RPTs: Gone Missing

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

I didn't greet your little girl with open arms. I was quite annoyed by your hugging on that breed, and I was verbal about it.

I know you're not trying to, maybe, but try not to lump us all together. Some of us try. Aside from that caveat, you have a point. I am sad that the game has slowed down so much. There is a real reason why.

Staff have slowed things down. There are a great many plots that are in limbo right now as they wait upon advancement by staff. Yes, I know perfectly well that all plots do not require staff help, but many do, and when we don't get that sort of help without long delays, it hurts some. Yes, we can work around it, but plots that are in limbo contribute to the feel of stagnation.

The slow-down of staff plots have made players feel less interested in starting non-staff plots, because many plots that begin as non-staff supported plots end up becoming staff-supported plots by necessity, and if there are plots already in limbo, then what hope have we for the endgames of our baby plots?

You have some good points when it comes to inter-state conflict. However, people need to be sensible about what happens when you do things the silk-clad don't want you to. You get in trouble, if you get caught. Be slick, or don't whine. Get a like minded silky on board with you, or be slick, or be sly, but don't be surprised when the silk-clad come fuck with you.

Leaders that literally are doing nothing and don't log on and are never available do need to step aside. I won't deny that.

I wish some people would stop bitching about leaders wanting cool shit. That's annoying. I understand your point, of course, but I get sick of spending all my coin paying people to do shit and then looking at them because they got cool shit off the money I gave them, and I can't have that cool shit because I paid for them to get a clue and have fun. So, I'm contributing to the world, having people do this and that and the other thing, and I get nothing out of it. No. Not cool. When I say I want something cool, you know what that actually does? It makes a mini plot. It gives PCs something to go get, something to make, something to fill their idle time. If you don't want to do that, then why suggest that I use my coin to give people something to do? Maybe the Bynners don't want to go out on a patrol. Maybe that hunter doesn't want to troll in the other city's taverns listening for this name connected to that word. Do you understand what I am saying?

I'll agree about killing, but you are saying there are too many long-lived people, and then saying not to kill people. People need to die sometimes. Don't do it without RP, and don't do it arbitrarily, but sometimes, folks need to die. That's not killing off the PB, that's killing a PC who's player should go make another character.

I can agree with you on the rest of your points.

[Bebop]

I didn't greet your little girl with open arms. I was quite annoyed by your hugging on that breed, and I was verbal about it.

If this is directed at me I have no idea what you're talking about, just so you know.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

I didn't greet your little girl with open arms. I was quite annoyed by your hugging on that breed, and I was verbal about it.

If this is directed at me I have no idea what you're talking about, just so you know.

Err ... it was sort of a generalized response to what you said, regarding your character's (real or not) experience, in general. It wasn't aimed at you or any other PC.

[Bogre]

HRPT.

Seriously. Wipe the slate clean, make some shit crazeee.

[Archbaron]

HRPT.

Seriously. Wipe the slate clean, make some shit crazeee.

No, really.

[Malken]

HRPT.

Seriously. Wipe the slate clean, make some shit crazeee.

No, really.

I want explosions and catapults and magicks all over and fireballs and legions of half giants attacking my lone character and hundreds of corpses all over the streets and awesome echoes of doom and people pissing their cotton pants
and templars yelling orders that nobody wants to follow and total chaos and anarchy and wars and pillage and the north hating the south and people getting hanged just for speaking with the wrong accent in the wrong place
and guerilla warfare with hidden camps in the middle of nowhere and like, pew pew and pow pow and kaboom and aaaaaaaaaaaaaah i'm dying man, get them off me, get them of!!!!11

[Archbaron]

HRPT.

Seriously. Wipe the slate clean, make some shit crazeee.

No, really.

