RPG Comm?

[jedilora.livejournal.com]

Hey all-

I'm one of the Ravenclaw Rachels.

Earlier, luthiel posted a query about a writers community for HiH. I made a comment about thinking about an RPG community for here.

We both got a pretty good reaction. I just wanted to outline what my idea for the RPG comm would be, and get a bit of feedback as I try to plan out how this would be feasible. I've run RPGS before, but I've never had to build on as solid a pre-existing base as we have here.



What I'm thinking is a BYRP. In other words, a Be Yourself Role Play. There are some really interesting people here, and wouldn't it be nice to play with them in the halls of Hogwarts?

Everyone is sorted here in HiH. Those who wish to join the RPG would then inform their House RPG Leader, who would try to get them up to speed.

RPG Leaders: One or two per House, plus a main leader who acts as the GM. These people will get together online at least once a month and plan out storylines and events.

I'm not saying that it would be scripted. I'm saying that there would be an over-reaching storyline that weaves around different events, just as in the books. Harry's second year if played, for example, would have as its storyline, "What is the Chamber of Secrets? Why is it important?" Events would be the markings on the walls, the Deathday party, making the Polyjuice Potion, and finally, opening the Chamber. Events are the canon, things that affect total knowledge of the storyline. Potential storylines for us? You never know.

These would not be the only things going on of course. People live lives around major events. As the Baker's Wife sings in Into The Woods, "If life were made of moments/.../you would never know you had one."
Even if the Potions pantry mysteriously blows up, there's still Transfigurations, Arithmancy, and other classes to get to and through. People need to try to figure out what's going on, but also get things done. There would be crossover with regular HiH: Hogsmeade Weekends would take place at the same time, and would probably involve Major Events. (Or maybe not. We would have Slytherins on board, after all. ~_^)

Sues would be shot on sight. I'm sorry if you dream of having a multitalented practically perfect in every way character. They're no fun to play with unless it's target practice. Each person would have a major of sorts, one particular thing that he or she does very well. Thus, different talents react differently to different events.
Let's go back to our Potions explosion as an example. A Potion-talented student would be somewhat heartbroken by this, as s/he would be unable to work on pet projects. A Transfiguration student, on the other hand, might be happier, as it could possibly result in extra time for his/her pet projects. Add to that the different House traits. A Gryffindor Potions mix would probably really want to try to get to the bottom of the mystery. A Hufflepuff Potions might decide to trust that the administration would figure it out.

No leet. I've yet to see Canon!Harry say, "pwn3d j00 \/01de|\/|0rt!". Ditto on the netspeak. Canon!Draco does not say "lol harry ill brb 2 c u later" It makes it harder to keep track of everything when people don't even try to make themselves understood properly.

I'm still not quite sure whether or not to include canon characters. It doesn't really make sense, and yet the teachers are rather necessary. I'm thinking no in-class RPing.

I am being influenced by the Hogwarts Fanfiction Academy as I think about this, particularly in the ideas of ordinary lives lived in peculiar conditions. If you haven't had the opportunity to read it yet, I really envy you, as you're getting to see it for the first time.




Other ideas that have been added:

Teachers=HiH officials. Thus, Snape, Sprout, Flitwick and company? Would all be played by officials, who are already somewhat in those roles in regular community.

Other canon characters=NPCs. They would only be played by RPG officials, and could not be used in any sort of major happening. No dating canon, no friends with canon. Possible aquaintences, but kept to what would be logical.

kelleypen was concerned about potential divisions. Thus, I would like to add into the RPG structure a Daily Prophet of sorts. Something where there would be blurbs about what's happening in the game. This would serve two functions. One, it would keep players up to date on what's going on within our halls. Two, it would be a way for non-players to watch without too much effort. These blurbs would be tracked by House RPG Leaders. I'm not sure as of yet whether these would be on a website or in a separate journal or posted as regular entries and then added to community Memories.

Also, keep in mind-I'm asking for people to be themselves--IF they had grown up in the HP universe. Thus, you've got to be creative with your history and your actions-but not your personality. How would YOU react to these events? If you had a wand, how would YOU use it?


That's what I've got right now. Apologies for any major spelling errors-it's four in the morning and I haven't really slept as much as I'd like to have this weekend.

