blogs_blog_1395

TBRPGs are a creative writing outlet, but I wouldn't consider them to be 100% authors. All a GM does in a RPG is set up the plot, set up the information and set up the characters as to get the pre-set plot moving. Every twist, turn, intelligent add-in isn't always because of the GM, most of the times it's the players who truly flesh out the plot, who create the awesome characters, who detail the land and write it all out -- in pieces.

 

An author on BZP is someone who makes the entire plot, all the characters, fleshes everything out and does what ten people do in a RPG -- create an interesting story with interesting characters, twists, but -- authors throw in character development. An epic, a short story, or anything else is generally taken seriously when posted in the forums they are posted in [i'm excluding comedies], as the plots are serious in and of themselves -- which can be fun to write, but the point of the story is to impact the reader and make an impression.

 

RPGs shouldn't be dead serious all the time. They should be fun, they should be outlets [at times] where one can goof off and just have a good time, while not trying to impact the readers of the post, or create long lasting impressions. All RPG writers do is have fun, and that is what they should be doing. Most of the time, people who write in TBRPGs are just there for fun, not to really practice writing creatively, or to see if certain, more serious, themes work out. I'm one of the people who test story ideas in a RPG first, as well as liking to mess around with a character and have a good time.

 

Here's an example of myself; in a RPG, I do not think out the characters, I do not have pre-set locations, plot lines, story arcs, events, or anything. In a RPG, I make a character to have fun with and to flesh out along the way [Anavrin, for instance. The one in City of Fear was for fun, pure, simple fun. While, the one in a novel I'm working on is serious, violent, and is supposed to leave an impression on the reader]. In RPGs, I don't write with the greatness of anyone, in fact, I probably write worse in a RPG than I do in a story and this is because for me, stories are serious business [As I intend to have a profession writing in the future, so it's best that I take my works as serious as I can so that when my life gets to that point, I won't blow it] and with RPGs... they're not serious business, they're fun and recreational [i doubt there are jobs such as "PROFESSIONAL TBRPG PLAYER" and if there are... then, wow]

 

In a nutshell of myself; as an author, I take things seriously, I take my time and make sure that my writing is the best it can be, and to be certain that my elements, characters, plot, and everything else is fleshed out, is believable, leaves an impression, makes people think how I want them to.

 

As a RPG GM and Player and even as a Judge: RPGs are not things someone should take too seriously. They aren't here to be serious, they are here to be fun, to entertain and make sure that the plot keeps the attention of the players. I don't make the characters, I make half the plot, I leave the details to the players, I allow the players to progress the story as they wish -- all things I don't do when writing an epic [swap out "players" with "readers"].

 

I also make characters who aren't meant to leave an impression in the mind. CoF's Anavrin blew up a building with dynamite for the only reason as to watch it, and because I thought it'd be fun [and it was]. I didn't have her blow it up to leave a thought, heck, she had no reason besides for making artificial fireworks. Now, in an epic or a SS, I'd have the character do things with reason, with thought behind it.

 

 

However, comedies... heck, I have no clue about them compared to RPGs.

 

 

--- All my opinion and my experience on the matter. Didn't proof read, may have rambled/ranted at some point... sorry if I did. ^^;;;

Yow. Spink's certainly got somethin' to say on the subject.

 

Here's my question to you: Can't we be both?

So, I've been thinking lately about BZPower's writing scene. Many people say that their writings are ignored and that authors on BZP don't get the attention they deserve. As examples of BZP's great writers they say GaliGee, Bonesii, Spirit, and xccj. I, however, feel like they leave perhaps the most vibrant part of writing out of the equation.

I've read most of GaliGee's work, none of Bonesii's, SPIRIT's Wildfire (has he done any others?) and most of xccj's stuff.

 

Let's face it. More people play RPGs than regularly write and read epics. They are a large and integral part of the community. But why are people such as Koname, Celeste, Robo, and Dr. Bionicle left out of the spectrum of great BZP authors? In fact, I think the only GM that is widely respected among the Library Denizens is Beliwa.

To be fair Celeste sort of, you know, vanished. Repeatedly. Koname does short stories, I think he's quite well known over in that forum.

 

So, my question to you is this. Are GMs authors, just of a different writing style? Does the name Kumata Nuva deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as Takuta-Nui? Are RPGs truly a form of writing? And which, authors or GMs, are the true "best writers" on BZPower?

You do realise Kumata has written several epics, right? Admittedly it seems to be only me, Makaru and xccj who read them, but still...

Click 'Slizer 3' in my sig, that's one of his

Yow. Spink's certainly got somethin' to say on the subject.

 

Here's my question to you: Can't we be both?

Why not? Write stories and play RPGs.

 

Heck, I'm both.

I am agreeing with stinky Spinky on this.

 

~EW~