Discussion On Para-RP, for those that don't get it and those that do. Options

[Youlanda]

RP consists of at least 4 lines in the middle font (context: Player is listing required qualities for a RP partner)

... I kinda don't see the point in para-RP, but that is a discussion for another thread.

I dont see the point in:

"User one stands up and moves to another seat."

It just isn't worth my time.

Starting a new discussion, trying to keep it civil.

There are several players on Furcadia who don't para for whatever reason, some of us have trouble getting the point. I'm one of those people and I've spent a huge amount of time trying to figure out the reasoning behind Para. I've found some situations where I can understand it, however, even then I still don't really get it and question things. I don't think that para is wrong, it just seems illogical to me.



You say "Character stands up and moves to another seat." is not worth your time? Why not?

[Tarquin Lightfoot]

How I see para RP: I can get when description is useful. Such as in an instance when someone makes up a species of character which has to be described in detail. Or a spell that must be described in detail. But sometimes people can go er, how can I say it, a bit overboard.



When someone posts "Furre one stands up and moves to another seet" its just a furre walking to another seet. But if more description is needed to describe if the furre is leaving oh say, pixiel dust in his/her wake then that has to be put in. Preferrably in the same post.



There are times when it's not smart to para RP. Such as if your in a group,a nd everyone is para Rping. The whole chatroom gets taken by one person's post. If your reading your RP partner's post, what do you do with the other people? flat out put them under ignore? What if you forget they are ignored?



Also if furre A is trying to para RP with furre B who demands a full para of text. Then furre A may try to lengthen with filler that is just that. Filler. Just to make their posts bigger.



Longer posts don't exactly mean quality, but there are some para Rpers that demand semi, or para RP. But their thing, I am not going to go slam them.



However there is one trend amoung para Rpers I absulutely do hate. That's thesarus thumping. They arn't sounding any smarter, and they sound just as intellegent if they use "eyes" and "ears".



I see myself as a semi para Rper, but if I have a character do an action that can easilly done in one scentince, Id on't use a whole paragraph to describe said action.



Just my honist opinions.

[SunsetDesires]

Please, Youlanda, next time you choose to quote me from a totally different thread ask first =) I'm not upset, though. Just dont know if my quotes will be moved into the line of fire.

My reasoning: *Why* did they move? Didn't they make a sound? Didn't they look around?

Ahem, prepare for a fully detailed explaination, I haven't RPed in days so now I've something *to* actually RP..

RP Insert: (Names are made up, sorry if they actually refer to someone)

Bababoose sat quitely at the bar, hands placed upon its countertop as he simply gazed around the room. His ears flicked, hearing some noises behind him from others that had already gathered. Ah, it was a nice day so far. Quiet, relaxing. His attention got drawn back to the tender as he asked if he'd like a drink. He nodded, "Yes, a glass of water, please."

Tender Lilian smiled and nodded, moving off to get water. Returning, and setting it down before him. "Two gold, Sir."

Bababoose smiled, slipping his hand inside his jacket to withdrawl some coins. Fumbling around a moment before pulling out three gold and handed to her. "Here you go, and a tip!" Other hand reaching towards the glass that had been swiftly retrieved. The glass cold to the touch, even though he wasn't quite sure where it came from, she had returned so quickly.

Tender Lilian took the coins and moved off, leaving the man to his thoughts.

Bababoose sighed, lifting the glass to his mouth. Lips parting and he took a few steady drinks before replacing the now emptier glass of water. He didn't understand why she had left, brows furrowing in thought. Had he been rude, somehow? She did seem in quite a rush to leave, wordlessly.

{Tender Lilian wouldn't have a post, thus leaiving Bababoose with nothing to post unless posting for the fun of it}

If you'd like more examples, feel free to ask here or ingame.

[Youlanda]

I'm still not clear on why you feel the one line post in question isn't worth your time?

[Tarquin Lightfoot]

The length of those posts are mostly seen as 'semipara'. In Yahoo anyway. Para is when you fill all available space in a chat box. Multipara is when you do that multaple times for one post. Multipara I don't belive really suits Furcadia because of its chat screen size. (nor does really, para to an extent) again, using Yahoo terms.

[SunsetDesires]

Tar, do you really wish for para? I could do Para.. Most I've done is 7 'pages' which is easy enough, especially with how bored I am right now..

Youlanda - Reasoning is above.. When players aren't detailed, it can and usually does leave another player confused and without much to post on. Also, I'd like to know if your char is even 'thinking'.

Makrina walked along the alley way, just minding her own business.

Daggle sat on the bench.

Makrina sighed, and sat beside the pond.

Daggle blinked.

Makrina played with the reeds.

Daggle leaves.

Verses:

Makrina walked along the ally way, gazing that the rather beautiful surroundings. The ponds, the trees, the sounds of nature. She smiled and moved off along and towards the pond, eyeing the scattered lilies and reeds. She didn't notice the male at the other side, though.

Daggle sat upon the bench, even he gazing at the beauty that surrounded this park area. He wasn't really one for nature, and it rather showed in his expression yet he enjoyed the sanctuary. Gaze fell momentarily upon the female that moved towards the pond. He nodded a greeting though didn't speak, just in case she was busy in thought. He didn't wish to seem rude, afterall.

Makrina hadn't noticed the males gester, but would have been pleased even if he had spoken. Paws gathered up her skirts slightly as she knelt to sit at the water's edge, though far enough away so that the water, dirt and mud wouldn't ruin her new spring set of clothes. She smiled as she released her skirt, and patted them down again to look more presentable. She wasn't out for show, but looking nice in the park never really hurt.

Para VS Liner

Gryphon rose from her perched position, she had sat there long enough. Nothing was going to get done if she didn't do it herself. Granted, the matters didn't really please her frame of mind yet it still had to be done. That new employee wasn't doing his job, so now she'd make sure it was done. She sighed, wings upon her back shifting in a slight stretch before settling down again. Hazel eyes glanced around the small room, seeing if others were there though she knew they were not. She nodded to herself, turning about as she had noticed him at the table in the back of the room. Still and silent, again. Sleeping she supposed. She sighed again, shaking her head as she'd move off towards him. The room's carpet padding the usual clicks of her taloned paws.

Eagle sat on his chair. Hands behind his neck, with his hat over his face as he rested.

Gryphon shook her head yet again, seeing that he didn't even move as she approached. Wondering even more just why she had hired him. Yet she remembered, he had impressed her when he applied. Telling and showing her how he'd help improve customer satisfaction and turnout. Yet, he had done the opposite. The place had been in steady decline ever since she had let him in. She'd have moved up next to him by now, clearing her throat audibly to get his attention.

Eagle still didn't move, he was resting. {{ Did he even notice her yet? }}

Gryphon's brows furrowed as eyes narrowed. Still not responding, had he simply gone deaf? Was he hurt, upset, mad? She spoke lowly, enough to hear yet not enough to startle. "Eagle? Are you alright?" Even though her tone didn't really express too much concern, he had rather lied to her already. Who's to say he wouldn't again? {{ Para due to his lack not necessary }}

Eagle shrugged. "I'm fine" And still sat, hat over his face and hands behind his neck. {{ No stated tone }}

Gryphon prompted still further, beginning to find his reactions rather rude. "Eagle, we need to talk about why I hired you. You're supposed to be helping me get this place going. Not sleeping." Her arms moved, folding upon her chest as she stood there. Head simply shaking in disbelief. His total flatness, uncaring, unmoving. Not even looking at her or moving to acknowlege her. No wonder guests stopped coming around..

