After reading a few post, I'm noticing a pattern regarding RP points. Some people are frustrated with having to write journals for RP points, hence they prefer in-game interactions or helping others rank to compensate. Then they voice their opinions regarding immortals not being around to observe. Now, even though we have RP logs to catalog these in-game scenarios, it seems this isn't working for some. Personally, I feel journals can open up all sorts of goodies regarding your character, but yes, I agree in game-RP is just as fun.
What if we introduced an RP challenge. No need to jazz it up, keep it the same as a PK challenge.
The only difference is you challenging someone to an RP engagement that will be auto logged for a certain amount of time. Now, this doesn't mean you need to out RP your opponent, it just means you've both agreed to engage into an RP parlay. This will bring out all that good emote and smote battle action full circle.
How many times have you received a tell with someone hitting you with some RP magic, yet you were busy doing something? But, if you got a fight challenge you bet your bottom you will take it more serious. Again, I don't have the answers I just think it would be a new addition.
p.s I've always loved when Oprah gives those vacations to the audience.
Roleplay is not "high proficiency in emotes and smotes". Roleplay is simply playing a role. Do you know what the role is (how the role fits into the world)? What does the role want? What does the role not want? Do you like playing the role? Roleplaying is not reaching goals. Roleplaying is **not where your role is from **(history). Roleplaying is **not journals **(journals are rewarded only because they prove that you are **thinking **about the role and preparing to role play).
The reason I save RP sessions with Acele is to catalogue changes in the character's desires and memories. Some people like to read them as well, but I have many sessions that I never put on the Prayer forum because the reward for me has always been the play itself. RP points are nice, but unless your intention as a player is to enjoy RP for what it is with no hope of rewards, you are getting ripped off for your time, or are trying to play hard rather than smart. You should start with an idea for what a character is as a living, breathing thing before you have an idea of what the character should be as a list of stats and numbers.
Characters should challenge one another in a narrative sense, but not try to "one-up" each other in typing speed, emote/smote proficiency, or other purely mechanical things like that. If you are playing Bob the Warrior, I wanna see that you know who the hell Bob is. I want to see that he's... alive, with serious issues, flaws, concerns, talents, and desires. This can take a long time to flesh out, and writing journals is typically a very inefficient way to do this... unless the journal is a realistic follow up, from your character's mind, on what has actually happened in character-to-character interaction.
Many times I submit my RP logs to prayer even though they've already been rewarded by a watching IMM, for the same reason Acele mentioned - to keep track of my character's development.
Besides, it's fun reading my RP logs. Just like reading your PK logs, reading your RP logs can teach you a thing or two and make you improve.
Dude it's so cool to read old logs, PK or RP. It helps remind you of the role you're playing, what they know, etc. A good log is worth more than a journal in many ways. We should be on top of RP logs on Prayer, if we aren't paying out in points, you need to bump that crap and annoy us.
I log for another reason. The game moves to fast for me these days. I can rank and train to 50, maybe even apply to a cabal over a weekend, put in a sixty hour work week and come home Saturday night and can not for the life of me remember the dang characters name. Don't know if its old age, dementia, the brain cancer, or what, but logging snippits saves the day. Thank Anume I type Where so often.
Roleplay is not "high proficiency in emotes and smotes".
1
Who said it was? Emotes and Smotes can only bring out perhaps a feeling, or enhance something what is being brought forth regarding your character, in that particular moment. I remember watching Leothyre (SP?) the crusader in Knights, and dam, his emotes and smotes really sucked me into his characters RP in that moment.
On 12/24/2016 at 2:43 AM, Acele said:
Roleplaying is not reaching goals.
I don't think I mentioned anything about hitting goals here. Unless your talking about it in a general sense. However, if someone's goal is to change the way they look at life, or turn away from a specific perception, or person/place/fraction. That then could perhaps classify as RP being developed while reaching a goal.
On 12/24/2016 at 2:43 AM, Acele said:
Roleplaying is **not where your role is from **(history).
I would have to disagree. Your history helps map out who you were/are. This is the building blocks for your character to grow from or develop from.
On 12/24/2016 at 2:43 AM, Acele said:
RP points are nice, but unless your intention as a player is to enjoy RP for what it is with no hope of rewards, you are getting ripped off for your time, or are trying to play hard rather than smart.
Isn't that why everyone plays this game? This is an RP enforced mud, I don't think personally I would have stuck around as long as i have if it wasn't. Being able to completely emerce yourself in a character is the biggest reward by far. I take it a little further at times and have actual pictures of my characters (how I think they would look) on my screen. If my character is going through something tough, I will even change my background to reflect that feeling.
