Forum Roleplay format?

[Dusky]

Hey there! I'm an RPN native who's never made use of RPZ's Forum style of role-playing which we're now incorporating. However, I have a role-play idea and it's a bit bigger than my usual, so I'm cosidering using the Forum instead of making a Thread Roleplay.


Of course, I want to plan my roleplay - writing backstory, getting all the information ready to put up on the site. What I'm trying to figure out is how to format it, and given my nonexistant(ish) understanding of Forum roleplays, I've run into some difficulty. I don't want to do something like describe the terrain mixed in with the overview if I'm going to have a Maps section automatically provided for me to fill out, for example. That would make my work significantly increase as I re-write one section to become two.


So basically, I'm curious about the process of creating a forum role-play. Normally I'd just go to create it and check it out myself, but seeing as it's down I can't.


Beyond simple things like picking a name, tags, etc, does the process give you any particular fields you have to fill in? Or does it just give you a forum with the appropriate name/description and allow you to make threads/subforums as you please?

 

[Miz]

Hey there! I'm an RPN native who's never made use of RPZ's Forum style of role-playing which we're now incorporating. However, I have a role-play idea and it's a bit bigger than my usual, so I'm cosidering using the Forum instead of making a Thread Roleplay.
Of course, I want to plan my roleplay - writing backstory, getting all the information ready to put up on the site. What I'm trying to figure out is how to format it, and given my nonexistant(ish) understanding of Forum roleplays, I've run into some difficulty. I don't want to do something like describe the terrain mixed in with the overview if I'm going to have a Maps section automatically provided for me to fill out, for example. That would make my work significantly increase as I re-write one section to become two.


So basically, I'm curious about the process of creating a forum role-play. Normally I'd just go to create it and check it out myself, but seeing as it's down I can't.


Beyond simple things like picking a name, tags, etc, does the process give you any particular fields you have to fill in? Or does it just give you a forum with the appropriate name/description and allow you to make threads/subforums as you please?

Hello asduskfalls, we are glad you are curious about the Forum Roleplay section and you definitely sound like you are designing the right kind of game for one.


As for the specifics, more information will be coming out in the next few days about it. Though I can answer specific questions in detail if you wish.


Beyond simple things like picking a name, tags, etc, does the process give you any particular fields you have to fill in?


The entire process utilizes a form/application that you fill in and you return to that application to edit it. That main application is called your Roleplay's "Settings"


It includes two tabs: Basic Information and Prefixes.


Basic Information is in the Image below. This includes stuff like names, tags, forum descriptions and the forum's tooltip (what appears on the index). It also control whether your game is Open or Closed, has Moderated Membership or is Archived (a form of Inactive).


<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_07/57a8bff00630f_basicinfo.png.a18676feb21f052e01d7f50b5f70cf11.png" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="25060" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_07/57a8bff00630f_basicinfo.png.a18676feb21f052e01d7f50b5f70cf11.png" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>


Prefixes does not let you create new and custom prefixes. However you can select from a list of almost 60 prefixes from different categories (such as Character Prefixes, Setting Prefixes, Lore Prefixes, etc.) We have picked these prefixes because back on RPZ we realized that people generally ask for the same Prefixes over and over again. So they are pretty generalized from things like "INFO" to "PC" to "Spaceship" and "Nation".


However after you create your first main forum there are other options you can control from making your sub-forums to controlling your users. Roleplay Creators when viewing their game basically get a mini-control panel above their game. The image below shows you just some of the stuff you can do.


<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_07/part2.png.fb90785a3b300bfd22af016a4a4f0d08.png" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="25061" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_07/part2.png.fb90785a3b300bfd22af016a4a4f0d08.png" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>


Some important notes is that + Sub Forum allows you to quickly add a Sub-forum from some pre-set options. This would be like wanting the default "Character" forum with the standard Character prefixes. Whereas + Custom Sub Forum allows you to create a new sub-forum with its own options and grouping of prefixes. You can of course change any of these options anytime using the edit button in the Sub-Forum (similar to Settings for the main forum).


Beyond that, you can make as many threads as you want in any of your forums with whatever prefixes you designate. Its really your forum to control and administrate. You can even promote your own players to become "moderators" of your roleplay forum. Where they have limited powers but can edit threads for you, etc.


Granted at the moment there is a hard-cap of Sub-forums you can have. I believe it is somewhere between 5-7 (its a bit late but I can probably confirm the number for you at another time) for a given game. You also can't make sub-sub-forums. You are just stuck to the two levels.


We hope that helps.

 

[Dusky]

Thank you! That was extremely helpful.

 

[Miz]

If you have any further questions about Forum RPs before they are opened again, just post them below.