Lillian: What do you feel is your most successful RP?
Gerontis: I think that would be Naruto : The Rising Generation ( or sometimes called : Naruto : Generations, by some )
Lillian:What would you say makes it successful?
Gerontis: I think or believe that it would be that I always try to be there for that RP. Trying to help the members with their questions for characters, plots and such. But I rather think it's successful because I had real great help of some people, who I really started to like and formed some good friendship with. Of course I also would like to mention that I had some great help of a Co- Head GM. Some would say he was the harsh one and I the friendly one and with the help of other people, Generations became a rather successful RP
Lillian: So what defines success for you?
Gerontis: Hhmm, I think that would be that a good number of the RP'ers like the RP and want to be active to write for it. Also I believe that once a RP has become very active and then to slow down, it always will be around. To be honest, I have thought sometimes to give it up and just scream of frustation at some points. But with trying to be always polite and patient ( or at least acting like I was) I think people still wanted to continue with it. And so, even while the RP might be progressing slow, it's always alive and people are still enjoying it. That is what I think is what a RP needs to succeed in : Letting people have some fun with each other and their characters in the story
Lillian: How much control of the story do you allow your players?
Gerontis: Hhmmm, I am the one who made up most of the plot in the begin. It's like that I always want to set different chapters/arcs in the RP. To define important events and such. But if somebody has a great idea, I am always open to it and ready to talk about it with the other person how we can include it in the story. Of course, if it involves other people's characters, I also want to be sure they would like the idea as well.
Lillian: How clearly do you plot your RP, do you plan for an end?
Gerontis: I often plan for some time, like for four or five arcs but I would like to keep it open, since planning a end means that the characters have a limited time. I dislike to have to plan a end, because that would mean it's a end to the characters who some are just going to like or love to much to see them ''end'' in a story
Lillian: Do you take a hands on or hands off approach to GMing? i.e. do you have characters you run that are a little bit more than NPC's
Gerontis: I have some people that help with all kind of tasks. Often I say that I am lazy and let people make jokes about it, but while I have some good experience with leading a RP, I always like it when more people help in it. I even have a PA (personal assistent ) to help me with some little tasks and for characters, it's the same story. I let some GM's control some important NPC's, that I have some free time to focus on other stuff. Also, that would make things more fun, since then more different kind of characters may pop up in the story and I like to see how people react on that
Lillian: So you don't have a PC of your own?
Gerontis: I do, even have more then one, after all, I want to join with the fun and also control the story a bit through my characters.
Lillian: How have you handled the inevitable dropouts?
Gerontis: Well, when I made Generations with a very good friend of mine, we had had given some thought about that. There had been a rule already that somebody needs to make a rookie before he could ask for a more powerful character, but we felt that we need to see that one would be active enough or if we trusted that person enough. In that way, we wouldn't have a lot of powerful characters being inactive and once somebody has been inactive or if I get the idea that they are maybe dropping out, I am then already preparing to make sure that it won't hurt the progress of the story much.
Sadly, I have already had some situations where we even had to kick people out of the RP because they didn't behave well, even after several warnings.
Lillian: Well that leads into my next question: How you do generally handle Problem players?
Gerontis: Well, most of the time some are making jokes ( which I find funny myself) that I am too nice to handle them, but like I said, we already had some Problem players. As for how I handle them, I often try to talk first. Why they are acting like that, what they think could be better and see if we can sort things out. Just some questions about their point of view. Often I also call somebody of the GM team or somebody who I highly trust to talk with me and the Problem Player. To kind of making it like a normal talk and not a talk that might make me decide to kick them out. While I thought it was a good idea, I also noticed it doesn't always help.
Lillian: Do you do this via PM or in the OOC?
Gerontis: Depends. We have a chat where some players come in and through Skype we also have a chat. But if there is no other option, I do it through the PM. I rather keep the OOC clean from such subjects.
Lillian: I guess what I meant was do you have such discussion out in the open or privately?
Gerontis: Privately, though if the Problem player is talking about somebody else I often ask if the person, who was named, want to join the talk and then see how it goes.
Lillian: And this is largely successful?
Gerontis: Well, so far the Problem Players ( we had 3 very annoying ones) have all been kicked out but It has been successful, as one of the Problem Players had some trouble with my (cute) PA . So I had made a chat with them and talked a bit though it was more a talk between them, with my PA trying to be polite as she could be, and then they came to a result. It resulted in some good agreement, though the Problem Player still didn't made up his promises and was thus kicked out of the RP. Oh, there has been one situation where I was being the person who had some trouble with a Problem Player. He said I was kind of a Hitler or such. So I asked if the other Head GM, my very good friend, at that time when he hadn't resigned as Co-Head-GM, wanted to talk with us. So he did and it kinda resulted into a straight kick. Seeing that the Problem character began to call me a Hitler and the other Head GM a Stalin.
