Writing and reading the rumor section of Wikipedia pages is one of my favorite ways to get to know a character and how they're perceived. I love writing rumors for people I've met to leave a little flavor (and hopefully a little amusement) for anyone else who looks at their page, and enjoys it like I do.
But it feels to me like the writing and reading of rumors has slowed down quite a bit lately (maybe its
just me). Part of that may be because the RP community has grown somewhat more static: people continue to join freshly, but at a slower rate than before. People tend to write one rumor and then never return, as if to add more at a later date is a disservice (rather than a reflection of changing perception over time).Â
I just want to use my rumors on Verad's page as an example:
- "He's a trader, I guess, but he beguiles with such honesty that I can't imagine he makes a living. I'd serve him, just for the amusement and cheer he brings us though; if Momodi would allow."
- "I overheard him talking about a theft from his office. He has a hard enough time as it is, who would steal from him?"
- "I fear his head is growing too big for his britches."
- "I heard someone say that he's just a fellow who sells little devices that nobody really understands!"
- "The Dubious Duskwight? Oh yes! He used to be a regular here. But since he moved on up he's found himself too many things to keep his attention. *thoughtful pause* Honestly, I think he has given himself over to fancies; I'm not sure he's even really in the dubious business any more."
These rumors are spaced out by months, and I think they help provide insight on the arch of Verad's character as he has evolved since his inception. I don't think the repetition of one character as a rumor-generator has done harm, but instead has helped provide not only insight but timeline to understanding the character (and hopefully a little humor, and the memory of a very amusing conversation with a not-too-bright sell sword he had just hired).
Anyway, what I'm trying to encourage (in my very-first non RP thread!) is for people to host a rumor section on their wiki page, and to visit their friends, associates, people they've just met, etc. frequently to add rumors of their own!
I really think it is both fun and helpful, and I miss the times when it seemed like there was more active rumor-making!
I do know that I try and go back to revisit wiki pages for characters that mine has left rumors for in order to update said rumors. I feel it's more dynamic than leaving multiple ones, but that's just me / personal preference / stylistic choice, etc.
What I DO know is that once your page is flooded with rumors and you decide to reboot your page, no one notices, or else it takes them a while to get back to you. Friendly word of advice: don't wipe your rumors section if you're not okay with sitting around for a while with it blank!
I'm definitely guilty of not updating rumors as often as I'd like.
...this is partly in fault because I've been RPing with people who don't always have wikis. For those people who do have wikis, I try to keep an updated rumor when I can~
(04-01-2015, 04:40 PM)Melkire Wrote: [ -> ]I do know that I try and go back to revisit wiki pages for characters that mine has left rumors for in order to update said rumors. I feel it's more dynamic than leaving multiple ones, but that's just me / personal preference / stylistic choice, etc.
I can understand that choice! I prefer to leave the old ones up because I think the collection of them together presents a better, more dynamic image of the character, but on the same token, they sometimes reflect things that are no longer the case
If people don't want to leave multiple rumors, I at least encourage revisiting them sometimes!
I've tried to ask people to add some for mine, of those that my characters interact with, but it never really seems to work. I don't know if it's because they don't feel comfy with it or are not inspired or..Â
I have had a hard time thinking up my own as well, especially for Nailah, but I think I'll give it another go.
I post/update rumors as I think of them, but I'm also one of those people who only leaves one entry at any time. I figure it's a snippet of if you catch Warren ICly and say "Hey, who's So-and-So?"
I handwave the fact that he'd be incredibly suspicious if someone asked him questions, but I try to keep it updated.
Edit: RED NAMES COMBO CONTINUED
(04-01-2015, 04:43 PM)Sastra Wrote: [ -> ]I've tried to ask people to add some for mine, of those that my characters interact with, but it never really seems to work. I don't know if it's because they don't feel comfy with it or are not inspired or..Â
I have had a hard time thinking up my own as well, especially for Nailah, but I think I'll give it another go.
I have a hard time too, but in the end its like.. anything you put up is better than nothing
it may not be as pithy as you like, or as insightful as you like, but it still adds to the overall feel people can get for the character,
and its really rewarding to the person receiving the rumor because they know they've made some sort of an impact on another person.
It just seems like a good activity for the community as a whole!
And now I just realized that I posted my first suggestion-style thread on April Fool's day! Go Aya, you got 'em this time!Â
I admit, I kind of slumped off on the wiki in general. But Coatleque's been rather static lately. Things may pick up again soon though. Grinding Zeta also ate a lot of my time.
{edit: C-C-C-C-Combo breaker!}
I try to keep up with updating character rumors as new developments between mine and another's happens but I usually just replace my old one for the sake of keeping their wikis clean.
Just today I was thinking that I need to check my rumors and return the favor to people who have posted on mine! I wanted to put one on Osric's page but I didn't get the chance yet. I'll do that when I get home and off the phone methinks...
(04-01-2015, 05:11 PM)Berrod Armstrong Wrote: [ -> ]Just today I was thinking that I need to check my rumors and return the favor to people who have posted on mine! I wanted to put one on Osric's page but I didn't get the chance yet. I'll do that when I get home and off the phone methinks...
\o/Â
<3 Berrod
I jumped in a bit late in terms of the wiki but this sounds like an amazing idea. I'll try and throw out some rumors as Barnabaix meets some of the others.
Back before I faded into obscurity, I was one of the guys that tended to write down rumors for others on their wiki, if I had any kind of RP with them that was deeper than a hello and a goodbye. I tended to enjoy leaving little presents like that on their wiki.
Every once in a while, I would add new ones to mine. If I had an idea for filling up a certain spot in my character's backstory timeline with meaty info, I would add a rumor. Or if my character went through plot development and I felt like it could spread via gossip.
I have no real way of being able to tell if anyone ever read the rumors I posted on their wiki, or how many people actually go out of their way to snoop on people's wikis and read/post rumors. I think it's a neat thing to do, though. I think it's quite pleasant to see that someone had posted a rumor about my character, and I like doing it for others too.
So yes, I would endorse and encourage people to do so. I expect myself to write rumors about others if I participate in RP with them.
Any time I do a fair amount of RP with someone -- so, a real conversation, instead of just meeting in passing -- or if I hear or see something particularly intriguing about someone (say, Coatleque), I'll write up a rumor for their wiki page if it has a PC rumors section. I personally think that's a great way to connect characters together.
I do enjoy my rumors section, small as it is. It's kinda neat to see the record of what characters think about someone over time. I'll probably have to do that whole... making *shudders* friends... thing... >.>