Using Chatrooms vs. Forums & Social Groups

[DeAnna]

Obviously we have a lot of ways that you can choose to interact with your fellow player characters here at MGP: Vampire. Obviously there are the forums, the social groups for clans and sect (and now you can create your own if you're a member of the PLUS subscribers), and lastly the chat.

But, how does a player know which is best to use? How do the Storytellers decide where they will do stuff and what can you expect when you need to do a scene with an st?


Things we and you should consider when posting:

a) Secrets - Players should always consider carefully how much is revealed in posts. Part of the reason we have usergroups for various groups and allow you to make one for you and your closest allies, is so you have a place to share your rp without revealing your secrets to anyone you don't want to know them. Now, of course, if a secret being known oocly isn't a worry for you... BY ALL MEANS ... share your scene with everyone. The more sensative and intense your scene is, the more likely others are to read, enjoy and recommend it to others.

b) Length and Purpose - sometimes it's unrealistic to expect players to have time to sit in chat for hours on end more often than on chat game nights so the chatrooms become impractical. The forums, on the other hand, allow you and your fellow players to post when it's easiest for you to do so and to carefully read and comprehend the events occuring so that you can craft the best story possible. And speaking of the best story possible, it's always great to enjoy good rp with your friends but, it's even better when you can share it with everyone. Nothing makes you feel better than having other players tell you how amazing your scene was even if they weren't a part of it.

c) Promoting the Site - we're always trying to recruit more players. The more people playing the game, the better it becomes. However, if someone surfs into the website and they don't see any posts on the forums... well, they are likely to think we don't have much rp going on here. It's for this reason that 9 of 10 RPs done with npcs will done in the forums. We want to share the story and show new players that stuff is going on... and you should consider doing the same for the same reasons whenever you get the chance.

Just a few thoughts over my morning Cherry Coke. What do you consider when deciding where to do a scene?

[Lauren Nichol]

Thanks for posting this Dee

[Miranda]

Yep, thanks Dee!

[♦Jeremy]

To answer the proposed question, when I decide I want to do a scene, I determine what kind of content will arise from the scene. If I feel it won't have anything extremely graphic either in a violent or other content nature, I opt for regular forums. If it will have a graphic nature to it, then the R-Rated section. I rarely do scenes in the chatroom unless the person I wish to interact with has the time and availability on the same date and time I do. For me, forums are the easiest cause you can take your time and don't have to rush things. Lately though, because of my challenges with writer's block, I've been considering using the chatroom due to my lack of descriptive writing.

[Kathy A]

While I am enjoying the forums as a new method of play for me, I still fear it's use for secret meetings. I will always prefer the "live" aspect of the chatrooms because I feel part of the challenge of this game is to be able to think on your feet and have to respond to situations within seconds. However I do like the ability to get scenes done with people who aren't able to be on chat between games.
So I guess I see the benefits of both, but I'll always be a chat girl at heart

[Madhatterr]

Ideally all aspects of the game will be vital and important.

Some scenes are conducive to forum play, some really need to be done on Chat. I have various ideas in my head when I contemplate a plot and I look at the angles as to where it can best be done before taking it live.

It is our goal to have lots of different plot threads out there for people to follow. Some will be handled mainly in forum rp (such as Hell To Be Had), others will be introduced and mainly handled on chat games, still others will be run at live games only.

Now I'm a realist. I fully expect and plan that you our wonderful players will take and run with those plots everywhere, no matter where they came from, sometimes mixing two to five of them into suddenly being one plot and trying to resolve them (which you have done!).

That is also part of what I hope will be the magic and uniqueness of this particular game and the way it is run.