Rp Improvement Essay Series

[adm]

More Basic Information on Characters and Story Arcs available here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_(arts)

www.skotos.net/articles/PlotStrategies.html


Lesson 1 - Story Arcs/Character Development


I don’t really know how many people know my background in this but, I’ll give a quick synopsis. I have been writing short stories since I could write. They weren’t always good, but it’s always been something I’ve done. I used to read a ****load of books, old and new, and write random stuff based on it and other things. I also love watching movies, and went to school for animation for four years, though I recently dropped out, you can’t undo the education about characters and plot and other film and story things I learned. And there’s also my background in public speaking and English, etc. It sorta seems almost natural for me to take things like personal character arcs and the structures of a very long story into consideration.


Also, a quick note before we start. I keep all my rps for Bates, also I keep them lined up title by title as if chapters in a novel. I use Microsoft Word to do this, and let’s just say, the arc from White Picket Fence 1 to the recent rps is one of the best I’ve done with a character, without going into obscure and other-worldly things. So…I’d love to see if people could look at their old rps and find arcs that are not only temporary, but long-term. Just to get practice looking for the things with CD and storytelling that enhances the over-all rps and fed.


I’m not doing this to name names, or try and patronize people, but as one of the fedders who regularly reads most to all the rps posted every week, I see a lot of people who are good, but have been treading the same water lately and stagnating, actually…it’s a LOT of people and I know that is frustrating as it’s why I left as DP and Fate before, and with such a good vet roster with only a few new guys, we need to keep the vets in as good shape as possible.


Plot, the Basics. Well there’s the simplicity to it, the Arc. You start somewhere, and go to another. And over the process the character(s) change. This can be the main character, or the sub-characters or all of them at once. Take Ace for example, he’s got multiple characters to work with. Ace, his wife, and even, in some aspects, Solitaire. Say he has something happen where Kathy gets injured by someone at home, what does Ace do? Hunt the guy down. But all the while it tears him apart as he thinks about how unsafe his home has become. His daughter is scared, her mommy is hurt. What happens? Does he catch the guy? Who is it? These are the sorts of simple things that can blossom into huge month-long or longer character development story arcs that can be integrated into the fed-wide things like the Revolution and the individual storylines like Sexy Jason and Damien Sparks or what would have been great if 2b0 and Echoes of Freedom went on a long standing team feud.


And think about it, what is a fed character, we WRITE them, so it is a piece of literature and fiction. You use grammar, spelling, sentence structure and each rp has a beginning, middle and end. And each character, though we like to admit it, has a beginning, middle and an end. Prophet is over, he’s retired(for the time being hopefully for good after the work I did to retire him how I did). He had a beginning in 2002, an introduction where he was so much like Taker it was shameful. I was young and stupid, not applying anything I had been doing in class for English to my rps or even using Microsoft word to type it up when it could keep my spelling and grammar errors to a minimal and I can pick and choose the font, etc etc. And though I’m only on a short break from Fate in a separate fed, I left a cliffhanger where it’s easy to come back and finish out what I have left planned for him. Right now, I’ve got basic plot points where I could either continue Fate for years or end him THIS YEAR and he’ll be a ****ing corpse that’ll never come back, either way, the character points are there.


I see so many people just spending their whole rps evaluating their opponents or having fun, that’s good. But if you want to leave an imprint and, in the end, improve the rps by making them a lot more enjoyable you NEED to have at least a little character development. Even if it is cleverly disguised as thoughts and doubts within the character’s head. It works. But I’m not saying everyone should do as I do or do what Angel does or Ace or whoever. It’s more about taking the things you know, and reading what everyone who is successful does, and incorporating. It’s something I used when I was struggling back in 05/06 and since then I’ve held about five world titles between Fate and DP and multiple lower tier titles and EVEN MADE HALL OF FAME so…it DOES work to go from ****ty rper to one of the top guns. Look at guys like Hammond who, just over a year ago when I came in was one of the first guys to get beat, now he’s World Champ. It IS possible, there are success stories to be told, everyone’s been in bad times, good times, and done ****ty rps and great rps. Ace even showed me a few days ago some rps he did in XHF that, though unappreciated for their CD then, god…if he used that now I don’t know what would be keeping him from the title but time and less than it will be for him now. And look at guys like Joe or Evil who, with a little bit of work like was done with Sexy Jason would be back up top and one of the big guys, in NO TIME AT ALL almost.


Now I know I’m putting a lot of names on here, and not saying a few. But these are good examples of what I’m talking about. The people with potential the people who can be the best but are in either a slump or are having issues getting rps up on time, or something. I believe in guys like them, and Ortega who has taken a leave of absence that is very sudden and in the middle of something I could see bringing him back up to the top of his game. But I do like this fed, I like reading the rps and I like a lot of the people (some of you I never talk to out of the fed so…I don’t have much to say bout you guys, sorry Honcho). But I’m thinking about what has happened with me over the year or so I’ve been here. School, gfs, dropping out, becoming an uncle…I’ve made a lot of friends that I hope I can keep for a long, long time. We’ve all had good times, bad times, and been there for each other and I’ve used my rps to both vent and rebuild some of my personal confidence when I thought after dropping out I had NOTHING I could do but dead-end jobs. Even as I write this, I realize maybe I could be an English teacher…who knows, I’m still young.


