Ok so I’ve been looking through all our past rpg’s and I have noticed one major thing: Not one single one was finished in an effective manner. Whether due to loss of player interest, or player laziness, this is a fundamental problem.

I am part of another forum, called the role-player guild, which exists solely to, you guessed it, role-play. We have 500 and something fairly experienced members and here I shall try to impart to you my experiences.

First off:

Power gamers:
You power gamers need to stop. Power gaming goes against the principles of rpg, a collaborative game. If a power gamer, or god player, is in an rpg the game becomes tiresome, boring and potentially hurtful for the other players. Take into consideration other people’s feelings when you play. Pm the GM (games master) or the player themselves before doing anything that will directly effect them.

GM:
You can never, EVER have your own character. You are the storyteller of the piece. Think of yourself as a bard to a heroic tale only you know. Your job is to guide your players down the story you created, providing an enjoyable experience for them as well as yourself.

New Players:
If you are new to rpg, I highly recommend pming either the gm or a more experienced rpger to get an idea of the taboo’s of role-playing. Many rpg’s have fallen at the roadside due to inexperienced players.

Consistency: If you will find it hard to post in the rpg at least once every two days, don’t join. If characters in the rpg post more than others the game can become lopsided and loose ends can appear.

Community: As I said earlier an rpg is a collaborative game. In my experience bad ass characters that shun all others or refuse to interact with anyone else are a nightmare. The GM should refuse creation of such individuals, for at the end of the day your word is law.

Secrets: Your character is entitled to personal secrets, but not to the extent that this affects other people’s experiences (for example knowing the only way through a mountain pass and not telling anyone). In these cases the GM must find away around such matters (e.g. the character in question drops a map of the mountains from his pocket that someone else picks up).

Story style:
Each paragraph you as a player create should be well thought out and in depth. One liners and skimpy descriptions are next to useless in an rpg. In each entry you should mention your character (obviously), the world around him and any other characters. This helps to create a detailed, rich environment in which characters, and players, can thrive.

The Rpg idea: It’s all well having a good idea for an rpg, but you cannot simply throw it at the masses and see what happens, an rpg needs proper planning. Once you have your idea take a pen and paper and flesh it out. Create notes to help you and prepare for any possible situation that you think may arise. This will keep you, the GM, confident and will therefore keep your players confident.

Player interest: This is the big hurdle for web based rpg’s. If you sense that interest is lacking, implement a plot twist to generate excitement. Don’t let an adventure stagnate. If you are in the middle of the desert heading west for days and days and days, instead of seeing nothing but sand why not add a long forgotten pyramid to the tale? This will open up new opportunities and will make the story even more intricate.

Selfishness: You cannot simply write about your own character, no matter how tempting this is. Actively try to include yourself in the main goings on. The GM should help with this also by putting pairs and groups together to interact with one another. This helps to prevent the story from fragmenting.

One final word: The GM is GOD in an rpg. What he says happens, no questions asked.
Also, it’s about fun for everyone dudes, so try and keep it that way. :wink:

I agree with all the points mentioned. And i also want to applaude Elberneth for taking the time to write this (unless he copy+pasted it then :p ).

I hope we can learn from these pointers and make The Return the first of many successful RPGs! :happy:

SDETT

While I agree with the points above I don't think a not playing GM is a must have. At last it has worked brilliant in most the RPs I have ever been in. And as I also play RP on quite a few other forums (Some RP only forums) I kinda have been in a few RPs :p

The good old "The Hunting" from TRG is a prime example of great Round Robin RP. We write a tale together and its not supposed to be like a game, its supposed to be lika writing a story really.

That said, if anyone want to take up the role as GM in "The return" the feel free to do so. I myself won't as:
1. I really enjoy making a character and playing with it
2. Don't have time to GM for everyone really

But as you say you have loadsa experiance maybe you wanna GM for us Elberneth? Or anyone else?

