To recap, or not to recap. That is the question.
By
Big_Game_EU,
Posted on: 2007-06-21 07:46 in Roleplaying
I no longer recap my characters actions generally.
Why? Because the only people interested are the people I RP with; and they already know what my characters are doing.
I now only bother if I've been at a public spot like GG or PD, and then only if anything worth mentioning happened.
I also don't really bother to read recaps from people I don't RP with; mainly because I don't know them.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
I don't recap. Why? See FFM above.
Do I read recaps? I mostly skim throu and if I notice a name I know I read more thoroughly. (I'm a bit nosy you see.)
Otherwise I don't bother much.
I generally dont recap, I instead prefer to write up an IC story piece, or an IC rumour to pass along informaton I feel others would be interested in, or just get a kick out of reading. Generally if I do recap its to clarify something, or because I dont have the time to do anything creative.
I read others recaps because im nosey, helps me picture the continuity im playing in, and as sources of inspiration. Although I may not necessarily remember details of recaps not related to myself or others I play with, unless there is something of particular interest.
Its partly because of stuff I read in recaps I got into RP myself, kinda made me feel like I was missing something.
[ QUOTE ]
Its partly because of stuff I read in recaps I got into RP myself
[/ QUOTE ]
This I find a very interesting bit of information, and a valuable one.
@ShadowGhost & @Ghostie
The Grav Mistress, Mistress of Gravity
If you have nothing useful to say, you have two choices: Say something useless or stay quiet.
I find the reason I do not recap is simply due to procrastination. I am far too lazy to recap events I can refer to in logs if need be; I may recap very important information, yes, but nothing else.
Back in 2005, or whenever I started CoH (My memory is not so great), I remember reading recaps of GG and it seemed interesting. I considered going many a time, and certainly did once or twice; of course, I was young then, and my roleplaying ability was far from good. I stopped CoH soon after for unrelated reasons.
The same recaps got me interested the second time, and that is about that time I started to go to Pocket D with Sarah. And here I am today.
I think recaps are useful for important information, life changing things, and it is interesting to see what other people's characters are up to; but I do not feel the need to recap personally... again, probably due to my laziness and lack of checking the boards.
Sometimes, even heroes need saving.
"For truth, justice and apple pies!"
I'd love to recap Coile's escapades but it comes down to laziness and lack of time. I find myself writing other stuff, and after a week from the last recap I find the whole task of putting together a comprehensive recap too intimidating. I know that others might settle for reading even a skimpier recap but I have this image in my head of what I should produce if I was going to produce something.
I don't often read other people's stories or recaps. I'm a slow reader which brings the element of not having time again into play. If the recap is relevant to me or my character(s) I'm more inclined to give it a go.
I write and read recaps. If the recaps are of characters I know or the recap is interestingly written, I'm more likely to read it. But if I'm bored I'll read anything. On the contrary I don't usually read IC stories. Mostly because they are longer, and the quality of writing matters more, it has to be one heck of a good writer to make a story about character I don't know well interesting, while recap is more introductionary.
I write recaps mostly to keep tabs of what is happening when. So that after a year I can read those and see what was happening with my character. There is many recaps I have written just for myself and aren't published anywhere, some that are posted only on the SG forum, and then some that are also posted here. Posting here serves a few purposes; One, to give other RPers an idea what's going on and if it's something that would coincede their stories or characters, there's a chance of having a larger story. And even if they don't get involved in anyway, they'll still know there is other plots going on. Two, to encourage others to post as well. Three, advertisement, maybe someone nice reads them and thinks 'oh, that's fun, I'll go check it out'.
It seems that writing recaps has been shriveling up lately, a shame.
I'll read recaps, but then again I'm a voracious reader. I've read the back of boxes of cornflakes, ketchup bottles, the Burger King Managers Manual, the Burger King instructions for their flame grills, tills and broilers (Note, I don't and never have worked at Burger King, but my brother did. :P) and the 1985 and 1986 Dairy Diary several times.
I don't generally recap anymore because most of my RP is in a small group of people, hence the need to recap is less needed. Plus seeing as I mostly RP on MSN/IRC now... and have been on a general writing slump. Trying to write more though.
[ QUOTE ]
These questions and more... answered here tonight! (or over the course of days/weeks)
And answered by... YOU! *points at anyone willing to answer*
And me, yes... but not yet, not now... down the line, yes.
[/ QUOTE ]
Down the line seems to be now, so here goes!
[ QUOTE ]
Why does one recap?
Why does one choose to take the time to recap?
[/ QUOTE ]
I recap... hmmm... because when I started that was more or less the norm. It's become a habit. It's become an outlet for my writing. And I like to share things *shrugs* And, I think it's also a way to process what has happened.
Often I sit down and think "what happened again... was fun, this happened, that happened... but is it worth mentioning?" and then I start and besides those two parts, I remember 10 others... I add some, don't mention others. I re-live what happened in a way.
[ QUOTE ]
Why does some one read a recap?
Do you read recaps that have no bearing on your characters?
[/ QUOTE ]
I read them out of curiousity. To see what goes on in RP land, to see others having fun too!
If they're short, I'll read them unless I've grown a disliking for a player/character (yes, I know it's not nice, but it happens).
