Sub-forum Suggestion: Role-Playing

Thank you very much for those that lent me some input. I've been patiently listening as to gather a real consensus as to the general thoughts on the matter, and even RPing as a whole here (or at least those who view the feedback section). I'd like to shine a little light on this matter in terms of something I introduced so vaguely, including my intentions.

Because of the very fact of the RPs existing on a forum medium, it only makes logical sense for the RPs to be in paragraph format. One liners don't cut it, they chalk up the posts-per-page and generally demand much more attention, as was pointed out. The RP forum I belong to normally has posts that are as long as what would be equivalent in Word to anywhere between half to two pages in length per person per post. This was a beneficial system for us because it allowed someone who only checked it once a day or two, (hell, even once a week) to still have a decent amount of participation. This had pros and cons as it really encouraged thoughtful writing and progress in the RP, but the problem of character control was what caused most problems, however we actually didn't run into many even then. The moderators rather had us character control and work it out with the owner of the character later if they had a problem with it (which usually was never the case because people controlled respectfully) so that participants weren't waiting forever for two people to finish their fight scene, which I'll also mention.

Specific RPs were created with an in-depth introduction in terms of the outlines and background of the RP itself, locations, people of interest, and accepted participating characters. Yes, characters had to be posted in a character thread and allotted to which RP that individual wanted them to participate in. I remember when I had first joined a long time ago when I was a freshman in high school and made a random post because I was used to AIM RPing. I was shot down and gutted by a respectable member for failing to read the guidelines before posting. So, I deleted my post respectively and read the rules. Characters were submitted in an outlined manner following a basis of who they were: Name, Age, Race, Gender, Biography, Description, Class and Specialty, Talents, and Affiliation, as most RPs were sided-conflicts. When characters conflicted and battled, they did not make themselves godly and when they knew they had to be defeated, they were encouraged to bite the bullet and take it, even if it meant their character's death. However, deaths were sparse as most people had respect for each other's characters. Other times it was one person killing off their own character because they wanted to.

In addition to the characters being in their own separate thread to be reviewed and accepted by the RP DM and moderators, OOC, or Out-of-Character chatting, was also in its own separate thread. Stuff that went on in there was discussion about where the RP was headed, assurance for character control, and notifying members of prolonged absence or busy schedules usually.

RPing in that format overall was a damn fine experience for me as it really taught me how to increase my skill in writing by reading other's phenomenal posts and learning from them. Although it was hard at first and my posts were merely one or two paragraphs including moderate dialogue, it developed my ability till now in which my posts tend to be a page or two (or as long as this post). However, because it is and will be a vastly different environment and experience from what I'm not sure what to expect from interested Fakku users, I can adapt to accommodate interest. Although I have never had experience running something as intense as a Shadowrun or D&D based RP that Flaser mentioned, if there is demand for it, then it can and should be created. I likely wouldn't participate, but I could moderate it.

I don't want to be so pompous as to act so high and mighty because I have some experience that I should be a mini-moderator for the Writing section, but have no problem in using my experience and knowledge to help shape it to being suitable for the Fakku community. It may very well be entirely not what I expect, but I'm pretty confident that I can help whatever effect it does have to be a positive one. Additionally, I have no problem running this through the Writing forum in a trial basis Role-Play, which actually sounds like a great idea.

That was a lot of info, I apologize, but just getting my outlook out there to add some clarification. Thank you for the attention.

EDIT: I also noticed that paragraph format would drastically change the essence of explicit scenes as it would essentially be one-post lemons. I'm not gonna push it and will humbly accept the will that if it is too close to cybering, it won't be done. But if there is no problem if they do not extend one post, as in being entirely from one person, it might just be a different story. Just checking.

Alright let me put up a warning sign that I probably should have done earlier. Most likely Jacob wont hire someone new to be any form of moderator. It's a job he only gives to those he trusts and trust is something you build over time. I'm not trying to dissuade you, but if your idea hinges on you being a moderator for the section I want you to understand that there is a very very very low probability that that would happen. It would have to either be a new moderator that Jacob has been considering for some time OR one of the current moderators. I am only speculating but it's based on the information I've learned about our site creator and it should be considered very accurate.

As far as the sexual role playing goes the issue would be the interaction, as long as two people would have sexual interaction it would be problematic, regardless of the format. Two users cannot engage in mutual explicit story progression without it being considered "cybering". If you're telling me it would remain as one author simply writing about a sexual encounter on their own with a faceless partner or someone who isn't a real person who can interact I don't see the issue. However it would be up to the moderator to decide, as well as Jacob on anything overall.

