Ooc: I think we need to brainstorm....

[Darklord]

Okay gang, I've been around here a small while don't post alot due to work, but when I do I make the most of it. We've seem to have lost alot of our best writers in this forum partly due to no good ideas coming from here recently. This thread is here to remedy that.

This is NOT meant as a bitchfest thread. This is where people can throw out ideas about threads and get some CONSTRUCTIVE critiscm from others on the board about whether it will fly or not. Hopefully this will reduce the number of dead and or dying threads by a good degree. So, have fun, and i'll throw in my own two cents soon..

-Darklord

 

[Darklord]

My two cents..

Okay gang, what are your thoughts on this one?

Place: Europe
Time: Middle ages
Concept: This would be an open ended thread for mutiple players either in groups or singly. It would center around the culture of Knights and Ladies, but players would be restricted from playing Kings since then this would tip the balance.

This would be a non-fantasy style thread, e.g. NO Magic. You get hit with a lance in the head, end of game. Otherwise no restrictions other than a plea to be careful with your spelling. Some people get very uptight about trying to decipher threads when they can't understand what is trying to be said.

So whats the call? Or do you have your own idea? Feel free to post!

 

[silverwolf]

i like it except that there is no magic

well i like it but, no magic! i always play a wizard but i think it's a great idea and i will have to make a charecter for this one if it works.

i have an idea though

place, middle earth
time magic era
concept. Same as if you were to role play the lord of the rings trilogy except that it won't be the same storyline.

 

[KillerMuffin]

My main problem with RPing here is that some people get bogged down in the technicalities of the thing. Like there's a book on it or something. I don't join ones where there are books, I'm not a gamer.

Some people have difficulties with new characters. Apparently we must be the same character over and over again. Why? These characters that we've designed have little or not weaknesses, no vulnerabilities, and some of them are fucking assholes and I wouldn't want to play with them anyway. Our weaknesses make us interesting, not our strengths.

Ravenloft's computer has broken down so that's where he and Valdimer went. Til he gets back, I'm out.

 

[poohlive]

Perhaps an inquiry. Both of your ideas, while very good, lack one thing.
Details.
The problems with some of these threads popping up is that they are so vague. Let's have a rag tag group of warriors and magic carriers go kill an ancient evil in society. Lol, that describes just about every single fantasy book and story out there.
I know it make take a while, but some research might be nice. Ask yourself some specifics, maybe even get together with another person and really get more into it.
We aren't supposed to be role playing cardboard cut outs of warriors who just go around the country killing things. If we were, this would get extremely boring, fast.
Let's take the concept:

Middle Ages.
Knights, squires, and others.
Absolutely no magic.

Where specifically in the middle ages? It does make a difference what time. Earlier there wasn't much of anything. Everything was crude, weapons were nothing more than sticks and flimsy swords. Later on though, things improved, the invention of the cannon. People moved from barbarism, to wholesome christians, to evil christians bent on killing innocent lives in order to force people to believe in Jesus.
This leads into what kind of plot you might want for your band of warriors. Are they all excellent warriors, or perhaps they are the bottom of the barrel. Maybe the good warriors are out having a crusade, and there are a bunch of orcs terrorizing some common villagers. A bunch of newbie knights, who were recently stableboy's, are called into duty. Now we've got a story, at least the beginning of one.
I don't see a problem in the writer's here. I just think some of us aren't actually extending ourself. Silverwolf, you've always role played a person with magic. Maybe you should stretch your imagination once, what would it be like to try something new? It's up to you, I know role playing isn't supposed to be about the writing, but if there ever were a great opportunity to grow as a writer, this is that time.
It ould be as simple as changing one little detail. You know, in all the time I've role played here, only two people have ever had characters with distinctive weaknesses. One was Rockingham, who usually plays a mentally retarded bumbling cabin boy (brilliantly, I might add). Intriguess is also trying something to that affect in her darkness thread in here.
Why not a physical deficiency? Think about it, if your character is a warrior, maybe he lost a hand or an arm during battle, an ear. Something.
The point is, if you make your character an effecient killing machine, that's all it is. A terminator, no personality, just a vessel with a sword attached. Make a biography of your character. Why is he who he is? The childhood is a breeding ground for role playing gold.
You know, I was thinking maybe we could ellaborate on an Odyssues type thread. One that shows his struggle to get back home. Filled with lots of danger...
Anyway.
That's about all I have. I doubt if it helped, but I tried...