So? Comments, questions, necessary clarifications?

Comments

I'm interested =)

[chenpion.livejournal.com]

Just... a bit concerned at the lack of guys *soft laugh* Still, being role-play, that's not a big deal.

I'm a little tired of seeing everyone and their grandmother being an Animagus-in-Training. Think you'll be setting a limit/cap on those? If so, what's the criteria?

Not that many questions off the top of my head... I'm tired, at work, and you've written this post up really well =)

Robert - Ravenclaw Prefect
(http://www.livejournal.com/community/ravenclaw_house/)

[luckypinksock.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhhh! I just wanted to say Ahhhh Into The Woods! because there will probably be few other people who will be like AHHHHH INto the Woods! lol.

-Audra, Gryff

[intotheheart.livejournal.com]

haha I'm like AHH Into the Woods too!! :)

[pangkeryaogoen.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind helping out if you need some.

Fry-Slytherin

[fallsintoplace.livejournal.com]

That would actually be an interesting idea. I'm not big on roleplays, but this actually sounds like something I can potentially do. *grins*

Anyway, good luck with the planning and everything; I'd love to assist if any help is needed, but as of now I have to run because my brother needs the comp. =( For a four in the morning thing, you wrote a great write-up, by the way.

But DARN! I wanted to be an Animagus in Training... Lol. ;)

[sffl.livejournal.com]

That sounds like fun to me. :)

[nosesonapole.livejournal.com]

Yay! ^^

[arinellen.livejournal.com]

Meeee too! I've had very little experiance with internet RPGs but I have more than most and what I have I'm willing to contribute.

We could have more than one, I'm going to say one following the books and one that just creates a Hogwarts and we could see which one floats. The one that doesn't work can be merged into the other (or start on another book).

[gramercy.livejournal.com]

Hm, while I think it's a fun idea... I don't think it's possible to go into a community with open membership and then expect all of it's members to be able to do an RP that didn't involve Sue-ness but was full of OC's.

I'd be willing to try it out, but I'd be surprised if it could work. Very surprised.

Sara,
Ravenclaw

[mechamummy.livejournal.com]

Sounds cool. I'm interested.

[calico321.livejournal.com]

Riddler love!



And the RPG sounds like fun :)

[nickeldeuce.livejournal.com]

[elessar.livejournal.com]

As much as I like the idea of this, we can't possibly have a Be-Yourself RP without guys...I think we should take after other rps and let you apply for canon character, because seriously, with the lack of guys, we'd just end up being al all-girl's school with a handful of guys ;_;

Also, if you're playing yourself, it's hard to play yourself without embellishing your character - otherwise you just end up being boring!

In other words, we need creative characters. I've been in an RP where everyone's themselves...it's boring.

Chrissy//Hufflepuff

[vampirehobbit.livejournal.com]

I want to help! I'm a deleterian (deleterius), I eat Mary Sues for breakfast! ^.^ I'm sure I could be of some assistance!

[vampirehobbit.livejournal.com]

ahem... or if you prefer *correct* coding... deleterius

Max, Slytherin

[kelleypen.livejournal.com]

Sounds like more time than I have. Is this something that might potentially divide the community? Role players having their own inside jokes and things and non-role players out of the loop?

[jedilora.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping not. We're all here together after all.

Rachel, Ravenclaw

[sashwizzled.livejournal.com]

I have nothing intelligent to add - but yes, I like it and would most likely sign up!

Oh, wait, I do have something - how about making canon characters 'NPCs', in a way?
I mean - anyone can describe what the character is doing or interact with them, but it has to go along with canon/be in character, you can't write from the canon character's point of view, and it can't contradict something someone else has done with them in the same thread, or plot, or whatever we're calling it. ^^
And that's it. Again, great idea!

[vampirehobbit.livejournal.com]

The NPC thing is a good idea... as long as people refrain from going "0MGee, Draco-kins Ki$$e$ mE!"... My Sue senses are tingling...

