Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Storyboard: The way it was for three years]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/storyboard-the-way-it-was-for-three-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/storyboard-the-way-it-was-for-three-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/storyboard-the-way-it-was-for-three-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Going back in time.
Roleplaying is the same as it ever was. People are still shoehorning in lore characters into backstories, someone is a sparkly magic vampire, and you can still turn a corner in a tavern to find two people with a decided lack of gear or public shame. (In Second Life, that corner is the one you turn to download the game.) But I've had three years of talking about it, so it's at least a little different than it was.

I don't know if I'd go so far as to say it's better.

Every year I like to take a look back at the past year, talk about what worked well, what didn't work at all, and what I'd like to do in the future. So it is for this year, complete with a nice big surprise down at the end there. Regular readers may be less surprised, but you can just bear with me.

Continue reading Storyboard: The way it was for three years

MassivelyStoryboard: The way it was for three years originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featurednew-featuresopinionretrospectiveroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardstoryboard-librarythree-yearsyear-in-reviewFri, 17 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Making villains work]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/storyboard-making-villains-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/storyboard-making-villains-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/storyboard-making-villains-work/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

So how am I going to make the header screwy next week? I have a few ideas.
A while ago, I talked about the fact that roleplaying in MMOs most closely resembles comic books. This is apropos of the current discussion because both mediums have a fundamental issue with how villains are supposed to work. A good villain should be roundly trounced by the end of a story, but you also want to bring back a villain for more antics later on. So as I begin the follow-up to my recent column on the topic, the question becomes how you can make a villain who's entertaining and satisfying to encounter without becoming boring or making everyone wonder why no one has stabbed him yet.

To be fair, there's no way to absolutely fix this problem. Someone will always have the idea that stabbing the villain to death will alleviate the problem, and that assumption is pretty much right. But there are ways to minimize the issue without making everyone seem like a colossal twit or creating the soap opera problem (wherein everyone is a malicious jerk every so often and no one seems to make long-term changes). This week I want to examine how both antagonistic and malicious villains can be played to avoid those pitfalls.

Continue reading Storyboard: Making villains work

MassivelyStoryboard: Making villains work originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antagonistscharactersfeaturedjerksopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardvillainsFri, 10 May 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Just the artifacts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/storyboard-just-the-artifacts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/storyboard-just-the-artifacts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/storyboard-just-the-artifacts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There are a lot of powerful items in our everyday life. Smartphones, for instance.
There's something inherently alluring about objects of power. That much is obvious; games are already fairly littered with them, ranging from weapons to vehicles to various items whose powers are invariably decided by needs of the plot. It's inevitable that as a roleplayer you would want to create something of power for your own purposes, something that has a purpose that only you know, hopefully a purpose with more careful thought than "being the most scary thing ever."

Items like this are what I'm calling artifacts. In some settings they're actual artifacts; in others they're just exceptionally well-programmed computers or bits of otherwise lost technology or whatever. They're useful for extended roleplaying, they create an additional element of your characters, and they're also really problematic in a variety of ways. Still, the drawbacks aren't significant enough to make them useless, just significant enough that you'll want to use a careful hand when adding in your own hidden wonders.

Continue reading Storyboard: Just the artifacts

MassivelyStoryboard: Just the artifacts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artifactsfeatureditemsobjectsopinionrelicsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 03 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Villainy afoot]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/storyboard-villainy-afoot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/storyboard-villainy-afoot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/storyboard-villainy-afoot/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In that moment you will realize that you are not the hero of your own story; you are the villain. You are the source of anguish. You are what must be demolished for the good of everyone.
I really thought this was a topic I had revisited on a few occasions, but apparently the only time Storyboard has discussed villainy was back in the column's infancy when I was still properly finding its voice. (Not that I feel that project has ever stopped, but that's another matter.) And it's an interesting topic for many reasons because villainy as a concept really gets put through the wringer in RP to begin with, especially if you tend to let morality be muddled into a few million shades of gray like I tend to.

The thing about villains in roleplaying is having a character solely meant as A Villain generally doesn't work as well, simply because no real people are as malicious as that might require. Instead, you wind up with several people serving as the villains in a particular timeframe. So we need to define what we mean by villains, what role they can play in roleplaying, and what the pitfalls are in the first place.

Continue reading Storyboard: Villainy afoot

MassivelyStoryboard: Villainy afoot originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antagonistsenemiesfeaturedjust-plain-jerksopinionopponentsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardstorytellingsuggestionsvillainsFri, 26 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Dramatic community]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/storyboard-dramatic-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/storyboard-dramatic-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/storyboard-dramatic-community/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A subtle shift in process has yielded positive results with these headers.
A couple of friends of mine recently found themselves knee-deep in roleplaying community drama. For those of you who have not seen this dread beast before, let me assure you that it is the most vile of all forms of drama, in which people wind up angry at one another over elements that virtually no one else cares about. I've seen it strike many times, and it's always frustrating and unpleasant due in no small part to its sheer pointlessness.

I've talked about community drama on one occasion when it comes to the Final Fantasy XIV roleplaying community, but the fact that I'm seeing it passed around elsewhere means that it's a topic worth addressing in a general sense. This isn't drama centered around what happened within the game but drama about the managerial aspects of the community, about handling site ownership and moderation and all of the associated stuff. And there are a few tricks to help minimize this before it starts.

Continue reading Storyboard: Dramatic community

MassivelyStoryboard: Dramatic community originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argumentscommunity-dramacommunity-organizationcommunity-sitesdramafeaturedopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingroleplaying-communitiesrpstorystoryboardFri, 19 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Profession discussion - the Builder]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-builder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-builder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-builder/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Anyone who mentions the name Bob in the comments is earning a disapproving look.
Human beings like to make stuff. It's in our nature, presumably because the humans who liked making things were able to create important inventions like clothing and weapons and homes and portable DVD players. That stuff gives you an edge over the guy hunting with a rock and a decent pitching arm. A lot of jobs and hobbies alike revolve around making things or changing existing made things into new made things.

