RPGs and TWC Citizenship...would like your thoughts

[Nanny de Bodemloze]

Hello all - I have never posted in this area and I am not overly familiar with RPGs here at TWC, so I ask for your patience in this .

Every so often, citizenship applications appear where RPG participation or organization is cited as a contribution, and may form the core of the application. As a new CdeC member, who is not very familiar with RPGs here, I am left to explore and draw conclusions that may or may not be correct.

So I am here looking for your input and help.

As a starting point, I consider a good site contribution to be anything that does some of the following:
- enhances the enjoyment of others
- requires extra skill and creativity
- keeps people coming to TWC
- attracts new people to TWC
- rewards good behaviour and a positive sense of community

Therefore, good RPGing seems to fit that bill in my eyes. However, that is the extent of my knowledge on the subject. I don't really know what makes a good RPG participant, or what makes a good RPG organizer.

I would like your input to help me better assess citizenship applications on any of the following questions:
- What separates an average RPG game from a great RPG game?
- What does an organizer/s typically do to go above and beyond to make the experience top notch?
- What's makes the difference between an 'ok' participant and a 'great' participant?
- Why should RPGing be considered a good contribution to TWC for the purposes of citizenship?

Please note: this is not a place to discuss specific applications.

Thanks very much for your time,

Nanny

[Roxas]

- What separates an average RPG game from a great RPG game?

This is the more straightforward answer to respond to, as it differs from person to person and you can't really give a 'wrong' answer. Frequent Activity and an overall happy member base are in my eyes the factors which help me decide whether an RPG is good or just adequate. So an RPG with very high activity and player interaction, whilst remaining competitively friendly is an ideal and 'Great' game.

- What does an organizer/s typically do to go above and beyond to make the experience top notch?

Quite a few of the moderators if not all make huge efforts to keep the RPG's efficiently moderated and organised; various arrays of events are introduced by the organizer/Moderators to spice up the game and keep it from turning bland and dull, of which are carefully deliberated to ensure they aren't too overpowered or game-changing unless it gains the players approval. However, I am always impressed by how they managed to keep their cool on duty and ensure tensions and OOC arguments were resolved ASAP.

- What's makes the difference between an 'ok' participant and a 'great' participant?

Now, this is another question where it has almost infinite answers for it all depends on what factors we designate to contributing to evaluating how 'good' someone is. A 'great' participant may be someone who actively plays and contributes to Role plays, however the following factors are what I feel are common traits that 'great' participants have:

• Active
• Friendly/Well-mannered
• Good Grammar/Wide Range of Vocabulary
• Fair/Understanding Nature
• Makes contributions/proposals to help change the RPG for the better
• Adapts to the time-period and wide knowledge of Medieval life and technology

- Why should RPGing be considered a good contribution to TWC for the purposes of citizenship?

You have actually near enough answered your last question in your opening statements. As you rightly said, RPG participation answers all of your own personal factors which you deem key to being a good site contribution. I am certain than others would share the same view that dedicated participation in RPG's would satisfy those requirements if they stay a 'great' participant as you were inquiring about earlier.

- enhances the enjoyment of others
- requires extra skill and creativity
- keeps people coming to TWC
- attracts new people to TWC
- rewards good behaviour and a positive sense of community

If you need to ask any more questions feel free to contact me via PM.

[Rebel Jeb]

I'd like to throw out there that there is more happening in the Coliseum than simply RPGs.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=463

The Mafia subforum would be classified more as a game of wits and strategy. Many enjoy it as well.

- What separates an average RPG game from a great RPG game?

There are not many different RPGs involved, but mostly the same ones (IH's, Alliance games) that are simply remade with slightly different rule sets over the years. The biggest thing that makes the game good is, of course, the players themselves. Activity, contribution, competition are all great. The second thing is the rule set in particular (At least, especially for Alliance and Mafia games.)

What's makes the difference between an 'ok' participant and a 'great' participant?

That depends on the person answering the question. I love activity, good communication, and people who enjoy having fun.

Why should RPGing be considered a good contribution to TWC for the purposes of citizenship?

It's a fun part of the site. Though I feel RPGing has been a bit neglected by high moderators and staff, many people are active and enjoy the forums and games here. It takes a lot of effort to play, lead, and make these games, and I feel the effort is deserving of recognition.

