The Next Adventure... (Planning the next RP)

[Seth Astra]

So, here's the thing. I like to RP. That much should be clear if you know me. However, I have noticed that RPing has become more or less a cult thing. I want that fixed. So, in this thread, I want to collect ideas. Here's how this'll work:

Phase 1: Everyone can post 1 RP and can nominate one RP OR second an existing nomination. 12 nominations that get seconded will go to phase 2 (I'll figure something out if we get more than 12 seconded nominations). You cannot nominate or second a nomination for your own RP. That should go without saying.
Phase 2: I create a poll with the winners from phase 1. Unlike the previous one, you CAN vote for your RP. Not like I can keep you from doing so.
Phase 3: We make the RP.

Phase 1 and 2 will be one week each (unless I find a reason to call it sooner). I would like to get this done sooner, but I need to be fair about this.

Anyway, on to Phase 1!

Ok, here's a template for pitching the idea:

Spoiler!

Name: Self explanitory.
Universe: The world it takes place in, choose from Ragol, Gurhal, Coral, Algol, or Original. If using an original world, you should explain in great detail, else I will be a jerk and not accept it.
General Location: Summarize where it takes place in here. Optional if it spans pretty much the entire known univers that is used. Write N/A for Original universes.
Rough Time Frame: Basically a quick summary of when this takes place in relation to the major events of the series (especially important for Gurhal, what with the many different games that take place there), write N/A if set in an original location.



RP Style: Choose from the below:

1. Open World: These RPs essentially give the basic setting, then let the players run wild with ideas and the plot.
2. Overarching Story: These RPs have an overarching story, that the RP creator will gradually nudge the players towards.
3. Fanfic-esque: The RP creator will control the overall movements of the players, and may deliberately ask them to do something differently to keep with the plot. If doing this, try not to be a jerk.
4. Combination: If you had something else in mind, please explain.
5. Multiple: A RP can transition between styles. Explain which styles will be used and the balance between them.

RP Type: Just an idea of what will be happening in the RP. Suggestions (Note, there is no pure combat type because that'd be pretty much impossible):

1. Combat Heavy: These will be mostly fighting, with most social stuff happening as brief intermissions between fights.
2. Primarily Combat: These stories generally revolve around fighting, but provide ample time for socializing and character development.
3. Balanced: These don't really lean either way. (Note: Most, but not all, Open World RPs will be this, seeing as the results of one can be unpredictable)
4. Primarily Social: These RPs will be more about character development and interaction, but will also be able to satisfy the combat nerd in you.
5. Social Heavy: These RPs will mostly be about interaction between characters, with relatively little combat.
6. Pure Social: No combat. I don't need to say much more.

RP Length: A rough estimation of length. Note that Open World RPs will almost certainly last a long time, while fanfic-esques can be just about any length. Also note that RPs can last much longer than intended, or be much shorter. Choose from:

1. Very Long: 1/2 year+
2. Long: 3-6 Months.
3. Moderate: 1-2 Months.
4. Short: Less than 1 month.

Summary: Summarize the setting and plot (if applicable) of your RP. Please put significant effort into this. This will likely make or break your RP when it comes to voting. Feel free to be cryptic if you have some details you want to use as plot twists. Basically, let us know what to expect.

Now copy and paste this forum and fill it out to post your idea:

Spoiler!

[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Universe:[/b]
[b]General Location:[/b]
[b]Rough Time Frame:[/b]
[b]RP Style:[/b]
[b]RP Type:[/b]
[b]RP Length:[/b]
[b]Summary:[/b]

If you have any questions or suggestions (such as things to add to the template) just mention it.

EDIT: 1 rule that must be followed (I know I had another one, but I forgot it):

It must be Phantasy Star based. Original universes are still fine, just make sure they fit in with Phantasy Star.

[BIG OLAF]

Holy shit, Seth. I don't think many people are going to want to go through the trouble of filling out that entire template. I opened the spoiler box and was just like "Damn!"

I might do it tomorrow when I'm not half asleep, though.

[Wayu]

I don't care.

:3

Fine with anything.

-Wayu

[yoshiblue]

Sounds fun. I'll work on it when i'm less sleepy.

[RenzokukenZ]

This seems like you're trying too hard.

I'm neutral either way, and fine with anything.

[Sord]

I'll actually fill this out. Though it's probably not going to be the type you guys are used to, or even may want to do. However it does serve a purpose.