The Builder isn't just someone who enjoys making things but someone who lives by making things. Our previous professions have all focused around providing something, but the Builder is the person responsible for making those things. This is a profession that's all about creating, something near and dear to most roleplayers to begin with. But it's also a profession that has a bit more to it than simply being the guy down the road who puts cabinets together at a discount.

Continue reading Storyboard: Profession discussion - the Builder

MassivelyStoryboard: Profession discussion - the Builder originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildingcharacter-conceptscharacter-creationcharacterscreatingcreativityfeaturedopinionprofession-discussionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardthe-builderFri, 12 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Moral framework]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/storyboard-moral-framework/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/storyboard-moral-framework/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/storyboard-moral-framework/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Good, bad... I'm the guy with a column.
Every so often, I start a column and it just doesn't come together. So my original plans for this week's article are being changed. I could technically go back and edit last week's piece to erase any evidence that plans had changed, but that would just be wrong.

That segues nicely into this week's actual topic: morality. We generally paint morality in broader strokes than is necessarily beneficial, as evidenced by the fact that I just said that something as harmless as editing an old article could be considered wrong. Obviously it's not harming anyone, but because of standards that I impose on myself, I feel as if it's the wrong course of action to take.

Pretty much all of your characters have moral codes, and if you're not thinking about them consciously, those codes can easily default to the same ones that you have. I've touched on that idea before, but there's more to it than that. When you get right down to it, your characters need their own codes, some of which you might even find personally repugnant.

Continue reading Storyboard: Moral framework

MassivelyStoryboard: Moral framework originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-moralsevilfeaturedgoodmoralitymoralsopinionphilosophyrightroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpsituational-moralsstorystoryboardwrongFri, 05 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: RP in the key of C]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/storyboard-rp-in-the-key-of-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/storyboard-rp-in-the-key-of-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/storyboard-rp-in-the-key-of-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Chase the high ground, where you'd rather be, where you might be found. Face all aglow to leave from here, to pack up and go.
Music is kind of a big deal. The right choice of music can change a scene from being happy to ominous, and intentionally mismatching the scene and the music can lead to hilarious results with minimal effort. In-game music makes use of this, naturally, and it's rare to find something stirring and peppy in the midst of a zone filled with volcanoes and demons. We rely on the background music to set a mood and underscore what's taking place at any given moment.

All that goes for roleplaying, too. But the odds are that the game music isn't going to provide the romantic music you need in the Undercity in World of Warcraft or the driving combat music you need on your bridge in Star Trek Online. Game music is meant for people who are playing; the music you need is closer to scoring a film.

So given the importance of music, let's talk about it just a little this week. After all, having the right tune playing can make a lasting impression, even if it's just on the people within earshot.

Continue reading Storyboard: RP in the key of C

MassivelyStoryboard: RP in the key of C originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acousticsadviceaudiofeaturedmusicopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpsoundssoundtrackstorystoryboardFri, 29 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The Battle for Caldari Prime]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/eve-evolved-the-battle-for-caldari-prime/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/eve-evolved-the-battle-for-caldari-prime/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/eve-evolved-the-battle-for-caldari-prime/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved The Battle for Caldari Prime
The empires of EVE Online have long and bloody histories that, until now, have been played out largely through fictional chronicles and in-character news posts. This week saw conflict erupt in-game between two NPC empires in the Battle for Caldari Prime live event. The neutral CONCORD faction has managed to maintain order between the four main empires of New Eden for decades, but that doesn't stop the Gallente and Caldari factions occasionally violating the peace.

The Caldari were originally part of the Gallente Federation but gained independence in a war lasting almost a hundred years. Following an attack on a Gallente city, a right-wing faction in the Gallente government seized power and ordered the bombing of the Caldari homeworld. Millions of Caldari citizens were evacuated from the homeworld, a planet that has been under dispute ever since. Caldari Prime resides in the Luminaire system and is officially inside Gallente territory, but recent events have seen the tables turn.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the story behind the recent Battle for Caldari Prime, accusations that the event was staged and scripted, and what the future may hold for live events in EVE.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The Battle for Caldari Prime

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The Battle for Caldari Prime originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bottle-lightningcaldaricaldari-primeccpccp-gamesconsoledustdust-514eveeve-evolvedeve-onlineeventeventsevents-in-gamefakefakedfeaturedfpsgallenteground-combathistoryleviathanlive-eventlive-eventslivestreamloreluminaireMercenariesmmofpsnpcnuke-them-from-orbitopinionplaystationplaystation-3ps3pvpriggedrole-playrole-playingRolePlayingrpsandboxsci-fishiigerushooterstagedstorystorylinestreamtitanvideowarSun, 24 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The characters you like]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/storyboard-the-characters-you-like/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/storyboard-the-characters-you-like/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/storyboard-the-characters-you-like/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I'm almost sure I've used one of these before.
Some of my characters are pretty awful people. Some of them aren't people in the strictest sense of the word, to be fair. But there are some pretty awful types among them. And I enjoy playing them, but I sure as heck don't like them. They're terrible people who deserve to meet with terrible fates, and the glory of roleplaying is that they serve as a bit of anarchistic fun until someone gives them what they deserve. I don't like them as people.

But that's not universal. I have other characters who will frequently do awful things but aren't fundamentally bad, just misguided on several occasions. Sometimes the line can get a bit blurry between one well-trained spy and assassin when one of them is a character I like and the other one is meant to be awful. So I started thinking about the distinguishing factors and what it means to play a character you like personally compared to one just meant to cause trouble. The answers were a bit odd.

Continue reading Storyboard: The characters you like

MassivelyStoryboard: The characters you like originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-experiencecharacter-traitscharactersfeaturedopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 22 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Profession discussion - The Merchant]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-merchant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-merchant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-merchant/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Everything must go!
People want stuff. It's a given. Part of this is because in the earliest days of human history having a sharpened stick was the difference between eating and starving, but part of it is just the way that we've structured our societies. And a lot of the things that people want are things that they can't make themselves, which means those people need someone to come to the rescue. That's where this profession comes in; the Merchant is all about getting people the stuff that they want.

