The appeal of Pairings/Romance

[Disciple Cain]

Unlit is actually asking something impossible specifically because of the demographic currently dominating 1x1's. The entire reason that these roleplayers go for 1x1's with romance, sexual tension (and/or content), is because those are the RP's that they enjoy. If you are looking for a 1x1 without it then you make an interest check and wait for a response. I think you might be surprised at how many people respond through PM's. I'm pretty sure that the ones looking for RP's without romance believe they are a minority of some sort, and you're definitely not the first to ask this question, but they are out there and they are more abundant than you think.

Personally, I can't have romantic interests between my characters and another roleplayer's characters because it's awkward. I'm already fulfilled romantically and feel no need to roleplay a romance story. So, inversely, that states that other roleplayers do romance because they do not feel fulfilled romantically, so they roleplay it to experience it vicariously through their characters.

That's not everyone mind you, but it's a valid reason... especially given that I've heard that answer from a few roleplayers I've asked about it.

[Unlit]

You ask that question as if it's impossible to make a 1x1 RP with no sexual tension involved and have it be enjoyable.
You know what, just tell me where are you going with that question.

I'm not saying that it is impossible. I'm just curious to hear some ideas, really. I don't think the 1x1 setup really caters all that well to plotlines that explicitly forbid sexual tension and whatnot. Like... let me try to provide an example to explain it from my point of view.

I saw this one interest check a while back. I don't remember whose. But it was for a cop 1x1, and the characters were going to be partners, two male detectives. I recall the player stating that there would be no romance. They just wanted some partner bonding and some butt-kicking and that kind of thing... which is totally cool, don't get me wrong. But me personally... I see something like that, and I'm bored before I read the rest of it. I don't see the plot idea so much as this Big Wall that has already been erected (hyuk hyuk) between the characters before the game has even begun. Like... I don't want a 1x1 game like that, because I'm limited with where I can take the characters.

But... you know, take the same idea and change it up, and suddenly I'm more interested. Maybe it's an older veteran cop who's a chauvinistic pig and he gets stuck with the bright-eyed Girl Power female cop fresh from the academy. Or outside of my comfort zone... maybe it's still two guy cops, but one of them is gay, and they have to deal with unrequited feelings and whatnot. Or two girl cops with the same thing. Or... whatever. I'm just saying, having that option of some kind of sexual tension gives the story much more potential, in my opinion. That Big Wall prohibiting such things is not there. And the sexual tension doesn't even have to lead to anything for it to be intriguing, honestly. It just allows you to add some extra flavor and drama to all the things that could possibly be played out with the original plot up there.

But anyway, that's why I asked. I tried to think of some 1x1 plots I would enjoy that prohibited romance and whatnot, but in every case, I decided I would like the same plot even more if it did not prohibit such things. I thought perhaps since you had the grievance with romance in 1x1, you had some alternative ideas I had not thought of.

Personally, I can't have romantic interests between my characters and another roleplayer's characters because it's awkward. I'm already fulfilled romantically and feel no need to roleplay a romance story. So, inversely, that states that other roleplayers do romance because they do not feel fulfilled romantically, so they roleplay it to experience it vicariously through their characters.

That's not everyone mind you, but it's a valid reason... especially given that I've heard that answer from a few roleplayers I've asked about it.

I have to contest your "inversely" thing a bit. If you're going to make an assumption like that, you have to make the argument that all roleplayers live vicariously through their characters and the situations they play. Does it mean we all have unfulfilled lives? And if you go even further with your assumption, you have to ask... is every author that writes any element of sexual tension stifled from such things in reality? Do authors always feel unfulfilled in real life by whatever subject matter they choose to write about in their fiction stories? Are readers and movie-goes that enjoy certain themes in their fiction unfulfilled by those themes in real life? You know... where does the simple enjoyment end, and the pursuit for fulfillment begin, exactly?

Just some thoughts to think upon.

