Personification Life OOC IX [CLOSED]

[Torsiedelle]

I believe the door scene actually lasted two weeks. I was mad as we'll. I was also at fault for not taking initiative.

I can understand your outages, Swith. We all do, and Cer works hard. When Bran has to go to work or goes somewhere, he says so, which is good because then we know why he can't post, and that isn't an issue, but that isn't the same as going off the radar and lagging. For the last few days on the island with the teens, me and Gio were the only ones to post, and we barely posted. There was an understandable reason for Cer not to post for Marcus, but I feel like the others just stopped posting and never picked up until right before we skipped. I guess that left the scene empty.

[Swith Witherward]

That's RL for you. I thought that was why, in the OPs, it's stated that big adventures should happen on weekends when people are on and small ones on weekdays. The problem isn't that people aren't on, it's that the blocks of time we can be on aren't long enough to post something that looks decent and move the story along. Five and ten minute chunks to log on and check what's been posted so we don't fall behind isn't long enough to actually respond, which is why you get lag.

Actually, that came about because Dani (The Drone Empire) launched an earth-shattering invasion on a Tuesday.


Slobo... that's why we write guides!

I don't think anybody reads them, though.

Bran... you need to find a person or three to share your groove with. Torsi and you play well off each other. I think you and Mon would as well, although you have to go by Mon's work schedule. Look at my play habits as an example. I share a groove with several people here either because we've RPed with each other for ages, or else because our characters share a similar theme. It's no stretch for Hans and Chrys to get along when both of them are mired in weird timey whimey supernatural nonsense. Likewise, Hans and Mezran both have this odd Klingon sense of warrior whatever, even though Hans isn't Klingon. Ceril and Naomi fell apart because their reason for being together wasn't working at all. Personification of Love and Tech Priest assassin didn't jibe. So, in order to make it work, we had to retool our characters.

More than that... you have to be willing to serve as a foil, rather than serving as the main protagonist. Sometimes you just have to sit back and be the asset people need to convey their characters wishes, ambitions, or back story. I did that with Neste in order for Agy to have a chance to breathe some life back into Itum and establish himself as a PL player. Likewise, I used Swith at the bonfire to get Bran and Rylli back into the scene.

[Northwest Slobovia]

I believe the door scene actually lasted two weeks. I was mad as we'll. I was also at fault for not taking initiative.

I can understand your outages, Swith. We all do, and Cer works hard. When Bran has to go to work or goes somewhere, he says so, which is good because then we know why he can't post, and that isn't an issue, but that isn't the same as going off the radar and lagging. For the last few days on the island with the teens, me and Gio were the only ones to post, and we barely posted. There was an understandable reason for Cer not to post for Marcus, but I feel like the others just stopped posting and never picked up until right before we skipped. I guess that left the scene empty.

That was, um, tedious.

[Swith Witherward]

I believe the door scene actually lasted two weeks. I was mad as we'll. I was also at fault for not taking initiative.

I can understand your outages, Swith. We all do, and Cer works hard. When Bran has to go to work or goes somewhere, he says so, which is good because then we know why he can't post, and that isn't an issue, but that isn't the same as going off the radar and lagging. For the last few days on the island with the teens, me and Gio were the only ones to post, and we barely posted. There was an understandable reason for Cer not to post for Marcus, but I feel like the others just stopped posting and never picked up until right before we skipped. I guess that left the scene empty.

What ultimately happens is that players start to shy away from the players that trip up scenes. It doesn't really matter if it's a saga two months in the making or an impromptu story.

Again, it comes down to communication.

[Tiltjuice]

I believe the door scene actually lasted two weeks. I was mad as we'll. I was also at fault for not taking initiative.

I can understand your outages, Swith. We all do, and Cer works hard. When Bran has to go to work or goes somewhere, he says so, which is good because then we know why he can't post, and that isn't an issue, but that isn't the same as going off the radar and lagging. For the last few days on the island with the teens, me and Gio were the only ones to post, and we barely posted. There was an understandable reason for Cer not to post for Marcus, but I feel like the others just stopped posting and never picked up until right before we skipped. I guess that left the scene empty.

That was, um, tedious.

Bork bork bork...

[Tsuyoi Tekikoku]

I never have a reason not to post expect scopl but I barely get homework..I just like to play lots of video games on steam..

