RPing Questions? Ask Here!

[The Imperial Masonic Dominion]

Does anyone know a good and free website to create a map I don't mind whether it is real or fiction, I'm thinking of setting up an RP?

[The Macabees]

I don't, but alternatively you could hand draw it and scan it in. Or draw it on Paint.

[Altito Asmoro]

Does anyone know a good and free website to create a map I don't mind whether it is real or fiction, I'm thinking of setting up an RP?

Hmm, you can always save a Victoria 2 map and then colored it yourself with Paint if it's historical RP. But if not, I'm sorry since I don't know much.

[The Imperial Masonic Dominion]

Oh ok thank you

[The Celtic Confederation I]

How

do i attract players to a roleplay?

[Havensky]

Hi!

I'd check out the stickys as a good starting point. I found that starting out joining an RP for a few threads was helpful because then other players got a sense of my style/abilities. After that, it became a little easier.

You can also join an RP region and start talking to other players. These days, I almost never start a thread without having spoken with a few people and recruited them.

[The Macabees]

You need to create the expectation that as OP (opening post; dungeon master; etc.) you can lead a fun RP.

There's no clear-cut formula for how this is done. Part of it is a history of success -- if you can't get RP partners now, it might be worthwhile to just RP on your own until someone sees it develop further. Part of it is networking -- do you know any RPers that you can invite to the RP? You may be interested in pitching an RP idea on the RP think tank thread.

Another big factor is the richness of the world. What really brings out people's interest is the setting. The type of threads that die early tend to be the ones that don't provide a lot of detail. Say you're RPing a civil war: provide good details on the different factions, their culture, their support base, et cetera. All these things make the RP more exciting and so, in your out of character (OOC) sign-up thread, provide a lot of information. It takes a little longer to prep this kind of thread, but it's so worth it.

[New Aeyariss]

You need to create the expectation that as OP (opening post; dungeon master; etc.) you can lead a fun RP.

There's no clear-cut formula for how this is done. Part of it is a history of success -- if you can't get RP partners now, it might be worthwhile to just RP on your own until someone sees it develop further. Part of it is networking -- do you know any RPers that you can invite to the RP? You may be interested in pitching an RP idea on the RP think tank thread.

Another big factor is the richness of the world. What really brings out people's interest is the setting. The type of threads that die early tend to be the ones that don't provide a lot of detail. Say you're RPing a civil war: provide good details on the different factions, their culture, their support base, et cetera. All these things make the RP more exciting and so, in your out of character (OOC) sign-up thread, provide a lot of information. It takes a little longer to prep this kind of thread, but it's so worth it.

Kastavania may serve you as an example of how to do a civil war OP.

[Sudardes]

If someone parked their whole navy with radar detection and all that jazz less than 30km off your coast and you have access to all modern equipment, what is the most humiliating way to destroy your opponent?

[Ghant]

If someone parked their whole navy with radar detection and all that jazz less than 30km off your coast and you have access to all modern equipment, what is the most humiliating way to destroy your opponent?

Unleashing a kraken

[Sunset]

If someone parked their whole navy with radar detection and all that jazz less than 30km off your coast and you have access to all modern equipment, what is the most humiliating way to destroy your opponent?

Little kids with water wings, paddle boards, and limpet mines. What are you gonna do? Machine-gun little kids in the water? Either way you lose...

[New Communist and Socialist Unions]

Agreed, for I think that II is in a sadder state than before.

There's a reason for the so-called "decline" in the quality of RPs. First thing's first, it is because of the fear of the newbies. Many people are closing themselves on RP communities while espousing strict RP standards for one to enter their communities disallowing those perceived to be "unfit" for their standards in fear they might "ruin" the desired quality of the RPs they want to rp. In turn, this causes the newbies to find themselves having limited options, discouraging them from the RP endeavor. There is a reason why the NS summer keeps getting less and less wild than it has before, so many people find themselves with so little choices and when starting an RP, they tend to not help in comparing themselves to the RPs of other people hence demoralizing the could be RPers. It's this elitism that is indeed very much discouraging.

I kind of second this...
Most of the RPs I make shrivel up and die early, with the only survivors being the RPs I invite people to. What is the secret formula for perfect OP?

[Sudardes]

If somebody has 312 million troops with less than 111 billion N$ in military spending, is there an RP way to win with your 23 million troops with 6.3 trillion N$ spending?

