So I've been thinking for awhile, about the RPs and Fan Fics that we see on the forums. I don't have a problem with them, they're all great in their own right, and so are the Fan Fics that others do. But I've been thinking, and it seems I've already been beaten to the idea by a new forum goer here. But my idea of the RP/Fan Fic hybrid, is more refined I think in how it operates. So to explain, here's a look into what I have for the RP/Fan Fic Hybrid.

RP/Fan Fic Hybrid General layout idea

When I was thinking of this idea, there were all sorts of things going through my head that might work, but this seems the most ideal place to at least start, before maybe others start refining the idea even better themselves. First, the main idea of the RP/Fan Fic hybrid is to not just focus on one, but to add them together, making the main story of the RP a sort of general basis and place to start. A sort of backstory if you will, to the players own personal fan fics introduced into the idea, through RP means. By this, I mean that the RP/Fan Fic Hybrid is started like any normal RP would be. Backstory, Character's Intervention into it, Rules, and a CS (Character Sheet). But the Fan Fic idea, would allow people to make up their own stories inside an already back dropped story, making it pretty unique and hopefully eventful to the players liking. This gives the players the opportunity to work together, and RP together, but also without the restriction of having the GM (Game Master) looking over their shoulder to make sure they're doing things right. Obviously the set story will need to be followed, as it's given, but what the players character does, is completely up to them and they can if they want, work together into a team. There are no restrictions, but it has to be logical to everyone in the RP/Fan Fic.

So basically, this RP/Fan Fic Hybrid is played like any RP, but the stories told are like a Fan Fic, where you make the characters story the way you want it to be, and aren't bogged down by specific things that might restrict you. Of course, there is the instance where the RP/Fan Fic is focused on one faction or another, rather than multiple factions for the players to choose. Though in anyones RP, the ability to have players on various different teams would not be caught against the idea of this RP/Fan Fic Hybrid. You could have multiple teams, with Player v. Player, but all the RP Posts would be of the players story, rather than having to focus on others. So there wouldn't be lags in the RP/Fan Fic, where nobody posts for a time because they're either waiting on someone else, or that person has mysteriously disappeared. The stories of these characters, can obviously be intertwined if you wanted, having two character know each other, work together, or fight each other, the options up to those players and how they want their characters to be.


Also, the players actions, like an actual RP would have it, do effect the story. They have to, as the Fan Fiction would do the same with people whispering or chatting openly about some major event or action taken in this settlement, town, city, whatever by that stories character or characters. The actions of players will be known, but there will be no foreshadowing of characters knowing about another character actions in the RP/Fan Fic Hybrid, unless this is talked about between the players. I find this to be a problem in most RPs, as when an event happens, or is leading up to an event, it seems that those opposed to the event already have an idea, thus the foreshadowing of the event starts to pop up into the defenders or opposers posts, which does no doubt kill a part of the fun in the RP.

Basically this idea is to cut down on the player foreshadowing with his/her character, and allow the story to be vibrant and alive, with surprises and such happening to the characters and the world they're currently in. It will also, like I've said already, be much more flexible, and people won't have to depend on others if they don't want to, to continue with their own story. This allows for more things to take place and the RP to become what I hope is successful. Of course, in a normal RP, talking with NPCs here and there would get tiring and boring, which usually finds the RP in trouble and soon it's dead. But in this RP/Fan Fic Hybrid, the Fan Fiction part also comes into the light once again, allowing the characters to meet any sort of NPC character they want, even if it just comes right out of their head. Most RPs frown on this, unless it's been passed by the GM allowing it, but in Fan Fictions, the characters that are met are there to move the story forward, or give the main character a mission/duty to fulfill and what not. That's also how the NPCs in this RP/Fan Fic Hybrid will also act. This RP/Fan Fic Hybrid, is meant to try and get rid of the problems most RPs are faced with when happening, and also allowing the Fan Fiction to be incorporated more into the players RP Character.



