Round Robin or Co-Poster full threads?

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

I've always been curious as to what people prefer, so here's a question:

Do you prefer Round Robin type RPs, or ones where members co post outside the list and post the entire thing when it's done.

Personally, I think it's more fun to do round robin. But sometimes it's fun to post off list with a few people and post the result.

[prekharper]

I prefer full-post -- all of the clubs I've been in that have round robin would end up with hi-jacked threads.

[Greenrider Tresa]

I like doing round robin. Though there are times when I've done co-posts and found them enjoyable too. Usually, it's just when we don't think anyone would want to read the whole thread, or when one of us is stuck. Also for shorter threads, when each post would only be three lines anyway. I'm never happy with less than 8 lines for Round Robin. ;)






Tresa

[Greenrider Tresa]

I prefer full-post -- all of the clubs I've been in that have round robin would end up with hi-jacked threads.


Sure, hijacking does happen sometimes, but not always in the clubs I'm in. Sometimes it can be interesting to see what happens, other times I just let the thread branch out while still trying to keep my personae doing what I'd originally intended. Spontaneity can add to the fun!



Tresa

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

I like doing round robin. Though there are times when I've done co-posts and found them enjoyable too. Usually, it's just when we don't think anyone would want to read the whole thread, or when one of us is stuck. Also for shorter threads, when each post would only be three lines anyway. I'm never happy with less than 8 lines for Round Robin. ;)


I agree. Less than eight sentences is a waste of email. And a waste of time, really. I mean, what can you honestly reply to a 2 or 3 line email?

That is, unless it's a loaded question or something... but 8 times out of 10 it isn't- it's just something generic.

[prekharper]

My favorite coposters and I often reply with much less than 8 sentences, especially when we're Rping conversation. It allows for a more natural flow.


Of course, that only works when the replies are frequent and consistent. When coposters disappear for any length of time, the continuity suffers.

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

My favorite coposters and I often reply with much less than 8 sentences, especially when we're Rping conversation. It allows for a more natural flow.


Of course, that only works when the replies are frequent and consistent. When coposters disappear for any length of time, the continuity suffers.

Exactly. There is that exception, of course. If the replies are frequent enough, like you said, they're fine.

But when they're far and few between... it doesn't go so well.

[Greenrider Tresa]

I like descriptions. Conversation alone gives a talking head effect. What are they doing while they talk? What are their thoughts? What do they look like? Stuff like that...unless you just stand frozen to the spot whie you talk and never change expression or laugh or eat or react to a nearby sound....<G>

I think High Reaches Weyr 12, my first, got me into the habit of longer posts. Good practice for zine Weyrs too, where you have to write stories.
I rarely ever get down to conversation only, though I can do description only, and manage several paragraphs worth while I'm at it. And if I do conversation alone in one post, I'm looking for a way to put more action in the next one. :)




Tresa

[Greenrider Tresa]

I agree. Less than eight sentences is a waste of email. And a waste of time, really. I mean, what can you honestly reply to a 2 or 3 line email?

That is, unless it's a loaded question or something... but 8 times out of 10 it isn't- it's just something generic.


Exactly. It's hard to keep things going when you don't have anything to work with.

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

I like descriptions. Conversation alone gives a talking head effect. What are they doing while they talk? What are their thoughts? What do they look like? Stuff like that...unless you just stand frozen to the spot whie you talk and never change expression or laugh or eat or react to a nearby sound....<G>

I think High Reaches Weyr 12, my first, got me into the habit of longer posts. Good practice for zine Weyrs too, where you have to write stories.
I rarely ever get down to conversation only, though I can do description only, and manage several paragraphs worth while I'm at it. And if I do conversation alone in one post, I'm looking for a way to put more action in the next one. :)




Tresa

I agree with that, too! It's sort of a rule at my Weyr that you have to give some sort of description, even if it's as simple as something like this:

-The greenrider laughed, swinging a half hearted punch aimed at her friend's shoulder. "I can't believe you told them that! I'm gonna... well..." she sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'll get you for that one!"-

Simple, not quite 8 lines, but it gives a person something to reply to. That's so much better than this:

-"I can't believe you told them that! I'm gonna... well... I'll get you for that one!"-

See?