As a final note I'm unsure how Jacob will feel about this idea as a whole but if you could perhaps write your proposal for the subsection (perhaps a list of pros and cons for the community/fakku itself) it may help convince Jacob. Some of your points are good but for the most part it feels like you're discussing specific without giving the overall proposal any time.

I never went into this expecting to be any position of higher authority over it, though I have the ability, I merely addressed it because Cleaveland suggested I nominated myself as the monitor. I'm not some new meat itching to get on a power cruise. I'd really only like to aid the community in that which I consider to be my strength and enjoyment because I believe it would have a nice place here and hope others might be interested enough to get it going as well. I feel accomplished if I can have a profound effect on creating something useful to a community, and this is a great way for me to do it.

With the explicit scenes, I was pondering the idea of one user writing up a scene on their own that may involve another user, but must be of their own full creation and without the interaction of the other user during that time period. Just a thought, really. Not a deal maker or breaker.

I think I understand what you're saying about a proposal, although I considered this to be one. Could you elaborate in terms of what would be needed from me in such a proposal that would differ or add to this thread, in addition to pros/cons as per your suggestion?

Thank you, Waar. You're being very helpful to me in this matter and I appreciate it.

Yeah, I think Waar has pretty much covered any basis. Although I do agree that the current staff is too busy as it is, I'm inclined to believe Jacob always has a list of "potentials" on his mind for occasions where he decides he needs a new moderator. Or I could be completely wrong about that and he picks them one at a time, in a slow and methodical manner.

Of course, none of that matters if Jacob isn't fond of the idea to begin with.

I don't even think we need a new moderator. Just make it so posts in that section have to be reviewed by a mod before they appear, and Waar can go through them quickly.

Actually I think most of the systems I mentioned (maybe with the tentative exception of Ars Magica) are largely irrevelant, as they're for tabletop (or live chat) role-playing, rather than play-by-post. The later can be a lot more freeform, in fact I'd encourage to move away from strict statistical systems (if any system is necessary et all) and instead to focus on writing elaborate backgrounds. I've seen stuff like thiss (ie. The Star Army of Yamatai RP forums) and I think it'd be a good literary excersize.

I also find all complaints about cybering and "user sexual interaction" downright dumb...
...anyone with a modicum of maturity has to realize there's a difference between a player/poster and their character. The character is a person (protagonist) in a story and not necessarily your avatar or a direct representation of you in that world. They inhabit a different world, have different concerns, wants, ideas.

Yeah, it acts according to your wishes, but pretty soon it'll develop a life of its own. (It tends to happen even if you're the only one writing a story as almost all writers will attest). If not... then they were never more than a thin illusion, a hollow vessel for your self-insert fantasies and will probably come off as fake or unreal.

After taking a brief look at the site and some sample threads, I could see it working out very well in that way, although wouldn't be as strict. In fact, it looks near identical to the post content of my other RP forum site. That Yamatai site needs to be as strict as it is because all the RPs reflect off that original universe so they need the organization.

Anything that would make sense to RP here would be (and I'm thinking more and more on this) original stories, user-based setting RPs (think like FAKKU high, or something, though these can be hit-or-miss, lame more than successful) story shifted animes perhaps (also more likely to be lame than successful), and topics deriving from popular media and culture. Generally, whatever someone wants to RP, they'll submit it for review with an information introduction including all the stuff I listed in that long post and if it gathers interest without breaking any rules, it can be done. If it doesn't gather interest, it dies and never starts off to begin with. After an RP is created by a user, who becomes its DM unless nominated to someone else to oversee, characters are thought up and submitted. The DM, when satisfied with the submitted characters after a reasonable time, makes an introductory post to initiate it if it gathers interest and people can start posting.

This tends to be a pretty chill and relaxed system that doesn't request too much background investigation besides the per-RP topic, and one that I can see users here happy with. But it's up for debate.

I'm cool with seeing a trial run, but like it's been stated before:
"This is FAKKU, we go here to check out what's new in the world of hentai manga...or to fap."
There are some things that should be worked out first, like how to prevent trolling...cause...well trolls suck and they definitely exist on this site. :\
How are the rules going to be enforced? You could ignore them in the forum if they're blacklisted but I don't think there's anything stopping them from posting (aside from banning them from the site).
How will you prevent it from turning it into one big cybering orgy? :\
^
I think that's the biggest problem you'll have to overcome.

Personally, I like stories and I like RPing. I think lemons are allowed in the forums as well, so technically RPing could count as writing a story:
"You're writing the story, but other people are playing the characters."

