Role Playing Section

[Fluxy]

I am just a little curious now as to this. But first, let me apologize if this should have been a private message issue, but I feel it needs to be brought up again.

Now, of course, in the eyes of this site, the normal sections get looked at first well before the Creative and Role Playing sections. That is by all means understandable. And I know that normal members and the such should help out the mods once in a while, as they can't get everything. After all, we are all only human [No matter how fury you are =P].

But it is just a little annoying to me when I see that it has been a while with the Role Playing Section not given much attention. I understand that in most cases people get busy, and that is clearly understandable. But, there is a limit. I have seen that Sylum has been having issues, and he posted that he would be away for a while. Then again, he also posted he was coming back, and was a little confusing to myself, but I still have not seen him around at all for a while. And then with Fira, for some reason she has been lurking for a while, and she is on sometimes I rarely notice, but it seems that she isn't looking at the RP section much.

Now, that is just an observation, and I know I am always up for having a fault in my sight, and there always being some reason for this. But when it comes to me having to point out to one of our Full Mod's [Asper] that some of the threads in the RP Request section died and/or asked for locking, rather than any of the mods in general see it and go out of their way to lock it, I find just a little silly. And then again, we still have an RP Queue that needs to be filled. Something I have no right to select, therefore gave no suggestion as to what should happen on that end.

I would ask that no small "Yeah!" or boastful comments be made on this thread, like what has happened in some cases with issue threads, but I would like some type of answer, and thoughts on this as well. I love our staff, I just want to know a bit as to what is going on with Role Playing end of it.

[Asper Sarnoff]

Yes Nick, this is actually something I just adressed earlier today in the staff board. I hope that we might increase the number of RP's that can be run similtaneously, and thus prevent that so many of them end up being stillborn.

[Xortberg]

I don't think this is an issue with the creative boards getting less attention so much as it is with the RP mods not really doing their jobs. Sylum is away, which is understandable, but there's more than just him. Fira has been on occasionally, and as you said, there's several different RPs waiting for approval that should have been queued by now. And you shouldn't have to ask a Full Mod to do the job of the RP Mods. They exist for that reason, and if they aren't able or willing to do their job, then perhaps some new RP Mods should be appointed.

[Asper Sarnoff]

I don't think this is an issue with the creative boards getting less attention so much as it is with the RP mods not really doing their jobs. Sylum is away, which is understandable, but there's more than just him. Fira has been on occasionally, and as you said, there's several different RPs waiting for approval that should have been queued by now. And you shouldn't have to ask a Full Mod to do the job of the RP Mods. They exist for that reason, and if they aren't able or willing to do their job, then perhaps some new RP Mods should be appointed.

You are kind of barking up the wrong tree there. Since last time trouble arose in the RP section, there's been a low limit on how many roleplays could keep going similtaneously. That quota was quickly filled, and the ongoing roleplays were slow to end, meaning many request died out before they were given the green light. That's not really something the RP mods can be blamed for.

[Fluxy]

You are kind of barking up the wrong tree there. Since last time trouble arose in the RP section, there's been a low limit on how many roleplays could keep going similtaneously. That quota was quickly filled, and the ongoing roleplays were slow to end, meaning many request died out before they were given the green light. That's not really something the RP mods can be blamed for.

I don't believe that is what he is referring to, Asper, but more so that he is pointing out that instead of the RP mods taking care of things, you did it. And I do understand what you said in a past thread about apologizing that not making it clear that you are making it up for their absence, but then again, those topics were wanting to be locked a for a bit even when Fira and Sylum were more active, as well as an RP allowed to be queued. And if I am not mistaken, Fira was even on today.

I am pretty sure Xort knows of the 6RP [Not including Complex] rule.

[Milkyway64]

In either case, I have not seen either of the RP mods on in a while and fact is that their job has to be done for them more than it should.

You know what, everything I wanna say is out there. All of you are ninjas and should feel bad.

[Asper Sarnoff]

I don't believe that is what he is referring to, Asper, but more so that he is pointing out that instead of the RP mods taking care of things, you did it. And I do understand what you said in a past thread about apologizing that not making it clear that you are making it up for their absence, but then again, those topics were wanting to be locked a for a bit even when Fira and Sylum were more active, as well as an RP allowed to be queued. And if I am not mistaken, Fira was even on today.

I am pretty sure Xort knows of the 6RP [Not including Complex] rule.

Yes, Fira was on for a short while. Before I started distracting her on Skype.

Truth is, due to me having been involved in the RP section here on SF-O for so long, I do also work as a back-up RP mod at times. So you shouldn't feel bad at all about having to PM me if you need something done. Rather that then DZComposer and Steve, as I know many have done, since neither have much interest in roleplaying.

And 6 RP's? 5, including the Complex, last I checked. Which is too few.

