Questions from a new GM

[Dulcet]

As it stands, I have a vague idea of how to GM; some best practices and the like would be greatly appreciated, but aren't the subject of my questions today (I feel that my basic knowledge should suffice, and that the learning experience I go through will help shape my style into something unique). Instead, I'd like to know some of the formatting styles and habits that GMs here have.

In particular, at the moment I feel that it might seem "cheap" to reuse text from an interest check in an RP's OOC. For once I can read over my work and I don't immediately retch at the sight of it (does anyone else read their work over and feel as if someone else wrote it [and immediately feel repulsed]?) I'd even say I'm proud of it. However, as much as I like it, I've been looking around and I've gotten the feeling that it's also not really necessary in the OOC. For an interest check, I've got the feeling that having some flamboyant show of story and style works, but an OOC should be closer to the point.

What do you think?

[Crimmy]

I'm the type of guy who transfers the interest check stuff and expands on it for the OOC. A quick and easy location to put stuff that might be necessary for people to remember. Also, in case someone feels like joining after the RP starts, if that is a possibility.

[Ellri]

@Dulcet
there's countless schools on this. some start over for OoC, some simply use the same thing as in the IntCk, maybe adding a few extra elements.

We personally made the two unique last time, but the many of the same elements were present. However, they were more detailed in the OoC version.

The OoC needs to have all the necessary information for the players (and if you've not got a filled cap on players, as well as look interesting fro potential players.). Whether you can reuse segments from the IntCk depends more on what you want to do and what quality and detail level it had, as well as the type and depth of the RP.

we can support both reusing and not reusing. In the end, the contents of the OoC aren't what make an RP great. its how its used that does that.

[Dion]

@Dulcet I usually use the 'setting' bit of an OOC as my interest check. That's because I generally make an OOC before I make an int check. Protip: most people won't give a damn. In fact they'll probably thank you for easing their burden of reading.

[ClocktowerEchos]

@Dulcet I've always made a good looking IntCheck and just used that as my OOC, works terrifically well, saves a lot of time.

As for formatting tricks, I personally love the use of double line breaks (the hr code) since it produces just enough of a separation without it looking thin or stupid. Intents are something I didn't learn how to use really under a while after I started but they can be terrific. A basic but often over looked tip is centering titles and images; the difference between an image on the side vs one in the middle can do surprisingly much.