Relationships between players in a roleplay

Started by Junier December 6th, 2015 11:26 AM
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  • 18 replies

Junier

Fake Friends Forever (´・ω・`)

Female
Seen December 5th, 2019
Posted August 3rd, 2018
1,074 posts
7.9 Years
A recent OOC event gave me an interesting discussion question: How high of a priority is good relationship between players in roleplay rather than their character to you? Is it important for members to enjoy or get along with one another when ultimately it will be their characters interacting and not themselves?

Personally, I don't believe it to be a necessity on the majority on the roleplays here. Players don't need to be friendly with one another in order to interact in-character on the more sandbox-y, independent-unless-you-want-to-joint-post, sort of roleplays that are more often seen on Pokecommunity. That way you can easily ignore people who severely bother you. Though, even for back-and-forth roleplaying, I do believe it is possible to play without having to enjoy the other players. As long as the roleplay and characters are engaging, it can be done. It would only become an issue if bias against other members surfaces in posts. For example, a character might pursue another simply because friction exists between the players.

'tis my brief opinion. What are yours?

moon

they/them
Seen 11 Hours Ago
Posted 23 Hours Ago
37,443 posts
15.5 Years
Oh, I think a RP can become much greater if it players are bffs than if they don't quite know or like each other. RPing is all about characters, and to understand them, I enjoy trying to understand their creators :) plus, talking and planning and having fun OOC encourages posting IC.
paired with Ivysaur

gimmepie

Age 27
Male
Australia
Seen 7 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
Oh, I think a RP can become much greater if it players are bffs than if they don't quite know or like each other. RPing is all about characters, and to understand them, I enjoy trying to understand their creators :) plus, talking and planning and having fun OOC encourages posting IC.
Pretty much this. I don't think players getting along OOC is necessarily a requirement however when everyone gets along and is friendly with each other discussions and subsequent character interactions tend to lead to amazing posts or even so beautiful/totally messed up but still awesome stories.

I don't think I would enjoy RPing as much if I couldn't get along with at least most of the people in the RP. That's one of the reasons I love having Skype groups for Gunpowder and Redux, it's not so great for on-site OOC activity but it brings everyone closer and has a great effect on the IC.
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Loki

x

Seen March 23rd, 2022
Posted June 14th, 2020
6,822 posts
17.8 Years
For me, roleplaying is about having fun- and it's kind of hard to have fun if I dislike the other player LOL... So for me, it's a bit of a necessity. I can be civil with anyone, but I'm not going to go out of my way to talk to somebody who I find off-putting. What really makes me frown is when someone is being super obnoxious about their character.... In which case my motivation to avoid said person and character both IC and OOC is only amplified, so I think it goes hand in hand for me.

Also I love how you say that gimme, but you were like the last person to get skype. LOL

gimmepie

Age 27
Male
Australia
Seen 7 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
For me, roleplaying is about having fun- and it's kind of hard to have fun if I dislike the other player LOL... So for me, it's a bit of a necessity. I can be civil with anyone, but I'm not going to go out of my way to talk to somebody who I find off-putting. What really makes me frown is when someone is being super obnoxious about their character.... In which case my motivation to avoid said person and character both IC and OOC is only amplified, so I think it goes hand in hand for me.

Also I love how you say that gimme, but you were like the last person to get skype. LOL
I was enlightened by the One Piecers xD
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Yes.
Out Of My Mind
Seen August 18th, 2021
Posted February 2nd, 2021
399 posts
9.4 Years
I think that good relationships are important when roleplaying. I have done a few roleplays in the past where there were a person or two which for some reason just really annoyed me, usually by being overly arrogant or generally bunnying other characters. So I would get ticked off and in my posts and generally make my character dislike theirs too. Perhaps thats due to me letting myself not doing my part as a roleplayer, but I feel like you can only distance yourself from your characters so much.

Winter

KAMISATO ART: SOUMETSU

Age 26
they/them/she/her
Kamisato Estate
Seen December 2nd, 2022
Posted September 29th, 2022
8,320 posts
8.2 Years
I don't let any of my own feelings affect my character's relationships; keep roleplaying professional. That being said, I haven't roleplayed with someone I had strong animosity or hard feelings towards.

Junier

Fake Friends Forever (´・ω・`)

Female
Seen December 5th, 2019
Posted August 3rd, 2018
1,074 posts
7.9 Years
Good answers, guys!

I can completely understand that good relationships = better posts; the more willing you are to work with someone, the better the turnout is, right?

I think good relationships are more mandatory based on the type of roleplay, too. As I mentioned before, back-and-forth roleplays would go smoother if players were more fond of one another. Any thoughts on that?

I think the person that is most important to have a good relationship with, however, is the game master. That's definitely a necessity. I tend to stay away from roleplays if the game master comes across as overbearing, and if they portray any off-putting behavior during an RP I'm less likely to stick around.
Yes.
Out Of My Mind
Seen August 18th, 2021
Posted February 2nd, 2021
399 posts
9.4 Years
I find the most annoying thing about a GM is one with no real vision or direction in the game. I tend to have a hard time with them if they wont direct the story forward. I've roleplayed with a couple that only seemed interested in their own side of the story, going off on their own and just expecting the rest of the players to do whatever. It's kind of annoying.

