Roleplay Online with RolePlayGateway

[Angel_Melfina]

Thanks to a post Remaeus made in another thread, I have been inspired to finally voice my opinion about one on one roleplays on a forum.

I do not think they belong on a forum. If you only want to RP with one other person, the best place to do it is over PM, chat, or IM. People aren't likely to read a thread with only two people involved, and from what I see around here, the y are usually just one liners or very short posts because people wait and post back and forth constantly.

What do you guys think about them?

[Vexar]

I completely agree with this. First off, the activity tends to be more; so what happens? Other topics with multiple people, or new topics, get punted down towards the bottom of the page. That's just one of the problems, basically wasted space.

Here is the thing, if it is one on one, why would people read it to begin with? It would never pertain to other people; therefor no need to make it public. While I agree with role play your way, I do not agree with excluding others. You can make rules and the likes to include or exclude people who want to follow or not follow those rules. That is fine, because you invite people to join and read on the role play. Private or one on one, do the exact opposite. Generally there are no rules, just someone setting up a plot; and then they say only one other person can join. Not much chance of story developement. It becomes more of a dialogue and interaction between just two characters and some npcs.

Should we stop allowing them? NO! Why? Because, that would go against our Role play your way, motto. Should we encourage them? No, because they promote less interaction with the community as a whole. We are not a private or exclusive community; we are open and welcome everyone. So we should try to allow people to do what they wish, to the extent of common decency.

I like what was done with the High School sub forum, but I think that was kind of a wrong action too. Why? Because it encourages it more. With that, we should not make a one on one forum either; because it encourages that type of action or role plays. Letting them be, and the high school threads, would be the only helpful thing we could do. Any action against them would only promote or showcase them more.

So, all in all, I do not like them. However, there shouldn't be anything done against them. Thank you for making this thread though; this was a great way to express my opinion without being heated about it ^^!

To all of you who like one on one role plays. Please try to keep them in private messages or chats. You can keep them logged and out of public eye/critisism. You also have more freedom by keeping them private. So please, give it a try. More importantly, try role playing with others and out of your common comfort zones. This also allows other role plays a chance to stay on the front pages longer; giving them more attention and members. You wouldn't need that since it is just one on one, or private.

[Riikano-Alinaris]

It all depends on the purpose of the roleplay Angel...In my opinion there are three kinds of 1x1 roleplays...the good kind the bad kind and the nuetral Kind...The Good ones are One on One but they arn't just One liners....and it's also a decent Roleplay...The Nuetral Kind is basically A decent Roleplay but it's all one liners and is meant to just increase post count or something, Which is basically cheating. Now for the bad kind...The bad kind is where it isn't even a roleplay...it's just one lined Chat and it is usually talking...an argument... or cybering... Now the bad kind is especcially bad because it has no purpose and reduces this Sites Memory which Results with our friend....THE GENERAL ERROR. Plz tell me somebody agrees with what i'm saying...

[TwilightShade]

I believe that there are certain circumstances that make one on one roleplays legitimate. For example, a private meeting between two characters that erupts into a fight which results in the death or permanent injury of one character seems pretty momentous to both characters, in my opinion, and if said one on one roleplay fits within a continuity, then it effects every person those two characters come into contact with, including themselves.

I'm not saying that they should be supported, but if it's something that is crucial to character development, then I say let it happen.

[Vexar]

I believe that there are certain circumstances that make one on one roleplays legitimate. For example, a private meeting between two characters that erupts into a fight which results in the death or permanent injury of one character seems pretty momentous to both characters, in my opinion, and if said one on one roleplay fits within a continuity, then it effects every person those two characters come into contact with, including themselves.

I'm not saying that they should be supported, but if it's something that is crucial to character development, then I say let it happen.

Rather valid point. For example, our sparring arena. That is where One on One is showcased as a near necessity. Sometimes we look at role plays like this too one sided. As Riikano said, there are multiple types of one on one role playing which aren't all bad.

For example, Dani and I have one that is invitation only. It is for the mere purpose of bettering ourselves at role playing. However, we did not title it as One on One or private blah blah. Perhaps it could just be a thing about naming the role play. Rather than posting it as one on one, give it a title; that way others are encouraged to read it and see if they might be able to join via PM. If anything it makes our forums look a bit better!

However, these points are exactly why nothing should be done against one on one role playing; because they still can be beneficial.