I hope you like my refined idea, and any questions you have, either on changes, better ideas to handle this or that, please speak up and don't be afraid. I'm already planning a new experimental RP that will incorporate the RP/Fan Fic idea, just to see how those on here react to it and if it can be successful like I hope it will. So please, comment, question, fix, whatever, I'm here to listen and answer.

I was just about to go to sleep but this topic caught my eye, glad it did . It's a great idea in my opinion, I do have some questions but I'll ask them tomorrow because I'm pretty darn tired :laugh: .

Even if it doesn't work (it probably will), then at least it was worth a try

Night night!

Well, I like it.

Overall, it sounds like a cooperative fanfic in a certain scenario. I also like how the player can stay solo, or team up if they want to. Also, if I mysteriously disappear again, there won't be any problems for the other players. :blush2:

So, i'm all for this. :goodjob:

Sounds like a brilliant idea.

I normally don't like RP's, I don't even know why I join them. But I love the idea behind this one, because people could drop out without effecting the story, and people won't get stuck wating for someone.

The concept sounds good to me, so I have nothing to add.

Sounds good, I may even participate in something like this. However, I feel like having a character sheet for each character takes away from the story. An example being we don't really have stats in real life, so I feel like it would be better to introduce your character through creative storytelling. This way the story wouldn't lock with a certain number of people - so people could leave and new people could join.

In one of the creative writing courses I took a few years ago, we had to do character sketches. Not sure if anyone here is familiar with them, but it's basically using a ton of details to describe a character in a story fashion, (including items, settings, etc.). If anyone wanted to join the hybrid, they could just jump right into the creative writing without all the mumbo jumbo of creating a character spreadsheet. That is what usually holds me back anyway.

I'm just spit-ballin' here though, it is a great idea none-the-less!

-Pip

Thanks everyone, glad you guys think it's a good idea. I hope it works too, so I should have some sort of RP idea that's unique (like I usually try to do anyway) that people will enjoy.

As for you Pip54, I agree that description through creative storytelling is key to this. But the point of the RP side is to also keep it an RP as well as a Fan Fic. In reality, looking more into this, I think it's more of a cooperative Fan Fic than an actual RP, just with RP elements sprinkled here and there. Mainly because I'm allowing players to create their own story within a story, go where they want to go, do what they want, and all while still keeping into the setting of the RP. Which the RP is mostly just a CS, some Rules, and the backstory to this hybrid.

I understand what you mean by not wanting a CS, but I don't usually add such things to the CS Template as "What are your Skill Attributes, SPECIAL, etc." I often just give something like this.



That's usually all I give, with adding a little more here and there if the RP calls on it. As for your concern on who can join and not, CS's in other RPs usually do restrict the number of who's joining or not, but in this case of the experimental RP/Fan Fic I'll be coming up with, that won't be a problem. Those who do not join at first, can join at anytime as their part of this is their own, and they can start wherever they like. (RPs usually restrict this sort of thing, and it usually causes problems for the previous players, as suddenly there's a new player just dropping in to add their own, when an RP already has a general idea of where it's going.) People have an outside life to these forums, and I understand when people have to leave a RP or Fan Fic, to deal with the real world. Often, like I said, that ruins an RP and the Fan Fic sometimes never gets finished. In this case, that's not a concern to be worried about, as the player may return at any time they want, and start where they left off, catching up to the times if the backstory has had things added to it. Such as a current event done that would effect the characters all together, rather than just some. This also wouldn't effect those wanting to join in the middle, who didn't start at the beginning, as they start where they want and do what they want to, as it is their own story within a story.

I can understand it holding people back, but CS are never focused on in RPs. Though it just helps some keep track of things with their character, imagine their character more vividly, and helps others as well to capture the general essence and appearance of another character. It's more of a small aid in this sense of an RP/Fan Fic Hybrid, but you can always add detail to the story about your character. Since this is mostly a cooperative Fan Fic, with RP elements, the detail you put into your story and CS is all up to you.

