Elements the Game Forum - Free Online Fantasy Card Game

Other Topics => Off-Topic Discussions => Role-Playing => Topic started by: Silver Emerald on January 27, 2016, 05:22:28 am

Title: RP Interest (VR)
Post by: Silver Emerald on January 27, 2016, 05:22:28 am
It's been quiet around this part of the forum. Too quiet.

I propose to fix that and am willing to be the lead/narrator on a new RP! I'd like to hear back if anyone is interested; brief(ish) details follow below.

Non-story notes (mostly expectations of me and of you):
- If I ever need to go for an extended time, I will do my utmost to give warning and expected return time.
- I am often part of the so-called 'anarchic imagination' camp and prefer to not let numbers mingle with story; I will neither provide stat-sheets nor hold you to them.
- In conjunction with that, you are as much writers of this story as I am; I trust you to take pride in it. I also trust you to use your good sense and not break it for everyone (e.g. fairness conventions such as giving others a chance to react).
- Let me know if you get frustrated.
- I reserve the right to the seemingly impossible, the sometimes inexplicable, and the perpetual suspension of disbelief.
- Lastly, disclaiming: I came up with this story concept independently, long before I was made aware that more formal authors have done similar things.

Story notes (yay!):
- A number of people known for their skills with electronic games have been asked to take part in testing the greatest achievement of video gaming to date: virtual reality. No sensors, no headsets, no connections; this sophisticated setup actually folds through higher dimensions and sends players to what the minds behind the project decided to call 'superspace'. Essentially a bridge to anywhere and anywhen, even to the most fantastic of realms, when given the right coordinates. With, of course, many failsafes.
- For sake of safety and custom, testers are asked to describe a preferred form which fits with the circumstances in which they'll be arriving. For the duration this will be their 'character' and who they'll be on the other side.
- Despite the failsafes implemented in the system, apparently no one triple-checked just how much power the machine would draw to remain connected to this gateway of possibilities while also keeping tabs on the players. The loss of power and subsequent blackout was fixed easily enough. The loss of the testers' seventh-dimension coordinates was not.
- The players and the test facility have lost contact with each other, and the world to which they were sent is still there before them. While the facility struggles to try to reestablish the connection, the players have a choice: Try to return, or accept their new reality...their virtual reality.

To make this as relevant as possible, I suggest the Elemental world as where we're headed.

Questions, comments, concerns, all the rest, please reply!
Title: Re: RP Interest (VR)
Post by: Higurashi on January 27, 2016, 05:37:35 am
This strikes me more as an all-text RP, but how do you feel about in-game battles? Not hard to explain lore-wise if the players are indeed in the elemental world. I've always wished I had the time to reboot a smaller, more personal WoE. There are maps and other resources available in that board, should you want.
Title: Re: RP Interest (VR)
Post by: Linkcat on January 27, 2016, 05:50:17 am
I am interested.
Title: Re: RP Interest (VR)
Post by: Aves on January 27, 2016, 05:56:32 am
It's been a long time since I've tried a RP. Sounds interesting!
Title: Re: RP Interest (VR)
Post by: asdw152 on January 27, 2016, 06:22:17 am
I'd totally be interested in joining in on this, but I'm not sure if my schedule is ready for this. I'd be willing to try for the first few days.
Title: Re: RP Interest (VR)
Post by: CleanOnion on January 27, 2016, 06:40:13 am
I'm in, but I'm not interested in battling - sorry Higs.

Non compulsory battling is fine
Title: Re: RP Interest (VR)
Post by: Zawadx on January 27, 2016, 07:51:38 am
Sadly I won't be around for this, unless it starts two months or so from now. However, there are some guidelines I'd propose which should be stated in the rules to ensure it's fun for everyone:

1. After the RP has started, you should post out-of-character comments only in double brackets: (( )) . Spoilers could also work.

2. Don't post other people's character's actions before they have written about it. This is called God-modding and is just plain rude. I hope Silver will start with a very detailed first post, giving everyone enough to react to. There's no need to force other characters into actions.

So if my char is Sycorax and Clean's is called Tomato, and Clean has yet to post, I shouldn't write something like:

Quote
Tomato was gaping at the hole in the wall, oblivious to the fact that Syc was pointing his Lobotomizer at him. What a loser. Did the co-ordinate jam affect his brain or something?

