Nice and Regular...

...Just Like Eating Prunes For the Writing Soul.

Now that I have that image in your mind (yes, think on that!), let me say that I am really enjoying writing these up, and I seem to have gotten the habit of it down. I'm not sure when I took a heaping helping of those writer's prunes, but I've been able to push out all these posts without getting stopped up. 

Enough with the kindergarten humor, let's get this blog rolling! :D

What's Happening Valucre?

Putting the Dead to Rest- Fight for the Ellwood Forest- Orisia isle is dire need of some good swords to come to their aid, as they seem to have suffered an unexpected infestation of zombies, who are moving into their woods like an invasive species on the rise. No one knows where they came from (save the man involved), but they do know that these things are reproducing exponentially, as they come across populations of normal human beings. There's an IC prize (the creator is a bit short on VB right now) and it's intended to be another big event to draw in a plethora of writers. Some great talent's already shown up, perhaps you too would like to join the cause. The watercooler thread with all the info is found here!

The Tournament to End All Tournaments- One of our resident Storytellers has noted that some T-1 fighters who claim to have a great talent are individuals who narrow the scope of allowed rules and actions until there is little option for the other player take. In order to remedy this, and to allow others to put their real skill to the test, he has proposed a three prong tournament- everyone using the same generic character, each person will fight in an (Un)Realistic Melee match, a Mild Power match, and a PC match. The fights are the best of three, and the grand prize- 2,000vb! This thread is here, and will not occur until after the current tournament (Olympia).

Ursa Madeum Updated: A Call to Inquisitors- Newly renovated and backed with some solid lore, Ursa Madeum has seen some major face lifts to the board, making a more congruent lore that ties in with Terrenus in a better fitting manner. The city now hosts the force of Inquisitors, whose job is to investigate the major crimes and terrorist acts committed in/against Terrenus, and then deal with the wrong doers accordingly. It sounds like a lot of work has gone into it, so hey- check it out, here.

Question of the Week!!!

Alright, so last week's question was: Who is your favorite character from the Batman universe, other than batman. I only had ONE person respond, so they get to be the automatic winner.

Thank you Fallen Joy- whose fave is Poison Ivy.

This Week's Question- If you could visit any *one* place inside Valucre, where you want to visit? 

Let's see where people would like to take a vacation, and we'll give out a prize next week. Remember, the lucky winner get's 50VB!

Say Hello to Our New (and Returning) Friends! 

Well, this week- we have no returned friends. :(

However, we do have 9 new faces to meet and greet. :D

Welcome, Yusui

Welcome, Stoner Boy

Welcome, TheDanHammer

Welcome, Pryde

Welcome, Demon Eyes Kyo

Welcome, Percy

Welcome, Allen M.

Welcome, Gallows

Welcome, Seira

A warm welcome to our new members. I hope all of them find their place inside Valucre. ;)

Other Highlights?

Alright, you know what? I'm not going to gripe this time. Nope, going to save my breath on it, because I find myself doing this week in and week out anyway. What's the point? You're just going to keep looking at me until I do it anyway. >_>

View Site Leaders- So, you're wondering who's on the staff, and what they do? Well, at the bottom of the forum, right below where your groups are listed (if you have any), you will see two buttons- mark forums as read, and View Site Leaders. When you click on this, it takes you to the page that will tell you who all of the staff are, and what they do. You can see who the administrators are, those who work for staff under one of our many job positions, who runs those jobs (Team leaders), and who the board leaders are. Gives you some points of contact, should you need it.

Write a Blog- Why yes, Valucre had a blog feature built into the site, where you can write your thoughts, character info, musings, or about anything else (just don't violate board rules ;)) that you wish to write down. You can get to this from your profile (there's a button below your profile pick that says 'view blog') and you can get to blogs from the front page- there is a button called view new blogs. Check it out. :)

 

Closing Thoughts?

Today, I am going to touch on something that I personally have not seen become too much of an issue in the more recent days, but I have seen happen on occasion over time. The subject that I am talking about is keeping your 'Out of Character' feelings out of your 'In Character' interactions. 

