Big-off suggestion - Union RP community


Aisla

 

Posted

woah. I turn my back for the day and the thread gets half deleted, then shot back up to more than what it left of as! Well done, guys, i'm impressed.

Looking over what you said, the general idea is "maybe for some". I'm not sure what the concept came over to you as, but for me its just an idea to make life that bit easier, to get involved in more plots and with each other. Even if its as cheap as a proboards forum and a freewebs site (although, i'm sure we have the masterminds among us to do that bit better) it will make arrangements and advertising easier. I certainly don't want to have to swim through pages and pages of one flat forum in order to find the information I need, I don't see why any other newcomer would.

I can't mention, where i'm sat, one exciting story thats come out of roleplaying on CoH. In no way am I intruiged to join in, because I don't have anything to feedback on. Having a forum where stories can be easily found and written, in its own place, would make the RP history of the community easier to descover.

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This isn't like running some tiny CS clan. This is like running a series of countries with different cultures and views. If you aren't careful, it could collapse over night.

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Other communities manage it. What makes us any more inept?

I hope that points clear. Feel free to touche.


 

Posted

My thoughts on the matter thus far...

An all inclusive RP collective would suffer from a few problems that I can see, the first of these would be that of the collection of RP SG's that I know of, each is managed in a different way, and some of those SG's are a much more closed community than others. By this I mean that there are groups that welcome outsiders into their plots, and there are those that keep to them selves, with only members being involved in their activities. These more closed groups (and I mean no disrespect by that, just that they choose to avoid others joining in any pre-determined story lines etc) might not wish to be part of something bigger.

Secondly would be the issue of differing styles of RP. There are those who enjoy attending GG whenever they can, (myself included) and there are there are those who's style of RP does not mix well with others. Each style is as valid as the other, but they may clash on certain details such as various characters actions and such. (An example would be an SG that is made up entirely of characters who are Vampires based on the White Wolf lore, with their need to feed etc which would be viewed as an attack on the "food provider" by others. This group would probably not like to mix with the GG crowds as there are many there who would try to stop them feeding etc)

And finally there are those who don't regularly join in any plots, (again myself included, not because I don't want to but because my work commitments keep me away from CoX for 4 nights each week) and for those people it wouldn't really matter if they were part of anything bigger or not, just that they knew what had happened each day, and thats easy to find out by speaking to people IC. (My prefered method of doing this is by teaming with a fellow SG member and asking her questions about what I've missed while being away while we do missions IC)

As I said, these are just my thoughts on the matter, feel free to take them on-board or ignore them as you see fit, either way I wish you luck in your endever.


 

Posted

I think many of these ideas are directed towards something quite different to what i'm getting at, but your points are valid, Veskit.

I think I tried to give a bit of a better impression of my ideas at some point in this thread, but they may have got wiped, I don't know. I'm not trying to make a giant supergroup, per say, but a place for the supergroups to be able to coalate properly, make arrangements with one another and whatever else has been said over this thread umpteen times already. While this will give the chance that some supergroups will end up following the same rules and guides as another, this would be a personal decision rather than one i'm shoving down their throats.

The only thing, I feel, that can make the idea of having an RP'ers tavern of our own is for nobody being bothered to raise a finger. I know I am. I want to know whos interested in this idea.


 

Posted

Can I ask you how long you've been playing? This just to see how many of the limitations you've come across, because you speak of taverns to meet up in. (Could be I misunderstood, but that is what it came across as to me)

There are no taverns where all heroes can meet. Even SG bases are limited, because you'd either have to invite people in a team and let them in, then repeat the process until everyone's in, or you'd have to get a very specific coalition together, so you can use other SG's bases. This restricts you in many ways.

You might be better off copying the idea of GG, and create a new place, somewhere where low levels can also enter the area, so you can use NPC's, and start a thread, like the '9PM under Galaxy Girl's Skirt' thread on Union, where people can relay their events of the night, so people can keep up with what's going on even if they're not there.


 

Posted

I've been playing for around a year, with a long break at some point.

I don't mean a physical, player-made, IG tavern by any means. I do realise how impossible that is. I mean the concept i've been trying to get across since I started this thread, which is our own forum. I've already stated how hard it is to use the forum section we've been given in one of my previous posts.

But yes, I know such a thing can't be done IG. Even if it could, it would still have its difficulties and immersion problems, along with moving us off the topic of the idea in the first place. GG is just as good in any sense.


 

Posted

Then I misunderstood, I apologise.

Well, a forum is fair enough, but a forum for what exactly? A specific roleplaying group, or for all roleplayers on CoH combined?


 

Posted

I think i've tried to explain already. if not, i'm aiming towards a place where roleplayers can interact in easier means. So that arrangements, SG hiring and plots can be easily discussed. I don't think theres much more than that that can be integrated into the community, which may be something that came across from me wrong. I'm just trying to look for an easier way to communicate and RP.