[ThatsNotPoetry]

One-on-one role play exists, and this is a board of forums for people to RP in. I don't see the problem. If it's not as exciting to read for other people, it shouldn't matter. I don't play games with the goal of other people being able to see it. I don't RP with that goal, either. RP is a form of recreation. It is for the individual. So long as I am within board rules in so far as content and behavior is concerned, what I RP and how I RP is my business, isn't it?

My schedule is very tight and I have a hard time keeping up with threads containing multiple RPers. One-on-one requires just as much forethought and story-telling--if not more in some cases, because then the two RPers are generally in charge of a larger range of NPCs and environmental effects. Yes, I join threads with multiple members, but I prefer one-on-one. That should be my prerogative.

HOWEVER. Yes, there are PMs, email, and IMs for such RP if I am absolutely required to abide by such a new rule. I may not agree with it, but it's no skin off my back.

[Matthias]

Really? You don't like it? Why? Because you're excluded? It takes up your virtual space? Like this thread and thousands of unnamed threads are doing? <_< Really? >_> This whole thread contradicts Roleplay Gateway in every standard.



Seriously?









I should start numerous Roleplays that only deal with me. Per section. Just to screw you guys over. Then you'd have a reason to be "boiling". >_>

[Angel_Melfina]

Really? You don't like it? Why? Because you're excluded? It takes up your virtual space? Like this thread and thousands of unnamed threads are doing? <_< Really? >_> This whole thread contradicts Roleplay Gateway in every standard.

Seriously?

I should start numerous Roleplays that only deal with me. Per section. Just to screw you guys over. Then you'd have a reason to be "boiling". >_>

I'm not really boiling. I thought it was a legitimate question. It'd be contradicting Gateway if something was put into place banning them. There's nothing wrong with getting a general opinion of what people think. As for your last line, that'd be pretty lame and immature. No better than us asking a question you don't think should be asked.

[ThatsNotPoetry]

This whole thread contradicts Roleplay Gateway in every standard.

Of all the childish stuff said in that post, this was the only part I agreed with.

It'd be contradicting Gateway if something was put into place banning them.

It's a toughy, I must admit. Mostly because the very theme of this entire website--posted beside the emblem on the very front page--reads as such: Roleplay Your Way. Period.

Holding an open discussion that questions and at times rejects (per individual) someone's role play style is rather contradictory to the basis of the website.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with discussing. Beauty of free speech, amirite? Unfortunately, allowing people to bash (or praise, I know) a popular style of RP--one which causes absolutely no harm to site or player--comes off as a bit standoffish and disapproving for members new and old. Especially when mods/admins start posting about how much they disapprove of said RP style. "Yeah, sure, come to RPGateway and Rp however you like within our rules, no boundaries! But oh man the mods don't like one-on-one RP, and people may talk badly about it behind your back. But oh you can totally do it! But man they don't like it..."

:\ See what I mean? I dunno, maybe I'm looking too far into it.

[Navidia]

Yeah, I just saw this thread, and if people hate One on Ones so much, especially the people in charge, I might as well delete my account.

[ticklemetoxxic]

Well, one-on-one roleplays aren't exactly all that bad. like twilightshade said. There are really good one-on-one roleplays that are ridiculously well constructed and flow nicely. Though I think that kind of one on one roleplay is so rare it would actually be beneficial to try and put forth some action to stop the private one on one roleplays in forums.

On the other hand private roleplays aren't so bad, I kinda think of that as just putting a limit on how many people are wanted in the roleplay since when there's too many people it just becomes chaos.

though once I think about it. one-on-one roleplays as a whole should be kept to PMs, otherwise theyre kinda just taking up space. I don't really have much against them, just scrolling through a page of "MagicClown and HarryPotterLover private RP" and titles like that isn't fun and can get really frustrating.

[ThatsNotPoetry]

I don't really have much against them, just scrolling through a page of "MagicClown and HarryPotterLover private RP" and titles like that isn't fun and can get really frustrating.

RP titles that personally irritate you should in no way affect what is and is not permitted in an RP forum. Having to scroll through titles you have no interest in is.. sort of.. how it goes.

Though I think that kind of one on one roleplay is so rare it would actually be beneficial to try and put forth some action to stop the private one on one roleplays in forums.

