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Thoughts on RP style

Posted by Cougar on August 23, 2013, 1:21 am

I've just had a sort of epiphany regarding just how much action to put into a given post in any role-playing scene, which should apply to vore-oriented scenes.

My idea is that you should think as if you were trying to translate a role-playing scene into a comic book format. There is only so much action which can be clearly packed into one panel; any more than that, and the action gets lost. So, accordingly, each post or paragraph in a scene should only contain as much action as could be depicted in a comic book panel.

Re: Thoughts on RP style

Posted by Tris on August 27, 2013, 3:18 am, in reply to "Thoughts on RP style"

This is something that's bugged me about RPs a lot. People get really bogged down in word count and ignore the fact that A) they haven't really actually done anything in the post worth reacting to or B) they've done so many things that many of them are seen as "autohits" because they've gone on to the next action without allowing a response.

I've had people yell at me for not matching their word count, when I've just been matching their actions.

Then there's the fact that I prefer the proper word choice to jamming as much flowery description into every line as I can...

Re: Thoughts on RP style

Posted by Rodent on August 28, 2013, 1:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Thoughts on RP style"

I agree completely on this. It's amazing to watch how many people seem to feel as if RPing is a competition to simply write the longest post, no matter how nonsensical most of it might be.

I've seen people who basically repeating the entire post of their partner, down to using matching adjectives, and then conclude with a simple 1 or 2 sentence follow up; only to proclaim how proud they are of the size of their post.

I've always wanted to see someone post a short sentence when in an RP with them, only to see how they turn that into a large post of their own. Of course, that would never happen.

Re: Thoughts on RP style

Posted by Strega on August 26, 2013, 12:56 am, in reply to "Thoughts on RP style"

One thing I always thought was important was not to put too many "Must answer" events in one post. If you have too many actions that require a response in your RP partner's pose, they are left with few options.

There's a lot of room for stylistic differences, though. Slow or fast scenes require different amounts of action per pose, for example.

Re: Thoughts on RP style

Posted by Terastas on August 24, 2013, 1:44 am, in reply to "Thoughts on RP style"

Might be easier to suggest that you're doing the reverse: Translating visual stimuli (comic book frame) into text (roleplay).

I sort of agree with Rodent in the sense that there's a sort of dual-panel dynamic where you essentially describe, first how your character reacts in the first panel, then dictate the action of the second panel. But the general idea is still the same: There should be a cap on how much you try to force into one post/panel, especially when working with small message boxes or constantly refreshing chat windows. There's a genuine cap on how much a person can be expected to read while knowing they are expected to respond.

My biggest advice to roleplayers, honestly, is to try to control their use of adjectives. Assume that your RP partner is not a complete and total dumbass and that, if they lacked an imagination, they wouldn't be able to RP at all, and trust them to be able to fill in the blanks for themselves (save for characteristics outside the norm like sudsy saliva or new car-smelling breath, for example).

I say that because I think "comic book" should describe the pace of an RP too. It's a leisure experience, one you should feel able to linger over unlike a movie, but it's purpose is to portray a series of events, so it does not demand the same kind of attention to detail that a portrait or other single-frame artwork would.

Re: Thoughts on RP style

Posted by Rodent on August 23, 2013, 5:49 pm, in reply to "Thoughts on RP style"

I like this idea, but I don't completely agree with the 1 panel restriction, and feel that it should be 2 panels instead.

The reason for this is that a single comic panel generally shows an action by one character, with a reaction by the other.

But, in an RP, you must combine your reaction from the other players previous action, as well as the action which you then take in response. In a comic panel, you do not see a character get punched and then punch back, in that single panel.

But I do think it is a good guideline for people to consider, as far too often someone will put in so much action and dialog, that there's no way for you to cleanly and clearly respond.

Re: Thoughts on RP style

Posted by Cougar on August 23, 2013, 7:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Thoughts on RP style"

Ah, thanks for the refinement of the idea; it's why I posted it in the first place, for the feedback. 83

Re: Thoughts on RP style

Posted by BigBadBear on August 25, 2013, 10:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Thoughts on RP style"

I can see how too much stuff going on in one single post can take away the fun, especially if there are things where your rp partner would have enjoyed putting his own point of view into and maybe offering other directions to the scene as well...

I have no clue how many pages of a comic you should compare your posts, but there is indeed a balance to respect and always keep in mind that your partner may want to include some of his/her input at some point.

This I notices tends to become natural when you get to know your rp partners and get a feel of when they need to include their inputs and when they like it when you lead them where you want...

As I always say, to each their own. Some will prefer 20 lines long paragraphs whereas others prefers 2 lines fast posts.

Burr.

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