Topic: Roleplaying and the D2 community

[FPF-Wanderer]

I got to thinking the other night about RP and the role it has had (or hasn't had) in campaigns in the past.  This got me wondering; what role does/can RP play in our campaigns?

PART 1

In the past, RP has consisted of storylines that certain members of the community have written about a particular campaign.  Some were written by the admins themselves as background history for their campaign, others by players for their own amusement.  Many were written purely for fun, sort of a side-line to the campaign, with no real relevance to the campaign itself, other than for color (and boy have some been colorful, lol).

Whether relevant or not, I think most of our community would agree that all of the RP stories over the years have contributed greatly to our enjoyment of the game and the campaigns we have played.  Unfortunately, the amount of RP writing has waxed and waned as time has passed, and many campaigns never got the full RP treatment that they deserved, if any RP at all.

What can be done to add more RP stories to our campaigns?  Well, I'm glad you asked.  I would like to start an RP writing group for D2 campaigns.  Sort of like a group of movie or TV series writers (only better )  Admins, if they wish, can come to the group with the outline for their campaign, and we would write a full backstory for it, perhaps even in chapters to be posted as the campaign progresses, depending on the intricacy and direction of the campaign.  I already know a number of people who I want for this (and you know who you are, heheh).

So,

Who wants to see more RP in our campaigns?

Who wants to join the D2 RolePlay Writing Group?

PART 2

I'd like to see more direct player involvement when it comes to the RP background of a campaign.  What does this mean, exactly?  Well, imagine a campaign where players take on "roles", that is, they assume the identity of a pre-determined character that fits into the overall RP of the campaign.

For example, Hexx and I have been discussing using this idea for the Lyran Civil War.  For those of you who don't know a lot of SFB history, the Lyrans have various Dukes, Counts, etc, that make up the personages of the Lyran Empire.  For the duration of the campaign, players from the community would shed their normal personas and assume the roles of the various Lyran characters.

I think this could add a lot of fun and depth to a campaign (imagine, for example, having a contest on the side, where folks would try to keep their "real" identity a secret, and the other side tries to figure out who they really are).

What does the community think of this idea?

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

You know you don't have to ask me Wandy, I knew I was on your list.

On thing I might suggest in order to support great roleplay for a specif campaign is to have a planned break in the server.  Say keep it up a week, then down a week.  This would give alot of opportunity for roleplay as the server went on.

[Dizzy]

Nice post, Wanderer. I remember a lot of RP back from the good ole days... I miss that. Really added to the experience.

Hey! I found some D2 roelplay here: http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163360484.msg1122627331.html#msg1122627331

Edit: + Karma Wanderer. Nice to see some drive and enthusiasm on the home front in respects to this stuff.

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

Here is another idea perhaps Wandy.  Imagine a writers forum on SFC2.net with 2 subgroups in it.  One for each side in a campaign.  The overall group could work on most projects and the seperated groups could write the roleplay for any hidden VCs and such.  The admin would make the VCs and if he wanted to he would have the writer's group flesh them out for him based on the campaigns progress.

[Capt_Bearslayer_XC]

Hell, I just want to see the RP of the two races that seem to hate each other the worst being on the same side...

Pussy Galore!!! *snicker*

[Mutilator]

Yeah all the side stories from traditional enemy's teaming up.

We could follow the love stores after all the years of hatred you know these races would start crossing the gene pools...

DH and Jinn team up to attack the Romulans after a successful deep strike they find a distance planet to celebrate the mission



 or

Kroma's love child with the Kzinti, who's your Daddy?




TT and Duck winging together again, stories O'plenty from that tandem!



And Lyrans and Federation offspring oh the stories we would have



Count me in 

[Grim]

It has been fun in the past reading some of the RP stories associated with a campaign in order to get some background knowledge and set the overall scene of the campaign. I personally doubt i would be taking part as I don’t know if I will ever fly d2 again, but i may enjoy reading some of the stories and comments providing they have some RP in them. If there are people who are willing to do your ideas then it seems it could be a good idea.