[Treva ★]

First of all I'd like to subscribe to Rebel Jeb's post and say that I agree with him.

Thing is, as I'm rather new to this forum I don't much care for citizenship and such stuff, mostly because this is the only forum I've been to that has such privileges.

So I am here looking for your input and help.

As a starting point, I consider a good site contribution to be anything that does some of the following:
- enhances the enjoyment of others
- requires extra skill and creativity
- keeps people coming to TWC
- attracts new people to TWC
- rewards good behaviour and a positive sense of community

Any decently hosted Mafia, Night of the Werewolves or Imperium Off-Topicum game usually conforms to all of those standards. They attract new people to the site(s) they're played in, they certainly are enjoyable (and are a good reason to stay if you get tired of your original reason for coming to the forum, and of course they reward good bahaviour (of sorts, as defined by the GM). Another thing is, that people in gaming forums tend to specialise and only contact people from their own areas. Forum games are usually the sites where you get to know 'new' people from your own site, who you have never met up to this point and might even start doing other stuff with such as modding, playing multiplayer games, etc.

Hope it was helpful.

[Rebel Jeb]

They attract new people to the site(s)

Especially mafia. Mafia has probably brought in around fifteen or more from other mafia sites just in my time playing there.

[Treva ★]

What exactly does citizenship mean?

Especially mafia. Mafia has probably brought in around fifteen or more from other mafia sites just in my time playing there.

It also brought players from here to other sites. It simply increases trade and traffic.

[Confederate Jeb]

I lost interest in becoming a citizen a long time ago, even more so after the mods removed the RPG Gateway from the Coliseum in order to have room for more Total War based roleplays that now lay barren (or so I was told, I'd have to recheck the pm). Even still, there is plenty of local moderator interaction in the Coliseum and other roleplay areas, and good roleplay/sportsmanlike conduct contributed by most players is a bonus to the site. At least, compared to the mud slinging in the D&D.

[Double A]

It means they get a shiny badge, a red name, and access to a forum that deals with site-related crap no one really cares about.

- What separates an average RPG game from a great RPG game?

Active players. If people aren't active and interested, nothing will happen. EVER. Cool settings help but aren't necessary.

- What does an organizer/s typically do to go above and beyond to make the experience top notch?

Making everyone feel important and included in the game is probably the most important thing they can do. I can't say how many mafia games I lost some interest in because all I got was a hastily cobbled together generic role.

- What's makes the difference between an 'ok' participant and a 'great' participant?

Post quality, them having fun actually gets other people to have fun (starting various escapades), sense of humor, and probably most important, being freaking active.

- Why should RPGing be considered a good contribution to TWC for the purposes of citizenship?

Because people who play RPGs and Mafia are actually registered members. Not like we're a splinter faction bent on dominating the site...

[Nanny de Bodemloze]

Thanks everyone for your input so far...this helps me understand things better.

Citizenship at TWC gives someone more of a say in how things are run at TWC. This may or may not be of interest to everyone, but sometimes the issue of of RPGs comes up when someone does apply.

[Treva ★]

I've just realised that there are no Imperium Off-Topicum games here. Something must be done about this.

[Double A]

Alliances is much better.

When you get gangbanged, people care.

[Fight!]

- What does an organizer/s typically do to go above and beyond to make the experience top notch?

Organizers are faced with creating or digging up rules, putting up threads, stickying them when possible, moderating wars and disputes, making rulings on anything in the gray zone of the rules, create spreadsheets, edit spreadsheets, etc. The best organizers are the ones that make their own game rules and spreadsheets, objectively deal with all players, and remain dedicated in the face of adversity.

For example, a Great Organizer would be someone like Aetius or cfmonkeym whereas a decent Organizer would be someone like me (though in the recent alliance game I would be more sub-par, and am only an organizer De Jure )

- What's makes the difference between an 'ok' participant and a 'great' participant?

A great participant is someone who doesn't get angry over losses, remains objective, stays in character, and remains a productive member of the game. Also helpful would be elaborate and enjoyable RP posts.

- Why should RPGing be considered a good contribution to TWC for the purposes of citizenship?[/B]

RPGing draws a large number of members into the forum, and keeps a large number of players as well. Further, for those that aren't drawn in exclusively for RPG's sake, it provides a good escape and stress relief from other parts of the forum.