There are people in this world that we do not like- can't help it, some people just rub us the wrong way, and sometimes it's for reasons that really has nothing to do with them. Of course, there are people just really get on your nerves, and you just love to fight back, creating this back and forth animosity. Now, the subject of letting things go is another one entirely, but I think you can see my point- there are people (even on the forum) who we do not like. This becomes a problem when it leaks into your IC world. 

The easiest way to evade this is to simply not role-play with the person in question. The problem is, there might be an occasion where both of you decide to join an open event, and the reasons you both joined are rather similar- good looking story you can have fun in. However, now there is a conflict- what can you do when that other guy is role-playing in a thread you wanted to participate in as well?

Treat it like you would at work.

Ever have to work with someone who, as a person, you could not stand? Or work with a customer/client/patient, who just drove you up the wall. If you planned on keeping your job, I'm betting you grinned and bore it, doing the best you could to get along with the person in the interim. Why do that- well you both have a job to do, and fighting won't get it done.

The same can be applied to writing.

If you are both too busy trying to mess with each other IC because of your dislikes Out of Character, you are setting your thread up for failure. It won't be fun, others are going to leave, and you end up with a thread that became nothing more than a fight between roosters. Taking out your Out of Character griefs on someone In Character is not only unhealthy and unproductive- it's immature. We are writing in a fantasy world with characters who do not know the individuals that play them- why would they know about your intense dislike of that other Joe?

Look, as best practice- avoid RPing with people you really cannot get a long with, and if that is not a feasible solution- bear through it and treat it like you are doing a job. Who knows- maybe enough time Rping that you are getting along might lead to some positive outcome. ;)

There be your closing thoughts- see ya next week folks!

- Acies

“We write to taste life twice; in the moment and in retrospect.” 

~Anaïs Nin

Holy Updates Batman...

There's Another Blog Post Afoot!

Ahhhhh yeah, classic batman for you right there. That old show sure is a blast from the past, a classic take on my personal favorite hero, only that old bit was even cheesier than this blog, if you can believe it. If you don't believe me, then you really ought to check this out: Shark Repellent

Now that we have the awkward moment out of the way, we can get moving along with the blog post for this week. There is going to be a couple of small changes (good ones, I promise), so don't be surprised at any switch-ups you might stumble across (for those three people who actually read this regularly. :P ). Without further babble, let's get to your blog for the week.

So, What's Happening Valucre?

Represent Your Nation Continues- This time around, the facilitator and board leader of the region this takes place in submitted some information himself, so I am going to let his words speak for themselves: 

Renovatian lore has finally seeped into the into the atmosphere, spreading across Valucre like a wildfire. Stories of champions who then in turn ascend to Olympians when they are given the chance to represent a piece of land within Olympia, the grand stand of sports entertainment. Leave home a nobody and return home to your native brothers and sister a brand new you - experienced, enlightened, and enthused about having become an ambassador for your nation if only for a day. Put your home on the map and let stories depict how you've done so with praise and elegance. 

Check it out here: Are you an Olympian?

Gotham's Reckoning- So, you knew there had to be a reason behind all my Batman references, right? I was informally approached about featuring this in the blog, like I wasn't going to anyhow? Hell, WWBD, right? Anyway, less babble and more focus on the Role-play:

Gotham City is under attack. From whom, no one knows. But when the city turns to fire, all hope rests on Batman. For years, The Dark Knight has safeguarded the city; his shadow a cloak of protection for the just, a pitch black menace against the wicked. Still, the war wages on. It's been ten years since Batman first took on the onus of protecting this city. Lives have been lost. Criminals have been incarcerated. Crime has lessened. But Gotham is still a hot spot for criminal activities, and every day, its streets are bathed in blood. No one knows what the outcome will be, but by god, they hope...

Where will you stand?

That's right, folks. We're bringing Gotham to Valucre. This will take place predominantly in the Alternative section, each thread labeled with 'Gotham' to help our writers [and devoted readers ;)] identify them. Our storyline will be based off the Batman canon, so we are looking for people who can fill those roles and play them consistently. Some of you will already be familiar with the canon, while others will have to do some research [well worth the effort... believe me, I know]. Applications are listed below, so players seeking to play a specific character can submit it to us via e-mail. The characters can be either from the canon [Joker, Crane, Riddler, Mr. Freeze, Alfred...] or completely original [henchmen, police officers, victims, reporters...]. Our goal is to ensure that the players know the characters they want to play and can portray them appropriately. With that said, have fun, and get ready to see the dawn of Gotham's new age.

