Re: Shadows in the West Discussion Thread

[Pettytyrant101]

"Usually there'd be more structure in an RP thread, this feels sorta like a free RP, as in making up your own story within certain bounds."- Baingil

Thats pretty much what I am getting at. Roleplaying for me is a structured world with rules and NPC's and encounters controlled by the DM. With aims and plot developments and the like. Whereas this seems more like storytelling- which is fine but Iv'e got more than enough writing on the go to be committing to more. But a role playing game I would happily take part in- I am just not convinced yet this is one, as I am having a hard time recognising it from my own long experciences playing RPG's.

[Lorient Avandi]

Nah, I know better than to godmode other players. Only for the title, to make it fit with the backstory.

Usually there'd be more structure in an RP thread, this feels sorta like a free RP, as in making up your own story within certain bounds.

This is my first time directing one. I just went with it when everyone started to act like i was going to. When i first made the question, i wasnt expecting to be the one in charrge of it all.

[Lorient Avandi]

Nah, I know better than to godmode other players. Only for the title, to make it fit with the backstory.

Usually there'd be more structure in an RP thread, this feels sorta like a free RP, as in making up your own story within certain bounds.

This is my first time directing one. I just went with it when everyone started to act like i was going to. When i first made the question, i wasnt expecting to be the one in charrge of it all.

how would you direct it Baingil?

[Orwell]

Also, Orwell does a good job RPing orcs. Maybe too good a job.

Hey! What are you getting at, wench?

[Orwell]

Forgive me Lorient if I am being paticularly dense, but I am struggling to see the difference between what you propose as role playing and just writing a short story set in ME and presenting it by way of small chunks.

I suggest you just go with the flow. That's what I plan to do.

[Pettytyrant101]

"I just went with it when everyone started to act like i was going to. When i first made the question, i wasnt expecting to be the one in charrge of it all."- Lorient

Welcome to Forumshire! Now get on with it (only joking of course- perhaps before we get to far into things we should sort out the rules and the premise. I've DM'd loads in the traditional style and am -as Odo says- here to help, if you need it on that front doing encounters or NPC's.) Oh it might also be useful to make a new user- DM or GM for posting all DM related stuff. It can be like the OLd Forum user in that it can be shared round, whoever is current DM uses it to post all reactions, NPc's stuff etc. Would make it nice an dclear when its the DM saying something and not the posters usual ID.

[Baingil]

how would you direct it Baingil?

I'd direct it on a smaller scale - have everyone agree on what location in Middle Earth you'd want - say, Helm's Deep - what event you want - say, a battle - and then have the RPing go from there, giving certain tasks for members to complete throughout. It could be varied, even turned into a game.

[Lorient Avandi]

So if i make the account will i just DM for a while, then choose someone else to take over, then they do the same thing, etc.?

[Pettytyrant101]

Baingil that sounds more recognizable to me as an RPG.

Lorient- yeah just make a new account for it and whenever its someone elses turn or you just want to pass the job on to someone else just pm the new person the log in details and they can take over.

[Orwell]

how would you direct it Baingil?

I'd direct it on a smaller scale - have everyone agree on what location in Middle Earth you'd want - say, Helm's Deep - what event you want - say, a battle - and then have the RPing go from there, giving certain tasks for members to complete throughout. It could be varied, even turned into a game.

That doesn't sound as much fun as what I'm planning... but I could do both. I'm quite flexible, and not just "pompous" - not that that is a sore point anymore, Eldo (much )

[Lorient Avandi]

how would you direct it Baingil?

I'd direct it on a smaller scale - have everyone agree on what location in Middle Earth you'd want - say, Helm's Deep - what event you want - say, a battle - and then have the RPing go from there, giving certain tasks for members to complete throughout. It could be varied, even turned into a game.

How does everyone feel about that?

[Orwell]

how would you direct it Baingil?

I'd direct it on a smaller scale - have everyone agree on what location in Middle Earth you'd want - say, Helm's Deep - what event you want - say, a battle - and then have the RPing go from there, giving certain tasks for members to complete throughout. It could be varied, even turned into a game.

How does everyone feel about that?

Maybe... I'd have to sit back and just watch for awhile, so as to get it, if you know what I mean.

[Pettytyrant101]

From a DM point of view what Baingil proposes is managable. It will be very complicated, not to mention time consuming to DM a game in which all the characetrs are in different locations engaged in different stories with different NPC's- remember the poor DM has to provide the framework for all these stories and every nonplayer character the players meet.

