NuttsnBolts

Let's B!tch. I feel it's a healthy release for our roleplay annoyances 2.0

Something I'd like to mention and I know many others will feel very differently about it, but I've come to really dislike Collab posts.

To understand my view I have to explain that this comes from a personal experience. So what happened was that I entered an RP that contained several people from a different timezone and since I have a daytime job that doesn't allow me PC access, I have to wait until I get home before I can post any replies. Anyways, many of the players were interested in collaborating together, which I though was fun at first, writing a joint post and coming up with interesting situations and writing eventful scenes between all their characters. It all sounds fine until you start to notice that your character seems to be the outsider to these situations, the side dish in a 5 course meal. All because you live in a different time zone and are unable to participate.

It feels frustrating when you do come online that evening and see a bucket load of posts with each player giving their perspective, writing longer than the expected replies due to helping each other out and you have to then read all that text and "Try" to slot your character into the fray so that they feel both important and a part of the situation at hand, all while avoiding errors and the accidental chance of holding the others up with a critical situation. What I did find that most of the time I was playing catch-up, writing from my previous post until the current event because all these characters had deep conversations, talked tactics, interacted with each other, all while my character happened to stand there next to them like a mute statue waiting for the hours of time in limbo to pass.

I know collabs have a time and place, but in this situation it really killed the enjoyment for me. I never felt like I was a part of the story all because I was that one outsider who was playing follow the leader.

RP "Fatigue"

I usually watch an anime when I'm in a slump. I find they tend to spark ideas and inspire me with character designs. Also, make a little bit of a plan for yourself. Think about the character you want to design, the triumphs they can experience, and the down falls they will have to endure. Characters that struggle are a lot more interesting than more powerful ones. Music is also a good choice. It can get those creative ideas flowing and start to help you out of the slump.

Pretty much, put yourself out of your comfort zone and see how that goes. RPing should never become a chore but if you're enjoying it, then keep it up.

As for people. Pfth... you can't expect that comfort bubble to stick around your whole life. If people leave then look at others and try to get to know them. I've been on so many forums before, met people I like, and people I hate, but after being here for a few months I can say that I have a group of friends that I can really appreciate. That's the whole reason why people join a forum, to meet others. The role playing is just a common interest that connects us. Once you forget that you've essentially forgotten the key reason why people role play.

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

<Snipped quote by Suzuiya>

Hello friend! How are you?
And best you come in peace, and not pieces. I am too sleepy to clean up XD

@Carantathraiel

But I wanna pull out my chainsaw!

I mean... hello @Suzuiya. :)

Artifacts of a Lost Civilisation - ( Kitsune & NuttsnBolts )

That's all cool. :)

Some sort of Cyberpunk-Noir (welcome to help developing this idea)

The GM would be some sort of Contractor who works at the bar, and rounds up a group of skilled individuals to do jobs which will range from vigilante good, to morally questionable. And all these 'missions' will be based around some sort of major murder or robbery. I'd love to bounce some ideas off in building the city with you.

@Dynamo Frokane

I like the idea of a central Hub area for people to start up and work towards. It sounds like the ideas from Constantine and John Wick where the main character in those (Heh... Both Keanu Reeves) is an exclusive member to those clubs with the outside world not knowing what goes on behind the closed doors.

Talking about the missions, would it be an idea that a player could select their own contracts and maybe venture off on their own for a bit, or work together with another player for a joint exercise. Later on a character could cross paths with another character on a separate mission and choose to perhaps work together to complete it. It might be easier from a GM stand point where the GM is giving the roleplayer the option of what to do in the world rather than telling them, thus they as players can select their own course of action and get developed within their own characters.

In the end, if done right, you'll have a world with a spiderweb of individual stories that all connect back to this one club, much like a real life situation.

Artifacts of a Lost Civilisation - ( Kitsune & NuttsnBolts )

"Ah yes, the ship!" Jean spoke as if the thought of their objective had slipped his mind, but he knew all too well what he was doing and how he was toying with the young girls. "I suggest that you follow me." Giving a spin on his feet and standing as proud as could be, Jean led the two girls out of the Redlight Districts and to the neighbouring Docklands.

As the group walked they passed by the various stalls and buildings until they came to a secluded edge of the industrial area surrounding the harbour. Jean reached into his pocket and pulled out a small parcel, handing it to Alyon. "I don't doubt your skills Miss Fraya," Making a comment to the questions that she had earlier about sinking the boat before placing on a serious expression and glaring Fraya in the eyes, "My concern at the moment is that if you fail, then there is no back up plan. What you have in there," tapping on the parcel, "is a kilo of TNT. That should be enough to place a small hole in the hull."

Alyon peered down at the parcel, contemplating her actions and the fact that she was now holding a device that was considered quite deadly. Her thoughts raced ever so slightly before being bought back to reality when Jean pointing towards the end of one piers, "It's that one there"

"Right. Ok... Let's go," replied Alyon as she began to walk past the warehouses and down the concrete board walk into the docks ahead.

==========

Jean watched as the two girls ventured off on their task for Miss Thorn. He leaned up against one of the buildings, pulling out a hip flask from inside his jacket and taking a quick swig of the contents inside.

"So what can you tell me about the two girls?" a voice requested as Jean quickly swung around to see a hooded man with a blunderbuss poorly concealed under his jacket. His sudden appearance caught Jean off guard as he stumbled back a few steps.