If you plan to take a stand, find your allegiance here.

The Great North Need's More Antagonists- The Great North is still looking to get some more members added to their armies, and if you are someone who enjoys being a bit of a 'bad guy', this might just be your outfit. Being an antagonist does not necessarily mean being evil- only you are the group in direct opposition to the other 'protagonists'. You might be playing just a crazed nationalist who shares their ideals, or hell, you might really be an asshole. Whatever your reason, if you want to participate in Role-plays centered around the rise of the Great North (those bullies!), then check them out here.

The Black Tarantula Event- I keep plugging this in, because it sounds like it could a be a great deal of fun.  If you like an RP about strange parties and celebrations of Valucran holidays, this should be right up your alley. Light fun, an easy place to get some posts in. Go check it out. Vanity's End

The Trail's Gone Cold- An open Genesaris quest, promising a special unique item only available through this quest (and not through either of the shops) as well as VB. Three excellent writers have already signed on, they have room for more help if others choose to join in. The VB should be good, but I think the RP will be a great one, as the biggest threat is not necessarily the enemy (12 kidnappers) but the dangerous woods and the harsh winter storm setting in. Will you rescue nine kidnapped children from slavers? Genesaris Quest

Question of the Week!

So, I snuck it in last week, and handed out VB to those who posted their answer. I got a few hits, and I realized that if more people respond, I am going to end up bankrupt quickly! So, instead of sneaking in a question, I am going to make it a regular thing, and make it into a drawing. 

So how does this work?

Each week, I am going to ask a question. You can comment on the blog, or PM me your answer. On the night of the next blog, I am going to take all the names who entered, toss some dice or throw names into a hat or some other method of randomization, and the person whose name comes up will get 50vb. I will post the winner of the VB, as well as the popular answers. I list them without names, so none will feel embarrassed by their responses. ;)

Last week, I asked for what place you would represent. I got four responses, but I am not going to dig them out today. I'll list those starting next week, ha ha. All four of those people earned 20vb, so congrats to them. Next week, one person get's 50vb instead. :)

This Week's Question: Who is your favorite character from the Batman Universe, other than Batman.

Ponder on that one, and one lucky winner will get 50vb, and I'll publish the answers next week. :)

Say Hello to Our New (And Returning) Friends!

Here is the other aforementioned change this week, because I had three people who were on prolonged absences return to the Forum, I am going to start highlighting returns of members who have been gone for more than three months. If you were on an extended leave and have stepped back into the forum, we'll give you a warm welcome back. 

So, first- to our new friends:

Welcome, Zie

Welcome, Tavy

Welcome, Ancladar

Welcome, Rinnak

Welcome, Rimodar

Welcome, Aeleren_Strov

Welcome, Desdomena

Welcome, Philogelos

And, now a welcome back to those departed and returned:

Welcome back, Beautiful.Story

Welcome back, Macabremarionette (Previously Known as Carrionjackal)

Welcome back, Ruski (Previously Known as Raik Inus)

Welcome back, Blue Shoelaces (Who did not make a thread :P )

Looks like with School coming back around, our rate of newcomers as dropped a little, but that's okay. We're also glad to have returning members as well!

Other Highlights?

After all this new stuff I threw at you, you're still here expecting that little extra bit? I think I've gone and spoiled the masses. Well, have it your way.

Profile Database- This one is definitely aimed more at our newcomers than our older comers. If you have decided to make a fleshed out character sheet, you might wonder where to put them. Well, the character database is the place of course! (If I sounded like Dr. Seuss, I apologize) The setup is easy, just post in there based on alphabetical order, under whichever name you choose to use (First, last, or alias). If you are having trouble coming up with a sheet format, we also have a set of free to use sheet formats listed within that section as well. Just go directly to the database, and not one of the letters. It's a stickied thread. :)

Sup "Place"- Ever notice on the sides of the forum, there are these boxes that say 'sup' and then list threads? Well this tells you what threads in the canon lands were most recently posted in. It's a good way to keep tabs on what is active and what might be a good thread to jump in, assuming it is open of course. ;)

Closing Thoughts?

