Coming up with RP plots ((OOC Post))

Seems like I keep writing ooc posts.  I'll have to change that, but I think this one needs to be written.


So many times I see the following from RPers:


"I'm bored."


"I can't come up with a storyline."


Or this conversation:


RPer 1:  "I'm bored.  Anyone wanna RP?"


RPer 2: "I'm bored, too.  Sure."


RPer 1: "What do you want to RP?"


RPer 2: "I dunno, I was just bored.  What do you want to RP?"


Then there are 20 ooc posts and they are still no closer to RPing.


*headdesk*


If you come up with compelling, interesting, varied SLs, you will get more and more people to follow you, and those people will want to join your RP (if they are RPers).  People will ask to join you.


I almost always have a plot in mind when I log on.  I may not do it (depending on if others are on, we will sometimes coordinate a different plot off the cuff), but I at least have it in mind.


People have asked how I come up with so many plots.  A lot of times they just pop into my head and I write them down for future use.


But there are times when I have to just sit down and plan something out.


Here is my Sooper Sekrit RP Plot Formula (TM).  And I'll walk you through my thought process.


1.  Pick a place.


Don't know why, but knowing where the action is taking place helps me.  Since I'm in sci fi, it's usually another planet.  


So I look at a Star Wars galaxy map (since that's the genre I RP in) and start looking.


I'll read through and see if anything jumps out at me.  Today I like the Outer Rim Territories.  I click that.


Browsing.....browsing....reading the history.....browsing....


Oooh.  The Si'klaata Cluster.  Let's look at that.  *click*


Reading.....reading....oooooh.  Non-Hutt access was restricted.  Interesting.


Four planets are mentioned in the sector:   Klatooine, Tas-La, Vontor, and Vodran.  *click click click click*


Klatooine?  Nah.  Tas-La?  No, not much info.  Vontor?  No.  Vodran?  Hmmmmm....this is promising.  Jungle planet?  Swamps?  Me likey.


Okay, so this mission is going to Vodran.


2.  Why do they go?


Reading.....reading....


The dianoga evolved there.  Maybe NavKor needs new garbage disposals.  Hehehe.  That could be a fun plot.  Much pissing and moaning from those sent.  Let's do it.


(I could have also chosen a bounty hunter mission, cargo pickup or delivery, etc.)


3.  What happens during the mission?


This is the fun part, and this is where you can get the input of others.  At this point, you have a basic idea and you can ask others to join in.  


So now, instead of saying "I'm bored, wanna RP?"  you can say "I have a mission to Vodran planned.  Anyone want to help?"  And, in the meantime, you can have your character going through steps to prepare for the mission.


What happens on missions is the fun part.  Will it go smoothly?  Does someone get hurt?  Do they run into Darth Maul along the way?  Is a crew member captured by a rival smuggler's ship?  Does one member get captured by the Hutts and forced into slavery until rescued?  Will they have to crash land somewhere?  Do they meet someone that will join the crew?


Always remember these words:  "What if....?"


That's the key.  So many possibilities.


If you are in another 'verse, use similar resources for your genre.  Start reading, pick a place (country, city, building, etc.) and then work from there.  Where is it?  What kind of place is it? Why would they be there?  What could go wrong?


There's never a reason to be without a plot.  Use some reference materials and let things go from there.


And one more thing:  Use DMs or chat to plan a plot.  If you plan everything in ooc tweets, I have no reason to watch it.  I already know what's going to happen!  (I feel another ooc post coming on....)

Why Shara and Navaar Hate Each Other (Shara, Navaar, OOC Post)

ooc note - I've mentioned the backstory in the role playing on Twitter this several times, but have never put it where it's easily referenced.  So....now I am. 


 Shara and Navaar have known each other for years, since the time when they were both slaves.


Years ago, at a slave auction, Navaar had caught the eye of a man that had the reputation of being violent.  He was also immune to Orion pheromones. (It was never established whether he was immune because of his race, like Vulcans; because of genetics; or because he took anti-pheromone meds.)


Navaar drew his attention to Shara, and he ended up purchasing Shara instead.


This man was a brutal sadist, and he severely injured Shara often.  Her internal injuries were so severe that she was unable to have children (until H'Ress replaced her uterus - another story for another post).


Shara blames Navaar for this, but has tried to forgive.  There is still a strong dislike, though.


Shara escaped this Master by killing (butchering) him in his sleep.  There is still a price on her head for killing him.  (He was a high-ranking official.)


Navaar is reminded of her moment of weakness and cowardice every time she sees Shara, and because of that she dislikes her more and more.  This is steadily growing into hatred.


