This is entirely out of left field, but I have a few random things knocking around in my head that don't deserve a topic all to themselves but warrant discussion anyway. I've decided to throw them out there and call this post a sounding board for anyone else who so chooses to make tangential observations and/or comment on those presented by others.
1. Why the urge to fluff posts out to 10 paragraphs so much? I went through that phase some years back, until it occurred to me that I was just making people wait longer for posts and wasting more of their time reading. Isn't it better to do a one or two paragraph post if you can get the point across in that space?
2. RPing canonical characters from books/movies/TV/video games is kind of unfulfilling, isn't it? I mean, I understand wanting to see these characters in different situations, but aren't you also stripping the process of some of the creativity?
3. I have never once played a female character, in all of my 10 plus years of RPing. I suspect that this is because I'm not sure I'd be comfortable winding up in a romantic situation with a male character... Anyone else feel that way? What if it was two females? Would that be better?
1. Why the urge to fluff posts out to 10 paragraphs so much? I went through that phase some years back, until it occurred to me that I was just making people wait longer for posts and wasting more of their time reading. Isn't it better to do a one or two paragraph post if you can get the point across in that space?
2. RPing canonical characters from books/movies/TV/video games is kind of unfulfilling, isn't it? I mean, I understand wanting to see these characters in different situations, but aren't you also stripping the process of some of the creativity?
3. I have never once played a female character, in all of my 10 plus years of RPing. I suspect that this is because I'm not sure I'd be comfortable winding up in a romantic situation with a male character... Anyone else feel that way? What if it was two females? Would that be better?
Regarding your third point; I am female, and have frequently played both male and female characters. I find that I am able to play out many orientations, both sexes and along the gender spectrum without difficulty. But that is just me. For me it depends more on the design of the character than what genitals they have, as to how well or not I can play them.
Matriarchy wrote:
Regarding your third point; I am female, and have frequently played both male and female characters. I find that I am able to play out many orientations, both sexes and along the gender spectrum without difficulty. But that is just me. For me it depends more on the design of the character than what genitals they have, as to how well or not I can play them.
I can't say for sure how I would fare, I've honestly never tried it. I'll agree that it's more about the character than anything, but you can't help but have a bit of persona bleed-through. Your own morals and standards will influence a character that you are invested in. At least in my experience.
The ol' canon / oc debate is wearing thin over the years -- really, it's a matter of preference from person to person. It's not for everyone, but nobody is forced into situations with canonical characters and they may roll their eyse and call it a 'butchery', but again, nobody forces them to! One of my best friends LOVES playing canon characters; he ascribes a justice to them that you'd think they were his own brain-children. Original characters to him are as alien and difficult as roleplaying a canon would be to me, he prefers having the bones lain out, the exploring and identifying with the characters whereas I like my slates clean and ready to build upon.
I'm also a woman, I used to play females as a heavy preference, then dabbled in both sexes, and strangely enough I've ended up playing nothing but men.
I'm also a woman, I used to play females as a heavy preference, then dabbled in both sexes, and strangely enough I've ended up playing nothing but men.
Perhaps we haven't all been involved in the sort of community where it's a sticking point. Besides, I'm just sort of musing aloud and getting some input. I've mentioned all of these things, but I'm open to the opposing points and willing to hear and even participate in the converse.
Lescerto wrote:
1. Why the urge to fluff posts out to 10 paragraphs so much? I went through that phase some years back, until it occurred to me that I was just making people wait longer for posts and wasting more of their time reading. Isn't it better to do a one or two paragraph post if you can get the point across in that space?
I'd prefer it cut down, especially if someone's just going to freaking describe their character's body or clothes over and over and over again.
I'm like
"Ok stop I don't care"
I don't mind playing with canon chars myself. I don't play them unless I'm like, being not serious.
I play both genders, though I play my mains the most and they're females. I don't really do romance on my side characters. It doesn't come often on my mains, either, really.