[Northwest Slobovia]

Slobo... that's why we write guides!

I don't think anybody reads them, though.

I wonder if there's a way to fix that. I know that She Who Must Be Referred to Only By Color and the admins don't want to muck with the guts of phpBB, so I wonder if it can display messages the first time somebody reads -- or ideally posts -- in a forum in the standard feature set.

Failing that, there's always, *** Warned for excessive RP idleness ***.

[The BranRiech]

Well there's that too. I don't want to be confined to RP'ing with one or two people that share the time that I do. Sure, it's convenient, but it gets old really fast in my opinion. Whatever happened to the times when a character would wake up one day, and chat with at least 10 different characters? It doesn't happen anymore for some reason, and Torii's really the only one who's characters mix well with mine, because they too, come from a communist dictatorship. Everyone else is either from the future or something like that, or something else that doesn't mix. Nothing mixes well with my characters.

I just want stuff to do when I get on that's not with the same 3 or 4 people every time, nothing against them, it's just that I never do anything else.

[Northwest Slobovia]

Anyway, 'night all.

[Giovenith]

I add to the notion that people shouldn't be getting involved in things they don't plan on playing to with commitment. It's why on the very few occasions I do run something, I only bring people I've made sure know what to do, and don't accept any "shoulder shrug 'why not' " entries to join. It's not that I'm innocent, I've delayed people before too, but none the less. Sometimes when I delay, it's because I come to a point where I feel like I've said all that the current circumstances have allowed me to say without going completely meta or one-woman-banding the scene altogether (kind of what happened on the beach with the teens). Other times it's the same weird "RP bystander effect" thing that happened in FOB. I do feel bad about being complicit in the lag, I don't blame Swith or Cer for being pissed. If/When the next FOB starts and I happen to be part of it, I've made a mind to try better.


On a somewhat separate note, when it comes to individual freeplay boredom, people also need to be aware that they can't always depend on others to drop activities or character goals in their lap for them. There's only so many times that a brief description of a character feeling lonely in the halls is going to attract someone or something. Whenever I send my characters "out to sea," I usually do my best to make sure they're either furthering themselves narrative-wise (usually through inner monologue), or make sure they're doing something that another player may actually find interesting. Look at it through the point of view of someone actually considering you for interaction. Are you going to be attracted to a character just standing there sighing and looking forlorn, or are you going to be attracted to a character that has built an entire village out of duct tape and cereal boxes in the yard? Advertise yourself, make sure it's clear other people will actually get something out of approaching you.

[Monfrox]

Well put, Giov. Very well put.

Also:

[Torsiedelle]

Well there's that too. I don't want to be confined to RP'ing with one or two people that share the time that I do. Sure, it's convenient, but it gets old really fast in my opinion. Whatever happened to the times when a character would wake up one day, and chat with at least 10 different characters? It doesn't happen anymore for some reason, and Torii's really the only one who's characters mix well with mine, because they too, come from a communist dictatorship. Everyone else is either from the future or something like that, or something else that doesn't mix. Nothing mixes well with my characters.

I just want stuff to do when I get on that's not with the same 3 or 4 people every time, nothing against them, it's just that I never do anything else.

He's got a point.

I remember when Torii talked to Bran and Tsu, got abducted by Aegis and Prim, had a run in with the raptors, and then got tricked by Bones all in around an hour. That was dank. That was cool....eh, still, I should have Torii branch out.

Well said, Gio. I should do that more.

[Tiltjuice]

Well there's that too. I don't want to be confined to RP'ing with one or two people that share the time that I do. Sure, it's convenient, but it gets old really fast in my opinion. Whatever happened to the times when a character would wake up one day, and chat with at least 10 different characters? It doesn't happen anymore for some reason, and Torii's really the only one who's characters mix well with mine, because they too, come from a communist dictatorship. Everyone else is either from the future or something like that, or something else that doesn't mix. Nothing mixes well with my characters.

I just want stuff to do when I get on that's not with the same 3 or 4 people every time, nothing against them, it's just that I never do anything else.

It's an open-genre thing. If some char set doesn't work, bring out another one. Swith's doing that with her Chaos chars.

It doesn't happen anymore because RL is crushing us.

Brilliantly explained, Gio.

