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Plotting scenes in advance...?


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I apologize if there's already a thread that addresses this. If there is, feel free to point me to it and I'd be happy to delete this redundant post!

 

Having lurked on these forums for a bit, I see many interesting characters floating around that I think would be interesting to meet. But, with the way things are, it seems that unless we both happen to be at the Quicksand at the same time, we would never cross paths. Something that I miss from my forum RPing is the idea of plotting a scene or scenario in advance. That's not to say I like sketching out every last detail of a scene, but I do enjoy bringing characters together under a circumstance other than "we're at a bar and...!"

 

I've seen some scattered "hit me up for RP" posts from seemingly like-minded people on various welcome/introductory threads, but no real comprehensive list of people who wish to plot with others in this way. 

 

For my part, I currently have a couple of characters who could really be found anywhere - I'd just perhaps like to switch things up by meeting people in a location other than the Quicksand, in a situation other than "Hi! I am randomly introducing myself to you out of sheer social will and boredom!" 

 

I know that events might be a good alternate venue, but I also just enjoy plotting with people. It's easy enough to do with my FC, but much more difficult to reach out to the Balmung or Gilgamesh society at large. 

 

If you happen to be like "Oh, hey, me too on the plotting whatnots!" feel free to look me up on Skype under raatata. TTFN!

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When the game was still "new" I was running with a FC that let players do their own planned plots and scenes, just letting the colorful characters clash against a imposed adversity that one member would brought up in a planned series, similar to how a tabletop game would run.

 

I'm with you there, I don't particular like or enjoy tavern rp as much as I did back when I first started with MMOs because without a "glue", a "set piece" an "objective", all there is left are the colorful characters. Don't get me wrong, you can go far with just two, but said adversity is what makes their dynamic evolve and become something really interesting.

 

Now if there is any advice I can give to you is: Try to set up events with the larger Balmung/Gilgaesh societies. It might not be a full blow plot but maybe you can turn into one? Just having a "goal" a "reason for these characters to talk" makes things better in my humble opinion.

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I GM - with a few other players - for my FC and our allied FC so I'm always planning. I don't really mind doing it for everyone since I'm so used to GMing in the first place.

 

I like Tavern RP - but like everything if its the only thing I ever do I get really bored really quickly. I have to have plot and bad guys and people trying to kill other people and things blowing up and romance and intrigue and deep character development - all of which requires some kind of planning.

 

I also don't mind people planning meetings with my characters instead of meeting organically. Some people have already done it to me and it worked out really great :)

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Yea, I'm the same way too. I 'm always planning and working with folks. I can do Tavern stuff only in small doses, mostly to the abuse of it in my earlier RP years, when that's the only rp going on. I do alot of Dming in a free-formish style plots. I'm typically pretty welcoming, and always trying to work ideas out or into things. Even chance meetings.

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Ah, I suppose an important caveat to mention is that I've already hosted several events and instances for USH. I'm currently coordinating a Chocobo Race for the lovely denizens of the RPC/Balmung as well. Our FC has 2-3 group RP events per week, so there's no dearth of potential general RP.

 

And I'm certainly not adverse to group plots. I've run everything from Microaetherics classes to masquerades to dragon attacks. I'm drawn to dynamic themes across a large spectrum of emotions (sadness, comedy, action, etc.)

 

I probably didn't express things properly in my original post since I wrote it during my lunch break at work, but I'm really speaking more along the lines of characters meeting under a specific context. Like, for example, let's pretend that I think it would be interesting for Haii (my paladin lalafell) to meet Bob. Sure, I could hang around the Quicksand and hope that we cross paths organically... or I could talk with Bob's player briefly and work out a meeting that involved Bob being cornered by some raptors in the Shroud, with Haii running in to save him (or vice versa, to be fair.) Stuff like that?

 

I have a pretty great access to a variety of RP types: tavern RP, metaplots, large-scale events and small-scale events. The only thing I find myself lacking is the nuanced character plotting that I've experienced with my forum RP peeps, is all~!

 

Aaaand hoping I didn't make things more confusing just now! *Katamari rolls away*

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I probably didn't express things properly in my original post since I wrote it during my lunch break at work, but I'm really speaking more along the lines of characters meeting under a specific context. Like, for example, let's pretend that I think it would be interesting for Haii (my paladin lalafell) to meet Bob. Sure, I could hang around the Quicksand and hope that we cross paths organically... or I could talk with Bob's player briefly and work out a meeting that involved Bob being cornered by some raptors in the Shroud, with Haii running in to save him (or vice versa, to be fair.) Stuff like that?

 

I think most players are pretty amenable to that. If you see a character that you think would be interesting to set up a scene with, you can always drop them a PM or tell and work something out. I know I've done this quite a bit in the context of IC dungeons, which provide a convenient reason for 4 people to meet up somewhere ("The Maelstrom asks you all independently to investigate this ancient ruin, and...").

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I probably didn't express things properly in my original post since I wrote it during my lunch break at work, but I'm really speaking more along the lines of characters meeting under a specific context. Like, for example, let's pretend that I think it would be interesting for Haii (my paladin lalafell) to meet Bob. Sure, I could hang around the Quicksand and hope that we cross paths organically... or I could talk with Bob's player briefly and work out a meeting that involved Bob being cornered by some raptors in the Shroud, with Haii running in to save him (or vice versa, to be fair.) Stuff like that?

 

I think most players are pretty amenable to that. If you see a character that you think would be interesting to set up a scene with, you can always drop them a PM or tell and work something out. I know I've done this quite a bit in the context of IC dungeons, which provide a convenient reason for 4 people to meet up somewhere ("The Maelstrom asks you all independently to investigate this ancient ruin, and...").

 

This! If you have a character who you think would be interesting for yours to meet, you can message the person and almost everyone will agree to set up some way for your characters to "bump" into each other, be it something as simple as happening to be at the Quicksand at the same time, or something more elaborate.

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RP is as sandbox as you can get in an MMO. I see absolutely no reason to leave 100% of your RP with someone up to chance. I've touched base with players countless times over many different games over the years to see if they wanted to do a scene. The advantage you have in doing that is that you both have at least an inkling of an idea as to what your RP will be moving toward. All in all, I agree with what the others before me have said. There's no harm in setting up RP with someone or with just letting things happen randomly.

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Hiiii Haii Hai... (gosh I miss saying that :P)

 

I do this all the time with people. The more OOC communication you utilize with someone, the more scheming and strategizing... the smoother and more dynamic a scene you can create! It DOES remove a bit of the 'unknown' that comes with random rp, but you're not scripting the scene, merely establishing guidelines all involved can agree to. 

 

Personally, I like giving our characters reasons to meet up. Throw them into an actual scene, rather than an impromptu meeting. That said, I'm all about random walkup rp too. Diversity is the spice of life and all that :0)

 

Seeking of spice... *Claire sends Haii a spiced rum cake.* Enjoyyy! :D

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