Lescerto wrote:
Perhaps we haven't all been involved in the sort of community where it's a sticking point. Besides, I'm just sort of musing aloud and getting some input. I've mentioned all of these things, but I'm open to the opposing points and willing to hear and even participate in the converse.
ain't nuffin wrong w musings u w u ! It's always good to circulate them
There are several different styles of writing. One may wish to write abstractly, to describe what the character experiences, but cannot convey to another. These usually involve character thought, emotions, and sometimes past lives. Another may wish to write concretely, forgoing everything that another character cannot see, hear, feel, and so on. Most writers tend to fall in line with a mixture of the two, to some degree, but what the writer writes is their style of writing. There is not a correct, or incorrect style; it is simply a preference.
Though my friends tease me, I do use repeated gestures and motions in my writing to assist in my focus of the character. And for the observant few, these motions convey thoughts, emotions; they are my abstract phrases, without having to be abstract phrases. But there are writers who prefer not to guess at what the other character is thinking, while they move, and wish to be told these things. Which, is a preference.
Though my friends tease me, I do use repeated gestures and motions in my writing to assist in my focus of the character. And for the observant few, these motions convey thoughts, emotions; they are my abstract phrases, without having to be abstract phrases. But there are writers who prefer not to guess at what the other character is thinking, while they move, and wish to be told these things. Which, is a preference.
Miss wrote:
There are several different styles of writing. One may wish to write abstractly, to describe what the character experiences, but cannot convey to another. These usually involve character thought, emotions, and sometimes past lives. Another may wish to write concretely, forgoing everything that another character cannot see, hear, feel, and so on. Most writers tend to fall in line with a mixture of the two, to some degree, but what the writer writes is their style of writing. There is not a correct, or incorrect style; it is simply a preference.
Though my friends tease me, I do use repeated gestures and motions in my writing to assist in my focus of the character. And for the observant few, these motions convey thoughts, emotions; they are my abstract phrases, without having to be abstract phrases. But there are writers who prefer not to guess at what the other character is thinking, while they move, and wish to be told these things. Which, is a preference.
Though my friends tease me, I do use repeated gestures and motions in my writing to assist in my focus of the character. And for the observant few, these motions convey thoughts, emotions; they are my abstract phrases, without having to be abstract phrases. But there are writers who prefer not to guess at what the other character is thinking, while they move, and wish to be told these things. Which, is a preference.
Entirely true. Personally, I don't like to be spoon-fed information, but some people enjoy it. I suppose it makes things easier, and prevents misinterpretation.
1. Some people just enjoy being verbose, others saw the NO one liners!!! rule against low-effort roleplay once too often and unknowingly grew into the idea that quality is proven by word count. They're easy to tell apart because the former group won't hold others' different preferences against them, and the latter drop roleplays they don't feel are giving them their due.
2. Mimicking our fiction heroes was fulfilling when every single one of us did it as kids, so my guess is fulfilled adults found characters that speak to their adult tastes. Mainstream fiction is much more intelligent and inclusive than it was 10 years ago, not to mention the ability to have wildly personalized adventures is now the expected standard for video game RPGs, so the search is easier than ever.
3. I don't, but a striking amount of the mostly-male populations in every MMORPG I've played deal with their your exact hangups with your exact solutions, playing women who only romance women. (In an irony outside your question, they also resort to it because there are very few actual female MMO roleplayers -- but their lewd portrayals are one of the things driving them away.)
2. Mimicking our fiction heroes was fulfilling when every single one of us did it as kids, so my guess is fulfilled adults found characters that speak to their adult tastes. Mainstream fiction is much more intelligent and inclusive than it was 10 years ago, not to mention the ability to have wildly personalized adventures is now the expected standard for video game RPGs, so the search is easier than ever.
3. I don't, but a striking amount of the mostly-male populations in every MMORPG I've played deal with their your exact hangups with your exact solutions, playing women who only romance women. (In an irony outside your question, they also resort to it because there are very few actual female MMO roleplayers -- but their lewd portrayals are one of the things driving them away.)
