Sunday, March 21, 2010

March 21, 2010 Nexus Talk "What Does Role Play Mean to You?"

On Sunday, March 21, 2010, Anastasia Horngold gave a talk at the Role Play Nexus on the topic, "What Does Role Play Mean to You?", and provided a list of questions for consideration in a group discussion.

Attending were:
Allen Kerensky
Cursa Charisma
DylanFox Petrov
Hipster Triangle
Joan Vhargon
Medea Warwillow
Reiko Soyinka
Thaiis Thei
Vooper Werribee

The group considered approximately half of the questions, so it was agreed that the discussion would continue on March 28.

(transcript begins)
[16:05] Anastasia Horngold: Greetings to all.
[16:05] Anastasia Horngold: I'm Anastasia Horngold.
[16:05] Hipster Triangle: nods
[16:05] Anastasia Horngold: I have been living in the Firefly 'Verse for a while now, and thinking about Role-Playing a lot.
[16:06] Anastasia Horngold: This will not be a long speech. I have a few comments, and a few questions, which I will mention and then throw open to discussion.
[16:06] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:06] Anastasia Horngold: I've been thinking about what this kind of role-playing is, that we do here in SL.
[16:06] Anastasia Horngold: Here's a definition from the source of all wisdom, Wikipedia:
[16:06] Anastasia Horngold: A role-playing game is a game in which the participants assume the roles of characters and collaboratively create stories. Participants determine the actions of their characters based on their characterization, adopting motives, attitudes, and postures. Their actions succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines. Within the rules, they may improvise freely; their choices shape the direction and outcome of the games.
[16:07] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:07] Anastasia Horngold: Generally speaking, we agree more or less on the world we're living in, such as the Firefly 'Verse, or Battlestar, and so on.
[16:07] Joan Vhargon: rolls eyes on the word "rules"
[16:08] Anastasia Horngold: Joan, I think that's one of the things I'll touch on in a moment.
[16:08] Hipster Triangle: hello Joan
[16:08] Anastasia Horngold: We have an idea of the kinds of people that live in that world, and we choose one to portray.
[16:08] Anastasia Horngold: Sometimes a group of us will collaborate on a preset storyline, and put that into play.
[16:08] Anastasia Horngold: Sometimes we just carry on individually, either with an internal story goal, or simply interacting with the world or others as time passes, without any particular purpose.
[16:09] Anastasia Horngold: In our RP, we don't have a strict "gamemaster," at least in the settings I'm familiar with. Sometimes a sim owner will intervene if behavior is unacceptable.
[16:09] Anastasia Horngold: But generally speaking, we provide our own internal policing on how to behave or what the consequences should be.
[16:09] Anastasia Horngold: This involves operating on two mental levels simultaneously: Our "real" self, monitoring the action, making decisions on that level, and our "character" self, operating within the RP framework, reacting per our character's situation and background.
[16:10] Anastasia Horngold: This is a complicated mental activity!
[16:10] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:10] Anastasia Horngold: It's very similar to improvisational theater, where actors are given a brief scenario to play out: either a goal, or just a beginning point.
[16:10] Anastasia Horngold: But it is also different, because our character has an preestablished agenda, or personal goals, to maintain throughout the RP and afterward.
[16:10] Reiko Soyinka: ?
[16:10] Anastasia Horngold: Yes, Reiko?
[16:11] Reiko Soyinka: comment later.
[16:11] Anastasia Horngold: kk
[16:11] Reiko Soyinka: sorry.
[16:11] Cursa Charisma nods politely to Vooper
[16:11] Anastasia Horngold: Here are some questions. I'm going to read through these, then give them to you in a notecard, so we can refer to them through the discussion:
[16:11] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:11] Joan Vhargon: Hi Vooper. Looking good as always.
[16:11] Anastasia Horngold: How much do you consciously think about your character during active RP?
(Is your character completely automatic ("internalized"), or do you have to consciously work out what to do moment by moment?)
[16:11] Anastasia Horngold: Do you usually participate in preset scenarios or not?
(What kinds of groups do you work the scenarios out in? How many people?)
[16:12] Anastasia Horngold: Do you have any trouble coming up with RP scenarios, and why?
[16:12] Anastasia Horngold: Do you find it satisfying to interact as another character than yourself?
[16:12] Anastasia Horngold: Do you feel that you connect with people on a personal level, while playing another character?
(And is this important to you?)
[16:12] Anastasia Horngold: Does your character express parts of yourself that don't get play in RL?
[16:12] Anastasia Horngold: What do you get out of RP?
[16:12] Anastasia Horngold: What do you like or dislike about it?
[16:12] Anastasia Horngold: And,

Do you think it means something different to you than to other people?
[16:13] Reiko Soyinka: Whew, good questions.
[16:13] Anastasia Horngold: I'm going to turn the chair back to Cursa to moderate, and hand out these notes.
[16:13] Hipster Triangle: an a lot a them,smiles
[16:13] Cursa Charisma: Thank you, Anastasia
[16:13] Medea Warwillow applauds
[16:13] Joan Vhargon: And a lot of questionsto digest at once
[16:13] Cursa Charisma applauds
[16:13] Cursa Charisma: Yes, let's all get the notecards and then go around one by one on each question
[16:13] Anastasia Horngold gave you RP Questions.
[16:14] Anastasia Horngold: Did I miss anyone/
[16:14] Anastasia Horngold: ?
[16:14] Joan Vhargon: no
[16:14] Cursa Charisma: I got one
[16:14] Reiko Soyinka: ditto
[16:14] Medea Warwillow: Also got one.
[16:15] Cursa Charisma: OK, so let's look at the first question, and go around the circle, starting with Medea
[16:15] Cursa Charisma: How much do you consciously think about your character during active RP?
(Is your character completely automatic ("internalized"), or do you have to consciously work out what to do moment by moment?)
[16:15] Medea Warwillow: Okay.
[16:16] Medea Warwillow: During active RP, I am thinking about my character all of the time, mostly because the characters I play are not reflective of how I am in RL.
[16:16] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:16] Anastasia Horngold nods
[16:16] Medea Warwillow: But, it requires less thought the more the character is played.
[16:17] Anastasia Horngold: Makes sense
[16:17] Medea Warwillow: Because I can refer to my past IC actions to help dictate future actions.
[16:17] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:17] Medea Warwillow: Finished...
[16:17] Cursa Charisma: OK, Vooper?
[16:18] Vooper Werribee: I don't have to think too hard about my character responses
[16:18] Reiko Soyinka: I internalize most of the characters fairly rapidly
[16:18] Vooper Werribee: Mostly because the chatacter I play is pretty one-dimensional
[16:18] Vooper Werribee: and quie stupid! :)
[16:18] Cursa Charisma grins
[16:18] Medea Warwillow: hehehe
[16:18] Anastasia Horngold: lol
[16:18] Cursa Charisma: That's an interesting point, Vooper
[16:18] Cursa Charisma: Choosing a character that is easy for you to play
[16:19] Anastasia Horngold: Complexity would make it more ... complex!
[16:20] Vooper Werribee: well, the interaction between charcters can already be very complex - add to that a complex RP background full of complicated persoanlities and it's a bit over the top sometimes
[16:20] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:20] Cursa Charisma: But in the sense of your character's choices flowing naturally...?
[16:20] Joan Vhargon: nods.
