things-aren't-relevant" mentality still applies? Although I'll admit I'm disappointed with other GMs seemingly copy/pasting the same formats, the same Appearance/Personality/History triad, which is just a forum RP staple at this point. For some characters, I combine Appearance & Personality. Sometimes I don't even approach Appearance because I don't feel like it. Sometimes it's all written in-character, and she's overselling themselves to get hired in her bad, broken English while dropping mentions of "chloroform" because that's just in her mind. In-character sign-ups are underrated and a lot of fun, haha.

Generally, I like the character creation process. I like writing character profiles, and making characters. I think sign-ups can, and in my opinion should, function as character introductions so people don't waste time IC.

And uhhh I also strongly relate with Sierra's note about dedicating a separate doc to scribbled "psych" details, because all of my actualized characters usually have one of those as well. So sign-ups don't cover everything, and as a GM I would expect people to work on developing their character beyond the criteria I would present to them. Though a lot of that's IC and all.

long post boyz

Midnight Illusion Agency: An Urban Fantasy RP

There’s not much of a debate to be had if she’s going to make other players uncomfortable, and if there’s already potential compromise.

All the same, I’m gonna argue anyway, because if there’s anything I hate, it’s being patronized over a goddamn roleplay: the examples I gave and explanation I’m continuing to give altogether mean to imply she could still be interacted with; there’s absolutely no intention to put Yashaba on a higher level than any other character. I have no reason to believe this wasn’t communicated in any part of me my past messages, or ever in my sign-up, because they’ve never been explicitly referred to. Hence why I’m uncomfortable with her being denied on principle — I don’t really feel like I’ve made an error, just that my character doesn’t fit within what was envisioned for the cast, despite processing everything as a human would, despite being able to communicate more or less the same as a humanoid just with more creativity involved on my behalf — say Yasha is in a situation where she can’t talk out loud and has to throw her voice, that’d be my decision.

You’ll have to excuse any perceivable accusation; this is just an issue of miscommunication, as I see it, and likely me projecting what I think makes for an idyllic GM: communicating their opinions on a player-character in forthright manner; working with more oddball ideas to fit within context to the best of their ability — that’s entirely subjective, and I can’t hold you to it. Not to mention I’ve roleplayed with people who have tried to force weird fursonas into stuff, I know how it feels; I’m not a furry, just when it comes down to a neko girl or a talking cat, I’m always leaning talking cat, lol. And sure I could’ve gone with a Yuki-onna or something, but a necromancing cat? Too cool to pass up. Not to mention the sign-up didn’t exactly take like 30-45 minutes to crank out; you’ll see why I’m being stubborn.

But at the end of the day, again, I’m more concerned with being condescended over something relatively trivial than I am being accepted, so if this ultimately left a poor impression of me, it’s... honestly fine? Lol, I’ll just go focus on other things, I guess. I think I made my point pretty clear by now — I just wanted to clarify my position a little more.

All the same, here’s the compromise reinstated: I rework Yashaba’s shape-shifting so she can take the form of a human, and I tweak her character a little so it better aligns with her perspective. If that works for you, I guess just let me know? Sorry for the disruption.

Midnight Illusion Agency: An Urban Fantasy RP

@VitaVitaAR I still think a house cat is innocuous enough to hang around most places, and there's room for creative use of her power - to "throw her voice" through objects, for example. Otherwise she could be like... Morgana from Persona 5, actually. She'd be a lot like Morgana.

But I get if you'd think it'd divide the group too much - I just didn't want her to be rejected just on principle of not being humanoid, y'know?

@vietmyke < Yeah, easiest compromise would be to rework the shapeshifting power so she can assume a human form with it, and I guess just tweak her character a bit so it aligns with her perspective better.

Midnight Illusion Agency: An Urban Fantasy RP

@VitaVitaAR How would it be hard to incorporate Yashaba in-particular?

Midnight Illusion Agency: An Urban Fantasy RP

@VitaVitaAR Oh she wouldn't stroll around on her hind legs, all dolled up, all the time - probably should've noted explicitly, but I had to have alluded to her pretending to be a normal house cat whenever she's, like, in public. I just liked that nekomata-geisha picture a lot, ha ha.

Midnight Illusion Agency: An Urban Fantasy RP

@VitaVitaAR Idk why it took me 5 days lol

Push me to the edge / All my senpai dead

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_{AKA "Yashaba," "Yasha-sama"}
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♬ | Phys. 49 | ♀ | Benevolent Youkai (Nekomata)
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⸨ 𝖣𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗋𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖫𝖾𝗀𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝖲𝗁𝗂𝗈𝗇-𝗄𝗒𝗈 𝖣𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗂𝖼𝗍?
⸨ 𝖶𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝖺 ‘𝖲𝗁𝗂𝗈𝗇-𝗄𝗒𝗈 𝖣𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗂𝖼𝗍?’