1. It's what some people are taught when they're new. When I started roleplaying, I did so on Neopets after learning English when I was 12/13. Besides just learning how to roleplay, my RP partners were also teachers of the English language. I looked up to basically anyone who wrote better than I did, and I soaked up their writing to learn from it. This led to me absorbing the ways of the thesaurus abusers. In my perspective, the people who wrote big complex words were the ones who were masters of the English language, and by (poorly) mimicking these people, I was on my way to become a master too! At some point I realized that for many of those I looked up to, using elaborate words and complex sentences was a way of gaining an elite status, not practicing correct English or having fun roleplaying. It was mostly about being better than others, and an excuse to turn down those who didn't meet their requirements. It took a bit, but eventually I learned to curb my posts to simpler phrasings and picking more relevant words than flowery purple prose. I will probably associate the more elaborate writing with superiority complexes for the rest of my life due to this, but I also try to gain understanding as to why people do it. For me, it was less about superiority and more about learning about something I didn't know from people whom I regarded as knowing their shit. I have to remind myself that there will be plenty who stand where I once stood.
2. I don't have to play with a character I don't like, so I've stopped caring about what anyone plays (as long as they're not breaking the rules of course). I really loathe fresh tomatoes, no matter the kind, but plenty of people love biting into a juicy tomato. That doesn't define tomatoes as a good or a bad thing, right? I just don't like them, so I don't eat them.
3. I will play any character of any gender or sexuality. If you're uncomfortable with romantic situations because the other character is a male, then you can just not play romance to avoid that. Would you still not play a female character if you were in a platonic adventure with a male character?
2. I don't have to play with a character I don't like, so I've stopped caring about what anyone plays (as long as they're not breaking the rules of course). I really loathe fresh tomatoes, no matter the kind, but plenty of people love biting into a juicy tomato. That doesn't define tomatoes as a good or a bad thing, right? I just don't like them, so I don't eat them.
3. I will play any character of any gender or sexuality. If you're uncomfortable with romantic situations because the other character is a male, then you can just not play romance to avoid that. Would you still not play a female character if you were in a platonic adventure with a male character?
I RP as canons and so does other people around here. Roleplaying is taking a role of something you aren't. So anyone can RP as a canon or an OC. I made a post like this elsewhere as a vent. I need to locate it.
I am seriously rubbish at RPing OCs and I can't draw. Nor will I edit a picture and recolour it. Not many people heard of Live a Live or played it, which is why I have Akira and two other LAL characters in my roster. Plus, LAL has sparse info, aside from some fan sites and Japanese sites that talk about the said game. As for Red XIII and Repede? Well, I hardly see any Rpers for them, either. I really don't care if someone RPs canons or OCs, I don't wanna be told to chuck up an OC to make them 'happy'.
I view the OC vs Canon debate like Chocolate milk. Some people prefer it with the powder or syrup mixture and some just like chocolate milk out of the jug.
The issue I with many OC Rpers, which happens more with rookies is either the character is over powered or an Expy of existing thing.
There is too much discrimination between both ends and both can get along.
There are some issues I have with other canon Rpers is the whole butchering and making the said character OOC.
This happens with people who tend to love the said character, but make them really OOC and horrid. Either learn the character or RP an OC. I seen too much OOCness with "Bully" Son Gokus, OOC Dantes who ship themselves with MLP characters or Uke Cloud Strifes. It's bad some people twist a canon character to their liking and make it OOC to the point it isn't the character anymore.
As for the post length thing?
I am fine with any amount, as long I have something to work with. Something like one work or a half assed one liner doesn't give me much. Info dumps are a turn off, though.
For your third point.
It's comfort-zones, much like the OC vs Canon thing.
Though, I seen some females RP males elsewhere and make them OOC.