I'd be happy to be a GM for anyone that's interested. Just give some ideas of what you'd like to play and I'll get started writing a story up. I wouldn't be able to GM in your current rpg (swapping or adding a gm into an existing rpg would be suicide lol) but once that one is finished I'd be more than happy to concuct something for you. :smile:

Why would that be suicide? Well besides that the whole setting and plot any everything is just... Well hard to do anything with. I kinda got it thrown to me from Jan'hazar and did what I could.

Also I wonder if the other would like to make a new one with a GM at once to see if that work or keep going or whatever. What do you guys feel like?

I want to start a new one with all new rules and style. But i really want to keep Altatar as his my general in my High Elf army and i have a fair few ideas and fluff already done up for him. So if its ok to start a new one with Altatar as my character then by all means it gets my vote!

I would prefer something other than a mercenary band. It just seems so bog standard and unimaginative. Lets make something original and interesting. I'll get brain storming for plot ideas (as RPs lately have been 'make it up as you go along').

SDETT

okie dokie then, first of all we need a show of hands as to who would like to, and be able to, play. (this will give me an idea of the scale of the rpg)

So far we have:
Darkblade
SDETT
(this is too little to play an rpg, we'll need at least one or two more, and that will still be quite small but very closely-knit, which can be great)
I'll add to this list the other players, please pm me or simply post an interest here.

When we have all the players we can begin brainstorming together :smile:

I think starting a new one sounds like a good idea. The return was doomed as soon as Jan'hazar left again. Count me in, I guess.

You know I can't resist an rp lol but silly how could we not have mercs lol unless everybody went high elves (since you want altatar) I do agree mercs is quite stale but its the only way for everybody to be in a group with diffrent chars.

Perhaps we could have a warhammer quest type of thing going where its a small group dungeon raiding. Easily controlled by the GM, everybody's chars will be easily defined and were a mix matched band of treasure hunters instead of mercs lol (I know a mix matched band IS a group of mercs but i dunno perhaps we all pre know each other.) TBH I'd love to use Ecthelion in another rp since he was supposed to of been out of Loren doing loadsa things before returning and so far he was a merc once and returned :p

I think (if we do a warhammer quest type thing) a smal group of 4/5 would easily do it. Just so long as everybody interacts well and we have no recluses.

I wouldn't mind joining one of these, i just don't exactly understand how it works.
Or really how to get started.
I would be an active participant though.

Cool, this is more than enough people, time to start thinking up ideas

Since there's so few of us it would be very hard to play with some uber-level characters (it'd be easier in this situation to play "normal" people).
If, however, you have your heart set on playing all your favourite amazing people I'll get started concocting a short story for you

So far I know that:
Your characters will have to be alligned to the forces of good
You will all be together (as there is so few)

I think the best way to get everybody together ability wise is by having characters all of a 'hero' level (not lord) though I'd be quite happy making just a normal character. (normal Eternal guard who just happens to be called ecthelion :shifty: )

You think that Altatar is an uber-character? He is only as strong as a wizard would be. Game wise when its lower than 2000pts he is a mage level 2 and has the sacred incense and jewel of dusk items but they come under different names. Example. His staff is called the phoenix staff and has a small captured flame from the shrine of Asuryan burning constantly at the tip of the staff, but rules wise all it does is the same as the sacred incense (fluff being the smoke from the flame is the incense). Also the Birthmark of Saphery is the same as the jewel of dusk. The Birthmark grows stronger as Altatar grows more experienced etc. So when his young its more or less nothing.

My story/fluff that is written up for him is done in different parts. One part where he is very weak (not even a level 1) to towards the end where he is a level 4. I was thinking 5 different parts to his story. 4 for each level and 1 more for before he was a wizard or after he became level 4.

Treasure hunting? I would prefer not to and if we do i will use a different character then Altatar Averrod. Some gal who uses nun-chucks (no no throwing nuns she uses those sticks with the chain attaching them).

As for brain storming heres an idea. Well with the new Vampire Counts book comming out soon why not revolve it around these night stalkers? Something like we are cattle for a Vampire Lord and we are to escape. Darkblade could help alot here as i know he just loves the blood suckers! :p . Either that or we are a band of Vampire hunters, or we are vampires ourselves? or commoners/nobles wanting to find a vampire to gain the blood kiss.

