I've took part in and/or read half a dozen 1X1 RPs and none of them were what people are describing here. The two I read, were the longest lasting RP's I've seen on this site, with good plots, realistic and gradual world-building and amazing character development and relationship development.

1X1 roleplays seem to be more successful than groups because it's harder to get a bunch of people who are all willing to write in sync and not give up when it gets difficult.

Of the 1X1's I've took part in, the key to avoiding smut is to bring more factors into the story, not just your main character. Discuss things OOC, lace background plots in that make the planet turn, spend a little more effort on cameo/side characters. It's easy to avoid "meat pounding" or whatever lol

xenon said
I've took part in and/or read half a dozen 1X1 RPs and none of them were what people are describing here. The two I read, were the longest lasting RP's I've seen on this site, with good plots, realistic and gradual world-building and amazing character development and relationship development.1X1 roleplays seem to be more successful than groups because it's harder to get a bunch of people who are all willing to write in sync and not give up when it gets difficult.Of the 1X1's I've took part in, the key to avoiding smut is to bring more factors into the story, not just your main character. Discuss things OOC, lace background plots in that make the planet turn, spend a little more effort on cameo/side characters. It's easy to avoid "meat pounding" or whatever lol

"Meat Pounding" is now my favorite slang term for smut.

Also, you are like a unicorn and doing what I wish moar of 1x1 was like. Good job!

Meat pounding, meat pounding, meat pounding!

Dervish said
The smut witch hunt was certainly one of last year's highlights, as was the aftermath of confused and angry people demanding to know what happened to their games. Good times!I'll totally agree with Brovo saying a lot of 1x1 is embarrassingly lazy. Every time I go to look, there isn't a damn thing that interests me and almost all the interest checks are painfully generic pairings instead of actual plots. And man, if you're there not trolling for your brand of smut, there's virtually no games to meet your needs.

I agree with the pairings that are listed off. Worst of all, since guildfall most of what I've seen has been rather scary for someone who hasn't been in a group roleplay in maybe three years. A lot of family pairings for starters, and then that generic sets of pairings with no plots. That why you have to fish through to find people who post plots and not just pairings.This could have been why some of the members have started an 18+ thing, in hopes to finding someone who isn't going in there for the smut. However, others quickly caught onto that and now those who put 18+ that are really looking for maturity and good stories are now being brushed off for someone looking for smut.

Something else I've always wondered. Does the high level of 'smutters' have anything to do with writing level? Personally, as someone who has no interest in smut, I've only had one person answer my interest check trying to wiggle in a smut plot which I quickly converted into something with having no possibility for sex and the role played died after a few posts. But I'm not going to lie, I'm a bit of a sucker for romance, but I can still very easily keep an roleplay without romance. Maybe it has to do with a level of maturity as well? Or maybe lack of their own lover so they feel the need to fill their creative writing with endless sex because they aren't getting any. . . .

I shall stop rambling now.

Touch of Insanity said This could have been why some of the members have started an 18+ thing, in hopes to finding someone who isn't going in there for the smut. However, others quickly caught onto that and now those who put 18+ that are really looking for maturity and good stories are now being brushed off for someone looking for smut.

That's super interesting. I thought it was the other way around. Whenever I saw 18+, I thought it was suggesting that there will be mature content, which I thought suggested that there was going to be smut. The idea being that they didn't want to do smut with a minor. I really am giving them too much credit.

jennifer lost the war said
That's super interesting. I thought it was the other way around. Whenever I saw 18+, I thought it was suggesting that there will be mature content, which I thought suggested that there was going to be smut. The idea being that they didn't want to do smut with a minor. I really am giving them too much credit.

Personally, I do an 18+ looking for mature non-smutters, but that may just be me, I've gone through a few who don't list 18+ in the title of their thread but in the rules, and found people who are looking for plots and are mature, but maybe I've just been lucky so far.

Silverwind Blade said
My question is thus: Why does it seem like the only kind of 1x1's that are popular are romance-related ones, and everything else is ignored?

Because if it isn't romance, it's a gunfight.

Why limit yourself to 'army of two' against the world?
-See also: USMC rules of gunfighting.

Foster said
Because if it isn't romance, it's a gunfight.Why limit yourself to 'army of two' against the world?-See also: USMC rules of gunfighting.

Actually, dude, even that would be a change from what I keep seeing o.0
And while I do see your point, non-romantic pair ups of any kind are popular for stories - buddy-cop duos are the first one I can think of, as are 'hero and sidekick' combinations too (Batman and Robin, the Doctor and companion, etc). While it might not be 'tactically sound' from a realism point of view, in terms of storytelling and fiction it's very popular and common to have a non-romantic pair of characters. And it doesn't necessarily need to be super-realistic all the time anyway.
But that kind of plot doesn't seem to be something popular, or at least easy to find in the 1x1 forum.

A lot of family pairings for starters, and then that generic sets of pairings with no plots.

This is what I see, from just looking at the titles, and even at the posts - 'X seeking Y, no Z'
Not anything at all to do with what's being played, what the story is, what the plot is, or anything. And the post is just a list of preferences for 'pairings' rather than any kind of ideas about story, plot, character or anything else.
Maybe I'm just giving too much thought to what I consider roleplay compared to what someone else does.