Well, back again with my 'words of wisdom', which truly amount to 2 cents, even with inflation taken into account (seriously, I looked it up ;P ). 

Today, I thought I would briefly touch on Forum Communication, and by that I mean- getting by without getting sucked into trolling, drama, or other problems likely blown far out of proportion. The bulk of what I am looking to cover is misunderstandings, poor wording, and stuff along those lines.

Only 7% of your communication with another human being is reliant on the words you used. When you have a conversation with another person, take a moment and think about just how little you actually rely on the verbal content of what they are telling you, and more so on the way their voice sounds, and the way their body is positioned. 

This is because 38% of your communication is paraverbal (Tone, pitch, rate of speech- your voice) and 55% is pure body language. 

When you speak with someone, the message you convey is largely dependent upon these other factors to help someone understand what you mean. I can say: "I like your hat". This statement by itself is rather innocuous, as it can be taken at face value, right? Well, what if I were to go- "...I like your hat". That might be a little more suggestive, right? Well, either way, you can't be sure of what I am getting at. In example one, I might intend to be as sarcastic as I can possibly be, while in the other, I was showing the amount of appreciation I had for that hat by showing I had to take a second to process it. Neither is the likely course, but it could go either way.

What I am getting at here, is that a lot of the time, we are completely unaware of how we are coming across. I might intend to convey one message, and someone else reads it in an entirely different way. That person makes a harsh response in turn, and the next thing you know, you have a full blown argument breaking out. It's not a pretty sight. That's a large part of the reason why I use A LOT of emoticons- I use them in place of facial expressions ;)

So, now we are at that impasse- someone has had a miscue and they have taken you the wrong way, or you yourself have taken someone the wrong way. What can you do about it?

Well, if someone has misunderstood you, the first thing I suggest is taking one BIG step back. Literally. Step away from the computer. Getting accused often makes us upset, and you might feel your temper flaring yourself. Getting angry yourself is not going to solve the problem- you are going to make it worse! And by contrast, please note- not saying anything at all is not going to help either- someone might take it as an admission of guilt. What you need is the healthy balance- nonagressive, nonpassive, just assertive. Once you feel calm, relaxed, and good to go- write a polite private message to the person an explain what you meant, and apologize for the mix up.

By ignoring misunderstandings or by further inflaming them, we have a failure in healthy communication, and we have a situation that shall amount to nothing positive. Keep your cool, and think before you speak. There is a good chance, if something comes across as wrong, or if someone took something the wrong way, it's due to the fact that writing text limits us to that 7%. 

That's my closing thoughts for the week, see you next time folks. 

- Acies

There are different rules for reading, for thinking, and for talking. Writing blends all three of them. 

~ Mason Cooley 

Today's Update is Brought to You By...

Sleep Deprivation!

Yeah, I stayed up for that meeting scheduled for yesterday, and it ran on for a while, cutting into my sleep window significantly. Therefore, if this blog seems a little off, loaded with errors or just plain goofy- blame it on the powers that be for putting the responsibility of your blog into the hands of a man who isn't sure of what the date is (I kid I kid). 

In all seriousness, if this one is a little rough around the edges, it is because I am running a bit behind my baseline today, so bear with me. Otherwise, let's take a look at what's brewing down in Valucre! 

So, What's Happening Valucre?

Role-Play as Yourself- I admit, the idea is a bit of a different one, but that's why I chose to point it out- it is something a bit different. The idea going on with this RP set is to see how you might interact with a world like Valucre if you are playing yourself. This is not something likely to get canonized, but in terms of trying something new and stretching those RP muscles- why not? It gets you thinking a little more about what it would be like to live in a world like ours (from the inside, not looking in from the outside ;) ). Anyway, here's the link: RP as yourself!