SDETT

Loving the vamp hunter Idea best out of them :p alot can happen too cause their could be normal skelies, gouls, dire wolves, bats etc. :D aye definatly sounds good. Also for me to use Ecthelion (pre going back to loren) all i have to do is describe him the same but he is just a standard eternal guard (since his magic weapons/armour dnt work) :happy: am game.

Hehe, I was about to suggest something involving vampires (lol) But that idea of Vampire hunters are awsome! I would of course prefare to play my two shadows, who basicly are two hero lvl wood elf's. But as two might be a bit much I guess I can take up pretty much any role. The van Helsing style witch hunter anyone? :happy: Or possibly this really nutter of a dwarf...... Ohh ohh! Or maybe a ninja monk from far away Chatay? Or and ORGE! (lol) I feel the inspiration allready :love: Hehe, well vampire hunters get my vote, its a nice idea with loadsa possabilitied and does not restric anyone to just 1 race.

Well it seems that the brainstorming is over before it even begun! (lol) I vote Vampire Hunters too. A human female bartender come stripper come dancer come singer come fighter from the Empire who weilds nun chucks and stuff. When do we start?

SDETT

I get worried about you silly lol you like pretending to be a girl more thn anything else and thats alright but am gonna be watching my back :wink:

Joking aside (lol) ELBERNETH!!!!! get cracking. Move boy, move!!

Out of curiosity what on earth were your 'shadows' DB? Other than uber creepy ninjas lol

A wood elf waywatcher lord and his girl, a young wood elf of the alter kindred. But she carries an item similar to the Glamourweave, basicly what made the shadows for her part. And the waywatcher... well he is just pro :p But really, the problem with that RP, and for that matter with at least me and Jan'Hazars characters in that Mercenary RPG was that they where somewhat uber :p

Now that you mention it i am worried too... :uhhhh: And come on Elb! Lets get it started! in your own time obviously though.

SDETT

I like the sound of that as well... Prepare for...

ULTIMATE VAMPIRE HUNTING, ZOMBIE BASHING NIGHT FEST

I'll start thinking up a scenario, but be advised that, to make it possible for us to carry this on, you WON'T be killing an uber Vampire Lord. Not yet anyway. This will be a smaller-scale affair to let the characters explore the situation and for everyone to find common grounds. Hypothetically you could be making your way through an undead infested village on the way to the Vampires castle or something.

So start thinking of characters folks! (an NO god-modding :wink: )

NB: I am currently taking part in a Dot.Hack rpg on another forum, which may slow progress slightly but I aim to try and post a GM paragraph once a day, although you may post more, as long as you don't run off with the story or add in any crazy plot twists! (I'm looking at you SDETT, there shall be no Zombie-Squirrels here :shifty: )

Not even one zombie squirrel? Oh come one now! I want one as a pet for my character.

Shall we be making character profiles like a normal stat line and post them here? Like Name, Stats, Story, Equipment etc.

SDETT

Yes I think so, here's the format:

Name:
Race:
Gender:
Age:
Occupation: (Vamp Hunter I guess)
Appearance:
Weapons: (no daemon swords or w/e keep it as mundane as it possible when fighting undead)
Background:
Personality:

LMAO silly (lol)

I'm assuming were just gonna be posting here so he I go

Name: Ecthelion

Race: Asrai

Gender: Male

Age: 445

Occupation: Vamp Hunter/Eternal guard

Appearance: Tall, white hair and very pale handsome skin :happy: . White tunic and pants with silver breastplate, pauldrons and helmet. Long white cloak. white boots.

Weapons: Saearath with a white shaft and silver blades.

Background: Eternal guard who was teleported via a magic stone out of Athel Loren as he sees it to fullfil some task which when completed will transport him back to Loren (He thinks)

Personality: Usually cheerful and always trying to bring out the best in his companions. Prone to singing.