 

[Darklord]

reply

Well, I'm glad to already see a big response to this little idea of mine. For your information KM, I threw out my idea with no specifics to see what others response would be, and you gave one. There is a problem with many on board here in that they don't want to be normal since that is what we are already. But thats a discussion for another time.

Okay, so were talking Odysseus, once again we walk into the being based on a book even loosely problem. So, we have Odysseus on his travels, great, but this will limit the numbers of people involved unless we take only Homer's brilliant idea and place it in another time period, etc. And as a person with a degree in Classics, that makes me a little tenative in joing such a thread. The Greek thread that was on here earlier drove me up the wall due to it's extreme inaccuracy, but like I said earlier, thats another time and story.

So, I'm glad your responding people, and as for my idea, now that some people have voiced concerns, etc. I'll give you the details of it all later on this week-end when I'm not quite so busy.

 

[poohlive]

Oh, believe me, when I finally get this thing off the ground I'll do it right. I'll make the necessary changes, honestly not all has to be done to get a few more people able to survive. And there's so much to work with. Monsters, gods, deities, winds, seas, ignorance. An entire land full of troubles that await anyone who wants to come along for the ride.
After all, a big problem in role playing threads is lack of excitement. They always die when there's a lull in the action. Here, it's pretty much impossible.
That, and again research. I don't know about the other greek thread, but this one will be near perfection. We're going to Circe's, we're going to Hade's, We're going to Calypso's.
All the good stuff, none of the bad.
But, I don't expect to start it right away, waiting for a friend to come back.

Hope to see your details soon enough.

 

[Darklord]

The details..

Well, heres some of the things I was considering regarding the Medival thread.

There is one thing I must say I agree with you poohlive, and thats there are to many killing machines. I'll be honest and say I've played a few too. But usually I can give them some sort of twist to make them less invincible.

In case of this thread...
I was envisioning the time period roughly during the 100 years war between England and France. Or, during the 2nd crusade in which the Holy Land was sacked by the Europeans. I think either one would be an interesting time period to play in.

As for charecters, I think it should be limited to people among the normal ranks, e.g. highest you could be is a newly knighted squire. I don't like the idea of people playing High Nobility or the like. It's to much power within the thread to be used in a way to promote thread development. Believe me, if I could play the King of England during the 100 years war, alot would be different.. [lol] Anyhow, it would be open to all who wished to play, but I would probably like to screen the proposed charecters. Well, I'd write more right now, but I've got to head out to a party with a couple buddies, write you all later.
-D.L.

 

[Cryo]

I think you are all missing something. Coming up with a new idea is good and dandy, but it's difficult to find the one that lasts. you can't just get lucky by trying.

also, relying on luck is usually a fatal mistake. My recomendations is to look at the most successfull threads of this board, even if it means going back a year, or sifting through hundreds of posts.

A king's quest was I feel the most successfull in this thread. Why? not to sure, didn't manage to read the entire thing, but they sure went places. The opening was wonderfull. it incorperated a gathering of adventurers of all types. Also the posters of that thread put much detail into their characters, with personality as well as idiosyncracies. On top of that, the beginnings of the ORP had a great number of great writers. there may have been only about 4 or 5 bad ones as opposed to the twenty good ones that basically ran this board.

Now there are maybe 5 good writers, 2 of whome are from the beginning. And there are too many mediocre or bad (or the nameless god shitting awful ones who for the most part are keeping quiet). Don't get me wrong, I rate myself as one of the mediocre ones, if that. I just try my best and hope for the best.

