An idea for a single RP-only group

[Adonais]

Though EA, in one of the stupidest things they've done in a long time, has allowed new players to choose what town they start in again. It made recruiting new players on Euro really hard. Not sure if they fixed this yet or not? Either way I think Lyle is right, haven would be a good idea, there are still more people there...comparatively.

[Hunters Moon]

Seems too many people are indifferent to the idea for it to work. Oh well.

[Adonais]

I think it is a good idea and it can work. Don't let the boards get you discouraged.

[Aneirin]

I've stayed out of the discussion so far because of my somewhat bitter ideas on the subject.

The fact is, having a regularly scheduled group who gathers outside of a tavern environment is a good one. Having a community roleplaying a town is a great idea. The problem is that few people are willing to put in the work (and to me, it is a lot more work than play) in order to make it happen. And of those people, if they don't see the perceived leaders of the shard putting in the work, they don't even bother to show up.

I can't offer any reasonable solution to the work-issue, since everything UP did only worked for the short term. What UP did right was every time interest waned in one of our projects, we immediately switched gears and moved on to the next one.

[Aedon Durreah]

Haven is a revolting little town.

[Alyssia Kanath]

You know, I see these discussions every year and they always fall to the same fate.

People on the boards say "Ehhh" and it discourages the people who want to get it going and then they let that influence them to just stop. Then a big ol' donnybrook blows out and it's all "He said" and "She did" and "No one loves me because I'm the middle child!"

Really, the bottom line is...this IS a good idea. IT CAN work.

You're also not going to get everyone on the band wagon. Especially a lot of the older or more established players.

There's a hundred reasons why. Some are perceived by those trying to organize it as naysaying and yes, some do. Some reasons are lack of time. Lack of interest. Some don't want to feel as if they're working a job during their small amount of online time. I could go on forever.

Honestly, the past few years, I've seen a great number of people start things like this and then if they don't get certain people "on board" and vocal about their participation they start feeling as if the community is actively trying to sabatoge their efforts and this is absolutely not true.

You don't need to have everyone jump up and wave their hands and say "I'll do it!".

All people have to do is have an idea...and start rolling with it. People will participate more actively if they just see others DOING it. Instead of a lot of talking about it. Sort of that "lead by example" thing. *smiles*

Do it. Do it in SKara...or Haven! A lot of us old timers have to get over our hatred of Haven (And Goddess I DO hate Haven... Just like I hated Britain when the game first came out...) and just suck it up...go back to old school and RP whether people like it or not. Grief us or not. Deal with the people who...quite frankly...are obnoxious enough to make me want to inhale exhaust fumes in a closed garage.

Because we used to. Every day. And we didn't cry about it so much. We dealt with it. We RP'd in spite of it. Now it seems like we're all a bunch of crybaby nannypants the minute some joker comes on screen going "WTF ar u rpin? Haha..F**G**." And we run home and cry and say "No one understands us!"

I'm going to say it. I think the community is failing because we created a beautiful thing and forgot how to share it with other people. Forgot how to share what we loved because we felt threatened by people who didn't "get it." We realized we COULD enclose ourselves in our little player run towns and we'd be safe.

Then we got stagnant.

And inbreeding...so to speak. *grins*

So stop listening to people who say it won't work. Stop expecting people to come running. Stop expecting us old timers to say what a great idea it is and how fabulous it would be "if". I mean really...it is...but honestly too many of us are so busy daydreaming about how it used to be that a lot of us lost sight of how it is.

Do it. Start showing us how great it could be "if."...and you never know. Maybe...slowly...it'll build. Instead of waste away. And never know, maybe...slowly...the community will stand up and take notice.

And they'll trickle in as they have time or wont to do...and say "Hey, this is nice..." and stick around or come by more often (If we can).

Let the hobbits stay in their holes...*grins at Aedon* After all they're warm and cozy.

Bake a big enough pie though and maybe...

Now...this being said. Let it be known that I am one of those naysaying old timer elitists. I probably won't win any brownie points with all the other naysaying old timer elitists. But...that's ok. They love me anyway. *grins* Even though some will be mad and I'll hear about it a month from now fourth party down the line. "Do you know what Aly said!? That bitch..."

But it's all good.

So...just do it. *shrugs*

(This post NOT endorsed by NIKE....I don't think....Michael Jordan? Is that you?)

[Aedon Durreah]

Here is the real truth of the matter,I hate Haven and always have and always will..so fricking what.

I will not be on board with any of the plans being made for one simple reason, I DO NOT play UO any more. Nor do I have any plans to play in the future. I do not give a rats patooty about what people may or may not choose to do. You want it, as Aly says, just do it.

I enjoyed my years in UO and still have a great about of affection for many of those in the community. But for me the game has ceased to exist as far as RP goes. I do log in from time to time to hut a bit, or mess around with what is left of my buildings. (The Rest and My house. ) But the very thought of role play in UO sickens me these days. It is not do to people, nor the constant uproar in the community. I think it is just that whatever it was that sparked my imagination and drove my characters in UO is gone. And I cannot see that any amount of planning or changing of things can bring this back.

Guys, just do it, build something that for you is magical and fun. The boards is not the place to plan out your RP, the best RP just happens. But it only happens if you get your hineys in game and play.

Aly, one nay saying old timer elitist to another, nothing you can say will make me hate you...for long. and by the way, that is not Michael Jordan, it is a giant Llama in sneakers.

[Alyssia Kanath]

Aedon is absolutely right. the BEST RP happens spontaneously or with effort behind the scenes in the moment. You don't need to have board participation to have in game participation. Hell only a small number of the community actually READ this board as far as I know. So it's not the best advertising.

And yeah, a few of us aren't even playing right now. Now Fiona and I haven't been in game in like 8 months. But we're restarting our accounts (So we don't lose our houses!) And we're not the only ones who are gone. Most often, only about half of the active people on these boards are playing at any one given time. The people who would be most able to do all this and most excited about it are the ones who are actively playing UO on a daily basis. And they're in game.

I bet if you caught some of these people in game, in the moment and brought up this idea they'd be pretty excited about it and may want to try it right then and there.

Now I'm not saying everyone on this board is inactive. Or that none of us are interested. Absolutely not. Some will be. Some won't be. I'm just saying that please don't let what is said on these boards influence your decisions to create something in game. Because in the end, our opinions don't really matter. Just like Aedon said.

Oh Aedon...I know. *grins* For long anyway. It's mutual, darling. *winks* But I don't know how I'd get along without you.

Saner...perhaps...but much less interesting...*wiggles eyebrows*

[Avalon]

well you will be Thrilled to know Skara has RP'rs and you dont have to go to haven although Im sure there will be some there as well. I know Skara has RP because Im There! I will even serve you fish if you happen to come by.

[Aedon Durreah]

mmm Fish

[Avalon]

*starts a fire and places the iron skillet on the coals, adds a slab of butter with some herbs and spices and the fillets from the day's catch*
*fills a small cup of a sweet honey wine*
now Thats a proper meal.

[Aedon Durreah]

I will look for you Tuesday eve. Getting really, really hungry for fishes.

The cold flat lands, they bite our hands
And sting our feeet
Our only wish, to catch a fish
So juicy sweeeet!

[Avalon]

I be there where be thee?

[Aedon Durreah]

I am so sorry, BP spiked and I had to take meds and behave myself for a bit. If you are gone now, I will make this tomorrow night.

[Avalon]

thats ok I shared with others instead.
well I left out some fish just in case... probably all gone by now though. you know how much bears enjoy fish.