Ok, so I'm fresh on this site... but I'm a vet to PbP RP. I move around when things get dead in a story (as seems to be the nature of the beast). I guess I haven't found a good site that fits what I'm looking for, yet.
I stated this in an intro thread, but I will say it again: I don't do pre-formatted canon. I'm open to bits and pieces of concepts from other works, but I hate playing in worlds already laid down by a book series, tv show, movie, game book, etc.
I am considering putting together an ongoing RP in a loose fantasy setting. Not exactly medieval, but definitely olde world. The dynamics of the game would enable players to RP as a variety of races, to include ones of their own contrivance. This of course is all within reason of avoiding an OP race.
The standing setting that I have is that the kingdoms and empires of the known races had begun to settle on a new continent. Colonies have already been established for some years, so a method of trade and commerce has taken route, but is still fairly fresh and uneasy. There are also of course the native races to the new continent, and their respective villages, towns, etc. This is how I am allowing both for a defined set of races and their histories, and also keeping an avenue open for new beings and cultures. This new continent is largely an unexplored frontier.
I DO have a central theme for the players to follow along in, and have the loose beginnings of a story thread. However, there is no 'end goal' and as I said before, the RP will have the potential to be continuously open ended. Think of it like having a daily mission on a video game, only that in the PbP realm a daily mission can possibly take months of back and forth typing to finish.
Also, with this RP being continuously open ended, it has the potential for characters to come and go without being essential to the current storyline. It will be open to taking in (and losing) characters at convenient points in the story if new players wish to join in later on. I will not let character intro derail the current storyline, however. New additions will be worked in as is feasible by the current state of events in the RP.
This RP also has the means to branch off into multiple stories that are rooted to the same world. We may just open a new RP topic if this happens and share dually running RP's if that occurs. Also, I have an idea that as the quests that the players embark on are completed (or abandoned), that the players themselves may take turns GM'ing the next quest... or even have tag team GMs.
At this point, I am not divulging the opening plot and rudiments to the world. However, I will say this because I have proposed a fantasy setting and I feel that it should be put out there to anyone that may have an interest based on that:
This will also be a relatively low magic setting. Innate magic is non existent, no mages, sorcerers, or wizards. Magic is derived from charms and artifacts, and their power tends to be passive and typically with a low efficacy. The skill of the craftsman of said charms and artifacts is directly responsible for the potency of the magic, as well as the competency of user of these items when wielding them.
That aside, I am first seeing if players would be interested in playing under all the premise I have stated above, as well as the conditions that I am about to lay down.
I would expect players to post up every other day or so... no hiatus' of a week unless you give fair warning. In this case, your character can be temporarily adopted by another player or the GM. If your absence goes on for too long, the character stands to suffer a very likely death.
I also expect a certain degree of literacy, and variance of descriptive vocabulary. I don't need Shakespeare, but let your posts reflect the intellect of a good writer. :) I will be providing a scenario that potential players will need to message me an RP response to use as a filter for good writers.
before any characters are submitted, please do this first.
I want players to submit flawed characters. Realistic flaws = realistic characters. Do not be surprised if we deliberate back and forth a bit until a character is good to go. Also, try to avoid cliche character archetypes. Also, stay in character. This is a big annoyance to me personally when your in-game actions do not reflect the persona of your character. For this reason, I will require a decent description of the players characters. Physically, yes, but more importantly who they are, their motivations, their aspirations, their history. This way, we can more easily keep them IN character.
If I get enough affirmative responses to this interest check, I will edit in a link to the topic with more details for further inquiry of player interest. The more descriptive interest thread would then be categorized under the Advanced Roleplay subforum.