An idea I'd like to share...

[Doaj]

As it goes, we often wonder how we can prevent an RP from dying. Many believe it to be impossible unless people hasten to the finish line before it loses their interest. A very rare feat. I have theory that, while isn't foolproof, is certainly a couple steps in the right direction. At least, I would say.

I've made a few of you look at the new usergroup I made, 'Tales Of Lore, Fantasy, and All Things Science Fiction', or just Tales of Lore. There isn't much on there except an incomplete bestiary, a few NPC bios, and a weapons catalog. However, I'll be posting more and more into this usergroup as time goes on until it's complete (which does have an end, mind you. It's all already on paper or in my head- just gotta find the time to type it out [and I also need to scan the map I drew. D=]).

This usergroup is the basis for an RP. A convenient place for me to put all of the fun facts that are on a need-to-know-basis. It seems like there's a lot, but some parts won't be relevant to some, while others won't be relevant to most. Now, you might be thinking, "Nobody cares about your usergroup. How is that RP not going to die?!"

SIMPLE.

It will be a temporary RP. It will mostly be an RP story, like Kendra and SS' story, Peter & the Wolf. It will be team written by me (and a couple others pending response). Now, 2-3 people can surely finish a story, amirite? On top of that, we will have guest posts too. So, if say Kendra, Michel and I team wrote this story, and people read it and responded because we're awesome and us three writing a story couldn't be anything short of miraculous, people would be interested. So, we let those interested people write out a chapter or two, probably 5-10 pages in length.

And why won't it die? Because another chapter will never feel like an obligation. I can post three chapters in a row, and neither Kendra or Michel will feel like I'm taking control. Nobody is obligated because the main character is required to die at the end of each post. Did that only blow my mind? I hope not. I think it's brilliant. People get bored of the characters they create. Maybe playing them for 5 or 10 posts is fun, but people get bored- fact. So, maybe you don't have to kill the character off the same post you introduce them, but with posts being 5-10 pages long in a word document, then the character gets his own rise and fall, his story is told. His ending is told. Maybe they'll stretch him out for 2-3 chapters if they really like this bitch, but they'll inevitably die (or at least disappear for possible resurfacing further down the line =P). If someone doesn't feel like writing again, nobody is waiting on them because they already wrapped it up. We can have guests write chapters without making it feel like the dynamic of the story was changed. We don't have to worry that someone didn't play a character well enough to the personality. 'cause they're all dead!

So, the answer to preventing RP death is regulated character death! Fucking kill EVERYONE!

[Aleister Black]

Kind of like pruning a tree or bush so it can grow bigger. I like the sound of this, and it's definitely an interesting perspective. I'm curious to see this put into practise.

However, what you describe as the cause (or one of the causes) of RP death, being boredom of a character, is sometimes what keeps people IN an RP. For myself, I know that I love Thomas to such an extent that he accounts for a large part of my desire to keep writing for the RP (of course, I also keep writing because all the rest is AWESOME). What your idea has is a lot of endings. What it doesn't seem to have right now is a continuous story that will engage people and keep involving them. What is your eventual goal? Writing the history tot his world? Creating a series of short stories not or only lightly involving eachother?

I do like your idea and would love to see it in action, though. I'm more than willing to write a few chapters for that, too.

[Jigoku Shōjo]

For some reason my post didn't show up. I will give you the short version since i'm not writing it out again. T^T

I think this is a fantastic idea! I'm totally looking forward to it. I think Ryvius will go for it as well. ^_^

[Doaj]

However, what you describe as the cause (or one of the causes) of RP death, being boredom of a character, is sometimes what keeps people IN an RP. For myself, I know that I love Thomas to such an extent that he accounts for a large part of my desire to keep writing for the RP (of course, I also keep writing because all the rest is AWESOME). What your idea has is a lot of endings. What it doesn't seem to have right now is a continuous story that will engage people and keep involving them. What is your eventual goal? Writing the history tot his world? Creating a series of short stories not or only lightly involving each other?

There are exceptions, as there are to anything. I've had characters that I wish I could've gone on with for longer, before an RP died. But, you've also had characters that you got bored off, too (although you don't seem to grow bored as often as most, I'll give you that).

In addition, there will be an overall storyline. However, because this is an RP, the storyline probably won't see its end. On top of that, the nature of this storyline will make it so that the story could feel complete despite it not really ending. How'd I pull that one off? Wait and see, mah boy.

For some reason my post didn't show up. I will give you the short version since i'm not writing it out again. T^T

I think this is a fantastic idea! I'm totally looking forward to it. I think Ryvius will go for it as well. ^_^

I'm sorry you're post got fudged by your phone. I do wish I could've seen it all. Nonetheless, I'm glad you're in, and I certainly hope Austin is as interested as you are. =D

[Aleister Black]

Well, you've definitely made me curious. I'll be looking forward to seeing how you are going to organise this. No doubt I'll enjoy writing bits of it!

[Doaj]

Gah! I'd completely forgotten about this due to losing my internets and what-not. I'll have to look around and see what festers. Michel, would you be interested in working on this still?

[Aleister Black]

I'm rarely here (just pop in to look if anything drastic has happened like once a day) but I could be persuaded I guess.

Keep in mind though that I am fairly busy, what with school starting, work going on, and organising a clan, server and all that jazz for ArmA2. Oh my, I've become busy!

[Doaj]

Well, if you're limiting yourself to one, then I'd prefer continuing ReHu's Noise rather than working on this at the moment. Less time consuming.