[sashwizzled.livejournal.com]

Well, there's always that. ::polishes shotgun::

[boley.livejournal.com]

I totally dont get RPG. Hrrmmm...

boley//hufflepuff

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bebella/]

I like the idea :) I got all excited reading about it! haha ;D but I think we need to involve canon characters some way, like maybe the RPG house leaders can write them into storylines, but no one would get to play them...do you get what Im saying? Anyway, Im in for it, and interested in being a house leader:)

[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<big<b>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

I like the idea :) I got all excited reading about it! haha ;D but I think we need to involve canon characters some way, like maybe the RPG house leaders can write them into storylines, but no one would get to play them...do you get what Im saying? Anyway, Im in for it, and interested in being a house leader:)

<center><big<b>Danielle
Gryffindor

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bebella/]

oh god, I hate cut tags *bite me*

[akavertigo.livejournal.com]

Geez, darling, you never pick the easy projects, do you? Still, this sounds pretty darn nifty providing a strong pool of players could be gathered. Maybe a "trial run" could be organized to see if this has a chance of panning out?

We would have Slytherins on board, after all. ...oh, hush.

Lena, Slytherin

[jupluna.livejournal.com]

Perhaps the members that don't really have a lot of time, like some of the officials, can take the jobs as canon characters. I for one would love to play Snape.
But seeing as how the officials probably wouldn't have time to readily participate in an everyday basis...if you make them the canon characters...then you don't have to worry about it getting too based on the canon characters...and since we aren't doing RPGs of classes, it'll bring in the professors occationally as if they're walking around the halls or in the great hall or library or whatever. We'd only need a basic idea of the storyline since we'd basically just be doing cameo roles...specially if you started out with the storylines of the books.

Just a thought...cause I'd love to participate...but I really have very little time to devote to it.

AND A WARNING TO YOU ALL! IF YOU HAVE TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN AN RPG I BETTER SEE A HELL OF A LOT MORE PARTICIPATION IN CONTESTS! You won't be able to lie about not having time anymore...cause the RPG would take up more time then the actual contests would.

Juppy of Slytherin

[akavertigo.livejournal.com]

Officials=(canon) teachers. Yes?

[akavertigo.livejournal.com]

PS: Lena, Slytherin.

[jupluna.livejournal.com]

teachers and other students (as some of the officials are still young enough) Students being non-main character type though...like...lavender or pansy

[jedilora.livejournal.com]

I like that! After all, we do need teachers, and officials certainly fill that role nicely.

Rachel, Ravenclaw

[jupluna.livejournal.com]

teachers and other students (as some of the officials are still young enough) Students being non-main character type though...like...lavender or pansy

[limeyo.livejournal.com]

Oooh, an RPG. I love the idea so very much. I'm sort of iffy on the whole "Be Yourself"-part. *grins* What about the uninteresting, run-of-the-mill people like me? (Har, har, I'm joking. Kind of. I do like to play really weird people, though, so uh...I forgot what I was saying. I don't think it'd be quite as fun to play myself. o.O I do that everyday, you know?)

[bewareofsadness.livejournal.com]

I would love to be a part of this if i can :)

Kelly
Gryffindor

[darkchan.livejournal.com]

Sounds oh so very spiffy. Granted the point about having so few guys around here is a good one... Ah well. ^^

[unwoundfantasy.livejournal.com]

Ah, I skimmed through the comments so forgive me if I say something that's been brought up. ^_^ As lady_daendre mentioned, it might work nicely to allow folks to apply for canon character roles! :) Add in the Officials playing canon (Would I be Dumbledore?? ROFL I could have so much fun with that) characters, and you've got a nice balance of canon vs. OC. It would also help greatly with the guy/girl ratio, which I saw a few concerns over.

Other than that, I really do love your idea, and give you full permission to go ahead with it when you're ready. Go ahead and join hh_officials and I'll approve you since you'll be modding a branch community. Name it whatever you like, although preferably tie-in the "HH" theme. :)

Also, do you think you'd like to have icons that sort of go along the same flow for the canon characters? Let me know and I'll schedule it in our contests. If you've got anything you need to discuss, my email's all over the place. bunny.district@gmail.com See, there it is again. ^_~

Good luck!!!
Bunny

[jedilora.livejournal.com]

Thank you much! Yes, I'm thinking you would probably be Dumbledore. Parse it out properly, and each House Prefect would be the Heads, which would work out fairly well I believe.