[Greenrider Tresa]

I agree with that, too! It's sort of a rule at my Weyr that you have to give some sort of description, even if it's as simple as something like this:

-The greenrider laughed, swinging a half hearted punch aimed at her friend's shoulder. "I can't believe you told them that! I'm gonna... well..." she sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'll get you for that one!"-

Simple, not quite 8 lines, but it gives a person something to reply to. That's so much better than this:

-"I can't believe you told them that! I'm gonna... well... I'll get you for that one!"-

See?


That's what I meant exactly. And the first way reminds you who's speaking, too. If it's just dialogue, there's loss of intent, are they serious or half-hearted or what? <G> And what if something's going on without a lot of dialogue, like a fight or someone walking around to get from one place to another?

Coompare: "The bluerider walked from the lake to the dining hall. "Hello."

To: Done washing his dragon, the bluerider walked from the lake to the dining hall, hoping there were some hot bubblies. Spotting one of his friends, he said, "Hello."

Now we know that wasn't a shot in the dark hoping someone would answer post! It was meant for someone specific. :)



Tresa

[Tabra]

I prefer round robin, because it's easier to plot. I've been in full-posts and am in one zine Weyr and I've been in situations where my characters would have responded to something in a story, but weren't given the chance. Obviously that's a laspe in ettiqutte by the writers of the story, but it's easier to address in RR.
Plus, it's just easier to find people to write with. I get tired of chasing people up to beg to write with me.

[Greenrider Tresa]

I have been in a couple of full-post clubs, though none of them were Pern..found I couldn't get anything going with anyone so I ended up getting bored talking to myself and not having my character even know the other characters. Left after a few weeks.

I can manage in zine Weyrs though, long as I know someone else in the club. Oddly enough, I had the most fun in one club where I could make up all my own characters for my territory and have the plot go just the way I wanted. Still had to talk to someone when I got stuck though, so I was still collaborating. :) This was Last Pass Pern, which no longer exists.




Tresa

[Mayhem]

I am a member of two weyrs and both are forum RP'd I'm not too keen on the email style ones. I'm assuming forum weyrs are round robin?

[Brezo3]

I prefer full post. For me it's better because it's easier on the ol' memory. I can't keep track of all the plotlines on a RR format. It makes it more like a story in full.

:note: Heather

[Greenrider Tresa]

I am a member of two weyrs and both are forum RP'd I'm not too keen on the email style ones. I'm assuming forum weyrs are round robin?

I'd say so, if people are taking turns replying back and forth to advance the storyline.
Been in one that did a little forum RP, but I had to cut some of my clubs and that was one I decided to let go.


Tresa

[Tabra]

I was in a Wheel of Time forum rp. That didn't appeal to me, because even with fast internet, you have to wait for pages to load before you can read. That eats up into my limited net time to much.
Plus, people were permitted to play other people's personas, even to have them speak. Apparently most of them thought I was strange because I let no one play mine!

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

Well, I've done both types, and half of each for the same story line. I do prefer RR most of the time.

And at my Weyr, you're not allowed to play another person's character unless given permission by the owner of that character.

[Jesserli]

My basis was Full Post, and I only did Full Post for about 4 years because I found it really hard to jump into RR threads. Now, however, I'm in two RR clubs and I admit I'm beginning to like it more.

[Greenrider Tresa]

My weyrs don't allow you to play other people's personae either, at least not without permission. And even then, it's usually someone you're used to playing with, so they know what to have the persona say/do.




Tresa

[Maira]

I am a member of two weyrs and both are forum RP'd I'm not too keen on the email style ones. I'm assuming forum weyrs are round robin?

Here here PD22! I'm the same way, the email ones loose me completely! All three boards I play at are forum based and because of that i spose they are RR.

[palmedfire]

I envy people who can play by forum. It moves too fast for me. I don't have 100% guarentee of internet access evey day and with forums it's way too easy to fall behind.

[Shalyn]

I agree, PalmedFire. I barely have time for PBeM, let alone forum RP!

I prefer RoundRobin myself. I feel that if you don't want a thread to be hijacked, whether intentionally or innocently, then write a full post with the players you are writing with.

With RR, you have the element of surprise which I think is fun, plus if you have more than one person in on the RR, then if one drops out due to RL problems, the thread doesn't necessarily have to die a horrible death. Instead, an IC excuse can be made for the person who dropped out.

Plus, I find I have more time to read little excerpts from RR posts than to read a fully done post. Sometimes those are so long that I just don't have the time to read them.

And then there are those who get extremely wordy in their RR posts....

