Member-Made Plots

Age : 29 Posts : 3145

I think that we could introduce Member-Made plots to our site. Namely, plots that would not quite be of the 'international' scale that the Staff's plots tend to be, but, would be more 'local' and centered on characters. In order to make such a Plot, a Member would put up an idea, and have others of his Village or of his Clan (or whatever the condition is e.g Genin Team, Jounin of the Village) post with their feedback and approval. Although you wouldn't have to participate in such a plot, if accepted by enough people, it would be deemed an Official Plot and would take place. Its results, would be known to everyone of the Village. Perhaps, a reward in terms of Reputation Points, would be received also.

If that sounds confusing, then this is what I mean in practical terms:

- I have an idea for my character: He is going to become more famous in his village
- I make up a Plot. A dangerous criminal is on the run
- I ask that my Genin Team and some Jounin participate
- Some of them accept & the Plot is deemed approved
- I make a Topic for the plot
- My character is given charge of the participants, and is given the order to catch a Criminal
- He gives out orders to the Jounin & Genin
- The Others catch accomplices
- Kurisu catches Criminal
- Plot is over.

In other words, Plots are a series of Missions that entail a certain-sized group of people. This particular example is a very combat-based Plot, but really, a potential plot could consist of anything - even just be made up of Social Encounters, that have some goal. For example, someone could have a Plot that is all about gathering support for a Coup D'Etat. Or a Plot to leave the Village. Both of those would be very much centered on Social Topics, but could come to a finale where combat was involved.

Age : 29 Posts : 4301

Uhm... I'd ~~love~~ hate to be a buzzkill and everything, but what you've described basically sounds like a personal plot line, something that most members should already have. Basically the Staff create plots and events which the entire site follows, however, we don't restrict and force people to join in with these plots or events and so instead we expect them to keep a plot line of their own going.

For example, someone could be hunting for their older brother who killed their entire family apart from themselves. So a member would work towards that plot, by creating custom missions to gain information on their whereabouts or taking out criminal gangs that would gain further information. Then eventually they'd obviously find their brother, have a fight and win or lose.

That right there seems to be an example of a member made plot, however, they already exist and I personally call them Personal Plot Lines. Upon approval of your character, you have something to work for, a motive to follow or just something to keep you going along rather than waiting on the Staff to create more site or village wide plots and events. Much like how you were originally working towards becoming the Raikage. We hope for members to be following their own story lines like this and obviously we don't force people to create them, though it would be nice for people to do so in order to keep themselves entertained in between plots and events. Sooo yeah, solved?

Age : 29 Posts : 3145

They exist? If so, only in Members' heads.

What I'm proposing is a Section where you actually state 'Hey I wanna become Raikage'. Then with time, and if people want to, they can watch this 'Plot' progress and join in or seek to disrupt it. I don't know what other people want; maybe I could help them, or maybe it would be in my character's interest not to allow them to accomplish their wishes. Point being, whether new or old, members can pursue their 'plots' and do so with others - interact - which is really the primary reason behind being on a Site. Writing with others.

Sure you're aware of possible plots, as you approve Characters and have to read their history, but it's unlikely that anyone else does. Well with the exception of the Staff and even not all of them, since not everyone is responsible for Character Moderation. Point is, such a Section would bring out 'Goals' into the Open. You don't have to do it. If you wanna find your... 'long lost brother', you're free to do so on your own.

Age : 29 Posts : 4301

So you want these back?
scratch

Age : 29 Posts : 3145

Not quite. They told us what Relationships we had with others, which is not really what Member-Made Plots are about.

The Plots are about:
- having an Agenda, which others can participate in, that is considered official and can determine the direction of the Site in-roleplay, if big/important enough.
- Plots can be a string of Missions/Topics, which lead to an ultimate goal. For example, that goal could be something as trivial as getting a higher rank or perhaps something as creative, as investigating a 'fictional' murder.
- the main goal of a Plot, is to have others be involved or in the least, be aware of your Wishes for your Character. These wishes are meant to be short-term.

Plots Pages told everyone who they can be friends, enemies and 'more-than-friends' with. Very different.

Age : 29 Posts : 1797

As much as I love bending over for Darius, I actually like Chris' idea. I was always fond of those plot pages (until they got removed before I could post one Member-Made Plots 287405

), and having something similar return would be highly ideal. Not only would it allow members to organize their thoughts and long-term goals, but it would make these mini-plots and goals available for others to view and join if they wished. The older plot pages were kinda broken, in that they had far too few things to actually indicate a plot. It was also annoying to handle, because a very large majority of the members never bothered to update their own plot pages. It's also fairly difficult to enforce these actions; since they are personal sections. Moderators shouldn't be writing your plot for you; by updating it each time YOUR character does something. If members would actually participate in plot pages, I wouldn't mind having something similar revived.

Sorry Dari, but I'm against you this time. Razz

Oh; on a side note. There's no way in hell I'm going to help write up a new plot-page template.

Age : 29 Posts : 4301

I never even said I didn't like the idea!
Member-Made Plots 287405

My point was that his "idea" is already in existence, people have or should have their own personal plot lines. Chris simply seems to be thinking he's come up with some miraculous idea when in fact, no, it's already around, we just don't enforce and nor do we have it written up. The reason why is because it's up to a person to decide their own characters fate, we don't want to have to force a person to come up with something to do. It's their own responsibility to do so and the Staff shouldn't have to spoon - feed people plots and events.