Silverwind Blade said
This is what I see, from just looking at the titles, and even at the posts - 'X seeking Y, no Z'
Not anything at all to do with what's being played, what the story is, what the plot is, or anything. And the post is just a list of preferences for 'pairings' rather than any kind of ideas about story, plot, character or anything else.
Maybe I'm just giving too much thought to what I consider roleplay compared to what someone else does.

I believe the reason for the lists of pairings could be for many reasons. Some people it is really just laziness, others prefer to create a plot with another person based off a theme they are both interested in, and some people may hide that they do have plots because they are afraid someone may steal it and use the idea as their own. Although, I do believe the lack of plots being listed is more of a laziness thing. The the reasons for this could be the level of creativity they have, the amount of role plays they have or had and simply need a small break from creating their own plots. But then again there are a number of people that are like 'I'm bored lets rp!' it makes it that the person is willing to do anything, even if it has a good plot or not, just to kill some time until something better comes along. There is also the factor of leaving them open so things aren't totally set in stone, because if they are and there is just one thing people don't like they shrug off the idea and go looking for something else.

SW-bladey:
Although Batman + Robin where quite a storytelling pair, like Sherlock Homes and Watson... or Biggles...

Robin kept having his fallings-outs...
-Dick Grayson saw Batman as too manipulative, and was way cheesed-off when he found out B-Gordon was B-Girl the hard way... as in, after the Joker found out and shot her in the spine for the lulz.
-Jason Todd... He kinda died... Then came back as Red Hood...

Speaking of which... Cpt A. and Bucky... F'ing Bucky... if you ever pick up one of those older comics, keep trying to remind yourself that a 'normal' 12 yr old kid (after going through boot camp from hell alongside Fairbanks and Applegate; quite possibly even becoming a SHIELD recruiter before Steve Rogers came-along) has a higher kill-count than a juiced-up super-soldier in nearly every issue. Also: Winter Soldier.

Silverwind Blade said
Actually, dude, even that would be a change from what I keep seeing o.0 And while I do see your point, non-romantic pair ups of any kind are popular for stories - buddy-cop duos are the first one I can think of, as are 'hero and sidekick' combinations too (Batman and Robin, the Doctor and companion, etc). While it might not be 'tactically sound' from a realism point of view, in terms of storytelling and fiction it's very popular and common to have a non-romantic pair of characters. And it doesn't necessarily need to be super-realistic all the time anyway. But that kind of plot doesn't seem to be something popular, or at least easy to find in the 1x1 forum.

I'd have to agree that the hero/sidekick duo-nature role plays aren't common in the one to one forum. Neither are non-romantic role plays, yes. However, I'd second those who have stated they can be found and it takes some digging. This is almost (but not quite) as true in the group role play thread - in order to find a role play which meets your needs (and, I have found in the past, partners which will ensure the story is going to be fun). That the least common denominator is more prevalent in the one to one role play thread, I dunno. Everyone has something they're looking for. I find when I post interest checks, it helps for me to give enough information which will weed out most of those who might not match up with me (otherwise, I end up with a lot of unfinished role plays) and to be honest myself when I read someone else's posts to see if I feel we would make a good fit. A "verdant green eyes staring into blah blah blah" post might indicate to me that someone is going to steer things toward romantic tripe.

Not that romance isn't a very powerful motivator in a character creation (or world creation, even) just as much is revenge, frustration, sadness, extreme emotions of any sort, being stuck, being lost, etc, etc, etc. Should it be the main drive behind a story, though? Only if you like chick-flics.

Does this mean there are NO good role play partners hiding in the one to one? Heck no. I have found some incredible writers who are willing to build a world and fill it to the brim with characters who interact in all manner of ways, from dealing out death to romantic manipulation to just trying to get a person out of their hair. So if you are unwilling to sift through the posts for someone who is offering something you are interested in as well, then set out your ideas (I realize you've done this), make things open ended enough to allow for collaboration, and I find putting down something in your stance on romance. To be utterly against it is close minded, however it is fair to give warning that you're not overly interested in it, that if it became a plot point then it might be something to entertain but that it's highly unlikely your characters would be anything but asexual earthworms (awesome characters, btw) just so folks know - at least you're still open if they make an earthworm interested bird who might just want to have a crush on his wriggling little segments and want to invite him to dinner. (I'm of the mind that it takes my characters too long to form a romantic bond, so it's best to just know that even if there was supposed to be romance, it'd probably never show up. Letting people know this tends to make them give up or respond in enthusiastic kind, at which point we have an accord and the game may be played.)

Edit: Just looked at my list of RPs and realized, top of the list is a retelling of The Highwayman. In that one, the romance MUST happen. Because how else are we supposed to kill off Bess? I mean, really. Bess'd be all, "Oh, wait.. yeah, he's coming and you're about to shoot him? Anh - go ahead. By the way, someone wanna get this gun out of my ribs? It's bruising seriously bad right now." So - plot point, real important. And SO fun!!!! So that was worth it to track down someone who had a mxf thingie going on. Seriously though? It takes a while to get a cadre of good role play partners. Keep it up and you'll find them.