[16:20] Anastasia Horngold: Plus the difficulty in reading people in SL--complexity is hard to tell from inconsistency
[16:20] Cursa Charisma grins
[16:21] Reiko Soyinka: /nod
[16:21] Vooper Werribee: Yes - he's a bigot with only one guiding goal - avoid as much work as possible while keeping the spice flowing
[16:21] Anastasia Horngold: I like what you just asked, Cursa, about choices flowing naturally
[16:21] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:21] Vooper Werribee: it's pretty wasy to respond to most situations without thinking too hard
[16:21] Cursa Charisma: Vooper's character has a fundamental set of clear motivations
[16:22] Cursa Charisma: Alright, Reiko, your turn
[16:22] Reiko Soyinka: I internalize most of my characters fairly rapidly...then sit back and see what they do or say...which frequently surprise me
[16:22] Reiko Soyinka: done
[16:22] Cursa Charisma: Thank you. Hipster?
[16:23] Hipster Triangle: oh god,smiles
[16:23] Hipster Triangle: Honestley
[16:23] Hipster Triangle: I Improvise,for whatever the situation,or setting dectates
[16:23] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:24] Hipster Triangle: a spur a the moment,ya might say
[16:24] Cursa Charisma: OK
[16:24] Allen Kerensky: "internalize"
[16:24] Anastasia Horngold nods
[16:24] Hipster Triangle: an then sometimes,i get very involved
[16:24] Allen Kerensky: yep sounds like internalization to me
[16:24] Hipster Triangle: but i try to be the real me
[16:25] Hipster Triangle: done
[16:25] Reiko Soyinka: why?
[16:25] Cursa Charisma: Thank you
[16:25] Anastasia Horngold: So it's more "you" in the situation than a "character"?
[16:25] Hipster Triangle: no,not at all
[16:25] Hipster Triangle: depends on the situation,or person,that i feel im interactin with
[16:25] Anastasia Horngold: nod
[16:26] Hipster Triangle: are they for real,or jerkin me around
[16:26] Anastasia Horngold: i see
[16:26] Cursa Charisma: That's an important caveat here - that we flow from one frame of reference to another, and one style of interaction to another
[16:26] Hipster Triangle: an done,with this question,smiles
[16:26] Cursa Charisma: OK
[16:26] Anastasia Horngold: yes
[16:26] Cursa Charisma: Anastasia, anything more you'd like to add on this from your own perspective?
[16:27] Anastasia Horngold: sure
[16:28] Anastasia Horngold: I've felt quite paralyzed at times, trying to do RP. But I have found that some alts are easier than others
[16:28] Joan Vhargon: Are we still going around?
[16:28] Anastasia Horngold: lag
[16:28] Cursa Charisma: You mean characters, or avatars?
[16:29] Cursa Charisma: Yes, Joan, after Anastasia comes Allen, then you
[16:29] Hipster Triangle: Joan didnt get her chance
[16:29] Cursa Charisma: She will
[16:29] Joan Vhargon: ok
[16:29] Cursa Charisma smiles broadly
[16:29] Hipster Triangle: sorry
[16:29] Cursa Charisma: No problem
[16:31] Anastasia Horngold: My "bad guy" alt is much is much more spontaneous than Anastasia
[16:31] Anastasia Horngold: Major chat lag
[16:31] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:31] Hipster Triangle: np
[16:31] Anastasia Horngold: done with this question
[16:31] Cursa Charisma: OK, Allen?
[16:31] Joan Vhargon: That's why I was checking
[16:32] Allen Kerensky: Since I have ADD and Asperger's Syndrome, I have to consciously work out everything moment by moment in SL
[16:32] Anastasia Horngold: Wow, interesting
[16:32] Hipster Triangle: nods
[16:32] Allen Kerensky: and the fluid nature of who shows up, what character they bring, what the plot is that day all complicates
[16:32] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:33] Allen Kerensky: it makes SL RP a tough exercise, especially without the benefit of across-the-table analysis of each player that you can do in RL
[16:33] Anastasia Horngold: You mean body language things?
[16:33] Allen Kerensky: so, I have to compensate for the mind blindness using tools like elaborate character creators, and a roleplay "karma" mechanic adapted from tabletop games
[16:34] Allen Kerensky: yes, and tone of voices, etc
[16:34] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:34] Anastasia Horngold nods
[16:34] Allen Kerensky: and mostly pick carefully which RP sessions to actually engage in
[16:34] Cursa Charisma: Yes, visual and voice cues are usually not consciously considered, but are crucial
[16:34] Hipster Triangle: RP,and RLshould be seperate
[16:34] Allen Kerensky: because its so easy to get lost and make thigns suck for other players
[16:34] Medea Warwillow: Interesting point. Allen
[16:35] Joan Vhargon: I was going to same the same thing.
[16:35] Allen Kerensky: if there is a clear background, clear characters with clear motivations, and clear goals to the session, its easier than "throw down improv"
[16:35] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:35] Allen Kerensky: i.e. lack of a GM makes it harder, much harder
[16:35] Allen Kerensky: lack of mechanics in most sims makes it harder to fit in also
[16:35] Allen Kerensky: and I am done with this question
[16:35] Cursa Charisma: Very important - there is not one "right" style of role play
[16:36] Cursa Charisma: Thank you, Allen
[16:36] Anastasia Horngold: as in the "director" role the GM plays? or arbiter?
[16:36] Allen Kerensky: and the motivational goals the GM sets up and facilitates
[16:36] Hipster Triangle: nods,and agress
[16:36] Allen Kerensky: through NPCs and the like
[16:36] Anastasia Horngold: oh, goals, yes
[16:36] Cursa Charisma: As Allen says, clearly prepared and laid out play is more comfortable for him
[16:36] Cursa Charisma: Whereas for others, more freeform "throw down improv" is more enjoyable
[16:36] Allen Kerensky: its all uncomfortable, social interaction is not that easy
[16:37] Allen Kerensky whispers: but, having a sense of the "map
[16:37] Cursa Charisma: Vive la difference, n'est ce pas?
[16:37] Allen Kerensky: the "map" or story terrain does help focus on just being the character
[16:37] Cursa Charisma: ne c'est pas*
[16:37] Anastasia Horngold: Gives some definition, limits
[16:37] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:37] Allen Kerensky: helps set expectations as well
[16:37] Allen Kerensky: everyone diving in a dungen knows what to expect in D&D
[16:37] Anastasia Horngold: Having fewer choices can be helpful
[16:38] Allen Kerensky: sorry, done =D
[16:38] Allen laughs.
[16:38] Cursa Charisma: Well, a good game, Sid Meier tells us, is a series of interesting choices. What is interesting is an individual matter
[16:38] Cursa Charisma: OK, Joan, you've been patient
[16:38] Anastasia Horngold chuckles
[16:38] Cursa Charisma: You're on!
[16:38] Cursa Charisma smiles broadly
[16:39] Joan Vhargon: I try to get immersed in my character. Try to enter Joan al Jofar's head and put myself in her shoes and sense her frustration, her danger. I often catch myself saying "I" when I mean my character. That is a good thing and a bad thing. It's also where much of the Drama stems from in RP. People not being able to separate the two. So I strive for it but fear it at the same time.
[16:39] Joan Vhargon: Personally often get frustrated in getting caught up in some of the mechanics. Most communcation is non verbal or is implied in tone. I miss that just like Allen does. What is being said that I missed, and the fact that the conversation has taken two turns since I started typing. etc, etc. Its hard to get immersed while flustered. **
[16:40] Cursa Charisma: This is a major challenge of freeform interaction - typing time
[16:40] Joan Vhargon: Its a big problem for me.