What we had from a Kings quest was good character development. The success of stories depends mostly on characters. if you can't empathize, what's the point of a plot?

A good plot can also sometimes make a difference. Which get's me back to my original point. Starship troopers and the recent Dragonball thread have good storyline development. People must not hesitate to expand the story and move it along. Final fantasy is also included. if you only wait for others to post, so you can reply, your just being pen pals. If you expect a conversation to lead to a good fuck, don't take 20 posts to do it. one person should control the dialog of both characrters in one post and finish it with your pants at your knees.

Another point about plot is the potential progression. You should have an Idea of where the thread is going. Don't just expect a story to form, actually make a story and see how it progresses from there. Get a good idea what the plot is, but make sure to keep it to yourself. Spilling your version of the plot ruins it. Simply direct the storyline in the direction you've allready set your eyes on. If someone's direction differs from yours, than you should change your personal storyboard to allow it, but not to form around it. Remember, your in controll of the thread.

Dragonball I like because it goes. It allows for long exciting battles and unexpected twists. Also, since the enemies are equally if not more powerfull than the characters, than it eliminates the immortal factor. Little things should allways be incorperated into threads, like the longstanding need to make money, but allways failing to do it. also, frequent injuries make good writing. don't kill off your character with a spear to the head, but don't let the spear simply graze your helmet either. Have it cut off your ear, create a huge gash in your cheek, or perhaps puncture your sword arm rendering it useless. Just an idea.

So, good character development is key. Storyline progression is everyone's responcibility at all times, and emphasis opn your mortality is important. need a little extra help? look back a few months to the longest standing threads of the past. you'll see.

 

[silverwolf]

well

i don't see myself as even a mediocre writer.but then again i always put myself lower than i am.By the posts here i have learned that i am far from being a good writer.i mean i'm always a wizard and so i don't do very well with details.but i am going to change that in the next new thread. i am however working on an actual book.The thread the sorceror's staff is an actual book my late mother started. and i am trying to finish.(yes my mom is dead.sad but true life goes on)anyway i decided that i would write it about 1 year ago and am using that thread for ideas though i will ofcource ask the players of the thread for permission to use anything that they have written.but enough with formallities the bore me.I would have to agree with you though that the kings quest thread was superb.though i think i ended up dieing.sad but true.i have a question though.does anyone remember the thread unknown demensions.cause i'm kinda curious where that went after i dissapeard for my dreadful netless time.thanks

 

[Cryo]

no offence, but from what I've seen so far, I wouldn't expect too much from your novel.

 

[silverwolf]

laughter

none taken i actually only took maybe a paragraph from the original writings and put in here.the book just lacked what is to happen to the charecters after the end of the book.it was actually almost finished when she died so i think it'll turn out ok.though it won't be a pierce anthony or jrr tolkien.but i'm pretty sure it will get published i'll probalbly write the biginning into a thread for people to make comments on.

 

[KrazRussian]

Wilhelmm

Perhaps some of you guys may like the "Everquest" THread I started?

It is a very large-scale rople-playing game, and I have started a RP thread for it. We have 3 people, and always looking for more. So join in. Some fo the rules have been posted; but this is really a very liberal game.

I know a bit about the game, so does one of the other players. I believe there were 2 or 3 more that wanted to join, and they are everquest players. I think we can act as kind of like little moderators.

I think it should be pretty liberal. Just, as long as your character isn't super-powerful and can kill anything and everything in the game (a lot of the actual games cues on character limitations; a person can do very little alone)

Otherwise, pretty much liberal thread. So start a character.

 

[Chelsea_Rose]

I agree

It is very difficult to guide a plot in any significant way without having some degree of freedom with the other characters. Actually I might start a thread about this!

