How to post a Roleplay Update - a few pointers

[† Herzleid †]

This is where you post information about roleplay currently going on in MU that is of importance/interest to others to know and/or respond to. There are a few things you can keep in mind when writing updates, to make the most of this thread. The points are explained below:


Checklist

What it means

1) Self-explanatory really. Most importantly - don't post raw rp scripts! It's recommended you make one and save it in case issues or questions arise (or just for your own joy! ), but as far as an rp update go, a short digested summary is preferred. We don't need to know exactly who punched who, when and where, we just need to know something happened. Also, the updates are supposed to encourage people. Most people are discouraged if they have to read too much. Which also connects to the next point of this section; keep it readable! That basically means splitting it up in convenient sections. Use these guidelines for a reference, one new paragraph for each one! ;D Done!

2) If the update is related to or based on other events currently in motion, state so and if possible make a linked reference to the threads in question (or at least give the names of the threads). If you're not sure how to do the UBB code mark up/can't figure out the legend above the text box, ask someone and we'll help you out the best we can! The account of the actual rp should be short but readable. What initiated the rp/scene? Who were present and what were they doing? What ensued (fight, conversation, accident, all of the above..)? What was the outcome?/How did it end?

3) Needless to say, if it's been a big thing and alot of people participated there's no need to mention everyone just because. It's not the Academy Awards after all. However if there are particular characters who have played a significant part of the event/roleplay it could be a good idea to mention them. This could be for example: If someone is now in possession of, or has lost possession of, something important to the storyline in any way, if someone was injured/incapacitated/captured/detained/etc, what would be noticed by the general public (were innocent bystanders involved? buildings destroyed? messages broadcasted?). Give a little "status report" to let others know how they should/could react to your rp.

4) This is particularly important if you post in a format mimicking a news feed, news paper article, press release etc. If there's something you want people to know about the continuance of the rp, possible venues for other characters to get involved and so on, you can make an OOC note and point that out, so that it's clear what you expect/wish of others. This is also good space for making suggestions/asking questions if the rp was interrupted or someone had to leave, to establish what happened/where to go from there etc.

5) Do not underestimate this! The whole gist of an update can fit into the title if you want to. "Wolverine gets arthritis" or "Dracula sighted at Wal-Mart" is really all you need sometimes! ;D If you're posting updates/events all circling around the same -larger- storyline, the best thing would of course be to keep everything to one and the same thread. If for some reason you want to make a separate update, but it's still related to another rp or has spawned off from it, you could put that in the title as well, for example: "New riots on Manhattan (Civil War rp)" or something such.

And that's that! There is of course not always need for -all- of these in an update post, but the clearer and structured you present something, the more likely people are to adhere to it and join in, and that's what we want - right?

Also as an additional note; Rp Updates is where you should post -all- things that you -for sure- want others to know about. Posting a character journal can -not- be considered an rp update since those are supposed to be IC journals, of more things than might be relevant for others. The journals are for fun, for your own character development and for others to read when they feel like it. You can't count on everyone keeping track of every character's personal journal. You can however expect others to read the RP Updates. (Whether they actually do that or not, is a totally different matter though...... )

Comments, suggestions, additions are welcome. If they're good I'll add them

[Secret Squirrel]

This is actually really really good... I thought my updates were covering most of the bases, but I see a few I missed now. So hopefully the few I post from now on will be better and more usable by others to fill out the story.

I know I have PMed a lot of people asking for more information about their updates in the past, as I found some of them really interesting, but lacking enough information for me to actually add anything to the story.

GJ Cerise.

[m i c h a e l]

*nods* I concur with S.S. - these are great guidelines.

The only thing I would add, that I did not see specifically addressed, is that as a player I prefer all updates relating to a very large RP to be on one thread. To me it's just easier that way, and it ensures that the entire history of a storyline is in one place for people who jump in somewhere in the middle.

I'm pretty sure that most people do that anyways, but it's worth noting IMO.

[† Herzleid †]

mwisebaker said:

The only thing I would add, that I did not see specifically addressed, is that as a player I prefer all updates relating to a very large RP to be on one thread. To me it's just easier that way, and it ensures that the entire history of a storyline is in one place for people who jump in somewhere in the middle.

Yeah, I agree. I think that's what I was trying to convey with the "mark your threads" thing. Keeping everything in one thread is of course desireable but I also realise the problem that since people often post comments or additions on update posts, new posts would risk getting lost if the thread went on for too long. It would require the original poster of the thread to edit the first post to link to the vital updates in the thread for those that don't want to read through every tiny little thing, but just get the major gist. Or like NC usually does in the big rps, edit the title to read "Major update on page 3" or something like that.

It IS of course possible and quite commendable to keep everything in one thread, but it felt like it's a bit much to ask and I don't want to put people off from posting updates. The point of this was quite the opposite So it seemed easier that if you post things that relate, at least mark the threads. But I'll add that to the post. Thanks Mike
Glad if you think the post makes sense!

[m i c h a e l]

cerise said:

I also realise the problem that since people often post comments or additions on update posts, new posts would risk getting lost if the thread went on for too long. It would require the original poster of the thread to edit the first post to link to the vital updates in the thread for those that don't want to read through every tiny little thing, but just get the major gist.

However, I think that if people follow the other guidelines in your post, this phenomenon won't be a problem.

I do agree though, it is a bit off-putting to see a lot of editorial comments on an RP update thread that have no real bearing on the story itself. But that would be the case whether it's for a major or a minor storyline. I think it would be a good general practice to try and keep posts on these threads as pertienent as possible. *nods*