I am seriously rubbish at RPing OCs and I can't draw. Nor will I edit a picture and recolour it. Not many people heard of Live a Live or played it, which is why I have Akira and two other LAL characters in my roster. Plus, LAL has sparse info, aside from some fan sites and Japanese sites that talk about the said game. As for Red XIII and Repede? Well, I hardly see any Rpers for them, either. I really don't care if someone RPs canons or OCs, I don't wanna be told to chuck up an OC to make them 'happy'.
I view the OC vs Canon debate like Chocolate milk. Some people prefer it with the powder or syrup mixture and some just like chocolate milk out of the jug.
The issue I with many OC Rpers, which happens more with rookies is either the character is over powered or an Expy of existing thing.
There is too much discrimination between both ends and both can get along.
There are some issues I have with other canon Rpers is the whole butchering and making the said character OOC.
This happens with people who tend to love the said character, but make them really OOC and horrid. Either learn the character or RP an OC. I seen too much OOCness with "Bully" Son Gokus, OOC Dantes who ship themselves with MLP characters or Uke Cloud Strifes. It's bad some people twist a canon character to their liking and make it OOC to the point it isn't the character anymore.
As for the post length thing?
I am fine with any amount, as long I have something to work with. Something like one work or a half assed one liner doesn't give me much. Info dumps are a turn off, though.
For your third point.
It's comfort-zones, much like the OC vs Canon thing.
Though, I seen some females RP males elsewhere and make them OOC.
I can relate to all of your 3 points, actually.
1) you're right - as long as the point comes through and it doesn't feel rushed, I really don't care much for length.
2) I tend to avoid RP's with Harry Potter, Katniss and the likes. Also I'm really, really not into anime/manga.
3) I feel like I, as a girl, don't like to play a man as my only character, and I especially hate to play a male character if there's romance involved.
1) you're right - as long as the point comes through and it doesn't feel rushed, I really don't care much for length.
2) I tend to avoid RP's with Harry Potter, Katniss and the likes. Also I'm really, really not into anime/manga.
3) I feel like I, as a girl, don't like to play a man as my only character, and I especially hate to play a male character if there's romance involved.
Penholder wrote:
I can relate to all of your 3 points, actually.
1) you're right - as long as the point comes through and it doesn't feel rushed, I really don't care much for length.
2) I tend to avoid RP's with Harry Potter, Katniss and the likes. Also I'm really, really not into anime/manga.
3) I feel like I, as a girl, don't like to play a man as my only character, and I especially hate to play a male character if there's romance involved.
1) you're right - as long as the point comes through and it doesn't feel rushed, I really don't care much for length.
2) I tend to avoid RP's with Harry Potter, Katniss and the likes. Also I'm really, really not into anime/manga.
3) I feel like I, as a girl, don't like to play a man as my only character, and I especially hate to play a male character if there's romance involved.
^ = Kindred spirit.
Lescerto wrote:
Penholder wrote:
I can relate to all of your 3 points, actually.
1) you're right - as long as the point comes through and it doesn't feel rushed, I really don't care much for length.
2) I tend to avoid RP's with Harry Potter, Katniss and the likes. Also I'm really, really not into anime/manga.
3) I feel like I, as a girl, don't like to play a man as my only character, and I especially hate to play a male character if there's romance involved.
1) you're right - as long as the point comes through and it doesn't feel rushed, I really don't care much for length.
2) I tend to avoid RP's with Harry Potter, Katniss and the likes. Also I'm really, really not into anime/manga.
3) I feel like I, as a girl, don't like to play a man as my only character, and I especially hate to play a male character if there's romance involved.
^ = Kindred spirit.
Indeed! Have my like.
The reason why I don't roleplay as OCs is because I am not comfortable. It feels awkward to me. I mean, my main muse, Akira is from a game that never was released outside Japan. There is a fan translation. Same goes with Matsu and Odi. The later having zero to no info on him, other than being the reincarnated version of the god of hate.
I don't mind rping with people's ocs as long they don't god mod or say I am related to them.