[Fluxy]

Yes, Fira was on for a short while. Before I started distracting her on Skype.

Truth is, due to me having been involved in the RP section here on SF-O for so long, I do also work as a back-up RP mod at times. So you shouldn't feel bad at all about having to PM me if you need something done. Rather that then DZComposer and Steve, as I know many have done, since neither have much interest in roleplaying.

And 6 RP's? 5, including the Complex, last I checked. Which is too few.

No, The Complex is a Sticky that goes against the 6 Role Play flow. The reason it is not shown as one is because although DZ said it was to be one, Fira I remember said publicly that she felt she would do it when it felt necessary. Not what was originally said by DZ, but then again, she is an RP mod. Not me.

And I feel it is few as well, but again, I am no mod, and the decision is in Steve and DZ's.

And it is not that I feel bad, but just that, they haven't been doing a whole lot, and it makes it feel a tiny bit under appreciated some of the effort normal users here do for the mods at some times. I mean, I did submit a list of things I thought could help the RP, and I never got a response at all of how they were doing, and what they saw wrong. Just like, wasted effort to some extent. That might not be the best way to word it, but it is the only way I can think of right now.

[Milkyway64]

Yes, Fira was on for a short while. Before I started distracting her on Skype.

Truth is, due to me having been involved in the RP section here on SF-O for so long, I do also work as a back-up RP mod at times. So you shouldn't feel bad at all about having to PM me if you need something done. Rather that then DZComposer and Steve, as I know many have done, since neither have much interest in roleplaying.

And 6 RP's? 5, including the Complex, last I checked. Which is too few.

I'd like for you to recall the previous RP drama, the one where a few certain RPs were locked. The entire reason that happened is because DZ had to get involved on account of no one else willing to do it. I do agree that we probably need more staffing back there, or at least replacements. A line has to be drawn when DZ has to do their job, and to a lesser extent, you.

[Asper Sarnoff]

No, The Complex is a Sticky that goes against the 6 Role Play flow. The reason it is not shown as one is because although DZ said it was to be one, Fira I remember said publicly that she felt she would do it when it felt necessary. Not what was originally said by DZ, but then again, she is an RP mod. Not me.

And I feel it is few as well, but again, I am no mod, and the decision is in Steve and DZ's.

And it is not that I feel bad, but just that, they haven't been doing a whole lot, and it makes it feel a tiny bit under appreciated some of the effort normal users here do for the mods at some times. I mean, I did submit a list of things I thought could help the RP, and I never got a response at all of how they were doing, and what they saw wrong. Just like, wasted effort to some extent. That might not be the best way to word it, but it is the only way I can think of right now.

Pretty sure it's a 4 "normal" RP limit, with a unstickied "sticky" Comples floating on top. Check the RP Rule thread in the RP board.

And in regard to that list you sent, it was submitted in the staff section and discussed there. Sorry to hear it didn't get back to you.

I'd like for you to recall the previous RP drama, the one where a few certain RPs were locked. The entire reason that happened is because DZ had to get involved on account of no one else willing to do it. I do agree that we probably need more staffing back there, or at least replacements. A line has to be drawn when DZ has to do their job, and to a lesser extent, you.

Maybe, but it was a tought decision to make for someone who hadn't been mods for a very long time. Despite those roleplays being, well how do I put it, not as they should be, they were immensly popular, and a standing up for their closure in a time where some people where crying about biased dictator staff, probably wasn't as easy as it might appear with hindsight.

[Fluxy]

Pretty sure it's a 4 "normal" RP limit, with a unstickied "sticky" Comples floating on top. Check the RP Rule thread in the RP board.

And in regard to that list you sent, it was submitted in the staff section and discussed there. Sorry to hear it didn't get back to you.

Ahs, and there is where I did get a small sliver wrong. And for that, I apologize. I bet you are right about that, but I could have sworn we easily had 6 at once, and were allowed 6 with a sticky.

EDIT: Originally, it was 3, and then DZ increased it higher. I remember it being 6, for I doubt he only increased it by one.

And I doubt it is your fault that no reply was sent to me for it. It just gets on my nerve, and I felt it was best to share my opinion in that light.

[Fira-Astrali]

And I doubt it is your fault that no reply was sent to me for it. It just gets on my nerve, and I felt it was best to share my opinion in that light.

I'm sorry no reply got back to you concerning your other suggestions. We went into depth with one of the concerns and it just ended up that the problem was people needed a refresher of the rules, and we decided I would do that with the next sticky topic that came up. I read the rest of them, and I felt that they were all in a similar fashion. I should have made that clear and I'm sorry.

