You know, I love it when things slow down on this game, and the default answer is 'Well, it's Domi's fault'. Or the fault of there not being enough big TPs going around. Or something. Well, I'm going to rant about the way that -most- games survive and prosper.. Which is -supposed- to be the cornerstone of RP. But since this game is chokingly short of it, I'll explain.

One of the major problems on the XenogearsMUCK is the lack of initiative. There seems to be some delusional belief that you can't RP unless there's a TP going on, that you can't do anything unless there's something major going on. Blarg. No. 95% of all RP is -supposed- to be 'day to day RP'.. Just RPing the character with people, starting your own issues and scenarios, doing your own things. There are games that flourish with -NO- major long-term TPs running at all. They have 'important events' now and then, and then leave the rest of the RP up to the players.

But I'm confused, I must confess. I sign on and I see people sitting around doing nothing, with perfectly accessible RP around them, and they never ask. They expect it to come to them, or figure it's 'not worth their time' since it's not a TP.

And then, when people start their own RP with their frinds, day to day and insignificant non-plot related RP... People scream 'eliteist' and blame other people for not dropping RP in their laps.

Hrm.

I see this when I realize that the Rogues do nothing until Marcus burns a church, after which, when I go on vacation, they do nothing else. I see this when Khiea says 'Who wants to dream' and 10 people show up there.. And yet, if she's not on and doesn't say that, no one does it at all.

I believe one of the problems here.. Is that so many people need to be -told- to RP, or have to be -given- it.

That's not how RP is supposed to go.

So. I know that this likely wont be accepted well or warmly, but there's my protest. I get somewhat irate when people like to blame their lack of RP on other people. When they insist that it's my fault for not running enough plots or doing enough things. People.. You've got characters. You've got a world full of people. You can think of something to do. It doesn't need to be a plot. Goodness, no. You don't have to type up a 3 page long explanation of what's going on to RP.

You just need to get out there and -do- things. Because it's sad when plots start to stumble just because I blink and realize... Why do I have to be there and prodding something for anything to happen?

And even with TPs... Hey, you need a Wizard's approval to start them. You don't need a Wizard's approval to run them.

TPs should be reserved for the big, long term things. From now on, let major events be just that--Planned major events. Just talk to the right people, make sure you're not stepping on anyone's feet, and PLAN it if it's major.

Otherwise, just go out and RP. Take the initiative and do something. I know that some of you have -got- to want to RP things. So do it. Please. Don't sit back and bitch about how you can't RP unless someone drags you by the throat and tells you what to say and do.

So. There's Domi's two cents.

By Duran on Saturday, February 02, 2002 - 05:47 am:

As one of those idling RPers, I admit guilty to these accusations. ;_;

As for why I don't RP, it's a mixture of laziness and a lack of time. I'd like to RP more, but often times I get pulled off before I get a chance to finish it (which isn't something I like to thrust onto people whenever I RP with them).

But, now that people are actually blaming Dominia (damn them), I'll start RPing a bit more. Anyone in the Dazil area, find me!

"Don't call us...we'll call you."

By Ryukumu/Ramsus/Saul on Saturday, February 02, 2002 - 05:10 pm:

The Virus TP is on the threshold of actually starting, I'm just waiting for 'a certain individual' with a key role in the TP to make a messageboard post as he/she said he/she would.

Note: The 'he/she' is to help preserve the person's anonymity. It's a secret. ^_^

By Domi on Saturday, February 02, 2002 - 06:16 pm:

Well, that'd be all fine and well, if my post hadn't been about how we don't need TPs to have RP. ^^;

Not that I'm passing any judgement on your TP here, I just don't want people to miss the point on how they ought to go out and do stuff WITHOUT someone giving them a neat little outline of what's going on and what they have to do.