I want explosions and catapults and magicks all over and fireballs and legions of half giants attacking my lone character and hundreds of corpses all over the streets and awesome echoes of doom and people pissing their cotton pants
and templars yelling orders that nobody wants to follow and total chaos and anarchy and wars and pillage and the north hating the south and people getting hanged just for speaking with the wrong accent in the wrong place
and guerilla warfare with hidden camps in the middle of nowhere and like, pew pew and pow pow and kaboom and aaaaaaaaaaaaaah i'm dying man, get them off me, get them of!!!!11

Yeah! And the d-elves with their machine guns! tew tew tew! kahkahkahkahkah! man it would be bloody so bloody. so awesome tho.

[Zoan]

Zalanthas should suddenly go crazy in one single evening, like that crazy movie Southland Tales.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

...or we, staff and players, could move plots along and accomplish the same thing.

[Reiloth]

Blaming leaders for the problems you see does nothing to solve the problem.

Having played leadership roles, and having -stepped down- because I couldn't devote enough time to the role...

It's a bit disheartening to see such biased assault on 'leadership role pc's' in general.

MY PROBLEMS WITH THE GAME:

1) Leaders

2) Leaders

3) Leaders

I could just as well make a blanket statement and say "You minion PC's need to get your fucking act together, twinks. Stop asking leaders for coin to do meaningless shit, and start making your own plots. Twinks."

I think:

-An HRPT is a long time coming
-Wiping the slate clean would make for some good, ass-lickin' fun.
-Bitching about the state of the game being any specific people's fault, whether that be Staff, Minions, Independents, Desert Elves, Magickers, or Leaders, is pointless. This problem belongs to all of us.
-You want some RPT's? Make'm. This game revolves around Imagination. Exercise it, if you are bored and desiring more group activity. Shit, get staff involved, or don't.

EDIT:

I'll make an effort to create an HRPT within the next few months. Assholes. As should every single one of you, instead of complaining about the lack of RPT's.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

"You minion PC's need to get your fucking act together, twinks. Stop asking leaders for coin to do meaningless shit, and start making your own plots. Twinks."

Dibs on quoting rights.

[Reiloth]

"You minion PC's need to get your fucking act together, twinks. Stop asking leaders for coin to do meaningless shit, and start making your own plots. Twinks."

Dibs on quoting rights.

Dibs noted.

[Niamh]

It's important to remember that just because you don't see things happening it doesn't mean nothing is going on.

Also, it's important to keep in mind that it doesn't necessarily take leader PCs to make things happen.  Anybody can make things happen, from templar to rinthi.  If you've got ideas for things to do and you aren't a leader, bring ideas to your leaders.  If your leaders aren't taking charge, maybe it's time you prove that you can be some sort of leader yourself.  If you're not in a clan and you've got ideas, act on them.  Just be prepared to accept any repercussions of your actions.

[staggerlee]

Blaming leaders for the problems you see does nothing to solve the problem.

Having played leadership roles, and having -stepped down- because I couldn't devote enough time to the role...

It's a bit disheartening to see such biased assault on 'leadership role pc's' in general.

MY PROBLEMS WITH THE GAME:

1) Leaders

2) Leaders

3) Leaders

I could just as well make a blanket statement and say "You minion PC's need to get your fucking act together, twinks. Stop asking leaders for coin to do meaningless shit, and start making your own plots. Twinks."

I think:

-An HRPT is a long time coming
-Wiping the slate clean would make for some good, ass-lickin' fun.
-Bitching about the state of the game being any specific people's fault, whether that be Staff, Minions, Independents, Desert Elves, Magickers, or Leaders, is pointless. This problem belongs to all of us.
-You want some RPT's? Make'm. This game revolves around Imagination. Exercise it, if you are bored and desiring more group activity. Shit, get staff involved, or don't.

EDIT:

I'll make an effort to create an HRPT within the next few months. Assholes. As should every single one of you, instead of complaining about the lack of RPT's.