[16:40] Medea Warwillow: Agreed, and is part of the problem for those who do not have the patience to wait for paragraphs.
[16:40] Joan Vhargon: I don't touch type well. When I do everuyone knows it.
[16:40] Cursa Charisma: Traditional tabletop role playing games of course have regulated turns and such
[16:41] Anastasia Horngold: Pickup up the mouse, putting it down, dropping it, corecting typos (or not)...
[16:41] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:41] Joan Vhargon: yup
[16:41] Anastasia Horngold: Heck, if there WERE facial expressions we wouldn't have time to read them!
[16:42] Medea Warwillow: And try watching more than one avatar at a time...
[16:42] Reiko Soyinka: I try to put in body movement...and try to keep out "thinking"...
[16:42] Cursa Charisma: Excellent, I think we've identified quite a few important things to consider on this question. Shall we move on to the next one?
[16:42] Anastasia Horngold: When you can't even really focus in on faces from more than a few feet away!
[16:42] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:43] Joan Vhargon: We do it in real life all the time. We "should" be ablet to do it here. That's where the frustration comes.
[16:43] Joan Vhargon: Expectations.....
[16:43] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:43] Medea Warwillow: Next question?
[16:43] Allen Kerensky: and substituting with more descriptive text tends to torque a few people off
[16:43] Cursa Charisma: Do you usually participate in preset RP scenarios or not?
(What kinds of groups do you work the scenarios out in? How many people?)
[16:43] Allen Kerensky: yes next
[16:43] Cursa Charisma: Medea?
[16:43] Medea Warwillow: Most of the roleplay scenarios I participate in are fairly planned out. This is referring to the overall scheme, not textual details. Much of the roleplay outside of that is simple interaction, likely not directed towards a certain goal or outcome, such a conversation in a bar.
[16:44] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:44] Cursa Charisma: Welcome, Thaiis
[16:44] Anastasia Horngold: Hello
[16:44] Hipster Triangle: hey there
[16:45] Medea Warwillow: I enjoy both. I enjoy the intrigue of not know which direction a conversation might head, and also enjoy working my way to a destined roleplay goal.
[16:45] Thaiis Thei: greetings
[16:45] Thaiis Thei accepted your inventory offer.
[16:45] Anastasia Horngold: Medea, in the planned RP scenarios, do they proceed at anything like "real life" pace & timing?
[16:45] Reiko Soyinka: hehehehehe
[16:46] Medea Warwillow: Hmm.
[16:46] Medea Warwillow: That depends on the scenario. SOmetime I am just trying to keep it slow enough for everyone to be able to read (if the roleplay involves a script)....
[16:47] Medea Warwillow: But there have also been scenarios that have been SIGNIFICANTLY speeded up...because to do them at a Real life pace would be ecruciating.
[16:47] Medea Warwillow: *excruciating.
[16:47] Anastasia Horngold: Oh, you have done actually scripted ones?
[16:47] Reiko Soyinka: /nod
[16:48] Medea Warwillow: Case in point, an initiation that involved meditation on the part of the initiates.....what would have been several days in RL we went through in several minutes.
[16:48] Anastasia Horngold chuckles.
[16:48] Joan Vhargon: nods
[16:48] Reiko Soyinka: /nod
[16:48] Medea Warwillow: Can you imagine having to do an activity like that for several days in SL? That also seems to be the case with Avatar pregnancies.
[16:48] Medea Warwillow: 9months in a few weeks.
[16:49] Reiko Soyinka: hehehehehehe
[16:49] Anastasia Horngold: Yes, I've noticed that! Youth today have no patience. ;)
[16:49] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:49] Medea Warwillow grins
[16:49] Reiko Soyinka: otherwise, there would be more murders...
[16:49] Reiko Soyinka: talking tummies.
[16:49] Medea Warwillow: LOL!
[16:50] Cursa Charisma: OK, we ready for Vooper?
[16:50] Medea Warwillow: Yes.
[16:50] Vooper Werribee: I rarely participate in planned RP scenarios these days - although the ones I have participated in have been some of the est expereinces in SL - and they hae usually been 'gamesmastered' ie one person is 'directing' the experience and a clear goal
[16:50] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:51] Cursa Charisma: So a "scenario handler" rather than a sim administrator
[16:51] Vooper Werribee: yes - someone verym much taking the role of the 'Dungeonmaster' in tabletop RP
[16:52] Anastasia Horngold: Did that involve ongoing prompts? Or just setup ahead of time?
[16:52] Cursa Charisma: But in a broad sense - all the RP in a given group - or for the specific scenario?
[16:52] Vooper Werribee: II wasn't the peson being the Dungeon master - so difficult to tell
[16:52] Allen Kerensky: both
[16:52] Vooper Werribee: but there was a lot of scripted stuff i nthe scenario - so a lot of set up before play
[16:52] Vooper Werribee: but also players being players we did several unexpected things
[16:52] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:53] Allen Kerensky: the person doing the setup tends to do some railroading too to keep people in bounds of the designed scenario
[16:53] Anastasia Horngold raises her eyebrows.
[16:53] Vooper Werribee: yes, exactly Allen
[16:53] Allen Kerensky: the outcomes of the actions are left to the players, but there is some prompting to get them to the decision points, if needed
[16:53] Cursa Charisma: So quite close indeed to traditional offline tabletop RPG
[16:53] Anastasia Horngold: ah
[16:54] Vooper Werribee: yes, that's right Cursa
[16:54] Cursa Charisma: Understood
[16:54] Cursa Charisma: Alright, Reiko?
[16:54] Reiko Soyinka: I've participated in scripted, directed and impromptu...and I have to say that the impromptu, with a group of experienced and good roleplayers, whom you have been playing with....
[16:54] Reiko Soyinka: has been the most fantastic experience...
[16:54] Thaiis Thei: I agree
[16:55] Joan Vhargon: nods
[16:55] Reiko Soyinka: I've even been unexpectedly but deliberately killed...
[16:55] Reiko Soyinka: in such a situation...
[16:55] Anastasia Horngold: Ooh
[16:55] Cursa Charisma: So, would you say that the type of structured play Vooper and Allen are talking about is a prerequisite to the more freeform type?
[16:56] Reiko Soyinka: I think that the more forms of roleplay you experience...the better able you are to "read" the other people...and relax into the character.
[16:56] Vooper Werribee: Actually I think they are two different styles of play - almost at extremes of a scale
[16:57] Reiko Soyinka: They are, Vooper...
[16:57] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:57] Reiko Soyinka: but you can't do this impromptu...
[16:57] Thaiis Thei: I feel that when there is too much planning it is boring
[16:57] Reiko Soyinka: without first experiencing the other...
[16:57] Anastasia Horngold: nod
[16:58] Vooper Werribee: Sort of like a highly scripted situational comedy verses an improvised comedy show
[16:58] Vooper Werribee: to give a comparison
[16:58] Cursa Charisma: I think we've identified an important question here
[16:58] Anastasia Horngold: High wire vs. trampoline
[16:58] Anastasia Horngold: oh yes, cursa?
[16:58] Cursa Charisma: The more improvisational style of role play relies on a body of shared tacit knowledge and assumptions
[16:59] Reiko Soyinka: Yes, it does.