On 12/24/2016 at 2:43 AM, Acele said:
Characters should challenge one another in a narrative sense, but not try to "one-up" each other in typing speed, emote/smote proficiency, or other purely mechanical things like that. If you are playing Bob the Warrior, I wanna see that you know who the hell Bob is. I want to see that he's... alive, with serious issues, flaws, concerns, talents, and desires. This can take a long time to flesh out, and writing journals is typically a very inefficient way to do this... unless the journal is a realistic follow up, from your character's mind, on what has actually happened in character-to-character interaction.
2
The point of the challenge wasn't meant for speed typing, emote/smote proficiency challenge. I think you missed the meaning. Perhaps I didn't elabrate well enough. I was meaning a command, perhaps CHALLENGE was the wrong word, that would allow two people to agree for some deep RP dialog. This could be sitting in a room or sending each other tells only, regardless, your agreeing to actually listen and interact with each other. You'll hear them out, they will hear you out and both can develope from this interaction. When they accepted a notification would be sent to immortals and a timer would begin. Perhaps an immortal might even jump in to richen the experience. Overall this was just a general idea
What I'm trying to do is explain that there is a difference between playing a role, and creative writing. What we do in FL includes creative writing, but it is not only that. It is possible, and I have seen this, to play an extremely effective, convincing role without ever (or seldom) using emotes or smotes. Journals, for the most part, are notes to one's self to help them role play better later -- when people write journals, sometimes they are written from the perspectives of their characters, and sometimes the format is something else entirely (third person omniscient, typically). Knowing the history of your character is not roleplay; if you as a player know the history, it will help you play a role, and writing it down proves to the staff that you will likely play your role better, but the history is just creative writing. There is a difference. This is why the quality of actual play between characters will always be rewarded much better than creative writing you produce about your character.
I don't want to know about your character. I want to know your character... as if they were alive.
This is what I propose...
Everyone needs to start using the "pray" channel with far more liberality. Tell us what is going on, or what you are thinking. Project thoughts into there. "I'm about to meet with so-and-so... I'm not sure what to tell him". "I am started to worry about so-and-so. Hopefully they'll forgive me", or whatever. Then, if we hear it and we're there, can watch, or assist, in real time. If we're not, writing down what your character thinks can help you a lot.
Rairen, who played Sereniel back in the day, used to have an alias to "tell self" thoughts she was having. I stole that idea, and it works.
I concur with praying. I don't want to hear, hey watch this RP session were about to have. Pray IC. Think about your life. Do you pray silently in your head? God.. What do I do? Grant me the strength to make it through. Show mercy on so and so. Your character has inner thoughts that can be prayed beyond the tech support function. Just remember, prayers even in a fantasy world go unanswered too.
Journals are a great help both to let the Imms understand your char and what is going on with them better. They are also a neat tool for your char to develop some more depth and motives outside of what you experienced in game. A good way to show inner conflict, character flaws, ambitions, fears, etc. your char would not normally just talk about to everyone he meets on the street.
Journals are a great help both to let the Imms understand your char and what is going on with them better. They are also a neat tool for your char to develop some more depth and motives outside of what you experienced in game. A good way to show inner conflict, character flaws, ambitions, fears, etc. your char would not normally just talk about to everyone he meets on the street.
I kinda think of journals as like a quick cash grab to scoop rp points. I am not a fan TBH. I think they are abused, but that is just my thoughts. I try to keep most of my RP IG.
If you dont know what my toon is about then I am not doing a good job IMO
I journal extensively, but I don't put a lot of trust into journals as far as gaining a clear understanding of how I'm going to play a role. Every major breakthrough I've had was had in the heat of the moment, during sessions with other players. Other people challenge you in ways you cannot challenge yourself in... this isn't to diminish journals, but I don't want players putting all their hopes of having great RP into their efforts as journal writers. Journals did not always exist, and before they did, FL still had outstandingly rich characters.
@Tempirion Yes thank you. IC prayers, thoughts... tells us where to go, if a meeting is happening between you and another character.
I have used journals to great effect as a way to communicate my characters internal dialogue to the immortals.
This process also helps me shift into the mindset of my character. What would they do? What are their challenges, concerns, weaknesses.
Using them as a backbone or a foundation seems to work very well.
Well said. I do the same thing. On my current character I am actually writing different styles of journals. Some that are internal conflict with my character, some are very vague but add to the overall story of my character's past, and some actual semi-short stories that will eventually tell my characters history.