Name: Don't know, I never care about names 'till way later. For now lets just call it "Survival," since that's what it's going to be about.
Universe: We could make our own, but we could just as well be crash landed on Ragol or any other planet.
General Location: See above.
Rough Time Frame: Ending could easily be set, as the "goal" of the characters is basically just to survive until they are found or find society. So you could make it 1 month or a whole year, I don't care.
RP Style: Mostly social, combat can be there, but should be mostly minimal.
RP Type: Limited open-world (the world is going to be open, but there are rules I'll list in the summary.)
RP Length:Ending could easily be set, as the "goal" of the characters is basically just to survive until they are found or find society. So you could make it 1 month or a whole year, I don't care. If it gets boring, it'll be the type you can end on the spot if everyone starts disliking it.
Summary: Alright, here's the deal. For whatever reason we/you decide, our characters are stuck in a survival situation. We don't have a lot of food, we are not hardcore grizzly survival vets or anything, we have limited resources when we get stranded (low on food, water, one or two weapons might be prevalent but not enough for the whole group) none of us are superstrong, superfast, or have 20+ years of martial arts/battle experience blah blah blah. You will be, in effect, a normal civilian. Specific details of what we have can be decided upon if the idea is even accepted.

Now here's the very special rule that limits things, while also kind of forcing you to write in a fan fiction style. When you want to use something as a resource, you cannot create it yourself. You can only use what's been described by other users. For example, you cannot just say "I pick up a sharp rock and tie it to a stick to form a spear." Someone first has to describe that there is even a rock bed existent in the first place, perhaps by a creek or something (keep in mind that would also create a creek, so now the next person can be the one to come up with the idea of spears, and/or do something with running water. You can do as much as you want, but only in the confines of what has been described by another user.) Even the stick itself may need to be described, if we aren't in a woodsy environment where sticks would be abundant (if we're stranded on a beach/island that mostly has palms, which don't really branch to have sticks, someone would have to describe driftwood branches on the beach, and someone could use that for their stick. The describer doesn't have to have their character specifically tell anyone, but it has to be somewhere in their description of the landscape.) You'll also need something to hold the rock to the stick. You are only allowed to describe things that are actually visible to your character. They cannot know things beyond their normal senses (for example, you wouldn't be able to tell when a forest ends and turns into a plain, and you can't describe that as a 3rd person narrator either, someone will have to actually go exploring to find that out.) Because of these rules, you are not allowed to have more than one character. I know some of you like to control more than one, but for the purpose of this RP, you cannot do that.

Keep in mind contacting one another outside the confines of the RP to preplan descriptions to get what resources you want is cheating. The point is that everyone actually pays attention to their environmental detail descriptions, so other players have the most to work with. Characters can also make things harder for everyone to survive if they so choose. For example, lets say you describe it as we're stuck near a large body of water (since it might be an ocean or a large lake, you can't see to the other side, but there are plenty of lakes big enough even here on Earth where that's the case, so it's totally plausible that it could be either.) The next person could taste it, and declare it freshwater (which would make things easier as we have something to drink) or salt water (which would make things much harder.) You could also describe the weather as being harsh (hot and dry) or we could be blessed with a cool rain (which would also be supplying us with a source of fresh water, unless we're in a very cold environment, in which case it'd suck because it would be to cold. Last I checked rain in 35 degree weather wasn't fun.)

Combat should primarily have to do with hunting or perhaps keeping a monster at bay that's trying to attack the group. However, you're supposed to be normal civilians (no exceptions) so your character cannot just walk in and slaughter 5 Boomas and say we're set for dinner. You could also fight amongst one another, but when you're dead, you're dead, and due to the nature of the RP, just adding in another person isn't going to fly. So I wouldn't encourage violent in-fighting. Though bickering and arguments and the like are totally encouraged, development in which characters start to hate one another's guts is still development.

So that's pretty much the idea. It's more of a writing exercise than anything, but in the confines of an RP play style.

One more note: if people start being inactive for so many days, but others still want to play, you could always have their character killed off from starvation/sickness/monster attack, etc. Depending on how they die, you might even be able to use them (take their clothes/tools and ditch the corpse; be a cannibal; use their bones for tools, whatever. Though I wouldn't keep rotting meat around to long as that leads to sickness, which could really fuck over a survival party.) Though obviously I'd PM that person on the matter before killing them off (or even let them kill themselves off, so they get to determine what's done with the corpse. If it gets dragged off by an animal, then you can't really use it, can you?)

The primary purpose of these rules is a writing exercise to make you better at detailing your surroundings. Rather than just "My character does/says X thing," you will have to write out the environment, how they alter it, and add things to the environment others may not have noticed (or go exploring and detail your find to the others, though for survival purposes it should usually be at least a group of two, plus because of the previous rule you would not be able to utilize anything new you see on the spot if it's just you.) It's no longer about just what your character is doing right that moment.

In retrospect, this kind of sounds like "Hatchet: The RP."

[Wayu]

^

If we do that my characters wouldn't fit in. x3

-Wayu

[Sayara]

Or maybe they can? Maybe let this be a way to tickle your writing capabilities to do something past the boring usual everyones accustomed to!

[Sord]

"Nothing ventured, nothing earned," maybe you'll actually get better at writing. Perhaps you could create a single, new character. That's not totally beyond your capabilities, is it?

[Sayara]

Truthfully, a social heavier or something like what Siyamak speaks of could be pretty fun for me to try. Haven't done an RP/group fic thingy since 2005!