[16:59] Anastasia Horngold: ! yes
[16:59] Allen Kerensky: and a longer-term stable group
[16:59] Cursa Charisma: How is this body established?
[16:59] Anastasia Horngold: And familiarity between the players
[16:59] Anastasia Horngold: What allen said.
[16:59] Thaiis Thei: that is tres important
[16:59] Medea Warwillow: Agreed.
[16:59] Thaiis Thei: especially if you have people form many cultures
[16:59] Cursa Charisma nods
[16:59] Cursa Charisma: Excellent, thank you, Reiko
[17:00] Reiko Soyinka: You are welcome.
[17:00] Cursa Charisma: Hipster?
[17:00] Hipster Triangle: ok
[17:00] Anastasia Horngold: You have to know that everyone is buying into the same assumptions or internalized rules.
[17:00] Hipster Triangle: I have done both
[17:00] Cursa Charisma nods
[17:00] Hipster Triangle: the preplanned RP,lets everyone know there roles,and parts
[17:01] Allen Kerensky: and the goals to RP towards
[17:01] Hipster Triangle: i have had some very enjoyable moments playin the prepllaned stuff
[17:02] Hipster Triangle: altho,then there are situtations,where you have a role,and others have another role,and you build on that
[17:02] Cursa Charisma: "Plot-driven" vs. "character-driven"
[17:02] Medea Warwillow: If I could interject for a moment...preplanned roleplay, at least scenarios, can be a vital part of creating larger scenarios, and involving players not inclined to start one themselves.
[17:02] Hipster Triangle: yes
[17:03] Cursa Charisma nods
[17:03] Hipster Triangle: RP for me
[17:03] Cursa Charisma grins
[17:04] Hipster Triangle: is becoming eminesed in someone or something,you wish to be
[17:04] Hipster Triangle: an i cant spell,smiles
[17:05] Cursa Charisma: That doesn't stand out around here
[17:05] Vooper Werribee: Yes, unless you have a background in improvisational theater, improve, character-driven RP requires a bit of learning and expereince wereas the plot-driven scenario is more akin to reading a novel and most people can 'jump in'
[17:05] Cursa Charisma grins
[17:05] Cursa Charisma: Alright, Anastasia?
[17:05] Hipster Triangle: yeah,Jump in here
[17:06] Anastasia Horngold: I did some RL acting a very long time ago, and had experiences where the character took over and really came to life--took over situations, manipulated people, really made things happen.
[17:06] Hipster Triangle: Please,
[17:06] Cursa Charisma nods
[17:06] Anastasia Horngold: In SL, so far, it's been mixed. The impromptu activities have not been very interesting, but I think most people didn't have very strongly developed characters. Me included.
[17:06] Medea Warwillow: Something like Method acting, Anastasia?
[17:06] Anastasia Horngold: yes perhaps
[17:06] Anastasia Horngold: The preplanned ones have been more dynamic, but can also be confused.
[17:06] Anastasia Horngold: There was one situation where an item was stolen, and someone was arrested for it, and I couldn't tell whether he was playing a character who was upset about being arrested, or he was just upset about being arrested!
[17:07] Cursa Charisma nods
[17:07] Anastasia Horngold: RL/SL bleed-through confusion.
[17:07] Cursa Charisma: IC or OOC
[17:07] Cursa Charisma: Was there IM chat to verify?
[17:07] Anastasia Horngold: Yes, and that happens to me all the time--not being able to tell who's doing which.
[17:07] Anastasia Horngold: I'm not sure!
[17:07] Reiko Soyinka: that's because they don't know, either.
[17:07] Anastasia Horngold: I couldn't keep up.
[17:07] Cursa Charisma: OK, so you didn't IM anyone to ask?
[17:08] Anastasia Horngold: No,, I was too busy trying not to shoot anyone.
[17:08] Vooper Werribee: There's really no harm in asking in IM if someone is really upset or just playing that part
[17:08] Cursa Charisma nods
[17:08] Hipster Triangle: RP,should be enjoyable,and fun,for everyone,and that should be made clear,from the start,that,its Roleplay
[17:08] Cursa Charisma: Right, Vooper, but note the "heat of the moment" factor
[17:08] Vooper Werribee: in fact I think that is recommended procedure
[17:08] Cursa Charisma: Everyone knows what IM is, but when the bullets are flying...
[17:08] Anastasia Horngold: yes, I was panicked and couldn't figure out what to do.
[17:08] Cursa Charisma nods
[17:08] Cursa Charisma: That comes with the joys of immersion
[17:09] Anastasia Horngold: I'm done
[17:09] Cursa Charisma: Great
[17:09] Cursa Charisma: (chat lagg)
[17:09] Cursa Charisma: OK, Allen, to you
[17:10] Allen Kerensky: i'll keep it simple... as you can guess from my earlier remark, I prefer a preset/managed/plotted/defined RP over an impromptu or freeform style. I've participated in both and impromptu seems like pyjama chat with no goal.
[17:10] Allen Kerensky: done
[17:10] Cursa Charisma: OK, thanks
[17:10] Cursa Charisma: Joan?
[17:10] Anastasia Horngold: pyjama chat! haha
[17:11] Reiko Soyinka: pyjama chat?
[17:11] Joan Vhargon: I have an annoying habbit of reframing the question to suit my needs.
[17:11] Joan Vhargon: I usually participate an a loosely structured RP. I try to organize and enjoy the ones that are more structured.
[17:11] Cursa Charisma: Go for it, Joan
[17:11] Joan Vhargon: Most of my favorite subjects to converse about are history. Most of it is personal history, interpersonal history and then regional and global history. Think about your last enjoyable conversation with your RL friends or family. Most of what I talk about can be described as interpreting that "history".
[17:11] Joan Vhargon: That's what a good RP also does, it revolves around a common history. That's why we have different RP groups, FireFly, Star Trek, SWRPG, Dune, these are all histories. So you need a sense of history to do that. That's what structure can provide. It gives a mini history, but is also works in unstructured RP as well as long as the participants are in the same "Historical Place," What happened a year ago, a month ago, a day ago, a moment ago.
[17:12] Joan Vhargon: **
[17:12] Cursa Charisma: Disclaimer: Joan and I are not alts of one another
[17:12] Cursa Charisma smiles broadly
[17:12] Anastasia Horngold: lol
[17:12] Hipster Triangle: laughs
[17:12] Joan Vhargon: Disclaimer: Cursa and I are not alts of one another
[17:12] Cursa Charisma laughs
[17:12] Medea Warwillow: hahahahaha
[17:12] Cursa Charisma: OK, Thaiis, please join in
[17:13] Thaiis Thei: anythign in particular?
[17:13] Cursa Charisma: The current question
[17:13] Cursa Charisma: Do you usually participate in preset RP scenarios or not?
(What kinds of groups do you work the scenarios out in? How many people?)
[17:13] Thaiis Thei: well
[17:14] Joan Vhargon: Wait?
[17:14] Thaiis Thei: somethings I do lend themselves to prepration
[17:14] Thaiis Thei: I do a lot of religious stuff and rituals need planning and practice
[17:14] Joan Vhargon: No comments on history?
[17:14] Thaiis Thei: Oh I agree that a shared history can be a very imprtant shaper of a scenario
[17:14] Thaiis Thei: especially for new people
[17:15] Joan Vhargon: I'm speaking to the whole group.
[17:15] Reiko Soyinka: I think you said it very well...and succinctly...