Lillian: So teamwork and a firm hand. That didn't sound like he was willing to work with you.
Gerontis: Well, at first it seemed like he, and also the others did but once the talking advanced, they seemed to behave still...Well, childish and foolish might be not nice to say but for the moment I have no other words for it, other then maybe some more harsh ones to name how they were acting. Though I must admit while I have some good patience, once they have crossed the line (which means one has really acted bad, because those who know me know that I can take a lot before I get a little pissed), it's hard to change my mind with simple promises, once they have crossed the line, thus it can be said that I was maybe sometimes too harsh. Though some say that I took the right action with acting harsh against the problem makers.
Lillian: What was your biggest mistake and what did you learn from it?
Gerontis: Well, I would love to say to let one person say that I was cute at sometimes and now kind of regret it, because now my RP'ers joke sometimes that I am more cute then cool. But to be serious I think my biggest mistake is that I was sometimes too nice and it had let some little problems, though they were fixed soon.. By letting some situations get bigger, before I took a action to subdue it or dealing with some inactive people, who were slowing down the progress of the story, but still hoping that they would come back active when they were promising that I have learned that I should take a decision sooner and also be sure in it, so that others won't suffer of me trying to be nice to some inactive player.
Lillian: How do you strike a balance with such inactive players? I know it is something I struggle with, what is too much nagging?
Gerontis: Well, at first I just had to trust what some people said about others, but now with an active team of RP'ers, I have a good idea of who is active and who is not I often try to put the active together, but also need to make sure it's logical to have the characters of the active people being put together. And while I dislike inactive players, I give them some time to come up with a post and if they come up with something like : The story is going too fast for me, what is happening? Then I am always there to answer them back with a little summary and thus giving them little excuse to say that they can't do a thing. However, if they have a legit reason why they are inactive, college or private things, I let them be inactive for some time and try to make sure their characters move more to the back, thus not freezing up other ( active) people. Though I always ask if the person who says he/she is going to be inactive for some time, to keep me updated on their situation ( if they can come back or how long that will take). So far, it has been working out great, as I even get a PM of some who are just going to be 2 days away, but wanting me to know that they will try to come back as soon as they can. But to admit I still listen much to people who I trust when they say somebody is quite inactive or drops a RP quickly. And then we do some screening to see if that is true or give them a chance with a rookie, to test out how active they are. We often give them a chance if the results of the screening isn't really showing anything.
Lillian: What would you say is your greatest strength as a GM?
Gerontis: I think that would be that I always try to be polite and listen to what people say. Helping people with their questions, characters, (sub-)plots is also what I love to do and think that is what many of the RP'ers that join my RP appreciate...I hope at least.
Lillian: What would be the best bit of advice you would give a new GM about how to run a successful RP?
Gerontis: I think that would be : Be always ready to help the players that join your RP and be open for their ideas and suggestions. Don't try to arrange everything one your own. Even when you think you can handle it all. Try to get some help of experienced or people who can be trusted. And always try to make fun with them, both in the IC as in the OOC or where else. After all, without a fun group, where a GM can even take some jokes of his players or where players can't make a laugh with each other, there can't be a fun RP. At least, that is what I think and feel about it.
Lillian: Anything else you want to add?
Gerontis: Well, first of all, I want to say thanks to a number of people who are part of the Generations RP, as we have formed a little group that chat a lot with each other and make a lot of fun with each other. I want to thank them all for being there and supporting the RP with their advice, love and such. Not sure what I would be without them.
Also want to say some special thanks to some people, who have meant a lot of me these last times.
Doc : ....DIE~ ( He understands why).
Holy : Stop saying I am adorable, while we both know who is the adorable one ( you are the adorable one). Thanks for helping me out with the little tasks. Love you <3
Hillan : Bro..I can't think of a more better Swedish friend then you. Pimpcane or back of my hand? <3
Verbande : I don't have a harem..Really, I don't have one. Keep up the awesome work ( except for the Harem)
Ganryu : Your one of the nicest person I know...Not evil at all..Except for your plotting then You rock Gan!
Fiery : Love you as well, thanks for you advises and the fact that we always agree...About every subject we talk about.
Yoshua : As long you don't take out your tools, you’re awesome.
Sloth : Best rival-friend I can think of as a Sloth.
Roran : Also wanted to thank you for you're cheerful and funny mood and that I always enjoying a RP when you are around. Thank you for that mate.
Vuur : Thank you for everything mate...Really, thanks for always being there for me and helping me out. Know we don't always agree, but we always end up laughing about some silly things and though you have stepped down from being a Head GM, I still consider your words and advise as one...I wouldn't want to think about how far I would be without your support.
Rest of the Generations RP : Thank you all for being there and love you all...
Last words : Pancakes <3 ( They understand why ^^ )
Originally Posted by Sophistikit
Was quite fun to read :P
. I totally would have done the same thing.
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