Hi people! I had a bit of an epiphany recently regarding the way I, and some other people RP. I like roleplaying with fantasy and also modern settings, but more often than not, even in modern settings, there's always a supernatural element. And I always like the possibility of a romance subplot. They're nice!
So, RPs have come and gone, some became favorite ones, but, I've never, ever finished but ONE. One in four years. As in, plot being solved, and it being officially over. Some RPs stopped because life got complicated, and others because they simply stalled.
And just recently, I realized why most, if not all of the ones which became stagnant, became that way. I think it was because me, and maybe even my partners as well (But I'm sure as hell about myself), didn't know when exactly the rp would be over. It's such a simple concept, but it's easy to get lost in the excitement of never wanting the rp to end. We keep coming up with more plots, more drama. If we're talking about something with romance, once the couple is together and everything is fine, we come up with more conflicts, and that's when it gets tiresome. Maybe too much of a good thing?
Lol, I just wanted to share this with you guys. Because maybe it's better to have had an amazing roleplay that ends like it's supposed to, than let it drag to the end of the days and that initial excitement turning into a chore.
So, RPs have come and gone, some became favorite ones, but, I've never, ever finished but ONE. One in four years. As in, plot being solved, and it being officially over. Some RPs stopped because life got complicated, and others because they simply stalled.
And just recently, I realized why most, if not all of the ones which became stagnant, became that way. I think it was because me, and maybe even my partners as well (But I'm sure as hell about myself), didn't know when exactly the rp would be over. It's such a simple concept, but it's easy to get lost in the excitement of never wanting the rp to end. We keep coming up with more plots, more drama. If we're talking about something with romance, once the couple is together and everything is fine, we come up with more conflicts, and that's when it gets tiresome. Maybe too much of a good thing?
Lol, I just wanted to share this with you guys. Because maybe it's better to have had an amazing roleplay that ends like it's supposed to, than let it drag to the end of the days and that initial excitement turning into a chore.
Hi Annie! I agree! I've always thought of RP's on this site ending was like a myth or a weird inside joke with the veterans.
Sure, whether you've got a good plot or you simply don't want to become bored again, continuing an RP past it's "expiration date" may be fun and all, but it's called a expiration date for a reason.
It's over and you can't milk anymore fun out of it.
So again, I agree. It's better to end the RP when it's over...
...Unless it's an awesome one!
Sure, whether you've got a good plot or you simply don't want to become bored again, continuing an RP past it's "expiration date" may be fun and all, but it's called a expiration date for a reason.
It's over and you can't milk anymore fun out of it.
So again, I agree. It's better to end the RP when it's over...
...Unless it's an awesome one!
MSochist wrote:
Hi Annie! I agree! I've always thought of RP's on this site ending was like a myth or a weird inside joke with the veterans.
Sure, whether you've got a good plot or you simply don't want to become bored again, continuing an RP past it's "expiration date" may be fun and all, but it's called a expiration date for a reason.
It's over and you can't milk anymore fun out of it.
So again, I agree. It's better to end the RP when it's over...
...Unless it's an awesome one!
Sure, whether you've got a good plot or you simply don't want to become bored again, continuing an RP past it's "expiration date" may be fun and all, but it's called a expiration date for a reason.
It's over and you can't milk anymore fun out of it.
So again, I agree. It's better to end the RP when it's over...
...Unless it's an awesome one!
I think that's precisely the hard thing! When a RP is so awesome you keep adding ideas to keep it going, but I think that in roleplays, as in every book out there, every story, there's an end. I've got a novel structure book, and there was one thing that I think would apply perfectly in this situation. It talked about how in a story, around the 90% mark, it's where it officially ends, because that's where the plot gets solved, the major one. The lasting 10% is for easing readers into the finale, to give them a chance to see how whatever happened in the climax changed the character's life, but you can't continue the story itself because it's over. Talk too much about the character's lives after the deal happened in their new normal lives, and it'll get boring.
I think this idea only applies to RPs that are based around the characters as the main focal point, which is the most common configuration for 1x1s or small groups.