[17:15] Joan Vhargon: Sorry Thaiis Thei:
[17:15] Community: Flawed Conduit for Fulfillment: Anastasia Horngold, here is the transcript of this Nexus talk
[17:15] Joan Vhargon: Ok.
[17:16] Joan Vhargon: Please continu Thaiis Thei
[17:16] Thaiis Thei: ok
[17:16] Thaiis Thei: so presents are important for things that have a definate shape
[17:16] Thaiis Thei: presets
[17:17] Thaiis Thei: and those things can be very engaging
[17:17] Medea Warwillow: I agree.
[17:17] Thaiis Thei: but generally I prefer more free flow rping
[17:17] Thaiis Thei: if everyone has a good grasp of thier charachter
[17:18] Thaiis Thei: then good rp can result
[17:18] Thaiis Thei: and the scenario
[17:18] Living in a bunker: Cursa Charisma, online RP can become an obsession - keeping perspective is important
[17:18] Cursa Charisma: Welcome, Brooke
[17:18] Brooke Rhea: Thanks.
[17:18] Joan Vhargon: Uhhh, Brooke
[17:18] Reiko Soyinka: hehehehe
[17:19] Joan Vhargon: I like you and all, but....
[17:19] Cursa Charisma laughs
[17:19] Reiko Soyinka watches Joan slowly sink under Brooke's weight.
[17:19] Anastasia Horngold: Aw, Joan, she looks so comfortable.
[17:19] Brooke Rhea: ((lol sorry!!))
[17:19] Joan Vhargon: lol
[17:20] Brooke Rhea: ((When I came in didn't have anyone rezzed htere))
[17:20] Medea Warwillow grins
[17:20] Bletaverse Server: Image received. Visit http://bletaverse.com/Cursa%20Charisma to see your post.
[17:21] Anastasia Horngold: Where were we? Was Thais finished?
[17:21] Brooke Rhea accepted your inventory offer.
[17:21] Thaiis Thei: Many people think so...
[17:21] Cursa Charisma: OK, Thaiis, do you have anything more on this question?
[17:21] Anastasia Horngold: haha
[17:22] Thaiis Thei: nope
[17:22] Cursa Charisma: Alright, let's go to the next question
[17:22] Cursa Charisma: We'll start with Medea as usual, and that will let Brooke get into it before having to answer
[17:22] Cursa Charisma: Do you have any trouble coming up with RP scenarios, and why?
[17:23] Medea Warwillow: Umm, I've been typing for a while, so my apologies on whatever length this response may be.
[17:23] Medea Warwillow: The only time I have trouble coming up with RP scenarios is when I find myself in an unfamiliar, or canonical setting. For instance, I am not overly familiar with the FIrefly universe, which is why I purposefully took a role which enables me to follow the lead of my employer. If I can manage to do proper research into the culture of the particular place, coming up with roleplay is usually a breeze. What hinders me at times is not wanting to overstep boundaries. Some do overstep, and then it is up to the owner of hte toes to either steer the rp back on course, go with it, or become mightily offended.
[17:23] Thaiis Thei orders Medea to watch FF on repeat for a week
[17:23] Cursa Charisma nods
[17:24] Medea Warwillow: hehehe
[17:24] Medea Warwillow: Will do my best Thaiis.
[17:24] Brooke Rhea: hulu.com ;-)
[17:24] Cursa Charisma: There is no "best", only do - or get done
[17:24] Anastasia Horngold: Brain implant.
[17:24] Medea Warwillow: Dont have access to Hulu outside of the US.
[17:24] Thaiis Thei: there is no try. Only do, or do not.
[17:24] Thaiis Thei: wtf Hule?
[17:24] Medea Warwillow: I will take Yoda's words to heart.
[17:25] Cursa Charisma: Rather than Cursa's
[17:25] Cursa Charisma: hehe
[17:25] Medea Warwillow: ...hehe...
[17:25] Cursa Charisma: OK, on to Vooper?
[17:25] Medea Warwillow: Yes.
[17:26] Vooper Werribee: I don't have the time t ocreate RP scenarios in SL at the moment - however, I used to pay a tabletop RP game called Traveller which almost encouraged the gamesmaster to be able to come up with RP scenario on the fly
[17:26] Cursa Charisma nods
[17:26] Thaiis Thei: yes if there isnt a well developed scenario then a great GM is a must
[17:26] Vooper Werribee: so I like to think I could pretty much develope a scenario pretty easily if need be
[17:27] Vooper Werribee: I'd use the various tools and tricks that I used for GMing Traveller
[17:27] Anastasia Horngold: I'd be interested to learn more about those.
[17:28] Cursa Charisma nods
[17:28] Vooper Werribee: let me mention a few
[17:29] Vooper Werribee: 1) It's a big universe in Traveller and almost anything you can imagine exista somewhere - so =just adapt a plot from a TV show you saw last night, or the last book you read
[17:29] Anastasia Horngold nods
[17:30] Vooper Werribee: 2) They had books of little mini adventures available - if you were at a loss as a GM you just flipped to a page skimmed it - if you though it could fit well to the current situation use it - if not flip to anothe rpage and repeat
[17:30] Cursa Charisma nods
[17:30] Anastasia Horngold: Add vermouth, stir, and serve.
[17:30] Cursa Charisma: Some prefer shaken, not stirred
[17:30] Cursa Charisma winks
[17:30] Cursa Charisma: Excellent, Vooper
[17:30] Vooper Werribee: ah - if only I knew the delights of a good Martini at the time :)
[17:31] Cursa Charisma: Reiko?
[17:31] Reiko Soyinka: I'm more a facilitator than a developer. I cannot usually come up with plots but I can fit almost any character into any type of semi-compatable roleplay...with the exception of Warhammer 40K
[17:31] Reiko Soyinka: Also, I think I'm rather limited by human behavior in real life and the idea that you can't kill, in SL.
[17:31] Hipster Triangle: Bond,James Bond,that is,smiles
[17:31] Cursa Charisma grins
[17:31] Allen Kerensky: Big List of RPG Plots by S. John Ross: http://www.io.com/%7Esjohn/plots.htm
[17:31] Cursa Charisma: This is another important question: lack of permadeath in SL
[17:32] Cursa Charisma: Thank you, Allen, a wonderful resource!
[17:32] Anastasia Horngold: yes!
[17:32] Thaiis Thei: there is only lack of permadeath becasue people are too woosy to do it
[17:32] Cursa Charisma: Yes
[17:32] Cursa Charisma: But the fact is that it's simply not used in most SL RP
[17:32] Allen Kerensky: and lack of a quick new character generator in SL to help people get off and running again in a new persona quickly
[17:33] Anastasia Horngold: hmmm... interesting.
[17:33] Thaiis Thei: that is because of (my favourite thing to pick on ) the evil permission system of doom!!!
[17:33] Allen Kerensky: i have a 96 page character generator book for each genre: fantasy, modern, or sci-fi - takes about 2 hours to do one character.
[17:33] Reiko Soyinka: I'm getting somewhat irritated with the reliance on...
[17:33] Reiko Soyinka: older forms of roleplay.
[17:33] Cursa Charisma: Yes, Reiko
[17:34] Reiko Soyinka: The human mind is the fastest character generator in the 'verse.
[17:34] Hipster Triangle: nods
[17:34] Cursa Charisma: Drawing on what is known and familiar is understandable and valuable, but this is a different medium from the tabletop
[17:34] Anastasia Horngold smiles.