This is easily the strangest profession discussion I've done yet because it's easy to understand how you could have a lot of different people in the role of a spy or an aristocrat, but it's less obvious how you could have a character with certain archetypes be a merchant. The thing is that the merchant isn't just about selling things and making money. Being a merchant is what a character does on the road, and that ranges from selling mushrooms to selling your sword in the name of a good cause.

Continue reading Storyboard: Profession discussion - The Merchant

MassivelyStoryboard: Profession discussion - The Merchant originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycharacter-typesfeaturedmerchantmerchantsopinionprofession-discussionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpsellingstorystoryboardFri, 15 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Working with mechanics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/storyboard-working-with-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/storyboard-working-with-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/storyboard-working-with-mechanics/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you look closely, there is a hidden meta tale.
One of the points I've harped on in the past is the idea that game mechanics don't encompass your entire character. They can't, almost by definition. Mechanics are in place to ensure that everyone plays by the rules and works according to a standardized system, while individual characters are meant to have their own unique traits and abilities. So no matter what, when you create a character in an MMO, you're creating the best possible approximation rather than an absolute copy.

The odd thing is that as I recreate one of my favorite characters yet again, I find that she's a lot easier to build and understand as a result of the limitations of many games. While there's a definite case to be made for the awkwardness of fitting a character into a system, I think we give the limitations of most systems too little credit in terms of narrowing down character ability and making for a better environment. So let's talk about the benefits of having mechanical limitations.

Continue reading Storyboard: Working with mechanics

MassivelyStoryboard: Working with mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creativityfeaturedgame-mechanicslimitationsopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 08 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: RP-Beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/storyboard-rp-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/storyboard-rp-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/storyboard-rp-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I've got a legacy to consider.
So there's a beta going on right now that is really relevant to my interests. Yes, that does mean that there is an unofficial beta roleplaying server, also relevant to my interests. Long-time readers will know both what I'm talking about and why I don't have a whole lot of other things on my mind right now.

This actually dovetails nicely with an obvious topic, however: roleplaying in the beta for any given game. If you plan to roleplay when the game goes live, beta is a great time to get started, possibly building up character relationships and dynamics before the game has even launched. That's all good stuff.

The problem is that beta is not, in fact, a prequel to the live game. It's a test version of the real game. And even beside the obvious repercussions of rollbacks and the like, there are reasons why roleplaying in beta might not be a great idea.

Continue reading Storyboard: RP-Beta

MassivelyStoryboard: RP-Beta originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-rpbeta-testingbetasfeaturedopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingroleplaying-in-betarpside-activitiesstorystoryboardFri, 01 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Profession discussion - The Aristocrat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-aristocrat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-aristocrat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-aristocrat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of these people probably isn't an aristocrat.
Aristocracy is not a job in one sense. You can't apply to be an aristocrat, nor can you get a degree that leads to becoming an aristocrat, and there's a marked lack of professional guilds and unions for the field. You can't even really hope to be one when you grow up, since you're usually born into it. But in the broader sense of roleplaying character professions, "aristocrat" certainly qualifies, as it answers the question of what your character does while on the road.

Some aristocrats might hit the road because they have a duty to those of lower status. Others might be out there because they want to be anywhere other than home. Some have tastes or curiosities that can be satisfied only in a more exotic location. Whatever the reason, many aristocrats pack up their elaborate and numerous bags and head off in search of adventure, or at least the various opportunities that adventure brings along.

Continue reading Storyboard: Profession discussion - The Aristocrat

MassivelyStoryboard: Profession discussion - The Aristocrat originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicearistocrataristocratsbackstorycharacter-creationfeaturedjobsnobilityopinionprofession-discussionprofessionsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 22 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Forming a roleplaying guild is easier than you think]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/storyboard-forming-a-roleplaying-guild-is-easier-than-you-think/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/storyboard-forming-a-roleplaying-guild-is-easier-than-you-think/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/storyboard-forming-a-roleplaying-guild-is-easier-than-you-think/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I'm on a plane as you read this.
Roleplaying guilds, as I have mentioned before, have a lot of problems that more normal guilds just plain don't. The Guild Counsel discusses a lot of guild problems in detail every week, and if you haven't noticed that guilds make for a litany of major issues, well, it only gets worse when you consider that roleplaying adds a new slice of potential drama and hurt feelings. I do not envy those in charge of these organizations, especially when I think over my brief stints of leadership.

As a result, forming a new roleplaying guild seems like an activity best undertaken with great care and personal protection, like installing a beehive. But it's actually far simpler than that. You can start a roleplaying guild with minimal effort and have the foundations in place for it to work. Whether or not it will work in the long run isn't as obvious, but you knew that already.

Continue reading Storyboard: Forming a roleplaying guild is easier than you think

MassivelyStoryboard: Forming a roleplaying guild is easier than you think originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicefeaturedguildmaking-guildsopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingroleplaying-guildsrpstorystoryboardsuggestionsFri, 15 Feb 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Profession discussion - the Spy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-spy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-spy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-spy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Oddly, none of these people are spies. Even though one of them traditionally is.
Long-time readers will remember that back around the end of this column's first year, I wrote a series of columns about character archetypes. It was a series I'm quite proud of as a whole, and one that I've wanted to follow up for a while, but I had to wait until I had an idea that fit. That was when I started thinking about how that series talked entirely about who a character is rather than what he or she actually does. In reality, the two can be miles apart.

Take my first choice of profession, the spy. A spy might believe that she's doing something for the greater good. She might see this simply as part of her duty and a necessary task. She might be doing this because she's fundamentally amoral, she might be hoping to find the answer to a puzzle she's long agonized about, or she might even be doing this because she just really wants to know secrets. But today I'm not going to talk about that. You want to make a spy; let's talk about what goes into that.

