Experiences Whats making you angry today? Rp pet peeves

[nerdy tangents]

People getting mad for 1, you not wanting to play a canon character to their original character and 2, you not wanting to play canon characters at all. Somewhere else I had someone get angry at me because I don't play canon characters or even want to try. Why would I when it's not my character? I swear some people...

So the only way I understand this is if it’s an uneven exchange.

So if you ask someone to play a canon for you but refuse to play a canon for them.

It doesn’t bother me personally because I enjoy playing canons. But I can see how it’s frustrating if you are always playing the less desirable character in a ship.

You see this a lot with people who are “oh I can’t play male characters but my partner has to write only male characters because I want a het romance.”

It is a little rude to be asked to do something someone else won’t do themselves.

I am happy to play a canon but I don’t require it of my partners. I just say “play whatever makes you happy.” But if I was the kind of person to be like “you have to play a canon for me.” I would at the very least be willing to do the same for my partner.

(Not saying you were doing this, but just saying I can see the frustration of always being in a position to accommodate other people without being given accommodations in return.)

 

[Inno]

So the only way I understand this is if it’s an uneven exchange.

So if you ask someone to play a canon for you but refuse to play a canon for them.

It doesn’t bother me personally because I enjoy playing canons. But I can see how it’s frustrating if you are always playing the less desirable character in a ship.

You see this a lot with people who are “oh I can’t play male characters but my partner has to write only male characters because I want a het romance.”

It is a little rude to be asked to do something someone else won’t do themselves.

I am happy to play a canon but I don’t require it of my partners. I just say “play whatever makes you happy.” But if I was the kind of person to be like “you have to play a canon for me.” I would at the very least be willing to do the same for my partner.

(Not saying you were doing this, but just saying I can see the frustration of always being in a position to accommodate other people without being given accommodations in return.)

I don't play canon characters at all or the whole shipping business. Even if I do a fandom, which is few and far in between, I specify to the person that I do not play canons nor do I want or expect them to play them for me. I don't need canon characters for anything when I can just so easily make up my own.

The person reached out to me about an anime I never even heard of asking if I would play a certain character from said anime. When I said no, they got angry for no good reason and went on a tangent about me not even trying to play a canon.That's all there is to my frustrations. It really has nothing to do with the even exchange.

 

[Melpomene]

I don't play canon characters at all or the whole shipping business. Even if I do a fandom, which is few and far in between, I specify to the person that I do not play canons nor do I want or expect them to play them for me. I don't need canon characters for anything when I can just so easily make up my own.

The person reached out to me about an anime I never even heard of asking if I would play a certain character from said anime. When I said no, they got angry for no good reason and went on a tangent about me not even trying to play a canon.That's all there is to my frustrations. It really has nothing to do with the even exchange.

Yeah they just sound like an unreasonable dick.

Why would someone play a canon character from a work they aren't even familiar with? That doesn't even make sense. It's like the guy who shamed me for refusing a furry RP with him for "not even trying it".


Like yo, people... This is a hobby that I am supposed to do for fun. Not and I'm not a toddler that refuses to eat their vegetables. I'm a fully grown woman that knows what type of Roleplay and stories she likes to tell and how she likes to tell them.

Honestly, I don't like anyone who tries to shame people for just not being into the same thing they are into. People are here to have fun, like damn.

 

[nerdy tangents]

I don't play canon characters at all or the whole shipping business. Even if I do a fandom, which is few and far in between, I specify to the person that I do not play canons nor do I want or expect them to play them for me. I don't need canon characters for anything when I can just so easily make up my own.

The person reached out to me about an anime I never even heard of asking if I would play a certain character from said anime. When I said no, they got angry for no good reason and went on a tangent about me not even trying to play a canon.That's all there is to my frustrations. It really has nothing to do with the even exchange.

As I said I wasn’t accusing you of anything. I just know that in my experience as a primarily fandom roleplayer is there are certainly people who believe in getting their own way at the expense of their partners enjoyment (which does seem to be exactly the issue you ran into.)

The person wanted you to co-write their fanfiction, which is a sadly not uncommon mindsets among fandom shippers.

They usually at least pretend they’ll play someone for you but it’s usually pretty easy to spot the people who are saying that because they mean it and those who are just saving face.

