RPG Seasonal Rotation Thoughts

[Batman]

I agree with everything, but the bold part, I think, should be something more like "If you don't post after as your character (without a decent prior excuse), you will get a warning from a GM or AGM via PM; and if your inaction is continued for another week further, then you'll be cut."

I know that I've been guilty of going passed the two week rule many times, and most of the time I wouldn't even realize it until I return to the IC thread and notice the date on my last post. If, however, whenever I logged onto the Hype just to browse the forums, I received a friendly PM bringing the fact to my attention that I've been stingy on the character posts, then that would definitely prompt me to churn out a post, and even perhaps gain some new momentum.

Or the GM's could PM an inactive player after one week straight of not posting without a suitable excuse given, then act on it in the second week.

Honestly, and I know this seems harsh, but I just don't like the idea of giving another week to players who aren't doing a relatively simple thing by posting. (And yes, dammit, this applies to me too. )

 

[Spike_x1]

Or the GM's could PM an inactive player after one week straight of not posting without a suitable excuse given, then act on it in the second week.

Honestly, and I know this seems harsh, but I just don't like the idea of giving another week to players who aren't doing a relatively simple thing by posting. (And yes, dammit, this applies to me too. )

I could probably live with that too, with the key term being a "suitable excuse given." I know that during exam weeks, I'm very hard-pressed to read people's IC posts and write one of my own; but if I made the time to type a 10-second post in the OOC thread saying that I was going to be busy and may not be around the Hype for a couple weeks, then it shouldn't be a problem.

My original suggestion was just my being generous, but I think that I'd be fine with either yours or my idea on that.

 

[Green Lantern]

All right, Twy, you want advice? Here's mine. Short and sweet.

People in this thread have made their points pretty much known. So, take them into account and work out a system for the rotation of the RPGs. After working it out, present it here. If the majority are for it, run with it. To hell with the few who hate it.
You're never going to please everyone. They can either learn to deal with it or drop out. And yes, I'm including myself in "They" too.

As for the whole limiting of characters deal, you can take that and shove it you know where.
If a person wants to play a character, let them play it. If they can't take over the responcibilities of playing said character, the GM of said RPG just has to grow some balls and tell them to either pick up the slack or they'll be cut. And then, if they don't pick it up, then cut them.

And if the player has a track record of signing up as a character and then not doing anything, then just don't approve them to begin with without first hammering things out with the player privately. After talking with them, then decide whether or not you think they can handle the responcibilities of the character in question (which would definitely depend on how major the character is as Batman would take a more active role than Howard the Duck).

Well said, JB. Well said.

 

[Batman]

Oh, yeah, I can agree there. I know there are some things we can't help, and I don't think people should be penalized for that. I just think that, if they're just not posting for the sake of being lazy, there should be action taken.

And goddamn it, this is too ironic of me to speak of.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Well said, JB. Well said.

Thank you.

Oh, yeah, I can agree there. I know there are some things we can't help, and I don't think people should be penalized for that. I just think that, if they're just not posting for the sake of being lazy, there should be action taken.

And goddamn it, this is too ironic of me to speak of.

I know I've been guilty of that as well of late. I haven't posted as Savitar in a few weeks in DC. Mainly due to I'm having problems figuring out how to get him to "Point B", but still.


As for the whole extra week thing, I'm against that. A player should read the rules of a game before joining. It's simple common sense. They should know that if they don't post for two weeks then their character will be up for grabs. There should be no extra time for ignorance. If a GM wants to PM said player after a certain amount of time has passed, that's cool. But it is ultimately on the player's shoulders to read the rules and abide by them.

Only thing that I could see nullifying this is, as what Spike said, if there's a legitament excuse for the player's absence.

 

[Spike_x1]

I, for one, think that a PM warning should be the rule, no matter if it's after one week or two. It's not like it's that hard for a GM to send a note that doesn't have to be any longer than a sentence; whereas it can be frighteningly easy for a player to lose track of time and overestimate how much longer he has before the deadline, and nobody should have to lose their character over something as simple and easily remedied as that, IMO.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

I, for one, think that a PM warning should be the rule, no matter if it's after one week or two. It's not like it's that hard for a GM to send a note that doesn't have to be any longer than a sentence; whereas it can be frighteningly easy for a player to lose track of time and overestimate how much longer he has before the deadline, and nobody should have to lose their character over something as simple and easily remedied as that, IMO.

I'm cool with the GM sending a PM, but I don't think it should be mandatory. If the player can't remember the deadline, oh well. 'Dems da rules. They knew it when they signed up. If not, then they need to learn how to read before applying, or how to manage their time better.

 

[Lord Doom]

Oh, yeah, I can agree there. I know there are some things we can't help, and I don't think people should be penalized for that. I just think that, if they're just not posting for the sake of being lazy, there should be action taken.

And goddamn it, this is too ironic of me to speak of.

Yeah, I get pretty damn lazy when it comes to posting, too. Heck, I'm sure we ALL do sometimes. But, if somebody gives away my character when I fail to reach the deadline, well, guess I'm S.O.L. I actually wouldn't mind if that rule got enforced a lot more. Recentlym I took a peak at the "World of Heroes" OOC thread and I saw that Byrd was layin' down the law. All I could say was "Hellz yeah!" Nobody means to offend anyone, but ya gotta do whatcha gotta do. As for the CAH game, well... Maybe they'll just get taken off the roster and NPCed if they were involved in an arc with someone else. After that, kill em' off.

 

[Spike_x1]

I'm cool with the GM sending a PM, but I don't think it should be mandatory. If the player can't remember the deadline, oh well. 'Dems da rules. They knew it when they signed up. If not, then they need to learn how to read before applying, or how to manage their time better.