Continue reading Storyboard: Profession discussion - the Spy

MassivelyStoryboard: Profession discussion - the Spy originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-creationcharacter-occupationscharacter-professionscharactersfeaturedopinionprofession-discussionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpspiesspystorystoryboardsuggestionsthe-spyFri, 08 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Play to the medium]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/storyboard-play-to-the-medium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/storyboard-play-to-the-medium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/storyboard-play-to-the-medium/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I need some more screenshots and images. Going further afield lately.
One of the greatest moments of education I had in college was when a professor sat down to discuss a story I was writing with me. He said to me, "Eliot, this story is never going to be as good as it could be like this."

"Well, I'm learning. I mean, I could rewrite the --"

"No, it isn't that you're not good enough as a writer, it's that this story isn't a novel. You're writing the best novel out of it that you can, but this is a story for a graphic novel. No matter how well you write it, it's always going to be a novelization of a comic book."

That was the first moment that I really started to understand the idea of writing something for a medium instead of just writing a story in the form available to you. That there are some stories that just don't work in certain formats, whether that format is novels or comics or movies or even roleplaying. And it's why I'm talking specifically about the medium today, because it's an easy concept to miss but an important one to keep in mind.

Continue reading Storyboard: Play to the medium

MassivelyStoryboard: Play to the medium originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 01 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Breaking into SWTOR's roleplay community]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/hyperspace-beacon-breaking-into-swtors-roleplay-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/hyperspace-beacon-breaking-into-swtors-roleplay-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/hyperspace-beacon-breaking-into-swtors-roleplay-community/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon Breaking into SWTOR's roleplay community
I've hit a wall in my personal gameplay. Most people run into it eventually when they are dedicated to one MMO like I am. Sometimes, I will move on to another game. Guild Wars 2 and DC Universe Online are calling me pretty strongly again. The problem I'd face if I did that is that I would be leaving behind my guild and the friends I have in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Not that I'm opposed to playing a game solo, it's just that my guild is the biggest reason I still play SWTOR.

I still want to play the game, but my fourth alt is near 50, PvP disappoints me because of the Elite War Hero grind, and my raid group seems to be stuck on a single boss fight. It's not that I don't like the game; it's just disappointing at several turns. So how am I going to keep this game interesting? Well, I didn't join a roleplay server so that I can pwn noobs in PvP; I joined because of the community.

Perhaps some of you are in a similar situation. Maybe you're looking for something else to do in the game, but don't know how to get started. Maybe you've always wanted to break into roleplay, but you weren't sure where to start. If so I have some tips for you.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Breaking into SWTOR's roleplay community

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Breaking into SWTOR's roleplay community originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecantina-roleplaycantina-rpcarrick-stationdealers-deneaelectronic-artsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhyperspace-beaconlucasartsnexus-roomopinionroleplayroleplay-basicsroleplayingrprpersRPingsci-fislippery-slopesstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorSWTOR-RPthe-old-republictorvaiken-stationTue, 29 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: One of us is going down]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/storyboard-one-of-us-is-going-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/storyboard-one-of-us-is-going-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/storyboard-one-of-us-is-going-down/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I want to redo this header, but at this point I can't help but think I'm messing with an institution.
You and your group of roleplaying companions need something new to do. You've grown tired of sitting around talking about problems in the outside world or engaging in a non-stop soap opera drama wherein someone is always sleeping with someone else inappropriately. By complete coincidence, you and your companions all appear to be heavily armed and armored, leading to an excellent suggestion -- you should go out and get involved in a conflict! A fracas of some kind! What a concept!

Sarcasm aside, long-running conflicts are a lot of fun when handled right. While I've talked about them in brief before, today I want to look at a handful of common conflict types and offer some tips about how to run them without tears. If you think drama can spill over into OOC channels when it's just a matter of pretend romances being spurned, you don't even want to know what happens when the knives come out.

Continue reading Storyboard: One of us is going down

MassivelyStoryboard: One of us is going down originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antagonistsconflictdramafeaturedfeudheroesnemesisopinionprotagonistsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystory-arcsstoryboardvillainsviolent-conflictFri, 25 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Roleplaying for churn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/storyboard-roleplaying-for-churn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/storyboard-roleplaying-for-churn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/storyboard-roleplaying-for-churn/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Sometimes it's an art week.
Odds are good that you're going to be moving on from your current game of choice at some point. I'd even ramp those odds up to nearly absolute under certain circumstances (if you're the sort who claims newer games aren't engaging whilst hopping from game to game on a regular basis, for example). This leads to a bit of a problem with a lot of roleplaying stories because there's a very real possibility that your character's arc is going to be truncated as a result.

It's not intentional, but it happens just the same. You spend time building up character relationships at launch, and then as the three-month mark rolls around, people start leaving, playtimes drop off, you get tired of some of the game's systems... and the next thing you know, the people who cared about the character you've been building for some time have all evaporated, leaving you to either make your character relevant again to a whole new group of players or just stop bothering.

One of the things I've been both considering and playing with of late is the idea that maybe this can be embraced instead of feared. Rather than planning something of indeterminate length, you can try working with the assumption that you've got a more limited window to work within and pace yourself according to that.

Continue reading Storyboard: Roleplaying for churn

MassivelyStoryboard: Roleplaying for churn originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>changing-gameschanging-titleschurnfeaturedideasopinionplayer-churnplayer-exodusplayer-turnoverroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardtime-limitsturnoverFri, 18 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Hint, hint]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/storyboard-hint-hint/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/storyboard-hint-hint/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/storyboard-hint-hint/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Sometimes I don't really have a theme. Sometimes I do. Guess which this week is!
During the last several months of Final Fantasy XIV, my main character did the unthinkable: She went to work for her old mentor alongside the Garlean Empire. Everything she was doing outside of personal ventures, up to and including rejoining the mercenary company she had previously helped found, was based around collecting information. She had quite the dossier by the time she was finished, too, having flushed out a number of secrets regarding both Eorzea's defensive plans and the Ala Mhigan resistance.

Not that anyone knew this because it simply never came up.