But some RPs are based around a setting or continuity, in which case individual character stories may end, but that just means more room is made for other characters to begin stories in the same universe. Much like the real world, where a death or conclusion doesn't mean that the larger story ends.
But some RPs are based around a setting or continuity, in which case individual character stories may end, but that just means more room is made for other characters to begin stories in the same universe. Much like the real world, where a death or conclusion doesn't mean that the larger story ends.
Kim wrote:
I think this idea only applies to RPs that are based around the characters as the main focal point, which is the most common configuration for 1x1s or small groups.
But some RPs are based around a setting or continuity, in which case individual character stories may end, but that just means more room is made for other characters to begin stories in the same universe. Much like the real world, where a death or conclusion doesn't mean that the larger story ends.
But some RPs are based around a setting or continuity, in which case individual character stories may end, but that just means more room is made for other characters to begin stories in the same universe. Much like the real world, where a death or conclusion doesn't mean that the larger story ends.
That's a good point! I guess I'm speaking more from a 1x1 kind of rp POV then. It's been so long since I've been in a group one! But you're right. Those kind of RPs are kept alive and going in other ways and fall apart for other reasons, since there's a bigger picture, and more characters with their own stories.
While I wish I could do more than just simply, one time roleplays, (My gf does that) I tend to get bored of them. I want to try something new, a long term, fleshed out plot. But then again, my gf tends to think it's boring and likes to be on the fly about it. And I honestly would rather have a ploted out RP. Although, everyone has their own opinion. And I haven't yet had my chance to have a long term RP.
Maybe one day, I'll end up with a RP partner who will do something like that with me!
Maybe one day, I'll end up with a RP partner who will do something like that with me!
Learning how to let go of an RP is probably one of the biggest issues in RPing. Sometimes when you hold on to the string of excitement, drama, and suspense, it'll become more and more difficult to let go.
For instance, I just graduated my sophomore year and all my senior friends teared up and were not ready to leave yet. But they needed to let go. Just like people need to let go of rps when there is nothing left to do but create some random conflicts in an attempt to keep an rp alive.
That's just me.
For instance, I just graduated my sophomore year and all my senior friends teared up and were not ready to leave yet. But they needed to let go. Just like people need to let go of rps when there is nothing left to do but create some random conflicts in an attempt to keep an rp alive.
That's just me.
I've been RPing for years, to the point where I have one friend and we both have characters that we have been rping together for about 10 years now. It's still entertaining. The original plot ended with them, but, like Supernatural, a new storyline, with new people becoming involved, always happens. It's never gotten old. Sometimes there ARE no conflicts, but the characters and the rp is so natural between them that often, there doesn't NEED to be a conflict or drama for us to enjoy rping them either together, or even apart with other people in the same continuity.
I have never even heard of an expiration date, or ending a long-term rp. Long-term RP means long-term to me, for a reason.
On the other hand, what has happened to me a lot, is people letting go too soon. As in, starting a plot and then not only never finishing it, but just leaving everybody hanging since they disappear or stop playing or drop off the face of the earth (see THIS thread )
On that note, I dont think that, once you've REALLY established a plot and a relationship between characters (whether that relationship is friends, enemies, romance, 'what the hell, man!?'' and so on) there is no reason for the rp to have to 'end'. At least, you may start new rps, with new people, and new plots, but the continuity of that original rp and therefore, how those characters react when in the same area, should still be considered as canon to that.
I have never even heard of an expiration date, or ending a long-term rp. Long-term RP means long-term to me, for a reason.
On the other hand, what has happened to me a lot, is people letting go too soon. As in, starting a plot and then not only never finishing it, but just leaving everybody hanging since they disappear or stop playing or drop off the face of the earth (see THIS thread )
On that note, I dont think that, once you've REALLY established a plot and a relationship between characters (whether that relationship is friends, enemies, romance, 'what the hell, man!?'' and so on) there is no reason for the rp to have to 'end'. At least, you may start new rps, with new people, and new plots, but the continuity of that original rp and therefore, how those characters react when in the same area, should still be considered as canon to that.
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