[17:34] Allen Kerensky: the human mind also has writers block. Tools like generators can rejumpstart that creative process.
[17:34] Reiko Soyinka: I was stunned when I first heard of using dice in this venue.
[17:34] Reiko Soyinka: done.
[17:34] Cursa Charisma: The question is, what is necessary and sufficient to make new characters and plots in SL
[17:35] Cursa Charisma: Alright, let's move on
[17:35] Cursa Charisma: Hipster?
[17:35] Vooper Werribee: Agreed - there are conventions of tabletop that don't work well in SL
[17:35] Hipster Triangle: ok
[17:35] Hipster Triangle: i still use the chat animation,so ya know im bout ta say something
[17:35] Brooke Rhea: I think it's because you really have to put alot into how your character looks, dresses and other things more in SL than you do in tabletop.
[17:35] Cursa Charisma nods
[17:35] Vooper Werribee: hell! There are even conventions of tabletop (*cough* classes *cough* levels) that don't always work well in tabletop :)
[17:36] Cursa Charisma nods
[17:36] Hipster Triangle: Yes.I have much trouble developing rp scenarios
[17:36] Hipster Triangle: because,you can never please everyone
[17:36] Hipster Triangle: and some are not made for rp
[17:37] Hipster Triangle: done,sighs
[17:37] Cursa Charisma nods
[17:37] Anastasia Horngold: I've had a lot of trouble coming up with scenarios because...
[17:37] Anastasia Horngold: in SL there aren't any real "needs" to motivate me.
[17:38] Cursa Charisma: Very interesting
[17:38] Thaiis Thei: really?
[17:38] Anastasia Horngold: Characters are driven by needs for food, shelter, clothing, love, sex, power, money, --not necessarily in that order
[17:38] Hipster Triangle: you have never Dreamed Anastasia?
[17:38] Cursa Charisma smiles broadly
[17:38] Cursa Charisma: Vooper, you're not the only Maslow fan
[17:38] Anastasia Horngold: Those needs don't really apply here
[17:38] Thaiis Thei: I mean about no needs
[17:38] Thaiis Thei: sure they do
[17:39] Joan Vhargon: But we simulate those needs
[17:39] Thaiis Thei: but mostly as the top level ones
[17:39] Cursa Charisma: Does this relate to the lack of permadeath, Anastasia?
[17:39] Joan Vhargon: I gave a talk on this last year.
[17:39] Cursa Charisma: Yes
[17:39] Brooke Rhea: I find that they do. And I've used those needs quite a bit to interact with characters.
[17:39] Anastasia Horngold: I don't think I've been able to simulate those needs and feel them in any way here.
[17:39] Hipster Triangle: Permadeath,or talk of depresses me
[17:39] Thaiis Thei: why?
[17:40] Hipster Triangle: I want to Live,an enjoy
[17:40] Cursa Charisma: I'm trying to get at the lack of a sense of intense character motivation that Anastasia is encountering
[17:40] Hipster Triangle: Life is just a little while
[17:40] Cursa Charisma: Welcome, DylanFox
[17:40] Dex Argent: Yo!
[17:41] Hipster Triangle: SL,or RL
[17:41] Anastasia Horngold: The only need I have noticed here is wanting to connect to people, and that can be very challenging with our limited capabilities.
[17:41] Cursa Charisma: So you're talking about ooc player needs, rather than ic character needs?
[17:41] Anastasia Horngold: My avi isn't actually hungry, or cold, or such
[17:41] Vooper Werribee: mine is!
[17:41] Anastasia Horngold: haha
[17:41] Brooke Rhea: Neither are characters in a story.
[17:42] Brooke Rhea: In any fiction
[17:42] Vooper Werribee shivers
[17:42] Cursa Charisma: So you'd like to get more structure on that sort of thing, Anastasia? Systems like HTCS can do that, and the SR meter at Vooper's sim
[17:42] Hipster Triangle: anyone got a Blanket?
[17:42] Brooke Rhea: It's how you define your sense of reality in the cooperative fiction.
[17:42] Brooke Rhea: I think I do but it's not transferable ;-)
[17:42] Hipster Triangle: darn
[17:42] Anastasia Horngold: As much as I feel immersed in the SL environment at times, it's emotional/aesthetic rather than visceral.
[17:42] Medea Warwillow: Yes, all of those transferred realities can come to life in SL with meters and such.
[17:43] Anastasia Horngold: Hmm, meters. I don't know!
[17:43] Dex Argent: Hm.
[17:43] Anastasia Horngold: Well, I've said my piece on that. next?
[17:43] Hipster Triangle: I hate meters,myself
[17:43] Joan Vhargon: spits over shoulder
[17:43] Dex Argent is totally anti-meter.
[17:43] Hipster Triangle: grins
[17:44] Bletaverse Server: Image received. Visit http://bletaverse.com/Cursa%20Charisma to see your post.
[17:44] Cursa Charisma: Excellent - we have identified a definite topic for future discussion: "Meters - Do They Have to Suck?"
[17:44] Anastasia Horngold: rofl
[17:44] Joan Vhargon: laughs
[17:44] Hipster Triangle: Yes,they do,for the record,lol
[17:44] Cursa Charisma: OK, Allen's turn
[17:44] Cursa Charisma: hehe
[17:44] Vooper Werribee: :)
[17:44] Allen Kerensky: rl crisis skip me
[17:44] Cursa Charisma: kk
[17:44] Cursa Charisma: Joan?
[17:45] DylanFox Petrov accepted your inventory offer.
[17:45] Joan Vhargon: Joan's pre-typed answer:
[17:45] Joan Vhargon: I have a lot of troble coming up with scenarios. The hardest part is player buy in and teaching the "history" of the scenario. How do we teach history? By telling stories.

I have found that the most successful RP scenarios I have been in were ones in which I was taught what was going on and then I dove in.**
[17:45] Reiko Soyinka grins
[17:45] Joan Vhargon: trouble*
[17:45] Hipster Triangle: nods
[17:46] Joan Vhargon: whispers, "PLAYER BUY IN was suppsed to be in all caps"
[17:46] Vooper Werribee: Ah yes! I have seen the situation sooo many times where someone sets up a plot - probably in a way which thaey feel is subtle yet intriguing and everyone eignores it
[17:46] Dex Argent: Presentation is everything.
[17:46] Cursa Charisma: Yes, and background material is seen as "homework" and shunned
[17:46] Anastasia Horngold: "subtle yet intriguing" ! lol
[17:46] Reiko Soyinka: Yes...
[17:47] Frog Hoppers and Satins Friends Group Notice: Hi everyone gonna need your company tonight Erin has laft me to do bogarts by myself...hope to see you there
[17:47] Reiko Soyinka: yes...that is another peeve...
[17:47] Joan Vhargon: Its amazing that in a medium that is largly text based people still don't want to read.
[17:47] Dex Argent: There seem to be two main groups of RP'ers: Storytellers, and Casual
[17:47] Vooper Werribee: The best way to get player buy in to is do the set up blatently and OOC
[17:47] Cursa Charisma: But it is true, nonetheless
[17:47] Reiko Soyinka: I'm gonna come play in your sim but don't you dare ask me to know what it is you are playing.
[17:48] Joan Vhargon: Voopers comment is what I'm speaking of. Teaching.