Eagle popped his hat off his head, letting it land elsewhere. "What are you so upset over? I dont sleep, just no one ever comes." {{ Due to further lack of description, attitude could easily be misjudged, and at least OOCly be seen as character not even caring. OOC, much as we dont want it to, *does* affect IC judgement. It gives insight to the character not expressed in verbal words or actions. It's what we 'sense' from others even in real life }}

I'm not the best RPer, but Harley's currently AFK so I'm not able to ask him to add in some too. He might not be the 'best', but I dont think anyone is =p

I'd so quote a RP my friend had, that he was semipara and she was a one-two liner but I dont believe it's allowed.. It was absolutely horrible. Perhaps I've missed all the detailed one-three line RPs?.. I just dont see how it's possible.

[Youlanda]

So it's that a short post, or at least the example given in the initial thread's quotes, doesn't give much to respond to?

Jill gets up and moves to another seat.

This seems like either a reaction to something or perhaps a player noting that their character is moving for the purpose of log review.

Let's say Joe enters and sits down next to Jill at a bar.
Jill gets up and moves to another seat.

It could mean several things: Jill is made nervous by Joe, perhaps she's shy, perhaps she doesn't like people in her personal space? Perhaps Joe has bad body odor or bad breath. Perhaps Jill is expecting a friend and wants to make sure her friend has room to sit too. Perhaps she has a possessive boyfriend, Frank, who would be angry if he saw her sitting beside Joe.

Jill could post more into her emotions or body language, but there may have not been a reason to. Sure, she could have let out an exasperated sigh, or given some indication of her mood, but perhaps she's scared, or doesn't want to show her reactions because it'd be even more rude than abruptly and unceremoniously getting up and moving.

If Jill had emoted something that a character otherwise wouldn't see in her body language, would the player's character still respond the same way if the player knew the motivation behind the character?

Why did she do that? Find out IC!

Is it possible to react to the example as it's given? Yes.

Joe could get up and go sit next to Jill again. Joe could look at her and ask if he did something wrong, ask if something is wrong, ask if he's got bad body odor, perhaps even ask her why she moved.

Your non-para examples present an interesting and common situation, though it looks like you're illustrating the same situation in both examples: Character A is there. Character B comes along and finds Character A. Character B doesn't initiate with Character A. Character A doesn't initiate with Character B. Neither character makes the first move (I encourage people to not play introverts for a reason.)

If character B had been a non-introvert, perhaps a catalyst character (I'll explain that term later), then character B would have interacted with Character A regardless of how much or how little text character A outputted.







Your (first) Para example is the same situation. Character B comes across character A.

The first Character A post is stating a little bit about what the character is doing with some text about the setting. Emotes that describe an area already describe it, and to a lesser degree an area of a dream its self states the situation, that makes part of the first post redundant, Character A's player is overstating.

Character B's post states what he's doing (sitting on a bench), however, the post includes things that Character A would have never known about him (He wasn't really one for nature). Character B's player is still playing the introvert that isn't really going to make the first move.

Character A's second post starts with somewhat of an OOC invitation to Character B's player. Character B would have never known that character A would have been pleased even if he had spoken. Character A's description would ideally explain what she's wearing, and Character B wouldn't know Character A was wearing her new spring outfit as they hadn't talked yet and found out IC.






It's important to note that the actions done in the second example would also be done in the first example. Character B would still notice her and nod, just because he's not posting four lines of text doesn't mean his character is completely oblivious to everything around him.






Your third example is showing a difference between someone who is playing with a minimum post length and someone who's not.

Eagle is perhaps not stating enough, but he isn't overstating, and several things can be implied from his posture, additional implications can be implied from his description. He's a carefree individual, laid back. His hat over his face strikes me as something I'd expect to see in a western, or an anime from a mysterious trickster type of character.

Gryphon seems to be overstating. For example, we already know the room is small (dream crafting/scene setting emotes), we know Gryphon has hazel eyes (description).

I'm going to trim the fat off of the third example and change things slightly, make things get to the point and all that.

Gryphon rose from her perched position, seeming very displeased. Nodding to herself in approval of her own intended actions and a slight wing stretch she moved over to her new employee, taloned paws clicking against the floor.

Eagle sat on his chair, hands behind his neck with his hat over his face as he rested.

Gryphon shook her head and towered over Eagle with a bewildered and unimpressed look on her face. She cleared her throat audibly to get his attention.

Eagle didn't respond to Gryphon's attempt to get his attention, instead just remaining in his at rest state.

Gryphon's brows furrowed and her eyes narrowed with irritation. She questioned him in a calm tone, "Eagle? Are you alright?"

Eagle shrugged, hat still over his face and hands still behind his neck. He let out a carefree, "I'm fine."

Gryphon crossed her arms, shaking in disbelief and frustration, "Eagle, we need to talk about why I hired you. You're supposed to be helping me get this place going. Not sleeping."

Eagle popped his hat off his head, letting it land elsewhere. "What are you so upset over? I don't sleep, just no one ever comes."

Now would be a good time to note that I, personally, post as much or as little text as I feel is appropriate for my characters based on the situation at hand. Sometimes that may be six lines of text (250 characters), sometimes it might be seven words.

I don't particularly think there's anything wrong with responding to Bob Dramatist who enters the tavern establishment a'la Dr. Orpheus level dramatics with a glance and a halfhearted wave before my character goes back to their hooch. This isn't Cheers (unless you actually are playing in the Cheers, where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came), when someone walks into a bar nobody else really cares.

[SunsetDesires]

Jill, just to be kind enough OOC, should have posted a reason along with action.

Like an English classes, most are taught to give reason with actions. Least where I came from. Anything else just lacks 'curb appeal' to me.

Chopping paragraphs are fine for those with fancy words and similiar. I, however, prefer to not use them as I didn't read a dictionary as a child. Words you used above I generally save for fast paced action scenes such as protection and fighting, not common RPs. Even if I did, I'd still describe things a bit.

As for eye color, I like using descriptions such as "Red hair" "Silver hair" "green eyes". Generally I'll refer to SD's eyes as "Hazels" to skip over the over-used words such as 'gaze' 'looked' 'looks' and similiar.

Ebony paws graced the counter top as she brushed it.

To me just sounds a bit more elegant than.

Paws graced the counter top as she brushed it.
She brushed the counter top.

I generally dont do short RPs as yes, they dont give much insight. Like, for this example:

Joe Black walked up the counter, "Where's John?"

What's his stance? Is he smiling? How did he talk? Where did he come from? Are there others there?

Sure, some might add that in too:

Joe Black walked up the counter, noting easily that no others were around. He asked the tender, "Where's John?"

But it still offers forth no thoughts. Why did he wish to see John? And still, where did he come from? This is especially important in bar, 'slaver', and fight dreams.

