Wordweavers Inc. (Inactive)

[sanguineFenrir]

After mulling over an idea for some time that may prove to be controversial, I've decided to make a post here, as this project has too much information for a separate "gauging interest" post, and I like the format of Hall entries.

 

This is less of an LS or roleplayers' group and more of a project that needs volunteers and like-minded people. The rules and such are guidelines and are not absolute.

 

This LS aims to explore creative, collaborative "RP" from the writer's point of view.

 

Although I like "regular" spontaneous RP and enjoy my FC very much, I have my background in a more strict brand of collaborative writing that is less spontaneous. This is where the controversy stems from, as much of the ideas and philosophies inherent to this LS run contrary to the typical roleplayers' expectations. I want to see if there's anyone here who feels the same way, as unlikely as it is.

 

Coming from a literary background, I'm used to a product that looks less like roleplaying and more like a novel that was written by two or more people. The individual posts are often very long and heavily resemble prose--with detailed descriptions and figurative language to match. We would often spend great deals of time discussing and deconstructing character concepts, throwing them together, and then commenting over whatever crazy ideas we came up with as they unfolded. Our scenes will have a heavily pre-scripted feel (although this doesn't mean new ideas and twists won't happen.)

 

The other thing that most roleplayers will probably disagree with is that the group will be cloistered by nature. I'd love for this to have as many new members as there is interest, and I won't turn people away as long as they're committed to the philosophy of the linkshell. But, due to its nature, it is closed off to "random RP" from passersby. Most of our writing is going to happen in private channels like /p or /t, so to the average player, we're going to look like we're just standing there.

 

More detail regarding the inner workings of this LS is available in the other tabs, but, in general, this LS is aimed at people who:

 

--Want to prioritize literary skill in their writing/RP and enjoy making detailed posts

--Are creative, but do not necessarily identify with the roleplayer label

--Are writers who are a bit rusty, or who want to improve and apply their new skills to regular RP

--Want character-focused RP in small groups without a predefined theme that they plan out before and while starting--you and your partners are front and center for what you write

 

 

--Would like a sandbox/serious environment in which to develop character concepts that do not fit current FCs or LSes on Balmung, or which may not fit standard RP

 

--Want to be part of a close-knit community where OOC communication and brainstorming happens in equal parts with writing.

 

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How This Works:

 

For the first few days, we're probably going to be hunting for members and getting to know people. We'll be tossing ideas around before any writing actually starts.

 

When everyone's comfortable and we have a few members and arcs (i.e., long-running scene/story) we'd like to start, we'll probably break off into groups of two or three (or one group if there's only three of us,) and start. Discussion of plots is encouraged, and this isn't really going to be an LS for people who enjoy sitting by the sidelines--expect to be doing quite a bit of writing to the best of your ability.

 

There isn't much to say after that--whatever happens in an arc will be the sole domain of the people that are involved in it. Players are welcome to recruit more or ask others to join in/observe, which leads to more discussion in the LS channel (although, ideally, these groups should tay small so people aren't "waiting for an opening" to write in.

 

To keep people from getting bored and keeping to themselves, people will probably have multiple arcs at any one time (in case of boredom or members of one group not being online.) As most of this will happen in /p, communication is important if you want to get involved in an arc.

 

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Rules & Expectations:

While in terms of style and permitted characters, this group is relatively lenient, I do have a set of OOC rules that I would like members to attempt to abide by in the interest of providing a high-quality environment for everyone ICly and OOCly:

 

1. Respect your fellow members. This is a writers' guild, and writers can have wildly different opinions on what makes a good character or story. We all have different methods. If you have genuine criticism for something someone's discussing in the LS, offer it politely. If someone's discussing an arc you disagree with and you're not a part of the group running it--let it be. We're going to have some fragmentation here and that's the advantage of keeping everything in private channels, which leads to....

 

2. Try to involve other people in what you're doing if they want to be involved. If someone wants to join your arc--even if it's midway through--discuss it with them. Fill them in or point them to the relevant recap. Letting other writers join in, even if it's just to play an NPC, can be fun--and you might learn something from each other. The purpose of this LS is to facilitate writerly discussion, and that's a good way to do it.

 

3. If someone from the larger community asks if you're roleplaying, be as truthful and polite as possible. We're a minority group, and yes, we cloister off for the greater good. Yes, we have no real way to plan for or involve completely random strangers. I expect this to be a major topic of discussion in the LS, but for now, let them down gently, and leave the door open--good publicity is good.

 

3. Make sure your entire group agrees on major decisions for your arc. Every character in a group is important, and so is consent. You all bear the burden of managing the story together. If combat breaks out, or someone's majorly injured, get consent of everyone involved. Get consent for systems such as rolling. This is why we prefer to keep groups small--they're easier to manage. If things do come to a head OOCly, ask me or someone who isn't involved to mediate your discussion before you dissolve the whole plot and storm off, which leads to....