If it's a long one like Coile and Eleven tend to make... I'll skim them to see if I deem them interesting enough to read, for myself.
[ QUOTE ]
Why does one choose not to recap?
Do you choose not to?
[/ QUOTE ]
I've gone through the 'can't be bothered' fase, it's worse when it's linked with the 'why should I be the only one to' feeling.
Sometimes I don't have time, but usually I don't make the time.
@ShadowGhost & @Ghostie
The Grav Mistress, Mistress of Gravity
If you have nothing useful to say, you have two choices: Say something useless or stay quiet.
[ QUOTE ]
Often I sit down and think "what happened again... was fun, this happened, that happened... but is it worth mentioning?" and then I start and besides those two parts, I remember 10 others... I add some, don't mention others. I re-live what happened in a way.
[/ QUOTE ]
Y'know Ghosty... That's probably why it takes you 3-4 hours to write your recaps... 
When I write a recap, it's just stream of conciousness type writing.. It flows from the figers and I'm done in just a couple of minutes... And some of my recaps used to be LONG!
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
I write recaps when :
- I have something I believe might be interesting to read for others
- I have time for that
Unfortunately, I often consider that some bits of story are not enough to write a recap, so would wait more... then see that waiting more are making them less relevant... and that, anyway, I don't have much time.
I was also mostly evacuating everything that is purely inter-character relationships, save maybe some vague references.
Not that what I wrote occasionaly was truly long but my preference goes to writing-post them during the day.
In the evening, I tehn vastly prefer to play the game.
Then, the "lack of time" is actually a lack of time during the moments when I would accept to write them...
The purpose to write them is to share, simply. Maybe it can create some synergy between players stories, maybe not.
It's also a form of advertisement for server wide roleplay.
I do read recaps that are about stories. A string of recaps could then form a kind of short novel, even if incomplete.
It is also incentive to me to integrate others ideas, and then characters' background, when I meet them in game.
(provided the story is of some public knowledge)
I dont write recaps for the main fact its all quite repetetive. Turn up, chat, go home etc. I also never got into the habit of writing them.
I like to read recaps (as i'm a nosey parker and a fanatic reader) and if its of considerable length like Coiles for example, I'll mainly skim read to see if its interesting or anything relavent to any of my characters.
[ QUOTE ]
I generally dont recap, I instead prefer to write up an IC story piece, or an IC rumour to pass along informaton I feel others would be interested in, or just get a kick out of reading. Generally if I do recap its to clarify something, or because I dont have the time to do anything creative.
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm the same i prefer to write a story piece and/or an IC rumour. Recaps for me are laborious, and sometimes feel like a chore. Sometimes theres just too much information to sum up, othertimes it could be plot breaking material.
Generally if i see my name in a recap too i'll read it, which is why (i assume) people put characters names in bold or italics, it was why i did on the few recaps i done. I'm always intrested to see what other players/chars think of my characters.
Another thing alot of the roleplay, especially recently with Echo getting kidnapped and tortured is Forum Roleplay'd on EVIL's boards, no need to recap people can read exactly what happend. (These boards are hidden to public ofc.) Recaps are fun though, but sometimes i'm itching to get in game and progress with the RP, rather than read properly other peoples recaps, i still usually skim them, but to be honest thats generally it.
Q. Why does one recap?
A. I only recap to share information with my friends who don't play CoH if they're ever interested in what I do with all my time.
Q. Why does one choose to take the time to recap?
A. The worth of Creativity is directly proportionate to the size of the Audience maybe? We all like to think people care about our RP.
Q. Why does some one read a recap?
A. Me? To see if I'm in it. Very rarely does that ever happen though. My main hero and villain are somewhat sneaky fellows, so the last thing they want to do is leave a lasting impression on anyone.
Q. Do you read recaps that have no bearing on your characters?
A. Generally, no... It seems to be the trend here reading the replies.
Q. Why does one choose not to recap?
A. Bad memory, lack of time, better things to do?
Q. Do you choose not to?
A. Yes. It keeps the temptation of acting on information my character doesn't have to a minimum.
My problem with Recaps is that, as someone who's still fairly fresh to the Forum RP scene here on these boards, it's one helluva large chunk of writing to read, and I've been put off in the past by this because I don't have the time, despite wanting to know what's going on, to read everything. I think I might read them if they were shorter. Y'know like a recap at the start of an episode of a TV program or something. "Previously on..."
Anyway, to keep things moving forwards... More questions!
Q. If Recaps were shorter, less detailed affairs, would more or less people read them?
Q. Is the detail necessary?
Q. Would you still do long recaps anyway?
Q. Is it even possible to make Recaps shorter with all the information necessary?
It takes Chaos to move the world to Action.
Why does one recap?
Why does one choose to take the time to recap?
Why does some one read a recap?
Do you read recaps that have no bearing on your characters?
Why does one choose not to recap?
Do you choose not to?
These questions and more... answered here tonight! (or over the course of days/weeks)
And answered by... YOU! *points at anyone willing to answer*
And me, yes... but not yet, not now... down the line, yes.
@ShadowGhost & @Ghostie
The Grav Mistress, Mistress of Gravity
If you have nothing useful to say, you have two choices: Say something useless or stay quiet.