[Fvaarniimar]

Well put, Giov. Very well put.

Also:

(Image)

Hey, Mon? Do chars (w/ possible exception of Brit, given circumstances) have their belongings with them? I ask because Kwa'a has a largish sack with various essentials - money, some clothes, some sentimental items, a few tools including flint, a slingshot for hunting, etc. (If they don't, could she please get it back by the end of the adventure?) Anyway, whether the sack is with her will have a huge affect on the post, so I'm asking.

Will post in a.m.

[Monfrox]

No, Kwa'a will not have her sack with her.

[The BranRiech]

It also seems like whenever I'm at work, that's when people start posting like crazy as well.

I don't know. I don't think a break would help in any way but refresh my memory. I still have anxiety issues with having my characters approach others, and I still have a shitty schedule.

[Northwest Slobovia]

On a somewhat separate note, when it comes to individual freeplay boredom, people also need to be aware that they can't always depend on others to drop activities or character goals in their lap for them. There's only so many times that a brief description of a character feeling lonely in the halls is going to attract someone or something. Whenever I send my characters "out to sea," I usually do my best to make sure they're either furthering themselves narrative-wise (usually through inner monologue), or make sure they're doing something that another player may actually find interesting. Look at it through the point of view of someone actually considering you for interaction. Are you going to be attracted to a character just standing there sighing and looking forlorn, or are you going to be attracted to a character that has built an entire village out of duct tape and cereal boxes in the yard? Advertise yourself, make sure it's clear other people will actually get something out of approaching you.

Dunno if you mean to refer to me or not, but in case you do...

My difficulty with the NYE storytelling and the Gliese ball was that I'd been led to expect both were going to be short events: a day, or two at the most. I wrote myself out of the former, and with the latter, Cer had mentioned transitioning a couple of times (I think) before we finally did it. I don't have any difficulty finding other entertainments for a couple of days, but when scenes advertised as short stretch out while the folks in charge talk about moving on... Well, I find myself torn between doing other things and saying to hell with it (which is what I ended up doing) or starting something knowing it's likely to get abruptly clobbered (which didn't seem like it would be very fulfilling). Seemed like a no-win situation to me.

Now, well... I'm really going to sleep this time.

[Mincaldenteans]

It also seems like whenever I'm at work, that's when people start posting like crazy as well.

I don't know. I don't think a break would help in any way but refresh my memory. I still have anxiety issues with having my characters approach others, and I still have a shitty schedule.

There's nothing to say for the latter; people post as they can. I cant count how many times I come back from work and the IC page has moved on 2 or 3 pages. It has nothing to do with your participation efforts, nor is it a reflection if you can't "keep up". I stopped trying to keep up, but I've given fair notice I'm a slow poster and if players are amiable to it, they are more than welcome to bring their chars along. Just express it: "hey, I'd like to to interact or get involved, I'll just post slow, is that okay?" Or some such to warn others but still keep you in the loop.

As for the former, initiative. Communicate, plan, initiate. I got a shit ton of chars, I briefly mention them here and there but my mains are limited to 2, Mez and Mab. The same considerations should be made when you want to spread out without feeling left in the dust.

RP what and how you can, not meet some standard you think you're falling behind on.

[Swith Witherward]

I wonder if there's a way to fix that. I know that She Who Must Be Referred to Only By Color and the admins don't want to muck with the guts of phpBB, so I wonder if it can display messages the first time somebody reads -- or ideally posts -- in a forum in the standard feature set.

Failing that, there's always, *** Warned for excessive RP idleness ***.

Ideally, we'd love it if the Welcome TG contained links to the guides. We can't welcome every player personally so this would go a long way in solving some problems. P2TM doesn't have as much new player angst and NS and II, although we still get our fair share of noob insanity, but new-to-RP people really would benefit from it.

Note to OP: frame this and stick it on the main page.

I add to the notion that people shouldn't be getting involved in things they don't plan on playing to with commitment. It's why on the very few occasions I do run something, I only bring people I've made sure know what to do, and don't accept any "shoulder shrug 'why not' " entries to join. It's not that I'm innocent, I've delayed people before too, but none the less. Sometimes when I delay, it's because I come to a point where I feel like I've said all that the current circumstances have allowed me to say without going completely meta or one-woman-banding the scene altogether (kind of what happened on the beach with the teens). Other times it's the same weird "RP bystander effect" thing that happened in FOB. I do feel bad about being complicit in the lag, I don't blame Swith or Cer for being pissed. If/When the next FOB starts and I happen to be part of it, I've made a mind to try better.


