The future of RP at SFO

[Kursed]

Back in the good ol' days when DZ's and Quasars roamed the earth?

Just pulling your leg there. I'm not saying it won't be possible to make a fun roleplay under those conditions, just that I think we'll get more creative, varied ideas if we stick to multiple roleplays which have to go trough an approval system. Actually coming up with your own ideas, putting them into action and (hopefully) get to see how the players enjoy roleplaying trough it is half the fun in my opinion.

Best of luck!

Agreed. I'm sure Simon will appreciate having another mod to fall back on as well.

Yes, that could truly become a nigthmare. It's important that the roleplay moderators remain impartial in their approvals, and actively help roleplay creators with advice on how to improve their requests.

Another good idea  (this is mostly for the creators) Is to combine plots.

[DZComposer]

I gave it some thought today, and I think I will take a stab at writing an RP software. It isn't as daunting of a project as I originally thought.

I have the use cases done up, and I am working on the db design.

Don't expect it quick, though. I'm writing this shit from scratch in PHP using NetBeans.

[Kursed]

I don't think that's a good idea Dz.... ,butI guess I can't stop you.

[DZComposer]

What's bad about it?

[Matt Macdowel]

i have an idea! why don't one of the admins just keep track and stuff  on it along with Side ways.

[Kursed]

What's bad about it?

I don't know ,but I've seen no such software anywhere. It may just be a waste of your time.

[EazyIN]

i have an idea! why don't one of the admins just keep track and stuff  on it along with Side ways.

Isn't that what Steve does?  :?

[Fox-Shot]

Though I don't RP myself, I find that there are a few fixes.

1. Software, or perhaps make RP only on IRC, though a much faster flow, it's much more manageable since the mod doesn't have to switch pages and each post is much smaller.

2. Ban people from RP board if they have bad behavior.  Simple as that, I'd say have the ban lengths set the same as usual.

3. More thought out RPs: Not to be mean, but I don't think it's a good idea to approve an RP if the title doesn't use proper grammar.

4. More strict queue: I'd say any backed up RPs could be pushed onto a chat and be a more quick done RP.

Flaws: For IRC, not everyone is online at the same time, so perhaps host a chat with a lengthened history.

[DZComposer]

I don't know ,but I've seen no such software anywhere. It may just be a waste of your time.

That's because no one has made a pre-packaged RP software. To use a software solution, we have to build it. There is a huge advantage to this: it will do exactly what we want it to do.

This far, I am thinking something pretty simple. Here is the plan:

After registering, users can create characters. These characters are stored in the database independent of RPs, so they can be re-used.

To participate in an RP, all you have to do is join your character to the RP. Somthing like this: Join as [drop-down menu with your characters] [Join button]

This adds your character to the RP's character list.  You could even join multiple characters.

To post in the RP, you create an event. "Event" means "Post." There are two types: "RP Event" and "Comment." RP events are posted as your character, and continue the RP story. Comments are posted as your username, and are used to communicate with other users out of character. Comments can be hidden for easy story reading. When posting, you will be able to choose which character you are posting as or whether you are posting a comment.

On the backend, there will be a per-user-per-day post limit for each RP, IE you can only make 5 posts in each RP each day (or whatever other number).

Users will have the option to submit an RP for approval. Provide the name, any custom rules, and backstory, and your RP is queued for review. When approved by a moderator, it becomes available to be joined. The RP information is editable by the creator in case the need arises to alter the rules or backstory.

You can invite another user to join an RP you create.

You can make your RPs private, meaning the other user has to have an invite to join.

There will be a PM system, though it will have a small box size to discourage PM RPs (the system will support private RPs...).

[Guest DRL]

Sounds like a good solution to me DZComposer!

"Why buy it when you can make it?"

...That is actually a good idea. When they taught

us about C/C++ programming one

of the issues we had to solve with a program

was one regarding an engine.

Most tried to modify the engine.

I and a few others: Stop using the engine

and replace it with whatever code you needed.

...Of course all of this is off-topic, but I think

everyone will get the idea.

Wish you the best of luck with the software creation!

[Asper Sarnoff]

That sounds like a really good and professional approach to the problems. Best of luck.

A small bugger tough, what if one plays as multiple characters? For example if one steps for someone while they're away, take on the role of a NPC, or just plays as two different characters?

Brilliant, Asper!

totally!

[Geo Stelar]

I think playing as multiple characters is allowed if, and only if, the user can handle those roles without any problem.

[DZComposer]

A small bugger tough, what if one plays as multiple characters? For example if one steps for someone while they're away, take on the role of a NPC, or just plays as two different characters?

Characters are separate from users. While they do have a user tied to them, I suppose to cover for absence, someone can make a duplicate of the character. Users are tied to events, so if someone tries to impersonate another user's character without permission, they can easily be caught.

Database Schema so far:

The joins table is the table that handles whether or not a character and user are part of the RP. Note how it is laid out. It stores a character, a user, and an RP. The PHP will check if you have a character joined (SELECT * FROM joins WHERE userid = "your userid" AND rpid = "RP id of RP"), and present a drop-down menu of characters you have joined to the RP. Note: that SQL statement is simplified. The real one would have an SQL Join in it to pull the character name from the character table.

[Kursed]

Just looking at this Dz  i have a  feeling that this is going to be more trouble than it is worth to be honest.

[DZComposer]

That's just the data store. You can't judge the final product by it.

This isn't a hugely complicated system. It is a special-purpose system designed to do one thing. It's not like I'm proposing writing a forum from scratch.