I don't mind rping with people's ocs as long they don't god mod or say I am related to them.
Lescerto wrote:
1. Why the urge to fluff posts out to 10 paragraphs so much? I went through that phase some years back, until it occurred to me that I was just making people wait longer for posts and wasting more of their time reading. Isn't it better to do a one or two paragraph post if you can get the point across in that space?
Lescerto wrote:
2. RPing canonical characters from books/movies/TV/video games is kind of unfulfilling, isn't it? I mean, I understand wanting to see these characters in different situations, but aren't you also stripping the process of some of the creativity?
Lescerto wrote:
3. I have never once played a female character, in all of my 10 plus years of RPing. I suspect that this is because I'm not sure I'd be comfortable winding up in a romantic situation with a male character... Anyone else feel that way? What if it was two females? Would that be better?
Put another way, one character entering into a romantic relationship with another does not mean their players do. With that in mind, what does a player's real-life sex matter?
For the record, these points were random musings. I'm not attacking anyone or their methods. I'm just "thinking aloud" as it were. I have a long-established way of doing things and as a result I have little insight into other approaches. RP has evolved since I started, and I'm a bit "old-fashioned" so to speak.
Lescerto wrote:
For the record, these points were random musings. I'm not attacking anyone or their methods. I'm just "thinking aloud" as it were. I have a long-established way of doing things and as a result I have little insight into other approaches. RP has evolved since I started, and I'm a bit "old-fashioned" so to speak.
I've been arpeeing in total since Dungeons and Dragons was pre-"Advanced", if that tells you anything, and doing so on-line for fifteen years. I think that, like anyone, I've grown and changed as I've gone along, and these are my stances on the random musings at current, that's all.
I also used to write rather unnecessarily detailed posts in the past. The question I've always had was "how much is too much?" There could be details in the immediate setting that another player character might be able to utilize in a way I never considered; thus, by not mentioning those details, I have either robbed the other player of an opportunity or given them much more leeway in controlling the setting. Usually, I don't mind the latter, as I tend to cut off RP with any player who abuses such privileges to constantly give their characters an advantage.
I've never roleplayed canonical characters before, aside from a temporary guest appearance as Luther Sloan (Section 31 operative from DS9) in one RP. Nearly all of my characters are original, but I certainly have no issue with playing a canonical character on request - provided I know the character well enough beforehand. At least one of my OCs also has the privilege of being designed within a canon-established setting, using many elements of that setting to make him who he is today. I'm also not a big fan of anime/superhero roleplays, though I enjoy seeing those genres on television.
I also don't divulge my sex because I see no reason to. While I'm not entirely resistant to romance as a whole, I've not been interested in it since I was young, even as a genre. If there is romance, I prefer it to have reason beyond the characters; perhaps a running theme that says something about society and culture, or ethics and morality. Despite holding on to my childhood love of good ol' fashioned action-adventure, I've grown to enjoy exploring those 'deeper' (and sometimes broader) topics. If romance or characters of different sexes and races help accomplish this, I'm all for it!
I've never roleplayed canonical characters before, aside from a temporary guest appearance as Luther Sloan (Section 31 operative from DS9) in one RP. Nearly all of my characters are original, but I certainly have no issue with playing a canonical character on request - provided I know the character well enough beforehand. At least one of my OCs also has the privilege of being designed within a canon-established setting, using many elements of that setting to make him who he is today. I'm also not a big fan of anime/superhero roleplays, though I enjoy seeing those genres on television.
I also don't divulge my sex because I see no reason to. While I'm not entirely resistant to romance as a whole, I've not been interested in it since I was young, even as a genre. If there is romance, I prefer it to have reason beyond the characters; perhaps a running theme that says something about society and culture, or ethics and morality. Despite holding on to my childhood love of good ol' fashioned action-adventure, I've grown to enjoy exploring those 'deeper' (and sometimes broader) topics. If romance or characters of different sexes and races help accomplish this, I'm all for it!
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