(This is meant to be after the merc thing so he's abit older but I toned everything down so for all intents and purposes he is a normal Eternal guard who just happens to look awesome)

Name: Valois Bessette
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 52
Occupation: Vampire Hunter (ex-alchemist)
Appearance: Short, bespectacled, gaunt and frail. Shoulder length gray hair. Plain, brown coat and black boots. Slight stubble.
Weapons: Several vials of alchemist's fire, a short sword, a white hankerchief, a small sickle, an empty vial, and a small gourd of water.
Background: Valois used to live in a small country town, working as an alchemist. Some undead raised the town, and with nowhere else to go, he decided to become a vampire hunter.
Personality: Generally good natured, but wary of strangers.

Name: Lucia
Race: Human (from the Empire).
Gender: Female
Age: 24
Occupation: Vampire Hunter (Dancer/Singer/Waitress)
Appearance: Long semi-braided light brown hair. Beautiful and slim. About 5' 5" in height. Green eyes.
Equipment: One steel Nun-chucks (is that how they are spelt?). An 8 inches long steel dagger hidden inside right boot. A Steel Shortsword at her waist. Wears alot of brown Leather (kinda like a rock chick). Knee high boots Small backpack with the usual supplies for adventurers (water, food, bedroll etc).
Background: Used to work in a low life bar until 3 years ago her twin brother was killed by a Vampire for his blood, she hid and saw it all from a closet and vowed from that day to hunt down the one he killed her brother. She and her brother were orphaned and never knew their parents. She has an amazing voice (think Within Temptation singer).
She becomes very emotional and distraught if she has to talk about her brother. Lucia still mourns for her twin brother and is quick to anger and is rather withdrawn not allowing people to get too close to her.
Often will sing to herself, its the only way she can be at peace with herself if only for a moment.

Edit: Just added some more depth to Lucia.

SDETT

We'll see if anyone else wants to join, then I'll start it tonight.
Oh btw, there will be two threads, an OOC thread and an IC. all OOC (including player profiles) will go in the OOC, even if it is like a tiny suggestion

Omg omg! Wait for moi! :O I will post up when I am done with Karate about 10:00 GMT+1 or so I hope. Gotta go now I am afraid! Cya in a short bit! *Races off again*

A bit late but! I am a bit unsure if I can use these characters. Basicly its my two shadows, but on one of their first travels(Long before the Return RP, and also before they settled in the Chasm Glade) I hope they are ok even if they are two. If not I have a backup character I can come along with :wink:
Please also note that I am using Tolkiens Sindarin, naming consepts and maturing consepts for my elves as I have nothing else to use.

Name: Pephennas Morcú Hemorn (Without past, Black bow, Dark eye)
Race: Wood Elf
Gender: Male
Age: 720
Occupation: Waywatcher

Appearance: Morcú’s shape is tall and grunt. His face can only be described as hawkish, it is clean cut and slim, yet hard. His skin is almost pale and his face is zig zagged with scars. His hair is black and long, and gathered it in series of braids. Morcú’s face is cold, hard and aged, as if set in stone.
But his eyes…. They are emotionless as if he has no feelings. Both are ice cold blue and very piercing. The cold inhuman mix of hate and arrogance that they radiate chill you to the marrow. These eyes are the eyes of a killer. They are the eyes of a hawk. And yet, like many of his kind, his eyes burn with a fey fire.
He wear a long cloak hooded that somewhat seems to blend with the background, he also have a scarf in case he want to cover more of his face. Under this he wears a suit of armour woven from branches and under this a thin green shirt and pants of the same material.

Weapons and equipment: An elvish longbow made of some pitch black wood. (It’s a normal longbow, just good looking!) Two leaf shaped short swords in his belt (a bit like Sting). Two short knives hidden in his cloak. A coil of rope. A quire with about 80 black feathered arrows. A ring with a single black stone as ornamentation (Its not magical either in case you wondered!). A small flute made of the same black wood as the bow. And a water skin plus some food rations.

