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Anyone interested in doing a forum roleplay?

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Fiore1300's picture
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Joined: 07/24/2011

I've got a few ideas tossing around in my head, but I'm down for anything. If we want to build something together, all the better. I'm just hungry for some good roleplaying. And I'm not sure how much interest is out there. These forums have been pretty slow for a long time.

TLDovahkiin's picture
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I'm interested, I love RPG.

Bibliophael's picture
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I was there when the last one died. I'd be up for another, but I can't say I'm optimistic.

Fiore1300's picture
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What are you guys interested in doing?

On my end, I don't want a potentially endless behemoth. Something with a definitive beginning, middle, and end. Maybe a straightforward quest in the classic sense. As I see it, if we're having a blast we can always find ways to bring characters over to a new story. But to start we should have a definitive ending in mind. Somewhere we can stop with some satisfaction.

Raga's picture
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I could be down, I'm just not sure how such a thing works, as I've never done it before. Could someone elaborate?

Bibliophael's picture
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Fiore1300 wrote:

What are you guys interested in doing?

How about a classic dungeon crawl? A party of adventurers set on fame and fortune, sort of like the people you find on the way to Blackreach, except that we're PCs and therefore somewhat less likely to die horribly. It would give us a pretty clear there-and-back-again sense of purpose.

The following are a few dungeons I came up with off the top of my head, but there's certainly more we could choose from if we decide to go with this.

  • Kemel-Ze
  • An Oblivion Gate at the time of the Crisis
  • Labyrinthian
Fiore1300's picture
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Bibliophael wrote:

How about a classic dungeon crawl? 

I could be down with that. As for the dungeon, what about one of Arena's? Crypt of Hearts, Elden Grove, Fang Lair, or the Halls of Colossus? We don't have a lot of information on these places, so we can basically turn these dungeons into anything we want. It'll give us a chance to build some good lore for the place.

A while back I had an idea for an RP that I called "Return to Castle Shedungent," but this is less a dungeon romp and more a overland adventure ending in a (small) dungeon romp. 

Raga wrote:
I could be down, I'm just not sure how such a thing works, as I've never done it before. Could someone elaborate?

Sure. A forum roleplay is essentially a story written by its participants collectively through the actions of characters that they control. To do this, everyone creates a character (or characters) and they make posts from their own character's perspective (i.e. they roleplay). Generally speaking, the goal is to make a good story arc for your character and have fun while doing it. No one knows how exactly how their individual story may end. Instead, the story emerges as we play. Generally there is a leader who moves the overarching story along so it doesn't get bogged down, but even they don't know how things will play out.

There are some examples in this very forum. Check this one out, for example.

When approaching an RP (Roleplay), there are a few things you should remember:

  • Be nice to your fellow players. 
  • Stay in character as much as possible.
  • Build interesting, flawed, and lore-friendly characters. 
  • Don't control characters belonging to other people without permission.
  • Don't be OP (over-powered). 
Raga's picture
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I figured it would be similar to D&D, I just wasn't quite sure how it worked asynchronously on the interwebs; if there's a DM, if we dice-roll, etc. In any case, it sounds fun.

You can count me in.

Fiore1300 wrote:
  • Don't be OP (over-powered). 
  • Aw, you mean I can't be Godhead???

    Bibliophael's picture
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    Fiore1300 wrote:

    I could be down with that. As for the dungeon, what about one of Arena's? Crypt of Hearts, Elden Grove, Fang Lair, or the Halls of Colossus? We don't have a lot of information on these places, so we can basically turn these dungeons into anything we want. It'll give us a chance to build some good lore for the place.

    That's fine by me.

    TLDovahkiin's picture
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    I have a weird love for Crypt of Hearts. Kemel-Ze or Halls of Colossus would be nice, too.

    Is there anyone who would want to be the DM?

    Fiore1300's picture
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    Crypt of Hearts it is then.

    The Lusty Dovahkiin wrote:

    Is there anyone who would want to be the DM?

    Would you like the position, Lusty?

     

    Raga's picture
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    When the time comes, will we post our characters in the "Character Creation" thread that exists, or is that one outdated?

    ImperialBastard's picture
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    I'm new to this forum, but not new to descriptive RP. I've been writing since I was 8 and began RPing at age 11. I'm 30 now, so yeah, haha, I'm well versed in the matter.

     
    I began on AOL chatrooms (Rhy'Din Represent!). I joined a few forums after my confidence and skill excelled and haven't turned back since. I even ran a rather successful TESRP forum on proboards after the launch of Oblivion, which was called The Tales of Tamriel. It went defunct after I moved and was unable to access the net for a few months, sadly. 
     
