Guild Wars Writer's Lounge

[Venn]

This thread was suggested by forum talent, VoiceOfLyssa, as a sort of meet n' greet area for writers to talk about themselves, their work and future projects.

I thought it might be a good place to stir up the pot to get some creative discussion about collaborative activities as well.

[VoiceOfLyssa]

Hmm, forum talent eh? I guess this means I should post here.

Hi Welcome

I'm VoiceOfLyssa and I write to get the story I've had in my mind out for me to read and enjoy. With any luck, at least one other person will like it. If more do well then I must be doing something right with it, hopefully I can keep it up and help entertain others.

[Venn]

Writing has never been my forte, but I do enjoy doing little roleplay write-ups for recurring characters in various games. Mannerisms, where they come from, nature vs. demeanor, motivations and what have you.

I always liked it when they allow you to click on other players in online games and read their write-ups as well.

[Ruse]

I enjoy RP and every character in games has at least a short one-shot for a background. In Age of Conan I haven't really been RPing much lately; when I do I typically like to involve PvP as well, and not everybody's a huge fan of that, lol.

The other downside to RPing on an FFA server is when I charge up to show someone my toon's pet rat they automatically assume you're going to attack them. :tongue:

Most of my characters reappear in all games...some I write for outside of gaming universes as well.

I've been mulling over an idea for Ruse Torrent v2 (IE, for Guild Wars 2) and will prolli post it once I get some time to write it up.

[VoiceOfLyssa]

I've always used my 'BIO' section in those kinds of MMOs for something more useful... Like crafting information or needed quest drop locations in QUEST NAME (Item / rate) format.

Then again, I condier RP to be more table top games than over an MMO. For me, MMO is about accomplishing your goals.

[Ruse]

Never played table top RPGs. I've played single-player RPGs on computers, though -- things like Neverwinter Nights and such.

[VoiceOfLyssa]

Table top games are great, so long as you can get a good group of players and a good person to run it. That's the tricky part of it. Hell you don't even need to pay for books, I know people who have litterally created games from scratch. Completely different play style from anything I played before. I have WhiteWolf's Werewolf, Wraith, Vampire and Mage. DnD 2nd ed., 3rd, 3.5, and 4th. Rifts, Witcher (Polish game, got it translated by a transfer student crazy awesome game) and more.

The game she made was freaken awesome. As you can probably guess. I love creating and telling a story. I love having a game where the players are enthralled with the plot. I would gladly stop my game to play in hers. She was an amazing storyteller as well.

[Venn]

That's why I'm such a fan of RP. Before playing Ultima Online I played the Whitewolf brand of games in high school. All these current RPGs pay little to no attention to roleplay aspects and that's why I'm going to appreciate the Personality System so much.

That's also why I like the creative writing aspect of making a character. Instead of it just being some toon I'm controlling they become something more as a character concept.

[VoiceOfLyssa]

Yea, I hear that a Karma System is added for when you help your fellow player(don't share much about it please I want to actually be surprised about GW2). Really I don't see much of RP potential in MMOs, nor would I want much of an RP element in it. A game just doesn't lend itself to proper RP. There is a single narrative that eveyone encounters, no variations, and set and standard responses that you pick.

Think back to your Whitewolf days Venn. You are a Glasswalker Ahroun walking into a Pentex building. Do you want to have choices from a script of fashion your own responses and work from there? Allowing how you made your character to help, or hinder, you as you move along?

MMOs will not be able to versitle enough to allow for that to happen in the near future. A fully dynamic system is not possible. Players will take time to respond and will parties want to wait too long? No. Additionally the amount of time you take to respond should also affect the way the AI responds, etc. In table top you are able to get it because you directly speak with the Story Teller or their assistant and are able to get responses and the like. I guess I demand much from games when they want to move into such high subtlely areas such as RP.

Oh, and to generally state it so I can be warned away from posts and pages. I don't want to know anything about GW2. I'm getting my info from Midnight over our VoIP as he finds out things he knows he can tell me because we've played together for... holy crap 4 years now. He knows what info I don't want to hear (Lore and certain stat specifics) other things I need to know about (Guilds, Alliances, Crafting, and other assorted Mechanics) due to my position in the guild. hurrah responsibility.

[Ruse]

RP in MMOs isn't really about interaction with NPCs (to me). It's about being in character with other people who are also in character, and using the game as more of a "backdrop" if you will.

Though the personality system is definitely going to help with the immersion a bit in GW2.