There are too few roleplays because the next one to be allowed to go is the Save Starfox! RP, which has already been skipped over twice. If it will smooth things over, we can skip it again and allow another rp to go in front of it. And if people perfer it, I will officially sticky the Cornerian Complex. I didn't realize it would become a rp limit/not rp limit question, since everyone knows it was created to replace the 3 stickied threads before it

Yes, Asper has been doing alot in the RP section lately, stuff that I have failed to notice. Not much else that I can say to that. I know that some people requested locks via PM that didn't get to my inbox due to an issue with it, and I got to them late. And there has been house-keeping things like blending topics in the RP Characters section that I didn't even know you could do -_-;

I know I haven't been posting alot in the RP section lately. I've been going in and making sure things are still moving, but obviously I haven't been paying close enough attention, I'm sorry. I've also been away alot without warning anyone on site or on staff, which I realize now is a mistake.

[Fluxy]

Well, alright. They are different, but if you guys see it as the same, then well, fine. *Shrugs* Not much else I got to really help...

[Sabre]

Yeah, also Im awesome ect.

Seriously though. I think upping the number of active RPs is a mistake unless you open the gates completely and/or enfore a 1RP per player rule. The same problem will persist.

Think of this way. It doesn't matter how wide you make the hose if someone keeps turning off the taps.

There are 2 problems as I see it. People start a RP then quit a few days later. The other is the opposate, RPs take so long to get approval nobody cares anymore. The first problem could be active sabotage or some kind of no attention span problem.

Question. Is there any way to know who is dropping out of these stilborn RPs? Would some kind of punishment for those people be worth while?

[Fluxy]

Yeah, also Im awesome ect.

Seriously though. I think upping the number of active RPs is a mistake unless you open the gates completely and/or enfore a 1RP per player rule. The same problem will persist.

Think of this way. It doesn't matter how wide you make the hose if someone keeps turning off the taps.

There are 2 problems as I see it. People start a RP then quit a few days later. The other is the opposate, RPs take so long to get approval nobody cares anymore. The first problem could be active sabotage or some kind of no attention span problem.

Question. Is there any way to know who is dropping out of these stilborn RPs? Would some kind of punishment for those people be worth while?

I don't understand why you even started that way, but since you did, I might as well point out that it is etc. *Shrug*

And really, upping the RP's wouldn't be an issue if taken in small steps. Really, we were doing perfectly fine with 6 right now, moving up a step to 7 would not cause many issues since most [actually all] of the RP's move pretty slowly. The only time where it truly needs good taking care of is the summer, cause that is when everyone [Most of the members of the site that RP have a lot of summer off] wants to RP or be really active. We also already have a one Role Play request per player rule as well.

The hose we already have in our case then can't be forced much faster in terms of RP activity. It just rarely turns out that way. And if it does, we know that Asper will help when he can, and I know for a fact Fira will notice if the RP section somehow gets a whole lot more attention.

And really, the only problem you state is to your idea, which in the end, would only lead to chaos pretty much as it doesn't have balance.

Although, yes. Your second issue does affect the RP section a lot already, as that happens a lot. Three times recently actually to be precise.

And honestly, they get a warning, and if they decide to do it again, they don't get their RP queued. Simple as that in my mind. The more complex we get with some things, the more the Role Playing Section won't even get attention. People will just go, "Psh, not worth it anymore." And I do realize the same can go if there is pure freedom like that, but really, all we need to do, if anything that is, is just increase each thing a little bit in moderation. An extra RP in the Queue, a bit more emphasis in the moderation, and just a bit more enthusiasm about RP'ing in general, and we are good for now.

[Vixie Darkmatter]

Question. Is there any way to know who is dropping out of these stilborn RPs? Would some kind of punishment for those people be worth while?

I don't know. Some people drop out because of irl situations and such. I know I dropped out of an rp once because of illness. Out of curiousity, what kind of punishment would you suggest for those who do drop out that would be fair?

[Guest Mr. Mario]

Question. Is there any way to know who is dropping out of these stilborn RPs? Would some kind of punishment for those people be worth while?

Out of curiousity, what kind of punishment would you suggest for those who do drop out that would be fair?

I just hope it doesn't have to be something like "No more RPing with any of *Insert username*'s RPs"

[Fluxy]

I just hope it doesn't have to be something like "No more RPing with any of *Insert username*'s RPs"

Something like that won't happen. That is just silly overall. The punishment doesn't have to be complicated. A simple warning should be plenty fine. Anyone else really doing that would be doing so mainly and only on purpose, therefore, we would know after the first try.

[FoxMcCloud]

I guess what had really caused alot of the RPs to die out, and or lose interest was the fact that the queue took so long. For the RP section to truly be what it once was, we need more watchful eyes. Not necessarily Mods, but people in general. Of course this time of year is the worst, and I cannot blame the RP mods. Personally I have been caught up in alot of School, and family situations.