So change the rules.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

So change the rules.

There's nothing wrong with that rule to begin with?

 

[Spike_x1]

Edit

 

[Spike_x1]

There's nothing wrong with that rule to begin with?

Except for this:

It's not like it's that hard for a GM to send a note that doesn't have to be any longer than a sentence; whereas it can be frighteningly easy for a player to lose track of time and overestimate how much longer he has before the deadline, and nobody should have to lose their character over something as simple and easily remedied as that, IMO.

Honestly, there's no reason why a GM can't be bothered to have something so incredibly simple as sending out a brief PM to certain players added to their duties.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

And it shouldn't be mandatory. It's pretty much the only responcibility a player has, and if they can't manage their time and handle that responcibility then it's their own damn fault.

 

[Spike_x1]

There's a difference between time management and having something simply slip your mind.

 

[wiegeabo]

Just leave it up to the GM. If they want to send a pm, they can. If they think the player should be responsible, that's fine too. As long as the rule gets enforced (and whether or not the GM will warn the player is spelled out in the rules).


Here's a question. Should the amount of time a player has be left to the GM (like giving players three weeks), or should it be a standard time all RPG's have to follow?

 

[Byrd Man]

I agree with you on the fact that they should be reminded, I won't do it through PMs though. I'll post it for everyone to see, that way if someone is playing a marquee character and they pass the date, someone can take their place ASAP. I also want do it publicly as a sort of humiliation, maybe posting there name on the danger list where everyone can see might make them want to work harder to get off that list.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

There's a difference between time management and having something simply slip your mind.

Either case it's the player's fault for not paying attention to time.

Just leave it up to the GM. If they want to send a pm, they can. If they think the player should be responsible, that's fine too. As long as the rule gets enforced (and whether or not the GM will warn the player is spelled out in the rules).


Here's a question. Should the amount of time a player has be left to the GM (like giving players three weeks), or should it be a standard time all RPG's have to follow?

Eh, I'd say it'd be up to whoever's running the RPG. It's their RPG after all, and it's their rules. The two-week thing is just something everyone uses because most just copy-and-paste the rules when putting up a thread. Myself included.

 

[Spike_x1]

I agree with you on the fact that they should be reminded, I won't do it through PMs though. I'll post it for everyone to see, that way if someone is playing a marquee character and they pass the date, someone can take their place ASAP. I also want do it publicly as a sort of humiliation, maybe posting there name on the danger list where everyone can see might make them want to work harder to get off that list.

That would definitely work too.

 

[Spike_x1]

Either case it's the player's fault for not paying attention to time.

It's human nature to forget things from time to time. Really, is there any reason at all why a GM shouldn't have such a simple task as this on their list of duties? Yes, it's the player's responsibility to get a post up, but it's also the GMs' responsibility to help players and the game along, and occasionally posting a simple note to the player is barely asking anything of them, but could make a huge difference, and if a GM chose not to do it, then they really aren't doing much to help the player with their character, are they?

 

[Eddie Brock]

First of all, I'd like to say that the Two Week Rule should be more like a Three Week Rule - with the PM's going out on the second week. I know from personal experience that a lot can happen in two weeks.

In any case, if the rule was just enforced - like Byrd has finally started doing - we wouldn't even need all these pages of discussion/debate. GM's need to stop worrying about "hurting feelings" or whatever keeps them from standing up. I get that we're all family here, and that we don't like to reprimand each other - but if you don't post, you bring it upon yourself. I don't care who you are, and I don't care how well you write the character - dependency is just as important as talent and quality.

 

[Blacklight]

I also don't think in games like CAH that the rule should be applied unless they haven't really posted in like a month or something.

 

[twylight]

Upholding that rule is up to the individual GM's for each game. it's not something we can mandate.

 

[Blacklight]

Also whoever came up with an idea of a thread to keep track of who we play in the RPGs is a great idea. Like I said before, I write it down on paper, but I usually don't have it with me, so having a thread for it would help keep it organized for everyone.

 

[Keyser Soze]

First of all, I'd like to say that the Two Week Rule should be more like a Three Week Rule - with the PM's going out on the second week. I know from personal experience that a lot can happen in two weeks.

Really? You're right, a lot can happen in 2 weeks. That applies in RPGs too. And I've seen guys who only post once a fortnight, just enough to keep their characters. Their absence is REALLY felt. If that got stretched out to people posting once every 3 weeks, it would be even worse. If anything, I think the deadline should be shortened to one week. Or, at the very least, they get a PM/OOC warning after a week, then their character is up for grabs after two.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Really? You're right, a lot can happen in 2 weeks. That applies in RPGs too. And I've seen guys who only post once a fortnight, just enough to keep their characters. Their absence is REALLY felt. If that got stretched out to people posting once every 3 weeks, it would be even worse. If anything, I think the deadline should be shortened to one week. Or, at the very least, they get a PM/OOC warning after a week, then their character is up for grabs after two.

I agree, and you yourself already provided me with an example:

Now, some might say this is putting unfair pressure on people. Not really. If day 6 is looming, and you're thinking "Uh-oh, I've got a Batman post due", you don't need to write an epic. Just something like:

"Emerging from the shadows, Batman approaches Nightwing.

"Have you found him?" he asks."

Not a masterpiece, but you get the point. It's a game, folks. Every post doesn't need to be a freakin' essay! Sometimes I think the RPGs have the best flow when its a BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM chain of back-and-forth 2 paragraph posts. When we're playing together as a group. It tends to be a lot easier to get motivated to post when you've got someone to play off of.

Again, perfect example. I know I recently posted one hell of a long post over in DC last night ...but that was just me really feeling what I was doing to finally get a part of my arc out there; it doesn't always gotta be so big.