What i don't want is to feel like i'm stepping into the long timer's territory, so if I ever hit that stage, feel free to shove me out.


 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
Looking over what you said, the general idea is "maybe for some". I'm not sure what the concept came over to you as, but for me its just an idea to make life that bit easier, to get involved in more plots and with each other. Even if its as cheap as a proboards forum and a freewebs site (although, i'm sure we have the masterminds among us to do that bit better) it will make arrangements and advertising easier.

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But...that was my point, wasn't it? Someone tell me I made some sense in my post.

It's all well and good to want to make life easier for roleplayers to communicate with each other, and get talking about IC plots - but if you don't get any/enough support here, you're going to waste an awful lot of time setting up the site.

You're in a position many forum roleplayer GMs/mods dream about - you already know your target audience, and have the ability to discuss things with them beforehand. The only problem is, you don't seem to want to.

It'd be a shame if you did rush in to creating this site/forum, only to find out you've got no members; and I am quite confused about wanting to set one up anyway, as your overall goal seems to be to create this section of the official forums, on another site. Honestly, it'd take a lot less time to just compile a thread with a list of links to the important threads. You could do that, and ask Bridger to sticky it for you (he probably will, he's nice like that).

The SG idea is nice, a bit like the 1AT Coalition for roleplayers, as you said...but again, you need interest from people first; and if you're going to promote people to the rank of GM, the rest of us need to know who they are/if we can trust them/if they're any good. This really can only be acheived by getting together to discuss the whole idea first. Brainstorming, throwing out ideas to be mocked or admired. Again, all of this can be done on these forums.

And on top of all that, yes, this idea really with be only for some. You won't, no matter how hard you try, get everyone's support on the matter.


 

Posted

Well, I've reread it, and your reply now, and it has become a bit more clear.

Having also just read Stasis' reply, I must concur, I fully agree with what she said.

Edit to Stase; It did make sense, hun, my brain just wasn't functioning the first time around for reasons now removed.


 

Posted

I've already stated my view on this forum section more than once. I'm lazy, face it, and I can't stand having to waid through pages and pages of irrelivent topics to get to the information I need. A sectionised (new word?) forum of our own would make that fourty eight times easier.

And no, given that its me, it would take a lot less time to set up a forum than to compile a list of threads that I find relivant. Not only that, but I would miss out on many of what the players want to see, and cause them to have to start wading anyway.

I'm moving away from the GM idea I had in the first place to keep the forum going. Sure, there will be one or two moderators, but they won't have any control over the RP. That should be kept to the individual supergroups.

I did say before this thread was wiped that my original idea has changed to fit some of the feedback i got. I'm gonna say that again.

Not sure what you mean by "the SG idea". I thought I stated I was avoiding a giant, uniformed SG for all roleplayers, which is the only thing I can relate to that. Care to explain?

One important thing is that, as a person, i'm not all too happy about posting a thread in the wrong place. Makes me feel incomfortable. Whats even worse for me is posting a thread that has very little to do with the next thread, and the next, to the point there s such a veriety that I feel my thread may go unnoticed. I'm weird that way, but i'm sure i'm not the only one. This is why i'm so stuck up about having a forum for us.

But i'm not gonna start 'till I have the interest I need, and at this rate, i'm assuming most of you don't want what i'm suggesting.


 

Posted

I started to read it.. got very lost and very bored very fast. Can one of you give me a quick Pm? just with the basics? i feel i should know whats been said here, it just seems a bit out of hand now. Lazy? Yes, Pointless post? Maybe, Annoying? Perhaps

But you know you love me, Yes Crowster even you!


 

Posted

Ahhh, all becomes clear now, (sorry if I seemed confused in my earlier posts, being distracted by younger brother and his friends due to having to "steal" my mothers PC because I'm waiting to fix mine at my house)

I belive you're trying to suggest something like this >>> Reb's Forum

If this is what you mean then I'm all for it, makes life easier for people like me who miss GG meets for any period of time and fall out of the loop for the various activities of the people I have any connection to.


 

Posted

What may be an idea is to run a Union Roleplay chat channel for strict OOC use. That way, roleplaylers can say their character, lvl and what they are after etc and if big enough the RPing wont stop.

If there is one up please post who to contact about joining!


 

Posted

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And no, given that its me, it would take a lot less time to set up a forum than to compile a list of threads that I find relivant. Not only that, but I would miss out on many of what the players want to see, and cause them to have to start wading anyway.