Anyway, back to the subject…Storylines and arcs. We have a LOT of great ones going on through the fed at this very moment. With the Revolution and everything going on, there’s a LOT of potential to integrate them into personal arcs. And you see two prime examples in the Falcon/Angel ones. Revolution is using tactics to “purge evil” that were used to create it…and Angel and Falcon just want to go back to honorable matches like the one he had with me last week. NO interference, personal respect, just…great quality classic matches. But what happens, Adam is talking about making examples of people in one of Falcon’s rps? Now it’s making Angel and Falcon question where they stand, because depending on how severe and who gets crucified…it could remove them from the fold as they don’t want innocents to suffer. It’s just one of those things that could be put into anybody’s rps. Like the Resistance, they’re having a GAY OLD TIME right now, but…are they really resisting? No, they’re just partying. We see them obscurely trying to find their new voice and trying to make themselves relevant…but that’s just what happens when you resist without really understanding WHY. What happens when the party is over? What happens when they realize they are still losing and completely irrelevant? What happens when they realize their opponents in the Revolution, though they use inappropriate tactics sometimes, have something good to say? I myself as one not in the factions is a great neutral ground that is constantly feeling pulled by both sides as they have “good traits” as one has been billed as good but the other is “evil” though Angel and Falcon have showed Bates there is some good to the Revolution and that the Resistance is a bunch of party animals with very little leadership or direction right now. It could just be something to consider.


In the end, I’m not in control of anyone else’s character, I’m not staff, don’t want to be. Though Angel has threatened it. But I do know a lot of you, and I read your rps, not always multiple times to the point where I’ll remember everything said but then again…that’s the thing, most rps are very standard in what gets said in trash talk we need something to make them last, to leave impressions. We are our own entertainment, we write this for fun, it’s a game…other people read it, for fun, why not make it enjoyable and memorable. Build a fraternity of guys in nCw who can, if they ever had it, go to multi-fed events or whatever and represent us as much as humanly possible because this place is good, but it seems not many people KNOW about it. Even people I tell about it just don’t show up or bother to fill out apps. So till we get fresh blood to mold into greatness, we can start with the guys we have. And that includes the new guys like Shaddix and Kruger; they too could be World Champs someday.


For now I’m going to leave it at that and give you those things for reading materials…hopefully you read a book or watch a movie and not just watch, but analyze it and find out why it is good, what makes it great. There are things in there, if you watch more than once, that you realize, if only you would analyze it and see where the character arcs are and where they go. Me, I’ve got film experience so I can also analyze the cameras but…the main point for US is plot. Story and arcs. Take from film, take from books, you may be amazed with just a few minutes thoughts what you can do to re-incorporate or begin to incorporate a personal story arc that can even BOOST or CONFLICT with the one you’re in for the fed. Because we all know the greatest thing about characters is DEPTH and CONFLICT, internal or external. And as every week is another episode or chapter with mini foes, we need to also think of the big foes, especially the internal ones like doubt, drugs, and other negatives that can evolve and grow characters.


I will hopefully be back to give a bit more depth and maybe even exact examples of rps or sections of books/movies that could help with this, so…since I got no job right now and I’m still looking for work by applying and stuff…think of me as one of you, but one who wants to help use what I do know to help the whole. So at about 2030 words I’m going to leave this up for someone to hopefully read and take away from…**** 2047.


Kristoff Liam Bates - March 7th, 2009

[Joe Everyman]

Holy hell Bates, that was a great read. It's like everything that everyone has ever told me, but all in one thing. Thanks for that man, now I can improve Joe with words, and Panzers! ;D

[Jack Hammond]

Well, you bugged me and I have to apologize for not reading this sooner. Making me think about what I'm going to have to do in order to keep ahold of the title.

Cheers, man.

[adm]

Thanks for the comments...here's a short bit about description.


Lesson #2 – Descriptions


Alright this short lesson (hopefully it’s shorter than the other 2000+ word essay) is dedicated to the plague known as “He smiles at the camera”. Or “The scene opens up to…” Something very simple, but many people forget the best way to introduce and set up a scene is with descriptions.

NOW I’m not saying that you have to super describe every time something happens, it’s more like the fact that using the same 3 descriptions for every roleplay doesn’t set up the scene very well, and it can leave too much to the imagination. Even a good comedy roleplay could use a bit of description to amplify the humor intended from actions.

Here’s something right out of one of this week’s roleplays to explain how it could be improved AND how you can easily overdo it.


*The scene opens on Curtis pacing back and forth.*


Now, it isn’t very descriptive, though it does describe what he is doing. Pacing back and forth. Now, it has no real emotional impact. That could be quickly remedied by adding an adjective.


*The scene opens on Curtis pacing back and forth menacingly.* OR *The scene opens on Curtis pacing back and forth weeping like a baby.*


Now just by adding a little bit, he has emotion, or intention to his action. You could continue further, beyond that, but be careful how much further. Let’s take another example and take it beyond where it is and then overdo it to the point of making you sick.


*Randy hangs up the phone.*


That’s a very basic action, let’s add some emotion.


*Randy slams the phone down onto the receiver, angry about the news he just received.*


Now Randy is mad about hearing Nelly Angel has two opponents this week. Now let’s make this completely ridiculously overzealously wordy.


