Deal Breakers. What makes you "walk" away?

[Lappi]

*Raises hand of guilt*

Whilst I wouldn't say i'm a complete hard-ass but I do sometimes go out of my way to ensure my writings are accurate in terms of lore and what not. You've already seen my rantings about accuracy in threads. "No, a AK-74 has a under-side paddle for the magazine release and not a filthy, Western button on the side. What do you think this is? La-la-land?" Whilst I do understand that not everyone enjoys firearm mechanics like I do, i've repeatedly asked for people to do some research into the equipment they give their character and it's not just firearms, it could be anything. Medieval stuff: That helmets your knight is wearing is a sallet, why not look around for a bevor to further increase their face protection? Your 'Rogue' is using a bow against a heavily armoured knight, time to break out the Bodkins and pray for a lucky hit. I would never ask someone to attend a history class just to take part in a medieval RP that i'm running but at the very least I do expect some homework to be done on items that they have in their character's possession. Furthermore, I feel it really adds to the immersion of the world. Seeing someone write how their Gambeson dampened a heavy blow from an opponent's axe or how their service pistol had a stove-pipe malfunction and so he had to retreat behind his police cruiser, get access to the shotgun in the boot and lay down some suppressing fire on the bank-robbers.

It's the little details that make my heart flutter with joy.

I feel this so much! One thing I tend to dislike is how some people treat weapons in roleplay, it helps I'm a firearm and Medieval nerd but I agree! It makes the world feel that much more grounded.

To add on the point though. The damage weapons cause is often misrepresented or written off with the best armor, plot armor. A bullet fired at your character is not any less a bullet than a bullet fired an NPC. Guns deserve to be feared a bit more in many RP's, they are scary, brutal, and very effective.

 

[Tove]

*Raises hand of guilt*

Whilst I wouldn't say i'm a complete hard-ass but I do sometimes go out of my way to ensure my writings are accurate in terms of lore and what not. You've already seen my rantings about accuracy in threads. "No, a AK-74 has a under-side paddle for the magazine release and not a filthy, Western button on the side. What do you think this is? La-la-land?" Whilst I do understand that not everyone enjoys firearm mechanics like I do, i've repeatedly asked for people to do some research into the equipment they give their character and it's not just firearms, it could be anything. Medieval stuff: That helmets your knight is wearing is a sallet, why not look around for a bevor to further increase their face protection? Your 'Rogue' is using a bow against a heavily armoured knight, time to break out the Bodkins and pray for a lucky hit. I would never ask someone to attend a history class just to take part in a medieval RP that i'm running but at the very least I do expect some homework to be done on items that they have in their character's possession. Furthermore, I feel it really adds to the immersion of the world. Seeing someone write how their Gambeson dampened a heavy blow from an opponent's axe or how their service pistol had a stove-pipe malfunction and so he had to retreat behind his police cruiser, get access to the shotgun in the boot and lay down some suppressing fire on the bank-robbers.

It's the little details that make my heart flutter with joy.

I don't think that's taking the fun out of roleplaying, you're making sure details are covered that there's that level of accuracy as you said. There's nothing wrong with that. What I mean, and I've seen request threads from all over as well as had experience with some of these people, is you have some that basically looking for no grammatical errors or punctuation as if everyone who writes is going to be perfect that we are on the same level as editors for books. I understand silly common mistakes being annoying but I've seen expectations of having writing on par with publishing books and to me that's no fun at all. If I wanted to worry so much about what I write in a roleplay I would simply quit and focus on writing a book. I guess you can call it elitist if you want. I encountered someone long ago, not here, who made sure in her request thread outlined her writing equivalent to a novel so anyone privileged to write with her needed to be the same. Anyone less than that need not bother her. Crap like that is ridiculous to me.

 

[Becker]

I've seen request threads from all over as well as had experience with some of these people, is you have some that basically looking for no grammatical errors or punctuation as if everyone who writes is going to be perfect that we are on the same level as editors for books.

May they burn in hell. I'm a native english speaker and 99.99% of my work are complete messes in regards to grammar and proper spelling. There's a good old saying T Tove that i've mentioned plenty of times in the past. "It's their loss." If they want to spend their time getting frustrated because they can't find a partner that they like, then that's their time spent/wasted. I wouldn't want you to waste yours on that kind of BS

To add on the point though. The damage weapons cause is often misrepresented or written off with the best armor, plot armor. A bullet fired at your character is not any less a bullet than a bullet fired an NPC. Guns deserve to be feared a bit more in many RP's, they are scary, brutal, and very effective.

