Opinions about the new RP system

[1smart]

First of All: These are MY OPINIONS

Right, some people would say that there is no change about the role playing on Feral Heart but from my view, things have drastically changed since I first joined. It was about lets say 2014/2015 and everyone on the server would greet you back or reply to you when you talked to them. There were about three types of groups you would expect to find, the first group I would like to call would be the role players. Very self explanatory, these people you would find were either on local or a private chat role playing (cause that's what you really did those 3-ish years ago). Secondly, there was a group of the AFK people. Again, that name is pretty self explanatory. These people used to just sit in a pose for the next 30 minutes till they disconnected. Finally, the last group is the chatterboxes, always speaking to each other of either how they want to improve the game, about their special packs/maps, any new RPs they would like to join, any opinions about the game. They really just talked about anything Feral Heart related OR talk about their lives outside of the computer.

Anyway, my opinion I want to get across is that nowadays I think people are starting to get more 'picky' about how they do things. Just a note, I am not saying everyone is or either am I trying to call people out and offending them.
So now when I get onto Feral Heart and try to scope out the new RPs or groups, all I see are either people who tend to ignore you when you talk to them (I am not saying trying to talk to AFK people, some people move their head and stuff and not even listen to you) and I also see people making video clips about RPs which need maps, special packs and other download-needed requirements (if that makes any since xD).

LITERATE ROLEPLAYING
In my opinion, I feel this was the main feature that made the semi-old days extinct. Literate Roleplaying. Oh boy, this has basically been the cause of everything going differently. Not only has Feral Heart released a new 'improved' version of Feral Heart (might be coming up in a different post) but the people who have joined the new version also brought a new system with them. This was basically the birth of Literate Roleplay. Why do I dislike Literate Roleplaying so much? because it's like the Norman's Feudal System brought all over again. I don't like Literate Roleplaying because it brings value and showing off into the game really. What if a new player joined the game and expected it to be a nice friendly environment, a nice place where they can finally satisfy their craving of a good animal roleplay (Like come on guys, you don't find many 3D animal games out there anymore with proper chat filters). They may still find the friendliness but definitely won't be able to join any of the RPs because they all require you to know how  'Literate Roleplay'. Also can I point out the fact that literate means able to read and write. I came on recently after the new big update and found out I was denied by every single group of RPs just because I was confused when they said 'You don't know how to literate role play'. I was so confused and decided to look it up, if it wasn't for  Kyureshirom's post I wouldn't even know what it meant! (make sure to check out their post, it contains some basic rules aswell)!

What I mean to say about setting different values is that people start setting ranks to others. If you think about me getting denied by all those groups I could have been classified as a 'newbie' to the game without explaining what really happened. Just think about it. It is sorting people into groups. To prove my point with some backup, you can even scroll down some of the RP Group Board sections and Help Page Sections and find people who have a post that literally have the title saying 'Can someone teach me to RP'. They already know how to RP it's just they don't know how to 'Literate' RP.

Couple more things to point out, I think it's kinda dumb to not use dialog in an RP. Somebody correct me if this acutally is a Literate RP rule.

Anyways that's all I have for this post, let me know if you disagree or agree and why. Just because I'm nosy and curious.

-1smart 

EDIT: I know this seems more of a discussion, but it is also a suggestion the community is making to each other, I think it has given loads of people a chance to speak about the subject and realise they just may want to change a bit and help the idea. I am not however, telling people they are wrong and have to change and that their way of doing things are unacceptable but just to give a notice. You can see examples of how the community can improve in the reply section and see how many people found this post as a chance to really ask or explain their situation in game. This really is (kind of) a suggestion to improve, just not directly from the moderators ect. but something that we together can work on to improve the game. Hope this post helps

[Kuri]

Your observations are correct.   (And for outwardly appearing 'AFK' people like my self who like to observe & learn new writing from others, party chat is not very interesting as it might as well observing grass grow. Nothing is learned from it as it's not observable.)

[Arkham_Scout]

I really dislike Literate Roleplaying. it's so hard to find a non Literate Roleplay on Feral Heart. All of my roleplays are not Literate. But I have joined some Lit roleplays in the past and it's hard to keep up.

Also, I disagree that others shouldn't teach other to "roleplay" Roleplays should be fun and creative.

[Jango_Fett]

I personally hate the term literate roleplay because of it's -Removed by moderator- of the word literate.

For years people have used that term to put themselves on a pedestal, because apparently English skill means you're the bigger man.


I've always used Beginner - Moderate - Advanced instead of... Illiterate - Semi-Literate - Literate.

[Michen_S]

First of all, let me start with the notion that "illiterate" roleplays for me are the easiest one to join and have fun in, even though I'm well capable of at least "semi-literate" roleplaying. Also, literate RPs seem to be a bit slow, so I'd prefer to not do that in-game. Especially when people start to divide their events into multiple chat messages.