Pardon if wrong, but I'm guessing you dont fight much. Most users that I've met that are fighters prefer at least 5 lines of text, that include some thought processes. You wouldn't want a random person, or even someone you know, to be RPing with you and go suddenly from a relaxed RP to one filled with anger, or something totally different. But my! They didn't mention anything of that thought in their RP! Descriptions are wonderful for insight, and helping to avoid 'god-moders'.

[Micheru]

Jill, just to be kind enough OOC, should have posted a reason along with action.

Like an English classes, most are taught to give reason with actions. Least where I came from. Anything else just lacks 'curb appeal' to me.

In roleplay this is not so. A post should include:
The character's physical actions.
The character's words.
Perhaps an indication of emotion, ie 'with furious eyes'.

An IC post should contain no sembalance of OOC information that would not be picked up easilly. If you're appearing silent and cold while moving, you post that, not 'She put forth an aura of cold silence, fighting back inner turmoil to explode into shouts of rage.'

This is both for clarity, quality of roleplay, and keeping distance between character and player.

Ebony paws graced the counter top as she brushed it.

To me just sounds a bit more elegant than.

Paws graced the counter top as she brushed it.
She brushed the counter top.

I don't know about you, but my character's made of flesh, fur, blood, and pulpy internal stuff. His eyes are some liquidy substance that everyone else's is, not 'ruby orbs'. Clarity, once more.

I generally dont do short RPs as yes, they dont give much insight. Like, for this example:

Joe Black walked up the counter, "Where's John?"

What's his stance? Is he smiling? How did he talk? Where did he come from? Are there others there?

To an extent, I agree. I'd post something like.. 'Micheru strolls through the room, relaxed and with a casual swagger, he slides up to a seat, "Where's John?" Tilting his head with his usual smile.'

However, once you get into internal things, rather than external, you just bog down the 'RP soup'.

Pardon if wrong, but I'm guessing you dont fight much. Most users that I've met that are fighters prefer at least 5 lines of text, that include some thought processes. You wouldn't want a random person, or even someone you know, to be RPing with you and go suddenly from a relaxed RP to one filled with anger, or something totally different. But my! They didn't mention anything of that thought in their RP! Descriptions are wonderful for insight, and helping to avoid 'god-moders'.

Combat often involves longer lines of text, half a buffer to a buffer in length is usually apt. I throw my hands (and my keyboard sometimes!) over my head and "[Sorry, gotta go!]" when I see ten buffers of attack coming my way, mainly because I'd rather flow.. than ride the rapids.
As per my line of thought and ideals-- announcing your thoughts ICly without verbalizing them == bad.

~Micheru

[Xine]

Like an English classes, most are taught to give reason with actions. Least where I came from. Anything else just lacks 'curb appeal' to me.

In roleplay, one is not required to provide a reason for something: my character can sit down at a bar without providing a reason for it. He could be looking for someone, he could be wanting a drink, or he could be tired: if the other players have no reason to know certain information, there is no reason to post it. If my character is thinking of putting a sword through someone, I don't have to post why, just that he does.

What's his stance? Is he smiling? How did he talk? Where did he come from? Are there others there?

Valid question, but this too could be placed in a one line post.

Faedriel takes a seat at the bar, eyes flickering over the drinks "Barkeep." he calls, voice a smooth contralto.

No one needs to know where he came from (this is usually established in an entry post) nor does he need to acknoledge the presence of others unless he chooses to.

I think this whole debate can be summed up simply: it's not the length of a post, but the content therein that matters. If I can convey enough content in one line, I won't post a paragraph. Filling the text buffer just so your character can sit down is equivalent to speaking to hear yourself speak. It's silly...

You might say that I've been weaned off that behavior since my exit from yahoo: in those days, people would fill the text buffer three or four times to post their character's spectacular, and often unrealistic, entries.

[Youlanda]

Yes, English teachers teach us that when we write we should support our statements with additional ideas to back them up. This is an essay writing skill. You may have noticed that I apply such teachings in a majority of my forum posts, or at least those where I'm trying to have some degree of a thoughtful conversation or a friendly debate. (I'm not teh mad at you, I actually like you, Sunset. )

However, roleplay is not an essay, it is interaction between two or more characters being played by one or more players (because sometimes people roleplay with themselves with hysterical results).

Having to find out IC why someone did something causes more roleplay to happen.

There's nothing wrong with using complex vocabulary if it's suitable for the situation at hand. If you throw an obscure but properly used vocabulary word into an otherwise normal statement most logical people can infer the meaning.

Both overuse of shiny vocabulary and wordiness can result in a roleplay post (or anything for that matter) being unclear.

I tend to write short posts but I wouldn't particularly use any of the examples above for brushing stuff off the surface of a bar.

Jingle slips up to the bar with a jingle and begins wiping it with a damp rag while faintly singing his own parody to the tune of a particular holiday song, "Clean the bar, clean the bar, Jingle clean the bar.

I am not the hugest fan of combat, however, when I do engage in combat my posts tend to fill eight to eleven lines of text for the sake of exact technicality where it really matters.

[Ryo Darkstone]

I love Xine, an Youlanda. They should mate and make super-furry-kits o'*DOOM!*

[Xxysthstris]

The difference between 'paragraph-Roleplay' and 'line-specific-Roleplay' is purely situational and entwinned to differing frames of character design and focus.

When we create our characters we define them with a personality and traits to further focus and draw interest on said personality through other players by interacting in specific, or in some cases, diverse, methods. -- Whether this befits paragraph styalized roleplay, or line-specific roleplay is entirely up to the player who defines and express what it is their character is doing and who ththeir character is. -- With people simply disregarding others solely due to post length are missing out on the pure fundamentals of atmospheric presentation, IF what is presented to them is coherent, understandable and fluently worded.

I'm going to be quite vain here by using Xxysthstris as an example of 'line-speficic roleplay' versus 'paragraph styalized roleplay':

To begin: Xxysthstris is a spirit; incapable of solid physical contact, incapable of vocal or mental communication. A purely noncorporial, genderless being with severe restrictions involved when playing. -- A challenge to myself, the player, and to those around me who may be intruiged as to finding out what it exactly is Xxysthstris is 'visiting' them for.

Were I, the player, to express myself all too exhorbetantly through paragraph-specific roleplay, it would give away too much presence when in fact my goal is to give away as little as possible while still wielding the hook to draw the other player in. -- Whether the other player accepts this form of playstyle is entirely up to them. But I'm wondering if their concepts of a 'ghost' are that of a ghost visiting them to hold a long and meaningful conversation while throwing cutlery about and doing the Charleston on the dining room table. -- This being a perfectly possible rendition of a player's spiritual creation (read: Casper the Friendly Ghost). But as an individual who prefers to not make things all that obvious, and to make myself and other players push themselves creatively and mentally in order to discover what it is that is going on, or what could happen, is something I strive for.

The very same playstyle can be found with a Rogue who is attempting to sneak silently through the shadows, passed patrons in a pub, or guards at a gate. -- You don't want to have your character seen by others, and thus have a choice of using aesthetic expressionism to suit the purpose of the Rogue (line-specific roleplay: quick, short bursts of text to seem deft, agile and aloof); or alternatively use a more exhorbetant playstyle that really does draw attention to the Rogue and his or her intentions (paragraph-specific roleplay: where detail and regards ro a greater line length are a necessity).