 

[Inno]

As I said I wasn’t accusing you of anything. I just know that in my experience as a primarily fandom roleplayer is there are certainly people who believe in getting their own way at the expense of their partners enjoyment (which does seem to be exactly the issue you ran into.)

The person wanted you to co-write their fanfiction, which is a sadly not uncommon mindsets among fandom shippers.

They usually at least pretend they’ll play someone for you but it’s usually pretty easy to spot the people who are saying that because they mean it and those who are just saving face.

Oh, I wasn't saying that as if I thought you were accusing me of anything. I was explaining about the situation is all.

 

[Onmyoji]

Sometimes it's so hard to continue rp when your partner leaves nothing for you to react to.
It is like we write separate stories about our characters, where is the roleplay aspect?

 

[iJoeyMonster]

This has already been stated here but this is something that's annoyed me lately.

I hate it when your partner chooses a plot that you CLEARLY marked as heavy world building and then they don't really participate in the world building. It frustrates me.

 

[Pretty Little Creature]

This has already been stated here but this is something that's annoyed me lately.

I hate it when your partner chooses a plot that you CLEARLY marked as heavy world building and then they don't really participate in the world building. It frustrates me.

I feel this. I know it's just open-air venting but I'm just going to give a little insight into why people may do this. Because I used to get this complaint a lot. Although, eventually, others would see my point when we would spend hours on world-building and then discover the plot doesn't work for the characters. Role-playing is super character-based. To develop a carefully crafted world into characters that could shift from one moment to the next; is counterproductive. Those who have been role-playing for a long time grow a sort of elastic mindset for world-building. In DND your play a set game with set goals so I mean world building is important. In a novel, you have a beginning, middle, and end and need that structure. Even then it's kind of expected you have to change your world several times to work with character goals throughout the editing process. World-building it's a very tricky situation, in role-playing. You have to work with two mindsets and one world. Also, there is very rarely an end date set for role plays so it's hard to create a world without that.

I do very very little world-building. I'm super vague with my setting descriptions. It's because I know I can not fight other people's imaginations and to box anyone into a corner just ends in a pit fire so I just go with it.

 

[Pretty Little Creature]

My greatest pet peeve as of late is how my brain doesn't work as fast as it once did for writing. T_T

 

[nerdy tangents]

I feel this. I know it's just open-air venting but I'm just going to give a little insight into why people may do this. Because I used to get this complaint a lot. Although, eventually, others would see my point when we would spend hours on world-building and then discover the plot doesn't work for the characters. Role-playing is super character-based. To develop a carefully crafted world into characters that could shift from one moment to the next; is counterproductive. Those who have been role-playing for a long time grow a sort of elastic mindset for world-building. In DND your play a set game with set goals so I mean world building is important. In a novel, you have a beginning, middle, and end and need that structure. Even then it's kind of expected you have to change your world several times to work with character goals throughout the editing process. World-building it's a very tricky situation, in role-playing. You have to work with two mindsets and one world. Also, there is very rarely an end date set for role plays so it's hard to create a world without that.

I do very very little world-building. I'm super vague with my setting descriptions. It's because I know I can not fight other people's imaginations and to box anyone into a corner just ends in a pit fire so I just go with it.

Hard disagree, if you don’t mind my saying it seems like you have pre-made characters? Or at least you focus on characters over plot/world building?

Which might explain why world building isn’t an issue for you but it would be an issue for other people.

I for instance use the setting to define the plot. Every plot I do requires the characters fit the setting not the other way around. So if world building isn’t done then you can’t make a character in the first place and the roleplay never starts.

And in the case where the character is premade (example fandom roleplays) the setting is how it diverges from the main plot line, so I use the setting again to define the plot.

Ex. In Harry Potter the books are all set in a specific school (well except the last one). So I will flesh out a different location to make the plot stand out from just rehashing the canon story all over again.

In this case it’s not “character > plot > world building” it’s “ setting > plot > character”.

Which does tend to be my experience with heavy world building roleplays. The character is usually the last thing created and they are created purely to fit the plot and setting rather then the other way around.

I think that’s also where the frustration comes in with different writing styles. If all (general) you wants to do is talk about your character when I am trying to define the plot and settings then it’s not gonna work.

It’s why I refuse to work with pre-made characters who aren’t canons. Because inevitably the other person has their own backstory and plot already pre-written and I am just getting spotted in an empty slot.