But the main reason I'm hesitant to join most groups is because more often than not they're sited, a bunch of them even going so far to require having an account on said site. I'm sorry, but I'm not too snappy on making another account on another site to experience something in a game with a site I already have an account for. And then later if you also want to join an other group without leaving the first one (so you're active in two groups) you'd need a third account on a third site... Yeah, pass.

[Kerriki]

Moving this over to the game discussion board as I feel this is a discussion rather than a suggestion for the game

[Bacchus]

Feral heart groups have gotten too complicated. The best way to make a group that is successful in my opinion:


Have common sense. Don't create a "scout" rank if the scouting rank is for other packs. I personally think scouting should be the process of a few wolves who share information between packs. However, when you have no alliances- why are you making the rank in the first place? The same goes for "guard" and "warrior." If you mix them together, call them "guardian" you have a force of soldiers who protect and fight in wars- and actually have a job. Maybe they are assigned to a young litter of pups and their mother? Maybe there is a weak or pregnant wolf in the pack? Maybe the medic needs someone to watch their back when they search for materials? There is so many opportunities. You also don't need to make new names for every new ranking in that class. Maybe the lead should be called "Lead Guardian" to suggest his upmost ranking, but that's it. Just use numbers, or maybe a points system on what they do? Hmm.. So many ways to go about it.


Rules. Rules, rules, rules. There is a beautiful balance between too restrictive- crazy restrictive- and too relaxed. You should, yes, have control of your members- but not to the point you're putting a collar on each of them and watching them carefully. Have trust in them. If they want to succeed in the pack, and stay in it- they'll be active, and respect the people around them. If they don't, they'll either go inactive or other members will report them to you.


Have people who have your back. Maybe it's two others, maybe one. But you should have someone around who you'll know will be active at a certain time, will roleplay in their activity, and engage members for you. Taking hold of a pack on your own with no friends is three times harder to gain and maintain members than with them.


Literacy! LITERACY! It sucks, it sucks some major things. There is so many opportunities for a person who doesn't have the most beautiful grammar or sentence structure to spice up your roleplay with their character. You need to let go of some things, and that includes a literacy requirement. People get turned off when your pack is only literate- where's the fun in that? That's way too restrictive in my book.


Plottings. I know have background information may sound beautiful- but is it interesting enough? is it too far out there? Does it engage people WHILE they are role playing? I've been thinking about making a pack with five people in total about their journey through creating a pack through their wolves. Having people join, having their characters struggle and fight and /learn./ Does that not sound engaging to you? It would follow through and would make more of the "rogue joining a random pack" spicier.


Resolve. You /need/ to put yourself fully out there when making a pack. No, you don't need to sit there recruiting for 6 hours. Maybe a half hour every few days? You need to show that you /care/ about the role play and that others care about it with you. When you recruit, sit there- and sit there for a while. Engage in local about your story, post videos on /youtube/ (i've never seen people do this but it's something that draws in members! remember the benevolent pack?). Create a post on this site. You need to go /all in/ or not at all- because your group will fail without it.


Sites. You don't need a site where members will have to join to even join your pack. Make a discord server, and make sure non-members can't see into stuff other members don't want them to see. If they have a discord server, they can leave it at any time and it makes not a lot of difference in joining. They can post links to their bios if they want something more detailed than feral-hearts, and it /creates/ such a /good/ place to role play when they can't get on.


Might add more on later.

[DancingWithDeath]

Honestly since 2013 I called myself "literate" but now I'm considering letting that term go. I dislike how most say you must do something like fill the whole box with words, no one or two lines and this doesn't help when the roleplayer has ran out of ideas for more lines. Illiterate RP seems more easy and fun, to be honest. Not trying to offend anybody here, just speaking my opinion.

[LycanSIXX]

Feral heart groups have gotten too complicated. The best way to make a group that is successful in my opinion:


Have common sense. Don't create a "scout" rank if the scouting rank is for other packs. I personally think scouting should be the process of a few wolves who share information between packs. However, when you have no alliances- why are you making the rank in the first place? The same goes for "guard" and "warrior." If you mix them together, call them "guardian" you have a force of soldiers who protect and fight in wars- and actually have a job. Maybe they are assigned to a young litter of pups and their mother? Maybe there is a weak or pregnant wolf in the pack? Maybe the medic needs someone to watch their back when they search for materials? There is so many opportunities. You also don't need to make new names for every new ranking in that class. Maybe the lead should be called "Lead Guardian" to suggest his upmost ranking, but that's it. Just use numbers, or maybe a points system on what they do? Hmm.. So many ways to go about it.


