[div class=container][div class=header][div class=tri][/div][/div][div class=headertxt]November Newsletter[/div][div class=ofthemonth][div class=headerf]Housekeeping Announcements[/div][/div]
[div class=otm][div class=avatar]
[/div][div class=info]Roleplay of the Month
@Archie [/div][/div]
Give everyone a quick summary about your roleplay.
The Last Ship takes place on a gas giant with floating islands - they can float because the magnetic core propels cobalt and other magnetic metals in the soil into the upper atmosphere. This also lets ships fly fairly easily (as long as they have magnetic metals on board). Because oil forms at a much bigger depth than coal, there isn't much of it, which means the technology is mostly steampunk. The plot centers around the ANS Intrepid, the most powerful battleship ever built (complete with its own fighter squadron), and the last surviving big ship of the Navy of Aeternia - formerly the greatest country in the world, brought down by a conspiracy of its rivals.
What inspired you to create this roleplay?
When I was a kid I watched Last Exile and have wanted to create fiction in that kind of setting ever since. More recently, I watched the Horatio Hornblower movies and wanted to make something about a ship modeled after the Royal Navy. And, while the setting is different, the main plot point (a powerful ship running away) is based on Battlestar Galactica.
The biggest single influence, however, was just a thought experiment. Steampunk is a common genre, but there's rarely any explanation given as to why people don't use oil - it's just sort of hand-waved. That's the one thing I try to avoid when I worldbuild - everything has to have a good explanation. I decided that the only way humanity could be stuck in the steam age is if there wasn't much oil. The only way that would be possible is if the land literally floated since it wouldn't be deep enough to make reserves. The only way that would be possible is if cobalt in the continents was pushed upwards by the magnetic core of a gas giant, etc. etc. Then I branched off based on what I knew about world history to figure out the implications of this on society (for example, islands drifting next to each other leads to lots of diverse cultures forming).
What do you enjoy most about GMing?
There's a lot of artistic freedom in RPing - there are so many almost poetic things you can do when you control NPC interaction. But overall, I like the feeling of being able to create a sandbox that other people can play in and enjoy. I like RPing just as much as GMing, but when I GM try to make my character a 2nd wheel, follower type so other people can take control of the plot. Hosting an RP is almost like gardening and knowing that something is growing in your yard.
Lastly, I mentioned I wanted to come up with a scientific explanation for all fantasy aspects, but I usually don't know what that is when I start. I make it up over time and it turns into a great plot twist. I haven't yet dropped any hints of a twist in this RP so this might be a spoiler!
What are your favorite elements about steampunk?
The culture. The industrial revolution was a fascinating time in history when agricultural societies were growing into more complicated modern ones. "Globalization" hadn't really happened yet, so different cultures were still distinct in the way they looked and dressed. Meanwhile, fortune and fame were possible, but unlike today, abundance wasn't the norm and most people were still poor. This means that age was the real epitome of "adventure" - you couldn't google solutions, didn't always know the answer, knew that fortune and fame might await you if you took a leap of faith, but also couldn't fall back on a cozy air conditioned house if you failed.
How did you come about roleplaying?
I signed up for one of those old browser games when I was 8 or 10. I actually forgot what the game was called, but I didn't forget the RPs I played on the forum.
How did you discover RpNation?
You guys were the top search result when I looked up RP sites 5 (?) years ago.
How long have you been roleplaying?
I started when I was 8-10, so I don't know for sure, but just over a decade.
If you were to participate in NaNoWriMo, what would your write?
I forgot that was going on so thanks for the reminder! I've been toying with the idea of doing a magic-free medieval slice of life RP for a while, so I'll probably write a book along those lines.
The main things I want to do are depict the ordinary lives of medieval people as far as I've been able to research, and portray knights realistically (as the stressed and disciplined people they generally were, not the bubbly, womanizing dilettantes they become in most fiction). The central theme will be reconciliation with inevitable death for the main characters - a day to day struggle for knights in those dark times which isn't usually talked about today. The book will largely be based on memoirs and poems written by knights back then, which convey a constant struggle with the inevitability of their gruesome demise and the need to find something worth paying the ultimate price for.
What is your favorite candy and why?
Mnms. They're good and (surprisingly) not that bad for you.
Quick, make one of good characters evil!
My character in this RP, Theo, is a brooding tryhard with an inferiority complex who spent his whole life latching onto one of the sons of higher nobility and basically being a follower. So, that wouldn't be hard. He'd just need to be ordered to do something by someone he respected and he'd obey willingly.
Would you rather be covered in fur or covered in scales?
Fur. I mean, this isn't the worst fashion sense in the world.
Do you have any other projects in the works that you would like to share?
The Hunt. Bronze age fantasy, humans take over the world and start hunting down magical creatures. But there's also a giant mystery as to how magic works, who the Gods are, and why there are seemingly two Gods who want to kill each other.[/div]
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- We hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!
- Discord Association is back up and running. Apologies to those who were stuck waiting or experiencing issues. Follow the directions here if you want to join us on Discord.
- We apologize for the abnormal delay in Supporter rewards going out. All Supporters should have their September rewards now. If you were missed please create a thread in Staff Contact. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Sometimes real life just eats up time.
- The final writing event of this year has begun: 2019 Writing Event: Nostalgic November!
[div class=otm][div class=avatar]
@Archie [/div][/div]
Give everyone a quick summary about your roleplay.
The Last Ship takes place on a gas giant with floating islands - they can float because the magnetic core propels cobalt and other magnetic metals in the soil into the upper atmosphere. This also lets ships fly fairly easily (as long as they have magnetic metals on board). Because oil forms at a much bigger depth than coal, there isn't much of it, which means the technology is mostly steampunk. The plot centers around the ANS Intrepid, the most powerful battleship ever built (complete with its own fighter squadron), and the last surviving big ship of the Navy of Aeternia - formerly the greatest country in the world, brought down by a conspiracy of its rivals.
What inspired you to create this roleplay?
When I was a kid I watched Last Exile and have wanted to create fiction in that kind of setting ever since. More recently, I watched the Horatio Hornblower movies and wanted to make something about a ship modeled after the Royal Navy. And, while the setting is different, the main plot point (a powerful ship running away) is based on Battlestar Galactica.
The biggest single influence, however, was just a thought experiment. Steampunk is a common genre, but there's rarely any explanation given as to why people don't use oil - it's just sort of hand-waved. That's the one thing I try to avoid when I worldbuild - everything has to have a good explanation. I decided that the only way humanity could be stuck in the steam age is if there wasn't much oil. The only way that would be possible is if the land literally floated since it wouldn't be deep enough to make reserves. The only way that would be possible is if cobalt in the continents was pushed upwards by the magnetic core of a gas giant, etc. etc. Then I branched off based on what I knew about world history to figure out the implications of this on society (for example, islands drifting next to each other leads to lots of diverse cultures forming).
What do you enjoy most about GMing?
There's a lot of artistic freedom in RPing - there are so many almost poetic things you can do when you control NPC interaction. But overall, I like the feeling of being able to create a sandbox that other people can play in and enjoy. I like RPing just as much as GMing, but when I GM try to make my character a 2nd wheel, follower type so other people can take control of the plot. Hosting an RP is almost like gardening and knowing that something is growing in your yard.
Lastly, I mentioned I wanted to come up with a scientific explanation for all fantasy aspects, but I usually don't know what that is when I start. I make it up over time and it turns into a great plot twist. I haven't yet dropped any hints of a twist in this RP so this might be a spoiler!
What are your favorite elements about steampunk?
The culture. The industrial revolution was a fascinating time in history when agricultural societies were growing into more complicated modern ones. "Globalization" hadn't really happened yet, so different cultures were still distinct in the way they looked and dressed. Meanwhile, fortune and fame were possible, but unlike today, abundance wasn't the norm and most people were still poor. This means that age was the real epitome of "adventure" - you couldn't google solutions, didn't always know the answer, knew that fortune and fame might await you if you took a leap of faith, but also couldn't fall back on a cozy air conditioned house if you failed.
How did you come about roleplaying?
I signed up for one of those old browser games when I was 8 or 10. I actually forgot what the game was called, but I didn't forget the RPs I played on the forum.
How did you discover RpNation?
You guys were the top search result when I looked up RP sites 5 (?) years ago.
How long have you been roleplaying?
I started when I was 8-10, so I don't know for sure, but just over a decade.
If you were to participate in NaNoWriMo, what would your write?
I forgot that was going on so thanks for the reminder! I've been toying with the idea of doing a magic-free medieval slice of life RP for a while, so I'll probably write a book along those lines.
The main things I want to do are depict the ordinary lives of medieval people as far as I've been able to research, and portray knights realistically (as the stressed and disciplined people they generally were, not the bubbly, womanizing dilettantes they become in most fiction). The central theme will be reconciliation with inevitable death for the main characters - a day to day struggle for knights in those dark times which isn't usually talked about today. The book will largely be based on memoirs and poems written by knights back then, which convey a constant struggle with the inevitability of their gruesome demise and the need to find something worth paying the ultimate price for.
What is your favorite candy and why?
Mnms. They're good and (surprisingly) not that bad for you.
Quick, make one of good characters evil!
My character in this RP, Theo, is a brooding tryhard with an inferiority complex who spent his whole life latching onto one of the sons of higher nobility and basically being a follower. So, that wouldn't be hard. He'd just need to be ordered to do something by someone he respected and he'd obey willingly.
Would you rather be covered in fur or covered in scales?
Fur. I mean, this isn't the worst fashion sense in the world.
Do you have any other projects in the works that you would like to share?
The Hunt. Bronze age fantasy, humans take over the world and start hunting down magical creatures. But there's also a giant mystery as to how magic works, who the Gods are, and why there are seemingly two Gods who want to kill each other.[/div]
[div class=featheader]More Features[/div]
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[/div][div class=sminfo]Featured Discussion
@welian[/div]
Have you ever wondered what would happen if RpNation had its own convention? Who would you meet? Where would you go? What would you do? All these questions and more are speculated about in Other - Suppose RPN hosted a convention... Talk about what friends you would see in real life, what moves you'd throw out on the dance floor, and whatever your heart desires!
@welian[/div]
Have you ever wondered what would happen if RpNation had its own convention? Who would you meet? Where would you go? What would you do? All these questions and more are speculated about in Other - Suppose RPN hosted a convention... Talk about what friends you would see in real life, what moves you'd throw out on the dance floor, and whatever your heart desires!
[div class=smavatar]
[/div][div class=sminfo]Featured Artist
@marchen[/div]
I eat colors showcases the lovely artwork of @marchen and their splendid characters. Some artwork is static while others are impressively animated. You can see both finished and unfinished works that they've shared.
@marchen[/div]
I eat colors showcases the lovely artwork of @marchen and their splendid characters. Some artwork is static while others are impressively animated. You can see both finished and unfinished works that they've shared.
[div class=smavatar]
[/div][div class=sminfo]Featured Community Positivity
Bakuyoshi
[/div]
Friends, partners, and those yet to be either, RPN is full of wonderful people, who gave us amazing experiences on site, or with whom we just love hanging out with. "Some of The Players That Made This Site Great" is a thread where one can show one's appreciation for all those people who help make RPN such a great site.
Bakuyoshi
[/div]Friends, partners, and those yet to be either, RPN is full of wonderful people, who gave us amazing experiences on site, or with whom we just love hanging out with. "Some of The Players That Made This Site Great" is a thread where one can show one's appreciation for all those people who help make RPN such a great site.
[div class=smavatar]
[/div][div class=sminfo]Featured Character
@j u n i p e r[/div]
Tora Tashi is not just your typical sweet girl. She is actually a two thousand years old alien who spent about sixty of them on Earth. Neither she nor the owner of the building she lives in had aged over those years but they never mentioned it. She can read people's emotions so it's easy for her to make friends. But being an empath makes her get overwhelemed with emotions sometimes and so she has to shut herself in for a while.
@j u n i p e r[/div]
Tora Tashi is not just your typical sweet girl. She is actually a two thousand years old alien who spent about sixty of them on Earth. Neither she nor the owner of the building she lives in had aged over those years but they never mentioned it. She can read people's emotions so it's easy for her to make friends. But being an empath makes her get overwhelemed with emotions sometimes and so she has to shut herself in for a while.
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[div class=featheader]Would You Rather[/div]
Would you rather be covered in fur or covered in scales?
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