 

[jump.]

frustrated at myself for being bored out of my mind, but lacking the inspiration/energy to make or join new rps. so now im just sitting here feeling miserable because i have nothing to do

 

[Inno]

Please don't contact me expressing interest in my RT if you're going to make demands. Like demanding I play all the male characters because you only play females or completely changing my plots around so they suit your needs. Get out of here with that mess.

 

[nerdy tangents]

Please don't contact me expressing interest in my RT if you're going to make demands. Like demanding I play all the male characters because you only play females or completely changing my plots around so they suit your needs. Get out of here with that mess.

I know right? I personally do not give a fuck what gender my characters are. I will quite literally genderbend characters in the same plot if necessary. And I try to be open minded about plot changes (I’m self aware enough to know I don’t always succeed but I do at least try).

But nothing makes me angrier then when people make demands. Ask nicely? I will bend over backwards to be accommodating. I genuinely like making friends with people and most of my ideas aren’t so set in stone they can’t be changed around.

Heck when it comes to my own requests I try to explain any request I make. And it’s usually one thing (like I want your character to have no knowledge of magic or be from a rich family or whatever). You know the basic stuff most ships start with : I play poor girl you play rich person. Or whatever.

But even then if someone is like “actually I really wanted to play a poor person and this is my pitch.” I will at least hear them out.

But if it’s like “no you have to play all the poor characters because I only play rich characters.” Then why the heck answer my ad? I clearly stated I wanted to play the poor character.

 

[saniachan]

A hopeless, hands-offish GM. No, really.

Spoiler: Some context

It is about the same RP I previously ranted about. However, instead of unnecessary language barrier (which had already resolved back then), I now find the GM there hopeless because I had to poke them multiple times in the forum where that RP resides at just to get the ball rolling. My complaint? "I'm not sure how to proceed from here" after explaining whatever plot points that my characters needed to respond at.

 

[RPNationlover1]

...me just being me and getting distracted by/choosing to do other things. ....again, why did I think this was a good idea? If I can't post at least DAILY, I should NOT be in any RPs at all, let alone host one! You're right, Sania. I AM hopeless, and I will always BE hopeless!

 

[Inno]

Off the rails planning. I've had a lot of past/present partners that when we plan together, we come up with ideas that fit and make sense for the story we're doing together. Then, I have come across people that I have not clicked with in planning. I have a little plot or idea that's relatively simple. Easy to build on. For example, a slice of life story about a doctor helping a patient recover. Well now that turns into the patient being an alien from another planet trying to stop the world from ending by partnering with the Transformers. Not only that, explaining to the person about the idea not really meshing well, they come back with something even further from the simple idea.

Me: How about instead of slice of life, we do Sci-fi?

Person: No, this is good for slice of life.

Like, dude. I just wanted a simple slice of life story.

 

[Melpomene]

Off the rails planning. I've had a lot of past/present partners that when we plan together, we come up with ideas that fit and make sense for the story we're doing together. Then, I have come across people that I have not clicked with in planning. I have a little plot or idea that's relatively simple. Easy to build on. For example, a slice of life story about a doctor helping a patient recover. Well now that turns into the patient being an alien from another planet trying to stop the world from ending by partnering with the Transformers. Not only that, explaining to the person about the idea not really meshing well, they come back with something even further from the simple idea.

Me: How about instead of slice of life, we do Sci-fi?

Person: No, this is good for slice of life.

Like, dude. I just wanted a simple slice of life story.

That comes across as someone who has a niche idea that they never get to do so they aggressively push it on to everyone they can.

It's pretty annoying because they go to people who aren't even remotely into the same thing. Like... at least look for someone who is looking to do the same genre at least. Not the poor slice-of-life roleplayers.

 

[Inno]

That comes across as someone who has a niche idea that they never get to do so they aggressively push it on to everyone they can.

It's pretty annoying because they go to people who aren't even remotely into the same thing. Like... at least look for someone who is looking to do the same genre at least. Not the poor slice-of-life roleplayers.

Right! All I wanted was just a simple slice of life roleplay is that too much to ask for?

 

[saniachan]

...me just being me and getting distracted by/choosing to do other things. ....again, why did I think this was a good idea? If I can't post at least DAILY, I should NOT be in any RPs at all, let alone host one! You're right, Sania. I AM hopeless, and I will always BE hopeless!