*Randy slams the phone down like a man with a mission. He breaks the receiver over his head and begins foaming at the mouth. Nelly, too obsessed with his ice-cream just doesn’t seem to notice and Randy, anger and hatred in his eyes, turns to Nelly to give him the bad news. The news so awful it will completely destroy him with the weight of a thousand Russian Yaks falling down upon him with the force of ten million Earth’s.*


Now that is TOO MUCH description, and almost all of it is needless. I know I’ve been one to actually do whole rps like this back in the day, so…I’m as guilty as any other “newbie” for taking the comment of “you need more descriptions” too far. Too little can lead to a lack of emotional impact of the roleplay. While too much can get long, boring and completely pointless. If you are going to do longer descriptions like the last example…make it RELATE to the thing you are describing, as well. There’s a way to describe a bit longer and boost emotional impact of a line. I’ll use a good example from one of a recent roleplays.


Jack pauses mid-chew as his friend continues to dig in, looking at the camera with a rather neutral expression. He appears to have lost his appetite. A final 'Later' cut and Hammond is back in the nightclub with his beer back in hand, his friend with a bottle of his own. They appear to be talking again.


As simple as it looks, it described quite a bit without being overly wordy. They describe a bit of the emotion…that Jack lost his appetite, also that they are eating, then back at the club drinking. It isn’t as simple as “Jack stops eating he’s lost his appetite. They cut to the nightclub later and they both are drinking and talking again.” It’s got a little bit more to it, but not too much. It could even go a little bit more, but it’s perfectly fine the way it is.

Descriptions are a tricky beast, and sometimes require a lot of work, months maybe even years to get “right”. But I’ve been fedding for 8 years and writing since I was 7 years old (I’m 22 now). There are lots of people here who could use to improve their skills, even myself…just by writing these things I’m remembering some of the bigger rules that most people get their rps judged by. Quality, originality, and entertainment are big ones.

So next time you write a roleplay, just try a few descriptions if you feel you can enhance the emotions of your character with them. And remember, too much can wind up with evil Yaks destroying something, too little can wind up being boring or bland, and it may not work the first time but keep working on it and you can improve your rp quality with just a little bit of effort and improve your overall skills.

[Joe Everyman]

That was also a great read, when I win the World title, I'll create my win to you ;D

[Cyrus Daniels]

and maybe even CREDIT it to you aswell

[adm]

Adding that to the list of essays to do...right now I got these arranged for the near future:

- Why you should use Microsoft Word or other Word Processor to type your rp before posting
- Quality vs Quantity
- Differences in Styles: Character Development, Shoot, Mix/Hybrid

That's three more...that I can think of right now. The Word one is VERY important...considering most people forget how handy having a word processor or even note pad can be

[Cyrus Daniels]

calm down bates...i've cleaned up the thread before you pms...

[Joe Everyman]

Mar 10, 2009 15:08:49 GMT -6 @adm said:

Adding that to the list of essays to do...right now I got these arranged for the near future:

- Why you should use Microsoft Word or other Word Processor to type your rp before posting
- Quality vs Quantity
- Differences in Styles: Character Development, Shoot, Mix/Hybrid

That's three more...that I can think of right now. The Word one is VERY important...considering most people forget how handy having a word processor or even note pad can be

I want to see that last one too. What I do is, I write it on here, then put it in Word to tweak it, then post it. It works well for me.

[Maniac]

I've gotta say my man, you are really going above and beyond the call of duty to help your fellow rper. The advice so far has been great and i'm really looking forward to the future ones.

[adm]

Lesson #3 – Word Processors = Friend


This is going to be a short one. Basically there’s a lot of people who already have been doing this but it’s a very simple and effective way to minimize spelling and grammar errors (or at least spelling errors) in your roleplays. Also a good way to backlog by saving and prevent losing large sections accidentally or due to power outages.

Word Processors…whether you use anything from Notepad to just type and save or something as fancy as Word or Open Office so you can spell-check and grammar-check your rp as soon as it is done. But it really does help, if not just for improving the spelling and minor grammar mistakes you make, at least to give you the ability to prevent losing your roleplay while writing and the power suddenly goes out OR you accidentally delete half of it while selecting something. You can always go back and undo so many steps in a word processor, while if you make mistakes while typing on the boards, you can sometimes lose the whole, or part of the roleplay.

It is pretty much common sense to use word processors, but some people, strictly out of habit, continue to write directly in the boards. That is very inefficient when you may or may not have the time to finish it at that second, or for spell checking, etc. It’s a simple thing, just try it and hopefully it’ll help you out.



ALSO, if you want a way to spell-check within your browser, use Firefox. It has a spell-check feature that often tries to correct things I did in word (such as names that are not misspelled, though a few times it has caught things Word didn’t). So it’s good to have double-coverage like that.


And as a bonus side note: babelfish.yahoo.com/ Babelfish is the best way to translate to another language for cryptically telling your opponent off, or if your character has family that he speaks to in a “native tongue”. It’s not always useful, but I felt I should share it just in case…also in case someone comes across something that sounds cool like an old French or Italian proverb from some TV show that you may want to use, but translate to English.

[JFK]

Good **** dude, I agree with the Word also, I do mine free flow in notepad, take it over to word and spell check, then on the boards and do the codeing (i type out the bold codeing due to habit)

I was going to say something else but I done forgot.

[Bannedingo]

Mar 10, 2009 14:26:18 GMT -6 Joe Everyman said:

That was also a great read, when I win the World title, I'll create my win to you ;D

Will this be before or after pigs fly?

ITS GOOD TO BE BACK AMERICA!!
SEE Y'ALL NEXT YEAR!