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Again, easily done with the "possibly-stickied" thread. With almost all the others on these forums, people have replied with suggested links to more relevant threads - so you wouldn't be overlooking other people's views/opinions; which is actually another point I have:

On these forums, our beloved mod is completely impartial and unbiased. He doesn't delete threads out of spite, or show favouritism towards certain people - and this is because he'd damn well lose his job if he did. Now, I'm by no means suggesting that you or any of your promoted mods would do any of these things, but there's a risk there. You're not being paid to keep the community going and so we, as the members, don't have any solid proof that our opinions/ideas/views are going to be heard. Yes, some threads here go for months without a single reply, but that's only ever because no one had anything to say, they were completely nonsensical, or it happened to be a Friday.

There are also solid, black and white rules here. You break them, you're banned - obviously this can be done on proboards/visionfree etc. but the culprit can always just create a new screen name and continue to harrass the players. As an avid reader of bad_rpers_suck, I've found this can have game-killing consequences.

These forums are also much easier to find, they're advertised on the updater screen, the main website, and various fansites. Not just that, but although they have their technical hitches, they're completely safe. You mentioned freewebs as a possible website hosting site - I'd say NO to that, as I've had my cookies snatched by too many of them.

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Not sure what you mean by "the SG idea". I thought I stated I was avoiding a giant, uniformed SG for all roleplayers, which is the only thing I can relate to that. Care to explain?

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I basically meant, having a coalition for all the various SGs might be a good idea.

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Edit to Stase; It did make sense, hun, my brain just wasn't functioning the first time around for reasons now removed.

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I can only say, hurrah for bad feeling lobotomies.


 

Posted

That exactly what I mean. Suprised I missed that actually. Is that forum for CoH RP in general, or just for galaxy girl?

If it is, that makes this thread a tadbit more pointless... but makes my life a lot easier. No need to get hold of a forum.

At a second glance, that forum seems relatively inactive, unless i'm overlooking it. Could someone fill me in a bit with the going-ons?


 

Posted

Utterly OT hijack:

OOC there's the GGOOC channel, public to join, OOC only, used for team formation and general gossip. Primarily used by members of the GG community, but certainly not limited to that.

IC there's the new Fusion FM channel that's being trialed (I saw trialed since whether it will work or fade out of use has yet to be seen). Details can be found on one of the other threads currently at the top of the forum.

Back on topic - Reep, I'm afraid you're currently fighting the most deadly of enemies - slackerness. In order for your idea to work you need to convince a lot of people, myself included I'm afraid, that an external set of forums is less effort than the forums here, or significantly better.

I hardly ever check my own SG forums (something I get away with because no-one else does I'll admit), and it would take something really special to get me to add a new forum to my list.

That said - convince me


 

Posted

Hey, I check our forums.

But then I run them.


Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]

Again, easily done with the "possibly-stickied" thread. With almost all the others on these forums, people have replied with suggested links to more relevant threads - so you wouldn't be overlooking other people's views/opinions; which is actually another point I have:

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...and now they're stuck with wading through a post of irrelivent and differentiating posts. Easier, despite being harder to read, but could be made much easier, and much more interactive.

Even then, it would be missing out the countless plot ideas and stories that make the history of the RPers, important SG threads so that players can find where they and their developed character suit best, many of which are probably now inactive. We'd probably have to have every thread in a stickied post, apart from the complete nutcasish ones. Maybe end up with two stickied threads. or three. or fourteen.

I'd certainly not find the sticky thread idea any easier than what we've got, seeing as most of the context I may end up looking for are things people wouldn't be to interested in a stickied thread. In a forum where propaganda belongs where it belongs, which isn't where RP guides belong, it would be doens times easier.

I'm not looking for a quick solution. I'm looking for the best solution.

I understand that there may not be trust towards the management, primarily because nobody here knows me really well. In which case, if this idea does hit the air, you may as well decide management among yourselves. Thats not something i'd like to be fussed about yet, however, until I know people are accepting the idea.


 

Posted

I don't want to have to convince, pursuade, bribe or whatever. I'm not forcing this down your throats. I'm giving a suggestion. If you don't want in on this, you don't have to have in on this. If you do, you can.

I know this could fall to shambles out of laziness, but wheres the hurt in giving it a try?

...

Has anyone else noticed how many of my sentances start with the letter 'I'?


 

Posted

I think you might be misunderstanding. They are not trying to stop you, Reepi, they are giving their view on things.

As you see, a similar attempt has been made, and neglected. They are just showing that to you as proof, not to negate your idea. They are trying to show you, that your efforts might be futile and want to spare you the hassle of going through the motions.

In the same breath, they do tell you, that if you want to try, then by all means do so, but they are not convinced, and admittedly, I am rather skeptical as well. That said. If you want to do it and blow our minds away with whatever stunning lay out you may come; I say go for it mate, give it a shot, but no promises that it'll become a success.


