Let's B!tch. I feel it's a healthy release for our roleplay annoyances 2.0

[Brovo]

Kestrel said
The don begs to differ.

Shh, The Library is an exception to nearly every rule.

Ruby said
I've had plenty of characters do very mundane things. Especially going to the bathroom, what with the epic example of 'And then he pissed in darkness.'

Don't know if humour.



In all seriousness: Not all mundane things go away, it's usually the little mundane things that tend to go away when you're constrained for space. Because pacing is a thing that must be followed lest you spend three pages describing the discolouration in your character's urine, which services no practical purpose beyond "and something is wrong with them".

It's what makes small, clever details all the more enjoyable when you realize someone had to sit down and figure out a solution to the limited pacing they have. Basically speaking though, mundane acts fall under two categories.
A. Characterization. IE: "Alice chews her lip" anytime she's in a situation where she needs to think under pressure.
B. The consequence of something. IE: "Bob is a coward who pissed himself in the face of uncertain danger."

Sometimes it's also used for useless-but-not-destructive things like Rule of Cool as well. IE: "Sam the detective pulls out a cigar."

Jig said
In fairness, it bugs me in general fiction anyway. I think I notice it more in RPs because (outside collaborative posts), dialogues are almost impossible, so I think people compensate by almost writing in mini-monologues, as opposed to how people I know talk to one another.

That's a pacing issue inherent to PbPRP and the fact that most people have a rather poor sense of spatial contextual awareness. Specifically in relation to the "time" and "physical" sensors. (ex: Character Bobby is in a fight. If he says more than one short sentence, he's already completely abandoned outside awareness of the situation. Character Sally completes an entire, complex piano tune that takes twenty minutes over the course of a two minutes conversation. Character John paces as he talks, but leaves long lurches in his dialogue without any physical contextualization through body language that would indicate why he paused.)

Then again, I don't expect most high school students to understand what spatial contextual awareness even is, so I can't fault them for not knowing how to apply it in writing.

[Israphel]

I hate when one person tries to become the main character or just flat out try to overthrow the GM and control shit then get pissy when people start to leave or fight back. I knew a guy who did that... Pissed. Me. Off. Was a perfectly good roleplay too, idea and all.Ugh... Its annoying as hell =_=

I also hate when your in the middle of a good roleplay, everyone seems to be enjoying themselfs, and then suddenly no ones posting anymore, its so common and so horrible... I hate it so much.

[Rtron]

You. I don't know you, but you've gone up in my regard for username alone.

On topic: When you're a GM and someone suddenly blindsides you with a list of, very valid, complaints they've apparently had for awhile. You have made it clear you'd listen and not act irrational...so why would they wait so long...

[Gwazi Magnum]

Personally in regard to RPs?

How almost every free level RP can't come up with a decent plot or story for the life of them.

But Casual and Advanced have so slow pacing (and so much filler about room details ex "The cold doorknob reminded him of his cruel mother") that you can be in for months and barely be into the story at all.

[DrawnIn]

Ah, yes filler.. So lovely.

I was once in an rp, quite a while ago already, where the other character simply set down and overthought her entire life in chronological order. One sentence of that post applied to my character and involved her saying 'hey.' and looking up.
:')
Not too fond of stuff like that. I don't mind when characters get lost in their thoughts and stuff like that, but just give me something to work with. Like; if she'd had some agonized expression while thinking of her tragic life, my character would have had something to grab onto. In the same vein; I also don't mind if a character, like hers, is not very social, but as a writer you can at least try to help the plot move forward, right? Personally, if I play a shy character, I always try to give them a reason for having to start some interction; they can be lost for all I care, but I don't want to have them standing about like some bag of sand.

I see this stuff quite a lot, mostly on forums where there's this unspoken rule that long posts are an absolute must - even if there simply is hardly anything to post to because the other character has to make a move first - and people almost start competing for length. People sometimes start adding the craziest things to make their posts longer. Haven't encountered that on this site, thankfully.

[Derpestein]

Magic Magnum said
Personally in regard to RPs?How almost every free level RP can't come up with a decent plot or story for the life of them.But Casual and Advanced have so slow pacing (and so much filler about room details ex "The cold doorknob reminded him of his cruel mother") that you can be in for months and barely be into the story at all.

[2]

Most RP's die out anyway however.

[Xhin]

@DrawnIn - FINALLY someone get's it! There was a post a few pages back discussing quality over quantity writing and the truth is, both is needed, but the player must handle them correctly. I'm someone who would much rather read a single, detailed paragragh of my partner's characters POV rather than 3 broken up paragraghs that focus's on small talk of side character activites, and meaningless chatter because that's when it becomes filler writing and I view it as an excuse to make it seem like you put a lot of thought into your reply when really, you just wasted my time going on an on about how your characters sister was busy making the breakfast that morning.