I would like to stress that there is a difference between smack talk and arrogance than RP, as seen in supposed "Kill threads" which some people think are RP but are no more than arrogant, chest thumping rants.

[Hexx]

I actually enjoyed some of the old RP stories- but for a while (imo) they veered in the wrong direction.
The stories changed from being about a number of people (I mean-look at the cast lists of some of the old stories)
to centering around one person.
Stories went from being (again imho) funny and dealing with some of the oddities of the D2verse to dealing with stories
like J'inn hitting another asteroid, Kroma & the cabin boys, or (and yes, Ill use myself here) jokes about me being short

The first time you read about J'inn hitting an asteroid might be funny, by the time the 20th person has decided
"Hey I bet it would be funny if I said something about J'inn & an asteroid " it's not.
It's just someone else trying to write something else down. It's boring, and to be entirely honest I'd rather
have no roleplay to read than have another one where 10 people in a row seem to think that using the same joke every post
is actually humorous.

So essentially what I'm saying is- yeah let's do it-
but try and work on some new material.

[FPF-DieHard]

The short-jokes are still funny

[FPF-Wanderer]

100+ views, not many replies.  Comments, please, especially about Part 2.

[FPF-DieHard]

If I fly a lyran named "Chokula" can I be a count?

[Dizzy]

I'd like to see more direct player involvement when it comes to the RP background of a campaign.  What does this mean, exactly?  Well, imagine a campaign where players take on "roles", that is, they assume the identity of a pre-determined character that fits into the overall RP of the campaign.

Well, I think it's a great idea. I say Tracey G takes the role of Jadis, the girl in the pic on the left here. Then we can see how many human males she can seduce. Thank goodness I'm flying fed!

For example, Hexx and I have been discussing using this idea for the Lyran Civil War.  For those of you who don't know a lot of SFB history, the Lyrans have various Dukes, Counts, etc, that make up the personages of the Lyran Empire.  For the duration of the campaign, players from the community would shed their normal personas and assume the roles of the various Lyran characters.

I think this could add a lot of fun and depth to a campaign (imagine, for example, having a contest on the side, where folks would try to keep their "real" identity a secret, and the other side tries to figure out who they really are).

Well, you have a good idea, Wanderer. I tried to do that on SG4, but the community wasnt much into the whole contest fight at the end. The bounties, well, there wasnt much interest in that either. I think it's all up to the players and how involved they want to be. For an admin, all we can do is throw it out and hope they bite.

Speaking of bounties... gonna make another post.

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

If I fly a lyran named "Chokula" can I be a count?

I think you should fly using the initial "E", if you do I bet everyone could see you as a Duke 

[Lepton]

Never got into Role Playing.  Don't really get the idea of it.  I'm me.  Who else am I gonna be?  I refuse to buy an MMORPG as I see it as a cash cow for those companies.  All also refuse to wrok on my character for hours a day training skills and leveling, etc.  That is why I will be buying Star Wars BattleFront 2 and not Star Wars Galaxies.

My assumption is that most people's RPG desires are subsumed by other games they play and with the advent of Star Trek Online there will also be a Trek outlet there as well, for all your sweaty Orion fantasies.

Be that as it may, RPG away.  I hope people have fun with it.

Part II sounds great.  The more, the merrier.  Have at it.

[Lepton]

Come to think of it, this whole community is pretty much an RPG.  We all are playing roles here, larger than our normal selves I assume.  It might be nice to have some of the community tensions shoved into an RPG expression to take the edge off of things.

[Commander Maxillius]

I miss the old RP's of yore....  AOTK....  Socky's Adventures.....  I haven't seen any good ones in a couple years, except for Gooks's repost of Socky's Adventures.

I was hoping there would be more RP for AOTK2, but there wasn't.  Kinda dissappointed about it.

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

I miss the old RP's of yore....  AOTK....  Socky's Adventures.....  I haven't seen any good ones in a couple years, except for Gooks's repost of Socky's Adventures.

I was hoping there would be more RP for AOTK2, but there wasn't.  Kinda dissappointed about it.