 

Posted

The main reason that I don't personally post on the forum I linked to my last post is simply because I find that these forums, along with the forum that was set up for the SG I'm in, are more than adequate for my purposes. I'm a plot dodger, most people that know me know that, working a night shift 4 nights a week kinda kills any level of participation my toons can have in most plots from the start. However, I do post on the few occasions that I find anything even vaguely relavent to say (or like my recent posts even when I haven't)

The forum given as an example was set up for the people that attend GG I assume, mainly due to the SG sections all being for those I regularly see members of at GG. But I don't see any reason that if enough interest is shown why another such forum can't be set up if you felt the need to, (although you would have to beware of the GM/Mod situation someone mentioned earlier, because everyone knows that if Mods start taking sides it'll all go a bit Frank Spencer


 

Posted

I can see that you're all happy to give me the thumbs up, and giving the advice is all good. The comments have been constructive, and the original idea has been adjusted to fit with some of the comments you've given. I appreciate that.

But what i'm not getting is interest. I've had one or two people saying they're happy to have such a thing around, but (forgive me if i'm wrong) the majority of you are saying you can't be bothered to join in. I'm gonna need help if i'm gonna do this - if you want me to do this - as I don't even have the skills to set up a proper forum that hasn't got as many loopholes as a knot.

Its all good giving the advice and I have no problem with any critism towards the idea that you may be giving, but I can't do this if, you as a community, arn't interested in this.

I don't mean to sound like i'm nagging, but I am gonna need all the help I can get. Right now, i'm more interested in who has the will to help before I scratch the idea, or let it hit the sky.

down to you now. Without you, i'm stuck. Yes or no?


 

Posted

This is my point Reep, that I tried to make earlier.

Right now what you've got seems good, and if this was a brand new community I'd say go with it. It's not. It's established, entrenched, and spread all over the place.

What you're suggesting is, as far as I can see, fundamentaly the same as the corpse that is the GG forums. It never took off, it had a handful of posters trying to drum up interest, but it wasn't enough.

You're right, you need support and a lot of it, but I'm afraid saying "I need support" isn't going to get it. You need to convince people that unlike the other attempts, yours will do something they didn't and succeed.

Right now, I'm not convinced. And no amount of pleas will convince me. A clear plan might, but you're still going to need something special.

There's been a lot of posts recently about respect and critism, I have no faith in the idea as you've put it working, it's been tried exactly the same and failed dismally. More so, since the man setting it up was a well respected member of GG, and those that did post tried very hard to publicise it.

I'm not saying give up, far from it, but if you really want this to work you'll need a clear vision, a lot of drive, an ability to convince others to follow your lead, and have something they actually want to use.


 

Posted

The problem i'm facing is that I can't come out with the plan, detailed concept and layout until I know what you want. So far you've given me reasons not to do it, which could easily be intepreted as a thumbs down from you all. I respect that, if thats the point you're trying to make.

I understand you suspect this will fail, and thats near enough guarenteed unless you give me the ideas you want. The layout you want. The details you want. Unless, by some amazing chance of luck, I happen to land on exactly what you, as a community, want its bound to fail. Its this lack of input, i'm sorry to say, thats making me wanna turn my back on the whole idea.

I'd like to see things made easier for people trying to edge their way into the community here, but I can't if you don't tell me how. I have the means to do so, now I need the details.

This isn't about me. This is about what you want. If you don't want me to do this, feel free to say so, and I won't.


 

Posted

I appologise, but having seen a good friend try this and have it flop, I have 2 main reasons for being slightly negative. 1 is that you have to understand what you're really up against, and 2 is that I don't want someone else getting hurt over something like this, because it does hurt when you put your heart and soul into a community project and then have to watch it die.

I can't give you ideas, if I had them, they would have already been implemented! or at least tried. I can give you feedback on ideas you suggest though.

Personally, I think an inegrated set of fourms would be nice, but I'm enough of a realist to know that unless you have a lot of posters there generating constant new content, I'll get bored and never check them. I suspect the same is true of most other forumites.

I don't go to forums to post, I go to read. Occasionally I'll join an active topic, but I'm not someone who generates a lot of debate and content.

For ideas - A character histories section would be nice, right now you have to trawl through the rest of the creative section, or look on the wiki. A news section would be nice, but I think doomed to failure unless you focused on one particular group, since there's no consistant world view, and can't be one. IC chat areas would be nice, I don't know how much use they'd get since most of us work, and when we're not at work we're in game, so what's the point. SG info and OOC event info would be nice, but I'm sure you were thinking of more than a glorified calendar

Ultimately what I think is achievable is a character history archive - A function currently fulfilled by the GGwiki, a history of plots - a function currently fulfilled by the 9pm under GG's skirt thread, and a list of RP events - a function currently fulfilled by posting either here in the RP forum or the relavent server boards.

So, the ball's back in your court. What can your integrated forums do to make them better than hyjacking the official ones? I'll happily admit I'm stuck, since everything I can think of that would make them better requires constant access, like livechat.