Scow, I'd really appreciate it if you'd stop bashing on Illusionary's guide. It's not as though the moderators are enforcing the damn thing: people are welcome to read it and use it, or not, at their leisure. If you don't like it, that's fine. Don't use it. But stop making it out to be some kind of doctrine that's supressing people on the forum, because that's not what it's doing. This is just a slow spot on the forums, and using her guide as a scapegoat isn't constructive.

No one person is the end all, be all authority of roleplaying. Not Illusionary. Not me, and not you. Let people do their own thing, including using IN's guide.

I agree 100%

I want to wait until a new fresh RP pops up before I join. Don't feel comfortable entering into the middle of something that's already in progress (as you may recall from past experiences with me Wooly ) but I definetly look forward to doing some fun Roleplays with you all!

Who knows, maybe when Elder Scrolls V comes out Ill finally make a fanfic thatbgets past chapter 3!... nah.


I sure do hope that more old members come back though. Haven't seen BSparrow Olny and others insome time...

Do you guys really expect anything else from someone who quotes TvTropes numerous times in his posts? By all means, if it makes you feel smart, right or funny then do it because in the end as long as you can get to sleep at night is all that matters. But in reality it just makes you look.... well I can't think of an uncensored word this early.

Really though, drop the revolutionary act. We get that you like to be "that guy who has to be different from everyone else to feel good" but it's actually quite old by now. The problem I see is that you feel a need to disrespect every RP creator that you come into contact with lately. You whine about not being able to have what you want (my brother is 8 and he does not do this anymore BTW) until the RP creator gives you what you want just to shut you up. If you have a problem with the rules someone has made for their RP, then either svck it up and conform to the rules they wish to put on their creation, or don't join the RP. WHy you feel the need to [censored] about the rules in every RP escapes me but I have some theories about self-gratification that might be close to the mark.

If you hate the status quo, why don't you start up your own RP where super powerful characters are allowed (and quoting TvTropes is considered cool and mandatory)? That way you get what you want in an RP, and you stop disrespecting other creators at the same time. Or go make another forum, if you hate the guide at the top of the page so much. My understanding is that they are quite easy to make nowadays if you just want somewhere to RP.

Whatever you do, stop being disrespectful to creators wishes for their own RP's because it's just rude, obnoxious and childish. Oh, and I suppose it's the "manly" thing to bash someone's guide when they aren't here to justify it for themselves? Ok, that's what I thought, just making sure is all



On Topic: I like forum RP's because they are fun and I like (most) of you guys :hugs: Except Wooly.... :flamethrower:

You guys have done great, and while it isn't as busy as when I started roleplaying, the general quality of the roleplays and especially the fan fics is extremely impressive. I genuinly look forward to coming back to this community again, especially with the addition of another ES game and the traffic it will generate.

P.S. I got to RP with Illusionary Nothing on multiple occasions! /boast

Well now, let's please try not to start a debate on a thread devoted to celebrating our forum's "revival" :sweat: Especially over something as trivial (if helpful) as the guide that has been here for years now. If we can't get along in a simple conversation thread, how will we manage an actual RP?

Blade, please avoid outright insults if you disagree with Scow's opinions. I understand what you're trying to say, and do not disagree that the guide has its uses, but that's no way to express your opinion. I'm sure Scow does not appreciate it, and neither do the rest of us; how will we get anywhere if we start bashing people as soon as they come back to the forum? And for the record I like TVTropes :unsure:

Of course, that's not to say that I agree with Scow's opinion, but as everyone knows, he is completely entitled to that opinion. I know what you mean that sometimes we take roleplaying too seriously; I admit that I tend to take things "too seriously" myself, but that is only because I appreciate the time and effort everyone has put into the RP, and do not wish to ruin their carefully crafted characters and plots with a single invincible assassin-mage that doesn't feel pain. While such characters can be fun, I have always been of the opinion that the history and personality sections of the character sheet are more important than the weapons or skills. Characters are more than their badass-ity, they are meant to be complex, realistic people that interact with other real people. While we are obviously in a fantasy universe, which gives us much more allowances for super characters, the main goal should still be realistic character interaction.

I have been in both "basket-weaver" RPs, and "super vampire ninja" RPs, and I can honestly say that both are fun. There is nothing wrong with a powerful character, as long as you do not abuse that power. If you can handle an uber character, which I'm sure many of us could, feel free to use one (so long as the RP creator agrees). I know FC4 used plenty of self proclaimed uber characters, as did many other roleplayers we can all agree are excellent at what they do; I am still using an uber Psijic mage in one of the RPs I'm in. The only problem is, I spent so much time on that Psijic mage's powers that I didn't flesh out his personality enough; now I'm stuck with an anti-social Altmer that runs around on rooftops and doesn't have any friends to interact with. Not to say that you can't have uber guys that are also fun to be around, but my point is that awesome powers do not make a good character

