I'm posting this here because it's going to cover many different things having to do with RPing, and I'm not sure how to categorize it... or even if I can.

Totally not meant to be a pity-party, and I am going to figure out how to take action.

First of all... I don't think I even want to show anybody my RPG, even when I've been around here long enough to be able to post it.

Here's a little laundry list of things I never even thought about prior to coming here:

- Oh snap. A plotline? Uhhh....

- I totally collected my background and banner from a web graphics site plus a logo-maker site and made necessary adjustments in standard Windows Paint. Ohhh I feel like a failure there. I was going for simple and cute, but now I see the importance of beautiful. I'm not artistically inclined, and Paint Shop scares me.

- My Rules/FAQ/Guidelines are terribly unorganized and I'm not sure how to fix it.

- I figured the whole "What's this RP about?" was kind of obvious in the name and in the banner. I didn't want to be redundant, but I guess I may still have one of those forums that people will glance at for two seconds before exiting.


And, I'm not a 'veteran RPer' mainly because I've seen so many terrible roleplaying boards, threads, guilds, what have you. The spelling, writing style, and general story were CRAP! So I held back and waited around until 1) I could make my own, and 2) I found this very site. (Which, by the way, a deep thanks to all involved! I'm intimidated, but still inspired!)

So, the little roleplaying I ever got to do, I thought was brilliant and outstanding, but with so little actual experience, I'm "rusty", and goodness knows everyone's tired of seeing that.


Okay. Deep breath, and now I'm going to do a little comparing.

*shrugs* One of the best sites I was ever on didn't really have a proper plot. And people can make beautiful things on paint.. I can't, but my mate did amazing things with it. And disorganized rules are no biggy really either, because potential members have to read them all anyway.

And you can roleplay at whatever level you're comfortable with.. I personally think the days of the smaller posts are coming back. I've written 3000 word posts, but I still find it just as cool to write 100 word posts.

Thanks, much appreciated!

I noticed just now that there are a few other users who are equal novices, and it seems like so far the general consensus is to give it some time.

I only started my forum because I was on one that got deleted with absolutely no word of warning, right when I was in the middle of posting.

It's my first forum, and to be honest, if I'd found this place before making, I might still be dithering. I picked Forumakers because someone gave me the link, they're free and ads-free and I think they're pretty simple to use. If I'd been here, I might've gone with IF, but that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

I only have Paint, and my banner, mini-banner and admin icon are all cropped from a pic i found via Google Images, with a bit of text added in Paint. It might not be 'beautiful' but it does the job. And there are people out there who can and will do wonderful graphics if you ask them. I just have to get courage up myself...

I think this place is great, but don't let it put you off making your own forum your own way. Just because people think you have to have something doesn't mean that that 'something' is right for you. I don't have an advertising board, or a cbox, for example. But I don't think my forum needs them. If my members were to mention it, that's what would make me consider it. Not because every forum linked to by people here has one.

Speaking as a newb, of course...

I think there's a kind of ongoing process to things. No one starts out at the top knowing everything. Don't stress too much. Having a pretty skin and banner is great of course, but something that is functional and doesn't make member's eyes bleed can be just as good for many sites. And if you want advanced graphics, you could always request some. There's a whole lot of people that don't make their own.

As for a plot... some sites just don't need them, really. Background and setting are needed, but I've been on some awesome sites that had no plot to speak of, they just let members kinda of take the setting, pointed in a vague direction, and said "run with it!". And that was fun. :pink:

If you're worried about your rules, you could always make a topic here and ask the fine folks of RPG-D to look them over and give pointers and ideas.

On the rules and such I agree with the first reply on the post. Though it helps if the admins have organized stuff in a logical way and I usually pursue to do so. Think about all the stuff you have decided to include and create mental categories..then categorize things that you find easy to throw into a mental box of yours. Then what is left...see them through and think category names for them. So now you have categories...usually marked in bold letters to distinguish them...and now you need to organize them in the level of their importance. Usually rules and FAQ involving joining and registry are listed first just to give you some linear sense. Why they are first? Well it's surely important since peole looking through the rules are in the process of joining.

The plot...well not all sites have them. They decide to just set a frame and let people go on with their business. It's a very open environment with just something limiting it and for some it works well. You just have to see that there will happen at least something that takes the world of the RP forward.

Aw yes I suggest you take a look at the plot before just popping in and out of the site. I usually look at the apperance first but I will also check the plot no matter what the site looks.

On graphics, I suggest you maintain some sense of aesthetics's...you could commission your graphics and ask someone to do them for you, I'm sure you get someone to make you a pretty graph by asking nicely and telling what exactly you want. There is no shame in commissioning graphics.

Oh sweetie! You worry so that it is cute! I like you now. Not many people recognize, admit or try to get help for their noobiness. I assure you, you will not be a noobie forever, give it time. I see you are inspired to get better and that is important. If you are so afraid of seeming rusty I suggest you join some beginner level RPs that seem to suit your standards and rise and shine there till you feel confident enough to join other boards.

I started out at an intermediate board (missed the lovely experience of noobie boards...) and my character was very mary-sueish...but I got better thanks to that board I dared to step in though I wasn't completely sure what RP was exactly and I didn't even speak the language they used as my native tongue. I just got the hang of it, dared to do my stuff and trusted my lingual skills. And my characters are not mary sue anymore lol. By only playing will you learn so you have to allow yourself to post, see where things go, join more boards, see other points of view in the world of RP....oh and RPG-D is a good place to compare experiences for sure the rant section will defo teach you one thing or another what people are sick of seeing but don't get intimidated. :) My first board was not the best but...I got better at doing those too so yes, as you RP you will learn and as time passes you will develop.

1) Beauty is only skindeep, they say. I hate seeing boards that are pretty and well-laid out only to find that the admins have sticks up their asses and no one knows how to write.

Honestly, I'd rather see an ugly good board than a beautiful bad one. It's nice to know you're trying; you may want to see if someone with PSP can help you out a bit if you're that serious about it.

2) I found this out with an RP I had (that lasted well over three years and is still going, if I am not mistaken): you don't need a plot. However, it really, really helps when you're starting off to have some sort of plotline in order to grab people's attention and pull them in.

If you don't have a plot, then you're going to have to work extra on making your board exciting in some other way. Make sure it's active and that people are having fun.

3) If you think you're unorganized and want some help, you can post in the "Managing RP" section like everyone else. :lol: Just throwing this out there, but you can also divide your rule into multiple categories (general, out of character, in character, graphics) and put your preexisting rules into each of the appropriate categories.

In addition, I like to put the rules themselves in some sort of order. Generally I start out and work my way in, so the first rules should be about registering and other things you do initially when you join, and the last rules should be about more specific things like graphics and that sort of stuff. But that's just one way to do it.

4) You may have to be a little redundant because people are stupid. :lol: But I think if you had some sort of "what is this RP about" thread, it'll help organize people especially since you don't have a plot. I have orientation threads on my current RP because we don't have some board-wide plot, either.

5) You don't have to be roleplaying forever in order to be good. Heck, I've only been RPing for about three and a half years and I think I'm better than some of these people who are like "I started on Neopets when I was 10 and I've been RPing for eight years." Not all, but some. The amount of time RPing doesn't matter as much as the quality of your posts.

Best of luck on your site.