[GallifreyanOddy]

I happen to be a nearly exclusive 1x1 roleplayer. I do include the inevitable pairings in my search but only to help provide something for someone looking at my thread to see. In my search thread now, I don't have any of those pairings listed but only because I want to see just how many people respond to my search thread before I add them.

Let me give you an example. I have the Avengers listed as one of my interests. Well, there are many characters that can be played but I'm more interested in working on fleshing out my abilities to write as Captain America. Instead of having someone PM me and us flip flop around on what we want to do, I'll put up a pairing in my search thread. If I add Captain America x Maria Hill, then its obvious we may be do something based around SHIELD. Or if I have it as Captain America x Iron Man, the roleplay is probably going to focus more on their day-to-day lives living in Stark/Avengers Tower than about them hunting down bad guys.

Now, just because I place a 'x' between their names doesn't mean it has to be a romantic pairing. I actually enjoy play Rogers across from Stark as friends/buddies/etc. Its an interesting dynamic. That being said though, 85% of the time it is to indicate a romantic pairing I would enjoy playing. That doesn't mean I'm looking for instant-love or anything. If I want that I'll go make a cup of instant ramen noodles. That is instant love. I like a the struggle for each character to realize they have feelings or maybe not. Anyway, I'm sure I'm just rambling at this point.

I just hope some of that made sense. .____.;

[Doctor Tetris]

I'm not saying that it is impossible. I'm just curious to hear some ideas, really. I don't think the 1x1 setup really caters all that well to plotlines that explicitly forbid sexual tension and whatnot. Like... let me try to provide an example to explain it from my point of view.

I saw this one interest check a while back. I don't remember whose. But it was for a cop 1x1, and the characters were going to be partners, two male detectives. I recall the player stating that there would be no romance. They just wanted some partner bonding and some butt-kicking and that kind of thing... which is totally cool, don't get me wrong. But me personally... I see something like that, and I'm bored before I read the rest of it. I don't see the plot idea so much as this Big Wall that has already been erected (hyuk hyuk) between the characters before the game has even begun. Like... I don't want a 1x1 game like that, because I'm limited with where I can take the characters.

But... you know, take the same idea and change it up, and suddenly I'm more interested. Maybe it's an older veteran cop who's a chauvinistic pig and he gets stuck with the bright-eyed Girl Power female cop fresh from the academy. Or outside of my comfort zone... maybe it's still two guy cops, but one of them is gay, and they have to deal with unrequited feelings and whatnot. Or two girl cops with the same thing. Or... whatever. I'm just saying, having that option of some kind of sexual tension gives the story much more potential, in my opinion. That Big Wall prohibiting such things is not there. And the sexual tension doesn't even have to lead to anything for it to be intriguing, honestly. It just allows you to add some extra flavor and drama to all the things that could possibly be played out with the original plot up there.

But anyway, that's why I asked. I tried to think of some 1x1 plots I would enjoy that prohibited romance and whatnot, but in every case, I decided I would like the same plot even more if it did not prohibit such things. I thought perhaps since you had the grievance with romance in 1x1, you had some alternative ideas I had not thought of.

Looks to me that you NEED your sexual tension in your 1x1 or you won't enjoy it at all. I could name the best kind of 1x1s without sexual tension and you wouldn't like it because it has no sexual tension.
Me? I think that actually takes away from the potential since there's a good chance that the romance will seem forced and forced romance just looks awful. I'm not saying romance is bad, but when it's the entire focus, it just gets lame and forced rather than letting the RP flow more naturally.

[Holeypaladin]

The way I see it, 1x1 is pretty much the ideal place for the romance genre. The writers there can get rid of distractions and derailments, and focus on what is important to them: The romantic relationship between their characters. They can do so freely without criticism from other people in the RP regarding their constant focus on each other and "get a room" comments in the OOC. A lot of people really prefer romance plots over sci fi and fantasy plots, or coexisting with sci fi and fantasy plots, but with the focus being primarily on the romantic relationship.