[Guest DRL]

That's just the data store. You can't judge the final product by it.

This isn't a hugely complicated system. It is a special-purpose system designed to do one thing. It's not like I'm proposing writing a forum from scratch.

True.

PLUS, I do not think it is going to be very complicated

to learn... (to RP using the system, I mean).

Besides, it looks like you are making progress! :yes:

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Though I don't RP myself, I find that there are a few fixes.

1. Software, or perhaps make RP only on IRC, though a much faster flow, it's much more manageable since the mod doesn't have to switch pages and each post is much smaller.

2. Ban people from RP board if they have bad behavior.  Simple as that, I'd say have the ban lengths set the same as usual.

3. More thought out RPs: Not to be mean, but I don't think it's a good idea to approve an RP if the title doesn't use proper grammar.

4. More strict queue: I'd say any backed up RPs could be pushed onto a chat and be a more quick done RP.

Flaws: For IRC, not everyone is online at the same time, so perhaps host a chat with a lengthened history.

^= Win.

[Fox-Shot]

^= Win.

Thanks, You were the only one who took note in them, they are valid points in a way, though with bans, someone would have to take that character or move the story in a way that the character won't be needed.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Thanks, You were the only one who took note in them, they are valid points in a way, though with bans, someone would have to take that character or move the story in a way that the character won't be needed.

No problem!

I don't understand why RP keeps getting misused....

[Sabre]

Any updates?

[Asper Sarnoff]

Come to think of it.

DZ, you mentioned that when posting in a roleplay, one would have to chose between what to post as. One of the allready accepted roleplay characters, or as yourself in an off-topic situation.

Would it be possible to include a choice simply labelled "NPC" as well? As so happens, one often requires a minor character just to appear in a post or two simply to drive the roleplay foreward.

[DZComposer]

I've been mulling over allowing RP creators to create characters for an RP that do not have a specific user account tied to them. If I were to do that, one could simply create a new character for the RP, and someone could post as it. This would allow for NPCs or Canon characters if need be.

That would cause a need to alter the DB design, but that's a negligible task.

As far as progress, I'm in the code planning stage at the moment. I won't get to really write any code until my finals are done with in a few weeks. It will probably be a couple of months after that until I have a working prototype. Then, I'll need to debug and test it.

BTW, if any of you know PHP and want to help, let me know.

In the meantime, I will start the application process for a new RP mod.

[Andrew McCloud]

Hmm.... it's interesting because normally this wouldn't be that big of a deal, except that the RPs are -user- run. Most RP websites are run by admins and moderators and have lead GMs that specialize in RPs. These people approve all of their own members because they not only know what type of characters they want, but they know what will fly because they are a mod/admin. The issue here is that those 2 requirements are met by not one, but two separate groups of people. Users know what type of people they want, but only mods/admins have the knowledge to handle conflicts.

I've been RPing since Terrin was around (pre-2000). I was in VEST 2 during the LEST vs. VEST groups and I've been a member of Pheonix Rebellion and CEG. The majority of history surrounding Starfox RPing has been chat-based, not forum based. Forum RPing isn't a bad thing if you have high activity but more often than not it is in the best interest of the GM and everyone to go Chat-based.

I've been in both types of RPs, and I can say with confidence that the only time Forum RPs have succeeded is when there have been -massive- resources, regulations, and restrictions to the RPG. This usually leads to one major RPG being run by the site and having several admins and mods devote time to approve characters and ideas. This solves most the issues with forum roleplaying:

1) Approvals are no longer an issue because there is a limited number of RPGs that are regulated by the staff.

2) Keeping track of members and their characters is no longer an issue because they all belong to a regulated few RPGs.

3) Posting levels are regulated because there are a limited numbers of RPGs and scenarios happening at any one time.

4) While you'll need more than one mod to work on it, they will be much happier because it is no longer chaotic and everyone is happy.

* Pre-empting the people that will call me out on members having a 'lack of creativity' within the RPG, let me say that your creativity comes from your characters. This format forces the players to be more creative and more deep with their characters and makes for much more interesting roleplaying-- trust me.

If you don't accept this method, I would highly encourage Chat-based RPGs with an archive derived on the forum itself listing all of the different room names and themes of RPGs. This takes all regulation off of the staff, and the moderators need only be available during a portion of the timeslot for each RPG to handle disciplinary actions if they are necessary.

Trust me, I've been in the RP business for a long time (esp. SF) and I know much of the Staff that made LylatRPG as big as it was and as regulated as it was. If you need any more help, give me a PM and I'll be happy to work more on it and talk to the GMs and Admins of LylatRPG to come up with something feasible.

[Asper Sarnoff]

To tell the truth, I'm not to excited about the idea of chat-based roleplays. As an active roleplayer who live hafway around the globe from the mayority, I often tend to pop by when it's night over there, and have long time to write a large piece of text which I can put much thought into, and then write smaller responses when it's evening here and you in the US start to fire up. It's worked terrific so far, and I don't think any changes to a chat based system would be better.

[Kursed]

To tell the truth, I'm not to excited about the idea of chat-based roleplays. As an active roleplayer who live hafway around the globe from the mayority, I often tend to pop by when it's night over there, and have long time to write a large piece of text which I can put much thought into, and then write smaller responses when it's evening here and you in the US start to fire up. It's worked terrific so far, and I don't think any changes to a chat based system would be better.

chat based roleplays are usally quick fire one liners not ideal.