Personality: Having chosen the path of the lone wolf he is not a very social person. Morcú is silent, grim and unfriendly at best. He rarely speaks with anyone unless he has to. And when he does it’s often in a cold and almost aggressive manner. If he have a heart it is certainly as black as coal, or so one could be lead to believe.

Name: Nethsel Hithwen Ninael (Young daughter, the lady of the mist, tears of a pool)
Race: Wood Elf
Gender: Female
Age: 134
Occupation: Alter kindred/Tagalong of Morcú

Appearance: Her face is smooth and slim. The skin is light, yet not pale, and without any hint of scars or other marks. Flowing blond hair frame the face perfectly and there is something almost childish about it. Her left eye is blue, the right eye green, and both burned with an inner fire.
Her voice is special, a mild and soft voice, young and yet old, sad and yet happy, flowing like the river and gentle as the water mist that lies around the bottom of a waterfall.
She is clad in green and misty blue robes. She also wears a long green cloak with a hood, she also have a scarf in case she want to cover more of her face. When going to battle she wears a light chestplate of steel and a mail skirt made up of metal scales.
When in her animal form (She is of the Alter Kindred so she can shapeshift) she appear like a fox with shining white fur.

Weapons: A long sword made of imathril or some other very light metal, the handle is about the same length as a walking stick, the blade is ornamented with swirling patterns. (Just a… well special longsword, not magical whatsoever) A normal wood elf longbow. A short sword, like Morcú’s it’s shaped like a leaf. Light armour. A small necklace made of river stones. (Again not magical) A small bag filled with dried herbs and leafs.

Personality: Hithwen is young, happy, careless and friendly. She is very lively and also very enthusiastic to about everything that sounds like a challenge. She enjoys singing, dancing, climbing…. Actually she enjoy about everything that’s remotely fun. She also loves to play pranks, especially directed towards Morcú. In battle she is brave and skilled, but somewhat overconfident and very inexperienced.

Background: As his name suggest little is know of Pephennas Morcú (Pephennas is literally, no past) and his past. The only thing known is that he travelled to many distant places, and to some of the darkest parts of the forest, but his life where to be changed. One day entered a glade and found a young maiden sitting by the river Taenduin. She was sobbing softly and he watched her from the shadows. Morcú had never been the sentimental one, never had he felt remorse or pity. But this girl… there where something about her… And as he looked at her from the trees she started singing. Her voice where soft and gentle, yet it held a sorrow which stirred something deep inside Morcú. Her words spoke of sorrow, and it ended like this:

But in dreams
I can hear your name
And in dreams
We will meet again

The girl where cradling a body in her hands, her mothers body. Silently he had approached her and as he got close she had turned. Morcú would never forget her eyes in that hour. They where utterly pale grey, like the mist in the cold hours before dawn. What happened after this is unknown, for even Himloth, the only one to ever gain the trust of Morcú does not know. But since that day Hithwen have followed Morcú like a shadow. And where he is the calm, grim and emotionless hunter, she is the young, happy and careless girl.


If I can't have to characters then I guess I gotta accept that (Even if all these efforts will be a waste :p ) Basicly he is the old, skilled and hard killed who can do something usefull. And she is the lovely, young and overentusiastic elf I wanna include mostly for the sake of character interaction. At this point in her story she is not a very skilled fight (About a Glade Guard champion with alter upgrade and great weapon... Well she is fast :uhhhh: ) And will hopefully get into some bad situations where she need to be save :wink: Morcú is about the skill lvl of a waywatcher champion, only creepier :love:

looks perfectly fine DB, maybe you want to copy and past it into the ooc thread for reference.

I'm not joining as I'll be sporadically active until I get settled into uni life. But I agree with Elberneth. If you want, you can ask Foxtale for some tips. He's a great roleplayer (and mod) on this other RP forum I used to frequent. Also, you might want to use this as the OOC thread to prevent random hiccups in the flow of the story when people make OOC posts.

EDIT: Oops, there's already an OOC thread, heh.