RPing: Continuing or Taking RPs?

[Drakel]

So recently I learned that this is actually a thing. An Interest check is made, one that the GM puts their heart and soul into, even for the world building and such but life takes them away or they disappear or something and hasn't shown up for a week to a month even though you know he'll be back soon by looking back at their history or because they are a commonly seen user in the guild. Out of the blue a member posts in the RP with something like:

Member Quotes said
"Looks like OP abandoned thread,so maybe someone could take his place?"

"The GM seems to not care about this guys. I think I should just remake the thread and GM it myself."

"Hey, new here but the GM seems to be gone for some time. I hope no one minds if I take this RP and remake it for myself and some friends."

Any form/mix of these are said. To add fuel to the fire they basically copied and pasted the entire OP and remade the thread for themselves to GM.

Another thing I am also seeing a lot on the guild is when the GM is gone a member would take over after the RP started and would GM and handle or take care of things until the GM is back without permission and after some time they'd make the RP theirs due to GMing it for so long without the OP GM being there.

Looking back at these two examples you can tell that the first example is taking the RP while the second is continuing. So my questions are as follow:

Is there really a major difference between the two? Why/Why not?

What are your Opinions on these examples?

Should either of these Be allowed in the Guild? Why/Why not?

If you were GMing would you be cool with either of these happening to your RP? Why/Why Not?

Would you be cool if other members did this to RPs that are NOT yours (but you are in)? Why/Why Not?

I'll post my own personal opinions on the issue later on, after some responses have been made.

[Rilla]

Drakel said Is there really a major difference between the two? Why/Why not?

Not particularly, in either event, it's taking the RP over. Either before it started or after.

Drakel said What are your Opinions on these examples?

Doesn't bother me. If I start something and life takes me away, either before I've started it, or after, then I'd be glad if someone took it over. What am I gonna do? Have a hissyfit because they liked it enough to continue without me?

Drakel said Should either of these Be allowed in the Guild? Why/Why not?

Yes. There is really nothing wrong with it, unless you own a copyright to the RP.

Drakel said If you were GMing would you be cool with either of these happening to your RP? Why/Why Not?

Yep. I've given up a Bleach RP because I couldn't do it anymore.

Drakel said Would you be cool if other members did this to RPs that are NOT yours (but you are in)? Why/Why Not?

Yeah. If I joined the RP because I liked it, it likely doesn't matter the GM - unless it's someone I've had problems with before.

[Dervish]

If somebody ripped off my shit without asking me for permission first, I'd be mighty pissed. Not only did you put no effort into something I put a lot into, but you're claiming it as your own and you're not going with the direction I had planned. Anybody stealing somebody else's work is a parasite who needs to pull their heads out of their asses and come up with their own shit.

That said, I'm not opposed to people continuing with a game I started until I get back with the understanding I'm coming back, or people making their own game with the same players that's not just a lazy copy of mine.

Of course, there's really not much you can do to stop it from happening unless they clearly just copy/pasted your game. Then I'm pretty sure that falls under plagiarizing and the mods can shut it down.

[idlehands]

I took over an RP that a GM quit but I had his permission and the players agreed. It's not the biggest or busiest but it's still going, even survived the guildfall, mostly because the players loved the characters involved and the story we are building together.

I think the key is to get permission or if the GM just vanishes, then put it to vote among the players or the people interested. If you have to make a new thread, then don't just cut and paste it, make it your own.

[Dervish]

idlehands said
I took over an RP that a GM quit but I had his permission and the players agreed. It's not the biggest or busiest but it's still going, even survived the guildfall, mostly because the players loved the characters involved and the story we are building together. I think the key is to get permission or if the GM just vanishes, then put it to vote among the players or the people interested. If you have to make a new thread, then don't just cut and paste it, make it your own.

Also, this.

[Kestrel]

Depends.