Questions?  Comments?  Need clarification?  Leave a comment and I'll answer. 

Creating a character that people want to RP with (OOC post)

Just an OOC post/rant about a trend I'm noticing on Twitter


Starting role play on Twitter is simple.


1.  open an account, name it, put up a bio, choose a pic.
2.  Start Tweeting.


Seriously.  That's it.  


Now, I can think of several people that do a fine job of "role playing' and they don't even need anyone else to interact with.  They are excellent storytellers, and I enjoy watching their stories as they tweet them.


But for others, they enjoy interactive RP.  They want others to talk to.


I have several characters on Twitter, and they are all pretty popular.  I've seen a LOT of RPers come and go in my time in Twitter RP.  


Here are a few things I've observed in watching both successful and unsuccessful RPers on Twitter:

Do's

1.  Make your character interesting.  Make the character multi-faceted.  Give them flaws.  


2.  Make them realistic.  Even if a character is powerful, he or she should have a weakness.  Even if the character is a good person, there should be some flaw.  Perfect characters are annoying.


3.  Have a storyline.  Even if you are alone, have a storyline.  Make it an interesting one.  This will bring more people into your story.


4.  Interact with followers (other RPers).  Don't just say, "Hey, baby, wanna RP?"  Come up with a plot and then ask if others want to join in.   Try something like "Hey, I am on a mission to Zebus and need someone help me capture a deathstick dealer."  You'll get a much better response.  Once others realize you come up with good plots, more people will want to join in.


5.  Interact with followers (non-RPers).  Talk to them "in character."  The followers get a kick out of it, and it really is fun.  Some of the best RPers are followers who decided they wanted to take the plunge and join the wacky world of Twitter RP.


6.  Make your characters sociable.  This one drives me crazy.  People will NOT RP with you if your character is pissy.  Or silent.  Or emo.  Or violent.  UNLESS you make it interesting for them to do so, and you balance it.  


Case in point:  Jared Stone.  He was an arrogant, smartass bastard most of the time.  But he also showed a nicer side to one or two people, and he was entertaining when he was an ass.  


7.  Give your character a face.  Another pet peeve of mine.  It's really hard to "get to know" a character that is faceless.    Hard to relate to someone that way.  Find a pic that at least comes close to your mental image for your character.  


8.  See if you can join with an existing role playing group.  This is the easiest way to find people to RP with.  Ask the group members how to join. 

Don'ts

1.  Don't be an RP slut.  Do I mean you need to be a saint?  No.  (Most of my characters are Orions.  Duh.) But don't be one of the types that just prowls for sex and that's the only thing you RP.  Don't make sex or a relationship be the focus of your RP.    Don't be "Single and Looking."  IT'S RP, FOR GODS'S SAKE!     


A relationship (and/or sex) should ENHANCE a storyline, not BE the storyline. 


You want a character that's promiscuous? (Or, as I prefer to say, poly-amorous?)  Fine!  But have the sex be in some kind of a decent storyline.  Just sayin'.


And by "decent storyline" I don't mean "Hey, baby, I'm a [fill in the blank with some type of profession here], wanna make out/have sex/screw like rabbits/have babies/get married (even though we met 5 minutes ago)?"  Um, no.  (And I am seeing this more and more.)


2.  Don't just post "I'm bored." or ooc posts all the time.  Create a storyline!  Make it exciting!  You'll draw people in quickly.


3.  Don't god mode.  Don't have a character that can't be beaten.  Or that beats everyone else.  Seriously, it sucks.  


4.  Don't just jump in with someone else's storyline.  Ask first.  You never know if they are ad-libbing or have a storyline planned out.  And ESPECIALLY don't attack or grab someone without asking first.  

***

Okay, I've said my piece.  Are these hard and fast rules?  Not necessarily.  I'm sure there are exceptions to them all.  Just saying that in my 2+ years of RPing on Twitter, these are pretty good rules to play by. 

The Loss of a Character/Player (OOC Post)

OOC Post about Role playing on Twitter and RL stuff.


Recently, one of the main characters in the Liberty II RPG was killed off:  Jared Stone.


This was a great character, IMHO, and lots of followers loved to hate our favorite captain. 


However, real life gets in the way, and it is always more important than RP.  


Was it difficult, rewriting an RP with THE main person gone?  Absolutely.


But, in the end, I think the storyline is even stronger than before.  I am very pleased with how things are going, and followers are already very receptive to the new characters and plots.


Plus, the player behind Jared Stone is happier with things this way, and he has given his stamp of approval on the new storyline, which he will be following.


All's well that ends well?  Indeed.