I do feel like being a GM is kind of hard though. You have to keep a good balance of keeping things interesting by directing your players towards certain events, but at the same time not coming across as a dictator GM ordering everyone else around. Its tricky.

EternalSushi

Fresh for a lifetime.

Age 26
Male
HK
Seen September 9th, 2017
Posted August 22nd, 2017
122 posts
8.2 Years
Sometimes it's unavoidable if there's clashes between RPers. Personalities don't click (or perhaps they're both headstrong in that regard), plot debates etc do happen and it's impossible to get along with everyone in the world. So...there's that.

However, it's a shame to let an RP die or wither because of the conflict between two people. Others would still like to see it come to and end! So, if there really can't be a compromise, we still gotta go with it! There's others in the RP one can interact with, and I'm sure they'd still want to finish it with the others. It's a team effort -- work towards fixing it instead of running away from it, in my opinion. Any RP dying is a shame, and if anything, it shouldn't be because of a small conflict. So what if a member throws a hissy fit? So what if the GM has no vision/direction? Everyone's still human, and if I think the RPers really want to make this work, they always can come up with a solution. After all, people think that us RPers make or break the RP.
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Plumbum

The Dandy Highwayman (That You're Too Scared to Mention)

Age 29
Male
Chichester, UK
Seen June 16th, 2019
Posted August 6th, 2018
101 posts
8.9 Years
I can say from personal experience that problems between players are often insurmountable and can cause premature departures or even the deaths of RPs with literal months of work behind them. Us writer-types tend to have rather large egos and it really doesn't take much for them to clash, especially if someone has a particularly high view of themselves.
I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut,
and my weakness is that I cared too much...

Junier

Fake Friends Forever (´・ω・`)

Female
Seen December 5th, 2019
Posted August 3rd, 2018
1,074 posts
7.9 Years
I think there's always a way for the game master in-particular to overcome an everlasting conflict between two players. Or, at least I haven't been introduced to a situation in which they couldn't. If their conflict becomes continual they could always simply be removed. I don't believe any roleplay should rely on individual characters to allow it to be so fragile in that the entire game comes crashing down when two players leave/are forced to leave.

But if a game master has no direction, there really is no way to surmount this. I agree with overcoming obstacles but sometimes the game master is far too large of an obstacle to evade. If a GM has their plot and objectives set-in-stone and simultaneously they themselves have the over-inflated ego and are too stubborn on acting upon suggestions, the roleplay is essentially screwed! That's why I try to avoid both roleplays where the game master gives a bad first impression or begins acting insufferably right off the bat and roleplays where the game master appears to be giving themselves too much power. For example, having control over the death of players' characters is something I believe a GM should never have full authority over.

Any other thoughts on game masters? Or many on surmounting/not surmounting poor player relationships? Since that appears to be the direction this discussion is heading.

EternalSushi

Fresh for a lifetime.

Age 26
Male
HK
Seen September 9th, 2017
Posted August 22nd, 2017
122 posts
8.2 Years
I think there's always a way for the game master in-particular to overcome an everlasting conflict between two players. Or, at least I haven't been introduced to a situation in which they couldn't. If their conflict becomes continual they could always simply be removed. I don't believe any roleplay should rely on individual characters to allow it to be so fragile in that the entire game comes crashing down when two players leave/are forced to leave.

But if a game master has no direction, there really is no way to surmount this. I agree with overcoming obstacles but sometimes the game master is far too large of an obstacle to evade. If a GM has their plot and objectives set-in-stone and simultaneously they themselves have the over-inflated ego and are too stubborn on acting upon suggestions, the roleplay is essentially screwed! That's why I try to avoid both roleplays where the game master gives a bad first impression or begins acting insufferably right off the bat and roleplays where the game master appears to be giving themselves too much power. For example, having control over the death of players' characters is something I believe a GM should never have full authority over.

Any other thoughts on game masters? Or many on surmounting/not surmounting poor player relationships? Since that appears to be the direction this discussion is heading.

I don't think any GM would have power over characters' deaths, lol. But if that actually happens somehow, then let yourself be beard! Skype groups or PMs or whatever the means. If you think communication is key, then it might not be that the GM has no direction -- it can be the lack of communication between GM and player due to inactivity or miscommunication leading to misunderstandings of important plot points. Again, a lot can happen, but in the end, speak out.
Composer/Remixer, Board Game Enthusiast, Cat Lover, Sushi.
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Junier

Fake Friends Forever (´・ω・`)

Female
Seen December 5th, 2019
Posted August 3rd, 2018
1,074 posts
7.9 Years
Just a note, Sushi, that this isn't a personal discussion about a particular roleplay but a discussion spanning a variety of roleplays and hypothetical situations. I apologize if this comes across as overly bold but I'm receiving the impression based on your reply that you're connecting my arguments to current disarray in Shifting Sands, and incorrectly so. This is a mostly unrelated topic where Shifting Sands only inspired the idea of whether or not relationships between players in a necessity.