Actually, don't say that, especially the "will always bw hopeless" part. You still have a lot of room to learn. Plus, I didn't expect daily post either, just enough to get the ball rolling because everyone has real-life things to take care of and some posts can be pretty long that one would need somewhere to dump the drafts in (in my case, it's this site's Private Workshop). Maybe the RP's just too fast-paced in general?

That said, sorry about the rant. I forgot that you're here too.

 

[Comicwolf]

Not hearing from one on one partners, its been two months and my pms are like a ghost town.
And trying to get new partners, you wait but no one really sends a message unless its a one on one that they want but you would rather double so you both be happy with the rps.

 

[BestHelicopter]

the shy/socially awkward trope is fast becoming an irritant. it's not inherently bad, I actually enjoy playing the role but most people seem to use it as an excuse to be passive and not contribute. Most people don't add any extra detail lke what the character is thinking. it's just one liners about them being shy/nervous/anxious.

and i'm not an novella writer by any stretch, i mostly don't care how many lines people write as long as it contributes to and moves the story forward but come on put in some effort. being a shy character that struggles to talk to people isn't an excuse to not put in any effort and make yout partner do all the writing.

 

[Edric Blight]

the shy/socially awkward trope is fast becoming an irritant. it's not inherently bad, I actually enjoy playing the role but most people seem to use it as an excuse to be passive and not contribute. Most people don't add any extra detail lke what the character is thinking. it's just one liners about them being shy/nervous/anxious.

and i'm not an novella writer by any stretch, i mostly don't care how many lines people write as long as it contributes to and moves the story forward but come on put in some effort. being a shy character that struggles to talk to people isn't an excuse to not put in any effort and make yout partner do all the writing.

Yea, some people don't know how to play the shy introverted type character well enough to make it engaging. I have no problem with people playing this type of character (I mean I do it all the time) but you gotta give your partner something to work with, can't just force them to essentially write a fan fiction for you or a story for you.

 

[nerdy tangents]

I also feel like people look at tropes in media and don’t realize how hard they are to make interesting or sympathetic.

Not to start a derailment but Bella Swan is a great example of the shy/nerdy trope.

She is not really reflective of what it means to be a shy clumsy nerd in real life. Unless you’re a teenager.

Because Bella represents the overly dramatic self absorbed insecurity of a teenage girl a hundred percent accurately.

But the problem is unless your a teenage reader or someone who really identifies with that overly dramatic insecure mindset then the character comes across as grating and whiny.

It takes someone with a lot of skill and self awareness to write the character in such a way as they are sympathetic.

This is even harder if you are not a very good writer and thus make your partner pick up the slack. As they are predisposed not to put themselves in your characters shoes. But if you then make them carry around a lot of dead weight through the story they’re gonna be even more frustrated.

If I see someone who has a very shallow description of their character I immediately ask follow up questions. If it’s clear they haven’t thought beyond the surface tropes for their character I bounce.

 

[Jannah]

I also feel like people look at tropes in media and don’t realize how hard they are to make interesting or sympathetic.

Not to start a derailment but Bella Swan is a great example of the shy/nerdy trope.

She is not really reflective of what it means to be a shy clumsy nerd in real life. Unless you’re a teenager.

Because Bella represents the overly dramatic self absorbed insecurity of a teenage girl a hundred percent accurately.

But the problem is unless your a teenage reader or someone who really identifies with that overly dramatic insecure mindset then the character comes across as grating and whiny.

It takes someone with a lot of skill and self awareness to write the character in such a way as they are sympathetic.

This is even harder if you are not a very good writer and thus make your partner pick up the slack. As they are predisposed not to put themselves in your characters shoes. But if you then make them carry around a lot of dead weight through the story they’re gonna be even more frustrated.

If I see someone who has a very shallow description of their character I immediately ask follow up questions. If it’s clear they haven’t thought beyond the surface tropes for their character I bounce.

I kind of don't like character sheets for this reason. I will have a specific vision for a character, but it can be hard to fully describe it without really diving into the character's headspace, which the actual story writing allows me to do. It makes the characters in my sheets appear more shallow and one-dimensional than they actually are.

 

[Walliver]

when you really get the ball rolling for an rp, and instead of continuing to plot and build upon the story, the player(s) abandon the OOC and only respond when you give a bump once or twice

I’ve seen this happen so many times. Not recently, but weeks back this happened, and I can name several incidents.