[Orwell]

From a DM point of view what Baingil proposes is managable. It will be very complicated, not to mention time consuming to DM a game in which all the characetrs are in different locations engaged in different stories with different NPC's- remember the poor DM has to provide the framework for all these stories and every nonplayer character the players meet.

Can't we just mind our own business until characters meet?

[Lorient Avandi]

From a DM point of view what Baingil proposes is managable. It will be very complicated, not to mention time consuming to DM a game in which all the characetrs are in different locations engaged in different stories with different NPC's- remember the poor DM has to provide the framework for all these stories and every nonplayer character the players meet.

Ok, then should we do it?

[Pettytyrant101]

If they meet Orwell.
And someone has to decdie and work out the consequnces in the RP world of the actions of players- it can all get very complicated and time consuming very quickly without careful planning on the DM's part (at least thats true in traditional RPGing)

[Lorient Avandi]

If they meet Orwell.
And someone has to decdie and work out the consequnces in the RP world of the actions of players- it can all get very complicated and time consuming very quickly without careful planning on the DM's part (at least thats true in traditional RPGing)

so then what should we do?

[Orwell]

Can't we just mind our own business until characters meet?

Good thinking, even if I have to quote myself to prove a point!

[Pettytyrant101]

Well if this were traditional D&D and i was DM I would plan a lot first. I would have maps of the area the game take splace in, lists of the npc inthe area and relevant background info on them and a basic one or two word hint of their demenour ie friendly/hostile/neutral. (Usually to save time with NPC I only flesh the personality out for them once a player actually encounters them). Then I would devise the genral outlineo fth eplot - no pint having a plot with begining, middle. end thats cheap DMing as you have to alow the players to create the plot without the setting, but a starting point is alwyas good- sending th eplayers off on a quest or some such, having an aim for them to achieve- like defend Helms Deep as long as you can. And work out samller sub quests which might arise out of this.
How you do this I am not so sure however!

[Orwell]

Well if this were traditional D&D and i was DM I would plan a lot first. I would have maps of the area the game take splace in, lists of the npc inthe area and relevant background info on them and a basic one or two word hint of their demenour ie friendly/hostile/neutral. (Usually to save time with NPC I only flesh the personality out for them once a player actually encounters them). Then I would devise the genral outlineo fth eplot - no pint having a plot with begining, middle. end thats cheap DMing as you have to alow the players to create the plot without the setting, but a starting point is alwyas good- sending th eplayers off on a quest or some such, having an aim for them to achieve- like defend Helms Deep as long as you can. And work out samller sub quests which might arise out of this.
How you do this I am not so sure however!

We could, also, keep it simple. Have you read Lorient's and mine starting "bits", Petty? Try that. We can do all this quibbling later, can't we?

[Pettytyrant101]

Yes I read them- and with my DM's hat on I can see all sorts of complications arising just from those in terms of long term DMing the stories. Nevermind once everyone who wants to play has got theirs too.
When it becomes hideously complicated and time consuming and nigh on impossible to DM or organise dont come runnning to me!

[Lorient Avandi]

Well if this were traditional D&D and i was DM I would plan a lot first. I would have maps of the area the game take splace in, lists of the npc inthe area and relevant background info on them and a basic one or two word hint of their demenour ie friendly/hostile/neutral. (Usually to save time with NPC I only flesh the personality out for them once a player actually encounters them). Then I would devise the genral outlineo fth eplot - no pint having a plot with begining, middle. end thats cheap DMing as you have to alow the players to create the plot without the setting, but a starting point is alwyas good- sending th eplayers off on a quest or some such, having an aim for them to achieve- like defend Helms Deep as long as you can. And work out samller sub quests which might arise out of this.
How you do this I am not so sure however!

I think we should just stick to what we are doing for now. we cant meet in person tto do it d&d style and none of us can figure out the best way to do it in a thread, so why dont we just stick to what weve been doing.

[Lorient Avandi]

maybe create a more serious one later

[Tinuviel]

ummm, can I be a ghost of myself that's attached to a living being???? Ooooo! That wouuld be really cool! And I'm completely new to all this, so give me some slack

[Pettytyrant101]

No objections from me- but it does put me back to not seeing how it otherwise can work without structure. So I shall step back and merely observe for now till I see if a structure emerges in the playing.