Now then, the reason I had posted up the example of Plot Pages is because that is what they were, Plot Pages. Yes, they did not completely focus around plots but instead your own characters friendship and relationship towards others. That does involve some elements of your personal plot, however, it admittedly didn't manage to completely centre itself around personal plot lines. Which is why if and let me say that again, if, we were to bring back Plot Pages then they would have to be done so under stricter conditions.

Staff Members had previously placed a lot of time and effort into creating the original Plot Page idea and yet members were hardly bothered about their existence, though a few members here and there were. We, the Staff, have already got a lot on our plate to handle right now and having to re - create an entire idea once more will be another task to fulfil. Our work on this site goes hugely unappreciated and I do not want to have to see more work being placed into this idea and for it then all to be thrown away in the archives after a month or two due to member negligence. That is most definitely not helping the site progress at all. If we were to bring it back, then members would definitely have to show a lot more commitment to creating and maintaining these pages. It is not a Staff responsibility to handle another's plot and it still wouldn't be if we were to bring these pages back.

Chris wrote:: - Plots can be a string of Missions/Topics, which lead to an ultimate goal. For example, that goal could be something as trivial as getting a higher rank or perhaps something as creative, as investigating a 'fictional' murder.

Da actual fuq?

Cookie Monster wrote:: For example, someone could be hunting for their older brother who killed their entire family apart from themselves. So a member would work towards that plot, by creating custom missions to gain information on their whereabouts or taking out criminal gangs that would gain further information. Then eventually they'd obviously find their brother, have a fight and win or lose.

Age : 29 Posts : 3145

Just cause two things are called Plot Pages, doesn't mean that they're the same thing. D:

And no, it's not miracolous. I'm just saying that as a member of Staff, you look at people's characters and histories, so you generally know the gist of what they want to do with their characters. For most members however, this is not the case. I'm sure we could check and read every new character's details, however it's probably more likely that instead, everyone would prefer if people posted what they wanted to do with their characters in the form of 'plots'. This is only however, if they want others to participate in their 'plots'.

It's not forcing someone, because it's their wish to tell others that they want something done with their characters and essentially, want input/help with doing this. If I want to train a Jutsu, I will not announce it to the world. But like you mentioned, finding a lost brother would be more of a 'Plot' that others could help me in doing.

Age : 31 Posts : 2547

I agree with Darius on this. Would be a pointless feature to add that would go improperly utilized, and would unnecessarily add to the staff's already abundant workload.

Age : 34 Posts : 1209

I don't see why players can't just submit updates on their character profiles to be filed under history when something significant happens. If you want revenge on someone who wronged you, or if you suffered trauma during an RP and want that added then go and re-write your history to make it fit. We don't need a whole section for this. We have character sheets for a reason. They aren't just for show. Wink

Age : 29 Posts : 3145

Lol Kite, character sheets are only there, so that someone approves you. From there on, all thoughts for personality are discarded, and appearance is changed regularly anyway (in posts). History matters very little as well, and seeing as the Combat Style is generic, it rarely applies anywhere. Hence, our Character Apps are only for show - a loose reference, and a proof of your skills as a writer.

The Plots is a string of missions/topics. Like I said, that is the best description for it. It is indeed like a Regular Staff-wide plot, with the exception that it's made by Members and other Members can but don't have to participate in it. Usually, the Staff force us to participate in their topics D:

With this idea, we can create a mini-plot any time we want, involve (mostly) whoever we want in it, and have some sort of goal behind a bunch of Missions or Social Topics. It's not some complicated change, that will ruin everything. It merely steers topics towards a general direction and goal.

Age : 29 Posts : 1797

Quote :: Lol Kite, character sheets are only there, so that someone approves you. From there on, all thoughts for personality are discarded, and appearance is changed regularly anyway (in posts). History matters very little as well, and seeing as the Combat Style is generic, it rarely applies anywhere. Hence, our Character Apps are only for show - a loose reference, and a proof of your skills as a writer.

That is completely false.. If you're not RPing along what you wrote up in your app personality, appearance, jutsu, and history wise; then you're obviously doing it wrong. Apps are definitely not 'just for show'. They're to ensure you don't go off character randomly, and give your character personalities, emotions, ideas and features that they wouldn't and shouldn't have. Saying it's a pointless feature definitely proves your skill as a writer. TEEHEE

Quote :: Usually, the Staff force us to participate in their topics D:

W-wha--- Now you're just pulling shit out of your ass. The only topic we 'forced' people join, was the festival; and that had nothing to do with the staff. It was done by Becky because she was the KAGE of Kumogakure, and was assigning you people teammates. If you didn't want a team, then you should have just said "I don't want one, I don't want to join the topic." We don't make anyone do the events. ._.

Age : 29 Posts : 3145

-_- I can't be bothered with this idea and trying to explain its pros, as opposed to very few cons.

Please Close Topic.

P.S: Becky is of the Staff - the topic had a Staff-based purpose. The Festival was for everyone, not just Jounin. And also as far as I remember, someone's failure to post was met with great pressure, inclining them to do so in a hurry. Although comical (for everyone watching Becky threaten Britt and CO xD), that was the case.

Age : 29 Posts : 1797

I know Becky is of the staff, but the event was conducted only by her; not the rest of the staff members. And I never said it was only for Jounin. I said if you didn't want teammates, then you didn't have to join. She didn't say "Join this topic, because I'm staff and I said so." People joined because they were given RP opportunity, and the access to more RP partners.

Back on topic; I'm for this idea, as I stated before. Out of personal interest, I'd rather not have this marked as solved. Especially since it's not solved to begin with.

Age : 29 Posts : 4301

Strong community response, not enough support has been shown for these to be brought back right now. Though we'll still look at re - implementing this some time in the future.

Solved.