[17:48] Dex Argent: The storytellers want background and step-up and like complex and intriguing storylines.
[17:48] Vooper Werribee: Event today at this time: background is this: you character wants to be here for these reasons: if you want to have fun come along - if you really don't think your character 'would do that sort of thing' that's your problem and your choice - you'll miss the fun! :)
[17:48] Cursa Charisma: Good, Vooper
[17:48] Hipster Triangle: nods
[17:48] Joan Vhargon: But...
[17:49] Allen Kerensky: gotta go folks, sorry... have a good evening and thanks! looking forward to the transcript
[17:49] Cursa Charisma: Peace, Allen
[17:49] Dex Argent: The Casual players don't want to be bothered with long-term stories and just RP their characters in the moment.
[17:49] Joan Vhargon: I want to get back to history
[17:49] Thaiis Thei: Bye allen
[17:49] Hipster Triangle: bye allen
[17:49] Anastasia Horngold: bye allen!
[17:49] Brooke Rhea: I agree with Dex. and For hte most part I don't build plots with them in mind.
[17:49] Joan Vhargon: Five people come to a loose RP with 5 different histories. Can it work?
[17:49] Medea Warwillow: Bye Allen!
[17:49] Joan Vhargon: Bye allen
[17:49] Brooke Rhea: You just sorta say your "hi"s and walk away.
[17:50] Cursa Charisma: Joan, it can indeed work - but not automatically for any five people
[17:50] Brooke Rhea: And I think it can work Joan, as long as people are interested in others histories.
[17:50] Reiko Soyinka: HOLD it...
[17:50] Reiko Soyinka: talk about only one thing, please.
[17:50] Cursa Charisma: The question is background
[17:50] Cursa Charisma: How much is needed, how much will people seek out in practice
[17:50] Joan Vhargon: Ahhh yes. Sorry about that.
[17:51] Anastasia Horngold: It was Joan's turn, I think?
[17:51] Cursa Charisma: Yes, we're discussing points Joan raised
[17:51] Cursa Charisma: Shall we move on?
[17:51] Joan Vhargon: My comment was about buy in.
[17:51] Cursa Charisma: OK
[17:52] Cursa Charisma: Let's focus on buy-in
[17:52] Cursa Charisma: Immersing players in a game session
[17:52] Dex Argent: If you want a storyline to work, the GM has to put the time in. The Storyteller players will be all over it; The Casuala will say :Huh?"
[17:53] Reiko Soyinka: Afater the last week...
[17:54] Joan Vhargon: Actually everone has to put the time in. That's the key
[17:54] Dex Argent: Identify your audience.
[17:54] Cursa Charisma: Good, Dex
[17:54] Brooke Rhea: Most people aren't going to though. So you have to just work with the people who are, and then just "use' the rest when it works for oyu.
[17:54] Dex Argent: Always the key to good writing.
[17:54] Cursa Charisma: (and sorry for ignoring your tag earlier)
[17:54] Reiko Soyinka: I think the casuals are more like to say...is there someplace where we can insert some fighting...
[17:54] Dex Argent: (No problem, Cursa)
[17:55] Reiko Soyinka: Comment on what Brooke said...
[17:55] Cursa Charisma: Then you have to structure your scenario to allow an outlet for that if you want casuals joining
[17:55] Joan Vhargon: thinks (insert weapon here)
[17:55] Dex Argent: Indeed, Keiko/
[17:55] Anastasia Horngold: Speaking of time, have we really been here 2 hours?
[17:55] Cursa Charisma: So far, Anastasia
[17:55] Anastasia Horngold: I'm going to have to go.... sadly!
[17:55] Cursa Charisma: Then let's continue this discussion next week
[17:55] Reiko Soyinka: /nod
[17:55] Dex Argent: But, if you want a story with storytellers, pardon me, but who cares about the Casuals?
[17:55] Hipster Triangle: me also.RL work calls,has been most interesting
[17:55] Cursa Charisma: We still have a pile of questions to address
[17:56] Anastasia Horngold: Yes, and many I'm very intereste in hearing you talk about.
[17:56] Anastasia Horngold: You all.
[17:56] Reiko Soyinka: There is a problem, Brooke...
[17:56] Cursa Charisma: Yes, Dex, as you said, identify your audience. Many rp groups are seeking a broad and varied audience
[17:56] Hipster Triangle: nods,on other questions
[17:56] Brooke Rhea: And what's that Reiko?
[17:56] Cursa Charisma: Alright, thank you all for participating, and the transcript will be available shortly
[17:56] Joan Vhargon: These have been very good questions and a nice format. Thank you Anastasia.
[17:56] Vooper Werribee: Thanks for starting this discusioin Ana
[17:57] Anastasia Horngold: Thanks Joan, my pleasure.
[17:57] Reiko Soyinka: Most groups identify their players....then close their doors to any new ones.
[17:57] Cursa Charisma: I hope you all feel self-actualized
[17:57] Hipster Triangle: some want to RP,some dont,those that do ,get involved,I do,anyway
[17:57] Anastasia Horngold: lol
[17:57] Cursa Charisma smiles broadly
[17:57] Medea Warwillow: Thank you Anastasia! *applause*
[17:57] Joan Vhargon: So we are going to continue next week where we left off?
[17:57] Cursa Charisma: Yes, we'll start with the next question
[17:57] Medea Warwillow: I would say yes.
[17:57] Brooke Rhea: I don't think most do. Never seen anyone in SL really "Close their doors" to new players. Only those who really have nothing to add.
[17:57] Anastasia Horngold: That would be good.
[17:57] Brooke Rhea: I'm sure there are groups out there, but i don't participate in them.
[17:58] Anastasia Horngold: See you all next time, I hopw!
[17:58] Medea Warwillow performs the necessary copy paste for her next answer she has pretyped.
[17:58] Cursa Charisma: On behalf of the Role Play Nexus, and the SL RPG Developers group, once again, thank you all
[17:58] Joan Vhargon: There are many ways to close a door.
[17:58] Brooke Rhea: And I would encourage otherse to not as well.
[17:58] Hipster Triangle: dont be so cold Brooke,smiles
[17:59] Hipster Triangle: see ya'll later,have enjoyed your company,much
[17:59] Brooke Rhea: lol Not sure how it's Cold to say I won't participate in groups that close their doors to players.
[17:59] Dex Argent: I'll RP with anyone; I just have more fun with storytellers on a longterm basis
[17:59] Hipster Triangle: oh,sorry,must haved missed that,smiles
[17:59] Cursa Charisma: Joy of text communication
[17:59] Reiko Soyinka: hehehe, you can't participate in groups that close their doors to others...you can't get into them in the first place.
[18:00] Hipster Triangle: yeah,text,hard ta express your self
[18:00] Brooke Rhea: I have been invited to those type of groups before.
[18:00] Cursa Charisma: But the point is crucial if you want to draw a varied player base - have something for the different types of players you know will come
[18:00] Joan Vhargon: Thats my point. A group that has been together a long time ha stheir own history and chemesrty
[18:00] Hipster Triangle: bye Reiko
[18:00] Dex Argent: Can't be everything to everyone, though.
[18:01] Hipster Triangle: nods
[18:01] Vooper Werribee: That's true Joan - that history and chemistry can be a big hurdle that can prevent many new folk from joining in tho
[18:01] Brooke Rhea: But that doesn't mean they close to other players. I have my crew, and many of us have been rping for a while together. But I'm always looking for a good newbie to join.
