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2005-02-28 11:22:56

Iseijin here. Many of you were participants of the current RPG until the plug had been pulled on the “sick man” of the Board due to a variety of misdemeanors. Though all who were actively participating are affected by this on various levels let this not discourage you but retain it as part of your experience and I hope you focus on dwelling on the fun, the new enemies we encountered and fought, as well as the formation of new alliances and friendships; of our victories as well as our defeats. All proved to be irreplaceable experience.

Although many were overall courteous and generally respected the rules there were those who did not apply them to their posts. It would not be fair to point fingers but I’m sure you are aware of who you are. Whether your misdeeds were caused by naïveté or inexperience it does not matter. I know you were eager to involve yourself but that does not excuse you for irresponsibility.

Luckily, all is forgivable. We should all remember that we had our share of mistakes in our lifetimes so this issue is not to chastise but to teach.

I have created this topic with permission from Daveberg (again, thank you) to help both newbies and veterans alike on how to improve their RPG skills. The objects of consideration will be in session one at a time with me opening the topic with an introduction and a short explanatory/lesson essay followed by an open discussion for a few days in which you can ask questions concerning the current topic or offer you own suggestions and ideas. Remember, this is to improve the overall experience in future RPGs.

Below is the outline of what will be covered. I’ll break it down, starting with “Writing Posts”.



~ No one is taller than the last man standing ~
~ Males conquer, females rule ~

2005-03-02 07:27:45

Well, different storylines can't help but occur because not only are people stating from their own point of view but they could be achieving different goals or fighting.

Think of the RPG as a tree. There's the trunk being the main storyline but as the RPG continues it expands to different branches. All those sub-plots connect to the main storyline but they are taking a slightly different direction to approach it. It is not necessarily bad, many good books have more than one sub-plot, but I have to admit that if restrictions are not made then it could throw the entire flow off course.

That being said, maybe when you mods are thinking up the main storyline you can also start tinkering with sub-plot ideas. It would be a welcomed change of pace to the participants (many were left wandering around aimlessly or waiting for long periods of time) and that way they will have a lesser chance of negatively interfering with the main storyline if they are busy with another.


~ No one is taller than the last man standing ~
~ Males conquer, females rule ~

2005-03-02 07:56:38

Point i was trying to illustrate is, the stories and sub stories in the recent RPG were set and people were totally deviating from them. The whole point of the major story was for the aliens to find a host for their superfacehugger. You blink once and people are already saying that there's a queen and they've almost killed it. Same for the little sub story with the preds and rogue preds, everyone kept on trying to bend it and interfere, it's ridiculous. Patience is definately not an attribute to most people who tried to participate last time around. The moderators should start the next one off setting a main story with four sub plots, from there, the rest of the board should be able to follow smoothly.

www.thorndesigns.netdarkness of acheronD & R webz

2005-03-02 11:13:19

Saw the rules for the RPG Daveberg. Nicely done. It's set without being restrictive. Four posts a day is a generous offer. Ok, seems like everything is going in a positive direction; so far, so good. Lets hope that the whole 'storyline mixup' just becomes another memory in the Board's history and that it doesn't repeat again.

I appreciate that you (and the rest of the members) enjoy my 'tutorials' for RPG skills and etiquette. I'll be done with all six lessons way before the next RPG so people can have a chance to check it over and still ask questions.

With that note, I inform that Lesson II (Timing) is ready and will be up later today.


~ No one is taller than the last man standing ~
~ Males conquer, females rule ~

2005-03-02 11:20:41

heheh, yo go girl, definately shows something positive to everyone to use as a yard stick to follow during the RPG.

The RPG rules are basically just at a mock up state right now, i'm sure as opinions change and different ideas are grafted the rules will be adapted and even extended.

www.thorndesigns.netdarkness of acheronD & R webz

2005-03-02 14:59:20

(Please continue with your current discussions if they are not finished. I do not mean to abrubtly cut off.)


LESSON II – TIMING

Timing, probably one of the biggest obstacles in the RPG. Understandably it is difficult to set a good rhythm when forces beyond our control (such as school, parents, social life…) beckon us away from the computer. In this quick session I will try to help you understand the importance of timing and how to correctly apply it. Once again, I do not claim to be an expert on RPG principles so please excuse any oversight.

IMPORTANCE – There’s been times when an RPG has been thrown off course due to bad timing. Bad timing can be anything from impatience (a person thinks you take too long so they write out the next sequence without your consent), accidents (you writing your own post in response to the sequence only to later find that someone has already changed the course), to negligence (person is absent and writes out the next sequence of events right where they left off without even checking the current situation). The first two mostly happen during fights. It is extremely stressing to return to your RPG fight only to find that your opponent has taken complete control without you and turned the tables to their favor; some going as far as killing you in your absence. If this is the case, I DO NOT recommend the “don’t get mad, get even” rule. It won’t make matters better and could create unwanted aggression between you and your opponent either during the remainder of the RPG or through regular posts. The second type (accidents) is mainly due to unlucky coincidence and little can be done about it. No one takes blame for that one and if you are the one that gets stuck behind the other person then please consider using that edit button and revising your work so that it fits with the current storyline. While negligence is due to conscious irresponsibility and has not excuse. Please take the other participants into consideration when timing. It’s hard to get the hang of it but if you just be patient then this obstacle can be overcome.

HOW TO – One of the trickier sides of timing. From what I observed in the RPG people do have a general understanding of pacing but every now and then a kink develops that threatened to throw a storyline off course. Fortunately, this very rarely happened in the main storyline, it usually arose during fights (above reasons) and has a generally simple solution: patience. If your opponent was taking too long and you have an itching to impale them with your weapon, take a few steps away from the computer and calm down. There is a reasonable explanation why your opponent went AWOL in the middle of your clash and you have no right to backstab them in their absence. Most of time, your opponent will inform you beforehand that they are going to be out. Yet if you are like me and like to take your sweet little time writing novel-worthy posts (lol) then I guarantee that more than once you are going to post only to see that someone else put in their two cents on the situation and took the storyline on a different angle before you. Simple solution: edit button. Do some quick changes that fit with the plot and no one will be the wiser that you did a mistake; though I suggest you do it promptly, if you take too long then someone else could post their piece after you from what you originally posted and then cause a chain reaction.

In conclusion, timing is a problem that with tolerance and cooperation can be resolved. Be reasonable and fair, and practice patience where it is due. In battle, give your opponent a chance to defend/ attack. Don’t write more than two consecutive posts (double-posting) without allowing your opponent a chance to recuperate and strategize. It’s only fair. If you accidentally create a kink, try to fix it as soon as possible.

As a side note: I greatly suggest for all to start putting in your e-mail addresses on your profiles. That way, your opponent and/or friend can contact you with information and comments with greater ease. If you can IM each other, even better. Please consider.

(End of Lesson II)
(Questions, Comments, and Suggestions open for discussion)



~ No one is taller than the last man standing ~
~ Males conquer, females rule ~

2005-03-03 05:22:52

Very nicely done. I'm worried though that some may not take the time to read your comments out of sheer lack of motivation. Clear and concise, has been a good read so far. Keep at it iseijin.

www.thorndesigns.netdarkness of acheronD & R webz