Alternatively one might take on the role of a merchant whose intention is to draw in other characters by balking their wares, giving immense ammounts of details to fabrics, herbs, spices, incense and exotic pets; candied fruits, perfumes, culinary utensils, bathing needs, etc, etc,. -- Withholding the splendour detracts from what is being expressed; but too much splendour detracts from other items that are for sale. (And this is where we get truly specific) So in order to balance out what it is said merchant is selling, they may stick to line-specific roleplay when bawlking their wares, but may turn to paragraph-specific roleplay when it comes ot truly elaborating on a particular item that has taken a character's fancy.

The situational aspect of roleplay is purely that: situational.
Not every post demands a great ammount of length as not every post nor character interaction will require it.
I have read works from astounding authors where a sole action took place on a single line; David Zindell (PhD. Psychology, PhD. Philosophy); Stephen R. Donaldson The Gap series is pure, unadulterated genius); and even the more mellow, yet profoundly amazing: Tad Williams.
But on the same note: these authors have also created narrative and length sequences of character interaction or time manifestation of x-circumstance to a great and quite lengthy impending debut.

I agree: not everyone here is a bonafied and recognised author. But this is entirely besides the point as we are discussing the ability to write and create worlds and the personalities that live within those worlds.

Both those who prefer to keep it short and simple, and those who prefer to keep it long and worded are perfectly welcome in my books.
However I will not welcome a post, from anyone, that is more than one entire post. Nor will I accept a meaningless single line entry that really doesn't have a hook to guide me in a particular direction. As I find that either variant of post to be a complete and utter waste of the other player's time unless there is a truly justifiable reason behind for them writing so much. -- And in such a case: clarification through whisper is sometimes necessary.

Who knows where a character is going to go with what it is they have to offer you?
For all people know: a person offering short and concise lines may be simply holding off on bringing about something deeper and more intricately worded than a player may have initially presumed.

[Sookan]

I can't say I've ever come across anyone who has a problem with paragraph roleplay. Until of course now.

All I have to say on the matter is, that if you don't like it, no one is forcing you to do it, nor to roleplay with anyone else who does.

Myself, I paragraph roleplay non-stop. It's not uncommon for me to multi-para. I do this without using 'wolfspeak' or thesaurus humping, with great ease. I am able to describe each and every motion of my character. Personally, I think it helps to avoid extreme confusion and irritation, especially during feral roleplay. I'll take an example that I came across before, once:

Non-para Person attempts to bite opponant's neck.

Okay... what part? How? From which side? Is the attack swift? Are you leaping forwards or simply trotting up and expecting your opponant to stand there and be bitten?

I can't think of any roleplay that would require NO detail. People cannot read between the lines, and, graphical as furcadia is, there are only 19 slides per player and they cannot possibly portray every motion your character may wish to make.

As for people not noticing you if you do not use para... you can notice tiny posts just as well if not better. They're all right there on your screen.

In my opinion, if you cannot make the effort to describe your actions in more than 10 words, then I cannot make the effort to engage in a roleplay with you. That's my choice, however.

[SunsetDesires]

All I have to say on the matter is, that if you don't like it, no one is forcing you to do it, nor to roleplay with anyone else who does.

Most definately.

I am able to describe each and every motion of my character. Personally, I think it helps to avoid extreme confusion and irritation, especially during feral roleplay. I'll take an example that I came across before, once:

Non-para Person attempts to bite opponant's neck.

Okay... what part? How? From which side? Is the attack swift? Are you leaping forwards or simply trotting up and expecting your opponant to stand there and be bitten?

I can't think of any roleplay that would require NO detail. People cannot read between the lines, and, graphical as furcadia is, there are only 19 slides per player and they cannot possibly portray every motion your character may wish to make.

Details, details. I've never had to ask any of Para-RP partners what happened, where, how hard/fast, etc. I commonly have to ask or guess with 1-4 liners. It gets annoying, and very frustrating. I rarely stay long.

In my opinion, if you cannot make the effort to describe your actions in more than 10 words, then I cannot make the effort to engage in a roleplay with you. That's my choice, however.

Mhmm.. If you cannot take the time to type out something nice to read, putting effort into what I'll do isn't worth it. I've done it a few times, sure, but only to annoy the other person into leaving. Generally the person will come back the next day, typing tons better.

To begin: Xxysthstris is a spirit; incapable of solid physical contact, incapable of vocal or mental communication. A purely noncorporial, genderless being with severe restrictions involved when playing. -- A challenge to myself, the player, and to those around me who may be intruiged as to finding out what it exactly is Xxysthstris is 'visiting' them for.

My friend, Marrow Bones, is just that - Bones. A skeleton. Wouldn't it make much more sense for 'unique' characters to use better description? A spirit can't touch things, and is 'holy' or 'demonic', the RP should also set the difference and outline for the other player what exactly is going on. Can the scene behind it be noticed? Is there a cold draft? What's the 'sense' from it, if the other character is able to sense it? Marrow Bones generally RPs 2-7 pages due to his uniqueness. All of which flows perfectly, and is so totally interesting to read. Nothing is ever repeated, as even I, IRL, can feel and hear this character. RPing with him is by far the most realistic experience ever, and it heightens the RP so much more than a liner can do.

However I will not welcome a post, from anyone, that is more than one entire post. Nor will I accept a meaningless single line entry that really doesn't have a hook to guide me in a particular direction. As I find that either variant of post to be a complete and utter waste of the other player's time unless there is a truly justifiable reason behind for them writing so much. -- And in such a case: clarification through whisper is sometimes necessary.

Really? But I thought..

Both those who prefer to keep it short and simple, and those who prefer to keep it long and worded are perfectly welcome in my books.

Hrm. I dont generally like OOC whispers, and never really do them unless I need to go AFK for a moment.

However, roleplay is not an essay, it is interaction between two or more characters being played by one or more players (because sometimes people roleplay with themselves with hysterical results).

Oh, I love RPing with myself - Done it a few times to 'teach' others fight style RP, and they swore we were two different people. Both sides totally detailed, which 'bred' several awesome fighter characters.

In roleplay, one is not required to provide a reason for something: my character can sit down at a bar without providing a reason for it. He could be looking for someone, he could be wanting a drink, or he could be tired: if the other players have no reason to know certain information, there is no reason to post it. If my character is thinking of putting a sword through someone, I don't have to post why, just that he does.

Nearly all the dreams I RP in, and basically the *only* dreams I'll RP in will require reasons. Why? Avoids godmoding. Giving notice something is going on also plays into the Concent Rule. Thus alerting the OOC person of someone's intentions, and being able to note it first. Without suddenly being attacked, after a simple 'Hello' or similiar chat was exchanged.

I think this whole debate can be summed up simply: it's not the length of a post, but the content therein that matters. If I can convey enough content in one line, I won't post a paragraph. Filling the text buffer just so your character can sit down is equivalent to speaking to hear yourself speak. It's silly...

Can't say I've ever used this 'buffer', I just am not posting my current RPs here for ya'll to read. These have been examples, and I haven't put much thought into them as I know they'll only be ripped to shreads, without the scene ever being known. Wish to see 'non bufferd' RP that actually does something? Feel free to PM, post or message me ingame.

