Rule Change Ideas, your thoughts.

[Leonard Fox]

I've always tried to portray NCW as a big family and in that thought I've recently had an idea and I'm bringing it to all of you to see what you think of it.

I have been thinking latley that with the way NCW is set up we've never missed a week in five years, meaning that for so many weeks we've had people putting out two or more rps depending on their amount of characters just for weekly shows and it came to me that, that is really a whole lot of RPing, espcialy when you take into acount PPV weeks. A lot of people have came to me and asked for a "light week tag team match" and it's striking me that maybe this is too much RPing?

My thought is what if I changed the RPing limits? What would you all think about a 1 rp a week limit for weekly shows and a 2 rp limit for PPV's and title matches? I'm thinking maybe this will help keep people fresher and more active and maybe even encourage a few people to whip out some secondary characters for some variety on occasion.

Now before you reply here... I do realize the major drawback on this idea. It will most likely open the door for a lot of "sandbagging" where your opponent just waits for you to RP and bounce off everything you said. Now.... there is really no way to stop that or really police it at all, with the exception of just trying to encourage people not to do it every week, so it's really up to you guys. If the majority of people don't like the idea and want it to stay the same then that's fine with me.

If you like it, we'll give it a try for a month and see how that works for everybody before re-evaluating it.

This is going to be an open discussion, so I encourage everybody to reply and give your thoughts and possible ideas, and this includes even staff guys. I'm including the entire roster on this subject because it effects the entire fed and I want to know what you think.

[Nikki Michaels]

I like the idea but i've also been sandbagged more than a flooded street. I used to out up rps the night the cards went up and then I'd wait for someone to rp and I'd have to wait up to five days for the first rp. So maybe a one rp limit is better but one person sandbags me and I'll rage quit

[Dante Cross]

Maybe if we go this route, we have a small rp bonus attached to the person who roleplays first for the match.

[Wes Fox]

I have to be honest, I have no problems with the way things are right now. In fact, I sort of prefer it. I really don't think that it needs to change but if that's the general consensus then I'm all for it. Who knows, sometimes change can be good.

[El Dragon]

I can't deny that I like this idea considering I run out of time and rush an RP more often than not. But sometimes I do well under pressure. I wouldn't mind trying it, and I wouldn't mind staying the way things are.

[Deleted]

As long as RPs are judged for the position in the order of the combatants I don't see an issue with sandbagging, for example a "first" RP would obviously need to be judged differently to one which has the benefit of responding, can be done easily enough I suspect, first would just need to be judged on how well they constructed their points and the second how well the person responded to the accusations (if they just respond word for word without throwing their own assertions back it would neccessarily be better simply due being able to respond), then it shouldn't matter who posts first or last.

1 RP limit could increase quality, I know I find myself stretching things over RPs just to fill up the quota, being forced to fit it all in one would certainly help get what needs to be said across instead of just dragging a point over 2-3 RPs.

If 1 RP a week would encourage guys to run a few characters then all the merrier, I know I was always put off by the idea of having to potentially do 4 RPs a week then 6 in PPV weeks, partly due to the fact I wouldn't want either character to suffer purely because I was trying to fill the quota.

Additionally, less RPs would open up more time for people to contribute to match writing AND story archs with their feuds perhaps which is never bad, maybe even to do some articles etc to expand on their characters. Either way, more free time can be a good thing for developing their character outside of the RPs for matches.

[Nathan Webb]

I don't mind most weeks writing two rps a week on normal weeks. The thing that can be reduced is 3rps on ppv weeks reduced to 2.

[Joe Everyman]

I fully support this idea

[Cliff Clinton]

perhaps its a good idea.

one rp a piece for regular run of the mill matches. Like tv matches, and matches with no real buildup. Because they don't exactly mean as much in the grand scheme of everything else.

Two rps, for all ppv matches, and grudge matches and most title matches. Or any matches that have a lot of significance, like number one contender matches and matches where the winner recieves something for winning.

Three rps all the time for any and all world title matches.

This way were not doing a crap load of rps for matches that dont mean much and we still get to do more when it matters and keep that competitive edge.

[Leonard Fox]

I forgot to mention along with this... how would you all feel about a word limit on the weekly show RPs as well? My thinking being that some people would probably try and abuse the one RP rule and save everything they got for that one RP after their opponent posted. I was thinking 2500 would be the max if so... again, what do you think? It wouldn't be a strict limit mind you, like a 2600 word RP wouldn't mean insta lose or anything like that, just more of a guideline so to speak and would only apply to the weekly shows.

I know we always stress quality over quantity, but this would also help insure that everybody was on the same page so to speak. I think it would help with judging and such, but it's really all up to you guys.