[adm]

Lesson #4 – Styles of Rping

Ok, this is probably part one of rp styles, but for now I’m going to only focus on the basics. Cuz that’s about where we SHOULD begin.

Roleplay styles, what are they? Well, in the basic form it’s just the difference between straight promo and Character Development as well as more Novel Style hybrid rps like most people in nCw do. First and foremost the differences is more than just the way the roleplays are laid out, but what lies within. When you deal with more promo type rps it is a lot more of what you see on WWE or in TNA, where they run down their opponent with words and there is very little scenery or story to them. Here’s a quick example of the way that may look.


We open to the hotel bar and we see Brian McKnight sitting at the bar, facing directly at the camera.

McKnight: My opponent, H.R. Puffinstuff needs to shut his damn mouth. He’s nothing to me, just another person to leave bloodied and beaten in the middle of the squared circle. I just dare you to come into Slaughter and think you can take my Jobber’s International title from me.

He pulls out said title and puts it on his shoulder.

McKnight: Because I came here to win titles, and now I have it, all you want to do is take it from me? I’m the star of NLMWDDWF and there’s nothing you, or any of your cronies in the head office can do about it. I think I saw your mother last night and I just wanted to slap her for giving birth to someone as stupid and ignorant as you…



You get the point, it is very straight forward and can be very good, but if you are around long enough, you see too many of these and get burned out on them. That’s why there is character Development style rps too, though they rarely even touch on the match sometimes, their basis for conflict is either the match or a current fed-related storyline (or one carried from a previous fed). Here’s a quick sample of this style.


John was waiting for his taxi in the rain. Drops fell upon his head like the tears of that one girl, the one he left behind to follow his dream. Would she be there, watching him at home or in the crowd? He only could hope. Until then, the void she left inside him will be filled by hollow victories and titles. Till she comes back to him, he will binge himself on alcohol at the bars and bring home cheap floozy night after night satisfying every sin of the flesh he can while their false love burns at his soul like a cancer, blackening him and making him into a twisted form of human disease than what his former lover would remember. Could she see not see why he had to beat his opponents week after week? Could she not see what it was that drove him from her? The lights, the sounds, the action. He needed this more than any other drug, but he wanted to be here with her by his side. Unfortunately that would not be, and now he stands waiting in the rainy New York street for a taxi cab to come and take him to wash her away with a gin and tonic at the local watering hole.



He didn’t even mention his opponent, but you knew who he was talking to and about when he mentioned his match/career. Though even those roleplays can get a bit cumbersome and overzealous sometimes. Which is why most of us find our own way to roleplay over the first year or two of fedding, experimenting, finding out what works for US. Though for me I keep experimenting with Bates every so often putting out either a comedy rp or a very distinctly one-time style choice rp. But that’s the thing about the hybrid rps, you can do as much CD you want or promo as you want for that particular week. In the end, you have to find a “style” that fits you and work rp by rp to try and do the best you can to win. In the end, you can’t win them all, someone has to lose, that’s the nature of the game. But that’s also why you have to ENJOY rping, despite the losses you get here and there and enjoy when you’re up high. Me, I expect to be beaten again. There’s no changing it. Maybe I’ll go a month without a win and only retain my title barely, or even lose it, it happens. But here’s a quick sample of a hybrid, pulled from the vaults. And I will post that in the Developmental Boards for your viewing pleasure...and don’t worry, it’s from early 2008 so it really is from the vaults.


So till next time, keep rping, keep improving and don’t forget you learn more from losing than winning, sometimes. Keep the shoulder to the wheel!


Rp - Disdonn example of Hybrid rp: ncw2k7rp.proboards82.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=develope&thread=7785

[adm]

This isn't an essay so much as...a prime example of how NOT to write...thanks to Hammo for showing me this thing on Youtube.


Just to summarize the things that are wrong with the vid's writing: Plot is haphazard, the writing...well...is beyond bad in a gramarical sense, the spelling(though probably intentional for humor's sake) is wrong.


It's also apparently based off someone's fan fiction, which...is a form of roleplaying. So...just...do better than this and you'll be going down a good path.


Thanks again Hammo

Edit: Here's the "original" fanfic...just so you realize how horrid the writing actually is. www.fanfiction.net/s/2945837/1/Halflife_Fulllife_Consequences

[Cyrus Daniels]

lol THE PEOPLE WERE CLOSE...AND THE PANTS WERE DEAD

[adm]

Lesson #5 – Quality over Quantity


Ok, this one will be relatively short as it is more an overview of things that are used to grade the rps. I can’t quite find where they state it in the rules/regulations but I remember staff and Adam specifically telling myself and others this over and over and over again. QUALITY of rps comes over QUANTITY. This means that just because you did 10 pages (approximately 5000 words or more) doesn’t mean you automatically did a better roleplay. It means it was simply LONGER.

This is pretty obvious for me to state it, but I think maybe I should both for staff and everyone’s sakes: Most people CANNOT write a 10 page roleplay and have it be as good quality as if they trimmed some of the “fat” as it were and made it 6 or 7 pages. The usual word cap I try to use is 2000 on myself as I know after that, I usually start having issues with quality drops after having written an rp for more than that. Very few people can’t put up a 5000 word roleplay and have consistently great quality. Usually, people who put up super long roleplays have large portions where it is not the same quality or worse…the quality overall is lacking.