Ciao belles

 

[Cryo]

it's difficult to join a thread when it's been allready pretty well established, you know, 4 or 5 pages of posts (and more)

 

[Morgoth]

Okay, how about this: It's the mid-Middle Ages. Rural England. A band of former soldiers, each angry at the noble lords and their selfishness bands together as a raider group. Then, they slowly begin to see that they are actually torturing the peasants. Their hearts grow, and they begin to ease up on their raiding. At the same time however, France decides to invade. The forces of England are unprepared and all but crushed. Now, these patriotic ex-raiders must make a rebellion against the tyrannous French. No cannon and no muskets. This is my favorite setting (except for magic) and it's the Feudal Age. Knights, longbows, and swords are the real kings. I'll take over the role of Richard of Chalcedony, a former noble who offended the King and was stripped of all possesions and converted into an ordinary foot soldier. He fought at the battle of Newark, but lost his left hand there. he grew extremely angry and deserted. He also has a long scar running down his right cheek. His hair is long and stark white, his muscles are well-developed, and he is fairly handsome, even through his losses. He is somewhat sickly at times however, due to the wound that has still not entirely healed. He brought this rag-tag group of ex-soldiers together and is always the first to the melee. His greatest weaknesses are that he is still honorable and too bold, always jumping into heavy enemy resistance. He has come near to loosing his life many times. He wears simple chain mail and has a stolen, beaten up crown inlaid with a single ruby. As for his weapon, he has a non-unique broadsword which he treasures more than all of his other possesions together. He keeps it in a small leather scabbard and wears nor ings or chains.

 

[Cryo]

I like it. Will the war still be going on somewhat? because it makes for good storyline if they have both sides to contend with.

I'll be Zero of Not. The best tracker, woodsman and stealth artist in england. I'm like an english ninja, or a medival spy. But I was also secret. Taken in by the duke of York at a young age, I was privetly educated in the ways of the world and nature. The Duke and I were, I thought, very good friends, as I took to fall for his misdoings many times. However, one time he felt that I was less important than a slim chance to improve his standing with the king, so I was cast out. Alone, having no family, no money, and not even the privilage of a name, I took to the streets, and the woods, treating myself to the life of an outlaw.
My armor consists of Light and dark green leather, so I blend in with the forest. I wear peasent clothing overtop of it when going into town. My prefered weapon is the Bow. Projectiles being my expertice, I even have a special contraption on my wrist that accuretly fires crossbow bullets with a flick of the wrist. I steal for food, though it has become a little fun. I don't meddle in other's affairs, only my own. if I look like a robin hood to you, you can give me a second oppinion with a feathered shaft peircing your skull.

 

[Chelsea_Rose]

I like it too

Can I play?

Amelie the bastard

History:
I am the bastard child of a young peasant girl who was romanced by a French soldier. My mother threw herself into a river, and summarily drowned. I was raised by the village as their charity case, learning whatever skills I could. Finally tiring of my futile efforts to make myself respectable, I ran away with a knight as his mistress and persuaded him to teach me everything he knew. Masquerading as him at a tournament, I had a few small victories, before the traitor exposed me before the entire crowd, and the King. Later that night, angry and humiliated, I plunged a dagger into his gut, and disappeared into the night, along with his signet ring, a large ruby he gave to me, and a small bag of gold coins.

I cut my long brown hair, bound my breasts, changed my name to Andrew and traded four gold coins for armour, a sword, three changes of men's clothing and some bread. I had become an outlaw, angry, fierce, and very very wanted. The knight had not died- but swore vengeance upon me.

I spent the next year living off the gold and becoming the best fighter I could. I trained with my sword and cut my hair every week. Not one of my aquaintances or training partners realized I was a woman. In truth, I began to forget as well.

At the end of the year, penniless and still hunted viciously, I decided to join up with a raider group that boasted of their deeds in a tavern I frequented. I lied and told them I was a poor ex-soldiers come upon hard times. They jibed me for my soft voice and lack of beard, but when I challenged them to fight, were impressed by my skills. So I joined the close-knit group, still not letting go of my two goals in life. To revenge myself on the French scum who had raped my mother. And to finish what I started with the knight.

