RP Ice Breakers

Lotherio · Apr 6, 2017, 10:10 AM

there's a lot of general feeling-out for RP partners but then no specifics are offered to help direct the invention of a situation to build a scene around. (e.g., "What do you want to do?" "Whatever.")

Saw this in another thread, it's been discussed before. It's worth it again.

When approaching another to start a scene, offer ideas to RP. Don't lead to the point of asking what they want or like. If they're uncertain, it will lead to this very response, whatever.

Taking for granted the context of the above was superheroes related, and that means various levels of interest (street, cosmic, whatever).

Offer ideas, they can yay or nay. Something might stick or, if too many nays, you can move onto the next person to try and figure out some RP with.

ThugHeaven · Apr 6, 2017, 8:41 PM

At the risk of sounding like an old fogey gen-xer: there once was a time when you'd page someone(or they'd page you)and say "Hey! Wanna do a scene?"

They or you would agree or not, the person already there would set the scene and you'd go from there or find someone else to do a scene with.

Things were so much easier then.

Alamias · Apr 6, 2017, 8:57 PM

@ThugHeaven said in RP Ice Breakers:

At the risk of sounding like an old fogey gen-xer: there once was a time when you'd page someone(or they'd page you)and say "Hey! Wanna do a scene?"

They or you would agree or not, the person already there would set the scene and you'd go from there or find someone else to do a scene with.

Things were so much easier then.

To go even older and fogery, I remember when people would congregate to public spaces and RP without having to page and or search for RP. You just walk into a place, and there was RP. I find that few and far between now, even among 'faction' hangouts like Turs and Elysium...etc (WoD for terms/flavor, but not limited to that specific genre).

surreality · Apr 6, 2017, 8:59 PM

@ThugHeaven @Alamias It really does feel we're moving toward 'walking up hill both ways' instead of away from it in recent years, and that's a very sad truth.

Tinuviel · Apr 6, 2017, 9:03 PM

@surreality Sometimes that was true. We had to +ic and move into the room. There was no +meets or @tels for players back in our day. We had to walk on the grid. Both ways! In the snow!

surreality · Apr 6, 2017, 9:07 PM

@Tinuviel Walking the grid and stumbling into a scene is just... so much less work than all the pre-negotiations and +event planning and arguing over where to go. "Just show up, don't be a dick, do stuff" was good enough once upon a time.

Arkandel · Apr 6, 2017, 9:14 PM

Ice breaker: Join a scene and don't make yourself un-roleplayable.

It's that easy. Don't be lost in your thoughts, sitting at a bar staring at your phone. Don't be behind a newspaper. If someone tosses you a RP bone take it.

That's... all it takes. Don't be in your way.

ThugHeaven · Apr 6, 2017, 10:02 PM

@surreality It's really weird to me and I'm struggling to wrap my head around. I find myself needing to take a step back from RP much more frequently now than I used to.

ThatGuyThere · Apr 6, 2017, 10:02 PM

This is one reason I am pro character wiki, a quick glance can often give at least the start of what kind of situation would both people likely to be in.

Of course I also have very little patience for the what should we do dance, both in RL and on-line variations so I will typically throw out a couple of ideas, if both of those get shot down then I leave it up to the other person to throw something out if that doesn't happen I just don't RP with them and find another person.

Thenomain · Apr 7, 2017, 3:18 AM

@Arkandel said in RP Ice Breakers:

Ice breaker: Join a scene and don't make yourself un-roleplayable.

It's that easy.

Once on Haunted Memories, three of us were having a little scene in a little park. One woman came by and we posed for her, tried to include her, but she ignored us entirely. Soon, a man came along and was 'surprised' to meet her there. Then they left to have sex.

It's not just about being approachable, it's also very much about finding people who want to be approached and then figuring out whether or not it's a fit.

I do want to state with as much emphasis as I can without being seen as insane: If you RP with someone and find that you two don't fit, it's not time wasted. You RP'd. Success! Two players now know each other a little better. More success! Now you or they might see you in a scene and know that they can at least play with you without wanting to tear your ears off, and visa-versa. Success?

Yeah, why not: Success.

Hella · Apr 7, 2017, 3:18 AM

@Thenomain said in RP Ice Breakers:

@Arkandel said in RP Ice Breakers:

Ice breaker: Join a scene and don't make yourself un-roleplayable.

It's that easy.

Once on Haunted Memories, three of us were having a little scene in a little park. One woman came by and we posed for her, tried to include her, but she ignored us entirely. Soon, a man came along and was 'surprised' to meet her there. Then they left to have sex.

It's not just about being approachable, it's also very much about finding people who want to be approached and then figuring out whether or not it's a fit.

I do want to state with as much emphasis as I can without being seen as insane: If you RP with someone and find that you two don't fit, it's not time wasted. You RP'd. Success! Two players now know each other a little better. More success! Now you or they might see you in a scene and know that they can at least play with you without wanting to tear your ears off, and visa-versa. Success?

Yeah, why not: Success.

I don't believe you actually RP!

Thenomain · Apr 7, 2017, 4:49 AM

@VulgarKitten said in RP Ice Breakers:

I don't believe you actually RP!

Maybe I only RP with the right people.

Hella · Apr 7, 2017, 6:09 AM

@Thenomain said in RP Ice Breakers:

@VulgarKitten said in RP Ice Breakers:

I don't believe you actually RP!

Maybe I only RP with the right people.

Goyim · Apr 7, 2017, 7:42 AM

Guy: "Hey, I lost my number can i have yours."

Girl: (blushing) "Okay."

Guy: "Lost my phone too."

Girl: "Wha-"

Guy: "And my wallet, this is a robbery."

Lotherio · Apr 8, 2017, 12:54 AM

I will say, I prefer public grid to be open. If a scene needs to be private or limited, take it to TP or RP or private rooms. Sure, a flag on +who or whatever would be nice, indicating a hangout or location is 'closed' scene, but really there are places to take locked/closed/private RP.

I do like the idea, if you ask for RP (hey wanna rp, or on chan, or whatever), you set the scene. I'm just not so sure about asking if someone wants to RP, and following up with, 'what do you want to do?' If you initiate in any way, have some ideas at the ready. Wiki's are a good tool to get an idea of a character you're asking for RP. Or be forward ... I'm looking for RP, don't know what do to, and am open to suggestions. Just avoid the 'what do you want to do?' ... and you won't get the 'I don't know, what do you want to do?" reply.

Edit: I do miss those days, wandering a grid to find someone then posing whatever came to mind, or seeing what was going on and jumping in.