Here in nCw, and most feds (I will NOT include feds some of the majority of us were in recently or in the past that were opposite of this place) grade based upon the quality of roleplays. Which means the staff have to at least read the roleplay once before they judge the match. Some of the roster will read it as well but you are going to be GRADED based upon the QUALITY and if it just drags on…and on you will lose points and probably lose your match. Once or twice of this happening should let you know, that you need to fix something and then you look at what you did and/or ask for feedback and get told it’s too long or you keep going till you lose steam and either quit or get pissed. But here’s a simple thing with quality, even for the BEST roleplayers they can have a bad week, yeah. But this piece is less about quality over weeks and more about the individual roleplays.


Simply put, even some of the best go a bit too long-winded sometimes, but most of the time they don’t bore us with super-long roleplays that are lacking in quality. Though sometimes they do and then they most likely start losing matches due to the lack of quality. And what you need to do, is either put a word cap on yourself (or page cap, whichever method you use to judge the length) or re-read the roleplay or get others to read it before you post to see if it drags, and if it does…cut it down a little bit. In the end, it’s another trial and error thing that is about conserving yourself, your material and not overdoing it. Because even if you DO put out great 5000 word rps for say, 3 or four weeks and win a lot of big matches, eventually you’ll get burned out and that’s also not that good. So be careful, and remember that quality trumps quantity unless someone’s quality is in a quantity that is in a greater ratio than yours…if that made sense…hopefully it did.


Quality > Quantity

[adm]

Just so I tell you now...as the plan goes I will do my 6th essay later this week based upon the two roleplays I will put out this week. My plan is to do a blog and a song-based roleplay for a 2nd part on style. It'd be nice to get some feedback on the latest and also what you may want to see cuz I'm pretty much out of ideas of actual stuff related to rping...I may just start rambling about random writing conventions if you're not responsive, people.


Thanks

[Joe Everyman]

I think the newest essay was really good...but, I'm ganna hate your next one cause I really like music rp's >.>

[adm]

...it's not gonna be bad-mouthing...I'm actually going to DO ONE...and a blog rp...then post the essay referencing them...I'm experimenting this week for "science" sake

[Joe Everyman]

Apr 7, 2009 22:44:18 GMT -6 @adm said:

...it's not gonna be bad-mouthing...I'm actually going to DO ONE...and a blog rp...then post the essay referencing them...I'm experimenting this week for "science" sake

Bill Nye The Normal Guy ;D

[Xavier Williams]

DONT POST THE ENTIRE SONG!!!!!

Lesson Written

Lesson Given

Lesson Taught

Lesson Learned

[Cyrus Daniels]

After reading that quality essay, I started to wonder if that's the reason I lost to Harold, because in my mind yes the rps were long, but not unnecessarily, I don't think the quality dipped but maybe you guys feel differently

[adm]

Lesson #6 – Rp Styles Part 2: Blog, Song-based, Other “experimental” types to consider.


Ok, last time I did one on “rp styles” it was more straight-forward about the actual style of writing and not…about the other things that make them. Like the content. NOW I am going to go into that. And use specific examples from myself this week, and a few other times, as well as from Angel, Ace, and Joe Everyman to try and explain what a wide range of options are out there should you ever feel “stuck” and in need of a refreshing experimental rp, and just one week where you say “**** winning and losing, I need to get out of my normal element before I just start hating this so much I quit”. And because I had this essay in mind, I wrote an rp, and planned a 2nd one, but things worked out better this way with only one because...well…Ace did better with 2 blogs and one diary than I could have with just one blog. So thanks.

ncw2k7rp.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=collision&action=display&thread=4264 - Trent Helms Example

Ok, before I begin on this one, let me just say I miss Trentacles. He’s just…awesome. Everyone loves you man, get well soon. Now…when you READ this, it makes no sense. It’s just random, wild, crazy, funny, sad, and has everything you would expect from a man from outer space…or completely trashed on drugs. Either way…it just…has this appeal that if you are stuck, you could do. But be warned, I believe only Trent himself can pull this off…that and maybe Ultimate Warrior, but we all know both of them aren’t around much anymore…and it’s sad, cuz they both own.

ncw2k7rp.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=collision&action=display&thread=7919 – Diary Example

This is Kathy Jones’ rp for the week(well one of them, if Ace puts up a second), and it is a prime example of a variant of a blog. See a blog, for all intents and purposes, is pre-packaged without any descriptions on a website like Myspace or Livejournal while this is something you can watch them writing. That’s the difference, and indeed, the way that it works. You get to see the emotions of the person, and a glimpse into their minds. It has the same inner-monologue/thought type of thing as the blog below, but you also get the added bonus of being able to see them as they write it, and stop to think, put the pencil down, etc etc. You also have a possibility to stop writing and just start a traditional promo near the end, mid-way, whatever. It is definitely a versatile version of the Blog, but doesn’t mean it’s a better alternative for sometimes you may just want to express them in one.


ncw2k7rp.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=trauma&action=display&thread=7912 and ncw2k7rp.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=trauma&action=display&thread=7902 – Blog Examples

Yes, the beloved Blog. All emo kids do them these days so why shouldn’t we? Well, we should. Every once and a while, win or lose, a blog is just a good way to cut out all the excess stuff that goes into a lot of roleplays, movements, actions, setting, and cuts RIGHT to the bulk of what needs to be said. Mind you, this only works when there is a LOT to be said. Because most blogs, when they are super short, don’t say much and you could get more impact doing the above diary. But somehow, some way, Ace did two great ones this week with Damien Sparks, who is not NORMALLY a wrestler. So…applaud him, and use him as reference should you ever get the itch to experiment with blogs and he is now your messiah.