Rules. Rules, rules, rules. There is a beautiful balance between too restrictive- crazy restrictive- and too relaxed. You should, yes, have control of your members- but not to the point you're putting a collar on each of them and watching them carefully. Have trust in them. If they want to succeed in the pack, and stay in it- they'll be active, and respect the people around them. If they don't, they'll either go inactive or other members will report them to you.


Have people who have your back. Maybe it's two others, maybe one. But you should have someone around who you'll know will be active at a certain time, will roleplay in their activity, and engage members for you. Taking hold of a pack on your own with no friends is three times harder to gain and maintain members than with them.


Literacy! LITERACY! It sucks, it sucks some major things. There is so many opportunities for a person who doesn't have the most beautiful grammar or sentence structure to spice up your roleplay with their character. You need to let go of some things, and that includes a literacy requirement. People get turned off when your pack is only literate- where's the fun in that? That's way too restrictive in my book.


Plottings. I know have background information may sound beautiful- but is it interesting enough? is it too far out there? Does it engage people WHILE they are role playing? I've been thinking about making a pack with five people in total about their journey through creating a pack through their wolves. Having people join, having their characters struggle and fight and /learn./ Does that not sound engaging to you? It would follow through and would make more of the "rogue joining a random pack" spicier.


Resolve. You /need/ to put yourself fully out there when making a pack. No, you don't need to sit there recruiting for 6 hours. Maybe a half hour every few days? You need to show that you /care/ about the role play and that others care about it with you. When you recruit, sit there- and sit there for a while. Engage in local about your story, post videos on /youtube/ (i've never seen people do this but it's something that draws in members! remember the benevolent pack?). Create a post on this site. You need to go /all in/ or not at all- because your group will fail without it.


Sites. You don't need a site where members will have to join to even join your pack. Make a discord server, and make sure non-members can't see into stuff other members don't want them to see. If they have a discord server, they can leave it at any time and it makes not a lot of difference in joining. They can post links to their bios if they want something more detailed than feral-hearts, and it /creates/ such a /good/ place to role play when they can't get on.


Might add more on later.

I don't post on the forum too often, but I absolutely ADORE this post. Allow me to respond in sections so I can more so get out my point.

This first part about ranks...Holy HELL I agree with you completely! I HATE encountering groups with 15 different ranks for small odd jobs, like.. what do you need guards for if you have warriors! Why have hunters in a pack at all? Hunting should be everyone's responsibility, it just.... I hate HATE useless ranks, they end up empty or the people end up leaving because they never have anything to do, and the ranks are just PADDING, WHY?? Why?! Have a simple pack structure unless the extra ranks you've added give the players purpose!

I can honestly say, I very much... dislike.. users who won't join groups because they have rules, HOWEVER, I also, very much hate groups that have so many rules that the rules themselves become redundant and begin to repeat themselves with different wording. At a max I have about 16 rules total, 8 in character covering basics so that players can't say that I've never said "Hey! Don't do that!" or "This isn't acceptable in my group", and then the usual 8-ish rules you get for OOC things. Anything more than that I make clear to state that these are rules for RP and if you want to disobey them they affect your character for drama sake.

I am gonna glaze over the friends thing, cause there's nothing I could add for that statement, it's just a truth. I remember when I first started RPing years ago It was Bigger, Moderate and Advanced, and I think that it should go back to that in terms of rating. As everyone has beat to death in their posts, literacy is the ability to read and write, and I'm pretty sure everyone is literate if they're on this site. EOS.

I have tried very unique plots at times that I have put hours and days and months into my creations, however, I do feel like the things I create are just.... too complicated for this community. It makes me sad, but c'mon, I'm sure I can get some people to agree if there's a lot of information or backstory that builds the world you're entering into, nobody wants to read it and gives up on the thought of the group cause they just want a super basic world to enter and influence themselves. That, makes me sad.

I create sites to house my information, we all know that threads would look hellishly chaotic with all the info that goes into well thought out packs. I've made sites that you don't join, just read and sites that you join and read, either way, sited RPs scare newbies, and sometimes, older players too, just because they're lazy. It's their lost at that point, but to the creators when you legitimately put love into your information only to have players glaze over it out of laziness that's pretty crushing wouldn't you say? Discord works in the same way. I LOVE Discord, before it caught on in FH, I ran (well, still run) a server for my Mate's Twitch Stream, and the community is lovely! Discord is really cool to gather together and chat and roleplay out of game, but if you fear walls of text on a website, Discord doesn't make it look any better, get what I'm saying here?

[Kuri]

Whats really lol, is people who rage-quit because they saw a new person and it offended their eyes.
In stark contrast, was this someone i met in game, and she could write 2 small sentences that were more descriptive and powerful than many paragraphs.  i scarcely see anything like that, but it's impressive when i do.