Where have Original RPs gone!? [Death of Originality]

[DeadDrop]

Just to jump on the status-bar train which never ends... Where have all the original RPs gone, have they dried up and jump off ship? Are there too many generic fandom rps. Personally I don't think so, but there are definitely more fandoms than original RPs it just depends on a lot of things but everyone being stuck inside is definitely contributing to the rise of dope ass OG rps and our beloved fandom rps as well.

Thoughts?

[mickilennial]

The amount of original-vs-fandom has always been the same (there have always been more fandom RPs). It has always been an over-exaggerated drop.

[tex]

Nobody RPs anymore. They're too busy being killing Gorillas and setting off flags that will inevitably lead to the human race's extinction.

[Penny]

Status bar forever!

[Rogue Sloth]

Possibly others like myself who moved exclusively to the 1x1 section? Most of the writers I come across there are advertising original stuff, so I didn't even know there was a deficit of original content in the other sections. I personally refuse to write fandoms (have even turned down requests), and I know a few other 1x1ers who are the same way, so it's a good spot to look for partners if you've got an idea you want to write about but you can't find a group of people who are interested in trying it. Of course, this is only if you're fine with writing with only one person instead of a whole group, so I'm sure it isn't a solution for everyone.

[Fabricant451]

I don't think it's quite fair to call a fandom RP unoriginal; plenty of fandom RPs are just more of an excuse to tell an original story in a world/setting that is familiar. Sure, call it an excuse to skimp on the world building or whatever but it's still at least telling a story that is new to that environment. Fandom RPs also have the benefit of attracting like-minded people, because someone who might be a bit on the reserved side sees something familiar and people who enjoy that and boom, that's how friendships form.

Original RPs still exist, but many of them either don't get attention/off the ground or flounder shortly after launching for any number of reasons. People are drawn to the familiar, but at the same time some people who make original RP worlds or settings forget to make it attractive to the audience be it by putting a tome of information in the interest check or showing a lack of confidence in the ad or what have you. Roleplayers are often creative people, but creative doesn't perfectly equate to 'an abundance of original ideas'. Even the best original concept RPs no doubt borrowed inspiration from somewhere, because that's how creativity works.

Originality still exists. But if people discount RPs set in fandom settings or because they don't like a genre then they might not find that it's still out there. It's like when people complain that the only movies being made are blockbusters. Sure, they're all over the place, but if you're just looking at one thing you're missing a dozen others.

[DruSM157]

There's between 6 and 10 original idea RPs on the first page of the casual and advanced forums right now, give or take what your measuring stick for "original" is. I think the biggest problem is it's not what some people want for original. Not everyone wants to do fantasy or sci-fi.

But yeah, fandom RPs will always invite people excited to write in them because they are fandoms. If I could get a fandom for my old post-apocalyptic medieval fantasy RP that would be rad, but sadly I'm still waiting to hear back from Netflix on the filming rights /sarcasm.

Fandoms are a known thing, so of course, people are going to flock to that. Original RPs bear the cross of having to build interest from the audience's first glance, and that's a more difficult thing to do, especially when a lot of people find reading background lore a time investment they don't know if they should do.

[Penny]

Possibly others like myself who moved exclusively to the 1x1 section? Most of the writers I come across there are advertising original stuff, so I didn't even know there was a deficit of original content in the other sections. I personally refuse to write fandoms (have even turned down requests), and I know a few other 1x1ers who are the same way, so it's a good spot to look for partners if you've got an idea you want to write about but you can't find a group of people who are interested in trying it. Of course, this is only if you're fine with writing with only one person instead of a whole group, so I'm sure it isn't a solution for everyone.

@Summer

I couldn't agree more and 99 percent of my RP is done 1x1. Its faster, its cleaner and as a general rule the writing is better. I also dislike fandoms and certainly would never want to right as a cannon character.

[DeadDrop]

Maybe it has but when I open 1x1 it's like Isekai Kink RP or Mommy enslavement Harem that mostly dominates the section itself. Some people have LEWD original ideas, but not the OG SFW ideas us normal folk enjoy

[Chuuya]

Disclaimer: I'm speaking as someone who joined recently. Take my perspective with a grain of salt.

I've spent the past (almost) two days perusing the Free, Casual, Advanced, 1x1, and Arena sections. From what I've been able to see, there was a rough balance between original and fandom concepts. For the most part (though I will agree that fandoms did seem a little more common). I also did notice that, in spite of this, quite a few original plots have borrowed similar cliches (ex: plenty of school settings, plenty of gimmicks involving supernatural creatures, plenty of city settings, etc). I don't necessary find that to be bad though as everyone has their own tastes and some genres are just destined to be more popular than others. There were some really, really cool concepts that I also came across while on here. One of them was Blighted Kingdom which I personally have yet to join due to intimidation factors.