I appreciate what you are saying, and know all too well how elitist this forum can be to new members. People have called me out on the exact thing on many occasions, in which I flat out told people that I didn't think they were good enough to RP here. And looking back on that, I am absolutely disgusted with myself for saying that. Who are we to tell people they can't RP here? Are we so great that we can't help out newer or younger writers to become better? If all of the old members of this forum never helped me to learn what I was doing, I would never have become a fraction of the writer or roleplayer I am today (not that I am very good now, of course). And my point is this: the guide only helps those who come here not knowing what is "bad". While some people can handle uber characters flawlessly, some newer RPers abuse them and simply ruin a perfectly good RP. That is the whole point of the guide: to help new RPers so they don't constantly get yelled at by us stuffy old folks

So the guide is just that: a guideline. It is not the end all, be all of the forum, and it is not a divine mandate sent from our holy goddess Illusionary Some people take it too seriously, I admit, but all in all it has helped far more than it has hurt. I agree that when we had a better blend of roleplayers here the guide was more useful, but that does not mean we should throw it away now. We should strive to recreate that atmosphere of free thinking and wall to wall excellent roleplaying :goodjob:

And the first thing we can do is stop all this pointless bickering. I far prefer forums where everyone knows and accepts each other, where we can all be buddies and have a smashing time roleplaying with one another. And I for one think that we can make that kind of place here


On another note, Blackhand, the Children's Quest has just now started. Half the players haven't even finished their introduction posts yet; I'm sure Story would love to have you The Timeline is something you want to get into sooner rather than later, trust me. I waited until just recently to join in, and feel a little out of place. Of course, that's not to say people can't join. They were all very helpful in telling me what all I missed out on, and even have several little summaries to give a broad overview of the events thus far.

On another another note, Uglius is back :celebration:

PS Apologies for the long post; I'm afraid I'm still rather wordy, especially in trying to settle debates :blush:

I don't like you either! :flamethrower:

:foodndrink:



You're not allowed to talk about religion Darkom! The divine ritual is to be kept secret!