That's just the impression I'm getting, anyway, and I apologize again if I'm incorrect here, but I can't see any other reason why'd you quote me to specifically mention communication and the like.

EternalSushi

Fresh for a lifetime.

Age 26
Male
HK
Seen September 9th, 2017
Posted August 22nd, 2017
122 posts
8.2 Years
Just a note, Sushi, that this isn't a personal discussion about a particular roleplay but a discussion spanning a variety of roleplays and hypothetical situations. I apologize if this comes across as overly bold but I'm receiving the impression based on your reply that you're connecting my arguments to current disarray in Shifting Sands, and incorrectly so. This is a mostly unrelated topic where Shifting Sands only inspired the idea of whether or not relationships between players in a necessity.

That's just the impression I'm getting, anyway, and I apologize again if I'm incorrect here, but I can't see any other reason why'd you quote me to specifically mention communication and the like.
That's not what I aimed at in specific, no. Having been in different RPs before over many yeas I've found myself scurrying away from things when issues arise, trying to avoid that responsibility of 'I should post' and whatnot while really just creating a downward spiral of low productivity. Even I'm guilty in that regard and I see it as a bad habit. Sorry if you think that was directed at anything! And of course I'll be quoting the people that speak after I do. :P

Also it really does come down to the synergy between GM and RPers. I've seen some RPs where basically everyone had equal amounts of power (and everyone's fine with that) whereas some RPs have the GMs to do all the work. Honestly...since there's just so many styles and types of RPs, the relationship between players really is what makes the whole thing work. c:

Edit: Though...that's probably been said. Well, I'm out of points now. XD
Composer/Remixer, Board Game Enthusiast, Cat Lover, Sushi.
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Age 32
Male
Seen October 6th, 2022
Posted February 23rd, 2021
2,016 posts
11.6 Years
I would say that... conflict happens. Constantly. It's a given. I've seen it not only online here at points, but also offline. In my first year of college I was in a D&D group where two of the players were a couple. They got mad over some sort of argument and basically used their in character time to berate each other's characters, leading to some awkward moments.

Honestly, if you think you'll never have a problem with another player, think again. As humans we like to constantly search for drama. It's just how we function as a society that lives in a very advanced urban setting. Someone is BOUND to tick someone else off, but with the internet the possibility of finding that one person that does something that ticks you off is infinitely higher.

Games mesh far better when everyone is on equal footing with everyone else. I've been in some great rps... and when people aren't happy with each other those circumstances can turn an rp sour. You can try and deny that you'll never use in character interactions to further a grudge with someone... but that's a lie. Deep down there is a bias in you, and thus that bias will develop in your characters. Such bias tends to spill out into creative work, and rping is as creative as it gets. We use our emotions to interact with the characters and setting, so anger can likewise be channeled.

IF you have a problem with anyone talk to them about it. Don't be intrusive, just say what they are doing that is bothering you and see if you two can reach a compromise. If you can't... well... you'll have to find other means of dealing with the situation.

As for a good relationship with the gm, that is very important. Remember, gms are people too. I've had D&D gms in the past that wrecked someone over just having a bad relationship with them. That single person would get ALL the traps thrown at them, or end up broke by the end of an adventure. Likewise online I've been to some websites where stuff like that is common. A gm who feels angry at a player and uses their power to make their experience horrible.

So, all in all, it's going to happen one day. You just have to know how to deal with it when the time comes.

Ray Maverick

Age 27
Male
Seen 3 Hours Ago
Posted 23 Hours Ago
3,411 posts
14.3 Years
I believe there must be a strong bond between the players - all of them, otherwise the true potential of an RP remains locked away behind the shut blinds and doors attitude. If there's no connection between everyone, then the RP may be short lived and only half as much fun. Also, OOC talk about IC is almost as fun as the IC itself. If you don't like the other person, you don't naturally talk about IC with them either, and no communication is such a bummer

As Greigs said above me, hostility sips into your writing. A game's no fun when irl problems are channeled through IC.

Junier

Fake Friends Forever (´・ω・`)

Female
Seen December 5th, 2019
Posted August 3rd, 2018
1,074 posts
7.9 Years
so tl;dr interaction is good, relationship is good

good talk guys, good talk

Honestly I'm sick of this topic. It's not a very good discussion question. Are relationships good to have in collaborative writing? Gee, I don't ****ing know. Does ice cream melt? Is water wet?

though bad GMs are still the worst

Age 32
Male
Seen October 6th, 2022
Posted February 23rd, 2021
2,016 posts
11.6 Years
Well the ting about this topic is that it can help many new rpers who are coming onto the site and perhaps have no idea how important an relationship is. Something that may seem like a 'stupid' question to one person could in fact be a very important question to another. Especially if they have never rped before and figure that since it's a hobby they only have to come on, do their post, and never talk to anyone else in the rp. It's an honest mistake that most newbies WILL make their first one or two rps.