Part of how I screwed this one up came down to both my choice of roleplaying groups and my own work-based schedule in the game. But another part of this was the simple fact that I didn't make it clear quickly enough just what she was up to. I dropped some hints here and there, but they were lost in a rush of other events, and as a result that whole subplot never got explored, which is a shame, especially because I like to think I'm usually pretty good at dropping hints and getting others to catch on. So as I reflect on what I did wrong, let's talk about how to do it right.

Continue reading Storyboard: Hint, hint

MassivelyStoryboard: Hint, hint originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicefeaturedhintsopinionpacingplottingrevealsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpsecretsstorystoryboardFri, 11 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: My top five wishes for SWTOR roleplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/08/hyperspace-beacon-my-top-five-wishes-for-swtor-roleplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/08/hyperspace-beacon-my-top-five-wishes-for-swtor-roleplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/08/hyperspace-beacon-my-top-five-wishes-for-swtor-roleplay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon My top five wishes for SWTOR roleplay
A few weeks back, I was nostalgically asked, "Remember those days when talking about Star Wars: The Old Republic was all about speculation?" Those days might be long gone now, but the beginning of a new year always prompts a resurgence of dreams of the year to come. And although I still love playing SWTOR, I believe there are many areas that could use some touching up.

I attended a fantastic roleplay event this past Saturday on The Ebon Hawk server. It was just a social event, but there were added touches like prizes and an in-character scavenger hunt. As a member of the planning crew, I took a look back at what could make an event like this better. The execution of the event could be tightened up, but there are several potential additions to the game itself that would have improved the festivities. This prompted me to think about what improvements could make roleplay better in general.

So here it is: my top five wishes for roleplay in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: My top five wishes for SWTOR roleplay

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: My top five wishes for SWTOR roleplay originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorbiowarechat-bubbleseaelectronic-artsemoteseventsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgroup-PvPhyperspace-beaconlucasartsopinionPvProleplayroleplayingRPsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-ebon-hawkthe-old-republictop-5torTue, 08 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: To be the jerk]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/storyboard-to-be-the-jerk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/storyboard-to-be-the-jerk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/storyboard-to-be-the-jerk/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Find and replace every instance of the word jerk with the word pony. That's your bonus article for the week.
I've talked many times about the pitfalls of playing a jerk. What I haven't done is mention the benefits of playing one, starting with the fact that playing a jerk can be all kinds of fun. You've got your garden-variety jerks, you've got jerks who are stunningly competent and who treat everyone else as a lesser person because of that, you've got jerks who just don't care about other people, you've got jerks clinging to antiquated beliefs that don't line up with reality... so many jerks, so many ways to make mistakes.

But also so many ways to play one correctly. Heck, you can play a character who takes pretty awful actions from time to time without issue -- why not a character for whom "awful" is the default setting? There has to be a way to make a jerk who works, right?

The answer is yes, most definitely. Jerks are playable. But you have to be a bit more careful about it because as I've mentioned in previous weeks, if your first impression is "pointless jerk," no one will want to hang out with you. So let's talk about playing one in such a way that your character comes across correctly while still being worth a closer look.

Continue reading Storyboard: To be the jerk

MassivelyStoryboard: To be the jerk originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicecharacter-traitsdemeanorfeaturedjerkjerksnegative-traitsopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 04 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Nobody gets your character]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/28/storyboard-nobody-gets-your-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/28/storyboard-nobody-gets-your-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/28/storyboard-nobody-gets-your-character/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I get you, I just don't like you.
Odds are good that you went through a stage as a teenager convinced that no one really got you. Sure, your parents told you that they understood, but they never experienced a love like what you felt or pain like you felt or ennui like you felt, and so on and so forth. You were the first person to ever feel certain things so acutely, and it was a tragedy that others thought they understood.

It's also likely that you realized a few years later that none of the above was true, and if you were lucky, your parents were polite enough to point out that you thought you had the purest love of all time simply because you had no basis for comparison. (If you haven't gotten there yet, it's cool; we'll be here when you have.) Those around you understood better than you thought; it was more a matter of your not getting something.

There are many roleplayers who seem to believe that their chief problem is that no one understands their characters. All of the drama and poor roleplaying is a result of other people not getting something crucial. I invite readers to draw the obvious comparison.

Continue reading Storyboard: Nobody gets your character

MassivelyStoryboard: Nobody gets your character originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilitycharacterdemeanorfeaturedmisconceptionno-one-gets-meopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 28 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Gaining favor with Darth Jadus]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/choose-my-adventure-gaining-favor-with-darth-jadus/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/choose-my-adventure-gaining-favor-with-darth-jadus/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/choose-my-adventure-gaining-favor-with-darth-jadus/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Choose my Adventure
While the holidays have put a bit of a halt to most of my playing time in Star Wars: The Old Republic this week, I did manage to achieve level 16 on my Imperial Agent. He's now living it up on Dromund Kaas, getting ready to storm a castle. But some conflicting info from within the Empire's leadership has our pal Xel'es looking to possibly take orders from a new commander.

After this week's in-character story behind the cut, you can vote to choose my next move with Xel'es. Last week, you chose for him to become an Operative with Slicing, Underworld Trading, and Cybertech as his crew skills. I decided to make this week's poll something that wouldn't stop me from playing before the poll results came in, which killed a lot of potential playing time last week.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Gaining favor with Darth Jadus

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Gaining favor with Darth Jadus originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarechoose-my-adventurecmaeaelectronic-artsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onlucasartsopinionpollpollsreaders-choiceroleplayroleplayingrpsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorvotevotingWed, 26 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Mistakes at the creation level]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/storyboard-mistakes-at-the-creation-level/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/storyboard-mistakes-at-the-creation-level/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/storyboard-mistakes-at-the-creation-level/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Can't help but feel that I've done this before.
A lot of character mistakes come down to experimentation, essentially. You have what seems like a good idea, but it turns out in play that it's messy or annoying or unfun or whatever. There's nothing in the world wrong with that; you try something out and it either does or doesn't work. While good concept work does a lot to help you catch these things, sometimes good ideas won't work.

