Is originality dead?

[SCU13A]

I'm lurking interest checks and I just can't seem to find any that pique my interest or at least any with a crumb of originality. While advanced roleplays do deliver more of what I'm looking for, I'm not invested enough to write a story book every post. Now of course one might ask why don't I make my own, and my response .. I'm working on it! I hope to deliver an epic that will be unforgettable, but until them I'm looking for something to get the gears moving. If anyone has anything that hasn't been done or at least beat to death yet, please let me know. Or if you have an awesome idea and just haven't put it out there I would love to collab with you. Now this being my first post I may come off as big headed or whatever, but I'm no stranger to roleplays and I really do love stretching my imagination to weave wonderful stories as most of you do. I just get tired of seeing recreation after recreation every time I come on here to looksu for something. Anyways, leave me hate, suggestions, or whatever you please.

[Kagamine]

As it's been stated in many threads like this, fandom RP's (since that's what I'm pretty sure what you're referring to when you say "lacking in originality") thrive because they're easy to understand. They utilize a pre-made universe and concept rather than having the GM make up their own, which can be quite useful considering that way the RPers joining won't have to spend time trying to learn some complex world or setup- if they're a fan of the series, then they know all they need to know, generally. It's the same reason why overused tropes such as wolf pack, high school and zombie apocalypse threads are so common- people have seen it enough times and, hey, they understand it. On the other end of the spectrum, the more original ideas are harder to understand due to the very definition of original- "never seen before". It's new, it's something potential RPers have to learn, and it can be confusing, which is why the most original ideas, most often fail, while more overused ideas and fandom RP's fill up the forum. It's not that no one's coming up with original ideas, just that the non-original ideas have a higher success rate, and for good reason. Not a bad thing, just how it is.

On the other hand, if you think advanced has more of what you're looking for, then by all means, try it. That's part of why these divisions were put into place. I can see why you'd be intimidated by the intimidatingly-labeled "advanced" section, but it really isn't all that advanced, and the common misconception of the advanced section is that people have to post, yes, novel chapters each time they post. This is untrue, in the majority of advanced roleplays at least. Site-enforced requirements for the advanced section are two paragraphs per post. Yes, that's it. Sure, you'll see advanced RPers writing more out of choice, mainly because there's no level above that for them to go to, so advanced is where they land. But I also see a rather high percentage of advanced players not going far beyond the two paragraph requirement. Don't be intimidated by the advanced section- it seems to be the better fit for you, anyway. (Especially since casual has the most "non-original" ideas out of every section. Even more than free. )

[Altered Tundra]

Originality is like chivalry It's there, but it's hidden among the d-bags, and a-holes. In other words, you just have to know where to look for, and hope for the best. Usually, one out of ten rps is original, but they will fail for either being as such, or simply having too hard of a concept for most to grasp.

[Kestrel]

Now of course one might ask why don't I make my own, and my response .. I'm working on it!

You're actually... Doing something about your own problems... Hold on a moment, I need to sit and breathe to take this in...

Silliness aside; good! Excellent. You just shook my expectations from the thread title :P Anyway!

I hope to deliver an epic that will be unforgettable, but until them I'm looking for something to get the gears moving. If anyone has anything that hasn't been done or at least beat to death yet, please let me know. Or if you have an awesome idea and just haven't put it out there I would love to collab with you. Now this being my first post I may come off as big headed or whatever, but I'm no stranger to roleplays and I really do love stretching my imagination to weave wonderful stories as most of you do. I just get tired of seeing recreation after recreation every time I come on here to looksu for something. Anyways, leave me hate, suggestions, or whatever you please.

Advance has a minimum of two paragraphs, so while I can't guarantee you won't be reading them, writing entire novels for posts is usually not required. As for casual... Casual has a consistent stream of new topics popping up, so it'll look different enough in a few days.

Now original is a very vague term, because... Well let's face it, if you make an RP about a bunch of dudes shrink and go on an adventure inside someone else's body, that's extremely uncommon for an RP. If you wanted to write a kid's show, however, that is a very common episode. So you're going to have to clarify what you consider 'unoriginal.' Is it RP's based on fiction? Is it high-school romance RP's? Is it the standard 'small band of warriors fight against evil overlord' fantasy template? etc. Can't help you if we don't know what you're looking for wit just "That hasn't been done to death" because let's face it, in today's day and age, everything has been.

[Aragorn]

Honestly, it is much as Kagamine said. It is hard work to create an entirely original plot and world. And many people are reluctant to do so because it also requires a lot of attention from the GM to keep it going as well. I know this because I have done it and I was actually successful, in Free of all places! I think the reason why it happens more in Advanced is because they are more willing to put in the time and work to make such a roleplay bloom.

[Dorian Gregory]

In my personal experience originality is in every thread just as much as it isn't in any thread at all. Is that cryptic enough for you? What I am saying is quite simple. Even the Fandom-Rps seem unoriginal as they potentially use canon characters or a pre-created world the original comes from the potential new characters created by players or the new story created by the GM. But how original are these epic ideas that we create? In all seriousness, even the most original ideas are influenced directly more often than not from things that we have encountered from our every day lives. Perhaps we saw a television show or a movie, read a book that inspired this idea in our minds. From that very first point we start writing we are lost in a world void of originality grasping at whatever our minds can find which are ultimately influenced from things that we probably don't even remember. We use maps and character pictures as a basis for our creations from time to time, and the question arises does that diminish one's originality? Absolutely, to a certain extent when we use other people's work even as combined with our own ideas that are no more original than that other artists work. Even when we think our ideas are supremely original, they are ultimately influenced by an exponentially growing amount of ideas and influences.

On another note, if you are looking for something that doesn't seem so overdone and cliche`, I too am working on an epic tail that hopefully will be ready for an Interest Check by the first of December. From there I will give it a week before I get the OOC up and subsequently another week before the IC will be up. This is hopefully going to something attune an epic adventure that could ultimately rival an older FF game. But of course, that would be a pair of big shoes to fill.

[SCU13A]

I appreciate all the responses and I totally understand where everyone is coming from. I have been searching the advanced interest checks and these definitely seem to be more my style. I think I will release my RP under this section versus the casual one. I guess what was turning me was off were the fandom RPs but it makes sense as to why they thrive, I just never really thought about it. If any of you have any RPs that are in the works or you think would be something I would enjoy, please shoot me a link asap as I cannot wait to get started here. Thanks again everyone, peace and love.

[Asperser]

I appreciate all the responses and I totally understand where everyone is coming from. I have been searching the advanced interest checks and these definitely seem to be more my style. I think I will release my RP under this section versus the casual one. I guess what was turning me was off were the fandom RPs but it makes sense as to why they thrive, I just never really thought about it. If any of you have any RPs that are in the works or you think would be something I would enjoy, please shoot me a link asap as I cannot wait to get started here. Thanks again everyone, peace and love.

We currently revamped a type of multiverse for the arena. It has been done before, but it's not something that's been beaten to death. Link is here.

[Hagazussa]

Originality can never die, however as more and more concepts are made and explored it takes more and more work to find something completely new. I think that originality is overrated, every moment is original, different from the one that came before however if all we are looking for is something new, we might not see the fun that can be had in something similar to what we have already done. I have done many similar roleplays, but all of them have been original in their own way.

[SCU13A]

I guess the point I was trying to get as was that I am tired of seeing fandom roleplays. Just gets repetitive seeing the same thread over and over.