I completely get where you're coming from, it's like a magical force-field surrounds the player-characters and little or nothing ever harms them. On the flip side though, it's important that they don't die so the story can progress. Imagine the Payday series, it would be pretty damn short if they all died in the first firefight with the police? There are ways to work around it, trying to use stealth or gadgets to lessen the chances of direct confrontations. Throwing smoke-grenades to obscure advances/retreats, get the techy of the group to mount video-cameras to the weapons so you can blind-fire over cover without missing every shot and/or having to expose yourself to incoming rounds to ensure a hit. All said and done, it is really fun to bring in injuries and 'worst case scenarios' to the thread. One of the thermite capsules used to melt into the vaults got hit and is now igniting inside your backpack so you're forced to throw it away and any possible chance to get into the money-vault. Now it's turned from being a bank-heist to a mission to escape the cops in one piece. Not every plan has to succeed perfectly and it brings the chance to try again later down the line, with time spent on better preperations. Sort of like a learning curve and chance to get creative with equipment and tactics.

 

[BackSet]

Easy solution: make all the enemies stormtrooper cosplayers.

 

[Becker]

Easy solution: make all the enemies stormtrooper cosplayers.

Got some next level genius going on here

 

[BackSet]

Momma always said I was destined for greatness. I just didn't think that greatness would be using stormtrooper cosplayers to handwave bad accuracy.

 

[Becker]

Momma always said I was destined for greatness. I just didn't think that greatness would be using stormtrooper cosplayers to handwave bad accuracy.

You know what they say!

 

[Melpomene]

I don't think that's taking the fun out of roleplaying, you're making sure details are covered that there's that level of accuracy as you said. There's nothing wrong with that. What I mean, and I've seen request threads from all over as well as had experience with some of these people, is you have some that basically looking for no grammatical errors or punctuation as if everyone who writes is going to be perfect that we are on the same level as editors for books. I understand silly common mistakes being annoying but I've seen expectations of having writing on par with publishing books and to me that's no fun at all. If I wanted to worry so much about what I write in a roleplay I would simply quit and focus on writing a book. I guess you can call it elitist if you want. I encountered someone long ago, not here, who made sure in her request thread outlined her writing equivalent to a novel so anyone privileged to write with her needed to be the same. Anyone less than that need not bother her. Crap like that is ridiculous to me.

Wait, seriously? Seriously?

Someone was THAT conceited to claim such a thing? I really do hate anyone who has the attitude that it is a privilege to write with them. They could be the best writer in the world, but with that attitude no one will want to work with them.

 

[Tove]

Wait, seriously? Seriously?

Someone was THAT conceited to claim such a thing? I really do hate anyone who has the attitude that it is a privilege to write with them. They could be the best writer in the world, but with that attitude no one will want to work with them.

Oh yes. She was a real piece of work. And I totally agree with you. Karma wasn't in her favor because more often than not I would see her complain about not finding partners or she's never been used to having to approach people for roleplays people always come to her something must be wrong with her plots no it's your attitude that's the problem.

 

[PhoenixMire]

When people take all of the fun out of writing together. They're so serious that their RT feels more like some exam to graduate school and if you get one thing wrong you can't write them. While I do like a certain level of seriousness, you both are committed to coming up with a plot you enjoy and contribute ideas to, I think it's ridiculous to treat the roleplay as if it will be a novel about to be published and added to the New York Times Best sellers.

I hate this so, so much. I completely understand that everyone wants an RP partner who matches their style and preferences, and some people feel like they need to make a big long list of requirements in order to find someone like that.
But it makes me feel like I’m writing an essay that will be harshly graded every time I try to make a reply to the RP... and that ruins the entire point of RPing - which is to have fun.
Sometimes when it comes to RPs (all the time, actually!) I just wanna loosen up and write something enjoyable, not feel like I’m doing homework and trying to meet a word count and get a passing grade. I’ll abandon ship on any search thread or any RP that makes me feel that way.

 

[Melpomene]

I hate this so, so much. I completely understand that everyone wants an RP partner who matches their style and preferences, and some people feel like they need to make a big long list of requirements in order to find someone like that.
But it makes me feel like I’m writing an essay that will be harshly graded every time I try to make a reply to the RP... and that ruins the entire point of RPing - which is to have fun.
Sometimes when it comes to RPs (all the time, actually!) I just wanna loosen up and write something enjoyable, not feel like I’m doing homework and trying to meet a word count and get a passing grade. I’ll abandon ship on any search thread or any RP that makes me feel that way.

Yep, and RP that is that anal about a word count, or makes you feel that paranoid about how a scene goes is one that should be abandoned.

I was in an RP where it felt like every single thing my character did was scrutinized and then complained about if it was not up to standard and let me say that no one deserves to have to go through that. So the moment you feel your partner is overpowering you, get on out. You deserve better.

 

[Phantom Thief of Hearts]

Can I just say, I hate the whole "Only real people faceclaims" rule in Super Hero RPs...

 

[SP3CT3R]

Can I just say, I hate the whole "Only real people faceclaims" rule in Super Hero RPs...

It's not a "Superhero RPer" thing so much as a "RP targeted at a specific RPN subculture that primarily uses realistic faceclaims and happens to be about superheroes" thing.

 

[Phantom Thief of Hearts]

It's not a "Superhero RPer" thing so much as a "RP targeted at a specific RPN subculture that primarily uses realistic faceclaims and happens to be about superheroes" thing.

Really? 'cause honestly, I see it more often in superhero stuff... I don't get why honestly.

 

[SP3CT3R]

Really? 'cause honestly, I see it more often in superhero stuff... I don't get why honestly.

It's just that people in this group usually do realistic fiction when it comes to RPs, so when they do other genres, it's usually superheroes or supernatural fantasy.

 

[Phantom Thief of Hearts]

superheroes or supernatural fantasy

those non-realistic things? I mean they still need to pull a bunch of CG and makeup to make it even look passable on TV.

 

[Crenando]

Really? 'cause honestly, I see it more often in superhero stuff... I don't get why honestly.

I feel like it limits character choices. With illustrations, you can do just about anything. With real people, you have to rely on a movie or TV show maybe doing VFX similar to what you wanted for more alien and fantastical creatures.
It normally suits RPs tonally closer to stuff like Heroes, but when it's applied to preexisting comic book properties, where there's hundreds of characters that have never been in live action form, much less showed up outside of a comic page, it's a bit more confusing.

 

[Phantom Thief of Hearts]

It normally suits RPs tonally closer to stuff like Heroes, but when it's applied to preexisting comic book properties, where there's hundreds of characters that have never been in live action form, much less showed up outside of a comic page, it's a bit more confusing.

I can't wait to find an IRL Faceclaim for Spider-Ham.

 

[rae2nerdy]

Really? 'cause honestly, I see it more often in superhero stuff... I don't get why honestly.

A few reasons ;

1. These are 99% of the time realistic roleplays that simply feature real people with some kind of power. And thus the thinking is it should be easy enough to find a face claim unless your character has a physical mutation (green skin, wings, fur, etc.). And to be honest green skin at least is pretty easy to add on with a basic photo editor. The wings and fur would require photoshopping skills.

2. If it is based on a pre-existing show you can just use the actors.

3. A lot of people don’t use face claims as a point for point reproduction of their character. They find the closest person to the idea they want then add in a written description of the differences.

4. Most people can’t draw for crap and don’t have the money to pay someone to draw an image. While doll generators can make up for some of the lack of natural talent it usually evens out to being almost the same thing as finding an real person face claim in terms of recreating exactly what you picture in your mind.


All this to say I don’t use visuals at all so I don’t really have a dog in the fight. Those are just based on responses I have gotten when I asked people why they wanted real face claims.

 

[PhoenixMire]

Can I just say, I hate the whole "Only real people faceclaims" rule in Super Hero RPs...

This bothers me in general for any RPs at all, but only because of personal preference. I don’t like realistic faceclaims and would much rather draw my own OCs or use an otherwise stylized drawing. But that’s just me; it’s not a problem if people prefer realistic faceclaims.

I can see how it would be frustrating in a bunch of superhero RPs though. Especially if you find a drawn picture that fits your character perfectly and there’s no realistic faceclaim that works as well.

 

[rae2nerdy]

This bothers me in general for any RPs at all, but only because of personal preference. I don’t like realistic faceclaims and would much rather draw my own OCs or use an otherwise stylized drawing. But that’s just me; it’s not a problem if people prefer realistic faceclaims.

I can see how it would be frustrating in a bunch of superhero RPs though. Especially if you find a drawn picture that fits your character perfectly and there’s no realistic faceclaim that works as well.

Personally I just hate it when the visuals are unequal. Ex. One person has art and the other has a realistic photo. Drives me up a wall for some reason.

It’s why I usually just tell my partner to pick the visual style and if I don’t think I can find a close visual I just give them a description. If they need the visual they can find a close approximation.

But most of the time people seem happy to use their own preference and let me use a written description.

 

[Phantom Thief of Hearts]

Honestly Overly dark Super Hero RPs are a turn off for me... It just feels like they wanted to be Injustice.

 

[BackSet]

. Most people can’t draw for crap and don’t have the money to pay someone to draw an image. While doll generators can make up for some of the lack of natural talent it usually evens out to being almost the same thing as finding an real person face claim in terms of recreating exactly what you picture in your mind.

Just find some art on the internet from or a screenshot from your favorite cartoon or comic.

It's not like you're claiming you made the art anyways.

 

[Phantom Thief of Hearts]

Just find some art on the internet from or a screenshot from your favorite cartoon or comic.

It's not like you're claiming you made the art anyways.

Yeah, sometimes it just works honestly.

 

[rae2nerdy]

Just find some art on the internet from or a screenshot from your favorite cartoon or comic.

It's not like you're claiming you made the art anyways.

But those art might be held by copyright and the original creator might not be okay with you re-using their stuff for your own purpose. So in a way it's like stealing. At least to a lot of people. It's not about whether you claim to have made the art, it's about respecting the original creator's wishes regarding their own works.