That being said, I can enjoy quantity just as much as quality, but give me something good to read. Side characters are much needed to help progress a story, but instead of merely writing that Susie, your characters sister, was making breakfast that morning; maybe have Susie interact with other characters?

(I.E. Susie, Tom's sister, was busy making the breakfast as he walked down the stairs. Pots and pans boiling with yummy aroma's filled his nostroils as she greeted him with a smile and glass of orange juice. "Hey there, funny face. How did you sleep?" The brunette asked as she continued flipping the flapjacks. Susie was always one for cooking, something Tom was thankful for as he wasn't much of a cook.)

No only did I clarify that Susie enjoyed cooking, but I was able to have Tom reflect on the matter while also mentiong how their surroundings smelled and giving slight insite on to Susie's looks via her hair. I didn't go on about how she was wearing an red dress under an kitchen apron because in the long run, it didn't matter and that's when it can become filler, to me at least. I know some writers and readers very much enjoy getting every detail down, but I can assure you someone like me will start to fall asleep if you devote a whole section to talk about Susie's looks and how her eyes were like "orbs of blue"

The last thing I need to comment on in reguards to this matter is don't let posting length hold you back. If someone gives you a good quality post of 3 paragraghs, but you honestly only feel the need to write one that would do it justice - That's OK! As is taking the reins to reply with 3 paragraghs to your partner's single paragragh in hopes of moving the story. Too many times (good quality or not) do I see writers getting in the habit of "I give what I get" and that's when your RP starts getting into trouble. Giving good single quality posts is fine, but that's all your RP is going to be - Short replies mainly of your characters POV. Don't be afraid to write other actions or state other ideas while also writing as other characters! Trust me, I love when someone really captures their characters thoughts and feelings, but if that's all you're giving me, Tom and Susie are still going to be in the kitchen 10 replies later because all you've done is wrote POV instead of trying to move the story along thus causing a standstill.

[Prince]

If you're referring to me, I didn't advocate quality or quantity. I advocated making the best use of the tools you have to make sure a message is best communicated. >.>

[vancexentan]

Making a long written and well thought out character than having either no one show up to the roleplay or the gm not doing anything causing the rp to die.

[Derpestein]

Israphel said
I hate when one person tries to become the main character or just flat out try to overthrow the GM and control shit then get pissy when people start to leave or fight back. I knew a guy who did that... Pissed. Me. Off. Was a perfectly good roleplay too, idea and all.Ugh... Its annoying as hell =_=I also hate when your in the middle of a good roleplay, everyone seems to be enjoying themselfs, and then suddenly no ones posting anymore, its so common and so horrible... I hate it so much.

It happens commonly. The dying out one.

However...

The first complaint of yours. Holy shit.

It's the GM's RP, someone just CAN'T try to overthrow them without becoming an idiot and/or a-hole. Or become the main character. An RP is about more than one person making a story where everyone is a main character. One person trying to be the 'one' or someone trying to become the GM forcefully...

If they think people won't leave, fuck em.

[Rtron]

When you realize you can't join an RP because you already have too many.

[Brand]

When you go to the weight room but all the machines are taken.

Don't these bitches know i'm trying to get swole af.

[Prince]

Brand, I feel that pain. Bitches don' know that I need some flies to get my chest defined, yo.

[vancexentan]

When you post a interest check roleplay only for it not to get any hits then someone does the same series and gets over twenty hits up for the idea.

I also had one person come to the interest check say he was interested then fucking said he wasn't actually planning to join the roleplay. that ROYALLY pissed me off hard.

[notdeadyet]

My last 3 serious relationships i was cheated on...
You know, i don't give a flying fadoodle about monogamy, but when you ask me to commit you best return the favor. And you know what else? I still don't care if you cheat, but don't lie to me about it after! When i catch you, own up, and take my rant.
Ugh... I have a terrible taste in choosing relationships huh?
/).o) (Thats a facepalm)

---

Furthermore, God gave men 2 heads, but only enough blood to properly work one at a time, and no way to choose which head that is at any individual point in time!

[Pachamac]

This is an RP ranting thread, not a general life venting thread o.o

But... good luck with the relationships?

[vancexentan]

Exactly I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up.

[Derpestein]

vancexentan said
When you post a interest check roleplay only for it not to get any hits then someone does the same series and gets over twenty hits up for the idea.I also had one person come to the interest check say he was interested then fucking said he wasn't actually planning to join the roleplay. that ROYALLY pissed me off hard.

This is why if you're going to have a chance of quitting, don't say you're OMG TOTALLY IN AND SO INTERESTED LOL WOW

Say something like tentative interest or something.

[Gwazi Magnum]

Derpestein said
[2]Most RP's die out anyway however.

I know, it would be nice to see an RP with a good story at least keep up a decent pace though.

[Pachamac]

Magic Magnum said
I know, it would be nice to see an RP with a good story at least keep up a decent pace though.

Only way you can really guarantee this is by making an rp and running it yourself and striving for this pacing. It's exceptionally rare to find rps doing this, but they're there.