I've set up the community, though there's nothing there as of yet. It's at hihrpg and is set as a slightly moderated community for right now. I should have it somewhat up and preparing for running by tomorrow, day after at the latest.

Still thinking about how to put out the canons. I'm thinking that at least at first, no canons other than the teachers. People who participate would be able to earn them, somehow. I'm not sure quite how to as of yet, but I'm working on it.

Rachel, Ravenclaw

[unwoundfantasy.livejournal.com]

Great! I just joined, you'll have to give me mod rights just for future ease. And I agree, having the Prefects be the heads of houses would work fairly well. I've given you your access into officials, you can take that from there.

Hmmm earning them.. Sounds interesting. Let me know when you've got that figured out. I would also like to incorporate the idea of having an application process as well. I'd hate to see someone earn the part of Hermione and then misspell every other word. Hehe. Unless by earn you mean proving that they can do it. And not.. earn. As in.. rewards and knuts and such.

Long day. ><

Bunny

[jedilora.livejournal.com]

::patpat:: I feel that. Last day of classes was today for us.

And by earn, I'm thinking going by previous actions. Not buying. Someone who has shown they can play well with others, keep track of stories, so on and so forth.

::offers a glass of Odgen's::

Rachel, Ravenclaw

[unwoundfantasy.livejournal.com]

Ah, okay. That works for me, then.

*takes with gratitude*

[shakiracrazy.livejournal.com]

I'm in, and I agree with Bunny. I mean, we need some canon characters otherwise it's not really a role-play. Maybe just have position open for a few characters. Slytherins play Slytherins, Ravenclaws play Ravenclaws, etc. Applications can be posted in the house common rooms and the best application gets that position. *shrugs* Just and idea, but I'd love to do this not matter what ^_______^

-:The (other) Rachel:-
~Gryffindor~

ps- Sues would be shot on sight. I'm sorry if you dream of having a multitalented practically perfect in every way character. They're no fun to play with unless it's target practice.

Well said XD

[siriuslyorli.livejournal.com]

I'd join it! it's sounds fun :)

Heather//gryffindor

[ex-songshee.livejournal.com]

OH, ME. I love RPG's. WOO.

And if you ever need help, I've ran like...3 before...before the owners decided to close them on me. T_T I still cry.

So yeah. Holler at me about what's going on. =D

[drummah.livejournal.com]

I'm definately in. :}

~Jen // Huff-n-Puff

[drummah.livejournal.com]

...uh...Pretend I spelled definitely right.

[aurora-borialis.livejournal.com]

Yess... Definately "Hogwarts Fanfiction Academy" was running through my head. lol! I think it would be great fun! I mean how many people could relate to "hogwarts Fanfiction Academy" 'casue it actually an exagerated, satirized truth, but true. I think it's a wonderful idea! I'd be interested if one was made.

Austynne, 'puff

The fun of this...

[chenpion.livejournal.com]

... IMO, is really 'mixing it up' with the people of our community. I think it should be mandatory that you actually apply with 'yourself' ... but be allowed the option of creating an alternate character (maybe after you've been active for at least 3 storylines or whatever) so that there are more males in the community.

It's an idea =)

Robert - Ravenclaw Prefect
(http://www.livejournal.com/community/ravenclaw_house/)

Re: The fun of this...

[jedilora.livejournal.com]

You sir, are showing your Ravenclaw. This sort of thing is exactly why I asked for suggestions. That's an excellent idea. Perhaps after playing through a few major events, and thus getting settled into the RPG and showing how involved a person is, they can either earn an original or keep playing to earn a canon. Hmm...::takes notes::

I'll actually be at an anime marathon with akavertigo of Slytherin and darkchan of Gryffindor tomorrow. I'm intending to bring a printout and a pen to work out some things with the gamers there, and those two know what this place is all about. We'll work out the rules, never fear.

Rachel, Ravenclaw

I used to run several online role-playing games =)

[chenpion.livejournal.com]

In fact, I'm ... famous/infamous in the comic circle. *cough* Anyways.

The other thing to consider... really, it shouldn't have to be said, but given the popularity of slash in these fandoms... is that most of the students are -children- and it's illegal to fool around at that age.

Have fun at the anime marathon!

Robert - Ravenclaw Prefect
(http://www.livejournal.com/community/ravenclaw_house/)