(this is also a test-thread -- some of our contest discussion threads aren't functioning properly, and I wanna see if the new one allows replies)

RPGC is once again looking for community inputs. We're interested in your ideas for future themes -- but more than that, we're interested in which ideas are super-popular, so we can give those some preference. Thanks to some forum tools, I think we can gather useful information using a very simple voting technique.

So here's how it works. If you have an idea for a theme, post it here. Any bonuses you'd like to see -- and also, any alternative methods for doing bonuses. We don't have to rely on staff picks -- there's any number of ways to pick winners, and we're open to all of them. ANYWAY -- post your ideas here.

THEN -- when you're reading the thread, and you come across someone's idea, you can 'Rate' it using the 'Thank,' 'Thumbs-up,' and 'laugh' buttons.

• Use the 'THANK' button to say "Wow, that's awesome, I wanna do that theme immediately right away, you're cool."
• Use 'THUMBS-UP' to say "Sure, that's a good idea, I could go along with that."
• Use the 'LAUGH' button to say, "Eh..... I'm not that into it."

everybody's vote counts. If there's something you're not crazy about -- BE HONEST, you're probably not alone! If you really like something, say so! The staff will take all these ideas and opinions into account, and we'll do our best to put something on that appeals to everyone.

SIMILARLY -- if you'd like to talk about someone's idea, that's cool too. It will eventually get a little hectic, trying to sort through all the comments on each idea, and it might be hard to track down your thoughts. So, idea-posters, consider editing your posts to reflect any inputs from others, just so we can look at things more readily.

If we do use your idea, you'll of course receive credit, and if you like, we can make room for you on the volunteer staff so you can see it through from start to finish. If not, no worries.

Haven't the foggiest idea if this has been done before, or if this would work, or anything really, as I have done about zero in this section.

That said, what about a collab-based contest, where groups make a long roleplay from their own point of view, which is then edited into a story that is based on the perspective of one character while including as much from the others as possible?

Basically, a story written by various people post by post which is eventually turned int one, big, easy to read story with chapters and the like.

Haven't the foggiest idea if this has been done before, or if this would work, or anything really, as I have done about zero in this section.

That said, what about a collab-based contest, where groups make a long roleplay from their own point of view, which is then edited into a story that is based on the perspective of one character while including as much from the others as possible?

Basically, a story written by various people post by post which is eventually turned int one, big, easy to read story with chapters and the like.

I'd be interested in seeing something like that -- but I'm not sure if RPGC is the right format, because of time limitations, and of course the huge participation we'd need to make that work.

But if (hint hint) someone were to set up something like that as a stand-alone contest -- maybe once or twice a year kind of thing -- that could be really cool to read. It would synergize really well with the RP sections.... dunno. It's a really solid thought, I just don't think we/I can do it -- but the contest section is big enough that someone could make it happen.

Fair enough.

Alas, I don't think I quite have the dedication (nor the experience, for that matter) to make it work.

And I think we all know what has been said about great ideas when there's nobody to follow through with them...

What about having contests based on successful RP's in the forum itself?

What I mean is this: The organizers look for an RP that is still active and has been around long enough to have established a lore. They approach the GM and suggest the possibility of setting up a contest base on the world and lore of that RP. If the GM accepts, they can give a break down what that world is exactly and take part in the judgement.

This could be a way to get the community better acquainted with itself. People would know about RP's they might not have taken the time to check out. Also, it would be a way of recognizing the RP's that ultimately give the RPG its purpose.

I'd love to see fear as a theme. Not really all that much to say here, just... fear. Could make for some interesting stories.

I like to see a post-apocalypse theme sometime.

I've been fascinated with the concept of spirits. Whether it be horror-based hauntings, or something more fantasy oriented like the spirit world seen in Avatar TLA or TLoK.

I'll just put down what you all thought I was going to say:

History.

I'll just put down what you all thought I was going to say:

History.

I am shocked and mortified

I've been kicking around a theme idea for a while... but in order to work at all, it would have to be sort of a surprise. The presentation is part of the theme. So..... vote on this for surprise theme!

<Snipped quote by Keyguyperson>

I am shocked and mortified

I've been kicking around a theme idea for a while... but in order to work at all, it would have to be sort of a surprise. The presentation is part of the theme. So..... vote on this for surprise theme!

I used my little givefeedbackythingymajigger to vote for this. But that first line was hilarious. So consider this a laugh. That doesn't count towards voting.

I've been kicking around a theme idea for a while... but in order to work at all, it would have to be sort of a surprise. The presentation is part of the theme. So..... vote on this for surprise theme!

Waitwaitwait.
Why not...
wait for it...

<Snipped quote by mdk>

Waitwaitwait.
Why not...
wait for it...

Surprise AS a theme?!!!?!

That works too!

I've had a vision for a short story that talks about the varying versions of reality and how the variance in individual perspective causes division in understanding. So, a place to test my prose and kuz I'd love to see multiple takes on that theme, how about a theme as vaguely termed as "reality?"

I think I have given my vote for every idea so far.

I noticed there was some debate about @ArenaSnow idea about the colab based contest. As I read the idea, it reminded me of a competition on another site. I was in a writing clan there and we had a rp-contest (completely the opposite of what is happening here XD) Anyway, in that competition the leader paired up all the entrants (I think with a randomiser) and gave a theme. We had to rp with this theme after discussing the actual plot and the characters we would use. After the rp was completed (I think there was a page limit I'm not sure) we had to paste all the posts in a google doc and provide the rp like that. The way it was supposed to work was that a winning team would be selected from all the 1x1 rp's, but we never got to that part as me and my partner were the only ones submitting an entry and the leader became inactive soon after. But I thought it was a nice competition.

Here's an idea. Rather than a theme, the contest shares a plot.

A knight and his apprentice travel to a neighboring land before being captured. Their captors are of a different species than they, and have them vastly outgunned. Using their wits, the pair escapes before retrieving an artifact that grants them an unexpected edge. A battle breaks out and the master dies, but his student escapes before returning home and raising an army against their captors.

Now, what I'd like to see amongst entries would be variations on who exactly the pair are, their goals, the world around them, the details I was vague on, and the aftermath of course. I want to see different characters every time, but basically read the same story. Maybe this would be better suited as a stand-alone contest, but I'd like to see something to the effect of: Everyone uses the same plot.

Don't know what you'd call the theme.

Artistic Liberties? Outlines?

our immediate thought is that it feels too restricted, @Nightrunner. What might work better without feeling so restricted, would be a series of keywords. to use your plot as example: Knight - Squire - quest - Powerful artifact - unexpected event.

our immediate thought is that it feels too restricted, @Nightrunner. What might work better without feeling so restricted, would be a series of keywords. to use your plot as example: Knight - Squire - quest - Powerful artifact - unexpected event.

Master and Apprentice would be kind of awesome, and we could tie one or two of the more specific elements into bonus challenges (though again -- we're totally looking for new ways to do bonuses and very interested in anyone's ideas)

Ok, thought of a strange idea in our sleeplessness...

In light of the (hopefully sole) case of plagiarism:
Stolen idea(s)

Ancestry. its very broad i mean you see how well The Assassins Creed series did it and it opens it to Personal stories aswell