ApocalypticaGM

A question about Gender and Identity.

It's honestly not that hard if you put yourself in situations to be successful. I started in a high school GSA in my first year and never stopped partaking in such communities. I am in a hetero-relationship, am gender fluid, and find myself attracted to all numerous variations of people. Some days I feel more feminine and I do my best to rock it, others I feel masculine, and still some I'm somewhere else entirely. We all feel varying levels of what we consider appropriate as a man or woman or queer male or queer female and most simply don't know what to expect from any other form of person. The simple fact is that we feel a great many things and their associations to the gender binary are human created. We hide the feelings that don't match our identity and play up those that do. Once you find peace with all your feelings, you may find it much easier to to view others as simply being.

That all said, I would just say the first step is changing your language. Yes what you think is extremely important, but your socialization will not change overnight. If you start using other language you will find that the assumptions interlaced with all the he's and she's can be far less illustrative of a person than what makes us define them as such. There is nothing wrong with speaking to a person as a he, she, or otherwise, so long as they identify that way and consent to it first.

Apocalyptica

Everyone who requested what we're using as a Standard Model should've received it last night. We've already started using it for 2 players and FF should be doing the solo test. Once she's got it done and gives any suggestions or points out big ol' flaws, I'll post it up and add it to the OP!

I hope y'all are talking to your comrades about Apocalyptica. I know I don't mind a small, healthy group, but I do know the joy of having a moderately sized bunch going off in all directions. Share y'all!

[Idea] User-run Worlds

I could see this idea being applied even outside of Nation RPs. RPG has a few signature roleplays that have lasted years, and given some freedom, could branch into other beautiful areas too. Putting complete responsibility on one GM is all well and good, but this would allow the creator to share ownership with a few they trust in other directions. I see a lot of wonderful potential in this -- even so early on in the ideation process.

Sexual Objectification of Women in Video Games

Lady Squee said
This coming Thursday, I am doing a speech on this topic. I was really struggle to decide on what I would do, and Jero gave me this topic and now I can't wait. So, for my speech, I am wanting some input. What do you think on this subject?

Do you think there is too much? What do you think can be done about it? Basically, any thoughts you may have about the sexual objectification of women in video games.

This is a topic I have sympathy for. Sympathy, because a part of my job last year was to stimulate student conversations about oppression and privilege, which some thinks equates simply to race, but in fact has no bounds. One thing I faced constantly was the reality that this is an educational experience. Let that sink in. You be educating to some that women are more apt to be sexualized temptresses, rewards, and helpless damsels than they are strong, confident, and courageous leaders in our media. There are people who will hear you talking about this and sum it up as a part of our culture as Americans. In other words, some will see this as a happy fact rather than an issue -- sadly, a number of this sum may well be women. So I have sympathy for this area, because you face a lot of stubbornness and difficulty just trying to convince some that this is a problem, let alone how we each can work to solve it.

I also want to point something out to everyone. I work in marketing for a college, so a bit different maybe, but one rule I hear all too often is to satisfy who you have and market to who you want. Something to consider though is that marketing is the draw. Most games spend less time about their main character, if they even show them, and depict gameplay, live-action videos, in-game trailers, and so on. The focus is more on the experience than "look, you're white and have a dick". So yes, marketing and what not should be considered, but what should also be considered is that gaming is a beast unlike film or others in that you can focus on the avatar (the playable character) or the gameplay, story, setting, features, and other possibilities. Besides all this, the fact is females involved in gaming are a growing population and that's no secret to us -- it's obviously not one to the professionals. Do you honestly believe women and people of colour, growing consumers in gaming, would be left to the wayside to appease historical consumers by that drive alone?

Finally, and Squee I hope you go into this, entertainment is important. We call people who consume too much lazy and it as a whole a luxury, but the fact is that our media helps shape how we see ourselves, our world, and our culture. Not seeing women as women, and not objects to be used and subjugated by men, marks upon all who consume the media. Sexualization is all well and good, because sex sells, but it isn't sex we use most, it's women. Women are more apt to be scantly clad, sexual creatures to be won, saved, wooed, and otherwise used in games than they are to be the saviours and the lonely heroes. Men might often be fit and well cut, but such are the trappings of a hetero-powerhouse, and they are rarely treated as fragile or consumable or more vulnerable as women are. It's important we hold ourselves and those selling this accountable.

Also, Squee, I'll leave you with quote I came across somewhat recently and a TedTalk you might find useful too. I hope you find success in your talk and can inspire at least a few. People often respond rashly when something so steeped in how they've learned to see the world is put into question. It takes patience, compassion, and the understanding working with people in this area. Best of luck.

WhoopiGoldberg said
"Well, when I was nine years old, Star Trek came on, I looked at it and I went screaming through the house, 'Come here, mum, everybody, come quick, come quick, there's a black lady on television and she ain't no maid!' I knew right then and there I could be anything I wanted to be.”

— Whoopi Goldberg

Chimamanda Adichie's The Danger of a Single Story (TedTalk) http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html

The Obsession with High Casual?

I generally stick to Advanced because of my time restrictions and RPs in that area are flexible with how long you have to post. That said, in my experience with RPG, High-Casual has been more-or-less a topic of conversation already engaged when I came around five years ago. What I have concluded is the following: 1) High-Casual is meant to draw more serious participators OR are meant to draw others too put off by Advanced, and 2) If the Advanced stigma melted away and High-Casual came on over, we'd have a wonderful, fresh, new population.