With servers churned out shortly after announcements there is little time for roleplay as players scramble to get real life stuff taken care of before start.  Also some servers announced early have never happened despite roleplay threads having already begun.  The best roleplay thread I remember was for Klingon civil war,

http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163346379.0.html

but then that fell apart.   

[FPF-Wanderer]

<sigh>...200+ views, still not many comments from the community at large.  C'mon, folks, I really want some input, particularly on Part 2.  I don't want to do a bunch of work on a campaign and in the end have most peeps say, "naw, not really interested".  I'd rather get that now, if that is how it is.

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

I like #2 in general Wandy, but I think we need to make sure it doesn't become too restrictive.  Not everyone wants to play a Duke, Count, or Captain Kirk I think.  However, I think everyone could find a niche to fit in if the idea is slightly broadened.  Like roleplaying a junior captain under Count A's command, or A retired Starfleet officer drug back to the front in times of war, or say even a Gorn holy crusader out to enforce the gospel of the Defenders of the Egg. (I think this is what you origionally intended anyhow, but just didn't express clearly). 

Main thing would be to have a form of coordination so that the storylines would fit together (at least loosely).  A cast of characters such as the Lyran nobility would go a long way and provide ideas for some characters, while some would prefer to go with their own ideas.

[GDA-S'Cipio]

If a storyline thread gets started, I'm sure I'll jump in.

-S'Cipio

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

If a storyline thread gets started, I'm sure I'll jump in.

-S'Cipio

I'll make sure Wandy starts the story off in Kroma's bed then, so you have a nice place to "jump in"

<Snicker>

[FPF-Wanderer]

I like #2 in general Wandy, but I think we need to make sure it doesn't become too restrictive.  Not everyone wants to play a Duke, Count, or Captain Kirk I think.  However, I think everyone could find a niche to fit in if the idea is slightly broadened.  Like roleplaying a junior captain under Count A's command, or A retired Starfleet officer drug back to the front in times of war, or say even a Gorn holy crusader out to enforce the gospel of the Defenders of the Egg. (I think this is what you origionally intended anyhow, but just didn't express clearly). 

Main thing would be to have a form of coordination so that the storylines would fit together (at least loosely).  A cast of characters such as the Lyran nobility would go a long way and provide ideas for some characters, while some would prefer to go with their own ideas.

You're correct, Chuut, I should have been a bit more clear (that's what I get for posting at two in the morning, lol).  Not everyone is going to want to take one of the pre-determined roles.  This isn't a problem, as there wouldn't be enough of these roles for all of the players involved.  Those not taking one of the roles would come up with one of their own within the overall framework of the campaign (of course, anyone asking for advice/ideas in doing this would receive it).

[GDA-S'Cipio]

If a storyline thread gets started, I'm sure I'll jump in.

-S'Cipio

I'll make sure Wandy starts the story off in Kroma's bed then, so you have a nice place to "jump in"

<Snicker>

It had been a long day in the officer exchange program aboard Die Hard's ship.  S'Cipio stepped into the GDA berthing quarters, worn out after his infuriating watch.  He was certain Die Hard had been trying to provoke him.    "Sssay ssscan the gasss giant for life formsss again, captain," muttered S'Cipio as he fingered his phaser.  "Go on!  I dare you!  Sssay ssscan the gasss giant for life formsss again!"

He nearly coughed up his lunch when he saw Wanderer in Kroma's bed.

"It's not me!" cried Wanderer.

"I'm not on duty!" cried Kroma.

S'Cipio paused and drew his phaser.  "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you. "

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Naw, on second thought I don't like this story.  Why don't you start Wandy off on a nice beach, sipping a fru-fru drink with an umbrella in it?  In any of our stories the universe is headed right in to the crapper.   At least let him start nice.  Show Wandy some respect!

-S'Cipio

[FPF-Wanderer]

Hmmm...must be a "Mirror, Mirror" story...in this universe, Wandy doesn't swing the way of the tutu...not that there's anything wrong with it...