[New Communist and Socialist Unions]

If somebody has 312 million troops with less than 111 billion N$ in military spending, is there an RP way to win with your 23 million troops with 6.3 trillion N$ spending?

Simple, don't use the stats the gameside of NS gives you.

[Sunset]

If somebody has 312 million troops with less than 111 billion N$ in military spending, is there an RP way to win with your 23 million troops with 6.3 trillion N$ spending?

Simple, don't use the stats the gameside of NS gives you.

Complex; If you are trying to use stats and numbers to 'win' at something where anyone can literally make anything up at any time you're probably going to end up 'losing' when someone else just keeps making up bigger and bigger numbers or claims (falsely or not) a superior knowledge of those numbers and their source than you. In the wild and woolly world of forum-based role-playing, the way to 'win' is to write a story that is evocative, emotional, exciting, dramatic, funny, interesting... Collaborative, creative, consistent, and cooperative. Don't focus on the numbers, focus on spelling and grammar. Don't focus on the gameside stats, focus on the characters and their dialog. Aim for the better story, the more interesting outcome, the more thought-provoking insight. It does not matter what bullet killed the character but rather what ideal or lie they fought for. That there were cannon used in the Civil War was always known, but what matters now is the continuing cultural impact of that struggle.

If you're going to try to 'win', win by bringing your nation, your people, your soldiers, your ideas to life.

[Sudardes]

Simple, don't use the stats the gameside of NS gives you.

Complex; If you are trying to use stats and numbers to 'win' at something where anyone can literally make anything up at any time you're probably going to end up 'losing' when someone else just keeps making up bigger and bigger numbers or claims (falsely or not) a superior knowledge of those numbers and their source than you. In the wild and woolly world of forum-based role-playing, the way to 'win' is to write a story that is evocative, emotional, exciting, dramatic, funny, interesting... Collaborative, creative, consistent, and cooperative. Don't focus on the numbers, focus on spelling and grammar. Don't focus on the gameside stats, focus on the characters and their dialog. Aim for the better story, the more interesting outcome, the more thought-provoking insight. It does not matter what bullet killed the character but rather what ideal or lie they fought for. That there were cannon used in the Civil War was always known, but what matters now is the continuing cultural impact of that struggle.

If you're going to try to 'win', win by bringing your nation, your people, your soldiers, your ideas to life.

Well we're using NStrackers stats but thanks for the tip!

[Ardoki]

Hi. I'm having a bit of OOC trouble with an RP at the moment and I'm not sure if I'm in the wrong so I'd like to get some neutral opinions on the matter.

I never had anything to do with the planning or development of this RP, even though I'm the focus of it.

I was right in the middle of an RP with a nation who had shot down one of my satellites (which I had agreed upon beforehand). The RP was still only in its early days, and there was still a lot more I had wished to do (I hadn't even finished my diplomatic responses to the act of aggression, let alone been able to retaliate in any way).

However, I woke up one morning to find that the thread had been locked on request of the OP and I was expected to now take part in another RP. I was never warned that the thread was going to be locked and the RP had ended, I was never even given an explanation, I thought there must have been some rule violation which caused the lock and I spent a while trawling though moderation until I eventually discovered the truth.

This new RP is basically two alliances, the International Freedom Coalition (IFC) and the Santiago Anti-Communist Treaty Organisation (SACTO), deciding to blockade my country, destroying it economically, and potentially invading part of my territory. This RP came as quite a shock to me, as I had only agreed to take part in another RP which had just been locked without explanation.

I was not prepared to take part in this RP, as I was going back to university in about a week and I would have to focus on study. I had made it clear to everyone that I had no time for large-scale RPs as I had to focus on study at university, yet everyone just expected that I put all of that aside for an RP I had never agreed to. When I refused to sacrifice my marks, I was the victim of a barrage of insults (I'm just running away, I'm stalling, I'm scarred, etcetera).

They eventually claimed that I could manage both my study and the RP; I doubted I'd be able to, and they returned with the same insults. I have ADHD so I can get distracted incredibly easy and can procrastinate for hours, in order to get in the mood to study, I have to isolate myself from all distractions otherwise I won't get any work done.

Furthermore, I had absolutely no joy for the RP they want me to take part in. I would have to spend countless hours researching vague resources on military tactics, equipment, and organisation just to create a post which will be of passable quality (but will still likely result in the destruction of all my forces). If there was an agreeable plot, the removal of the uncertainty would put my mind at ease and I'd be able to stop worrying about my nation being completely destroyed and find some interest in the story of the RP.

However, RP appears to be an attempt to destroy my nation, and several people appear to have admitted as much. They have refused to even consider drafting an outline of the plot for the RP (I like RPing because for the enjoyment of an interesting story and how it affects my nation), and seem only concerned about winning. Now they are threatening to get everyone to 'shun' me in an attempt to force me into an RP which has no story and seems like it is just to win for the sake of winning.

So, am I in the wrong? Are my concerns and grievances justified? What can be done to salvage the situation?

Thanks.

The arguments starting on this page are most relevant: https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=383186&start=650

[Ghant]

Hi. I'm having a bit of OOC trouble with an RP at the moment and I'm not sure if I'm in the wrong so I'd like to get some neutral opinions on the matter.

I never had anything to do with the planning or development of this RP, even though I'm the focus of it.

That's the first issue right there! Since the RP is about you, someone should have asked if you were alright with that first. The fact that somebody didn't is poor form. Nobody can be forced to roleplay with anyone, nor should threads begin that involve you without your expressed consent beforehand.

I was right in the middle of an RP with a nation who had shot down one of my satellites (which I had agreed upon beforehand). The RP was still only in its early days, and there was still a lot more I had wished to do (I hadn't even finished my diplomatic responses to the act of aggression, let alone been able to retaliate in any way).

However, I woke up one morning to find that the thread had been locked on request of the OP and I was expected to now take part in another RP. I was never warned that the thread was going to be locked and the RP had ended, I was never even given an explanation, I thought there must have been some rule violation which caused the lock and I spent a while trawling though moderation until I eventually discovered the truth.

This new RP is basically two alliances, the International Freedom Coalition (IFC) and the Santiago Anti-Communist Treaty Organisation (SACTO), deciding to blockade my country, destroying it economically, and potentially invading part of my territory. This RP came as quite a shock to me, as I had only agreed to take part in another RP which had just been locked without explanation.

I was not prepared to take part in this RP, as I was going back to university in about a week and I would have to focus on study. I had made it clear to everyone that I had no time for large-scale RPs as I had to focus on study at university, yet everyone just expected that I put all of that aside for an RP I had never agreed to. When I refused to sacrifice my marks, I was the victim of a barrage of insults (I'm just running away, I'm stalling, I'm scarred, etcetera).

They eventually claimed that I could manage both my study and the RP; I doubted I'd be able to, and they returned with the same insults. I have ADHD so I can get distracted incredibly easy and can procrastinate for hours, in order to get in the mood to study, I have to isolate myself from all distractions otherwise I won't get any work done.

Furthermore, I had absolutely no joy for the RP they want me to take part in. I would have to spend countless hours researching vague resources on military tactics, equipment, and organisation just to create a post which will be of passable quality (but will still likely result in the destruction of all my forces). If there was an agreeable plot, the removal of the uncertainty would put my mind at ease and I'd be able to stop worrying about my nation being completely destroyed and find some interest in the story of the RP.

However, RP appears to be an attempt to destroy my nation, and several people appear to have admitted as much. They have refused to even consider drafting an outline of the plot for the RP (I like RPing because for the enjoyment of an interesting story and how it affects my nation), and seem only concerned about winning. Now they are threatening to get everyone to 'shun' me in an attempt to force me into an RP which has no story and seems like it is just to win for the sake of winning.

So, am I in the wrong? Are my concerns and grievances justified? What can be done to salvage the situation?

Thanks.

The arguments starting on this page are most relevant: https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=383186&start=650

Since you agreed to be involved in the first RP, and that RP was cancelled and locked, you are under no obligation to participate in the second RP if you didn't express your willingness to be a part of that RP. By all means, feel free to ignore it if you are so inclined, but what might be better is to hold an OOC discussion with the other parties about what your expectations and goals are for any roleplay that you would be a part of. If they cannot respect that, then you don't have to roleplay with them. Hope that helps.

[Aquitayne]

- snip -

Hi there!

Let me first preface my response by telling you that I know and frequently talk to the people you're having this dispute with (namely SACTO members). That said, as a Mentor, obviously my personal relationships won't be going into this at all.