My weapons: a cheap sword, a cheap bow, a quiver of cheap arrows, six very small, very sharp daggers, tucked in around my person: one in either boot, one in my belt under my tunic in at the small of my back, one in my belt under my tunic at the front, one strapped to either forearm, and one strong flexible cord that I can break necks with.

Possessions: The knight's signet ring, the ruby, cheap armour, an old horse, a change of clothes, flask of wine

Dress: like a male peasant: dirty tunic, leather pants

General appearance: Short dirty brown hair, brown eyes, no scars, slender, somewhat full mouth.

 

[Cryo]

Cool. what you lack in posesion you make up for in skill. I am going to need a name though. As I see it, I joined the group of raiders simply for the hell of it. I was maybe second generation member, meaning that I joined up after the group formed and had a few adventures to get their feet wet. So basically, he's been there since almost the beginning.

Since them though, his teamates allways called him 'Guy' or 'you' or 'him', you know, using pronouns. Noone bothered to give him a name of even ask if he had one. that's where new members come in handy.

I'm the quiet type too. Just FYI

 

[Quiet_Cool]

No offense...

Okay, it seems like this thread has good intentions, but in a few areas, it's gone offtrack. Let's face it...in order for it to be a real RPG, we have to giv eht epeople who join a little freedom, and if they aren't the writer that another player is...it happens. Truth is, a story with more than one writer will always lose it's value...because each writer's mind is heading in another direction. I just started a couple threads. "Wasteland", which is doing quite well, and is pretty good at this point, and "Living Dead" which I just threw in with little thought behind it because there was nothing even close to it in content on the page. "Wasteland" has had several replies and is building into an interesting story, but I expected it to travel in an entirely different direction. The story may not end up to be as good as any one of us could make it...but if we have fun, who gives a shit! Hey, I'm having fun with it!

 

[Darklord]

Well this is great...

So far I've been really happy to see the response people have put into this thing. I'm glad we're getting some ideas put out for others to see and possibly work into. So Morgoth, good luck with the thread and let's see what happens. As for you Quite_Cool, I like what I see in Wasteland, and don't worry about it wandering a bit off of where you expected it to go. You can nudge people in the right direction by having your charecter be interacted with by NPC's to cause slight story shifts to bring it closer to what you want. But, your also right in saying Let's Find Out! So away we go!

 

[Cryo]

Right on!

 

[Morgoth]

OOC: Chelsea_Rose: What is your character's name(after she joined the raiders)?