But then there are problems that come up time and again based on a fundamentally bad assumption. Something goes wrong right from the point that you click "New Character" because you're making an assumption that can immediately be recognized as a bad idea. So I'm going to go ahead and list a handful of these problems that are bad ways to start off so that hopefully we can all stop making these mistakes in the future and make some exciting new ones.

Continue reading Storyboard: Mistakes at the creation level

MassivelyStoryboard: Mistakes at the creation level originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicecharacter-creationfeaturedgoofsmistakesoopsopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 21 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The advantage of familiar characters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/storyboard-the-advantage-of-familiar-characters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/storyboard-the-advantage-of-familiar-characters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/storyboard-the-advantage-of-familiar-characters/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

All my ladies look right! Or left.
It's kind of fitting that my character most prone to wandering has wound up in several different games now. She's existed in one form or another for years now, and while she's hardly the only recurring character I've used, she's certainly the one most prone to hopping into another game. While the are always setting-appropriate changes to her backstory, core elements of her personality and history remain, so that by this point it's quite easy to figure out how she fits into a new game even if I have to hammer out the specifics.

This leads to an obvious question: Why?

It's not as if I can't come up with other characters, nor is it that she's always the best fit for the game. For that matter, she's not even suited to every possible setting. So why keep playing the same character? There are a few different reasons, all of which show off the advantage to playing the same character across several games instead of starting fresh every time you step into a new world.

Continue reading Storyboard: The advantage of familiar characters

MassivelyStoryboard: The advantage of familiar characters originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>familiar-charactersfeaturedimportsold-charactersold-favoritesopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 14 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The lies we tell ourselves]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/storyboard-the-lies-we-tell-ourselves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/storyboard-the-lies-we-tell-ourselves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/storyboard-the-lies-we-tell-ourselves/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I'm super, thanks for asking.
We all have our delusions. Some of them are very conscious decisions, like ignoring the fact that Superman Returns is a thing that actually exists. Others are more unconscious, like people who genuinely believe that the ancient Mayans put together a calendar predicting the end of the world in a few weeks. But they're always there, and all of us have a full set of them bred into us from years of social interactions and peer groups. We ignore, we obfuscate, and we reject facts that do not line up with our opinions.

Make your own joke there about gamers declaring a game is or was a failure.

Our characters often see the world with a lot more clarity. It's not that they're devoid of opinions; it's that they tend to base those opinions on the real story instead of what they saw or felt or thought. That's all well and good, but perhaps it's time for reasonable things like facts to take a hike in favor of some good old-fashioned delusions. After all, if we're all deluding ourselves in real life, shouldn't our characters get to occasionally stick their fingers in their ears and declare they can't hear anything?

Continue reading Storyboard: The lies we tell ourselves

MassivelyStoryboard: The lies we tell ourselves originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beliefcharactersdelusionsfeaturedliesopinionperceptionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardtruthsFri, 07 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: A second descent into madness]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/storyboard-a-second-descent-into-madness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/storyboard-a-second-descent-into-madness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/storyboard-a-second-descent-into-madness/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

ROT13
I had a lot of stuff to talk about on the subject of madness. As it happens, I had so much to talk about that I elected to split it up into two columns instead of writing one monster, scratching and crawling about in a lone column's space. And as I sat down to write this column, I realized that I have an entire column's worth of things to say about a single facet of madness: acting mad.

Herein we come to the meat of what bothers me about madness as most players use it: It winds up getting used as something wacky. It's an excuse to do things that are wild and unpredictable because your character is so crazy. That bothers me because there's so much to be done with madness and so many ways to make it an interesting character trait. It's not something for casual or shallow use.

Continue reading Storyboard: A second descent into madness

MassivelyStoryboard: A second descent into madness originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-developmentdreadfearfeaturedinsanitymadnessopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardsuggestionsunbalancedFri, 30 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Hey, I know you!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/storyboard-hey-i-know-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/storyboard-hey-i-know-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/storyboard-hey-i-know-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In unison, they all mentioned that the other ones looked familiar.
I am not a private person. I have a job that requires me to put my name on things, so that right there is a layer off the privacy shield. But beyond even that, I like to give shout-outs to people I think are cool and make my presence in a game known. It's no secret that I work here, it's no secret that I write columns here, and in most games that I play and write about regularly, my character names are kind of open secrets anyhow. Hence why I can walk around in Final Fantasy XIV and bump into people who tell me that they really liked an article I wrote, which is kind of a surreal yet awesome experience.

All of this means that my reputation precedes me... which is not necessarily a good thing. While I'm all about keeping up the OOC communication, there comes a point for some players when their characters stop being Sven Ergunsdottir (played by Paul) and start being Paul's Norn guy with the name. There are challenges to playing alongside someone you know better in real life either because you know one another or because the person in question is a jerk who writes a bunch of readily available articles. So how do you handle roleplaying with people who know you very well?

Continue reading Storyboard: Hey, I know you!

MassivelyStoryboard: Hey, I know you! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Nov 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturefeaturedfriendsfriendshipsopinionreal-liferelationshipsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardverisimilitudeFri, 23 Nov 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The first stage of madness]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/storyboard-the-first-stage-of-madness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/storyboard-the-first-stage-of-madness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/storyboard-the-first-stage-of-madness/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

You think no one else knows about what happened there. You're wrong.
Madness is a very powerful narrative tool. Unfortunately, it also gets used horribly, taken out back, and worked over with brass knuckles until it bleeds. Instead of diving into madness, players are most often more content to flirt with the surface elements, have a character who spits out funny non sequitors, or behaves with eccentricities.

Let's talk about madness. Let's talk about using that effectively. Let's talk about making a character who's something more than just a crazy happy random quote machine, someone who is at once fascinating and disturbing and quite possibly unpleasant to be around because that is what madness is.

There's a lot of potential for roleplaying there, a lot of stories to be told, a lot of consequences to be explored. So many consequences. What, then, is a madman? Where do we start when we discuss insanity in roleplaying? How can we impersonate it? What can playing that role accomplish?