ncw2k7rp.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=trauma&action=display&thread=7906 and ncw2k7rp.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=ppv&action=display&thread=7334 – Song-Based Rp examples

Now some may look at mine and ask “Why include Joe?” Simple, because the same basics apply of “song based” but they are so different they both need a look at. Some people may prefer the way I did it, using the song to actually direct everything while Joe uses his at the beginning to set the scene. Both ways work, both could be your ticket to a refreshing new outlook on fedding after burning out on whatever you are NORMALLY used to. And speaking for Joe, both of us are very fond of music so…it does fit us to some extent to do these every now and then, just as we get to include our favorite songs in something that has an impact.

ncw2k7rp.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=collision&action=display&thread=7911 – I am Become Death Experimental/variation

Ok, some people may question why I put this one on here. Why? Because though it is just a small variation of where Angel’s been lately, it is different enough to show you that just even slow, slight variations can have huge impacts on how you rp. His slow change from his normal style to adapting it to a new style has both refreshed his character, his current storyline, and also given himself a new outlook on the rping process. It’s a great way to go if you aren’t in for big sudden changes, even if it is for one week or one rp.

ncw2k7rp.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=trauma&action=display&thread=7612 – Watchmen, On Mars/Doc Manhattan Experiment

Yeah, I had to include this. Just because…I dunno, I wanted to? Seriously, use methods of rping you see in comics or movies. This was taken straight from Watchmaker chapter of Watchmen Graphic novel but given a spin that I wanted to put into it. It turned out to my liking, but I know there were ones done based on Rorschach and also I used to do roleplays with Fate based upon Fight Clubs “I am Jack’s colon…” type thing. It just shows that even if you “rip off” an idea of how to write from another author, a movie, or a graphic novel…it can also refresh you. I know many people may tell me that I’m too open to experimentation compared to a lot of you, and that may be true, but…from those who have experimented lately, and improved, you can see…it can work. It doesn’t ALWAYS work, so don’t get false hope thinking one small change could make you the best there is, it’s still a process.

In the end, do what you do best, but if you ever want to experiment, here’s a few things you can do. And I’m sure there are MANY MORE out there, I just didn’t have the time or patience to Perouse the boards for five hours just looking for rp styles. That’s just the point, though…there’s a LOT of things you can do to improve from changing your rp style to just simply working on descriptions…


And here’s something I didn’t do before…but here’s a preview of what my next segments will be:


Picking Roleplay Titles (Special Request)

Working on Angles with others, including staff (Also special request)

Exposition and Roleplays

Comedy Roleplays for Dummies (potentially)


I’m not sure what order or when…but those are going to be what I want to do in the near future. Thanks, and keep working on your roleplaying and nCw will continue to be the BEST F**KING FED EVER!

[Maniac]

As an add on to Bates saying to use books or movies, I plan on using my favorite book ever to inspire a short mini series of role plays, possibly for the coming pay per view.

And, this is advice I gave to Sexy Jason, and something I've been trying allot lately, which is planning rps and stories out a little in advance. The ending of my first rp and nearly the entirirty of the second I planned out about two weeks ago. I've been trying to plan where I'm going with everything a few weeks in advance so when I do write the role plays, I'm not just pulling stuff out of my ass.

Of course, on the other hand, Diamond's rps I generally make up on the spot with little to no thought behind them. So its just a case of whatever works best for you sometimes.

[adm]

Yeah, that's something I've been doing a lot, is trying to get a general direction of the character arc in my head before I write, then tailor to the opponent after I get the final card. But about half the rps for the next month are already "done" in my head right now...so...it's just a matter of who I'm facing. I think I may or may not have said that earlier when I mentioned storylines...that you have to plan those in advance...also I'm going to do one (as seen in the end of the latest) that was suggested about how to create angles with others, and maybe work a bit more on self-storylines as well. Something like that.

Again, feedback is LOVELY so if you can and also if you have suggestions or ideas, hit me up here or on AIM.

[adm]

The Big Double – Lessons #7 and #8: Angles and Rp Titles


Ok, this is the big double-topic essay. Let’s start with part 1…creating and organizing angles.

Now first and foremost, I am a firm believer in contacting and working with staff on angles. Why? Because they book the matches, and can help you get segments you submit actually put into the show. The angle with Harold, was almost entirely worked through with Angel/Chris Diamond, myself and Harold, just as an example.

Now let’s start at square one…how to initiate them. Well…you PM the guy you wanna feud with, with whatever hare-brained idea you got, even if it is as simple as “Let’s feud, hit me up on AIM or back through PMs and we can brain-storm ideas.” This is pretty simple, but…you can’t do a feud without brainstorming.

Now not everyone will want to do feuds or angles, maybe they just want to hide in the background for a bit, or wait till the staff assign them as #1 contender for something. Either way, not every idea goes through.

The next step is talking with Staff with your “partner” in the feud about getting matches booked, segments, etc. It all depends on the angle, who you want to talk to and how far you go. Look at Harold and Steve Awesome, right now; it’s going very far very fast with the stuff about Hope and all that. There is no real title match in the works for the PPV, but it looks like a solid feud that could go for a while. Right now the booked match is the 8-man tag, from there I am sure there will be singles matches, tag matches, etc.