Before the reverent aesthetic crumbled to contemporaneity, the Western standard — before the present state of Minazawa City — the Shion-kyo District was a sanctuary reminiscent of Kyoto, and the geisha ruled it and maintained its gardens and shrines methodically on the outskirts of a secular cityscape.

Often hallowed grounds stayed so, but when strays got their paws on an open sprawl of lavender flowers wedged behind a tiny temple site, there was little to be done. They came in droves; there was something about the “Garden of Cats,” as it came to be known. There were positives to having them around, at least: a touristic niche; and the maiko absolutely adored them. The Garden of Cats became a tradition in themselves. At night, they would gather on high points and search the sky for the moon. At dawn, the maiko would come to feed them, and at noon, visitors would come try to spot them and name the newest arrivals with vaguely-Japanese monikers: “Miro,” “Musuko,” “Keru.”

She and the others were allowed to stay. All the same, she could not let herself be content with easiness, to take advantage of on-and-off hospitality, or perhaps to be personally unattended to — she might not have been a stray after all, but a neglected house cat. She often leave the garden on meanderings, finding herself at incomprehensible and fascinating places. And trouble, attempting to enter shrines on more than one occasion. She would take especial interest to the geisha as one would turn over a mystery even without reaching a conclusion. She would trail them, and amongst the memories she could hold onto, she would never forget one’s reaction to an “offering” so shocking, the woman broke character to kick the mouse’s broken body across the street.

All the same, the garden, among buildings standing upwards of two-hundred years, among the geisha themselves, was never enough to overwhelm Shion-kyo in its little bubble of history. When it rained, mist would rise off the cobblestone, and the district would run like a painting. It became a ghost town.

One person at a time. It wasn’t a slow process, but it was particular — she was made to believe motivated. Because the preservation of a past life was something comprehended by forces far greater than tourists, and this pocket in a world that had progressed beyond believing in them was too tantalizing, she supposed. She supposed, too, the geisha knew to an extent. The signs of possession appeared in temples, and a few must have been capable of casting it out, because, again, the process wasn’t immediate.

There was a familiar face one day, and then by the next, she vanished from the streets, never returned to the garden with food in tow. If they struggled, ; the geisha were composed even in death. The siege was successful, and in a moon, Shion-kyo stood decayed and abandoned, a coincidental twist of fate for its old buildings. To the omaiyo and the mages who were too late, looking in, the district lived as an example of what inaction bred. And to anyone else, there was no evidence that youkai had done it.

Only the cats were spared. Only they remembered, as best they could.

⸨ 𝖨 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝖺𝗌𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗆𝗒𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿, '𝖶𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝖾𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗌?'
⸨ 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗌 𝖺𝗀𝖺𝗂𝗇. 𝖲𝗈𝗇𝗂𝖺, 𝖨 𝗍𝗈𝗅𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎, 𝗂𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝖺 𝖼𝖺𝗍, 𝖨 𝖽𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝖼𝖺𝗋𝖾. 𝖩𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗈𝗇𝖾!

___________________________________________________________________________ " Silly human, you're only imagining things. Fans don't move on their own, and cats cannot talk. Meow. " ___________________________________________________________________________ Abilities . . . Nine Lives [ Passive ] Or: an abundance of spiritual energy due to the material nature of her existence, as long as she retains the standards of her previous masters. The result is more pliability and physical durability than the average house cat — the average human being — and broader power application compared to other youkai. Use of her powers will draw from the reservoir of passive spiritual energy, so she is disposed to use them responsibly. Nekomancy [ Affinity | Level A ] What does it say that her affinity is possession and puppeting of the deceased? Though it diversifies itself in two ways: [ INANIMATE REANIMATE ] Or: bestowing spiritual energy to inanimate objects in order to influence without physical interaction. Honing on one object allows her to project herself (her senses, her conscience) through it. [ DANCE WITH THE DEAD ] Or: classic reanimation. Itself comes in two forms: puppeting of the deceased with the potential for self-projection, or communion with departed souls using the remaining vessel as a “tie-back.” Souls are, of course, self-actualized and can refuse to speak with her; Yasha-sama cannot return a soul permanently to a body. Shapeshifting [ Level E ] In concept, the ability to assume another form. At present, Yasha-sama cannot become anything complex, though can contort her existing figure in a manner of vague, abominable ways. There’s just an inherent lack of diligence to shapeshifting that turns her off from it. Nekomata’s Blessing [ Level B ] The infamous ability of her kind to curse is instead transformed by Yashaba’s benevolence towards humanity into the ability to compel a human into possessing any of her feline-inherent skills (or flaws) through eye contact. She cannot bestow any of her youkai powers unless the human in-question has some spiritual connection of their own. Onibi [ Level C ] The eidolon flame, lit by the spirit, cast from the forked tips of her tail: a scarlet ball of cold fire. It bobs idly wherever it is summoned, pursuing vapid whims of its own as it drifts out of earshot of Yashaba’s barking orders. It is said every nekomata’s demon fire works differently, and Yashaba’s are attracted to the spiritual energy of youkai unlike their commander. They will summon in droves to charge, attempt to overwhelm, a youkai target, and if successful, can drain them dry in under a minute, though they can be warded off as easily as a strong wind. The onibi is Yashaba’s primary method of countering malevolence in Minazawa, at least for the few times she has attempted. As for the displaced spiritual energy, it is funneled back to her, filling gaps to account for ability overuse, and healing any wounds in the blink of an eye. Skills Pros Silver Tongue — The ability to lead on, feint sympathy, and appeal to others’ investments. Smart Cookie — A fast learner, and a quick thinker. Pussy Cat Power — All the benefits of being a feline, spanning exceptional balance and agility; heightened sensory awareness; padded footsteps; and night vision. Cons Cat Got It Bad — All the kickbacks to being a cat, mainly a fleeting attention span and memory leaving much to be desired. Lightweight — Although she compensate, the lack of assets for physical aggression means she often than not has to get creative with her abilities, and lean hard on her energy reservoir. The Rogue — Her vision of “teamwork” is getting others to do the heavy lifting for her. She will always prioritize her interests. Unmusical — Perhaps not a top priority when people are getting attacked by youkai, but it still bothers her, for an aesthetic all about the arts, that her cacophonous singing voice itself could be enough to rise the dead, that she can play the shamisen about as well as an armless amputee. Miscellaneous Inventory Carries a paper fan. Likes Freedom of will and expression. Pestering people. Competition - works better under pressure. Nature, open space. Dishing out criticism; the catharsis of tirades. Calligraphy. Wisteria flowers. Antique lamps. And the oil, too? Dislikes Pacifism and passiveness; bleeding-hearts. Anything or anyone she can’t cull, categorize, or comprehend. In that sense, messes. Forced socialization. Rain. Worms. Doing laundry. Ironically, being criticized. The philosophy to judge people by the sum of their parts — she’s immediately suspicious of other cats and other youkai.