Clean is the person controlling Tomato, so he decides if Tomato is actually dumb or if he would be able to dodge Syc's weapon. Therefore please try to not directly control other chars, as then it could quickly devolve into a chain of god-modding and ruin the RP for the person whose char is being controlled. If you do want to interact tho, you should do it from your char's perspective only:

Quote
Syc advanced towards the redheaded plump boy. ((Note that if Clean hasn't specified Tomato's appearance, we shouldn't even include this description)) He flitted from one shadow to another, sword pointed at his adversary, ready to charge him down with brain-damaging bolts of lightning. I'm not sure if I'll need lobotomy though. I've heard from the others that this one was chosen just to see how the reality affects dimwits. ((Note that here we don't include any of Tomato's actions directly. Syc has heard of him from others, which should be some NPC. If Clean wants Tomato to be a dimwit, he can make him. But if Tomato is actually a genius, then that opens up an interesting interaction with the NPC that told Syc. Is that guy jealous? Or maybe Tomato is doing some secret mission and is pretending to be a dimwit? Try to open up these interesting decisions for your fellow RPers when you interact with them. It's what makes RPing so awesome))

3
. Try to focus on your character's flaws. Having a perfect character who does everything right (a Mary Sue) gets pretty boring very fast. You could have a prodigal character who seems perfect to everyone else, but then highlight their flaws through their thoughts:

Quote
Syc knew what they'd call him. Freak! Abomination! It didn't matter that he could navigate the entire ethereal plain using his mind, nor did it matter that all the monsters there would not attack him and his fellows. They'd taunt him just like the boys in his class did, just like Ajax and the other patriots, just like... her. Syc suppressed the unwelcome name with a gulp, and set off towards the hill directly opposite their expected path. They can go through the same hell he did in every dream.

So Syc can be the near-perfect char who can win every fight and finish their quests with ease, but he does not want to do it. See how it adds action to the flow? You should have extraordinary characters, it's part of the premise for this RP. But don't have them hog the spotlight, just try to ensure they make the spotlight brighter for everyone :)

4. While you don't have to write thousands of words per entry if you don't want to, you should flesh out each post. Writing one line is response adds very little:

Quote
Syc sat down beside Tomato with a thump.

^ That could've been so much more. Maybe Syc could express how he has decided to trust Tomato for now. Maybe Syc could complain that legs are aching after a long walk. It gives Clean more room for interaction, encouraging him to talk with Syc and have Tomato decide what to do.

So you should try to write at least a paragraph for each entry. As a general guide, try to interact with other chars at least three times in each post.

Tell me if you need any help!
Title: Re: RP Interest (VR)
Post by: AD TienzuStorm on January 27, 2016, 11:42:06 pm
Hm, interesting. How long would this RP be? Like, is it a kind of thing where a lot happens in one sitting or is it just stretched out through the week?

Like, is it like a Weekly Tournament or War? :P
Title: Re: RP Interest (VR)
Post by: Silver Emerald on January 28, 2016, 01:37:30 am
Hooray for interest!

In response:

Higs: If individual players want to get together and battle as part of this RP, I would gladly welcome the addition to the story. But, just as with stats and dice, I'm not going to force it.

Link, Aves: Glad to hear it.

Asdw: It's not intended to be all intense posting, all the time, so I hope that works with your schedule.

Onion: As mentioned above, I leave that in the hands of prospective battlers.

Zaw: Thank you for the words of wisdom. These are, in a sense, the type of guideline I wasn't sure whether to bring to the forefront since I wasn't certain of individual RP experience, but even in the best scenario certainty can't hurt. I'll mention these in the rules.

Uzneit: More like War. I can't predict when everyone will be able to post, but in the interest of quality I have no plans to rush. So far as we know, we have :time.  However, I can foresee giving out a lot of information at once at certain points.
Title: Re: RP Interest (VR)
Post by: Naesala on January 28, 2016, 04:48:34 am
Probably in, I'll see how it goes. Experience GM here, so if you have concerns about direction and such, or if anyone needs character building help, count me in.
blarg: