The Rules

[James Mack]

I was hoping to start a discussion about the rules here, so we could have our input heard. I haven't read through them yet but instantly I'm concerned about:


1. Your character may only be in one place at a time.
* Therefore it is most likely not be possible for you to take part in multiple threads at the same time, unless your character is seen to leave one scene part way through.

I have had the situation where I registered to a new forum where this rule was applicable. The person I was RPing with went inactive and so I was stuck for months before I got the admin to void that thread. It also severely limits the amount of time you can spend on the forum. At the very least I'd suggest raising the limit about 1.

[Dan]

(10-08-2010 02:52 PM)James Mack Wrote:  I was hoping to start a discussion about the rules here, so we could have our input heard. I haven't read through them yet but instantly I'm concerned about:


1. Your character may only be in one place at a time.
* Therefore it is most likely not be possible for you to take part in multiple threads at the same time, unless your character is seen to leave one scene part way through.

I have had the situation where I registered to a new forum where this rule was applicable. The person I was RPing with went inactive and so I was stuck for months before I got the admin to void that thread. It also severely limits the amount of time you can spend on the forum. At the very least I'd suggest raising the limit about 1.

My concern is with everyone being everywhere, as it often happened to turn out to be.

I do not like the rule either, if I'm honest. But there aren't many ways of phrasing it.

"Your character may be in one place at a set time."?

[James Mack]

How about saying you are only allowed to be in a maximum of three or four threads at once? Or you are only allowed to be role playing in one thread per forum?

Also about the minimum character limit for RP posts, if two characters are simply having a conversation would it be acceptable to have one- or two- liners? It would be difficult to pan up to 200 words.

[Dan]

(10-08-2010 03:10 PM)James Mack Wrote:  How about saying you are only allowed to be in a maximum of three or four threads at once? Or you are only allowed to be role playing in one thread per forum?

Also about the minimum character limit for RP posts, if two characters are simply having a conversation would it be acceptable to have one- or two- liners? It would be difficult to pan up to 200 words.

I've rephrased the rule on being in more than one place at the same time. Let me know what you think.

If there is no need for 200 characters, then it won't be a problem. It's just a general rule of thumb.

[James Mack]

Hmm... interesting solution but a little tricky to enforce in practice. Perhaps instead of 'at the same time' you could say something like 'two connected threads/plots'. So you can RP in two isolated situations (meeting different people), but if one has a bearing on the other (you learn important information from one about the other) or if they are part of the same plot, then it is not allowed.

How about that? Of course, it would have to be worded a little more eloquently...

[Dan]

(10-08-2010 07:31 PM)James Mack Wrote:  Hmm... interesting solution but a little tricky to enforce in practice. Perhaps instead of 'at the same time' you could say something like 'two connected threads/plots'. So you can RP in two isolated situations (meeting different people), but if one has a bearing on the other (you learn important information from one about the other) or if they are part of the same plot, then it is not allowed.

How about that? Of course, it would have to be worded a little more eloquently...

I know that you now understand what I'm trying to say, which is good! But generally it will just have to be down to GM discretion. It'll be a toughy to enforce, but it'll be equally obvious if someone might be breaking it by the fact that their name features in the 'Last Posted by' of every topic.

[James Mack]

So what I said is what you meant? OK, the wording's just a little unclear. Of course, like you say, it's up to whatever GM is online at the time.

[Dan]

(10-08-2010 08:41 PM)James Mack Wrote:  So what I said is what you meant? OK, the wording's just a little unclear. Of course, like you say, it's up to whatever GM is online at the time.

It's fine to be in more than one thread at the same time, as long as those threads are not set in the role play world at the same time. So for example say there are three threads:

Thread 1 - a Potions class on Monday at 1PM.
Thread 2 - a Herbology class on Wednesday at 1PM.
Thread 3 - a Transfiguration class on Wednesday at 1PM.

You would be able to be in threads 1 and 2, or 1 and 3 at the same time.
You would not be able to be in threads 2 and 3 at the same time.

[James Mack]

Yes, but how do you tell what time meeting someone new is at? Or most other plot situations, for that matter? Even if they were both 'morning' they could be different days. RPs aren't dated.

On another point, what permissions do guests actually have? As a guest I couldn't see the current RP topics, which might make the forum look a little dead to a newcomer.

[Dan]

(10-08-2010 09:36 PM)James Mack Wrote:  Yes, but how do you tell what time meeting someone new is at? Or most other plot situations, for that matter? Even if they were both 'morning' they could be different days. RPs aren't dated.

On another point, what permissions do guests actually have? As a guest I couldn't see the current RP topics, which might make the forum look a little dead to a newcomer.

It still needs rephrasing I know... My issue is I do not think it is right for every individual to be in almost every thread there is. Perhaps the limit, as you suggested, would be the best way of combating this. 4-5 threads at a time, something like that.

Guests have view permissions, but not view thread permissions. I did think to myself that it made the forums a little dead with all of the 'dashes' and no posts inside, I may just make it all visible.