Posting Rotations

[Mizuno Ami]

This is largely my fault, but since it has become a problem, we need to figure out the best solution. Once we get agreement on it, we'll move this to the rules section.

We were trying to strike a balance between strict posting order and making sure that everyone stays involved. We failed, and for that I apologize and take whole ownership. We were not intending to leave anyone out at all. (I do ask, that if you need to fuss at me about this that you do so in IM, please.)

Having said that, we need a solution.

The problem is two-fold - different levels of time availability (Personally I'm BORED at work and work at a computer so... I have lots of availability, others don't) and the fact that right now we're sticking strictly to a sense of what's going on NOW, meaning that we've only got three active threads at the moment.

One suggestion I'd like to throw out there is what I call time-warping. Time warping means that a character might be in more than one thread at a time IRL but that those are actually happening at two different times in RP. This can occasionally cause continuity problems. We can figure out how to deal with those as they come up.

Again I apologize sincerely. If you have any other suggestions, let's discuss them here and then we'll come to some consensus and we'll move that to the rules and guidelines.

I'm sorry.

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

I'm fine with time-warping. Just maybe put a "time stamp" on it, as to when it occurs in the continuity?

Or maybe even set up a Random RP section, for people who are in your situation (bored at work and sitting in front of a computer) can play together. That way, everybody can stay entertained, but not screw up the continuity of the storyline and no one gets left behind.

Also, if anything truly interesting happens in the Random RP that would work in the main story, we can always work it in as well.

How's that?

[Tomoe Hotaru]

A minor reduction in potential spontaneity and an increase of goal-based RPing would make time-stamping and multiple threads per character more viable with fewer continuity error risks.

Might I suggest that if one does do a thread outside of the present, it be in the past and a closed, planned occurrence? Future-threads get horribly confusing.

That would be more likely to not cause any issues, and the issues it would cause would be confined to a small group of individuals.

On the other hand, if people are liberal with internal continuity, then this suggestion is moot.

I also agree that the "random" concept is an equally viable way to go about things.

[Jadeite]

Another thing that some people may find interesting, because I always did, are character journals.

Where a character makes at least one post everyday about how they are thinking and or feeling.

Mostly for OOC enjoyment and IC probing.

I just wouldnt know where we should do that at. I know I dont mind it, it would give me one other thing to do.

[Mizuno Ami]

I've actually talked about that idea with Rei. I would suggest LJ, but if there is another platform everyone would prefer, we can go with that too. We'd need to decide if we should treat it like real LJ (ie, that the other characters themselves actually read each others' posts, can respond to it, and are aware of it) or if they function like private diaries.

I also like the idea of a random RP thread.

I don't know about tightly controlling time though. I think it would be easier for us to iron out continuity problems as a group.

[Meiou Setsuna]

I think we should just deal with continuity problems as they arise, rather than try to come up with some crazy system of time management. Maybe a little rule stating that you can only be in x amount of threads at a time??

I really love the journal idea. I think LJ would be the easiest place?

[Hino Rei]

I'd really prefer the time-warping + time-stamps method. I'm somewhat with Hotaru on the "lets keep it in the past" thing, with the slight exception that any time within the current "rp day" is doable. The only thing is that... we're going to have to set up an actual, standardised time method. I've had this work very well in the past, so my suggestion for it is this:

Three IRL days = a span of 8 hours. True, one day "in game" would take nine days IRL, but it gives people plenty of time to play that day. Of course, you'd always be allowed to back-post as well. We could keep a calendar and change the news bulletin to reflect the current day and time.

Also, I reeaaallyyy love the LJ idea. And, call me stupid, but i think them actually being "on" LJ would be fantastic and open up another dimension to the RP. We could even log "IM" conversations between the characters, there, or show off e-mails that they're sending one another-- with the subject being who its aimed at, whether or not the journal is locked, etc.

[Kaioh Michiru]

I think the LJ idea would be absolutely fantastic! There's so much more chance for character interaction and actual meetings as one character can stumble upon another's journal and strike up a conversation with no trouble.

I also agree with Hotaru in that outside threads should be kept to the past, or off in a different time of "day".

[Aino Minako]

Time-warping I totally agree on. No issues there. I've never seen there be huge issues with continuity as long as people are careful about what they rp.

LJ, I don't. While I think having a character journal is always fun and exciting, I don't want to have to go somewhere other than this message board to interface with this game. Message board RPGs should stay in the message board. LJ rpgs should be on LJ.

[Tomoe Hotaru]

I concur with Rei. Within the same 'day' is still very easily manageable. What I feared would have been individuals going many days in advance, leading to a huge continuity snafu.

Additionally, much like Minako, I am unsure if I would enjoy an LJ. Instead of LJ, why not a subforum located here? Each individual could have a dedicated thread for introspection and LJ-style interaction, perhaps?

Honestly, I do not understand how that may work but I would be willing to give it a shot.

[Aino Minako]

Dec 18, 2008 21:40:34 GMT -5 Tomoe Hotaru said:

I concur with Rei. Within the same 'day' is still very easily manageable. What I feared would have been individuals going many days in advance, leading to a huge continuity snafu.

Additionally, much like Minako, I am unsure if I would enjoy an LJ. Instead of LJ, why not a subforum located here? Each individual could have a dedicated thread for introspection and LJ-style interaction, perhaps?

Honestly, I do not understand how that may work but I would be willing to give it a shot.

I would think new posts would be what the character was doing as old posts are finishing. Like Minako, Usagi, Haruka, and Michiru are still going to be working through their post, but there isn't any reason, in my eyes, that the players can't start those characters doing something else after that thread is over.

Otherwise the game really is going to move too slow.


I think a journal forum would work. Or even a forum that has subforums for each character (yeah a lot, but they'd be like a subboard in another layer)..

I have to run, but we can flesh this out later. <3

[Neo Queen Serenity]

I'm all for timewarping. Actually it's what I'm most used to; and I have never run into trouble keeping the two threads separate. I think as long as communications are kept open, we should be good on this front. Timewarping FTW!

I do like the journal idea, though I also think it should be on a subforum rather than LJ.

[Chiba Mamoru]

ok, time-warping and time-stamping ... I have never had a problem with this, but I do agree that it should be kept within the day. I also like the actual, standardised time method. I've done this in several rps and it works great as well as making certain things don't go on and on and on in the same day. Otherwise you never know should this event happen in this day, or has enough time gone on that its actually the next day (also it makes certain that everyone is in the same basic time frame).

I also do like the journal idea, but I'd rather not have to go somewhere else to do this. Somehow having it here would be best for me, like somehow having the subforum thing. I'm not really certain how it would work, but I do like the idea so if we can make it work it would be fun. ^^;;

I really don't have any ideas of my own to add, maybe later when I'm not so exhausted and stressed out ... but for the most part I think we have some really good ideas so far.

We probably should also make certain not to multiple post in a thread that many people are in without first making certain everyone has a chance to post at least fairly often, even if we do have to make a posting order type of thing which probably wouldn't have to be followed strictly but somewhat of a guidelines to make certain people don't get left behind. I have no idea if I'm making sense or not, but I hope that I am.