[Kalli]

I prefere Round Robin in my clubs with the occasionaly co-post. Full posts are just too restrictive as it's hard to get more than one other person involved in your storyline.

Tabra, how can they ever be considered to be your characters if other people are allowed to play them whenevere they want!?

[Lady Cin]

Just for a bit of bkg info...i've been rp'ing for 25 years now...but only 2 years online.

I find PBeM too confusing...I've tried, but I always wind up lost or ignored by the other writers in RR...and found it extremely hard to find anyone to co-write with a newbie for FP.

On the other hand, I love forum RP. The new rules that allow us to RP in the C&RP forum made me extremely happy. I also write often on the KT Critters forum and some similar. My primary online RP is at the Wayfarer's Arena & Basement Hold Forum (http://ladyimmortal.net/forum/index.php).

Given the choice...I'll stick with forum RP. :D

[Lara_2113]

Really, now that archives are opened, how is forum RP any different from round-robin? Although forums would be a lot more organized and easier to access, practically speaking 'threads' are the same concept.

[Lady Cin]

Really, now that archives are opened, how is forum RP any different from round-robin? Although forums would be a lot more organized and easier to access, practically speaking 'threads' are the same concept.

You pretty much answered your own question...forums would be a lot more organized and easier to access

When trying to RP via email, things got so confusing, so quickly, that I got too frustrated to even try to keep up. X number of people get the post, X number answer the post, X number answer the answers but not all the answers are received in order...so you wind up with unordered posts and have to try and figure out who is answering whom.

With forum RP, things are much simpler. One post follows another in a specific order and most folk are courteous enough to use the 'quote' function to keep things neat. Also, forums have the additional benefit of 'unread posts'...'mark this read'...and most will show you which threads you have replyed to as well.

[sushikitten]

Tabra, I am concerned. You said in the zine club, which is Affray, you had characters that weren't given the chance to respond to a story. Would you mind PMing me, or emailing me on the group to discuss this? I don't understand the "lapse of etiquette" reference, and I'd like to.

I want you to be happy.

Diana Fay

[sushikitten]

I like both forms of RP, full-post (which in our club means submitting completed stories to the zine) and RR RP, which usually is Weyr-wide and is aimed at eventually creating a story out of the RP, which then gets posted to the zine. One of the reasons I like it is that then all the creative fun stuff in the RP doesn't get lost, and since we are all working towards a common goal, the narrative is so much less likely to get lost and the thread drop off.

That said, we've learned! One of the plots had no specific ending- and it died!

We're doing a fun one now, a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad Threadfall Day (all props here to Judith Viorst) in which anyone who wanted to could pick a category of injury for their character and dragon (from death to dislocations to bruising) and then be given a random draw of injury that will occur during Fall. (Or during that day.)

We're at 8 pages of consolidated story, and we haven't even gotten to the Fall yet, it's still 5:30 am and they are in a meeting! (I'm wondering if this thing will wind up a zine of its own.) I'm also wondering if we'll ever find a good title for it.

We don't really allow "power play" I think the term is, although some players who have been writing together for a long time do use each other's characters and then just get the other to approve what they have done before printing or posting it. It's in our rules that to use someone's character you have to get approval, although I have noticed that relaxing a little as we get more used to each other. Also the NPC's are starting to show a lot of quirks and fun stuff.

[Tabra]

Tabra, how can they ever be considered to be your characters if other people are allowed to play them whenevere they want!?

This, I do not know. The people in that group used to use it to make a story go in the direction they want and write long posts. It wasn't pretty, imho

[palmedfire]

You pretty much answered your own question...forums would be a lot more organized and easier to access

When trying to RP via email, things got so confusing, so quickly, that I got too frustrated to even try to keep up. X number of people get the post, X number answer the post, X number answer the answers but not all the answers are received in order...so you wind up with unordered posts and have to try and figure out who is answering whom.

With forum RP, things are much simpler. One post follows another in a specific order and most folk are courteous enough to use the 'quote' function to keep things neat. Also, forums have the additional benefit of 'unread posts'...'mark this read'...and most will show you which threads you have replyed to as well.


Which is all well and good extecpt for two problems I've always had with forum games: Time and access. I have very limited times I can get on the internet, so it's much easier for me to run my mail client, grab all my incomming mail, sign off and read and respond at my leasure. Also, even when I do have unlimited time on the 'net, forum games move faster than I'm comforatble with, because there are always some people who seem to just sit on the forum and respond immediatly to everything.