An IC post should contain no sembalance of OOC information that would not be picked up easilly. If you're appearing silent and cold while moving, you post that, not 'She put forth an aura of cold silence, fighting back inner turmoil to explode into shouts of rage.'

I'd just ignore that... It doesnt say what's going on, or anything to indicate there's reason behind her anger.

I don't know about you, but my character's made of flesh, fur, blood, and pulpy internal stuff. His eyes are some liquidy substance that everyone else's is, not 'ruby orbs'. Clarity, once more.

Most of those I've RPed, and RPed are, yup. Curb appeal makes the world of difference for some of us.

As per my line of thought and ideals-- announcing your thoughts ICly without verbalizing them == bad.

Obviously whatever is noticable IC is IC, whatever isn't is OOC. Anyone that goes against that needs to be corrected and re-routed.

So, basically, what I'm gathering - If you're RPing with a blind character, dont include *anything* that would require gaze. If you're RPing with a deaf char, dont include *anything* that would require sound. Oh why do that, it would only be buffer!

I've never even heard/seen that term 'buffer' in relation to RP before.


---------- I'll be offline most of today, but dontcha worry - I'll respond when I return =p I'm not upset, either, just rather baffled by the turnout of those that dont like detailed RP. I love reading and writting, and I thought that's what RP was about. Yeesh, guess I'm wrong. It's about rushing. So glad I've found the RP partners I have in the past 4-5 years.

[Xxysthstris]

My friend, Marrow Bones, is just that - Bones. A skeleton. Wouldn't it make much more sense for 'unique' characters to use better description?

Yes if it's fitting.
No if it isn't.

Where a skeletal figure may have substance, possibly even raiment of some sort, another character may have none at all and require much less dynamicly expressed information. As what is to be seen, touched and heard can be poured into the base description without adding to the posted information (but still permitting for it to be added if the player feels it necessary to further a point of interest or a bridgeing in storyline).

As stated above: we don't always need to express what a character's presence is like dynamicly as we can place it into a character description:

A whispy aura ebbs about this noncorporeal spirit; shifting dulcet greys and whites part the air itself as might an oil blotch in water, shaping the Wyrm in a negative silhouette. Jagged horns marr its head, tattered wings hang limp from behind; equally disjointed limbs: tail, fore and hind quarters waver in set, repeated motions. Were one to feel it: this ghost emits a chill, seemingly enhanced when staring into its vacant eyes.

However the above description is purely for a specific character, and describing presence in a description is not always cocher due to an unerring change of surroundings and situations that would put the character description off.

Restrictive roleplay, in this case, denotes the use of over expression in dynamic form within posts giving the character a state of presence without forcing the player to describe in all too great detail what it is other characters may feel (which additionally permits other characters to consent to what it is the presence emitts while giving room for them to explore the possibilities without having to filter through additional text/information).

A spirit can't touch things, and is 'holy' or 'demonic', the RP should also set the difference and outline for the other player what exactly is going on. Can the scene behind it be noticed? Is there a cold draft? What's the 'sense' from it, if the other character is able to sense it?

See above.

Really? But I thought..

You thought what?

[Youlanda]

This is a long post, I'm sorry. I've got a lot to say.



Xxysthstris, you used the word 'situational' in several cases. Your examples give situations of play style as related to individual characters.

Thank you, you've got the right idea. How a character is posted may depend on the design of the character, the character's mood, or even the situation the character is in. To require a post to be X size is to make black and white guidelines in a world consisting of shades of gray.








Sookan, there has been a conflict between para-rpers and non-para rpers for quite some time but it's generally been a 'live and let live' tolerance type situation. And it still is that way for the most part, if someone likes para so be it. Unfortunately, someone who isn't para is often considered a bad RPer by default--and as someone who is a situational poster, a non-para player, I want to affirm that I, and others like me, are not uncreative, unintelligent, illiterate, thoughtless, inept, illogical or whatever para-rpers think of situational players.

Non-para Person attempts to bite opponant's neck.

No good roleplayer, situational or otherwise, would make a pose like this, ever. Period. Situational roleplay/non-para isn't about posting short posts, but about giving as much information is needed to get the point across without overwriting.

In the situation of a character making an action against someone else's character, it is appropriate to be specific to the point where the other player can understand what's going on. It's not particularly necessary for the poster to explain in their post the mood of their character (making the attack) because the actions of the character speak clearly for themselves.

{Non-para Person} lunges toward {Opponent} from behind, attempting to bite hold of {Opponent's Scruff}.

This would be sufficient, though most players will include a bit more.

I can't think of any roleplay that would require NO detail. People cannot read between the lines, and, graphical as furcadia is, there are only 19 slides per player and they cannot possibly portray every motion your character may wish to make.

Situational roleplay/non-para is not synonymous to NO detail, no one ever said it was. A single action, a few words, can imply things about a character and the situation at hand.

I can think of a situation where a character's mood can be portrayed with very little posing emotes and some well placed dialogue. If character is moving each and every time they say in a dialogue, they probably appear as though they have a case of Parkinson's Disease.

Here's the example situation:

You have two characters (described by their descriptions) in a dark dungeon cell with no bed, just floor and walls (described by emit and/or dream setting). They're sitting there back to back and they're talking to pass the time.

CharacterA sighs.
CharacterB: Are you alright?
CharacterA: Yes. I just...
CharacterB: Hmm?
CharacterA: I can't believe I failed.
CharacterB leans his head back onto CharacterA's shoulder, "You didn't fail."
CharacterA: We're here, aren't we? I didn't change the world at all.
CharacterB: Your intentions were noble, but your means of action were questionable.
CharacterA brings his knees to his chest, hugging them, "My mother always told me the ends don't justify the means, I was stupid not to listen."
CharacterB: It's not your fault you were mislead then betrayed.
CharacterA: It doesn't matter, I still failed, I was foolish, and I haven't changed anything.
CharacterB: You may have changed more than you think.
CharacterA doesn't respond, he seems lost in thought, "..."
CharacterB: I believe in your altruistic ideals, and when we get out of here I intend to help you change the world for the better, only this time we'll do it the right way.
CharacterA: ... thanks.

The above example does indicate the mood of the characters, how they're feeling, their relations to each other, their values, etc. They're having a slightly philosophical discussion, not something one'd expect from a pair of players using one liners, eh?

In my opinion, if you cannot make the effort to describe your actions in more than 10 words, then I cannot make the effort to engage in a roleplay with you. That's my choice, however.

I question who is the worse of the two evils? Is it the one who doesn't make the effort to explain every single little detail to someone, or the one who refuses to think critically and figure out the implied details on their own? Is quantity better or is quality? Is black and white thought better, or is critical thought?

The most similar thought pattern to para-rp in literary history is that of the Victorian Novel, where authors were paid for the quantity of words they output. This resulted in flowery and wordy prose, the superfluous writing was not done because it was considered good, intellectual, or creative, but done because it yielded more money for the writer. Even with being paid by the word, if you were to translate the text of novels into Furcadia post style notations, you'd find that even writers who were paid by the word did not consistently write the equivalent of 4-6 lines of text in every single situation.

Alexandre Dumas, author of The Three Musketeers, is a fitting example of an author paid by the word that does not always make every Furcadia post equivalent in his writing be 4-6 lines of Furcadia text (6 lines is about 350 characters), and he's published, and his stories have been made into movies (even if the dialog's redundancy can be bad at times). Proof.