Represent Your Nation- Now, this looks like it has filled, but sometimes these T-1 tournament events can be a lot of fun to watch, and sometimes less experienced people can learn something new. I thought I'd highlight it for some to check it out, and see how a tournament works out. :) - Represent your nation

Hey- Reader test! If you leave a comment below telling me which city you would represent (as well as your Valucre username), I will send you 20vb- 5rp posts worth! Let's see how many of you are following along. :D

Vanity's End: A Black Tarantula Event- Remember this from the last update? Vanity's End is a party being held at The Black Tarantula. It's a mirror-superstition themed event, open to any who wish to participate. This event begins TOMORROW, Friday the 14th. Are you ready? Let's give support for this user event, put together by members of our site to generate awesome RP. We had a Gala go off exceptionally well, can we do it again? I think so, you guys are awesome like that. :)

Check it out here: Black Tarantula Event

Rulers and Activities for Genesaris- I am going to be going through and getting this sorted through, to determine where we still have openings and what places might become available again due to a failure in follow through by someone who reserved a spot. ANYONE can request to take a position inside a city, where they will have the ability to contribute to lore, create IC events, and affect the way a city is operating- all for FREE. That's right, no VB required. All you have to pledge is your promise to make the EFFORT to generate activity. We just want to see that, if we leave it in your hands, you are going to take care of that location with the same care one of us would if we were to maintain control. :)

Say Hello to Our New Friends!

Welcome, Mr_Fiend

Welcome, LupoSolitario

Welcome, Dark Templar

Welcome, Avvercus

Welcome, Graceful Grace

Welcome, Chaoticdownpour

Welcome, Kitsune

Welcome, Deghann

Welcome, Angeldemose

Welcome, Chihiro

A warm welcome to all 10 new members for the week, I hope each of you find your niche. If you haven't yet, check out the Tavern of Legend, a good place to start. :)

Other Highlights?

Never cut a guy slack will you? I give you my sob story about lack of sleep, and yet here I am delivering more and more. I see how this relationship is >_>;;; 

Have it your way!

The World Bestiary- Are you trying to think of something your characters can run into conflict with? Do you need a monster to be the driving force of a plot, or something simple to give your RP a bit of challenge? Well, we have a compendium of beasts available for your use! Does it have all creatures in Valucre- not by a long shot! However, there are some fine examples of things for you to use should you being running short of ideas. And hey- if you come up with something cool of your own, get it added!

Writing Not Related to RP- Hey, you have a bit of writing and you want to show it off, but you aren't sure where to do it? Well, you can put it up in our Art section of course- we have a sub board called Txt just for that. We always appreciate written submissions, but I must give out this warning- anything publicly placed on a forum is considered 'published' in that it could lose 'first publication rights' for a publishing company. Therefore, if you have content that you intend to attempt to push through to eventual publication, I highly encourage you NOT to put it on the board. Now, if you have things you like to share that does not tie with any ambition you might have- put it up!

Closing Thoughts

This came up earlier, and I decided I would like to touch on it the subject. 

"What is Valucre: A site for writers, or a site for role-players?" 

The core idea behind Valucre is to try and take both ideals and wed them together into something innovative and new. We pride ourselves on not only being a place that produces role-play, but fosters an environment that encourages improving writing abilities and taking a similar approach with our characters and role-plays that any author would with their characters and stories. In putting the two together, we create an environment that not only caters to those who belong in both spheres, but also those who tend to stay only on one side of the fence. 

You might decide that you are only a role-player, uninterested in pursuing writing in any sense beyond the role-play arena. How Valucre helps this person is by allowing them the opportunity to role-play, and instead of focusing on the technical issues of writing, we encourage them to delve into character and story development. While these are the tools of a writer, they are skills that greatly benefit the role-player as well. The more you can get into the character and the story you are role-playing within, the more likely you are to find full satisfaction.

Of course, we never guarantee satisfaction of RP, but we hope to increase your chances!

Now, you might be someone whose primary interest lie inside the world of writing. You did not come to role-play for its own sake, you can here because of opportunities to flex writing muscles. Well, role-play is an excellent opportunity to do just that! Inside the role-play realm, you play a character, exploring the process of characterization and personality dynamics. You get to see the relationship of environment vs character traits, and how plots can be wrapped around a character in different ways. Role-playing environments are a giant sandbox for which the writer can safely play and decide what they will take back with them to their stories. 

Now, in the middle are those who are both- and I think this represents a decent number of our members. I personally don't think I need to go deeply into the subject of why Valucre is a perfect place for those who enjoy both, but I will again emphasize- the fun of role-playing, with an emphasis on improvement and fleshing out characters, while exploring dynamics of environment and interpersonal relationships our characters might have. It looks like we might have some new things in the works to also help those who are here for both, so stay tuned for that. :)

That's all I got for today, go forth and role-play!

