We all generally acknowledge that there are somethings that are way overdone in the RP world. Plots that are redone over and over with no difference so much that after a while it's impossible to tell one site from another. Examples?

Harry Potter: Next generation facing a new dark lord/evil group that may or may not be lead by one of the following: Draco Malfoy, Scorpius Malfoy, one of Harry's children, or an random child of Voldemort that JK conveniently forgot to tell us about.

Vampire and Werewolves: Somehow, they're always pitted against each other. As a whole, there's not much variance, in plot or in the races themselves.

Highschool/Town/City/'RL' games: Does anything really need to be said?

Yes, these are nice ideas, but they're very simple ones that everyone thinks of and uses. And uses. And reuses. Is it that hard to think of something new? For Harry Potter, why focus on the kids (there are a few really good RPs out there that don't do this, and I tip my hat to them for it)? Hell, why focus just on the magical side at all? What about those who walk that thin line in between magical and muggle? Squibs, Muggle Borns, Exs who were muggles but had been exposed to the wizarding world; what stops them from running their mouths of and exposes the wizarding world? Werewolves, house elves, goblins, giants, all those creatures generally frowned upon by witches and wizards as being beneath them, what stops them? Why do witches and wizards still remain so self contained and selfish with their magic? They could do so much to help muggles advance, and the muggles advance the wizards. Or run with the idea that western, European magic isn't the only sort of practiced magic in the world. I could go on and on.

Vampires. A vampire basically can mean any sort of parasitic creature that lives of something from another creature. There is so much you can do with that. Plus, so many people have expanded on the meaning of vampire. There are thousands of kinds out there. I've only ever read a snippet about them, but I personally think Terry Prachet's vampires would be so much fun.

Werewolves: what about voluntary werewolves? You always only hear about people born as werewolves, or packs that grow by biting their victims. Originally, legends said that you could choose to be a werewolf. Explore how the moon could logically affect these people. If they turned in a full moon,why not any other sort of moon light? Why doesn't it work like the undead pirates from Pirates of the Caribbean?

I don't really have anything to say for RL rpgs. Real life is real life unless you bring in something else. What do you think? What would you do to set a game apart from the rest of the monotonous pack?

It's not about moonlight, it's about that time of the month. You might as well ask why girls don't have their period all month long.

HP Perspective Alert!

Muahahahahahaha! I, the Admin Who Plots Too Far In Advance, and my co-admin, The Admin Who Creates Far Too Many Characters, have created a plot that shall make the most hardened anti-Potter critic kiss the ground Rowling walks upon! We call it, "The Pan-Dimensional Time/Space Continuum Fabric of Magic Connector Gene Plot," and it shall be frickin' awesome!

... ^-^

*cough*

(Sorry. The Genius/Insanity line has been a tad blurry these days. )

There are so many possibilities we could work with in the Potterverse...it's a lot less restricted than vampire/werewolf/RL roleplays because it can deal with everyone in the entire world and all things magical, not just a particular race or what we deal with in everyday life. Universal magic adds so many new possibilities.

What I do to set my game apart from the pack (and personally I think it's pretty removed, though you may think otherwise) is pretty simple; I ignore trends, capitalize on an underused premise, and do more admin work than is healthy. I think that even the most run-of-the-mill idea can be made new again if you're willing to put real work into it. You'll get really fantastic results if you don't compromise your creative vision for what's comfortable and then work your butt off to attain that vision.

Like for AG, I honestly thought it was going to bomb. It doesn't look like other popular sites, I don't run it in a traditional way, and the setting is different from what most HP roleplayers are comfortable doing. I thought 'OK, Ash, you're crazy. No one wants this.' But instead of a total failure I got a really great, active community that is committed to the site. (Plus tons of awesome threads and plottage, but they're just small bonuses. :p )

In short; to make an original board in a very common genre, do what you want and do it better than everyone else. Always do it with class.

I agree.

Do something not too far from the usual, but with one key twist, like Ash's roleplay (adult Harry Potter, with a clear, relatively easy-to-understand plot) (granted, I've taken quantum physics, so 'simple'...). It's honestly one of the best sites I've ever seen. And you guys know how insanely hypercritical I am.

I have to admit, I didn't go with simple on my site, because, well...

... I sort of wanted to scare off the people who gravitate toward generic medieval-fantasy boards and storm them with Mary Sue warrior-women.

But if I make another board, it'll be simple, clean, and have only one deviation or so from reality.

Yes.

Being very 'creative' often just results in a board that no one understands and no one will join. It's difficult enough to come up with a character who's interesting. Imagine how much more difficult it is to come up with a character who's interesting and fits into Xuluphanixiapowaernoiworld, where there are Hoinow Beasts and Frnmw Magic and etc.... too much to ask, really...

I agree too! Sometimes members won't join a site that is TOO unique, though, so I suppose you have to get the right blend. I like the comment that you need to have something typical but with a twist. Makes it interesting, unique, and stand out from other sites, but it is also not going to scare away potential members who don't want to spend hours reading about this new world/plot that they can't relate to at all.