    Oblivion remains to be my favorite game EVER. My love for Cyrodiil and the Imperial City is FIERCE. So, don't be surprised if the majority of my characters are Imperial. I play ESO and RP on it, but haven't in a while because my comp crashed. I'm excited to see an RP section on this site!
     
    As for the RP itself, I'm game for anything. My main character is pretty versatile and flexible with timelines and areas. I'd prefer to stay out of Black Marsh and Elseweyr, though, but if that's the setting then so be it. Look forward to our adventures!
    Fiore1300's picture
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    Raga wrote:

    When the time comes, will we post our characters in the "Character Creation" thread that exists, or is that one outdated?

    You don't have to post a character sheet, but if you do, the Character Creation thread is a fine place to do it.

     

    I might post mine just so I have it to refer to when I'm posting away from my computer.

    Bibliophael's picture
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    So. Shall we?

    ImperialBastard's picture
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    I'm game! Just let me know what era.

    TLDovahkiin's picture
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    Fiore1300 wrote:

    Crypt of Hearts it is then.

    The Lusty Dovahkiin wrote:

    Is there anyone who would want to be the DM?

    Would you like the position, Lusty?

    Sure, if you want me to take it. Sorry for late reply.

    So tell me what Era would you like? Second Era during the Three Banners War? Third Era before the Oblivion Crisis/during it? Fourth Era after the Last Dragonborn's time? These are my suggestions but you are free to say whatever you would like. I can DM in any time period.

    Armsmaster Festil's picture
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    Hey there, I'm a longtime lurker and first time poster. I'd love to do some roleplay stuff if at all possible. I'm new to role playing so I may not be the best at it. Somebody might have to lay some of the rules out for me. I love TES Lore and I'm a huge fan of taking some of the more obscure elements of Arena and Daggerfalls lore and expanding on it to make it fit in more with our more modern understanding of Nirn. 

    ImperialBastard's picture
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    I vote 3E before the Oblivion Crisis, but can do any. 

     

    Working on Character Sheet now. 

    Fiore1300's picture
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    Late 3rd Era sounds good to me. Let's do that.

    The Lusty Dovahkiin wrote:

    Sure, if you want me to take it. 

    You have my blessing. I guessed you might have some inspiration for where to take the Crypt. I'll make the first post sometime tomorrow (unless you want to - let me know ASAP). Then its your ballgame.

    Bibliophael wrote:

    So. Shall we?

    I agree. Enough loitering. I'll make the first post tomorrow. We'll start in a tavern in Evermore.

    ImperialBastard's picture
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    We going with the Reign of Uriel VII or Pelagius?

     

    If Uriel, post or pre Tharn Impersonation or Warp of the West?

     

    Sorry to get down to minute specifics, but I just want to know exactly what I can do with my character. I'm using my Legionaire that I created back when I started up Morrowind and got to know the lore better. This character has been through each TES game (ancestors in most cases) since, including ESO. I'm altering my ESO character  sheet, but don't want to make drastic changes, hence my need for specifics. 

    Raga's picture
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    We agree before the Oblivion Crisis, but are we set before or after the Warp in the West? I apologize for yet more preliminaries, but such context could enrich the story and give us more to bounce off of. Evermor is on the border to Hammerfell, with both provinces having been changed by the event. The commotion could very well bring us all together for varying reasons.

    Or am I just thinking too hard?

    Fiore1300's picture
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    ImperialBastard wrote:

    We going with the Reign of Uriel VII or Pelagius?

    Let's go with the year of Uriel's birth, 346, the 7th year of Pelagius IV's reign. News of Prince Uriel's birth is fresh on everyone's mind.

     

    EDIT: On further consideration, Evermor is a lot further south than the Crypt on modern maps than it was in Arena, which lies on the coast of the Sea of Ghosts. So we'll start at a small (currently unnamed) village on the northern coast, not far from the Crypt.

    TLDovahkiin's picture
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    I like Fiore's idea, birth of Uriel Septim VII. If everyone likes it, then let's go. I think we should make character sheets that focus on stories of the characters and their primary skills, like whether they wear heavy or light, what weapons they use, can they do alchemy, etc. It will be a dungeon crawl, so you don't have to write huuuuuge sheets. Obviously you can expand the sheet later and use the same characters if we will play a longer campaign, I guess. Just remember that your characters cannot be masters of everything -use common sense when picking skills, take your character's age into consideration, and so on.

    ImperialBastard's picture
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    So... My character can't be a Dwemer engineered Dragon?

