Discuss A Period RPG...

[0ber0n the Neko]

I know this is very brief, but there are a few things I need help with.

[color=slate]First, I've toyed with the thought of an in-depth RP, either in a Victorian setting, a Steampunk setting, a Space Opera, or specifically the Viking Age. However, running an RP like this requires a lot of commitment, interest, and writing ability. I'm looking for a group of experienced to semi-experienced RPers who'd be interested in a somewhat less free-form setting with an emphasis on an epic scale. If anyone would be interested in an RP of this sort, PM me and I'll try to see if I should even bother putting out an Audition thread.

Secondly, if you are indeed interested (and if you've read this far, [b]something[/b] must have caught your attention), send me a PM with a suggestion from one of the following-

[B][U]The Victorian Age[/U][/B]
(generally, this variation is non-magical, and is unique in its social intrigue, not its action. though a startling amount of action can happen in the right kind of setting, the victorian era is more about wielding diplomacy.)

[B][U]The Steampunk Setting[/U][/B]
(generally, this is a different take on the Victorian Age - Industrial Age setting, where magic, high technology, and imaginations tend to run wild. This could be fun to play, but would require me to sit down and compile a mythos. additionally, this setting is much less action-based, as it is quite steeped in social intrigue.)

[B][U]The Space Opera[/U][/B]
(This one is especially interesting to me, combining the drama of other settings, and putting it in an epic scale. While many other RP settings are limited to a single scope, the Space Opera can encompass many genres and can have many forms. The only drawback with this setting is that the pace can change rapidly, and could cause many to lose interest very quickly.)

[B][U]The Viking Age[/U][/B]
(I threw this one in because, interestingly enough, I want an excuse to research it more. This setting would have an epic, exploratory setting. Most of the drama would mingle with the action, and this is, perhaps, the most battle-oriented setting. However, this is also the most restricted. All roleplay will need to fit the Viking template [which I will, undoubtedly, linger on], and magic would be either non-existent, or omnipresent.)

However, if you have a setting in mind that's been burning a hole in your head ever since you came up with it, PM me with that, too! I'm always open to new settings and ideas, and while I'd rather try one of these templates out, if it sounds interesting, I'll make it an RP![/color]

Lastly, you will note that the following are respectably absent from my list. (This is where I am going to lose a lot of interest)

[B][U]Vampire/Demon/Angel/Lycanthrope[/U][/B]
(This is because nobody ever gets it right, and that pisses me off for some reason.)

[B][U]Modern[/U][/B]
(This includes anything like an academy/business/what-have-you RP. I already live in the modern world. I think you live in the modern world, too. If you want to RP this setting, do it in real life.)

[B][U]OH EM GEE SEX HIGHSCHOOL ANIME[/U][/B]
(No.)

[B][U]High Fantasy/Swords and Sorcery[/U][/B]
(Unless it's REALLY good, high fantasy is really overdone and structured.)

[B][U]Fanfiction[/U][/B]
(No, Naruto isn't interesting to me.)

[B][U]-Insert Random, Half-Baked Fantasy Template Here-[/U][/B]
(-insert sarcastic, demeaning statement here- It needs to be well thought out.)

[B][U]Anime[/U][/B]
(i just figured we'd touch on this one again. No.)

Aside from that, it's up to you. I promise this is not as restrictive as it seems. I just don't want to run an online D+D campaign.

[color=green][B][U]Things to send me:[/U][/B]
A message telling me you're interested
Ideas you liked vs ideas you didn't like
Ideas for an RP aside from any mentioned above
Ideas for a variation on an RP I mentioned above
Ideas for a system you'd like to see implemented[/color]

[color=red][B][U]Things NOT to send me:[/U][/B]
"But Vampires are the coolest!"
"But why can't we play NARUTO?"
"I don't like your ideas"
"You made a spelling error"
"I have an idea for an OH EM GEE SEX HIGHSCHOOL ANIME RP"
"I have an idea for an Anime RP"
Any variation on the above six lines.[/color]

[Sandy]

I just want to say that every single idea on that list has been done before - except the Vikings.

Me and Shy are currently running a Steampunk/Victorian RPG, and I can't even count how many RPGs here feature demons, angels, vampires AND lycanthropes (usually hybrids of these four). Anime-based RPGs are also quite frequent, for the obvious reasons.

So if you want to do something fresh and original, go for the Vikings. ;D

[James]

[font=franklin gothic medium]The only edit I'd add to Sandy is that many of those themes are not done [i]well[/i].

The Almagest Legacy is probably the first solid steampunk RPG that I can think of on OB, but demons/angels/vampires haven't typically been done well on OB. They've been done a lot, but often not in an interesting or quality-focused way.

So I think if you do a pre-done genre but you do it in a unique and/or interesting way - with some quality - it will have potential.

But yeah, Vikings sounds very unique. I don't know if that's ever been covered here.[/font]

[0ber0n the Neko]

Another idea was posed to me in a PM.

[B][U]Western[/U][/B]
(a genre where action is plenty, but firmly tied to drama. a genre where death is common and extremely dramatic. though the pacing would be rigid and very boring for many writers, an interested and involved group could make a powerful and epic story.)

