Just curious... (questions from a novice ORPer)

[Elbryan]

hi all... pretty new here, but i have been playing rpgs, from larps, to tabletops, to mmorpgs and console games, for almost 10 years now, but im pretty much stumped here. how exactly do you play a rpg without any way to make random determinations (dice rolls, paper, rock, scissors, ect...)? isnt that kind of staid? the good guys always win? do you rely on the good roleplaying skills of the people you are playing with to try to balance things out? (in my experience, both as a player and a gm, not the most safe prospect. even the best, most team oriented player succumbs to a bout of power gaming once in a while). how do you handle character development, or do characters not get more powerfull as the story progresses? just a few questions from someone who is very curious.
hope one of you experienced online roleplayers can help me out

 

[Arc da Rat]

Nope. All you have to do is find the threads marked either "CASTING CALL" or "OOC" (Out Of Character) & read that for the story then write up a character discription. Some of the thread will let you jump right in but other you need the creater of the thread or GM give you the ok.

For more info check the sticky at the top of the board by one of the mods RavenLoft. It's called "Guide To The Online Role Playing Forum."

Happy writing!

Arc da Rat

 

[Elbryan]

why thank you miss... i was kind of hoping for something more on the technical end of things (i guess its just the gm in me) but it seems... there is no technical end of things... fascinating. i think i might observe a bit more before i just jump in though. id like to hear any other opinions too, if anyone wants to share =)

 

[Arc da Rat]

Heh ... np glad to help. Just stop by Orp Announcements if ya have any question or wannn shoot the breeze & chat with the regulars here.

 

[bobo_daclown]

Unfortunately, you will undoubtedly meet a good number of power-hungry authors here and in other places. For the most part, though, the people here either enjoy communicating in a fantasy-world, or just enjoy writing (maybe both, like me).

We play the good guys and the bad guys; and hopefully, the expressed rule (you can't kill or play another's character) will make people balance the plot. For instance, I have played a good number of numbskulls who each wind up killing himself. I have also played alongside of someone who whenever he didn't like what was going on, he would do something outrageous so that he had control. We all ganged up on him because each of us was being treated unfairly.

So, since I probably completely missed the answer in that post, I'll leave it at this: We all have fun and hope that the other people respect us and our characters enough to play fairly.

 

[Elbryan]

i have been scanning through some of the posts, and i see your point. and, fortunately, i dont see nearly as many of those aforementioned power gamers as i had thought i would. i guess you guys have driven them all out. good for you.

 

[poohlive]

The problem with techical things, at least in this sort of forum, is that there is no other person saying when and where the characters can learn things.
It falls indirectly into the rule of not being able to control other characters.
I suppose though, if someone had the time, patience, and balls to actually take up an official role playing game in this sort of forum, they could do it.
The way this is basically played, isn't like a typcial RPG game, it's more like one of those campfire stories. You know, the one where everyone gets around in a circle and takes turns telling a single story.
The only character development that happens is reality development. I have yet to see a time where a person over the course of a role playing time got proficient in anything technical (stealing, fighting, things of that nature).
More than likely, they develop as human beings (find understanding, love, learn to control their anger). You know, crap like that.
Like I said though, it's not an impossibility, if you (or anyone else) decides to become an official DM, and recruit official characters for an official Role Playing Campaign, go for it.
Hell, I'll even join if it sounds interesting enough.

Gary,
Friendly Neighborhood Moderator

 

[Elbryan]

why thamk you mr. moderator. your input is greatly appreciated. and i might just take up your challenge, if i find enough time.

 

[chewbacca71]

Welcome to Lit Elbryan. I agree with all the aforementioned posts. One thing that not mentioned was the fact that most of us are very fickle and most threads do not last more than a few months. I feel this is mostly a kindergarten excercise to see how well we get along with the other children. hehehe

Chewey


Ok guys, put the stones away, I was only kidding.

 

[Ravenloft]

Hello and welcome to Lit ORP Elbryan.

This is indeed, as Pooh put it, more of a campfire story telling session. I couldn't have put it any better. In this form, its very tasking to actually use any sort of rpg rules, as it really bogs down the speed of a thread.

 

[cats]

Two cents worth.

The threads here are coathured books rather then games. Useing this point of view makes the finished product all the better............. Wait a minute chewys right we don't have any finished product. What type of crazzy factory is this?! Why dosen't some one answer me. Oh thats right no one can til I post this.

Oh and we don't drive off the power hungry... Chewy is still here.

 

[hybirdx]

So are you cats...... Anyway both Pooh is right, so is chewie.... (for once!) Any way, I aslo suuggest that you come over to orp anouncements, we basicly sharpen our skills and relax a bit there.