Victorian novelist George Elliot, aka Mary Ann Evans, engages in similar 'one liners' in her most famous novel, Middlemarch.

Why did both Alexandre Dumas and George Elliot use one-liners in their writing when paid by the word? Adding extra filler would have certainly yielded more money for them, but they may have found that the extra filler simply was not well suited for particular situations in their novels. Perhaps they were writing for their audiences, perhaps they felt it unsuitable to overstate.

All I have to say on the matter is, that if you don't like it, no one is forcing you to do it, nor to roleplay with anyone else who does.

Live and let live is all fine and good, however, not when those who para-rp jump all over those who don't, insult them, call them bad players, bullying them, insulting their intelligence, etc. See General below.








To Sunset Desires:

Nearly all the dreams I RP in, and basically the *only* dreams I'll RP in will require reasons. Why? Avoids godmoding. Giving notice something is going on also plays into the Concent Rule. Thus alerting the OOC person of someone's intentions, and being able to note it first. Without suddenly being attacked, after a simple 'Hello' or similiar chat was exchanged.

I am very pro-consent. While I feel that characters should have IC reasons for their actions, I don't think it's particularly necessary for those players to state their intentions in emotes directly in roleplay, nor do I think they should have to give YOU reasons for their actions. They should be obligated, though, to provide reasons to dream staff upon questioning it

If a character is not a thrill killer character, there'd likely be some verbal conflict before combat broke out, which would be a clear and obvious reason for attacking.

Thrill killers just randomly attack people. No, they cannot be eliminated by para-rp, they simply learn to post more text while thrill-killing, and they can only be eliminated by teaching players better roleplay ethics. Para roleplay does not change the ethics of people; it simply demands they increase their text output.

... And what exactly is 'curb appeal'?

So, basically, what I'm gathering - If you're RPing with a blind character, dont include *anything* that would require gaze. If you're RPing with a deaf char, dont include *anything* that would require sound. Oh why do that, it would only be buffer!

Nobody said anything remotely like this, but a character having some sort of disability is a very simple thing to portray, could sometimes even be done in a one to two line post, even independent of description.

I have a blind kit character and his description clearly illustrates his blindness. His eyes are usually wide open and staring off into nothing, they're clouded over, and he uses a cane to navigate. This is something found in his description, "His eyes stare blankly at the space in front of him, undistracted by any sort of motion around him." If someone's character looks at this particular character, unless they're totally clueless they're going to know the character is blind.

Kit nervously slips into the room carrying a stuffed toy under one arm. He seems to be using a small cane to navigate.

I have a eunuch character. His description notes the symptoms of hypogonadism, qualities of a man who has lost his gonads (or their functionality) before puberty. The character is tall, chubby, with long limbs, a baby face, etc. When he speaks I occasionally notate that he seems to speak with a child's voice. If someone was familiar, they'd know what he is, if someone wasn't he would appear to be an odd character, perhaps one interesting and strange enough for someone to stare at him questioningly or even ask him "what happened to your voice?"

I'm not upset, either, just rather baffled by the turnout of those that dont like detailed RP.

I'm glad you're not upset. It's not my intention to bully you, and I do not intend to attack you or anyone else personally.

It's not that non-para Rpers / Situational thinkers don't like detailed roleplay, because many of us can appreciate detail and thought, but that we like it when it's appropriate, but realize that it isn't appropriate in every situation. The black and white of 'your post must be this big' is the exact opposite of a situational viewpoint.

I like character details and character stories when they're well written. I don't feel creativity can be measured, it is not tangible, and it appears in many forms. To believe that someone's creativity could be measured and compared to others based on the amount of words they output is simply asinine.

It's possible to have good detailed writing. It's also possible to have not-so-good detailed writing. When people overstate, overwrite, write in a way that isn't natural, ignore orthodox spelling, over explain, use fancy words excessively, are unclear and excessively wordy in roleplay I cringe, and so would most any University English teacher. (They'd probably throw a copy of this book at the writer's head.)

A real life, non-Furcadian, friend of mine once told me, "It's not the size of your paragraph that counts; it is how you use it."

I love reading and writting, and I thought that's what RP was about. Yeesh, guess I'm wrong. It's about rushing. So glad I've found the RP partners I have in the past 4-5 years.

Roleplay is not about rushing, but it's not always about writing in quantity either.

Roleplay is about interaction between characters and telling their individual stories, the stories of them interacting with each other, and the world they exist in. Roleplay is supposed to be fun, it's only a game after all.








General

The para-rp trend is becoming more and more popular and wide spread to the point where there are very few, if any, dreams that don't have a minimum post requirement. (Just because something is popular, doesn't mean it's right) When someone says "your posts must be thiiiis big to play" (para-rp), those that are situational thinkers hit a logical wall and go 'Well what if this? What if that?' These critical thinkers have a few options at that point: Not roleplay, join anyhow and para-rp even if they don't like it, join and para when they feel the situation is approprate (only to be told to their face that they're bad players, kicked out, etc). If someone wants roleplay they're peer pressured into para-rp or driven away. It's not very pretty situation.

I met a girl, about a month and a half ago; I was helping her with some patch problems and spent five hours teaching her how to use Photoshop and how to make floor tiles. After doing so she invited me to go see her dream and meet some of her friends and I decided to go along. When my tour ended we wound up sitting and chatting in a room with a stage and the subject of me chucking copper dragon scales at characters that I enjoy interaction with came to surface.

One of her friends said to me "I'm not very good at roleplay." She also agreed, saying she also sucked at it. One of them informed me they got fired from a bar because their roleplay 'sucked'. Players accepting and knowing their flaws are players actually capable of repairing their flaws have room for improvement. One of them went on to say that they were too slow, couldn't come up with enough text to fill a post, coming up with large amounts of flowery text on the fly wasn't something she felt she could do.

The players detailed in the paragraph above had given up on roleplay, they had been given a hard time and chased off because their posts weren't big enough, when in the situation their shorter posts may have been just fine. They were likely told they were bad RPers because of not posting posts that owners of the dream felt were large enough. They weren't bad roleplayers, they were people who were intelligent, thoughtful, and had the potential to grow to be fantastic players if given the chance. They gave up because they didn't know it was ok to not make every post a long post.

How many players have been driven away from roleplay because their posts aren't big enough? I met two in one day without trying simply because I was in a decent enough mood to be social. I'm sure there's plenty more like the ones I met that out there. When large numbers of people get driven away from roleplay the entire community is struck with stagnation. People wonder where all the roleplay's gone? Where are the new roleplayers? They're off in social areas chatting, or Beekining, or off yiffing because they got chased away from RPing by the very roleplay communities they wished to join.

Good people with potential being driven away over the length of their posts rather than how appropriate their posts are or what quality their posts are. This is a problem, one of several that are hurting the roleplay community as a whole. Driving people away based on something silly, like the quantity of text someone outputs, does not help improve the roleplay community or its future, nor will it actually improve the quality of roleplay.

If you enjoy para-rp, more power to you, but stop telling situational posting players they suck and driving them away. Realize that people who don't always para rp are not intellectually inferior, are not bad rpers or bad people by default, are not uncreative, are not illiterate, are not bad writers, and certainly are not stupid. Realize yours is not the one true way; realize not everything is black and white.