Now…the last step is hardest, because some people forget to do it. Now after you got matches built up, ideas and segments…you gotta continue the angle in your rp. Whatever “outside things” you brain-stormed to put into the angle, you gotta put in the rps or they will never happen.

It seems simple, but even the best ideas don’t always happen.


Edit: Before I forget, cuz some people forget the ****ing rules...ALWAYS consult with the other party before doing segments or writing matches that either damage the other character's personality, physical attacks, or are typically out of character for the char. Just because it's polite doesn't mean everyone remembers.



Part 2: oh yeah…another special request. Now I’m only doing two at once because the first is kinda short, and also cuz I didn’t do an essay last week. But…here it is: Rp titles.

Now, I know some were thinking “What is he possibly going to say about this” well…there’s a lot. See, some people are simply able to put out rps with titles that relate to what goes on and “it works” but some people seek that catchy title. Here’s some examples from Bates of what can be “catchy”.

White Picket Fence, Normal Among Freaks, wholehearted beliefs in honorable matches, R.E.S.I.S.T., Battle not with Freaks lest Become One, and there’s others. Now…why do they work? Because not only do they relate to the material of the rp, but also either are part of a series (The first two examples) or have a little bit of “flair” to them. Now…I’m not going to say a title will make the rp better, no…you gotta do the better rp first, the title comes 2nd. But, the titles always do add something, they give the first impression your opponent/reader gets of the rp.

First example of what you can do if stumped: Think of a song that relates to the rp…it might even be instrumental, but if the title fits, there you go. I used that in stuff like “Perfect Drug” as Bates or “Dead Letter” for Fate. There are other titles I’ve used based on, say, Silent Hill soundtrack song titles.

Second Example of what you can do is similar to the first: Poems, or film or TV episodes. Angel did an rp recently with the same title of a Heroes episode, and it fit. “I Am Become Death”, it sounds cool, it was a great rp, but the rp was awesome before he put the title in. And it also was the last thing he said.

But if you are having issues putting out rp titles…you can always go the route AJ phoenix has done a few times, and also some others, where you either go “Untitled” or put the show name then rp name. It’s not catchy, but it works.

Simply put, both things seem kind of obvious, but…it helps to have “reference” of examples if you find what you’re doing isn’t working, even if you’re doing it “right” just so you can find a way to get a good title on a great rp.


That's all for now...remember, more are on the way, but I never know when cuz I usually do them when I feel like doing them.

[Maniac]

I heart you.

[adm]

Bumpity-bump-bump...not really since it's pinned but...


I was thinking about doing more of these but I REALLY need input on what subjects you guys want covered...and no not just the vets like AJ/Angel/Ace should reply but more the "new guys"

And by new guys I mean anyone who joined in the last couple months who hasn't had a char here bofore like: Brock, Night Blade, Shaddix, Corvis, etc etc.


Look at the essays I've already done...and tell me what you want more of, what new you want...cuz I know everyone, even the vets and myself can continue to improve, I just wanna see what YOU want me to cover considering most of the originals were things I came up with in the original concept. So PLEASE PM me, get me on AIM or MSN(my contact info is in the messengers thread), or post it right here what you want and I'll take a look and do some research and get some new essays up to hopefully help you guys out.

Also...if anyone wants an in-depth analysis of a "good" rp...please suggest ones to do, even if it's my own...I'll find the good, the bad, and the ugly on it.

Thanks

KLB AKA Jeff

[adm]

Heels/Tweeners/Face for Dummies – Lesson #9


Well first and foremost, I know there’s a lot of confusion about what it means to be face, or heel, and the tweeners are always confusing for some so let me shed some light on them, by first giving a brief description of what they are.


Face AKA Babyface, Good Guys, Heroes – These are the guys that typically get rooted for in a perfect world. An example of a face in WWE would be Cena (Though he gets mixed reactions sometimes, he is pushed as one), Triple H, HBK. These are the would-be “good guys”. They attain that status by both facing off against heels and tweeners that act like heels. They achieve it in promos usually by getting pops from fans on the show segments, or in our words, we’d have to be the fan-favorite and do things that the fans would like. Sign autographs, be humerous in a good way and not very offensive to a specific race/creed/etc.


Heels AKA Assholes, Bad Guys, Villains – These are the guys you love to hate. Orton, Edge, and Jericho. Guys you love to hate, guys who usually get booed by fans. Guys you just wanna punch. Usually they are super easy to do. It is easy to be an asshole, to get heat. You just be a dick, you don’t appreciate the fans, or you do like Adam Knite, you think you know what they want when you actually know nothing of what they want to see. Typically they have a power-trip or complex of some sort…they have a reason for their heel nature, and it’s usually something simple such as greed, lust, etc etc.


Tweeners AKA Antiheroes, Neutral – These guys can play both sides. A prime example would be CM Punk right now in WWE. He’s known to be a fan favorite, but he’s facing off against Jeff Hardy so you have to root for the other guy, right? He’s not being a dick, he’s being himself…he’s looking out for himself. He’s not IGNORING the fans, he just feels he’s doing the logical thing. Sometimes tweeners play heel, but not very long. They are flexible, and tend to hold the middle ground where they don’t have to work too hard to please anyone but themselves, and sometimes they do get pops, but generally it’s a mixed reaction. Typically they’d ignore or rarely acknowledge the fans, they aren’t self-absorbed so much as focused on their goals.