Btw, no fru-fru drinks for this Fed.  Knob Creek with a Guiness back, thank you.

[Riskyllama]

hmm...drinking hard drinks on a camping trip with an annoying vulcan and a loud mouthed ship's doctor...no wait...thats not right i've seen that one before

[GDA-S'Cipio]

Btw, no fru-fru drinks for this Fed.  Knob Creek with a Guiness back, thank you.

Wanderer, private dick,  stormed his way to his desk with his worn shoes leaving angry, wet marks in the carpet.   He tossed his soggy trenchcoat over his broken hat stand and wiped rain from his hair.  He was still sore over losing his fedora to Agave in their last poker game.   That turn of cards had stunk.  In fact, this whole city stank.

"A thousand cess pools in a thousand planets, and I had to wash up in this one!"  He growled.  Wanderer always growled these days.  Some said his temper came from being busted out of starfleet.  Others said a woman had broken his heart.  Wander just said his temper was none of their damn business.

He knew his day was going to get a lot more interesting when the leggy dame with a dress that had seen too much rain stepped into his office.  She latched his door as if she were afraid she were being followed.  Her ample bossom heaved as she fought to catch her breath.  "Help me!" she gasped.

Wanderer knew dames could kill you faster than bullets, so first he loosened the .45 in his belt.   But he also pulled the bottle of Knob Creek from his desk drawer.  "Well hello, Doll," he said neutrally as he poured two glasses.  "What can I do for you?"

"You've got to help me, Detective Wanderer" gasped the woman in a husky voice.  "My name is Tracey G.   That bastard Dizzy is making a server, and he's trying to make me do something impure with my missions."

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Yeah, that's more like it.  I can work with this.

-S'Cipio Spade

[Dizzy]

Tell us more!

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

Knob Creek with a Guiness back, thank you.

Good choices, but substitute a Maredsous 10 for the Guiness and you got a winner!

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

He nearly coughed up his lunch when he saw Wanderer in Kroma's bed.

Would have won that bet!  knew you would use that interpretation of my remark!   

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

Btw, no fru-fru drinks for this Fed.  Knob Creek with a Guiness back, thank you.

Wanderer, private dick,  stormed his way to his desk with his worn shoes leaving angry, wet marks in the carpet.   He tossed his soggy trenchcoat over his broken hat stand and wiped rain from his hair.  He was still sore over losing his fedora to Agave in their last poker game.   That turn of cards had stunk.  In fact, this whole city stank.

"A thousand cess pools in a thousand planets, and I had to wash up in this one!"  He growled.  Wanderer always growled these days.  Some said his temper came from being busted out of starfleet.  Others said a woman had broken his heart.  Wander just said his temper was none of their damn business.

He knew his day was going to get a lot more interesting when the leggy dame with a dress that had seen too much rain stepped into his office.  She latched his door as if she were afraid she were being followed.  Her ample bossom heaved as she fought to catch her breath.  "Help me!" she gasped.

Wanderer knew dames could kill you faster than bullets, so first he loosened the .45 in his belt.   But he also pulled the bottle of Knob Creek from his desk drawer.  "Well hello, Doll," he said neutrally as he poured two glasses.  "What can I do for you?"

"You've got to help me, Detective Wanderer" gasped the woman in a husky voice.  "My name is Tracey G.   That bastard Dizzy is making a server, and he's trying to make me do something impure with my missions."

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Yeah, that's more like it.  I can work with this.

-S'Cipio Spade

You been stealing Jean Luc Picard's holodeck programs Scippy?

[KBF-Kapact]

Here is another idea perhaps Wandy.  Imagine a writers forum on SFC2.net with 2 subgroups in it.  One for each side in a campaign.  The overall group could work on most projects and the seperated groups could write the roleplay for any hidden VCs and such.  The admin would make the VCs and if he wanted to he would have the writer's group flesh them out for him based on the campaigns progress.

I've been writing for twenty years, pretty heavy (that's why I'm usually broke  ). Ask LordKrueg. I'm pretty good...I'd be happy to lend a hand in that department..