Thanks everybody who has participated thus far.

[Cliff Clinton]

2500 to 3000 sounds like a good end zone to me.

a lighter load on some weeks would help bring out the a game on the weeks its really nessicary.

[Curtis D. Kanyon]

If we only do one RP, I don't think their should be a word limit. I could see a word limit if we stick to two RPs for weekly shows. But only doing one RP, limiting the amount in the one RP would suck. Now mind you, I don't often exceed 2500 words, but when I do, it's because I've got extra passion about what's going on. Sometimes writing too much can bite you in the ass too, but that's part of the game. I think if we're limited to one RP, it'll make people think more about what they're writing and not use so much filler. If someone writes a ton of stuff as a reaction RP, it should still be judgeable on if it's too much.

[Jimmy Novak]

I like one RP plus word limit.

And all judges could be instructed to look negatively upon sandbagging.

I really cant stand when half of someones RP is just restating what I said and reacting to it. I think its cheap and should be graded that way.

Me: Youre a loser and always have been!

Other Guy: You think Im a loser? Well I am not! I beat this guy!

Me: You are so full of yourself.

other guy: I am not full of myself. I give to charity!


Fail all around.

[Jimmy Zane]

OK, so I read this last night on my phone and slept on it before I responded. I have talked to several people about the sandbagging that goes on around here. It's cheap and annoying. Not just in my opinion, in a lot of people's. Well, of course, except for the jackasses who constantly post both of their RPs on freaking Saturday week in and week out. The worst part, is these people continually win. Well, of course their RPs are better, they had their opponents RPs to go on! *end sandbagging rant*

So here are my thoughts on the suggested rule changes.

1) 1 RP A Week - Leaning Towards No. I don't mind writing 2 RPs a week because I tend to do an ongoing storyline type of RP with the promo stuck in there. When I am limited to 1 RP, I have to find a way to break it down, or leave stuff out, because I don't want to have a 5000 word RP. Throttling back to 1 RP wouldn't bother me, but going to 1 RP a week HIGHLY benefits the jokers who sandbag already and they will just wait until Saturday night every week to post an RP and that leaves the people who RP early left with nothing to say or a way to say it.

2) Word Limit - GOD YES! There is nothing worse than having an opponent who writes two 5000 word RPs in a week. I have to pack a lunch, a couple of bottles of water, and a snack to get through both of them. Most of the time, it's repetitive anyway.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS

1) I have already submitted the idea about giving people "air time" instead of a match to write an on air promo, etc, to cut down on having every match as a triple threat, fatal fourway, tag team, or clusterfudge match. No need to delve into that more.

2) What if we use Trauma for the 1 RP thing instead of the whole thing, as a test pilot. Whoever is booked on Trauma had to go by those rules, 1 RP, word limit, etc. That way we get a small sample of how it's working as opposed to just changing the entire fed for a month. Kind of like "demographic testing" if you will.

3) I think Steve's Suggestion of any and all World Championship Matches having more RPs required for it, however, the only drawback to that is if it is just a random world title match. No buildup or anything to it. 3 RPs would be hard to come up with for the Challenger. Then again, I guess that's part of the "challenge".

4) I think management should come up with some sort of grading scale to grade each RP individually from one another. That way the person who RPs last doesn't have the automatic upperhand by having their opponents roleplay to go on.

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

[Spike Kane]

i whole heartedly support cutting the roleplaying down because it is a hell of a lot to read as a staff member especially on pay per view weeks. Unlike most staff I'm in a unique situation because I don't have to write my own roleplays around the reading, I do however have to write my show.

The world limit I'm 50/50 on. I rarely ever go over 2,500 words and if I it's usually a pay per view or something important. I think it SHOULD be brought in for the non-title/grudge/feud ending matches.

i like the idea a lot, and i think it would benefit nCw in the end because we all would have more free time. Recently the rping has slipped a bit, and I think something like this could help, it also gives everyone a little bit more of a laid back feel, which is kind of needed at some times.

[Dexter Davis]

I've told Adam that if the RP limit does lower to this I'll be back. That'll probably kill the idea dead but I love the idea of generally one RP a week. And it's still possible to tell a story. I did a six month story arc elsewhere using one RP a week most thought it was good.

Word limit is meh. I don't think anyone really goes over 2,500 as it is.

[The Ace]

My thoughts on:

Word Limit: Hell no, especially if the RP limit is reduced. This would severely demotivate me and I'd feel creatively limited. My policy for RPing is I go as long as I need to to say what I want to say and the only person who should punish me for 'going long needlessly' are the judges.

