Biggest Challenge in RPing....

[SEVERUSMAX]

...for me, it's the frustration with period RPs that are based on Hollywood ideas of periods, not actual historical context. Not an issue for most folks, I know, but for a history buff like me, it can be distracting and frustrating, because I have to react as if in a bad episode of Xena or Hercules. Not really my style, if you know what I mean.

 

[Trucken]

I can understand that being difficult, and it's probably the main reason why I try to keep the roleplays I'm involved in in present day. Even so, I sometimes do some ridiculous research to get the facts right (did you know that 7-11 doesn't have any stores in Paraguay? If not, now you do).

My biggest problem is a common one. Writer's block. Especially when I know what I want to write (character does this, says this, goes there, says this) but I just can't find the right words. I want to write something that my writing partner will enjoy reading, not just a quick paragraph that can be read in 20 seconds and doesn't do anything to move the story forward.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I hear you about writer's block. Been there, done that.

 

[papillon24]

I totally understand the writers block thing. I think the most challenging thing is when there is a writer that does not get the idea that proper grammar and sentence structure makes it easier to read. I mean, one liners are annoying, but one liners with a lot of grammatical errors are I wanna rip my hair out annoying

 

[CarnivalBarker]

For SERVERUSMAX, it's not writer's block. She thread blasts the board with a million ideas at once, forcing us all to wade through her garbage, which is just a shitty, rude thing to do. Also, for SERVERUSMAX, the most challenging thing is not being a dick and being considerate to others enjoying the board who don't enjoy being thread raped.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

This is very true, Vail.

 

[Blase]

I really think the biggest challenge is finding a story worth writing and a partner with whom it is worth writing

I'm okay with an idea that I enjoy, not necessarily an idea that is Worth Writing, if you're talking about roleplay, because it's a game as much as it is a writing exercise. At least half the reason I'm doing it is for the fun of interacting with my writing partner.

Finding the right partner is a bigger issue for me. It's seriously not fun if it turns out the two of you want to do very different things (which sometimes happens even when you thought both parties had a good understanding between them), or if there's a big gap between two partner's respective skills.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Another relevant issue, yes.

 

[grdybiwife]

I can understand that being difficult, and it's probably the main reason why I try to keep the roleplays I'm involved in in present day. Even so, I sometimes do some ridiculous research to get the facts right (did you know that 7-11 doesn't have any stores in Paraguay? If not, now you do).

My biggest problem is a common one. Writer's block. Especially when I know what I want to write (character does this, says this, goes there, says this) but I just can't find the right words. I want to write something that my writing partner will enjoy reading, not just a quick paragraph that can be read in 20 seconds and doesn't do anything to move the story forward.

Even worse when writer's block holds the thread up because I refuse to write nonsense to fill in the blanks, especially when my partner is giving me their best.

I'm okay with an idea that I enjoy, not necessarily an idea that is Worth Writing, if you're talking about roleplay, because it's a game as much as it is a writing exercise. At least half the reason I'm doing it is for the fun of interacting with my writing partner.

Finding the right partner is a bigger issue for me. It's seriously not fun if it turns out the two of you want to do very different things (which sometimes happens even when you thought both parties had a good understanding between them), or if there's a big gap between two partner's respective skills.

This the biggest thread killer in my eyes. Writer's block can be worked if you and you're partner work through it together. Gaps in understanding and aptitude can not be fixed in PM. Nor can runaway threads. What has been seen can not be unseen and the edit button is no help when the entire story that you discussed seems to have gone off the rails. I've abandoned threads for such things. Not very considerate, I'm not proud of it but you have to know when to cut your losses and move on. My apologies to anyone I abandoned. It's not you, it's me.

 

[papillon24]

I hear you on that one grdybiwife. There have been many times that I have started things over the years and have just had to leave them behind. Its sad when you have an idea that is really good but the other participant and you can not see eye to eye on a story line.

 

[monique_minx]

I must be a bitch cause I PM and demand they fix it first

 

[Katamari Roller]

My biggest challenge is staying interested in the RP.

I love creating worlds and characters, but you couldn´t keep me going at them for more than two weeks if you chained me down.





That, and finding a zombie apocalypse RP with a character list that does not read like a wikipedia article on GI Joe. When I start reading the first page in the OOC thread and see the first character with a gun, I am already bored to tears.

Have we forgotten the value of having a pool cue within arm´s reach at the right moment? Or a bar stool? Or a heavy ashtray? Or simply not fighting at all because you don´t want to get close to someone with a very bad case of rabies in the first place?

 

[Scuttle Buttin']

Time, definitely.

My biggest challenge is staying interested in the RP.

I love creating worlds and characters, but you couldn´t keep me going at them for more than two weeks if you chained me down.





That, and finding a zombie apocalypse RP with a character list that does not read like a wikipedia article on GI Joe. When I start reading the first page in the OOC thread and see the first character with a gun, I am already bored to tears.

Have we forgotten the value of having a pool cue within arm´s reach at the right moment? Or a bar stool? Or a heavy ashtray? Or simply not fighting at all because you don´t want to get close to someone with a very bad case of rabies in the first place?

Or a guitar, or a fire ax, or a crowbar... You never know when a tank will show up, though.

 

[Wild_Oats]

There is only ONE problem with RPing:

Finding a partner that doesn't vanish on you.

That's it.

Some never log in again, I understand life happens, new jobs, loss of internet etc ... but some - and this pisses me off to no end - are online constantly, chatting up and RPing other threads, posting for interest, while at the same time they can't answer a goddamn PM to say that they're no longer interested.

I go back and forth messaging before I start a story, setting up character details and motives. Finally I post a starter, they tell me 'great post, will reply soon' then never hear from them again. This has happened to me several times on several sites.