I'd like to propose that original ideas aren't as uncommon as they seem, but plenty of them tend to borrow tropes and cliches that shove them under the radar. They appear less attractive because they have ideas used time immemorial or come with massive lore dumps involving the world. I feel most players want to feel like the belong to the world instead of acting as a guest, so it's a major turnoff to throw yourself into a world that's already been pre-established. Especially one that you had no impact in making.

I think they might be seen as less common because they just seem to be less popular, really.

[Fabricant451]

Maybe it has but when I open 1x1 it's like Isekai Kink RP or Mommy enslavement Harem that mostly dominates the section itself. Some people have LEWD original ideas, but not the OG SFW ideas us normal folk enjoy

@DeadDrop

You eventually find a way to weed that out and a good rule of thumb is if someone puts '18+' in the title and then tries to say that it's because they want to RP with someone closer to their age, 80% of the time it's because it's lewd o' clock.

_{But also people who want to do lewd RPs are fine, let people RP what they want}

[mickilennial]

Very few fandom RPs ask to write as a canon character, @Penny. It's about the setting, not the main characters from whatever show or book. People in Naruto settings don't want to role-play as Naruto, they want to role-play in places like Kirigakure with original or canon clans tailored to their taste.

[Rogue Sloth]

<Snipped quote by Summer>

I couldn't agree more and 99 percent of my RP is done 1x1. Its faster, its cleaner and as a general rule the writing is better. I also dislike fandoms and certainly would never want to right as a cannon character.

@Penny

Yeah, I've found the same thing. Also, my 1x1s aren't as quick to fizzle. I switched because a group RP I was invested in five or six years ago died, and I ended up continuing it with one of the other members as a 1x1. Since then, I've gotten hooked on how much easier it is to world build with a partner and create a whole cast of amazing characters without waiting ages in between posts for five other people to participate.

I know some people prefer large groups though, so to each their own. I just wanted to make sure the knowledge is out there that the 1x1 section is an option to look for original content.

Maybe it has but when I open 1x1 it's like Isekai Kink RP or Mommy enslavement Harem that mostly dominates the section itself. Some people have LEWD original ideas, but not the OG SFW ideas us normal folk enjoy

@DeadDrop

As a non-smut writer myself, I can promise you some of us are normal xD Usually people will include their interest in the topic name, so you can avoid the kinky threads if that isn't what you're looking for

[Potemking]

Some 'original' RP's are less original than the ideas presented with settings borrowed from fandoms. I think there's plenty of both, and that fandom has a definite advantage, and always will. Because it appeals to the simple crowd who doesn't want to worldbuild, and the types who want to put something entirely new into something they already loved.

I can totally dig an original setting, but a lot of them just lack anything that interests me to begin with, and then the plot itself leaves a bigger hole to be desired. This is personal preference, not calling them bad. I just don't particularly like what I see.

1x1 gang tho, that's where the best RP's are at

[tex]

I never minded fandom RPs, except for when players just make a carbon copy of a major protagonist and call it oRiGiNaL.

[DeadDrop]

<Snipped quote by DeadDrop>

_{But also people who want to do lewd RPs are fine, let people RP what they want}

@Fabricant451

Yes, well I'm a lewd community ally.

The search system isn't as robust as it is on a forum like Xenoforo so sometimes it's hard to filter the fun from the 'fun'.

snippy boi

@Hyde

I like to consider people who take tropes or inspirations from other mediums or genres are also OG, no bashing on our trope-gang that runs around here but y'all are cool. I think the writing contests bring out the best writers in the guild also.

[Penny]

Maybe it has but when I open 1x1 it's like Isekai Kink RP or Mommy enslavement Harem that mostly dominates the section itself. Some people have LEWD original ideas, but not the OG SFW ideas us normal folk enjoy

@DeadDrop

I don't think there are as many Lewds as people make out. I have 9 1x1s on the go, none of which feature anything more dramatic than a kiss and a fade to black.

[Fabricant451]

<Snipped quote by DeadDrop>

I don't think there are as many Lewds as people make out.

@Penny

There aren't. But people have a tendency to post about lewd interest checks in the status bar which is like advertising for your competitor and not even getting paid.

[Rogue Sloth]

<Snipped quote by Penny>

There aren't. But people have a tendency to post about lewd interest checks in the status bar which is like advertising for your competitor and not even getting paid.

@Fabricant451

That's because they're horny

[mickilennial]

Anyway, what I’m saying is for RPG and role-playing in general the divide between fandom and original is not that severe, and Fandom will always be more prevalent and popular. I’ve been in this hobby for twenty years and y’all are being ridiculous with the status bar and your assertions.