A good player will still be a good player no matter how much or how little they post.

A bad player will still be a bad player no matter how much or how little they post.

A well designed character will shine regardless of the style of play the player utilizes to depict it.

A poorly designed character will suck no matter which play style a player uses to depict it.

Someone who uses short posts in roleplay is not particularly uncreative, unintelligent, or not linguistically sound. They're certainly not always a bad roleplayer.

Someone who uses long posts in roleplay is not particularly creative, intelligent, or linguistically sound. They're certainly not always a good roleplayer.

It's okay for people to para rp if they want to and it is just as okay for people to NOT para rp if they don't want to. It's when people start insulting each other, start driving people away from roleplay completely that there's a problem.

People can have good roleplay ethics no matter how much text they output, people can have bad roleplay ethics no matter how much text they output. Requiring more output will not turn a player without ethics into a player with ethics. Setting 'your post must be this big' rules won't keep the bad players out, nor will it teach bad roleplayers the ethics they need to become better players. Better roleplay can't brought about by simple black and white rules, it must be brought about by players interacting and discussing with other players on the topic of the ethics and practices of good roleplay, which are more than just 'make your posts longer'.

I implore dream owners and players to ditch the 'your posts must be this big' standards and work more on promoting good roleplay.








It's okay to be different, it's okay not to para if you don't enjoy it. You're not alone, you're not wrong; you're not a bad roleplayer.

Post as much text as you feel is appropriate for the situation you're playing in. Sometimes you may find a long post is appropriate (like in combat), sometimes you may find that your character doing something like giving a wave, a nod, or saying five words to be appropriate.

Your entry post doesn't have to fill the entire screen. If Randomplayer slips in to the tavern and plops down into a bar stool unceremoniously as their entry post then so be it. But it doesn't describe what they look like? Read their description, that's what it's there for.

You don't have to make every post be an emote with some notation of what your character doing or what they look like. It's ok to just make your character outright say something once in a while.

Roleplay is supposed to be fun; if you do not find writing large paragraphs fun then just don't write them.

Play how you want to play. If the people in a place think you suck because you can reply to someone else's post in an appropriate response featuring seven words then go find people who share the same style. If you can't find a place to play then start one.

Please excuse my clunky proclamation, my point:

A roleplayer should not be judged by the length of their posts by the quality and situational appropriateness of them.

<3

[Xxysthstris]

The most similar thought pattern to para-rp in literary history is that of the Victorian Novel, where authors were paid for the quantity of words they output. This resulted in flowery and wordy prose, the superfluous writing was not done because it was considered good, intellectual, or creative, but done because it yielded more money for the writer. Even with being paid by the word, if you were to translate the text of novels into Furcadia post style notations, you'd find that even writers who were paid by the word did not consistently write the equivalent of 4-6 lines of text in every single situation.

Alexandre Dumas, author of The Three Musketeers, is a fitting example of an author paid by the word that does not always make every Furcadia post equivalent in his writing be 4-6 lines of Furcadia text (6 lines is about 350 characters), and he's published, and his stories have been made into movies (even if the dialog's redundancy can be bad at times). Proof.

Victorian novelist George Elliot, aka Mary Ann Evans, engages in similar 'one liners' in her most famous novel, Middlemarch.

Why did both Alexandre Dumas and George Elliot use one-liners in their writing when paid by the word? Adding extra filler would have certainly yielded more money for them, but they may have found that the extra filler simply was not well suited for particular situations in their novels. Perhaps they were writing for their audiences, perhaps they felt it unsuitable to overstate.

In addition to this reference:

I've a good mate up in Adelaide who writes under the ghost name, Cailean Darkwater, and has recently been offered acceptance through a publisher.
His works are astounding, and are short yet amazingly effective in expressing the raw and up front rbutality of authoring in short story. Some of his talens are Victorian set; others are more dark and disturbing . At time: Cthulu-esque and amusing.

You can find his works here: http://www.caileandarkwater.net/ -- If would advise anyone wishing to take a good, long look at short posting methods to read through his works and really come to learn that short lines aren't at all bad. Especially with a few of his works where short lines merge into longer paragraphs and back again with pure precision and fluency.

His works are copywritten, so please be respectful or you'll not only suffer his wrath, you'll suffer mine and whatever legal suits that can be mustered to smite the heathen horde.
If you're not a reader, you can wait until next year as I've gotten copywrite permission to read his tales aloud on air. =)

[Damadar]

A common stereotype for people who demand para-rp (Or, alternatively, hate it,) are that they're stuck up, elitists, etc. (I don't think I caught this being said, but then, I occasionally miss things.)

The reson for this is their inability to be flexible. SOMETIMES, a paragraph is needed to facilitate decent roleplay, (As Youlanda mentioned in an earlier post, about posting just the ammount needed). Likewise, sometimes, only a few words are needed.

I don't think it's fair to demand someone come up with a lengthy reply in order to facilitate what a person thinks constitutes good RP. Granted, with text you almost always have to aply some form of feeling to words, so that you're able to get your message across.

Maybe this comes from years of doing both online and "Paper and Pencil" roleplaying, but you -can't- always infer things from body actions, and the lack of describing them could be that persons way of *not* allowing you that look into the characters psyche. That's something that any, and all, roleplayers should respect, and if they want to know more, they have to RP more.

Understandably, when you're roleplaying that way, you have to take certain clues, and over the 12 hour roleplaying situation, the entire story is evolved, it is realized that intense detail on how everything is working and what they are doing *isn't* a requisite for a good roleplaying situation. (Indeed, going into great detail can inversely affect the Roleplaying situation, and ruin a game. Likewise, too much detail and posts that're too great in length too frequently can ruin roleplaying on Furcadia as well.)

Personally, I'm like Youlanda, in the sense that I'll post what I think I need to post when a situation calls for it. I know someone that paraposts all the time, and yet never moves the story forward. (Instead relying on others to move the story forward for them, and being passive agressive OOC to get them to do what they want.)

I also know others that're terrible, (From my point of view,) that are constantly trying to move a storyline onward with quick posts, one or two lines that don't mean anything, but get to the conclusion of every storyline in 3 hours, and often go through two or three a day. (This is born out of only roleplaying one or two days a week, and they've come to an understanding of sorts with each other about how the story evolves, and they fill in the blank holes in their own heads. One of them then translates their RP's into short stories, that're often not bad.)

My personal opinion on the subject is that Para-RP is fine, but demanding that someone do so, (Or, vice versa, demanding a para-rper to stop,) is the kind of close-mindedness that sparks things such as religious persecution. (They're not the same, but the thought-pattern is similar.)

Also, I'm not advocating that you start flat-out change to whatever. If you've genuinely tried to RP with people, and find that their RP is lacking, then not RPing with them is fine. However, if you look at someone's first post, only see two lines, and then leave because, "They're not good enough", it's time to do a little intra-personal inspection to see if maybe you might be in the wrong.


(It's worth it, at the end of this, to note that I'm wrong about everything. Including being wrong about everything.)

[Talzhemir]

I'm very glad some furres will tag themselves with [PARA]. I think that's entirely fair. They're expressing their preference and it's somewhat akin to saying your character is [GAY]. It's there to save disappointment all around.