I have to admit, I'm also kinda biased, because for so long pern fandom forums weren't allowed, and I have too much respect for Ms. McCaffrey to violate her wishes in my playing of pern.

On a completely different note: On playing of other characters. In my pbem games, sure it's forbidden to play characters other than your own. However, I also play at Kadanzer, which is a 'zine weyr. To write almost _any_ story, you are going to have to use someone else's character for interations. Sure you can co-write, but it you only need the character to say a few lines, why bother? Policy is that before a story is submitted, you have to get approval from all the players of characters not your own that you used. Then you send it in for the official editting and approval. It works pretty well, IMHO. Almost everyone I've ever asked for approval has said something along the lines of "Sure you can use this, but my character wouldn't have said this, he would have said something more along the lines of <blah>" And then I change it to there wishes and everyone's happy.

[Lady Faizah]

Just popping through the forums, now that I've got a free moment... Came across this thread. :)

Everyone here seems to be either email or forum RPers. Where did all the M*ers go? (I was introduced to MUSH in late 2000, by someone on the KT) With M* games being the first I played on, I prefer the round-robin style.

I've tried email clubs, but it just got too confusing. The only forum RP I've done is here, in the Critter & RP forum on this board. I'm liking the pace of it so far, having time to think about my character's next actions, and so on.

I ... can't remember what my point was. :erm:

I like MUSH, which is more like round robin than full post, and I hope there's another M*er around to explain it. :erm:

[wolfeyedangel]

[QUOTE=Everyone here seems to be either email or forum RPers. Where did all the M*ers go? (I was introduced to MUSH in late 2000, by someone on the KT) With M* games being the first I played on, I prefer the round-robin style.
[/QUOTE]

I also got started on M* games. Specifically MOOs. I have played on MUSHes, MUXes, MUCKs (pretty much anything you can name). I've done PBE as round robin and as full story (we call them Joint Posts).

First: M*s are real time text based role-playing games. (There are exceptions, the 'average' MUD being one of them, but that is an entire discussion in and of itself.) The environment is coded in to several virtual objects that your character can access. It is rather like round robin posting though on a real-time scale.

If Round Robin is like campfire round robin story telling, then M*s are like improvisational theatre. My own tastes run to the real time; however, they all have their place. Round Robin on a forum or PBE gives more flexibility for a thread. There are fewer time constraints, and pace is less critical than when you are trying to do a scene in real time with someone else. Joint Posts are absolutely wonderful for a private scene between two characters, or something you really can't afford to loose control of, though this has not been a problem on 90% of the games I play on.

As for post length, in the Real time arena 4-5 lines is considered a good standard. There have been times I have pulled one-liners, but it is usually when the one line sums it up. One of my own pet peeves is people who bend over backward to put something /extra/ in just because they want a larger word count. I have seen posts and poses that took up several /pages/ and said exactly nothing useful. A pose can be wonderfully detailed with thoughts and description and setting, but if the only thing to really react to is ‘she flipped her hair over her shoulder’ it hinders more than it helps.

I am a believer in concise poses. Say exactly what needs to be said an no more. (And in the theme of following my own advice I will stop there.)

~Wolfeyedangel

[Ravien Coromana]

Me, I dont have a preference, as i just reply to the posts before with my creativity to make them longer.

[ChristineAdai]

I prefer Round Robin as it's easier to interact with other people. At least for me. Most of the places I've seen, if there's a problem, like with mutiple people answering the same post, most are willing to work around it and include everyone else in future posts.

Sarah

[Blue Moon]

I prefer full-post by far. I find round robin posts way too hard to follow (just by lurking- I've never liked them enough to fully join). It seems that you just get left out if you have to be away for a few days. The same with forums. At least with full-post the copost will be waiting for you when you finally regain internet access.

[Greenrider Tresa]

I prefer full-post by far. I find round robin posts way too hard to follow (just by lurking- I've never liked them enough to fully join). It seems that you just get left out if you have to be away for a few days. The same with forums. At least with full-post the copost will be waiting for you when you finally regain internet access.


But if you have a character who will be involved in a current or ongoing thread, you can ask that others wait for you. Has worked for me, and I've done it from both sides.
Though, I've never managed to lurk myself, either I want to get involved or I don't join at all becuase I lose interest or something.




Tresa