Continue reading Storyboard: The first stage of madness

MassivelyStoryboard: The first stage of madness originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crazydramadramatic-devicesfeaturedmadnessmental-illnessopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 16 Nov 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Community sites and what they can do]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/storyboard-community-sites-and-what-they-can-do/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/storyboard-community-sites-and-what-they-can-do/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/storyboard-community-sites-and-what-they-can-do/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In honor of Wreck-It Ralph, let's all start the villain affirmation chant.
No MMO, to date, has a system to facilitate roleplayers interacting with one another outside of actual roleplaying. There are hubs you can haunt, there are things you can do, and there are addons in the games that support them, but at the end of the day, all you can do is throw your hat into the ring and hope against hope that no one is going to look at you strangely.

Odds are good that you don't really want that experience outside of a high school dance and quite possibly not even then. So you need a way to know that you're getting in good with the roleplayers. In short, you need a community.

I've been thinking of late about what community sites should be doing and what they actually can do. It's a point of contention because fostering a solid community relies strongly on having a central point of congregation, but trying to build a single community for an entire game's roleplayers is exceptionally difficult.

Continue reading Storyboard: Community sites and what they can do

MassivelyStoryboard: Community sites and what they can do originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitycommunity-sitesconflictcontentiondramadrama-explosionsfeaturedgathering-pointsopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingroleplaying-dramarpstorystoryboardFri, 09 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/why-i-play-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/why-i-play-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/why-i-play-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Why I Play The Secret World
I'll be the first to admit that I've been one of The Secret World's biggest fanboys ever since Funcom first announced its horror-flavored entry to the MMO space. I spent many a conversation extolling the game's many virtues to my gaming friends. "It's like real life if the universe were written by horror authors," I enthused, rambling on and on about the innovative investigation missions, the unique skill wheel progression system, the fresh modern-day setting, and so on and so forth. Then finally the fateful day came that TSW went live, and I loved it... for a while. But for some reason, it just didn't click, and so TSW sat unloved, guilt-inducingly staring at me from my desktop.

Last week, I finally gave into the guilt and hopped back into the game. I had kept my subscription running, as I knew that even if I wasn't actively playing, I still wanted to support Funcom's endeavors with what I felt was a remarkably refreshing entry into the stagnant MMO marketplace. Last I left my Illuminati agent Rouage, he had hit something of a brick wall in Blue Mountain thanks to a very short-sighted and subpar character build. I figured I'd probably be replaying Kingsmouth and/or Savage Coast just to get the AP to rectify my build anyway, so I scrapped him and started from the beginning. This time, it clicked. So here I am to tell you why it clicked, and of course, why I play The Secret World.

Continue reading Why I Play: The Secret World

MassivelyWhy I Play: The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>editorialfactionfantasyfeaturedfuncomhorrorinvestigation-missioninvestigation-missionsloremassively-metametanostalgiaop-edopinionrole-playrole-playingroleplayingrpsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedskill-wheelstorythe-secret-worldtswwhy-i-playThu, 08 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Plotting concepts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/storyboard-plotting-concepts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/storyboard-plotting-concepts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/storyboard-plotting-concepts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This was originally going to be the kissing header, but now it's the no-eyes header. Not really sure why.
There's an uncomfortable paradox in roleplaying as regards plotting in advance. If you plan out your character developments in advance, you're not really roleplaying so much as laying out a pre-determined plot that other people are forced to fit within. On the other hand, if you don't plan out anything, you don't have any conflicts driving your characters, meaning that you're trying to force yourself into other character plots in the hopes that you might develop some relevance.

Stated more simply -- plotting out your character in detail or not plotting your character out in enough detail are both equally detrimental to your roleplaying.

Ever since I've been writing this column, I've been trying to develop a good way to actually handle this issue, and a fairly recent post from Websnark actually kicked me down a new path. For ease of reference, I'm calling it plotting by concept. I can't say that it works perfectly forever and ever, but it's been producing good results for a while, so I'm just going to outline how it works in the hopes that other people can find it useful too.

Continue reading Storyboard: Plotting concepts

MassivelyStoryboard: Plotting concepts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-arccharacter-planningfeaturedhooksopinionplanningplot-hookspreplanningroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardstorytellingFri, 02 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Roleplaying conflict in SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/hyperspace-beacon-roleplaying-conflict-in-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/hyperspace-beacon-roleplaying-conflict-in-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/hyperspace-beacon-roleplaying-conflict-in-swtor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon Roleplaying conflict in SWTOR
Like many of you, I'm eagerly awaiting the launch of Update 1.5 for Star Wars: The Old Republic, which will hopefully happen next week. Although I have been on the test server and tried out the new content, I don't want to give my impressions until it's officially launched. So this week, I've decided to address an issue I've seen crop up more and more in the roleplay community that has nothing to do with the pending game update.

In any good story, there is conflict -- physical, interpersonal, or otherwise. In MMO roleplay, a good chunk of conflict turns physical. After all, most of our characters are highly skilled warriors and other combat specialists, and physical conflict is the natural course. That means that roleplayers then have to be highly skilled at PvP if their characters are to be highly skilled, too, right? Don't get me wrong, I love PvP, but this supposition always rubbed me the wrong way, especially in a game like TOR where there is a large disparity between PvE skills and PvP.

So what kinds of physical conflict resolutions are there if it's not straight-up PvP? And doesn't the dueling system in TOR limit itself to one-on-one dueling? How do you resolve that issue? Excellent questions. I'm glad you asked. Let's dive in.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Roleplaying conflict in SWTOR

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Roleplaying conflict in SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareconflictconflict-resolutioneaelectronic-artsemoteemote-duelfeaturedhyperspace-beaconlucasartsopinionPvProleplayRolePlayingRPsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 30 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: RP 101 - The mechanics of interaction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/26/storyboard-rp-101-the-mechanics-of-interaction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/26/storyboard-rp-101-the-mechanics-of-interaction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/26/storyboard-rp-101-the-mechanics-of-interaction/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I apologize in advance if the example bits look weird.
There are a lot of times in life when you're expected to figure out the mechanics of something by jumping in facefirst. Your first time roleplaying is among them. You know about all of the groundwork you need to do before you start roleplaying, and you know about what happens when you are roleplaying, but the first time you roleplay is going to be filled with a lot of awkward half-starts and confusion over what you're supposed to do at any given moment. So it's a lot like the first time you learned how to ride a bicycle.

