Roleplaying and Storytelling

Jenred · 09-17-2002, 03:20 PM

After some brief encounters recently with Organized Role-Playing, I figured Id ask if it was a common thing. Now first to clarify...

By Organized Role-Playing, I mean some Players get together, maybe in an OOC Room, or on messengers or something and assign roles and actions and things, and then go to a busy spot or something and basically act out the roles.

Now they arnt like totatlly off beat things, and are actually part of the characters background or whatnot, but they all knew in ahead what was going to happen, and were essentially just putting on a show.

Do you think that this rehearsed-type rp is good for games? Or is it something you dont like to see used, or used only sparingly?

I personally thought it was a little weird, (I found out afterwards they had it plotted out when I talked to one who was a friend of mine). And thought it was a little MUSHesque, wher things are coordinated kinda on the spot with oocs and such.

Anyways... responses if you want.

Brody · 09-17-2002, 04:14 PM

Speaking on behalf of MUSHes everywhere, I can say many do not coordinate activities through OOC discussions in advance.

I can think of maybe twice during the past four-plus years of running my game that we've determined the outcome of an event in advance, but we really don't tightly script what leads to the outcome, and we'll sometimes decide to veer from the planned outcome even in those circumstances where we've discussed it in advance.

I think the unpredictability of events is far more exciting and enjoyable than playing out certainties.

Burke · 09-17-2002, 06:56 PM

Oh I dunno, I think like all roleplay its got its good side and its bad side. Several players determining in advance a scripted event and putting on a show for others isn't necessarily a bad thing. The obvious advantage is having time to make what might be a ho-hum encounter become something grand and exciting for the whole MUD, something worth talking about.

I agree some of the best roleplay I've seen as far as I know was off the cuff and totally unscripted, but impromptu roleplay does not have the same quality as the preparation that might go into a speech. Also impromptu doesn't allow for series of events to be played out since such things must be coordinated between those involved. I really think its up to the roleplayers themselves to decide unless the MUD itself has rules against it.

Khan · 09-17-2002, 08:39 PM

I don't enjoy things that are planned out because you can almost feel the fakeness of it all. On the fly roleplay is much better, because you are relying on the wit and creativity of the other person playing the character that you are interacting with.

There's nothing more exhilirating than watching people interact when you know that it's not rehearsed. If I wanted to watch a scene that's rehearsed, I'd go to a play or something.

OnyxFlame · 09-25-2002, 07:08 PM

The closest to this I've ever done is talking to a friend to make sure our char histories meshed so our chars could be related. There was also a chatroom I used to RP in where people would occasionally get together and create the beginning of a storyline, but at least in the ones I was involved in, we didn't plan out the outcome beforehand. I think more interesting stuff ends up happening when you ad lib it. If you wanna plan everything out in advance, have your char write a play and get others to be the actors in it or something. (Which could have its own ad libbing, as an actor forgets his lines, or changes them around and the playwright starts yelling at everyone...

)

Sanvean · 09-25-2002, 08:56 PM

A little planning isn't a terrible thing on the part of the person putting together the event, but I don't think it'd be much fun to play out a scene that's been plotted out in advance - that'd be pretty tedious, actually, imho.

Do you mean plotting as in "Okay, she's going to come onto you, then I'll get ticked, and then we'll discover I'm actually the long-lost heir to the throne, and then the death weasels will appear?" or "Hey, a bunch of us thought we'd coordinate a hunting party so you can log on at 7 on Thursday?"

Enzo · 09-25-2002, 11:33 PM

Rehearsed RP? That takes everything of what I call RP, except for the fact your being someone besides you (most of the time). No fun when you are going to know what happens. Sounds really stupid to me.

Organized Role-Playing - Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Threshold RPG - Role Playing Contests	Threshold	Advertising for Players	9	04-07-2006 10:10 AM
Playing out your flaws	Brody	Roleplaying and Storytelling	11	12-01-2005 12:34 AM
[new article] Playing the Role	imported_Synozeer	MUD Announcements	0	03-28-2005 01:44 AM
Preferred Role Playing Level	enigma@zebedee	Advertising for Players	27	04-23-2003 08:01 AM
Role Playing Optional.	enigma@zebedee	Advertising for Players	20	03-21-2003 06:18 AM

09-17-2002, 03:20 PM	#1
Jenred Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 55	After some brief encounters recently with Organized Role-Playing, I figured Id ask if it was a common thing. Now first to clarify... By Organized Role-Playing, I mean some Players get together, maybe in an OOC Room, or on messengers or something and assign roles and actions and things, and then go to a busy spot or something and basically act out the roles. Now they arnt like totatlly off beat things, and are actually part of the characters background or whatnot, but they all knew in ahead what was going to happen, and were essentially just putting on a show. Do you think that this rehearsed-type rp is good for games? Or is it something you dont like to see used, or used only sparingly? I personally thought it was a little weird, (I found out afterwards they had it plotted out when I talked to one who was a friend of mine). And thought it was a little MUSHesque, wher things are coordinated kinda on the spot with oocs and such. Anyways... responses if you want.

09-17-2002, 04:14 PM	#2
Brody Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: North Carolina Home MUD: OtherSpace Home MUD: Chiaroscuro Home MUD: Necromundus Posts: 1,361	Speaking on behalf of MUSHes everywhere, I can say many do not coordinate activities through OOC discussions in advance. I can think of maybe twice during the past four-plus years of running my game that we've determined the outcome of an event in advance, but we really don't tightly script what leads to the outcome, and we'll sometimes decide to veer from the planned outcome even in those circumstances where we've discussed it in advance. I think the unpredictability of events is far more exciting and enjoyable than playing out certainties.

09-17-2002, 06:56 PM	#3
Burke New Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12	Oh I dunno, I think like all roleplay its got its good side and its bad side. Several players determining in advance a scripted event and putting on a show for others isn't necessarily a bad thing. The obvious advantage is having time to make what might be a ho-hum encounter become something grand and exciting for the whole MUD, something worth talking about. I agree some of the best roleplay I've seen as far as I know was off the cuff and totally unscripted, but impromptu roleplay does not have the same quality as the preparation that might go into a speech. Also impromptu doesn't allow for series of events to be played out since such things must be coordinated between those involved. I really think its up to the roleplayers themselves to decide unless the MUD itself has rules against it.

09-17-2002, 08:39 PM	#4
Khan New Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 14	I don't enjoy things that are planned out because you can almost feel the fakeness of it all. On the fly roleplay is much better, because you are relying on the wit and creativity of the other person playing the character that you are interacting with. There's nothing more exhilirating than watching people interact when you know that it's not rehearsed. If I wanted to watch a scene that's rehearsed, I'd go to a play or something.

09-25-2002, 07:08 PM	#5
OnyxFlame Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 153	The closest to this I've ever done is talking to a friend to make sure our char histories meshed so our chars could be related. There was also a chatroom I used to RP in where people would occasionally get together and create the beginning of a storyline, but at least in the ones I was involved in, we didn't plan out the outcome beforehand. I think more interesting stuff ends up happening when you ad lib it. If you wanna plan everything out in advance, have your char write a play and get others to be the actors in it or something. (Which could have its own ad libbing, as an actor forgets his lines, or changes them around and the playwright starts yelling at everyone... )

09-25-2002, 08:56 PM	#6
Sanvean Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 99	A little planning isn't a terrible thing on the part of the person putting together the event, but I don't think it'd be much fun to play out a scene that's been plotted out in advance - that'd be pretty tedious, actually, imho. Do you mean plotting as in "Okay, she's going to come onto you, then I'll get ticked, and then we'll discover I'm actually the long-lost heir to the throne, and then the death weasels will appear?" or "Hey, a bunch of us thought we'd coordinate a hunting party so you can log on at 7 on Thursday?"

09-25-2002, 11:33 PM	#7
Enzo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 342	Rehearsed RP? That takes everything of what I call RP, except for the fact your being someone besides you (most of the time). No fun when you are going to know what happens. Sounds really stupid to me.