Personally, I really don't like roleplaying with a minimum post length. When I see that somebody else is going to be picky about how many lines I wrote, that says to me that that person has exceedingly low standards for what they will consider good writing and good roleplaying.



I'm kind of glad some furres will tag themselves with [PARA] because then I can avoid them.



I believe a much more effective way to get good RP is to make sure the other furre isn't doing other stuff before you start the scene.



I'd rather have a good haiku than a bad sonnet.



If anybody cares to know why I'd rather not RP with a minimum post length, you can read onwards, if you so desire. These are NOT debate points against insisting on paragraphs. They're just my personal tastes; you're free to agree or disagree.



-----



#1. I think paragraphs take too long for most people to write. Waiting for someone else to make that much prose takes more time than I'm willing to wait. It takes most furres 10 minutes to write a paragraph.

I could have listened to 5 song selections, made 3 servings of ramen in the microwave in sequence one at a time, brewed 6 cups of hot water for in sequence. I could probably finish a full mission on World of Warcraft or City of Heroes. 10 minutes is a loooooong time.



#2. I like the act of writing prose; I like it very much. Because I like writing, I'd rather not wait ten minutes before composing my next post. I'd rather not be forced to post no more than 6 times in an hour.



#3. Some scenes are more credible if the successive posts "ramp up" the mood. Natural conversations are generally not made of chunks such that you only respond to the last chunk you heard. There's a strong tendency, when roleplaying with mandatory minimum post length, for posts to be relevant mostly to the most immediate last post instead of the the whole conversation overall.

Why's that? Because the typical mind can only remember what it's read for so long. I can usually tell somebody has started playing a second character because their character becomes responsive-- neurotically so. They seem to become very preoccupied with proving to me that they have read and can utilize my last post-- but they appear to have utterly lost a sense of the flow of the scene.



#4. Something often happens during alting that I call "mood fallout". Scenes don't all progress in the same way. Suppose that, in World A with your Character A, you're having a lovely tea break with your auntie Lizabet. In World A, the mood is calm, stately, elegant, refined, and, overall, positive and happy. In World B, your Character B is meeting up with her boyfriend Harnuld. Bad news-- Harnuld wants to break up. In World B, the mood has become tense, angsty, negative and unhappy.

Mood is not purely a 'brain' construct. It's also a 'blood' construct. That means that no matter how intelligent you are, you just can't dispel the feelings that a post provokes. It takes about seven minutes for adrenalin to leave your system, for example. There is going to be "mood fallout" from World A to World B, and vice-versa. It does not matter how smart you are.

The emotional overtone of Character B's response was not shaped by characters in World B. It was shaped by events and speech and mood in World A, too. Although a REALLY good RPer might intellectually be able to keep the two moods separate, in my experience, they almost never do. Most RPers aren't capable of that kind of juggling.

Of course, if all your characters never go through different kind of scenes (and there are plenty of RPers out there for whom that's generally true), I understand that wouldn't be a problem for you. It's definitely not true for me, though. I don't generally RP with conclusions that can be preconceived and assumed. I don't RP "formula" scenes.



#5. The waiting problem gets worse the more people there are in the scene. Experienced RPers tend to post in "rounds" where each furre posts once before anyone posts again. If I have to wait 5 minutes for one furre, then I have to wait 10 minutes for 2 other furres, and 15 minutes when there's 3 other furres.

Paragraphs don't lend themselves well to group scenes. I especially don't like scrolling back because two furres just happened to write long posts in quick succession. I think paragraphs are probably most appropriate for a one-on-one scene and would rather not see it encouraged in general out-and-about roleplaying where a crowded bar is the norm.



#6. Alot of furres are easily distracted and when they find something else to do, they don't contribute their fair share of creativity to the scene. The first real-world natural emotion to vanish is curiosity. Multiworlding kills natural curiosity dead dead dead. That's one more "tell" that gives away that someone is distracted.

I especially don't like that multiworlding encourages more multiworlding. It's a chain reaction, where a form of rudeness begets more rudeness.



#7. Alot of the people who put [PARA] in their description will whisper me to complain about my post length, and attempt to portray their style of writing as if it was 'the' preferred method on Furcadia. They often phrase their criticism in a condescending way, padding it with forgiveness for something I don't happen to think is egregious. Those of you who aren't like that should know that this behavior is quite common.



#8. I think you can already generally tell what kind of a writer someone is, from their description. Isn't that enough? Is it that necessary to form an exclusionary "Verbosity Union" and look down a collective nose at anyone who doesn't comply by making a show of prefering those who are also wearing the armband?

I think most of the people who put [PARA] in their description aren't any better at RPing than anybody else, most of them are mediocre. There's no high reputation that is being kept up, here.



#9. I often get the impression the paragraph furre is worse than emotionally "needy"-- they're "wanty". I've seen a lot of descriptions that sloppy, unevocative, and maybe even displaying a large vocabulary the way a peacock spreads and brandishes its train-- creative but utterly unoriginal. Then, they slap a [PARA] in there. In many cases, it also seems to be shorthand for "I want no other kind of interaction except the sexual, and YOU are going to produce it for me."

Often, it seems like this furre isn't really looking for someone with whom to roleplay. They're more of a porn voyeur, a flasher. They want to talk dirty to somebody else. They also want someone else to write free porn while they sit there and... do what people do when they go to a web site and read free porn.

If that's what you like to do- to compose a large amount of customized erotica for one other person to read, -- please, go for it, knock yourself out, enjoy! I'm expressing what I like and why, not what I think YOU should like.



#10. Long posts give an impression that time is going slowly. If you are trying to portray a character who is agile, quick-minded, and alert, shorter posts work better.



#11. Shorter posts can give a stronger impression that the other person is actually paying attention to the scene at hand. Are they writing AT you, or WITH you? Did they compose a cookie-cutter post that might have worked just as well in a hundred scenes, or does it only make sense in this particular scene?



#12. When I tried to write paragraphs, I found myself writing ahead to keep up with the other furre's demand, but then going back and shoe-horning and tailoring my mostly-written post to fit their last post. It was largely throwing in customization to prove I had actually read the last thing they wrote.

Doing that just didn't feel right to me.



#13. Even more importantly, a short post gives the other players a chance to react. A long post would have been counterproductive because it would have been less fair, because the most relevant action could easily be obscured, hidden and buried in the other prose.



The shortest post I made yesterday was this:

Alshain reaches into her pocket.

It was a tense scene; an associate was admitting to the murder of another associate. Alshain might have been drawing a gun. She might have been fondling a fetish that would magically rob the other characters of combat speed and added it to hers. She might have been activating a taperecorder. However, I don't need to write out any of that, and, in fact, I don't want to, because I want RP to challenge the other players to think.



In fact, my post could not really have been much longer. If I had not stopped my action at this point, it would have been unfair to the other players, because we were playing by rules which give them the right to use definitely-recorded abilities. Some of them have super-human reflexes and danger sense, and I, as player, am not permitted that knowledge until after it's too late. And that's what made the situation exciting.



In my experience, four lines of text or more is almost always a guarantee that I'm not going to be excited or surprised, and that the other player isn't paying much attention to the scene at hand, to boot.