I'd like to point out that playing like a leader does not necessarily mean being a sergeant or a templar.  When clans are running at their best the minions are taking as active a hand as everyone else  - involving others in their activities, being assertive and active, having ambitions, etc etc

All of those these things that it has been suggested that "leaders" should do, can and should be done by every player on the mud.  It's not about your character's job, it's about the impact you as a player have on the mud.

[Furious George]

Leadership though is as much an OOC construct as it is an IC one.  There are some players who are simply incapable of playing a coordinating, scheming, plotting, leading character...try as they might, not naming names...

Coded leadership on one of these players can be as useless and clan damaging as if they simply never logged in.

However, proactive "Recruit Stan" who is constantly running around, making the game vivid for himself is the guy who people will want to hang out with, even if "Agent Cartman" is only obsessed with touching himself and throwing look-at-me events.

With that said, I think it all comes down to personal accountability.  Don't wait on imms or clanleaders to make things fun for you, make the fun yourself.  If you're in a position to spread the wealth, by all means do it, with gusto...if you're not in a position to spread the wealth, then make it your mission to give someone you run into a 5-20 minute personal RPT...if everyone were to vow to "PAY IT FORWARD" *gack* and commit to giving one fellow player a personal roleplay event each login, then I think the larger scale, staff driven RPTS wouldn't be quite so missing.

Only my opinion, waiting to gorge itself on erdlu, stuffing and mashed tubors.

[number13]

It's important to remember that just because you don't see things happening it doesn't mean nothing is going on.

I've had an adequate amount of fun over the last couple months, so this isn't me whining. Finding trouble to get into hasn't been a problem. Still, I have to say, if no one aside from the privileged can see anything going on, then functionally nothing is going on from the perspective of the majority.

[staggerlee]

It's important to remember that just because you don't see things happening it doesn't mean nothing is going on.

I've had an adequate amount of fun over the last couple months, so this isn't me whining. Finding trouble to get into hasn't been a problem. Still, I have to say, if no one aside from the privileged can see anything going on, then functionally nothing is going on from the perspective of the majority.

Conversely, those that can't entertain themselves should not expect to be entertained by others, and the GDB has a way of fabricating problems where there are none, or blowing existing problems out of proportion.

I'm not saying that's happening.  But that in the spirit of the first post, we need to stop pointing fingers and demanding rpts, and go stir shit up ourselves.

[Lizzie]

I think everyone has responsibility, not just leaders, and I kind of resent that assertion that it's the leader's JOB...or that it's the leader's fault. Some leaders - yeah. But also remember, some leaders are -thrust- into their position by default. Their boss gets killed, and they're the only one with seniority. BOOM - slap a patch on your shoulder and call you leader, for good or for bad. I've played roles like that, where I got a promotion I didn't want but figured since *someone* had to do it, I'd give it a try. It didn't work out so great. But fuck you if you think you're gonna put the "blame" on me for not doing my "job." My job was to play my character. I did exactly that.

[staggerlee]

I think everyone has responsibility, not just leaders, and I kind of resent that assertion that it's the leader's JOB...or that it's the leader's fault. Some leaders - yeah. But also remember, some leaders are -thrust- into their position by default. Their boss gets killed, and they're the only one with seniority. BOOM - slap a patch on your shoulder and call you leader, for good or for bad. I've played roles like that, where I got a promotion I didn't want but figured since *someone* had to do it, I'd give it a try. It didn't work out so great. But fuck you if you think you're gonna put the "blame" on me for not doing my "job." My job was to play my character. I did exactly that.

Er, well, no.  When you take on a leadership role, for whatever the reasons, you're being placed in a position of ooc responsibility and trust.  You're responsible for the clan and players under you.

I'm all for spreading the responsibility to other players... but this attitude is appalling. For gods sake don't play the character if you can't handle the role, you're not doing anyone any good by being negligent because you didn't want the job in the first place.

Sure the number one responsibility of a player is to stay in character, but we always have various levels of ooc responsibility to deal with - following rules, keeping the experience of others in mind, and so on.

