I'm not really sure what I prefer anymore. I have some thinking to do.Â
I used to really like plot-based RP. I felt it gave me more reason to be involved in something. I have done a lot of I guess, what I call tavern RP, which is just daily life, run-of-the-mill kinda RP. But, I find most tavern and random RP to be un-engaging because I struggle to find a reason to get involved all too often in the conversations going on around me. I don't like butting in, mostly. But, that's all on me. I'm not criticizing the type of RP or the player that loves it. I'm noting my own limitations and my own hang ups in getting involved or not involved.Â
The reason I don't know what I even prefer, or enjoy, anymore is because I find it harder and harder to get into plot RP. I don't really want to have more than a cameo, and I don't want to take up too much time of my GM/DMs, and I want to give other people more an opportunity to shine, despite what I think I would have my character do in any given situation. I see an awful lot of posturing and chest-beating, too. While that's entirely plausible for a character, I just wish folks would get on with it sometimes! A lot of people get involved, and something is gonna give. Someone is not going to get the time they deserve. I'd rather just bow out, and let someone far more invested get the time because they clearly want it.Â
So, some observations. Please keep in mind this is only what I have seen (and done, and learned from) in my experience across several MMOs, and it may definitely will differ from anyone else's experience. Â
1. I don't see too many folks treating plotline RP, or heavily managed RP, as one might treat a tabletop, pen and paper game. GMs can reasonably handle five to six players and give each of those individuals the attention they deserve due to the small scale of it in a PnP game. Few of these tabletop games are about any one player character. What I mostly see in MMOs (again, my observations) is trying to stuff as many characters or players as possible into a story that I don't think can support it. Especially not without a lot of help. I know that no one wants to be left out, and no one wants to leave anyone out, but I don't know of a better solution than to split things up into multiple parts with multiple GM/DMs doing different aspects at different times. Or just asking a friend to wait patiently.Â
2. Trying too hard to manage everything, or control every detail. Some behavior is predictable, but some isn't. Players always find a way to deviate from a path, and surprise GM/DMs.Â
3. I find a lot of plot RP to be character-centric. It revolves around either a single player character, or a few closely related characters. Often, my character is only marginally aware in the on-goings of the other characters' lives, and I have little reason to participate. My solution to this is to create a story to doesn't involve furthering a personal or private plotline or story of a character.Â
3a. With my Au Ra, I'm debating on just having a basic framework and never having a personal storyline or on-going plot for her like I have in the past. Not shockingly, I've never completed those plots or stories for other MMO characters. Mostly I don't want to be what I perceive to be a me-monster, and get too hung up about my personal RP and story, or have any expectation that anyone has any reason to care or become personally invested.Â
I have done all three things in my RP history. I've tried to DM an on-going plot or plots where it was entirely centric to my character. It was hard to both play my character, and manage the 40+ people I invited. The plot eventually got whittled down to about 10 people, tops. I also got kind of annoyed with the player deviation because how dare anyone deviate from my carefully plotted ...plot. I like to think I've grown up a little, and learned a lot from my mistakes.Â
So, I'm not really sure plotting, or not plotting is the way to go anymore. I guess ultimately it depends on what folks want to do. And wow is that a really non-answer from me. XD
I used to really like plot-based RP. I felt it gave me more reason to be involved in something. I have done a lot of I guess, what I call tavern RP, which is just daily life, run-of-the-mill kinda RP. But, I find most tavern and random RP to be un-engaging because I struggle to find a reason to get involved all too often in the conversations going on around me. I don't like butting in, mostly. But, that's all on me. I'm not criticizing the type of RP or the player that loves it. I'm noting my own limitations and my own hang ups in getting involved or not involved.Â
The reason I don't know what I even prefer, or enjoy, anymore is because I find it harder and harder to get into plot RP. I don't really want to have more than a cameo, and I don't want to take up too much time of my GM/DMs, and I want to give other people more an opportunity to shine, despite what I think I would have my character do in any given situation. I see an awful lot of posturing and chest-beating, too. While that's entirely plausible for a character, I just wish folks would get on with it sometimes! A lot of people get involved, and something is gonna give. Someone is not going to get the time they deserve. I'd rather just bow out, and let someone far more invested get the time because they clearly want it.Â
So, some observations. Please keep in mind this is only what I have seen (and done, and learned from) in my experience across several MMOs, and it may definitely will differ from anyone else's experience. Â
1. I don't see too many folks treating plotline RP, or heavily managed RP, as one might treat a tabletop, pen and paper game. GMs can reasonably handle five to six players and give each of those individuals the attention they deserve due to the small scale of it in a PnP game. Few of these tabletop games are about any one player character. What I mostly see in MMOs (again, my observations) is trying to stuff as many characters or players as possible into a story that I don't think can support it. Especially not without a lot of help. I know that no one wants to be left out, and no one wants to leave anyone out, but I don't know of a better solution than to split things up into multiple parts with multiple GM/DMs doing different aspects at different times. Or just asking a friend to wait patiently.Â
2. Trying too hard to manage everything, or control every detail. Some behavior is predictable, but some isn't. Players always find a way to deviate from a path, and surprise GM/DMs.Â
3. I find a lot of plot RP to be character-centric. It revolves around either a single player character, or a few closely related characters. Often, my character is only marginally aware in the on-goings of the other characters' lives, and I have little reason to participate. My solution to this is to create a story to doesn't involve furthering a personal or private plotline or story of a character.Â
3a. With my Au Ra, I'm debating on just having a basic framework and never having a personal storyline or on-going plot for her like I have in the past. Not shockingly, I've never completed those plots or stories for other MMO characters. Mostly I don't want to be what I perceive to be a me-monster, and get too hung up about my personal RP and story, or have any expectation that anyone has any reason to care or become personally invested.Â
I have done all three things in my RP history. I've tried to DM an on-going plot or plots where it was entirely centric to my character. It was hard to both play my character, and manage the 40+ people I invited. The plot eventually got whittled down to about 10 people, tops. I also got kind of annoyed with the player deviation because how dare anyone deviate from my carefully plotted ...plot. I like to think I've grown up a little, and learned a lot from my mistakes.Â
So, I'm not really sure plotting, or not plotting is the way to go anymore. I guess ultimately it depends on what folks want to do. And wow is that a really non-answer from me. XD
