I was just thinking about this as I was about to write my plot for my upcoming RPG and I was wondering what everyone else is looking for in a plot?

I'm into the more story/action-based RPG rather than a huge focus on relationships (although those are important still). In short, I tend to look for interesting schisms and something that could arouse a rebellion of a sort. But I don't like it when the plot is too precise so that when you have a new character it's hard to blend them in.

I look for as little plot as possible, I suppose. The important thing is not the plot to me, but the world. A world with depth to it will yield countless opportunities for RP plots, so that people don't have to be caught up in one big plot, have to keep track of events that don't even necessarily concern their character, have to possibly or probably even deal with canons, etc.

I like open-ness, freeform. I like roleplaying a character just living in a world, not with a specific place in a plot. I think plots should be built around characters, anyway.

But what I don't like about some fictional worlds people come up with is that they are just over-loaded with places, races, factions, etc. that it is all too much for one to read through and be familiar with enough to RP. So, I guess that's why I used the word 'depth' and not 'detailed' or anything to describe the sort of world I want.

Yup. I am with Meikun on this.

I think that is what I look for. And it's the reason I join so few boards. I don't want to ready any really long plot that I have to try to remember. I just want to sort of find myself in a world and interact with people and see what happens. I like character generated stories instead of stories where the character has to find a fit into a big plot or some pre-determined subplots.

I think that is what bothered me with my own early boards. I think I believed you had to have a big overall plot and as time has gone by, I found less is more. Now we go for a total plot minimalist approach.

I prefer plots that aren't centred around one or two names [usually those characters played by the admin/admin's mates <.< ]. Wide ranging plots, where there's more than one storyline and members can assist with the development, where the plot is just a back story to what's actually happening, and the actual RP develops from it.

So pretty much in agreement with the others.

I enjoy creating enough canons for most of the players, but the canon's plots are merely subplots.
But i prefer to play a canon character so i feel more involved.

Then the plot should be rather vague, something that everybody is involved in but not so involved in that they have to dance between these two lines all the time.

So i like structure, and freedom.

(x.x)

Kinda like what mallory. said. I like plots to be so that the characters can freely interact with each other, but still have boundaries, so that it sounds realistic even if it is in a fantasy world. For example, there could be a war going on and all the members of one party who hung out with members of the other could be shunned by other characters. I like to make a plot so that characters can choose who they want to be. The plots need to be flexible, so the player knows the rules, but can still play their game and have fun.

I perfer plots that allow you to be apart of something bigger! Like joining an army of your choice.

Open plot!

I love a plot where everyone can stick their oar in. Not something admin controlled where lots is withheld. That limits the number of people who can really get involved and it takes a lot to get in there. I like something where everyone can drag everyone else into the limelight, create their own branched off plots and effectively, do what they wish. I like to be trusted as a player, to create plot that won't make admins want to curl up and die, wishing they'd gone with admin-run all along.

I'm only just starting to try out open plots on my own forum, so if anyone wants to pass on any nuggets of knowledge, PM me ^_____^