"They are just a pair of venturers helping us out on a personal matter. Nothing more!" He waved his hand back and forth as if to say 'go away' while at the same time Jean's forehead started to feel sweaty as he was concerned about who this strange character was.

"Is that a way to greet an old friend?"

Jean froze for a second as he looked at the concealed face under the hood, noticing the slightly red glow that resonated from the left eye socket. "Toskin?" he queried, leaning over slightly in order to get a better look.

"The man you knew as Toskin is dead!" the stranger snapped, lifting his gun to the chest of Jean and staring him straight in the face. The heavy scars could be seen from where a mock operation was recently performed in order to remove the left eye of this individual and replace it with the red, glass eye. "But that is not to say that I don't live on," he spoke, lifting his free hand to his face and pointing to the eye implanted within his skull.

What do you think is the hardest part about RPing?

GMing. Without a doubt.

In particular, dealing with fools who think their character concept is nice and balanced and should be approved, when it is blatantly obvious it is overpowered and unbalanced and violates half the lore.

Keeping the plot moving along is also difficult, especially when you've got many players with disparate schedules and the IC plot is chaotic in layout.

@Ellri

What Ellri said, while anyone could technically be a GM. There's not all that many good GMs. Personally, the hardest part with RPing for me has almost always been dealing with people. Those that aren't interested in RPing with me, but claim to be. Those that seem a lot more interested in arguing and starting drama than doing anything else. Lately it's been particularly hard to remain motivated to RP at all, and I've asked myself more than once why I still do it. All thanks to having to deal too much with certain kinds of people or behaviour. I still got that one good fun RP I've been doing for almost a year now, and that seems to be the only reason I didn't quit at some point.

@Engel

I've been turned off GMing group RPs solely because of the difficulties I've had with running them (MIGHT think about it again if I was co-GMing). Creating motives for people, trying to prevent powerplayers and dealing with people in general. I remember one time where a player got accepted into a roleplay, but when it came to writing a scene, they converted one of the GM's races from a peaceful race into a group of warlords simply because he did not read the damn OOC!

When things go wrong as a GM, they can sometimes go seriously wrong and you're left there trying to clean up the mess while hoping others won't ditch the RP.

The second difficulty has to be with creating a decent post with good ideas. Generally for the first few pages it's easy, but sometimes after the first Act, so to speak, it becomes harder to think of what your character might do. I'll occasionally get a writers block and it really screws me over because I don't have any ideas that sound decent.

Artifacts of a Lost Civilisation - ( Kitsune & NuttsnBolts )

Thinking a head, what sort of plan did you had for the ships?

Do you want to blow them up? Beat up a few people? and things like that, or treat this a bit more stealthily?

Artifacts of a Lost Civilisation - ( Kitsune & NuttsnBolts )

Alyon and Fraya stepped out of the room and went to leave the Rose Garden in order to head down to the Docks and sort out the drug issue that the city was enduring. Upon walking through the front door they were greeted by a familiar face. A man wearing a jacket with gold trimming and lined on the inside with red velvet stood there next to the doorway like a waiting bellboy.

"Ergh... You again?" Alyon moaned as she recognised the man as the one that tried to feel her up earlier that day.

"Is that how you greet an old friend?" he chuckled, bowing over flamboyantly in order to both patronise the girls, and offer his services. "I am aware of what Miss Thorn has asked you to do and I will be escorting you, lovely ladies, down to the docks in order to direct you to which one of the ship that is carrying the troubling merchandise." He lifted his head, looked at Fraya and smiled as he lifted his hand, offered an upturned palm as if to ask her for the permission to hold her hand. "Can I also say that your outfit looks exquisite, young lady."

Alyon felt her stomach turn from performance that this creep was demonstrating. Without realising that she was getting frustrated with his motions, she blurted out, "And just who do you think you are?"

He stopped for a moment, turning his view from Fraya to Alyon and spoke out, " I am Jean-Charles. One of Miss Thorn's many eyes and ears within this city."

Some sort of Cyberpunk-Noir (welcome to help developing this idea)

I'd love to be in this if it gets under way. I'm more of a casual writer than an advanced so I'll have to try a bit harder to get involved, if that's alright? Last cyberpunk RP I was in I really enjoyed and I got about 20 decent posts in before the GM had to drop it due to personal life issues. Still managed to do a quest, drop my character off a 5 storey building and put her through hell. xD

I personally don't know how I would be as a GM or Co-GM. I haven't had much luck with running groups of people with several of the ones I started sort of dropping off the radar.

In regards to questions, I know that one person above mentioned magic, but I would prefer there to be little magic if any (Possible Psyonic abilities at most). Cyberpunk is supposed to be about a semi realistic world designed around technology and energy that has advanced yet kept that older charm, not fantasy with spells and such. A hover car may exist but it'll carry that vintage car look.

You could have a bit of a gangland plot where a group of people are slowly taking over a city, oppressing the people, bribing police, and performing thuggery to get their ways. Perhaps a group of people maybe smuggling in cybernetics, robotics or weapons into the city. Perhaps there was a war several years ago and war veterans with enhancements who are having trouble coping with life.

Hotline Miami 2 - Technoir by Perturbator

Probably good, but I'm getting that Hotline Miami vibe back. ;)