Now here’s the hard part, how do you actually MAKE them work as a face or heel? Well that’s harder to explain…for faces. But for heels you should look no further than classic archetypes for villains. They usually are scum, they are pricks, you just have no excuse NOT to hate them. They portray the side of evil so well it’s almost like they are evil. Sometimes they ignore the fans, or they enjoy their heel heat. Think about the beginning of Hancock when he gets booed and he, drunk, is asking them to boo louder. He LOVES that they hate him, on the outside. Usually they want to be accepted, but the only way they can get it is by being the bully, picking on the good guys, or just generally being an asshole.


Tweeners…they are as hard if not harder to manage than the Faces. You have to find a way to balance both the good and the evil. They have to be an antihero. They have to be the guy you want to root for but you know he might turn on you. I guess a good antihero in comics would be like the Punisher, or possibly Wolverine, even sometimes Batman is. They are troubled, they have their own issues in life, they want to be good (or bad) but they typically wind up in the more neutral ground. They don’t always abide by the code of ethics at all times, but the code of logic. They do what they need to, and who cares if people cheer, they do what they do, and they do it well.


Faces, are ****ing difficult to keep face. Very FEW people can do a good face. Typically they have to have a good backstory and reason to be a good guy. Think of Batman, he’s got a reason to do the good work he does. They tend to have some moral compass and reason to garner the fans’ love. Sometimes they just can’t help doing the right thing. The biggest faces nCw has ever had have been guys like Awesome, who though they have gone to the dark side before…are generally well loved by the fans. Though he’s taking a break, AJ is probably the top face because he worked so hard, even if it was selfishly, to rid nCw of the evil Revolution. And I guess you could say Hammond is the one you just love cuz he’s so hard NOT to love. But to be honest, there are VERY FEW true faces here right now, and out of the new guys, I think only Superfans and Fergus Callaghan are “face”.


The bigger problem with having so few people portraying good faces in nCw is that the guys who do heel do it so well. They generally are the guys you want to hate no matter what. Harold, Adam, Diamond, Spike, Dirty Deal; they all are the kind of guys you just want to massacre. And more often than not, you get a lot of them who actually make the good guys look like bad guys, like Harold. He managed to, before the PPV, make Awesome look sort of like a bad guy by showing how little he actually cared about his family…it’s that kind of thing that makes a good angle, it makes them realize they need to be better at what they are…or they may eventually lose everything.

Here’s the list of them, and I’ll agree/disagree as I see works.

FACES
AJ Phoenix – Agree on a no-**** factor
Angel – He belongs in Tweener cuz he’s not really…a face.
Chris Brock – Tweener, he hasn’t given many people reason to love him yet.
Fergus Callaghan – He stays, we love him, he’s so fun and lovable.
Jack Hammond – Like Fergus, you just have to love him.
Joe Everyman - …I’m not gonna say anything but Tweener
Philip Burns - Due to angles and storylines…he belongs on tweener/heel
Steve Awesome – He belongs here, though last month could have easily been tweener.
Xavier Williams – Other than his feud with Diamond, he doesn’t belong here for long. He’s more tweener than face.


HEELS
Ace, The - His current heel attempt works better than before, he stays.
Adam Knite – He’s what Trips would be if he used Steph to get title shots…Stays
Curtis Kanyon – The Racist asshole, stays
Falcon – What have you done that was really heel lately? Feud with Spike? Tweener.
Homeless Harold – Probably the best “Turns tweeners to faces” guy in nCw, he stays.
Hexx – He should be in tweener/face just cuz he never wins, or feuds with anyone.
Night Blade – He’s heel? Really? Why? Cuz he’s crazy…move him to tweener till he proves he’s evil.
Rob Diamond – Though he’s a racist this month, I see him moving tweener after his thing with X.
Ron Gibson – Another racist prick, he stays.
Spike Kane – Spike is heel, though I see him tweener in the future, depending where he takes his CD.


TWEENERS
Cameron Corvis - Stay
Davey Ortega - Face
Jackhammer - Stay
Kristoff Liam Bates – I stay for now
Marc (with a C) - Face
Mark (with a K) - Face
Nero - Stay
Sexy Jason - Stay
Steve Ramone – Stay



Revised:


FACES
AJ Phoenix
Marc (with a C)
Mark (with a K)
Fergus Callaghan
Jack Hammond
Davey Ortega
Steve Awesome


HEELS
Ace, The
Adam Knite
Curtis Kanyon
Homeless Harold
Rob Diamond
Ron Gibson
Spike Kane


TWEENERS
Cameron Corvis
Jackhammer
Kristoff Liam Bates
Chris Brock
Nero
Sexy Jason
Steve Ramone
Angel
Joe Everyman
Philip Burns
Hexx
Night Blade
Falcon
Xavier Williams

Remember, your place as I revised is only based on the current angles you are in and the rps/segments I’ve read. I know Night Blade may have done some heel things right away against Joe…but Joe isn’t even Face so…why would it count against him too much. But these are only how I see them…and a lot of “faces” wound up tweener only cuz of current angles…and could find their way back only if they change how they act in character, especially Angel, who just got a short end of the stick by the really…gray area territory everything is in the tag feud right now.


I don’t know how much “help” this one will be other than to show people who have listed themselves as one or the other sometimes need to think twice about what really makes them face, heel, or tweener, and maybe gives the tweeners an idea of what it’d take to get them out of the neutral and into the babyface or heel territory.