What do you like to see in a roleplay thread?

[Minors]

This is just going to be some discussion about what attracts you guys as a community and individuals to getting involved in a RP. What attracts you? We all have different styles we like writing, different types of literature we like reading, so what kind of RP gets your attention the most? And not just that, but what about the RP? The style it is written? The presence of deeply developed characters? Action? Attention to detail?

I'm new here, but not new to the whole writing/roleplaying thing too much. Are you guys a fan of lengthy and descriptive or more to-the-point writing in the first post of an RP thread? How important are aspects of traditional literature and story-building when it comes to finding a good RP to take part in? Are they exactly the same for you? Or do they differ?

Are you looking more for a story to just be a part of, or an actual work of art? What's it like for you guys? Discuss

[Eyeris]

Hewow,

When I join an rp-community (like this one vs another) I look for 1) activity 2) longevity of threads 3) good organization by mods and such.

When I join an RP, I play casual, and understand I am playing a game, so I don't get overly picky about the writing style like on might in advanced games. What I do look for is 1) Inspiration, the rp story just gives me an idea for a character 2) room for creativity, I like an RP that isn't to strict, I would never RP in a game where the character personality is preset, or if the plot was given all away on the first page, I like the collaborative-writing concept, and want to be one of many story-writers in the game. 3) I like games where there it seems like roleplay and character interaction is of importance. This impression is given either form the GM and the plot, or the other kinds of characters being created. If everyone is just a bunch of combat stats, I am turned off.

[Kestrel]

Potential; what can I create within this RP? That is the most important thing to have. Can I write something I enjoy writing and can I create a character I enjoy playing within the context of your game? If not. Well, kthxbai. Simply put; don't be too restrictive but give interesting ideas and tools for me to work with. To take kadaeux' nation engines for example, you get a bunch of different traits to build a nation, army, lands, etc. with. All the components are pre-determined, but triggers a lego-like addiction. What can I build with all these pieces? Millions of things.

Another is; be to the point. If I can read what your RP is about within the first paragraph you score. If you have lots of depth behind it or not, that doesn't matter, but when I click an interest check I wanna know the following; what is this about? Don't try to work out an interesting hook more than one or two sentences and for fuck's sake don't start with a creation myth. Essentials first, explanations and background later.

[Hagazussa]

For me it is the setting, that be a original or a cannon setting, if I like the setting then I am interested, then I will look at the plot for that specific RPG and see if that interests me. Generally I like horror, drama, and a little bit of action and romance, but this is less important than me liking the setting itself.

[Echoes of Old]

Kestrel said:

Potential; what can I create within this RP? That is the most important thing to have. Can I write something I enjoy writing and can I create a character I enjoy playing within the context of your game? If not. Well, kthxbai. Simply put; don't be too restrictive but give interesting ideas and tools for me to work with.

I think that's an excellent point, and one that raised a couple red flags in an RP of mine. The players were discussing amongst themselves about the house that the RP is set in, and alternate entrances. (I had only ever defined one.) So one of the players paused and asked me "What's the answer here." to which I replied, "Ive no idea. You already know more about the place than I do."

It's an RP focused on Character Development, so It's all about the locales, not the plot. So I INTENTIONALLY left a few blank slates lying around for people to color with. Besides, some of the best ideas I've had were formulated when I had someone else to work with. On top of the fact that I have the philosophy that it's the player's game, I'm just there to moderate it and keep the story moving.

Eyeris said:

Hewow,

When I join an rp-community (like this one vs another) I look for 1) activity 2) longevity of threads 3) good organization by mods and such.

When I join an RP, I play casual, and understand I am playing a game, so I don't get overly picky about the writing style like on might in advanced games. What I do look for is 1) Inspiration, the rp story just gives me an idea for a character . . . 3) I like games where there it seems like roleplay and character interaction is of importance. This impression is given . . . form the GM and the plot . . . If everyone is just a bunch of combat stats, I am turned off.

I think you have a great couple points here, Connecting to the game is essential, and connecting to the other players is just as essential. I agree, the folks in Advanced need to pull the sticks out of their asses and have a good time. But all flaming aside, Player connection IS important. If the GM is gonna be a total bitch to you, find a new RP cause they're a BAD GM. And yeah, Combat in PbP especially really breaks flow, so I understand why you aren't interested in that, not to mention the God-Mod wars that occur in PvP combat.

[VioletWhirlwind]

I have rather...specific things I look for in RPs, but before I get to that, the basics: I like stories that are action/adventure, but not heavily combat-oriented, with some character-driven, and some plot-driven action. High attention to detail is nice, but not necessarily needed, I like to kinda get a balance, enough setting description so that I can mentally see it and get into it, but not so much that reading the opening gets boring. Some romance is ok, but it shouldn't be the only thing in the RP, as I get awkward around too much lovey-dovey stuff. (and yes I'm a girl. we don't ALL like romance. XP)

As for those specifics I mentioned...Usually something with anthro/furry/animal people. Some humans are ok, but I personally find a story with only humans boring, so I won't be joining any of those. On the flip side, RP's focused around quad-form ("feral") animals I can't seem to get into for some reason, and I'm not really sure why. I like reading stories about "feral"-form animals about as much as for anthro, but I just can't seem to get into playing in them. *shrug*

Also, though I will try other plotlines, what really gets my interest most is escape- or resistance-type plots. I have been meaning to try out maybe making a "quest for the cure" type plotline, but I haven't really thought of anything for that yet. And I don't really see many of those show up as RP's anyway. Which might be an indication of a good plot to GM...but, I kinda distrust my ability to be a GM at this point. I've GM'd before, but....not here, and the last one I did kinda sucked. *shrug*

Anyway, that was probably too much info, as I kinda rambled off-topic a bit, but...yeah.