I hope you all join when I've got the RP/Fan Fic basis down, and we can really see together where this thing goes. Who knows, this could be the new way RPs and Fan Fics are done when together?

I fully support and plan to join when you start this endeavor Doc. No more waiting for a single person to post it's a great idea. Do you have any settings in mind yet?

Thanks a lot Hircine, and in fact I do actually have a couple of ideas floating around, but nothing of a backstory so far, or anything that's been put down on paper or my computer. I was thinking of maybe a Cyborg RP/Fan Fic? Something like that, and would also constitute some of my favorite Cyborg Game (Deus Ex). Of course, the only Deus Ex theme would be the Cyborg part, so those who haven't played wouldn't be lost because it won't focus on any Deus Ex game story or anything. Not sure on that one though, but I think it's pretty unique as nobody's really done Cyborgs before. (That I know of. And Cyborgs haven't really been approached in FO.)

I also had an idea for a Super Mutant RP/Fan Fic, but that one I'm kinda lost on what it could do with it story wise and which Coast I'd have it on. (Probably the West, since they're more civilized than the East Coast SM.) Other than those, I've got nothing. Though I am thinking more for the Cyborg, because who wouldn't want to have a Cyborg character?

I don't RP, so I don't know if I'm qualified to say any thing on the subject, but is there a danger of this going out of control if there are no clear cut parameters? I hate to be a voice of negativity (because I really truly want to be constructive, not destructive) but I think this could become messy if someone feels that someone else did something 'wrong'. I guess it all depends on the maturity of the people involved.

I'm all for experiments, so I wish nothing but success for this idea. Maybe I'll even add my own storytelling and try RP for the first time! :nod:

Hey, I said any questions you have, ask them. Doesn't matter, I'll answer them all! So to answer your question...

I'm sure, that depending on the circumstances, things could go wrong and things get out of control. But it really does also depend on the RP, it's general rules, and how people RP. Obviously there's the most common rule, that's usually the first rule in RPs, which is: I AM BOSS, WHAT I SAY GOES! The second most obvious being: DON'T HAVE TOO UBER OF A CHARACTER! In this matter, I say to the first one: YOU ARE BOSS OF YOUR STORY! Of course, while still being in control of your own story and your own characters, the rules set by the RP/Fan Fic Hybrid must be followed as well, since it is someone else's story you're basing your story as apart of, and must follow the rules set. But it does depend on the story of the RP, and what the GM dictates as rules from the beginning OP.

I myself, do have sort of a image, that when you join my RPs I expect you to act reasonable and that things are done in a reasonable fashion and manner. For example, if we're doing an RP that involves a Mercenary group, I don't want someones character going all Rambo and stuff, which inevitably ruins the RP for the others, as that "Rambo" character takes over and does a lot of ridiculous things. I usually don't stand for it, and give a fair warning and we either continue or the "Rambo" character leaves. I think this also comes with the Foreshadowing that is common in RPs here, and I hope that by people realizing things need to be reasonable, and even though it's fiction, still need some serious actions.

Lets say I do do my Cyborg Idea for this experimental RP/Fan Fic Hybrid. I wouldn't want someone's character in their story, to suddenly bound from the ground to the roof, or kill a whole group of enemies in a matter of seconds with just a pistol, and I wouldn't want them to be overtly too powerful. This is usually common, but I also wouldn't want it to be bland in the story/game play. I think people realize, there needs to be a balance to things, even when it's something where you might have enhanced abilities. You can have a really skilled character at guns, and shooting, etc. but I still would say if they posted about killing a bunch of enemies in five seconds, they went above the Uber Rule, and are thus warned or kicked.

There's bound to be problems when experimenting, and this is no different, we'll just have to work around to fixing these problems as they appear. But I think with the action of foreshadowing being something of the old RPs, and no longer apart of this type of RP (hopefully), the matter of people doing 'wrong' will be taken out as well. It is your own story within a story, you can do what you like in a reasonable fashion and manner, and I do expect those who join to be mature about their stories, and not make their characters too UBERIFIC!!! (This goes out to everyone interested, just so you know.)