 

4. Godmoding, consent, and metagaming rules still apply as they do for regular RP. A writer may discuss their character in great detail--but this information is for discussion and potential hooks that everyone agrees on, as above. Even if your character is powerful, and you're best friends with someone in another group, avoid putting words in their mouth. Get consent before allowing your character to know something they'd ordinarily have no knowledge of--all our discussion might be considered metagaming by some, but don't overuse the knowledge it gives you. Metagaming as most RPers see it is fine, AS LONG AS ALL PARTIES AGREE ON IT.

 

5. Plan ahead before killing off a character or doing something that may alter or suspend an arc. As this is an LS, I am fine with inviting alts and new characters if someone's character dies, and we're bound to get tired of playing the same ones after a while--but have a plan. Retcon if you must, or continue the arc, but don't leave it hanging.

 

6. For the sake of the rest of Balmung, keep it private--especially if the arc is "out there." Don't use /em for emotes--write them out proper. If your arc is relatively ordinary, as I suspect some will be, there's no harm is doing some of it in /s--but mind chat scroll. For the rest, it's wise to get in the habit of keeping things in /p or /t and invite observers that way.

 

THE MOST IMPORTANT CHAT RULE

 

1. Stay serious. Stay on topic. The LS chat is for finding arcs, planning, and discussing writing and characters. Asking brief questions about gameplay or greeting your fellow members is fine, but please don't have long strings of memes and "witty OOC banter". Getting to know people is fine, but if the above sort of pointless back-and-forth becomes most of the chat, take it to tells. Same rule applies for debates that are getting lengthy or heated. Some people like "entertaining chat" but I can't stand it, and if this policy is too serious the LS is not for you.

 

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FAQ:

 

((FAQ to be expanded))

 

1. How do I join?

 

Reply to this thread indicating your general interest in this, and send sanguineFenrir a forum PM with more detail on your ideas if you desire. Alternatively, you may contact me directly in game (which is faster) for an "interview".

 

2. Why are you doing this? Do you hate RP?

 

No, I love my FC. However, sometimes I feel pressured into shortening my /s posts in normal RP to get them out faster, so I've let my writing skills fall by the wayside. I wanted to create a space in which people can put writing first while still collaborating on the game. Many of us probably have FCs and people outside the LS that we're very active with. This LS is as much about writing as an activity as it is the actual plots we make--so there will be plenty of discussion of the technical aspects too.

 

3. This seems like it would be better served on a forum. Why don't you do that?

 

I wanted to allow people to still play the game while doing this. I've managed a forum before and didn't much care for it, and I doubt I could find a sizable user base as easily as if I just kept things here. For the most part, we're still in the game world--and it doesn't make sense to let this beautiful resource go to waste.

 

4. Is your LS going to be full of Mary Sues and things that don't belong in Eorzea (demons, sons of NPC here, characters from X other game?)

 

As a rule, no. Mary Sues in particular make for bad writing, and will probably get shot down extremely fast for derailing an arc before said arc can even start. "Outlandish" things (other Miqote tribes, perhaps different races, other city-states that we can't go to yet, Garleans, class hybrids) will be allowed as long as the writer in question WRITES THEM WELL and has a plausible explanation for doing so. Alluding to your own work is allowed--but something like Halo probably won't go far here. Other people should try to respect these ideas, even if they do take advantage of loopholes--being open-minded is pretty much a requirement for joining this LS.

 

One of this LSes' reasons for existing is to give writers a space to play with ideas that the stricter among us might not like. Primal slayer? OK. Voidsent meddler? OK. Do you want to play with power? By all means, do--just make sure you find another person or two that agrees, and you put care into your ideas. Because of the community factor, we recommend you play with an alt, or at least try to segregate the continuity you have with us so as not to offend other people.

 

5. Are you going to make some attempt to open yourself up to the community at some point?

 

I want this LS to be seen as a positive force without detracting from what other people want to do. If there's enough demand and enough users, we may host weekly workshops and readings that anyone will be welcome to attend. I'm also open to having people from the Balmung mainland "guest star" or observe arcs like theatre participants, as long as they understand what we're out to do.

 

6. Are you going to make a forum or website where people can post the results of their stories and other things?

 

If there's demand yes--as I'm aware that long-running arcs can quickly become complicated for newcomers.

 

7. Can I be involved in multiple groups?

 

YES. A person might do one thing with two other people, and have another story simultaneously running with two others, although not at the exact same time. To keep things fresh, this is going to be a web of arcs with much less strict continuity rules if the writers so choose--like a What If box.

[sanguineFenrir]

The LS is now official and has the newly revised name of "Wordweavers Inc." at this time--because "Eorzean Writers' Guild" did not fit.

 

Please send a tell to Kevaraan Annorek or PM user sanguineFenrir if you would like to discuss or volunteer with the project.