Yes, I was building up to the bicycle analogy; what did you think I was going for?

Part of this is because most people have The Friend Who Roleplays, who introduces you by example; you don't need to find out how it's done because someone who already knows is showing you. But maybe you don't have a roleplaying buddy or anything beyond a desire to see what all the fuss is about. Rather than discussing anything more abstract, I'm going to talk about the bare mechanics of roleplaying -- stuff to do when you start, stuff to keep in mind, and the pure mechanical aspects of conveying a character through text and a few model animations.

This is both easier and harder than it sounds.

Continue reading Storyboard: RP 101 - The mechanics of interaction

MassivelyStoryboard: RP 101 - The mechanics of interaction originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chatchat-clientscommunitycommunity-rulesculturecustomsfeaturedhabitsopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrprp-101storystoryboardFri, 26 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: In praise of in-game stereotypes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/storyboard-in-praise-of-in-game-stereotypes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/storyboard-in-praise-of-in-game-stereotypes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/storyboard-in-praise-of-in-game-stereotypes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I have this dread that someone is going to misread this because of word choice.
Unicorns are very rare. Every one you meet will be the last of its kind.

Odds are decent that you've heard that joke before. It's especially funny from a roleplaying perspective because you can substitute all sorts of things for "unicorn" in that sentence. Vampires, for example. Or werewolves. Defectors from another faction. Magical offspring of major storyline characters. The rarest of all breeds is the character that seems to fit perfectly with the setting steretypes.

Roleplayers tend to view stereotypes as one of the seven deadly sins, up there with naming your character after a major lore character and ERPing in public. (It's not the usual list.) This is unfortunate in the extreme because there's a lot to recommend stereotypes beyond the usual. So before you sit down and make a character directly playing against a stereotype, please, stop and keep a few things in mind. Not only are stereotypes not bad, but they actively verge on being good.

Continue reading Storyboard: In praise of in-game stereotypes

MassivelyStoryboard: In praise of in-game stereotypes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-stereotypesfeaturedgame-culturesin-game-culturesloreopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstereotypesstorystoryboardFri, 19 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Playing the role and playing the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/storyboard-playing-the-role-and-playing-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/storyboard-playing-the-role-and-playing-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/storyboard-playing-the-role-and-playing-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So, of course, I write more than usual when I'm overloaded with stuff to write for an evening.
Roleplayers are usually keenly aware of the split between roleplaying in the game and actually playing the game. Roleplaying does not tend to play nicely with the actual game, see. The game expects you to perform a variety of tasks to accomplish things, and none of those tasks is accomplished when you're sitting in town and talking about metaplot elements with RPers. At the same time, you want to roleplay, and roleplaying is not really accomplished by just playing through the game's content and reaching the level cap. You have to strike a balance between the two, something that's often very difficult when you compare the nature of the game to the nature of the characters you play within the game.

Continue reading Storyboard: Playing the role and playing the game

MassivelyStoryboard: Playing the role and playing the game originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active-roleplayingcharacter-choicesfeaturedgameplay-balancegameplay-choicesopinionpassive-roleplayingroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardtime-managementFri, 12 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chaos Theory: Reticles and roleplay in The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/chaos-theory-reticles-and-roleplay-in-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/chaos-theory-reticles-and-roleplay-in-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/chaos-theory-reticles-and-roleplay-in-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Chaos Theory It's reticle, dudes, reticule is a purse
Funcom is a lot of things, but quitter isn't one of them. The company and its flagship The Secret World title have been through the proverbial poostorm in recent weeks, but the devs are doing their damnedest to come out swinging. What in tarnation am I talking about? Joel Bylos' state-of-the-game letter from yesterday, of course.

The newly minted Game Director dumped a wall o' text on us that hinted at a couple of exciting developments in store for everyone's favorite horror/conspiracy MMO. Let's chat them up after the cut.

Continue reading Chaos Theory: Reticles and roleplay in The Secret World

MassivelyChaos Theory: Reticles and roleplay in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-faction3-factionschaos-theoryconspiracyconspiracy-thriillerdark-days-are-comingdragonfactionfaction-pvpfantasyfeaturedfuncomhorrorilluminatiissue-4issue-fourjoel-bylosmythologyopinionreticle-combatreticle-not-reticuleroleplayroleplayingrpsci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-chaos-theorysecret-world-reticlesecret-world-reticle-combatskill-basedtemplarsthe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-chaos-theorythree-factionthree-faction-pvpthree-factionstswtsw-chaos-theorytsw-dragontsw-reticleThu, 11 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Hobbyists]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/storyboard-hobbyists/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/storyboard-hobbyists/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/storyboard-hobbyists/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

One of these days, I'm tempted to write an entire blurb in the header alt-text that unlocks the entire article, but otherwise the whole thing will be complete gibberish. And no one will know except for the people who already read this stuff.
When was the last time that one of your characters did something fun?

I don't mean something that amused you or a night of roleplaying that made you smile. I'm wondering about the last time that one of your characters got to cut loose and enjoy himself or herself. The equivalent of you having a night to just sit down and play your favorite game, except tailored for that character's particular interests.

My guess is that it wasn't all that recently, partly due to the fact that you've probably never been terribly clear on what your high-level paladin likes to do for fun in the first place. And it's something I've mentioned in passing before, but generally hobbies take a backseat to personalities and relationships in roleplaying. Not that there's no merit to all of that... but there's a lot of merit to figuring out what your character finds fun and working it into your roleplaying.

Continue reading Storyboard: Hobbyists

MassivelyStoryboard: Hobbyists originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-hobbiescharacter-traitsfeaturedhobbieshobbyopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardverisimilitudeFri, 05 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST