Caile's 'How To' Workshop for RPer's. Create an RP

[Voice Caile]

Upon popular request, which gave me quite the ego boost believe you me, I've decided to take the time out of my busy schedule of playing FFX to spend some time thinking up a new workshop for ya'll.

And just as a note, if there's anything you guys would like to see a worshop done on, just let me know and either I'll get it up here for you, or I'll find someone better than I am at it to do it.

The biggest mistake people seem to make in creating an RP is that they create a story for other people to play along to. Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but I roleplay to be creative, and just following along to a script isn't really my idea of fun.

When you create a roleplay you want to give a general outline only, and in a lot of cases you don't even need to do that.

There are a few different ways to do things, depending on the outcome you want. In my personal experience most people tend to enjoy a lightly moderated quest where the Storyteller will post to what the characters are doing to either add more excitement, or to put them all back on track if they get too far afield. Occasionally people will enjoy a complete 'do what you will' where the Storyteller comes up with a scene alone, but that's better suited to an IRC or chatroom type environment.

Since the boards aren't considered 'realtime' RP, from what I've seen, most people prefer the lightly moderated.

There are a few pieces needed to create a successful RP. First of which is the Storyteller, which is you. Secondly you need an opening scene, you need a plot, and lastly, but most importantly, you need characters. Without characters it's just you rambling on about how pretty some forest looks at dusk.

As the Storyteller you have quite a lot of responsibility, you also have infinite power to mold the story to your will. This is a case of having the power, but not always using it. While you may be able to make the story do whatever you want, it's usually best to let the characters do the most of that, after all, it's why they're here.

There is a reason I never create RP's myself. I find it incredibly draining and tiring to 'babysit' the characters and make sure they're having fun, because that's exactly what you'll be doing.

After creating the plot (general idea of) and opening scene and tossing in a few NPC's to liven the mixture a bit, what the storytellers job is, is to keep throwing other interesting things into the mix to keep everything from going stagnant. Some characters can manage this on their own, but from what I've seen, most people want the storyteller to give them things to work with. You need to be constantly reading, you need to be on time with your turn, you need to keep track of all of your NPC's and keep them played at the same time, and you need to make sure the twists you throw to the characters aren't too difficult for them to deal with.

You also get to settle disputes. As a Storyteller you're like a mini-moderator in that aspect of things. If there's a problem in the thread, the characters should be taking it to you to deal with first, before coming to us with it. You're in charge of your story, just don't get powerhungry or you'll drive people off.

And now that I've scared everyone away with the duties of a storyteller, I'll get on to the enjoyable bits.

The first thing you need to do, is develop a plot. For the sake of this workshop I'm going to use a patented 'Plot in a Can' for sake of ease and because I don't have enough time to think of one before I go to work ;p

Princess Captured by Dragon. Father, The High King of All Rieknan, Offers Reward to Any and All who bring Princess Back Alive. Further Reward Also offered for Head of Dragon.

One thing you need to remember, you are not creating a story here, you're creating a Roleplay. This means, don't designate the characters that need to be played, and if you are going to create a RP that needs specific types of characters, don't make it open. Hunt down people who want to play them and figure it out that way. At the very least, do something like "Need Mechanic for ship, Captain of Ship and Nosy Stowaway Kid for Ship" rather than creating the characters and asking the Players to pick which ones they want to play.

It leaves the RP open for so much more fun letting the characters pick their own. Instead of the usual "Wizard, Warrior, Dwarf and Cleric" that this type of plot would normally engender, you could wind up with Cowardly Thief with a fear of Spoons and a cold, Warror that Pathalogically lies, Really short elf that get's constantly confused for a Dwarf even without a beard, and a Kender with a Spoon fetish that keeps trying to convince the Thief that the Spoon of Cold Turning really will work to get rid of that nasty virus and pleasepleasepleaseplease can you try and use it before the Dragon hears another Sneeze and comes barrelling down this way to kill us all.

Now which do you think would sound more enjoyable?

Now, the next process is the opening scene. Make it simple, but make it detailed and enjoyable because you want to attract players, and the best way to do that is by showing off your writing prowess. I'm gonna make mine simple cause I need to leave for work here really soon.

Noonday at the park, sun is shining down through the tree's creating a golden halo around one man, standing purposefully under the Weeping Willow with a nail in one hand and a hammer in the other, trying to keep a page stuck to the bark with his mouth while he positions the nail. The tree itself seems to be trying to dissuade the soon to be painful reminder that it can't just get up and walk away by waving it's long branches in front of the man's eyes, but a few thuds, and a long string of curses later, denote that the tree's attempts were rather futile, and the man had done a much better job of dissuading his own attempts judging by the rather large bruise coloring his left eye.

Muttering to himself and stalking off he leaves in his wake a notice, looking remarkably like a royal declaration. Upon closer study it would seem, to anyone that can read that is to say something along the lines of...

Princess Captured by Dragon. Father, The High King of All Rieknan, Offers Reward to Any and All who bring Princess Back Alive. Further Reward Also offered for Head of Dragon. Apply within.

For those who cannot read there's a rather sticklike rendering of a dragon breathing fire with what could only be a woman in it's grips (it looks just like the men but is wearing a triangle over it's legs) and another sticklike figure wielding a sword stuck into the beasts heart. (or at least through the stick signifying it's chest). Beside the sword wielding hero is a large round thing with a money sign on it and an arrow pointing towards the castle.

Below that, in very small letters, are the words "Within the castle you idiot."


The Scene now set (see how much fun you can have creating that? Leaves a lot of room to keep going, describing the park, more on the man etc. etc. etc. You could even throw in a few NPC's to liven it up a bit.

Notice, however, how there is no background at all, just an intriguing opening, in a public area that could attract innumerable amount of character types. Now all you need to do is sit back, and let the players come to you.

I wanted to touch on a bit more on how to run the RP once it was started, but it looks as if that will have to be another workshop as I'm going to be late if I dally much longer. Questions, are as always, welcome, as well as comments.

Homework for the day. Create an RP here for me. Get a plot and a Scene, type them both up here, and tell me why you think people would want to participate in it.

G'luck folks, looking forward to the ideas.

[DemonArchangel]

thank you voice callie for creating this sticky, it was most informative, i'm thinking of what kind of rp to create.