Also, since this experimental RP/Fan Fic does focus on the players personal character/story separate from everyone else's, I think that if/when the players want to team up together, a discussion will be had between them (via PM please!) So then you don't suddenly have in one post: "Oh Mr. A suddenly saw Mr. and Mrs. C fighting or talking." *Mr and Mrs. C's Players looking dumbfounded, as Mr. A's player just ruined what they'd planned* Communication will be important as well, and if a player would like to link up with another players character, or a group, that player could PM them. Sure it might be a little tedious, but it's important so that other player's characters aren't ruined in planning or whatever. This could also be done through OOCs (Out Of Character) but I think it's best done through PM so the RP/Fan Fic is not ruined or cluttered with sudden OOCs. Also, if you're talking with others about joining or making a group, then suddenly someone else comes along through PM, be sure to tell everyone or have them tell everyone, about the current situation of group making, so then it's not so forced or anything.

Well, like I said, I'm all for an experiment and I'm curious to see how it goes. Sounds like you know what you're talking about so I hope this works out. It'll be neat, to see what, and how, people add to your idea.

Looks interesting and new, who knows maybe people will start doing RPs this way fro now on. But this cyborg thing confuses me, are you talking about a different game or something from FO1 or 2?

All my questions were pretty much answered by your posts above. So count me in this experimental Rp!
I actually hate writing my character sheet because when I'm in the Rp my character just becomes totally different, I can't even help it either, it's so annoying!

In the FO Universe, Cyborgs are there, they're just not the way you'd think Cyborgs are. (RoboBrains are considered Cyborgs in FO.) And I actually found only one Cyborg in the FO Universe, that could possibly be like the Cyborgs from Deus Ex, (with an actual human body, but with enhanced robotic limbs or something like that,) and that was Star Paladin Cross. At least, from the wiki it says she's a Cyborg. So it will be in the FO Universe, with FO everything, but the type of Cyborgs in my idea, will be like the Cyborgs from Deus Ex. (Another game completely different from FO. And more specifically, the new upcoming Deus Ex, http://ps3.ign.com/objects/142/14220592.html) Sometimes people do games like this, where you add another game (or movie) with FO. Examples have been: Bioshock/FO, Mad Max/FO, and some others, I just can't remember them off hand right now.



Don't worry, in this matter, characters will be changing as it's also apart of the Fan Fic side of this hybrid. So basically your Character Sheet is just a starting place for people, getting a general idea and then you can let them grown from there!

I'm going to be posting the actual experimental RP/Fan Fic Hybrid in a few minutes, or it'll already be up by the time you read this. But I will have, in the experiment, a link to this thread for anyone who want to join as the RP/Fan Fic's progress hopefully when it's up. Just so people don't have to ask questions that might have already been asked, and answered by me already. And I don't have to go over how this experiment will work, over and over again.

So to make things clear, if you have questions, ask them on this. They might already have been asked and answered, as I answered all the questions that were asked. So there's no need to ask them, unless you need to be clarified on one or two of them. If so, send me a PM and I'll get back to you ASAP.

just a quick question, when did Cyber Corp. start up? how long has it been around? where did they get the tec? (don't mind if that last one is a SCIENCE! explanation...)

I'd say about 2 years tops, with it's third year being in this war. (Which has only been going on for a Month, so it hasn't been that long.)

The Bosses of Cyber Corp., we'll say are very secretive and are more shadowy than say the President of the NCR. So nobody's seen them actually, they're kind of private people. The tech, we'll also keep a secret on how it came about, as I don't want to have to go into a big whole history of where they found the tech, etc., etc. Kinda draws away from the purpose of the general story, which is focused on the war for the time. (Though we will say that Cyber Corp. does make their own augmentations for the sake of the story too.)


EDIT:http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1111115-the-unknown-war/. Just incase people come to this thread first, they have a link.