Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Even though I post guides, I don't claim to be any sort of expert or authority on RPing. This guide isn't claiming to be the only way, rather I simply am expressing my own view points and what I have personally found effective. So I don't really mind if people want to share their own ideas.
For the sake of convenience, I'm also going to respond it list format and go point by point to respond.
Overall - Just before I get onto specific points, I want to just clarify that I don't mean to imply that all of these sections, or any of them, should be present in every SU sheet. Instead I'm just covering SU elements that commonly appear in the RPT and giving advice on how to write them. I am a firm believer that SU sheets should vary depending on what GMs are more comfortable working with and what specific RPs require.
1. Personality - Whether or not people want to use this (or the other equivalent I mentioned) as a section is totally up to their discretion. I personally like this section because it is helpful for writers who are struggling to work out how their characters might react to situations to be able to go back over their SU in order to jog their imagination. I also find that this is a good preventative method for getting an RP full of characters that think and act the same since others can see it and then work to diversify.
As for this being a restrictive or non-accurate section. There are quite a few people I know who agree with you here and who despise this section. I respectfully disagree myself since I don't look at the SU as depicting who a character will be throughout the entirety of the RP. In my personal opinion the SU is only outlining how a character begins.
2. How long or short any GM wants their SUs is, as with everything else, entirely up to them. I don't want anyone to think I'm telling them how everything
should be done, I'm merely giving an effective way things
can be done and giving my personally preferred variants.
3. I tend to agree with you here, overly specific SUs are liable to turn people away from an RP. That's why I used the term essential. If someone's essential SU aspects inlaced 17 different sections - chances are the RP is a tad too complicated.
4. I personally don't use this method myself either, however I think it is perfectly reasonable to include it if you so wish. The purpose is not to stigmatise people and say "I don't trust you". The purpose is to separate the minority who don't properly read OPs - and as a GM you will know that there is almost always at least one person who reads the SU and practically nothing else - from the people who do the right thing to make an RP fun for everyone.
I'm also going to say that generally speaking any GM who automatically jumps down a person's throat for making a mistake needs to take a chill pill. Everyone does make mistakes, but having a method like this can make it easier for less experienced GMs to differentiate between mistakes and people who were just too lazy to read the OP properly.
As for that last part, I 100% agree. Every GM should always be open to questions, ideas and requests from the people in their RP. The aim of an RP is for everyone to have fun and I think it's a GMs responsibility to do everything they can to make that happen.
5. Perhaps I should have clarified, but I honestly thought it was quite clear. Sorry for that. "Other" sections here are almost always optional. People aren't usually required to come up with anything extra, it's just nice to give them the option. More often that not these sections are just used to give characters musical themes or to indicate any other quirks that don't fit the others sections (for example a strange affection for pomegranates is something I remember being included in an SU for Reapers: Keepers of the Balance).
Anyway, thank you very much for sharing your views. Although we have some differing thoughts, I think it is a good thing for new RPers to be exposed to different ideas and methodologies so they can work out what works best for them. :)
Yeah, my post kinda turned into ranting. So, even though I sounded harsh, it wasn't at anyone in particular. I was just re-living past events that just really irked me. xP I was just too passionate to care about tone >.>
I was just under the impression that this guide was, more or less, what was expected and/or most common. I was short-sighted in just ranting about how I agreed or disagreed with your points. xP
1. I understand that side of the argument. And and I also know that some people can't connect with their characters on such a personal level just by writing a short description. I think something like "History=Knowing Personality" comes with either experience or those who play very similar characters all the time. I've just always been one to be able to become another or be able to feel another's emotions (empathy is exhausting), so not being able to know a personality from a History will throw me at first, but it's definitely something I need to understand that not everyone can do.
2. I didn't mean to imply that you suggested one or the other; it was merely my opinion on how GMs should treat the idea of "quantity=quality" (which it, in no way, does).
3. Well, long CSs from GMs will turn RPers away while long CSs from RPers can turn GMs away (from accepting). So I guess that's something of which both GMs and RPers should be aware. Like you said, it should be stated in the CS template or Rules section of the OP.
4. I honestly don't believe it's a minority that don't read/comprehend the majority of an OP. Even for my own RPs, I have to constantly be scanning it. When I join another, I read it about 3 times (varies upon length of OP) so I know I understood everything. Even then, I miss things or don't completely understand/assume incorrectly.
I can understand new GMs needing some help in getting everyone on the same page, but I think a Password/Code is too unreliable. I think the RPer should be more concerned with creating the character than worrying it's formatted exactly how the GM wants, in the specific order, with the correct wording (I'm over-exaggerating to make a point, 'cause I do that sometimes xP)
But, yeah, I've been a part of some RPs that had narcissistic GMs (telling me they can beat me in writing a fight because "they can tell I lack experience based on my current writing" and being round-about about not putting in a code in my CS even when I express that I know the code but didn't agree with putting it in the CS (while trying not to be combative), etc.) which has since turned me off from joining other RPs.
But I don't mind explaining to someone multiple times a rule or description as long as I know they are legitimately attempting to understand. If they're just trying to be combative or uncooperative or another word -_-...then yeah.
My methods are, relatively, more subtle, but that's because my RPs are either original or change enough of a canon that requires the study of new mechanics. And I know if they didn't apply/read/understand the mechanics by reading the CS and then addressing it. It's actually cause for celebration for me when an RPer makes a CS that I approve 100% on the first try. xP
And that brings up another point: RPers shouldn't be so adverse to editing their CS to meet the needs of the GM. I've been guilty of this in the past and it's definitely something everyone should open to.
5. I didn't know if you were implying anything by the mention of "Other," so I just "more clearly" defined what I think it is and how it should be used. It wasn't a slight at you or the guide.
And thank you for actually discussing (and arguing) with me. I come across very harsh through text (since tone isn't a thing), and most can't continue an argument (and believe any/all arguments are bad/negative/mean/harsh/etc.). I'm glad you didn't take it personally, because it was not intended to be taken as such.
(But an argument literally a discussion of opposing views. This does not mean aggression/violence/hate/condescension/etc. which most people have a hard time accepting/understanding.)
God, I love my back slashes -_-