Also, in regards to the above statements, I think I made myself a little unclear.

The ones I mentioned an interest in have definitely been used before. In fact, I was extremely interested by the steampunk RP that Sandy started. It looks well thought out, engaging, and interesting - set in a world that's vivid and well illustrated. That's what I want to do with this RP. I want to have a world that's actually interesting, and not written on the spur of the moment. Then, those who choose to enter into it can be as immersed as they choose to be!

I've heard a lot that the viking RP hasn't been done before - I've actually tried a few times (on this forum or another), but my attempts almost never garner any interest. In fact, given the feedback I've received, it seems doubtful that the Viking RP will ever become a reality. I'm not really very surprised.

Anyways, keep sending me feedback, good and bad. I'll be checking my inbox periodically, so I'll try to get a response out to any who contact me as soon as possible.

-HG

[demonchild781]

[FONT="Arial Narrow"][COLOR="Green"]Ok so I'm going to try [I]not[/I] to take offense to some of the things on this thread [I][B]*Vampire/Demon/Angel/Lycanthrope
(This is because nobody ever gets it right, and that pisses me off for some reason.)* [/B][/I]Being that I have ran some very successful and long running RPGs with this theme. That said.

I have tried the western approach, basing it off of a very popular novel probably hindered its success but none-the-less I love this idea! I have seen the attempts for a viking theme but they've never seemed worth signing up for. And you have to be careful on how much control you take over the RPG too. I know a lot of players don't like following set rules (such as predetermined posting orders) ect.

A couple of ideas, I'm not sure if they would ever work would be maybe a Alien invasion theme or pirates/buried treasure sort of thing. I have been in a few RPGs that had a pirates sort of theme too but the creator didn't have the sort of stamina or structure the rpg needed. I could see you doing well with either (and all ideas) since you seemed determinded to have dedicated players. Though that's hard to find in itself.

Alright now that I've rambled on forever. I'll leave ya be. I hope to see a new rpg up from you soon :-)[/COLOR][/FONT]

[Raiha]

[quote name='demonchild781'][FONT="Arial Narrow"][COLOR="Green"]Ok so I'm going to try [I]not[/I] to take offense to some of the things on this thread [I][B]*Vampire/Demon/Angel/Lycanthrope
(This is because nobody ever gets it right, and that pisses me off for some reason.)* [/B][/I]Being that I have ran some very successful and long running RPGs with this theme. That said.[/COLOR][/FONT][/QUOTE]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]There's a silly irony to you getting angry about people not doing fictional creatures [i]right[/i].

They're figments of imagination, of course each person is going to do them differently. And besides that, those that don't get them 'right' persay usually are the people who can't string twelve words together in a coherent sentence anyway.

But I like the Viking idea quite a bit. If only so I can wear a cool hat, braid my hair a million times, wield a spear and say things like:

"Argh! Show me your booty!"

Well maybe not that exactly, but it gives you good options. There can be warriors, sailors, fierce menopausal Viking women, fainting sexy slave girls, and the list goes on...[/FONT][/COLOR]

[0ber0n the Neko]

[quote name='Neuvoxraiha'][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]There's a silly irony to you getting angry about people not doing fictional creatures [i]right[/i].

They're figments of imagination, of course each person is going to do them differently. And besides that, those that don't get them 'right' persay usually are the people who can't string twelve words together in a coherent sentence anyway.

But I like the Viking idea quite a bit. If only so I can wear a cool hat, braid my hair a million times, wield a spear and say things like:

"Argh! Show me your booty!"

Well maybe not that exactly, but it gives you good options. There can be warriors, sailors, fierce menopausal Viking women, fainting sexy slave girls, and the list goes on...[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

However, I'm kind of a die-hard when it comes to mythology, especially that of the norse/celtic variety. Vampires are normally just a poor RPer's excuse to be immortal. Either that, or they completely ignore they mythos, making them simply more sexually hyperactive human beings.

Vampires have been a very confusing mythological creature since the rise of christianity, simply because the christian invaders wished to lump all stories of such creatures together into one "evil" category. Witches and vampires and elves and demons all became part of the same convoluted stories, and they eventually mixed into four things that are often considered very similar. To trivialize such iconic mythology with the sexual frustrations/fantasies of prepubescent tweens is, to me, unfair.

So, basically, I'm an elitist prick who puts way too much stock into folktale mythology. :animesmil

Also, in the viking vein, there's a lot more there than beards, awesome hats, and gruff nordic accents.

Warriors, sailors, wenches, and valkyrie are only the beginning. Norse mythology is rich with many epic and interesting ideas, from runecasting sorcerers to storyweaving poets. You could be a follower of Thor, steadfast in your faith in the gods, sent across the sea to discover new lands. Clutching at the pendant at your chest, you know that there's always a chance you will never see your family again - your wife with her piercing blue eyes and raven black hair, your sons with strong arms and fair skin, your daughters full of blossoming beauty. Yet, you leave it all behind to bring honor to your name, to set an example for your sons, to protect your daughters, and to bring gold and jewels from the plunder to adorn your beautiful wife. If you should fall in battle, though, you will be carried to glorious valhalla, where food, drink, and battle are plentiful, and where you will be called upon to serve Odin when gjallrhorn sounds to signal the coming of Ragnarok.