[18:01] Medea Warwillow: Yes. And the attitudes of those established players can be either a hindrance or a help to new players.
[18:01] Cursa Charisma nods
[18:01] Joan Vhargon: They never feel like they belong because they don't get the references and they can't draw from them.
[18:01] Brooke Rhea: And I try to give just about anyone a chance.
[18:02] Thaiis Thei: I wont
[18:02] Thaiis Thei: fuck em
[18:02] Dex Argent: Good stories and active GMs can work wonders... just don't compromise and don't dilute.
[18:02] Thaiis Thei: ;)
[18:02] Cursa Charisma: Thank you, Thaiis
[18:02] Cursa Charisma: *smh*
[18:02] Medea Warwillow looks for something to throw at Thaiis
[18:02] Joan Vhargon: I would like to continue next week from here.....
[18:02] Cursa Charisma nods
[18:02] Medea Warwillow: ALright, Thaiis will be about to be struck by an airborne object when we return.
[18:03] Cursa Charisma: I'll get the transcript edited asap and Medea will have it up on her most excellent Nexus blog
[18:03] Thaiis Thei: i'll be sure to wear my impenetrable shield that day
[18:03] Dex Argent snickers
[18:03] Medea Warwillow grins
[18:03] Brooke Rhea: brb
[18:03] Cursa Charisma: hb, Brooke
[18:05] Cursa Charisma: So, Vooper, are these worth staying up for?
[18:05] Cursa Charisma grins
[18:05] Vooper Werribee: well, we're still an hour closer in timezones to US than usual
[18:05] Vooper Werribee: so it's only 1am for me
[18:06] Vooper Werribee: Thes eare great discussions though
[18:06] Cursa Charisma: Excellent
[18:06] Cursa Charisma: Some benefit from the frivolous flights of fancy in the States then
[18:06] Joan Vhargon: I must run. See you all next week.
[18:06] Vooper Werribee: Everytime I attend or even read a transcript I'm reminded that there are so many different ways of viewing RP - and lots of different reasons to do it
[18:06] Cursa Charisma: Peace, Joan
[18:07] Cursa Charisma nods
[18:07] Reiko Soyinka: Bye, Joan.
[18:07] Medea Warwillow: Bye Joan
[18:07] Cursa Charisma: Got to keep checking the pulse of the market and the medium
[18:07] Reiko Soyinka: Those questions are making me think in ways I don't normally...
[18:08] Reiko Soyinka looks at where hipster was sitting...
[18:08] Reiko Soyinka: I normally prefer slitting throats.
[18:08] Vooper Werribee:
[18:09] Vooper Werribee: It's interesting to note the reaction to Meters as well
[18:09] Cursa Charisma: Yes
[18:09] Medea Warwillow: Yes..
[18:09] Brooke Rhea: backish for a few minutes
[18:09] Vooper Werribee: I like your suggestion for a talk o nthat topic Cursa :)
[18:09] Cursa Charisma: We definitely need to address that
[18:09] Brooke Rhea: then I need to run to dinner
[18:09] Cursa Charisma nods
[18:09] Brooke Rhea: but Yes I hate meters as well.
[18:10] Reiko Soyinka: I'm seeing fewer and fewer people wearing meters.
[18:10] Cursa Charisma: OK, Brooke, you've nourished your mind, now nourish your body, hehe
[18:10] Dex Argent: If I wanted to play video games, I'd be all over meters. But, I don't, so I'm not.
[18:10] Vooper Werribee: wow - *hate*
[18:10] Brooke Rhea: lol
[18:10] Vooper Werribee: that is a strong word
[18:10] Cursa Charisma: The question is, Dex, whether meters have to just be video game imports, or can they actually benefit rp
[18:10] Vooper Werribee: but is used in conjunction with meters so much
[18:10] Dex Argent: Haven't seen it yet.
[18:11] Cursa Charisma nods
[18:11] Vooper Werribee: :)
[18:11] Cursa Charisma: So, let's test the hypothesis
[18:11] Dex Argent: And, some meters create massive lag.
[18:11] Medea Warwillow: And there is a distinction to be made between roleplay meters and solely combat meters.
[18:11] Thaiis Thei: that only means the meters are poorly cooded
[18:11] Vooper Werribee: Are people associating meters with twiych style FPS combat
[18:11] Cursa Charisma: Yes, there are meters that do not suit SL at all
[18:11] Cursa Charisma: Yes, Vooper, they are
[18:11] Vooper Werribee: and they are really saying they hate FPS combat play
[18:11] Dex Argent: Yes.
[18:11] Reiko Soyinka: Yes...
[18:12] Cursa Charisma: FPS combat play in SL makes little sense to me
[18:12] Cursa Charisma: The infrastructure is not suitable
[18:12] Dex Argent: Spellfire can -almost- be used just for RP, but it isn't.
[18:12] Reiko Soyinka: It is so visually inept...
[18:12] Reiko Soyinka: Oh, Dex...
[18:12] Dex Argent: Hm?
[18:12] Vooper Werribee: Heheh - yes - very funny to watch - if you can keep up wuth the lag
[18:12] Reiko Soyinka: I'm not sure, but wasn't Spellfire the meter that was "copied"?
[18:13] Dex Argent: I have no idea, Reiko
[18:13] Dex Argent: I use it at Sylvhara because I have to.
[18:13] Cursa Charisma nods
[18:13] Reiko Soyinka: I don't really either, but some old timers won't use some meter because it was copied.
[18:13] Dex Argent: But, I always scram when a fight breaks out.
[18:14] Dex Argent: I think I knowthe meter you're thnking of.. but I don't remember what it was called.
[18:14] Reiko Soyinka: I hide when a fight breaks out.
[18:15] Dex Argent: Hiding never works: you have to leave the sim. :-/
[18:15] Reiko Soyinka: Not if you are an admin...then you have to stay and hide.
[18:15] Vooper Werribee: Well, I must leave now too ...
[18:15] Dex Argent: Dragons do not respect non-coms and bystanders
[18:15] Vooper Werribee is worried a fight is about to break out
[18:15] Cursa Charisma: Sweet dreams, Vooper
[18:15] Cursa Charisma laughs
[18:15] Dex Argent: Heh
[18:15] Cursa Charisma: Brazen!
[18:15] Vooper Werribee: thanks again for organising and chairing today Cursa
[18:15] Reiko Soyinka: Sleep well, Vooper...
[18:16] MistressBrazen Bondar: hey there
[18:16] Cursa Charisma: NP, Vooper
[18:16] Medea Warwillow: Hey Brazen
[18:16] Vooper Werribee waves
[18:16] Reiko Soyinka: Ohai, Brazen.
[18:16] Cursa Charisma: Round 2 should be good as well
[18:16] MistressBrazen Bondar: hi Reiko
[18:16] MistressBrazen Bondar: Medea
[18:16] MistressBrazen Bondar: thaiis, Dylan fox
[18:17] Dex Argent: Heya, Brazen
[18:17] Reiko Soyinka: Brazen, you missed a good one.
[18:17] Thaiis Thei: Hi Brazen
[18:17] Dex Argent: I'm going to go see what, if anything, is shaking at Necro. See yas later.
[18:18] Cursa Charisma: Medea, if you're on for a few, I need to relog and then I can edit the transcript
[18:18] Cursa Charisma: Watch out for the tentacles, Dex
(transcript ends)

No comments:

Post a Comment