I wouldn't like it if someone took over or recreated one of my RP's without permission, but I wouldn't put effort in getting it shut down either. Honestly, I'd be surprised if someone unable to come up with their own concept to keep a game alive for more than a couple weeks, if that at all. It's good flattery (because let's be honest here, what is imitation?), but no competition.

If I would have to leave for a very large window of time, I'd allow my players to take over my RP. It's their game too, after all.

[Pachamac]

I think if an rp is still within the interest check phase, then without any GM permission there shouldn't be any effort by players to take it over. Use the interest check for inspiration, but go make your own instead and actually make it your own.

But for rps that are already underway, and ones in that have been going on a long time in particular... if a GM just vanishes for whatever reason, then... I suppose after a grace waiting period, I think it would be okay for the players to continue on, whether by deciding on a GM to lead up until the moment the actual GM returns, or to just keep soldiering on as best they can. If the players have put in the work and effort and enjoyment to get that far into an rp, why should they be forced to stop because the GM dissapears?

[vancexentan]

Dervish said
If somebody ripped off my shit without asking me for permission first, I'd be mighty pissed. Not only did you put no effort into something I put a lot into, but you're claiming it as your own and you're not going with the direction I had planned. Anybody stealing somebody else's work is a parasite who needs to pull their heads out of their asses and come up with their own shit. That said, I'm not opposed to people continuing with a game I started until I get back with the understanding I'm coming back, or people making their own game with the same players that's not just a lazy copy of mine.Of course, there's really not much you can do to stop it from happening unless they clearly just copy/pasted your game. Then I'm pretty sure that falls under plagiarizing and the mods can shut it down.

Expanding on that idea is when someone doesn't like your idea and then three other interest check spawns up out of nowhere a couple hours after you make it. I had a power rangers rp for example and a rosario x vampire roleplay as well that had that happen to them. I felt like someone kicked me in the nuts by doing so. It's like 'Hey you're roleplay isn't the way I want it to be so I'll make my own.' I wouldn't mind if it was a couple days later but they popped up literally the same day after I put mine up first.

[Rilla]

Lots of similar RPs tend to pop up around the same time. I wouldn't really mind it, honestly, if someone say made a Bleach RP because they didn't like Rising Stars, and how it was set up. More power to them. I'll tell anyone, anytime, you don't like the way an RP is run, make your own.

[Kaga]

Dervish said
If somebody ripped off my shit without asking me for permission first, I'd be mighty pissed. Not only did you put no effort into something I put a lot into, but you're claiming it as your own and you're not going with the direction I had planned. Anybody stealing somebody else's work is a parasite who needs to pull their heads out of their asses and come up with their own shit. That said, I'm not opposed to people continuing with a game I started until I get back with the understanding I'm coming back, or people making their own game with the same players that's not just a lazy copy of mine.Of course, there's really not much you can do to stop it from happening unless they clearly just copy/pasted your game. Then I'm pretty sure that falls under plagiarizing and the mods can shut it down.

[2] to all this.

Someone copy/pastes my intchk? I'll be mad. I'm forced to abandon an RP? I'd be honored for the other players to keep it going in my absence.

[Jig]

Pachamac said
I think if an rp is still within the interest check phase, then without any GM permission there shouldn't be any effort by players to take it over. Use the interest check for inspiration, but go make your own instead and actually .But for rps that are already underway, and ones in that have been going on a long time in particular... if a GM just vanishes for whatever reason, then... I suppose after a grace waiting period, I think it would be okay for the players to continue on, whether by deciding on a GM to lead up until the moment the actual GM returns, or to just keep soldiering on as best they can. If the players have put in the work and effort and enjoyment to get that far into an rp, why should they be forced to stop because the GM dissapears?

This.

Incidentally, when I'm GMing, I sometimes make nice graphics or stuff for maps and generally try to format OoCs, IntChks and even sometimes IC's so as to be as nice and user-friendly as possible. The thing that would really piss me off would be if somebody used that fluff content in a relaunched thread. I'd go ape-shit.