Chalcedony took a quick swig of the ale and passed it to Guy. He notched an arrow to his bow and took aim. A convoy of French were hounding some remnants of the English Army. They walked slowly along the woodland path. He barked a harsh order and his arrow joined 50 or so others in flight. They chopped into the enemy soldiers, some cuttting through and thudding into trees on the other side of the forest. Richard dropped the bow and with a battle cry grabbed his sword off the ground, his roar mingling with scores of others as the raiders charged out into the French, cutting them to ribbons. He saw the new, girlish one having a little trouble with 5 attackers, so he felled two of them before he was beset by 8 of his own. He was having slight troubles before the new one slayed 4 of them with daggers. He gave him a nod of grattitude then finished the rest of them off. The French were finished off. "Okay, loot them. Take whatever you can carry. Throw the corpses and the rest of them into a pile over there", he said, pointing to a small tree a few feet away. He took for himself 2 quivers of arrows and 10 bags of silvers and golds. "Open those carriages! Let me see what they have!" he shouted. Two raiders went to each carriage, and opened them. What turned up were 15 male nobles and 10 female ones. Also, a lofty sum of treasure came up. "Bind them, blindfold them, and bring them", he said. One of the richer clad males protested. Without hesitation, Richard struck off his head with the sword. "Hurry!" The rest came quietly. Once they got back to the camp, Richard bid them unbound and searched. He sat them all down. "What shall we do with these French pigs?!" he shouted to his troops. Several fairly gruesome answers were heard. "Hold!" he shouted, putting up his hand and stump, "let's find out who these scum are first!" He walked up to each and made them state their name and title and possessions. The last one was a delicate veiled woman. She answered his questions as the Countess Victoria de Luer. She began on her possesions, but Richard cut her off. "Men, do you know who she is?" he said, and she looked up at him with pure malice. Silence followed. "This is the famous whore of Paris. This wench supposedly is the best woman to make love to in the whole world! Shall we show her the difference between those French bastards and a true Englishman?" he roared out. "Aye!" came many eager replies. "Take her to my tent! Men, go to it!" he yelled to them, as she was taken away. He however had no wish to take part in such ceremonies. He called a few soldiers to him, and all those who stayed. He ordered the other women to join the Countess, and two men escorted them away. He ordered the rest to tie up the men to trees. They were to be gagged and watched over. He stood silently as his orders were carried out. He ordered all his other men back and drew forth a long knife. He stabbed it deep into the Frenchman's shoulder. He did so to the other shoulder as well. He then took a fish hook attacked to the line and first threw the hook over a low hanging tree then circled it a few times around the noble's arm. He then took the hook and pushed it into the gash he had created. He slid it a little further down and the noble's blood mingled with sweat and tears. He then suddenly jerked up, the hook catching in the meat. He did so to the other arm and continued to do so to the other nobles. He then stepped back and surveyed his handiwork. He would wait until the men were done with the women, then continue with the fun.

 

[Chelsea_Rose]

Amelie the bastard:

OOC: It's Andrew (sorry, it probably got buried in the middle of that long description)

Amelie glared at Chalcedony from a distance. She was greatful that he'd stepped in to aid her during the battle, although she knew that she probably could have handled her attackers by herself. She relished battle, the wet, barbaric joy of sliding a wickedly sharp blade into French flesh. Surrounded by the five attackers, she had first thought to hurl her sword into the first, and daggers into the throats of the other four. But Chalcedony had moved first.

She had watched with glee as the treasure was unloaded from the coaches. Greed was not one of her vices, but the loot was so... pretty. Her fingers itched for the gold and gems.

Now she was boiling over with anger. The woman in the party had been hauled off to be raped- just like her mother. Englishman were no better than the French scum they had just murdered. It made her want to retch in the dust at the side of the road. Instead, she meditavely wiped her daggers clean. Simple. She would stop the barbarism, here and now.

Amelie strode over to Chalcedony. Her hands were coiled around her thick length of cord. She had spent two years training with this cord, learning how to break a man's neck in a second, how to suffocate slowly and unpleasantly and how to crush the larynx.

In a second the cord was around his throat.
"Listen." she breathed menacingly into his ear, tightening the cord so that he could not breathe. "No women will ever be raped by any man that I know. Except that he be a dead man by the next hour."

 

[Angelus]

This sounds like a damn good thread to be a part of and if I could I would love to join.

I'll be Ralf of Cornwall.

He is not from England. He was found by a noble family after a Viking raid on a village near their home and raised as their own. As he grew into a man it was noticed that he was bigger than most men his age and he was trained as a knight where he excelled. He was sent to many battles and was soon proclaimed a hero to the kingdom.

But there was one thing that was wrong with Ralf, he had the bezerker rage of his native people and in the middle of a battle he was struck with it and was unable to control himself. In one battle he was overcome with the rage and ended up beheading his commander. For that offence the family of the commander went to his home and pulled him out of it, whipping him then holding him as his family and home were burnt.

He knew that there was no way he would get justice if he went to the king as he was just a knight and he had beheaded the commander. But he vowed revenge that day and became a raider, knowing that it would be the best way to get the people responsible.

Ralf stands at 6' 7" tall and is extremely muscled. His one outstanding feature is his flaming red hair and beard which seem to be on fire when in the middle of a battle which has earned him the name of "The Demon".