But I felt that the RP section has lost its touch. Mainly due to events that occurred even before my time but I still saw, but that is not the place for this. Alot of the Veteran RPers have lost the interest to post here. To be honest even I am too, but I do not want myself to do this. I do not want to leave SF-O. I have built to many friendships, and etc. But to get back on track, There are hardly any good RPs to post in, and hardly anyone posts in the Complex because no two players could just chat. A rule was instated that it had to be three. An RP is not just to be dictated to rules like the military, its to create a lively atmosphere where you are the author of the story. Sure we need to have basic rules like description of gore, blood, XXX, etc. The RP section of SF-O was the place where I could be the character that I wanted to portray whether to act out stress, anxiety, you name it.

Alot of us RPers take it with a passion. We do what we love, and honestly we love to RP. I am not saying we need to change rules, or change, or eliminate things. We need to help restore the RP section to what it was with invigorating RPs and amazing story lines. We need to put effort into this board. We are gonna get out as much as we put into it.

[Sabre]

Nice in theory but the practice is far different. Few RPs finish and most lose almost all of their players 2-3 pages in. RPs are a colabritive effort so if 1 or 2 people don't pull their weight, the game collapses.

[Fluxy]

Nice in theory but the practice is far different. Few RPs finish and most lose almost all of their players 2-3 pages in. RPs are a colabritive effort so if 1 or 2 people don't pull their weight, the game collapses.

Then let that happen. Let people who want to drop out, drop out. If they do, it just shows someone is not going to have fun anymore, and that was the purpose of the RP in the long run. That is why the GM makes sure once it has been accepted that all the players are still willing to play.

[Robert Monroe]

More RP staff would be a great thing, especially if it means we get more active RPs in the long run. The 4 RP rule (Or however many it is) is something I've been against since day 1, and Nick is right: if the RP is doomed to die, then let it be so. The sooner the RP dies instead of making rules in an attempt to revive it, the sooner another RP can take its place. Furthermore, it lets us know who the really dedicated RPers are and aren't: ones with bad track records of not showing up will be denied or delayed entry into RPs, keeping slots open for more dedicated players.

And if all else fails, a GM can always write off or kill a slacking player's characters (within reason).

[Sabre]

Then let that happen. Let people who want to drop out, drop out. If they do, it just shows someone is not going to have fun anymore, and that was the purpose of the RP in the long run. That is why the GM makes sure once it has been accepted that all the players are still willing to play.

Not always possable. It's a case of dedication. Let's say a game has 5 slots. The players join and one drops out because they have no dedication, it's to late for another player to jump in and saying "Falco died in a crash, moving on" doesn't really work. A perfect example was the zombie RP from a while back where we started with a high number, but by page 3 or so we had to hastly end it as everyone else did their "Die Zombies Die!" moment and then left. Everyone seemed passionate about it, but only posted once or twice.

[Xortberg]

Not always possable. It's a case of dedication. Let's say a game has 5 slots. The players join and one drops out because they have no dedication, it's to late for another player to jump in and saying "Falco died in a crash, moving on" doesn't really work. A perfect example was the zombie RP from a while back where we started with a high number, but by page 3 or so we had to hastly end it as everyone else did their "Die Zombies Die!" moment and then left. Everyone seemed passionate about it, but only posted once or twice.

Simple solution: large amounts of characters die off, the remaining few form a ragtag group of survivors and fight their own battle against the zombie apocalypse. Very few cases exist where a loss of players forces to RP to die. I'm currently involved in an RP on another forum involving quite an in-depth backstory, potential for a wonderful plot, and all kinds of action promised in the near future. We have six players, and before we started recruiting, it was four. My point? You don't need 10+ characters for a good RP. Even if you start with that many and it drops down, it only takes a little bit of plotting and a little bit of writing skill to write them out and for the RP to continue unimpeded.

Hell, even if it drops down to two people, if those two people are having fun with it it's a successful RP, no? And if players drop out, it could even open up slots for others to join and replace them.

[Fluxy]

Not always possable. It's a case of dedication. Let's say a game has 5 slots. The players join and one drops out because they have no dedication, it's to late for another player to jump in and saying "Falco died in a crash, moving on" doesn't really work. A perfect example was the zombie RP from a while back where we started with a high number, but by page 3 or so we had to hastly end it as everyone else did their "Die Zombies Die!" moment and then left. Everyone seemed passionate about it, but only posted once or twice.

Again, really, Just like Xort said.

The point of it overall is for fun to occur. And also, it just shows who of the GM's can deal with things. Nothing in life ever goes perfect, thus the same with an RP. But it would show who can make the most of it, and people would learn overall, meaning more growth, which is what we want.

And so? If an RP dies out, accept it. It is a natural way of life among the way it goes there. It really isn't that complicated.