Welcome back Uglius. It's good to see you mate.

~~~

Even though Blade's remarks were somewhat insulting, he is right. Scow, instead of arguing with me over a RP, and everyone else, either don't join the RP, or conform to the rules. I respect your opinion, but when I am hosting a RP it goes off these things:

1) My opinion and standard.

2) The opinion of my most respected and well known forum colleagues (PFA, Blade, Darkom, Uglius, Immortal Blood, Solidor, etc.), who even though I might be friends with some of them more than others, I have still known these people on this forum for 2 years. I just haven't worked with you a lot and seen what you can do, therefore I am not going to make sacrifices to some parts of my own opinion for the opinion of your own.

Well I apologize Scow if I insulted you. I just assumed that since you spoke your mind, you could handle it when someone else does the same.

Thank you for giving example of what the forums problem is. We can't have a nice, heated debate because we get left wing nuts like you ( jk jkn but not really) who cry out if two people try to speak their own minds and say what is on them.

Instead, someone tries to speak their minds and state their opinion and they are instantly ousted because "it was too harsh". I admit I may have been slightly insulting but if someone can't handle an internet forum debate, life is going to tear them a new ass hole.

I do see how the forums are though so I won't be getting drawn into any more debates about this since people are apparently too sensitive to handle opinions of others.

Thanks Darkom and may your free, liberal thinking forever grace this forum to change grouchy old guys like myself :laugh:

Damn you and your flamethrower Wooly!

While Darkom may not agree with my expressed opinion, I certainly agree 100% with his. In fact, I agree with his more than I agree with my own. (I was writing at Well Past Midnight at the time, leaving several points obfuscated).

Bleh... looking at everyone else's join dates is making me feel old... especially when I remember the years of Online Roleplaying Experience I had prior to coming here, and since leaving.

And I feel it kind of odd that an RP about killing Dragons of all things is unwelcoming to powerful characters, Wooly. :biggrin:

Also, Blade... yeah, you may want to re-evaluate your assesment of your response to me. I have a quarter of a red bar under my name from two years ago when I posted that same tone against someone in an argument about what TES V should have when it comes out.

It's welcome to powerful, realistic characters, yes. Not powerful, impossible characters.

I agree with Blade on his "ass hole" quote. It's an internet forum. People need to get over it.

And yet, none of my characters are impossible, based on a combination of The Elder Scrolls Lore and real-life precedent. Spellswords are Breton's favored class.

And according to my experience with the mods, Blade's opinion is not the one shared by the rules of the forum. 25% Warn status under my name for insulting someone based on what I thought of their preferences. I wish I'd kept Leydenne's message about that...

Well don't you think that we're going to get pissed off when you keep ranting about your so called forum revolution where you think you're some holy prophet who thinks he is going to come back and not stop shouting until everything on the forum is changed?

You'll learn upon your return that Blade is a well respected member here. He doesn't get in trouble, and many of us have known him (and each other) for a while. I'd be the first to stand up and defend Blade. Maybe if you just cooled it and found an easier solution to your problem than shouting in everybody's thread about this trash, then it would work out for you and we could find some common ground.

:laugh:

If I let myself worry about being disciplined by people I'll never meet, and fret about a little bar under my name, then I might as well just tap out of life right now.

There are better things to fret over and in my opinion this isn't one of them. But thank you for your concern and warning

Edit: sorry for triple post.

Edit: oiee, triple post?!! Damn phone

I'd like to deferr to Darkom's post. He said everything I was trying to say, better than I could have

We need more this


And to avoid the pitfall spelled out here (This paragraph summed up my point in its entirety):


EDIT: Darkom, weren't you winner of 09's "Most Improved Roleplayer" award? If so, you've definitely proven how you earned it with that post of yours.

Not to brag, but I was, Scow.

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1062074-2009-end-of-year-awards/

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1064328-end-of-year-awards-2009-results/

I'll give Darkom his credit though. He got Best Fanfic Critic/Reviewer of 2009.

:rofl:

Thanks Wooly, you just made this 2 hour spare not seem so bad.

Well, you earned it too, considering the amount of respect you have around here as a roleplayer now, Compared to how I remember you before I left in early 09 :hehe:

Just joking. I don't really remember you being as horrible as others.

And I'm aware of how a godmoder can break a game... but the trend I've seen there isn't from the player's character being too powerful, as much as them playing the NPCs they're opposing as being too incompetant.

So... what we call Ubering, I think, is actually just mis-identifying God-moding and character-controlling an NPC.

I'll turn myself into the punching bag for this example: With the most infuriating and blatant Ubering I did with Dar'Shandi in "Long Road To Ruin" with Illusionary Nothing, I had the cat kill at least three, maybe four Corprus Beasts over the course of a single post. The problem really wasn't the acrobatics and weapon proficiency displayed that made the post Ubering, but the way I underplayed the competance of the Corprus monsters, having them go down to single blows from a wooden stick, brass arrow, and foot-long dirk wielded by a 4' cat.

You can still play powerful characters. I never used Arethan in any single handed adventure stuff, because he was too powerful. In the timeline, however, he worked well.

Arethan's storyline worked well in how he escaped Morrowind as a her-hand, before the Nerevarine could get to him. He hid in Heltseth's court, defended Mournhold from the Oblivion Crises, then went to High Rock with an army Helseth sent there to help the Nords fight Elysana. Then he did not return to Morrowind, along with his partner. His best friend was killed in High Rock, but his other close friend stayed with him. He began to look for the Skull of Corruption to duplicate himself. If duplicated and sent to Morrowind, maybe the Tong would kill his clone and he could re-enter his homeland after they thought he was dead.

Arethan was very powerful, arguably one of the most powerful the forum has ever seen. But I didn't overpower him, and I had fun with him. He wasn't anti-social like a lot of people make their powerful characters (which I don't think works at all, that's my opinion), but he was a total ass-jerk. I loved his personality.

And that is what is most important- personality and backstory. When other characters interacted with Arethan, they got the impression:

"Man. This guy is a real [censored], but he'll probably kill me if I say anything bad to him. After all, maybe he can help me do something if I am nice to him."

Thank you Blade, I appreciate your reason It's good to know we can handle a little debate, but in the end it's never good for anyone. I love to debate philosophy and religion myself (as Wooly can attest to), but I withhold my own argumentative nature on principle. And soon everyone will adopt my peaceful, liberal ways, by force if necessary



Ah, sleep deprevation, the bane of the internet community Thank you Scow, I'm glad you think so. And I agreed with parts of your previous opinion, I just think you went about them the wrong way. Glad to see it's all worked out now :goodjob:



True enough, but like I said, debates rarely solve much here. Nine times out of ten they just make people angry; I'm just glad we averted any red bar scenarious here



Of course there are more important things in life, but that doesn't mean we can't be courteous towards one another. Simply being polite should avoid any need for "discipline".



Quite, I was never much of a roleplayer, and I haven't really gotten much better anyway. Writing is what I'm really all about, even though I don't critique half as much as I should :blush: Sparrow, Shades, Ravanger, and everyone else that helped me when I first started deserved that award much more than me.

EDIT: Man, I haven't double posted in forever.

I can actually make out a decent relation now that I think about it.

When I joined at the end of 2008/early 2009, I was one of the new guys here. Then you had all of your old guys who had been here since 06 or 05, or some even 03...

And now I realize that a lot of people here are in the same position we were in, Darkom, and Blade. And it is best to help them out like we were helped out. By no means do we try to shove anyone out of the forum, Scow. We just have a different opinion on the whole powerful character thing than you do.

I just noticed i made this account 10 days before you made yours haha :laugh:

However ive been here since 06, just forgot the password to my old account....and the password to the old accounts email I used

Tis' good to know. Aye, the ole fanfic forums are back up again matey. BUT if we look forward a few years, it might fall again unless we threaten everyone to stay. I've written fan fics and seen fanfics but they hardly ever get comments and stuff, so it definetly is good to see the forums alive again. You know, the whole reason I joined was because of the fanfiction and role play. Cheers Big Ears.