Now, after reading your above post, it seems that this situation moved rapidly and you were a bit dazed by the haste of it all, which is understandable. That being said, it's important for you to understand that you are not required by community standards or NS RP etiquette to RP if you don't want to. If this is not the roleplay you signed up for, planned for, and wanted to engage in, it is perfectly fine to ignore cannon it and retcon the RP in its entirety, or partially. That said, this will rub everyone else in the RP the wrong way and it won't make you their favorite person and may lead to further disputes in the future. If any of those disputes turn personal or hostile in nature, you can always report them to Moderation for review.

If you feel that you don't have the time or focus to work on a roleplay, do not feel obligated to participate in it. Real life comes first. Your degree will be serving you for the rest of your life; NationStates is an entertainment vessel and will be around whenever you have time to devote to it. What all of this comes down to, really, is whether you 1) feel comfortable roleplaying with this group of people, 2) want to participate in the roleplay at all, 3) have the time and resources to devote to participating in this roleplay, and lastly 4) agree to work with them if you do decide to participate.

Obviously I can't recommend whether you continue or discontinue the RP, that choice is up to you, but I don't believe you've done anything inherently wrong and I think your concerns are valid. As for salvaging the situation, it's important as the subject of the RP that you set boundaries and guidelines on what you want to come out of the storyline. Remember, you're in charge of your nation - they can't dictate results to you. Just as you decide how many ships or soldiers get killed in an attack, you decide what happens to your country. Do remember to take in-character events and circumstances into your decision-making process as these will dictate results in an IC format, obviously. Though, a better idea may be to set these results before you RP at all, and have a clear end point of the RP so future arguments about what happens don't arise.

If you need any further help or have any other questions, please feel free to TG me.

[Ghant]

If this is not the roleplay you signed up for, planned for, and wanted to engage in, it is perfectly fine to ignore cannon it and retcon the RP in its entirety, or partially. That said, this will rub everyone else in the RP the wrong way and it won't make you their favorite person and may lead to further disputes in the future.

This is why I generally recommend that you don't engage in roleplays of a potentially competitive nature with people that you don't have especially good relationships with OOCly. It's far easier to do those sorts of roleplays with people that you know and trust, and you can say that they feel the same way. Otherwise, as Aquitayne said, the OOC situation can escalate from bad to worse, and you don't want that, because whether it is your fault or not, people will associate you with negative shenanigans. Once your reputation is tarnished, it's hard to overcome that. Best way to avoid that is to not put yourself into antagonistic situations. As a wise man once told me, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Those are wise words to live by.

[Ardoki]

Thanks a lot guys.

I definitely support Aquitayne's idea regarding determining the final results beforehand. However, this is all they are willing to give me:

So you are still unwilling to even discuss the plot for this RP?

Inyursta et al try to blockade.
Ardoki tries to stop it.

What else is there to discuss that concerns both parties?

[Aquitayne]

Thanks a lot guys.

I definitely support Aquitayne's idea regarding determining the final results beforehand. However, this is all they are willing to give me:

Inyursta et al try to blockade.
Ardoki tries to stop it.

What else is there to discuss that concerns both parties?

Well, I'd highlight that while the in-between stuff can still be competitive and/or relatively loose, the overall end of the roleplay should be decided beforehand. i.e what all of this blockading and fighting results in. Once that is decided, the interim stuff can be fleshed out with greater flexibility and enjoyment for all involved, if that's the route you wish to take.

EDIT: I should mention that it seems these guys are fairly competitive RP'ers. If that's not your style or what you want, make it known to them - explicitly state that you want to work out the results before they occur. Don't forget you have a voice in how the outcome manifests itself.

[Ardoki]

Thanks a lot guys.

I definitely support Aquitayne's idea regarding determining the final results beforehand. However, this is all they are willing to give me:

Well, I'd highlight that while the in-between stuff can still be competitive and/or relatively loose, the overall end of the roleplay should be decided beforehand. i.e what all of this blockading and fighting results in. Once that is decided, the interim stuff can be fleshed out with greater flexibility and enjoyment for all involved, if that's the route you wish to take.

EDIT: I should mention that it seems these guys are fairly competitive RP'ers. If that's not your style or what you want, make it known to them - explicitly state that you want to work out the results before they occur. Don't forget you have a voice in how the outcome manifests itself.

Okay, I'll try that. Thanks.

[Orostan]

So, I've been thinking about my RP abilities. It seems as if in many of my role plays, I end up getting into arguments, and being accused of Godmodding. I want to know if I really am as bad as it is implied, or if I am simply in need of some improvement.

What you say, NSG?

[Orostan]

Whoops, wrong forum (I think)