RP Limit: I propose a CHARACTER BASED 2 rp limit as opposed to a universal RP limit, that is to say firstly if you have more than one character, it is unreasonable to expect every character to be booked every week. What I suggest instead is if you have more than one character booked on the same week, you have only one RP per character, essentially treating all your characters as if they were in a tag match even if they are not. If you only have one character booked a week, the standard 2 rp limit a week applies - this rule holds across BOTH normal and PPV weeks unless:

Your opponent only has 1 character booked and you have more than one, then your opponent only has a 1 rp limit as well to keep things fair.

It is a special match with a staff determined limit - i.e. Riot.

It is a singles title match - then its 3 rps a week for the character involved in the title match, your other character if booked at all on your title match week has the standard 2 rp limit, unless they too have a title match, but I imagine that this would be rare for singles title matches, this makes the title challenge actually mean something. For tag matches the current 1 rp per character rule stands as it is, irrespective of whether it is for the tag titles or not.

Collision/PPV Webshow bookings - 1 rp max. As the writing for these bookings is short, I think its fair that nobody overexerts themselves for a match that can literally be over in one line.

Sandbagging: From a personal standpoint, I can only rp on fridays and saturdays mostly, especially with me being preoccupied with the final year of my PhD - hopefully you guys can understand that.

[Amy Marshall]

I am not too bothered with the rp limits, although i just put out one rp for Trauma/Collision anyway. However, if you are going to set the word limit, set it at 1500, not everyone can write rp's that are 2500+.

[Angel]

I'd totally be down to come back under a one rp limit. I mean just looking at it from a former admins point of view it cuts reading in half! Then from a writers point a view it saves you from having to save something for the second rp and trust me, if your like me, you gave everything you had in rp one leaving me more often than my scratching my head later in the week when I had to rp again.

I like Steves idea of title matchs havin more rps attached but I think they should stand alone in that arena. Every match but a title match should one rp. Title matchs could be two for low tier and three for world.

As for word limits? I never kept count so I'm in different. My opinion was if you can keep it interesting all the way through then write as much as you like. Like Pav said the admins will be the judge of if it's too long.

That's my two cents.

[Xavier Williams]

I like the RP limit, and kinda like Craig, if the limit was one a week, I would probably come back.
Honestly if you have a personal story that just has to go on, either fit it into a segment on the show or put it in the Dev section.

Word Limit, I dont really see the point, no really pads their RPs with fluff, one idea that i always that it was cool and making certain belts under a word limits, turns RPs into Promos (we are wrestlers in the end), I think that would be a cool change of pace for some people.

[Crystal Williams]

I personally am one that's the idea, and if it changed to one rp a week I probably would leave. I just like having the two rps because most of the time it takes two rps to flesh out an idea or etc, plus with two rps it gives that feel of a good bounce back and forth between opponents. if people choose not to rp which i have been a victim of, then that's on them, thats personally my two cents.

i say leave as is the system is fine as it currently stands.

[JackHammer]

Am down for the rp limit but am not big on the word limit thing, to me would feel kinda constrcited.

[Spike Kane]

I think the world limit for a specific title would work wonders, as a person who was directly involved in the one Xavier is talking about i know it was fun, and it worked pretty damn well.

[Gib]

Let's do this.

1) 1 RP for Collision (judges will take into account sandbaggers)
2) 2 RP's for number one contender or PPV matches
3) 3 RP's for title matches.

Those that are in the high profile matches would get more facetime anyway. People can do more in ring segments if they want something else or storyline arcs can be posted in the devo board. Staff can pay attention to those posting a little extra and perhaps push those people towards more opportunities.

What do you think?

[Spike Kane]

I'm down.

[The Ace]

the only 'problem' I have with that is whether ppl would legit think I was sandbagging, because as I said I can only rp on fridays/saturdays most weeks, and whether that would count against me, not that I would expect admins to make exceptions for me...but still felt it should be said...I will also add that if the system doesn't change, that's cool too...

[Gib]

I don't think sandbagging works in my voting because I think sniping turns out to be boring. I also don't get RP's up often in the beginning of the week because I juggle work, tutoring, coaching, parenting and husbanding.

[Spike Kane]

There is a difference between posting a roleplay late and sandbagging. There are a few people who can only post at the weekend or near the end, and we deal with it.

Waiting until the last second so you're opponent cannot reply is sandbagging, also only posting replies week after week is what I would call sandbagging. Everyone here has the ability to write a roleplay without having to reply to somebody else's as you are all extremely talented.

[Jimmy Zane]

Yes....they have the ability to not be a sandbagging douchebag...but do they have the decency not to be one. That is the question!

[Spike Kane]

Also changing the rp limit will more than likely result in me roleplaying again.