Anyways, yes. I keep hearing that people would be interested in a viking RP, or at least that one would be interesting. However, if you're really interested in the idea, send a PM my way telling me as much. If I can get 5 solid commitments in any one genre, I'll get writing immediately.

[quote name='demonchild781'][FONT="Arial Narrow"][COLOR="Green"]Ok so I'm going to try [I]not[/I] to take offense to some of the things on this thread [I][B]*Vampire/Demon/Angel/Lycanthrope
(This is because nobody ever gets it right, and that pisses me off for some reason.)* [/B][/I]Being that I have ran some very successful and long running RPGs with this theme. That said.

I have tried the western approach, basing it off of a very popular novel probably hindered its success but none-the-less I love this idea! I have seen the attempts for a viking theme but they've never seemed worth signing up for. And you have to be careful on how much control you take over the RPG too. I know a lot of players don't like following set rules (such as predetermined posting orders) ect.

A couple of ideas, I'm not sure if they would ever work would be maybe a Alien invasion theme or pirates/buried treasure sort of thing. I have been in a few RPGs that had a pirates sort of theme too but the creator didn't have the sort of stamina or structure the rpg needed. I could see you doing well with either (and all ideas) since you seemed determinded to have dedicated players. Though that's hard to find in itself.

Alright now that I've rambled on forever. I'll leave ya be. I hope to see a new rpg up from you soon :-)[/COLOR][/FONT][/QUOTE]

Posting orders are completely ridiculous. I have no idea why anyone would think that's a good idea. I'm not going to be setting many rules (save for the fundamental "no god-modding, no pking without permission, etc"), because I think a strong story is more important. A premise can be more powerful than the most rigid set of rules.

Alien invasion sounds interesting... but it seems like there would need to be somebody actually running that. I want to help write this thing, not be the invisible hand of God.

Buried treasure is a tired, tried idea. As refreshing as a well orchestrated story about such can be, I hate pigeon-holing the players into a set objective. It's better if they can come up with their own hopes, dreams, and methods towards their own goals. Saying "No, you're on a ship to find treasure" is a little restrictive imo.

I hope to have your help writing it! Let me know if you're interested.

[Shy]

[size=1]I've done a number of period RPGs, each to varying degrees of success. Viking don't really interest me, but I've always been very interested in Norse mythology. In Sandy's RPG, [b]The Ragnarok[/b], we had some fun doing our own interpretations of Gods and Goddesses, and although that wasn't the focus of the game it was definitely my favorite part. If someone were to take a unique approach on Norse in an RPG, I'd love to hear it. Having another chance to play as Loki would be great.

You seem to be interested in taking a more straightforward approach on your RPG. While I'm very fond of Westerns, Romance and Fantasy I find that it's very difficult to put together a project without it seeming cliche. Still, there are a few ideas floating around in my head that I'd love to get out there someday.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

-Shy[/size]

[0ber0n the Neko]

[quote name='Shy'][size=1]I've done a number of period RPGs, each to varying degrees of success. Viking don't really interest me, but I've always been very interested in Norse mythology. In Sandy's RPG, [b]The Ragnarok[/b], we had some fun doing our own interpretations of Gods and Goddesses, and although that wasn't the focus of the game it was definitely my favorite part. If someone were to take a unique approach on Norse in an RPG, I'd love to hear it. Having another chance to play as Loki would be great.

You seem to be interested in taking a more straightforward approach on your RPG. While I'm very fond of Westerns, Romance and Fantasy I find that it's very difficult to put together a project without it seeming cliche. Still, there are a few ideas floating around in my head that I'd love to get out there someday.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

-Shy[/size][/QUOTE]

(sorry about the double post. forgot my OB etiquette.)

Hmmm... I was actually looking to be less straightforward.

I think it's very easy to make one's interpretation of something, but it's much harder to remain within a stereotype. After all, it's much easier to have an opinion about something than it is to know everything about it.

Not to belittle your experience - I'll have to check that RP out. I've had my share of divine-themed RPs, and they're always interesting. Though, I'm not really looking for divine in this RP.

[James]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I should point out that posting order [i]can[/i] be a very beneficial thing.

If you look at Almagest Legacy, there's only one problem: so much activity and so many different individual plot threads that it can be difficult to follow. Generally this means that you either have to a) only read the parts that are relevant to your character or b) hope that you read what you can and try not to be inconsistent within the context of the story.

Yes, there are people who have time to read all of those posts. And there are people who don't. I regularly fall into the latter category.

Posting orders can be good for very active RPGs, where you want the story to flow appropriately, without it being all over the place. As an RPG progresses and people's characters end up in many different places within the world, this can become an even more significant problem.

So while I wouldn't think most people would want to use post orders, I also think it's unwise to knock them without having used them effectively. They can and do work for certain projects.[/font]

[0ber0n the Neko]

I suppose nobody was really all that interested, considering I only got a couple of PMs...

I'll start writing one today, and hopefully have it up and functional by tonight. Look out for it if you were really interested.