- Acies    

In Under the Wire

Good Day!

Alright, I admit it: I am running late today.

Blame it on all the activity going on lately! I am involved in a myriad of projects, mainly so I can keep busy. Of course, when the activity really picks up, that means I end up fighting just to keep my head above water. I suppose I could make one or two people wait, but I'd rather not- not when I have the time to sit down and get this done later in the morning.

So here we are. :D

So, What's Happening Valucre?

Vanity's End: A Black Tarantula Event- This is a user submitted event, so I am just going to borrow their words here: Vanity's End is a party being held at The Black Tarantula. It's a mirror-superstition themed event, open to any who wish to participate. I really think the "Wish Game" will really keep people engaged. 

Some Details from the thread:  

“Mirror, mirror, on the wall...”: See those rather large mirrors hanging on the walls? Notice the faces looming within them? Ask any one of them a question, receive an answer!

Wish game: This game requires the signing-up of each character who wishes to participate. Each group will be comprised of 3-5 people. Before the game begins, each player will receive a blank token to keep on their person. Once started, the tokens will reveal their faces; 4 will bear a portrait of Medusa; 1 will bear the portrait of Perseus. The object of the game? Be in possession of the Perseus coin by the end of the round. Lie, cheat, and steal, if you must; just be aware that any extensive physical altercation will be broken up, and the players involved will be disqualified. The reward: a granted wish. Whatever your desire, The Black Tarantula will see it done (within their means, of course).

Mirror-breaking: The main event. Just before midnight, The Black Tarantula’s lovely wait-staff will make their rounds, ensuring that each and every patron to this special night receives a square-foot sized mirror. At the strike of midnight, the mirrors are to be broken. How? Smash it on the floor! On your table! (but not on the bar, lest you tempt the wrath of Rebo) Use some trick of the mind! Use your hands! Use your friends! We don’t care how you do it, just make it fun!

Sound like a good time to you? Well, check out this thread and be sure to tune in SEPTEMBER 14th.

The Haunting in Patia- Roen is looking for a few good men (or women) to come help him deal with some serious supernatural problems his character created at some point earlier. The RP sounds quite interesting and if I weren't already bogged to my ears, I'd volunteer myself. Survival is not guarantee, so keep that in mind before you sign up. If you're willing to risk it all in the face of something terrible, this just might be a thread for you. Check out the thread for details, and see if you got a character who can lend a hand to our favorite devil.  

The Summons... again?- Alright, a fine member of ours, who sometimes has a habit of taking extended... breaks, is looking for some recruits for a level 3 quest in Terrenus. This quest is one that entails a great deal of risk for the characters, as you will be fighting some powerful clerics summoning even more powerful creatures from beyond the boundaries of our plane. If you are looking for big rewards and some serious fun, I'd check them out. I've offered to reprise my role as Storyteller for the RP, on the promise that its founder sticks around. Check it out here.

Want to own a piece of the action?- Alright, Supernal just recently bumped his thread as a reminder that he has some of Terrenus' leadership roles up for purchase- namely, you can purchase the role of a Mayor, influential politician, police forces, or different levels of gang members. The more you own of a city, the more influence you hold! On the other side, if you wish to do some work with Genesaris, you can gain access to a city for free- on the condition that you will make the attempt to generate activity (get RPs going, make a quest, etc) and contribute to some of its lore. If you fail to follow through, you'll lose it though.

If you want Terrenus, go here: Terrenus

If you want Genesaris, PM me on the site. :)

The Daily Weekly is Hiring- The daily weekly is looking for full-time reporters as well as those who work on commission only basis. If you have a character that you think would make a great journalist, than why not check it out? If you think you have a character who might be good with a pen and could drop an article now and then, that works too! All for the sake of VB, a useful commodity on Valucre. Check them out here: Daily Weekly

Say Hello to Our New Friends!