. . . Adopting the “Yashaba” surname from one of many teachers, the youkai hoists the flower-and-willow tradition on her hind legs, from the traditionalism of her attire, to the shinayakasa of her gait. In quadruped form, she is nine and a half inches, nose to tail — thereby she is only the height of a toddler in the manner she prefers to carry herself. It’s the self-respect that manages to sell it; a sense of composure and constant awareness at when and where to reveal the extent of what she knows; and a velveteen, placid way of speaking that requisites for slurred “r’s” and spat “s’s” — not so much an insensitive impression than a speech impediment. A personified parody, and a cranky cat lady in the most literal sense — someone surely benevolent, but not inherently kind, nor honest, else she might have revealed herself in her self-imposed guardian role. Yashaba has a subtle personality, and much of her integrity is either hidden behind layers of decorum or compromised, much like a born predator animal’s would. The times she is truthfully, she is bluntly, acerbically so. To those who have met her, or will meet her, she can come across equally a reasoned sensei or a prickly pain in the tail — Yasha-sama enjoys playing both sides. In the end, she is determined to make the world a better, safer place for humanity; every method she takes is a step in this direction. She is qualmless with being a turncoat considering the bounds made in her previous life, and the grounding of her spirit today: the light of the moon, a love for the arts, and the dignity of being more-or-less human. Yashaba exists for the unavenged lives of her masters. As long as malevolent youkai exist, so will she to snuff them out.

⸨ 𝖮𝗁𝗁, 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖬𝗈𝗇𝖺 𝗉𝗈𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖽! 𝖲𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝗈𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗎𝗉 𝗂𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖺-𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗒𝗈 𝖼𝗅𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗌!
⸨ 𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗉𝗈𝗈𝗋 𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾.

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^{credit due to the original artist}

I Wanna Hear Your Opinions On The Different Wrting Levels/Forums.

For the main three... bruh I don’t even fucking care about the main three sections, to be honest; they rarely play into my judgement of a RP. OOC-wise; what isn’t inspired by my own whims/what or who I want to write, I prioritize concise presentation and a GM who doesn’t come across like an ass, and you’ll find both of those anywhere. Maybe not wordiness on Free.

Actually Free is the easiest to typify because less-critical roleplaying tends to hit the same buttons. I would be more likely to “judge” a Free roleplay because of that, but I also appreciate a environment where RP is boiled down to the bare essentials. Most Free RPs, you can forget about all the complex stuff in a hobby where all your world-building and lore only matters case-by-case, where it’s so easy to fall onto judging people by the objective quality of their posts... when really all you need is a reply. So I see a good Free RP as one I can RP just because without compromising my style. Otherwise it’s the second best meme zone on the site! First is obviously the status bar.

I only have a lot to say about Free because I lump Casual and Advanced together, the biggest difference being activity level. I might also argue that Advanced is slightly more diverse in terms of “genre,” too, but as anime-dominant as Casual is, I can be surprised by how divergent some RPs that crop up are from the norm. Though that makes me sound like I’ve been around a bit, haha.