RPG Forum Advice

[RaZoR LeAf]

is RPG just where you make a story and people contribute?

Look around?

[Porygonq]

Look around?

oh sweet, i'v made one of my own, feel free to have a look

[Kamotz]

On a forum I frequented prior to serebiiforums (where I actually was first introduced to the written RPG concept), the RPG Forums were much more moderated. You couldn't even post a signup thread without having moderator approval. Now, I don't think there's any need for something so drastic here, but one thing this did was make potential GMs sit down and really give thought to their RPG. There was a specific "form" they needed to provide for the proposal, which actually helped a lot. It made the layout and presentation of the RPG much neater and easier to follow, and I thought it would be good idea to bring this bit of help here.

This is what they wanted to see, quoted directly from the source:

RPG Title: (self explanatory)

Backstory: (At least 4-5 sentences are required. A backstory is the history of the RP's setting. Information regarding what has happened in the past should be included here.)

Plot: (At least 4-5 sentences are required. This is the main story of the RP where you describe what is happening in the present, who the antagonists are, the purpose of the protagonists, the problem that needs to be fixed, etc.)

Goal: (At least 1 or more sentences. This is the main goal of the RP. Describe what needs to be accomplished to complete the RP whether it be getting from point A to point B, retrieving a specific type of item, defeating the main villain, etc. Please be as specific as possible. Goals such as "creating your own character" or "making your own story" are not appropriate goals.)

Setting: (At least 2-3 sentences are required. Where the RP is taking place. Information on how the world is set up, how the nations are ran, the time, the technology and any other information necessary to set the scene.)

Rules: (Self-explanatory. All RPs in this forum must be minor appropriate, so a rule stating that "please keep it PG-13" in your rules is not needed.)

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating switching Serebiiforums over to this style. I don't think moderator-approval is necessary, and it was a bit of a hassle for the moderators over there. However, I do think the above format is very useful for presenting your RPG, and all potential GMs should have those sections. You don't need to have the actual labels "backstory", "plot", etc., but have them in mind as you're writing your initial signup post. This will help to close up or reveal plot holes that you might not even have known about.

[SuperPichu]

If your RPG characters are Pokemon, then what do you put for description?

[Avenger Angel]

If your RPG characters are Pokemon, then what do you put for description?

Usually anything that distinguishes them from other Pokemon of the same species. Such as being taller, having certain scars, whether they're clean and orderly or unkempt and messy, whether they're more agile and evasive than other members of their kind, or whether they might be a little slower but a little more burlier instead. Definitely don't treat it like the games where Pokemon are essentially just cookie cutter copies of each other. Take the Pokemon character's personality and apply it to their physical description, such as a wild and carefree Raichu appearing to be a bit messier and dirtier in appearance while a socially conscious Gardevoir may try to keep herself as clean and refined as possible and make sure she only looks her best. A Pokemon that likes to fight and compete might have a few more scars and injuries from all their days of rough and tumble, while a Pokemon that likes to race may be leaner and athletic in appearance.

Again, it depends on the character, what their personality is like, and what they would be like as a Pokemon.

[abrar14]

My rpg advice- Don't plaugarise like me and get yourself banned for two months(?)

[pokefan00]

well i thought i could find answers why my pokemon RP was closed but i guess i was wrong. ugh.

[RaZoR LeAf]

well i thought i could find answers why my pokemon RP was closed but i guess i was wrong. ugh.

Maybe if you were in the right thread? Kamotz said for you to read the Rules, not check the advice thread. Here's a snippet:

• RPG Posts should be of adequate length, a minimum of 200 words, approximately seven lines. Posts that are just one or two lines in length are not acceptable.
• RPG plots need to be a minimum of 400 words. Anything less than this will result in the topic being closed
• Signs Up Forms are mandatory. You must have some kind of Sign Up form in your RPG, or it will not be allowed
• The RPG Forum is the main part, this is where the actual game itself goes. Before you post here, you go to the Sign Up Sub-Forum. This is where you post your RPG awaiting members

[Psychic]

Usually anything that distinguishes them from other Pokemon of the same species. Such as being taller, having certain scars, whether they're clean and orderly or unkempt and messy, whether they're more agile and evasive than other members of their kind, or whether they might be a little slower but a little more burlier instead. Definitely don't treat it like the games where Pokemon are essentially just cookie cutter copies of each other. Take the Pokemon character's personality and apply it to their physical description, such as a wild and carefree Raichu appearing to be a bit messier and dirtier in appearance while a socially conscious Gardevoir may try to keep herself as clean and refined as possible and make sure she only looks her best. A Pokemon that likes to fight and compete might have a few more scars and injuries from all their days of rough and tumble, while a Pokemon that likes to race may be leaner and athletic in appearance.

Again, it depends on the character, what their personality is like, and what they would be like as a Pokemon.

Totally nitpicky, but I just wanted to mention that a character's speed is generally unrelated to their physical appearance. That said, you can describe how they hold themselves - stance, posture, facial expression and such. I suppose you can stretch it to the physicality of how they move, whether it's stealthily, with a limp, lumbering or with quick, sporadic movements.

You can also include accessories - it's not too big a stretch to imagine vines wrapped around a Pokemon's middle like a belt or around its wrists like sweatbands, or a Wigglytuff wearing an earring they once found. A Meowth may like to toss a coin it found between its paws, or a Munchlax could always have a Berry in its hands. Pokemon also have held items in-game, so a Murkrow can be wearing BlackGlasses, a Banette with a Spell Tag attached to its head that billows in the wind or a Machoke could wear a Macho Brace.

Heck, you can have something as simple as a Pokemon with different-coloured eyes, or with fur slightly darker or lighter than usual. But really, it's not always necessary to make your Pokemon character look different or unique. A Butterfree can just look like an ordinary Butterfree. But you have lots of options. :>

~Psychic