Welcome, Michikun

Welcome, Oblivionstem

Welcome, Cyberneko

Welcome, Suzie QQ

Welcome, Wolfchronicals

Welcome, Valeria vi Luster

Welcome, Meba

Welcome, Wants2play

Welcome, Yoshua171

Welcome, Lioness

Welcome, Oricai

Welcome, Megs

Welcome, MechaRawr

Welcome, Dreamwalker

Welcome, Mona Hraefn

Welcome, Hellsibell

Welcome, Mistress_Rose

Unbelievable, 17 new members in a single week. That is the best we've done so far, since I started aggregating this. Welcome to all new members, I hope you find your niche! 

If you are unsure of where to start, try the Tavern of Legend. I know I've seen a few of you drop by. :)

Other Highlights?

I just showcased 17 new members, and went the extra mile on what's going on, and you still expect some highlights? Give people an inch, they run off with the entire thing of yarn. @_@

Gaian Academy- Hey, do you want to do a character from the very bottom level and work your way up? Well, we just might have something there for you. The Gaian academy is designed to take would be adventurers and teach them how to become successful in that field. The Academy is a school for teenagers to young adults, where you RP students in various classes (either ones already made or elective ones you come up with and get approved by Supernal). Every once and a while, they have a big event to get everyone together. :)

Rate a Thread- Hey, do you want to feature how cool a thread is? Well, you have the option of rating a thread. At the top of the thread, at the same place you would go to subscribe or get a printable version, you have a button that says, "Rate this Thread". From there, you can rate the thread itself. If you think something is insightful, or an idea really cool, or an RP well done- give it a good rating!

Closing Thoughts 

We are here to write, and our method of writing is through the medium of role-playing. But what drives a role-play? The characters of course. 

Sometimes, coming up with a character can be the most difficult part of what we do. You want to make someone that will be interesting, fun to write about, and has depth. Of course, sometimes our motivations are to make someone tough, and cool, and have other traits we wish to see in ourselves. Sometimes, it might get tempting to get lost in the quagmire of an arms race or even worse- stumble down the path of a Mary Sue. 

Save your character from that fate.

When it comes to making a character, one of the first things you should be looking for is room to grow- for better or for worse, you want your character to have lots of room for change. Playing a character who is too static is making a character better fit as an NPC and not as a player character- an RP character is a main character, make sure they are dynamic! A character who has traits that can be shifted based on experiences has the opportunity to develop, and that makes them more interesting and should help keep them from feeling stale. 

At times, it can be tempting to go overboard on making a character really cool- if your character starts sounding like Edward/Bella 2.0, stop right there. Just stop. No, really- stop it or kill it, but don't unleash that on to the world. 0_0

People have flaws, and those flaws should be really. Not everyone is great at everything, loved by everyone, absolutely confident in life or the perfect match for every situation. Maybe your character is a bit too rude, perhaps naive, or maybe they are judgmental- and never to their benefit. Maybe they have a tendency to rub people the wrong way, or perhaps they lack confidence- there are many ways to make someone more interesting and more real. That doesn't mean you have to make them the proverbial butt-monkey of the universe, but they should have some faults. 

Besides the personality, we also have to look at powers and abilities. Fortunately, because we are a mild powers site, arms races are far less common. It used  to be that making a character often entailed detailing how you you could blow up the universe better than everyone else. Now that powers are reigned in better, it's less tempting. However, you still might feel tempted to put too much focus on your abilities and not enough on the substance of the character. Do that character a favor- develop the person first, worry about the powers later.

That means even if you are creating a new character with certain powers in mind, put those powers on hold and make the person before worrying about applying them. Playing a character should be fun for the sake of who they are, not just because of what they do. Don't get me wrong, sometimes, what they do is awesome and adds a good splash of flavor- but they should be able to stand alone, stripped of all abilities, they still shine in their own right. If you can do that, you have the makings of someone who will be awesome and memorable. 

That's about all I have to say on that at the moment. However, if you are worried about whether or not you are running the danger zone of a Mary Sue/Gary Stu, you can run them character through this Litmus Test: The Universal Mary Sue Test 

As with anything, take the results with a grain of salt, and treat them like advice, not condemnation. The questions alone are often good for making you think about whether or not you might have gone overboard with things. If you are happy with how they are, that's fine too. More often than not, you might find areas to improve before you even hit the submit button. ;)

Later Folks-

Acies

“If you will practice being fictional for a while, you will understand that fictional characters are sometimes more real than people with bodies and heartbeats.”

~ Richard Bach