[Gimfalisette]

I don't get why y'all are carping at each other. The point of my post--go back and read it again if you need to--is that we, as players, have been slacking on creating fun for the playerbase, and we need to get off our asses and change it. All of us. Leaders, minions, and indies alike. All of us.

Sheesh guys.

[Tisiphone]

We need some huge desert-wide HRPT. Hmmmmmm.

[Lizzie]

Because this is a discussion board Gimf. See, you posted something. Some people agreed, Some disagreed. Some had their own spin on the situation. Some people agreed with -those- people, and some disagreed. Some put blame on a certain group for the reason why you felt the need to post in the first place. Some disagreed with that. That's just how discussions go, on discussion boards, Gimf.

If it makes you feel any better, I agree with you. PEOPLE need to start RPTs...and PEOPLE need to stop whining about whose fault it is that RPTs aren't happening.

As for Niamh, no. I disagree. Yes, there -are- things happening all the time. But if they're not noteworthy, or if they are SO secret that only the privileged few get to even know it's happening, then the perception of things is exactly the same - that nothing is happening.

If a lot of people are perceiving that nothing is happening, then it doesn't matter if something is, or isn't. What matters is the perception. Now, you can try to change that perception - or you can prove it wrong, or you can confirm that it's true. But telling people that their perception is wrong, isn't productive, and it just makes people more frustrated - because now not only are they wrong, but they're not entitled to the "inside info" that proves it.

[number13]

The point of my post--go back and read it again if you need to--is that we, as players, have been slacking on creating fun for the playerbase, and we need to get off our asses and change it. All of us. Leaders, minions, and indies alike. All of us.

I'm all for making my own fun and hopefully helping to stir the plot.

But it would be easier to make my own fun if there was conflict for which one could slip into the role of a footsolider for one side or the other without much fuss.  The Tuluk Rebellion, for example.  

[Taven]

I have to say that RPTs can be cool, but alot of the time they're way, way too spammy for my tastes. Party RPTs always seem problematic to me, because (as a number of others have mentioned) there's so much emoting and talking SPAM that you can't see what's going on. It's nearly impossible to work with. Fighting RPTs can get to be very much the same way, if they last too long and are all just repetitive hack-and-slash. That being said, fighting RPTs with some breathing space can be incredibly awesome.

As to starting RPTs, I ususally feel like I need to get an idea of whatever the clan I'm in is like and how it works before I can stir things up. I'd advise using vNPCs to further interaction; my characters have had a number of goals that involved vNPCs and got PCs around them involved in things as well. They aren't HUGE RPTs, but they're little things that can help things move along. Also, having a clan game day/night every few weeks is awesome, too. Kruth, Tek's Tower, whatever. Just go to your nearest tavern, hijack a table, and show all those other sorry little idlers how awesome your clan is. SHOW THAT FRUIT SOME LOVE. Tulukis, find a location for some public singing or dancing. NPCs do it all the time, don't you go telling me it isn't subtle enough.

Ahem. I, too, resolve to try to start interesting RPT-like events. Really. I do.

[Salt Merchant]

Since no one else is stepping up to state the obvious:

1. Leaders have resources that the rank and file don't.
Stipends, storeroom goods, NPCs, wagons, etc.

2. Leaders are allowed more latitude than the rank and file.
No "you can't leave the city and must be doing x chores at y time". A lot of rank and file characters are basically confined to very small portion of the gameworld save for when a leader is around.

3. Leaders are often picked from among the most skilled or powerful characters.
These characters are the ones most capable of going out and doing things.

When someone steps into such a role and does little with it, it -does- hurt the potential of the game, compared to a lazy-ass follower doing the same.

Rank and file can launch their own plots but this largely involves misbehaving in some way because there is little else they can do, given all the restrictions placed on them and their lack of personal power, influence and funds. And the game's organizations are largely intolerant of misbehavior, so such plots tend to be short-lived.