So basically, I have much anger toward High Casual. Advanced is not at all as intimidating as it might seem. How the RP goes is based on the people and you can easily shape that to fit you. I want people to aspire and reach for what they'd like -- no fear, no hesitation. I'm not sure where the stigmas arise, but they need to die. Free, Casual, or Advanced, we love to write and we should do it in whatever category we desire.

Apocalyptica

@Imagination: FreeFall gave you the best information. Go ahead and write up a CS based on the directions and submit it here on the OOC (former members did it in the Secondary Google Doc, hence lack of those posts). We'd love to see what you have thought up!

@FreeFall: Working on a Standard Model for situations where GMs aren't required. Had an idea before, but reworked it for simplicity's sake and might have something! Fallen will be posting using the model for the situation we're in (testing it for 2+ Players) and you'll get the honour of testing it for a solo situation. To be clear, things might change as we develop the model... but we're trying to make something easy and simple first for the normal conflicts. I'll send you the model and we can talk a bit about it (I know you just posted, so we have time ;]).

So when is Artist of the Month and Writer of the Month coming back?

Cupcake said
Just a thought.I kinda miss them >:

We ended AOTM due to a lack of public interest before the RPG shutdown. We were enthusiastic to continue, most of us, but consistently receiving 1-3 submissions despite various themes sent most packing. If significant interest returned, I have no doubt we'd be able to get this rolling once more. I loved sifting through the work of our artists and would love to do so again.

The Insidious Night

We've lost 2 out of many -- not exactly a crippling wound. Though, that said, even a small cut can be deadly is left unclean. So, everyone else still up and about and devoted as before? Has less than three posts a week put anyone else off, or shall we continue on and uncover more about this orc business?

Apocalyptica: Act 2

Unnamed Youth, 2040 said About two decades have passed since the Great Outbreak. You might not believe it, but most things haven't really changed so much. Communities still gather in towns and cities, there are still merchants, soldiers, artists, and even politicians. Where is different of course, well mostly, and the walls -- essential, that last bit. The world has changed beyond the imagination, and yet it's still sort of the same. Kind to think of it the biggest change must be Death. More than twenty years ago there was an event and everything from how we mourn to how we take care of our dead went sideways. Can't imagine it'd stay the same when the dead got feisty, let alone hungry. Things have calmed down in though. They used to be bad... Hellish, truthfully. We almost didn't make it this far. I only believe the stories about the undead because of a book I found. All the struggle and hope and desperation can't just be bullshit. There's gotta be some truth to it all. I mean, all the journals, the reports, the excerpts, they can't all say the same thing and be one big joke. Talking about it doesn't do it justice. I'll lend it to you, make your opinion. I call it the Apocalyptica Book.

http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/6331/posts/ooc

Apocalyptica is a roleplay dreamt up years ago and first created on the old Roleplayer's Guild. The RP has passed through many hands, touched and evolved with each cycle, slowly pushing forward and away from that original thought. Apocalyptica stands out from other 'Zombie Roleplays' for a dual mission to provide significant creative freedom while also creating a world that moves forward with time. Previous incarnations have been rebooted, a bit different each time, with more and more changed based on what players had done before. This time is different. Welcome to the Second Act, just beginning, with new possibilities and a world that changes with the actions of you and your mates. Aweena and I have seen Apocalyptica change over the years and have brought a fresh approach maintaining the best and adding a few new bits. Our goal is to give you a living world that responds to your decisions and the efforts of all the participants. The world will change based on all of you, and the Third Act (Spoilers... Time Jump) will largely be the result of everyone's actions -- for better or for worse. So play as you like, build what you desire, and see what Apocalyptica has in store for you.

The team is currently 4-5 members. We have just started, so there's not a lot to catch up on and it's still easy to get into the action. A few of us have been working together for about 14 months, while others came by 2-6 months ago. Everyone has acted brilliantly, contributing to everything you see in the OOC along the way -- and there's so much more! We are a patient, mature group who believe in quality, creativity, and collaboration. Join us and stick it and I promise you'll sew at least a couple deep roots. I know I have.

Special Note: There are a few big things to expect. 1) The OOC OP (two-post) is written from 2040, like the quote above, but makes no promises of characters surviving. The style will flow into Act III and is meant to feel more immersive. 2) We've condensed Act I's progress into the story straight-off. Consider this fair game and fresh, you won't be treated as "the newest addition" or any of that bull. You're equal. You're welcome. 3) Things will get risky. We made/are tweaking a simple dice-stat system that makes certain combat situations more dire while respecting your character's strengths and weaknesses. This is a very light system and is meant to fade into the background most of the time. Our goal is to give you creative freedom with a touch of risk, not to bind you to the dice.

If you have any questions, please PM Aweena and I (together). The whole team is a great resource, but we are technically the GMs and may be able to answer more specific questions.

Apocalyptica

Fallenreaper said
Alright, no problem. I'll try to get a post up by Next week, likely Wed or Thurs latest (hopefully sooner) which will give me some time to think about how I want to do this, namely with Remmy and Abigail, as well as put Remmy's bit up in the google pad at least. Shon, from your post I'm assuming the unfortunate Slavers have been spotted by some unsavory company?

I'd meant it more as the 1007th had helos going about the general area of Chico, but you know what, that sounds smashing. Shoot me a PM. The dice system was going to be introduced in a fuller form later on, but maybe you and I can do a bit of practice with it sooner. Oh Fallen, brilliant!