Space is space is space. The text is being posted. From what I know of forums, bandwidth and storage usage are the same, whether it's used in PMs or threads. Your opinion of the quality of RP matters little when it comes to people's rights to RP in the forums.

As the website states, "Roleplay Your Way. Period." People can't just get rid of stuff they don't like.

[ticklemetoxxic]

I'm not looking to get rid of it. I'm simply saying that if your going to have a one on one roleplay with someone it should be kept to PM or E-mail or IM or something because having a page of roleplays that you can't be involved in because they are private is unnecessary. Private should be exactly that PRIVATE not posted in PUBLIC.

[ThatsNotPoetry]

I'm not looking to get rid of it. I'm simply saying that if your going to have a one on one roleplay with someone it should be kept to PM or E-mail or IM or something because having a page of roleplays that you can't be involved in because they are private is unnecessary. Private should be exactly that PRIVATE not posted in PUBLIC.

Once an RP thread is no longer accepting anymore players, that is exactly what it is. You scroll through tons of threads that you cannot be a part of every day because they're full. Just because you can't join it doesn't mean it doesn't deserve to exist in the forums.

[ticklemetoxxic]

Still, they are called private for a reason. they should be private and not posted in a public form.

[ThatsNotPoetry]

Still, they are called private for a reason. they should be private and not posted in a public form.

See, I think there's a bit of general confusion in this. If, for example, I open a thread in which I am seeking one other RPer to fill a single major role, that is not a private thread. However, that is still one-on-one RP. And of course, once I find one person to fill that role, the thread is closed to further applications--just as would occur in any group RP. A private RP is one in which the RPer had already contacted the one other RPer they are seeking and then opens an RP thread with just them in mind. You seem to be using "private" and "one-on-one" interchangeably. In fact, a lot of the people posting here seem to be doing this. There is a massive distinction.

Mods and Admins, instead of openly bashing a kind of RP that is quite popular in this forum (aka, discouraging good RPers from partaking in a perfectly acceptable form of RP on an board that advertises as being for all kinds of RP), maybe you should just make another forum along with all the other RP forums and title it "Private Roleplay." That way people who are too easily frustrated by having to scroll through threads closed off to them (despite the fact that tons of threads are closed off to tons of people the moment they are closed to new applicants) won't have a reason to feel snubbed. By doing this, people who are currently feeling extremely discouraged won't feel like their RP rights are this close to being discriminated against.

I think that would be far more thoughtful, positive, and ambitious than posting a poll that actively snubs an entire group of RPers whose rights are being judged by the number of players in their game, rather than their skill or efforts.

[Faith]

Personally, I like the idea of "one on one" rp's because I myself have participated in them on different forums. It helps the players gain experience without being in a large crowd and that will boost their self-esteem when it comes to writing and interacting among others. I also agree that if one on ones were barred, we would lose quite a bit of players because there are a lot of those rp's on the site already. I had more to say, but I lost my thought.

My main point is: I don't think Melfina was intentionally bashing the one on one rp's and that the staff of this site wish to nurture everyone's creativity even in small settings.

[Eternity]

I actually like them, because I myself take pride in my one on one [I believe I only have one up and active right now on a public forum]. We [me and my partner] use good long posts ranging from some good 5 lines to a good 20 or 30 even if not more. And also, I actually enjoy reading the other one on ones around because some of them are pretty good and it's easier to watch a story line progress when you are only watching two people.

[Zhelir Darkfall]

I find myself torn on the issue.

On the one hand, I know what it is to want your work on display (for numerous reasons, not simply to go "Look how awesome I am!"), and to this end, I think forcing one-on-one to PM would be a bad move.

On the other hand, I do agree that they are something of a flood. That's not to say they're bad or unwanted, but if you figure we have 1000 active members (which is extremely low) and only a quarter of them want to one-on-one RP, that's roughly 125 one-on-one RPs posted. Default page display is 20 topics. That makes for quite a clutter.

Making a subforum is a good idea with a major flaw: If you push all these into one forum, you have taken what once was a clutter (and again, I don't mean that in an insulting manner), and turned it into an absolute mess, because topics will be jumping and moving from page 8 to page 1 to page 4 to page 10 to page 2, and so on, with the amount of activity it would call.

So on the whole, I wouldn't be against some sort of solution that stops the topics from flooding the forums, but I can think of none that wouldn't be extremely unfair to the people participating in them.