So with all that said, Welcom!

 

[Elbryan]

thanks all

thanks everybody for sharing your thoughts. i have to admit, i feel kind of like a fish out of water. i was always more of a character, rules driven person than story driven. (i swear i can still recite 90% of the ad&d 2nd edition players handbook... is that a THACO chart? noooo!!!! stay away from me!!! ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!) perhaps now is the time to sharpen the other end of the spectrum? we shall see. as soon as i have the time, i think i might just try some of this campfire storytelling out for myself. *smile* hope to see you all soon

 

[Arc da Rat]

Hey Elbryan ~

Please drop by ORP Anouncements at the top of the board ... got question wanna chat. Stomp on a certain dragon's toes (points to HY & whispers).

Everyone does at one point or another.

But most of all enjoy, relax & have fun writing.

 

[chewbacca71]

Re: Two cents worth.

The threads here are coathured books rather then games. Useing this point of view makes the finished product all the better............. Wait a minute chewys right we don't have any finished product. What type of crazzy factory is this?! Why dosen't some one answer me. Oh thats right no one can til I post this.

Oh and we don't drive off the power hungry... Chewy is still here.

Power hungry - No, overbearing - absolutely , hehehe

Chewey

 

[chewbacca71]

Everyone has an opinion, but I would say that a good thread to check out as far as character interaction and such would be the Cafe Nightshade. Got off to a great start and then I joined........

Chewey

 

[hybirdx]

Oh yes! lets not forget your jumping in and ruining the whole thread, onestly chewie, sometimes you're too hard on yourself, any way he is right, something like Cafe nightshade is an good place to start off

 

[SpectralDragoon]

I've tried to run a 3rd edition D&D game on another board, by the rules. Had everyone create characters (I did most of it because they were either 2e familiar or didn't really know anything about D&D). I set up a thread for the game, and a thread for any and all questions about roleplaying where I described the stats, and skills and what have you. It did horrible and crashed. Maybe because they weren't really roleplayers and didn't have enough interest, I dunno. I have played games in an IRC environment though, games like Rifts and Vampire. That works pretty well, but timezones tend to be a bitch. :\

 

[Elbryan]

thanks all

Thanks for everyones imput on this topic. i think i will take up your advice and stop by the announcement (sp?) board and chat some. but first, i have another technical question for spectral (stop groaning evryone, and let me get it out of my system =P ). how did you plan on doing the dice rolls for that ad&d game? did you do them all yourself (id imagine that would get tedious)? did you let them roll for themselves without supervision (sniffs.... is that powergaming i smell?)? or did you use something like a dice roller program? or none of the above? just curious....
btw... i do play rifts and vampire. but one game i havent noticed here is shadowrun. anybody play it? anybody want to? anybody know what im talking about? anybody care?

 

[SpectralDragoon]

I've never played Shadowrun except for the SNES video game, which I loved.

As far as the dice went, I made the rolls and posted them with the player's actions. Using a die roller isn't really an option in a message board environment (that I know of). But it was mostly roleplaying with few rolls except for combat and search and listen checks and the like.

 

[SpectralDragoon]

Just adding: Rifts kicks ass.

 

[cats]

....!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn FASA!! How dare they go out of bisness!

I'd play shadowrun but don't know about 90% of the rules. Any one know GURPS?

 

[bobo_daclown]

GURPS.... isn't that what happens after you drink too much grape soda too quickly?

 

[hybirdx]

Re: thanks all

Thanks for everyones imput on this topic. i think i will take up your advice and stop by the announcement (sp?) board and chat some. but first, i have another technical question for spectral (stop groaning evryone, and let me get it out of my system =P ). how did you plan on doing the dice rolls for that ad&d game? did you do them all yourself (id imagine that would get tedious)? did you let them roll for themselves without supervision (sniffs.... is that powergaming i smell?)? or did you use something like a dice roller program? or none of the above? just curious....
btw... i do play rifts and vampire. but one game i havent noticed here is shadowrun. anybody play it? anybody want to? anybody know what im talking about? anybody care?

AH Shadow run, good ol shinobi! there is a pretty good reason on that. In all my years on playing ninja games, shadow run is one of the best, yet it did have one set back, it was one player. Even though Shinobi is comming out with a new game, I seriously doubt that an Shadow run orp will ever fly.


The only ninja game that is even close to becoming a orp thread is "Dead or Alive"

 

[cats]

????

Hy shadow run has nothing to do with Shinobi. One a video game the other is a pen and paper