Concurrent Roleplays

[SIngemeister]

Hello there, lads and ladettes, quick question since I'm drunk and tired

Has anyone run interlinked two roleplays of the same setting at the same time, say a nation RP and a casual RP where events in one affect events in another?

[Animus]

I know it has been attempted before. They were both casual RPs though.

I do not know if it succeeded, if it did however, it would require a lot of effort from the GM to synchronize the events.

[Izaka Sazaka]

I feel this is a very interesting idea, though in practice highly impractical. The job of the GM, if done correctly, already requires a large amount of forward planning as to the events of the party and the shaping of individual characters. Adding the level of depth to the world required for successful synchronization (i.e. those little details that make it feel real) only complicates matters further. By no means do I think this is impossible, but it would take one hell of a GM with tons of free-time to organize, plan, moderate, expand, and synchronize.

[Rilla]

I've GM'd* three RPs related to my Allaria RP at once. But my attention was on one, and I let someone else(s) run the other two and the other two died. I think I could do it, if I focused on all three.

[Skallagrim]

I think if it is done in a way similar to Rilla's it might work. The main GM runs the main story line, while the other or co-GM runs a concurrent story line that ties into the main story but with different characters. It would be like LoTR when the party breaks up, the main story line continues on with the main GM and the secondary story lines runs with oversight by the main GM and co-GM communicating so that the theme consistency continues.

In fact I would run a multiversal event with Rilla since I am comfortable with his storytelling ability that if we did it, the overall story theme would continue while two separate stories ran concurrently perhaps even overlapping at times.

[Pachamac]

I had the idea before finally making my rp to make another at the same time, with events in that rp happening across the world from the point in my first rp, and having situations and events be different enough that they'd seem to be two completely different rps whilst seeding foreshadowing elements in both that related to the other, before finally having both groups of characters in each rp eventually meet and spawn a new rp/sequel where the storylines in those two rps joined together.

What eventually pushed me not to do this wasn't because of time or organisation, but that I thought it would be hard and unfair on players in both rps to miss out on story elements I'd be seeding in the other since I wouldn't expect them to neccessarily read the other rp, and so when the time came for those two storylines to merge into one, people would just be plain lost and confused.

But it was a neat idea.

[Genkai]

I've done it, I have had three RPs (C&C, Hackers and Dazzling, on the old site and they're being abbreviated now) in the same time with the same concept and technology but all with different plots. I've had two crossover (C&C and Hackers) but it was then done so that the Dazzling players soon migrated over to C&C itself due to it being more active and necessary for a plot. I enjoy doing it but it takes a lot of work and dedicated players. But it can be really interesting and enjoyable.

[Omega]

SIngemeister said
Hello there, lads and ladettes, quick question since I'm drunk and tired

Has anyone run interlinked two roleplays of the same setting at the same time, say a nation RP and a casual RP where events in one affect events in another?

i have not but that is an amazing idea.

[Kestrel]

I've got a roleplay split up in concurrent missions if that counts (also I'm kinda using the char you left in it as an involuntary talking puppet for a desert dragon.) But yeah, it's a fun, if a difficult venture.

[LeeRoy]

Hon hon hon! What a splendid idea, but it would take expert and precise chronicling to execute such a plan!

Perhaps an individual devoting to keeping the posts in line, applying a post that would be along the lines of:

In the nation roleplay a great travesty struck the kingdom of dingledang, and the forces from bloop invade from the north. Groups of armed military units and police officers charge forth past the characters, bumping and shoving. The CO in charge grabs ahold of Sheldon and spins him around, making the man face him. "You, either grab a gun and help, or get out of here!"

Somethin' like that, it's 4am and I'm both interested and exhausted, so there's that.