Like I said before, once you clear those objectives. Then RPing MIGHT be possible.
First things first...
See how big of a demand the RPing community of Fakku has, then work from there.
For the record, you have my support for RPing...though I'm just a regular forum poster , you'll probably need a lot more support then just me. :\

For the time being, writing lemons will just have to do. ^-^a

Well as long as I've know Jacob he has always had too little time to implement the ideas he wants and thus quite a bit of things go largely unfinished. The proposal would have to be a run down of your idea, the list of pros and cons, your personal experience and perhaps some sort of petition/poll with users signatures to show the interest and all of it has to be done in a paragraph that can be looked over in 10 minutes. Our glorious leader loves new ideas but unless streamlined to him they might be overlooked for something that takes less time.

I would suggest you start by making a poll in Random with a fairly basic question: "if a role playing sub section was opened would you be interested in it." and the poll options could be along the lines of "I would participate", "i would probably read but not participate", and "I have no interest in this". I would avoid more than 3 options. If the poll shows an interest then you should move on to writing the proposal. At which point if you want to pm me I can link the proposal to Jacob directly, or you could make a another thread that I would direct him to it the next time we spoke.

You don't have to do anything I just suggested, but this is probably the best way I know how to reach Jake.

As for the sexual content you are more likely to get an "okay" from the top man if there is no way your idea can lead to "cybering" or the appearance of cybering. I won't tell you not to keep your but I still would advise against it.

Thank you, Waar. I will do just that and keep it brief and concise.

What's this? A topic I am actually versed in, yet my lurking habits haven't resulted in the topic being dead? Joy! Hmm... yes yes... I see here in these posts... worry... yes... understandable... potential drama... Oh nice response... Hmmm...

Well I guess I'm just left with an opinion since those were requested here is mine:

I've RP'ed in the past and I do enjoy RP'ing as a literary exercise. The material that can be created during a session is sometimes very good for conversion into personal writing projects. A kind of testing vat for ideas. Or writing block breaker. The main problem with RP'ing I've seen over the years is that a lot of projects die out before completion. There's a lot of reasons for that... it's something of the nature of what can happen on the internet.

That isn't so say it's not worth doing. It just means that whatever exercise is done, all participating members should try to stay in communication and there should be a concise plan of action. A storyboard or agreement on how the story will be passed from one writer to another.

Otherwise the results might not be too different from a sub-par session of "I'll start a sentence and then someone else will continue the story". Which really invites trolling even for those participating.

What kind of vision do you have for a project like this?
What kind of product would you like to see come out of it?
And how Serious will it be?

Because if you're looking for serious writers to join together into a writing circle, it might be best to have a joint blog or something made. And just keep updates to those interested in a proposed project, in a thread in Fakku. Could use some polls or something to figure out what to write. Get everyone pumped up and then make some lemon juice. The blog method keeps others from trolling [if your inner circle starts trolling you well hahah...] so that those who are serious can focus together, check each other's work or submission to the material, and then agree on a solidified product.

Basically? Create a LemonSpot. Wave the flag to those who are interested in literature fap material.
Find an illustrator to create a mascot.
????
= Not exactly profit, but might as well make a half hearted attempt at that reference.

Anyways, good luck and interested in seeing the outcome.

oh gosh, everytime I take a stab at trying to read the whole thread and contribute my opinion, it just keeps getting longer with long entries. I'm sorry, I'm actually waving the TL/DR flag at this point. For what it's worth, I just wanted to voice my interest in seeing/trying it. But you all are more knowledgeable on whether it would work, so I will keep still.

I waved my TL;DR flag after the third post >.>
I would be interested.. For the anti-troll thing, you could make a whitelist type thing maybe?
Make an applications thing, chuck in a new status eg: Role player or something. Then maybe have a set number of posts eg, once that is all found to be acceptable, let them in and voilla.. Could prove to be dull for the first few days though :/

Noob response : where's the poll? I like the idea, and the faster it gets going the better. Maybe if you had the story set out with predetermined characters, and every new poster gets a character (which means a limit to number of people posting) but if a troll gets a character, and messes it up, then just give the character to someone else and delete the bad posts

Or don't delete them. Then everybody can start excluding that character from the story, until the new poster gets it's rep back up.

Also to get more people involved you could start more than one story. ;)

I want to be a Gnome! A sexy female Gnome!

i lol'd.

This would be a very interesting board.. and there are a fair few ways you could moderate it to stop trolls and such.. some good, some bad, some tedious.. all in all.. i'm for it

I suck at role playing. As a matter of fact, I suck at conversing altogether. If there is a board, there's need to be an 'intro to roleplaying' sticky for my convenience and others as well.

You mean like the thread Shia made a while back?

white list? Can you be more specific and expand on the idea?