On a somewhat separate note, when it comes to individual freeplay boredom, people also need to be aware that they can't always depend on others to drop activities or character goals in their lap for them. There's only so many times that a brief description of a character feeling lonely in the halls is going to attract someone or something. Whenever I send my characters "out to sea," I usually do my best to make sure they're either furthering themselves narrative-wise (usually through inner monologue), or make sure they're doing something that another player may actually find interesting. Look at it through the point of view of someone actually considering you for interaction. Are you going to be attracted to a character just standing there sighing and looking forlorn, or are you going to be attracted to a character that has built an entire village out of duct tape and cereal boxes in the yard? Advertise yourself, make sure it's clear other people will actually get something out of approaching you.

Well there's that too. I don't want to be confined to RP'ing with one or two people that share the time that I do. Sure, it's convenient, but it gets old really fast in my opinion. Whatever happened to the times when a character would wake up one day, and chat with at least 10 different characters? It doesn't happen anymore for some reason, and Torii's really the only one who's characters mix well with mine, because they too, come from a communist dictatorship. Everyone else is either from the future or something like that, or something else that doesn't mix. Nothing mixes well with my characters.

I just want stuff to do when I get on that's not with the same 3 or 4 people every time, nothing against them, it's just that I never do anything else.

In a mostly one-liner thread, elasticity abounds. You trade that zaniness when you opt to run a believable character. You further depart from it when you take the time to describe the characters actions rather than using asterisk play.

Editing to add: players don't need to be online at the same time in order to role play together.

[Giovenith]

On a somewhat separate note, when it comes to individual freeplay boredom, people also need to be aware that they can't always depend on others to drop activities or character goals in their lap for them. There's only so many times that a brief description of a character feeling lonely in the halls is going to attract someone or something. Whenever I send my characters "out to sea," I usually do my best to make sure they're either furthering themselves narrative-wise (usually through inner monologue), or make sure they're doing something that another player may actually find interesting. Look at it through the point of view of someone actually considering you for interaction. Are you going to be attracted to a character just standing there sighing and looking forlorn, or are you going to be attracted to a character that has built an entire village out of duct tape and cereal boxes in the yard? Advertise yourself, make sure it's clear other people will actually get something out of approaching you.

Dunno if you mean to refer to me or not, but in case you do...

My difficulty with the NYE storytelling and the Gliese ball was that I'd been led to expect both were going to be short events: a day, or two at the most. I wrote myself out of the former, and with the latter, Cer had mentioned transitioning a couple of times (I think) before we finally did it. I don't have any difficulty finding other entertainments for a couple of days, but when scenes advertised as short stretch out while the folks in charge talk about moving on... Well, I find myself torn between doing other things and saying to hell with it (which is what I ended up doing) or starting something knowing it's likely to get abruptly clobbered (which didn't seem like it would be very fulfilling). Seemed like a no-win situation to me.

Now, well... I'm really going to sleep this time.

You seem fine so far to me. You're newer, after all.

[Tiltjuice]

I got work in the morning early, so I'm headed out soon. Goodnight PL.

Yeah, I know I always say that, but I'll be back in an hour.

[Swith Witherward]

I got work in the morning early, so I'm headed out soon. Goodnight PL.

Yeah, I know I always say that, but I'll be back in an hour.

*sets guard penguins at the door*

Don't let him back in, boys. The fate of the nation rests on your shoulders.

*hugs* Goodnight Tilt.

[Swith Witherward]

Mon, nice story intro.

[Monfrox]

Mon, nice story intro.

Thanks, Swith. I worked pretty hard to not have plot holes and will be continuing to do so as I go.

I think I set the tone quite well with that song at the end there.

[Swith Witherward]

Mon, nice story intro.

Thanks, Swith. I worked pretty hard to not have plot holes and will be continuing to do so as I go.

I think I set the tone quite well with that song at the end there.

I wish I wasn't going to be gone so long. I would have joined. Meh, you'd be stalled.