    Pfft, I quit. 

    Hahaha!

    In all seriousness, though. I'm excited for this. 

    Raga's picture
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    Fiore1300 wrote:

    EDIT: On further consideration, Evermor is a lot further south than the Crypt on modern maps than it was in Arena, which lies on the coast of the Sea of Ghosts. So we'll start at a small (currently unnamed) village on the northern coast, not far from the Crypt.

    While not a small village, perhaps Shornhelm? It is known as 'The Keeper of the Crypt of Hearts'.

    Fiore1300's picture
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    Roleplay is up!

    A day late but whatever. I was having a bit of writer's block for the first post of the roleplay. No pressure, right? 

    Raga wrote:

    While not a small village, perhaps Shornhelm? It is known as 'The Keeper of the Crypt of Hearts'.

    Not a bad choice, but I went ahead and invented a little fishing town called Carrickdown to suit our purposes. Its only two leagues from the Crypt. Convenient.

     

    Raga's picture
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    What is the etiqutte regarding player turns? Does everyone go once a pass? And what if the thread slows to a crawl and no one has posted in a while?

    TLDovahkiin's picture
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    Honestly, at the start it's all up to you how and when you will leave the tavern, after you guys gather. I guess my DM role will emerge in the Crypt, where I will introduce its inhabitants and create the environment for you, but now it's just gathering and tavern talk. I'm still wondering if I should make a character or just DM.

    To make this roleplay clear (to make sure if I think what you think): I see DMing like this: you obviously can control some NPCs like tavern girls who serve wine, because it doesn't really change things when you just order wine or have a brawl, or anything else like this. I should play with other NPCs, like for example when you start travelling to the Crypt you can encounter some dangers, or I can help you to gather in the tavern with some NPC telling the Redguard that over there sits a Breton who needs companions. Yes? Is what I said right or not? Just making sure because every forum roleplay is specific, a bit different than DMing in real life. And I just want everyone to be clear.

    Raga's picture
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    I meant to ask, more specifically, as to the format of everyone's posting. Is it rigid, as in D&D, where one player will act for one turn, then the next, then the next, in a cycle that repeats? Obviously I don't want to hijack the thread and reduce it to a masturbatory opus, but when we're playing asynchronously, pacing could become an issue.

    Again, I apologize if I'm asking stupid questions, I've just never done a forum role-play before and want to make sure I know how everything works. I imagine most nuance will become apparent as we progress, but there are some things I just want to be sure of.

    Fiore1300's picture
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    Raga wrote:
    What is the etiqutte regarding player turns? Does everyone go once a pass? And what if the thread slows to a crawl and no one has posted in a while?

    Turns are free-form. Post when you are able and when it feels right to do so. One of the most difficult things to manage in an RP is the timeline, especially since some players post more often than other players. Best thing to do is to get a idea of a timeline in your head as things unfold and try not to drastically outstrip it too much.

    Sometimes you may want to post while the timeline is at a crawl. This is usually a great time to have your character deliver some sort of internal monologue, such as reminiscing about their past or fretting over current events. Another good option is to engage and talk someone who may also be waiting for things to continue. Or, in the case of a public place like this, you can make up an NPC to talk to. Both internal thoughts and conversation are generally good ways to post without advancing the timeline.

    The Lusty Dovahkiin wrote:

    I guess my DM role will emerge in the Crypt, where I will introduce its inhabitants and create the environment for you, but now it's just gathering and tavern talk. I'm still wondering if I should make a character or just DM.

    To make this roleplay clear (to make sure if I think what you think): I see DMing like this: you obviously can control some NPCs like tavern girls who serve wine, because it doesn't really change things when you just order wine or have a brawl, or anything else like this. I should play with other NPCs, like for example when you start travelling to the Crypt you can encounter some dangers, or I can help you to gather in the tavern with some NPC telling the Redguard that over there sits a Breton who needs companions. Yes? Is what I said right or not? Just making sure because every forum roleplay is specific, a bit different than DMing in real life. And I just want everyone to be clear.

    Feel free to make a character if you feel like you can manage both. Sometimes its useful to have a character - usually a leader - on the party so you can keep everyone moving forward. But controlling a character and various monsters and NPCs we encounter can be quite overwhelming.

    Also, yes you have a pretty good grasp of it. Feel free to drop in at any time. You can invent NPCs (we may need a local guide to lead us to the Crypt, for example) or take others (like Sabina the Barmaid or the Nords who fought Raga's character) and roleplay with them. In general, you should help keep the RP moving forward, and you can be a great help in keeping the timeline coherent.