So 1x1 is basically the ideal romance section. It makes sense that it would be dominated by romantic stories. I mean, where else would you put them? There are a LOT of people who like such things.

Personally, while I don't mind romance stories in group RPs, I don't see many of them in the RPs I've participated. I think this is largely because the 1x1 section is far more appealing to those writers who seek romance stories, so they hang out primarily in that section.

[Brovo]

Generally because romance is a very strong theme, a pervasive, basic concept shared across basically every social clique on the Earth save those that intentionally make part of their foundation in disdaining it.

1x1 Tends to be a trap for it especially because, to a large number of people, a plot with only two central characters must inevitable resort to romance.

Kestrel's response also holds weight.

If I were you, since you seem to be in the minority, I'd form a social group dedicated to gathering like minded folks who want to 1x1 without forcing it to be a romance plot. Maybe Sherlock Holmes & Watson solving a mystery, or a pair of sci-fi Bounty Hunters seeking out and killing a target. There's plenty that can be done without romance.

Romance just happens to be the thing, and the minority that doesn't want it tends to get swamped by the majority who do want it.

[Gat]

Unlit are you aware that your counterargument to Cains post is entirely invalidated by the last line of Cains post?

Yes the second paragraph was a generalisation, but Cain did clarify that it wasn't everyone, simply one reason among many and one that he had heard several times from the group he was generalising.

[Hagazussa]

I am not a fan of romance for the sake of romance, however I think that a romance that comes naturally can elevate a game to new heights. I am not that big a fan of games where it is already decided, before we see any chemistry between the characters that this will be romance, but when two or more characters comes together naturally and begin to form bonds between them that can be a very rewarding path to take in a story I think, but just romance for the sake of romance I can not explain to you, for that is not my thing.

[Flaming]

This thread reminds me of an old male character of mine who has been through many groups and 1x1 but for some reason he has gone over 10 years without having any romantic interest in anyone.
Yes I have other characters that are romance prone but romance isn't a driver for me, though I have to admit that it can make most 1x1 easier (I have played/seen exceptions were romance killed it).

I am not a fan of romance for the sake of romance, however I think that a romance that comes naturally can elevate a game to new heights. I am not that big a fan of games where it is already decided, before we see any chemistry between the characters that this will be romance, but when two or more characters comes together naturally and begin to form bonds between them that can be a very rewarding path to take in a story I think, but just romance for the sake of romance I can not explain to you, for that is not my thing.

I'm all for natural romance as well, it just seems a million times more enjoyable than pre-planned romance

[Disciple Cain]

I have to contest your "inversely" thing a bit. If you're going to make an assumption like that, you have to make the argument that all roleplayers live vicariously through their characters and the situations they play. Does it mean we all have unfulfilled lives? And if you go even further with your assumption, you have to ask... is every author that writes any element of sexual tension stifled from such things in reality? Do authors always feel unfulfilled in real life by whatever subject matter they choose to write about in their fiction stories? Are readers and movie-goes that enjoy certain themes in their fiction unfulfilled by those themes in real life? You know... where does the simple enjoyment end, and the pursuit for fulfillment begin, exactly?

Just some thoughts to think upon.

So allow me to derail that entire bit there by saying 'I already thought about it, I already know, I didn't dignify it with a response until now because I forgot about this thread' And also

'That's not everyone mind you, but it's a valid reason... especially given that I've heard that answer from a few roleplayers I've asked about it.'



It wasn't an argument. I was speaking from experience that that right there is indeed a valid reason for doing what they do. Other reasons are simple personal enjoyment, but that's hardly interesting to say now isn't it? But yeah, most of us here probably live unfulfilled (and possibly sad and depressive) lives in some way. Doesn't mean I'm entirely right, but I was really just making mention of one point even if it may be an outlier and not represent the entire community.

TL;DR:
I wasn't generalizing, if that's what you're thinking.