As some of you might know, I am running for CoT RPG Judge. As will be necessary, my reasons will have to be clearly outlined so that people, particularly Kex, may decided for themselves to see whether I am appropriate for the job. In this entry, you will get a fairly good idea of what kind of person I am when it comes to this subject.

My Record

In this area, I have both my strengths and weaknesses. It is the main thing that most people bring up, and they are correct to believe it important to consider. Experience is one of the main reasons Kex decided to switch the system. He wanted people who were familiar with TBRPGs and had developed a good sense of judgment from them. It might also make these new judges, whoever they are, passionate about their job and execute it with responsibility. It's a fine fingerprint that exposes certain qualities of one's character. Now, here are some things you should know about me, so you can figure out for yourself the quality of my character when amalgamated with the responsibilities of such a position.

I have only participated in two TBRPGs. That is, there have only been two that I have spend a reasonable amount of time on, Evil Genius/spy and Reality. The former I was only on for about a month or so before I lost time and interest, whereas Reality has kept me enticed enough to stick to it for the longest time. This is probably a weakness, as it means that I have not really had the experience of actively RPing across the board. However, I have also looked at several TBRPG first posts and made my judgments on them, which is what I would be doing every once and a while, perhaps daily, perhaps weekly, depending on how many people there are in the world besides me who want to get TBRPGs approved and on how exactly Kex's judicial system will work.

I have really long IC post. Metaphors, personification, similes, dramatic irony, I know how to make a work of literature out of my writings. I have made them interesting. I have put much effort into them. Is this a strength or a weakness? I won't leave it up to myself to decide.

I have developed complex characters. This shows that I am also most likely capable of judging someone else's fictional character, as it can show whether or not they are capable of running a TBRPG. If the character is sloppy, then they probably have not constructed nor considered managing the TBRPG they want approved too well.

I have written plots. Not all TBRPGs havea plot that's set in stone by the manager, but most do, and experience in writing plots would assist me in judging whether or not a requester has developed their TBRPG enough to begin running it.

I have written this TBRPG format. That should show you that I can organize a TBRPG efficiently.

I have worked with other RPers. Communication and compatibility that have helped me get along with fluid ease in the TBRPGs that I have participated in. It will also be necessary as a judge.

Overall, I have a lot of background knowledge on literature and entertainment. Literature has many categories, froom drama, to poetry, to music, to books, to non-fiction books, to comics, and so forth. Perhaps one day TBRPGs will be added to the textbooks, but for now, its place in society will do. I understand writing. It's my side of the court. With all of my overall knowledge, accumulated from my own practice and from my research, it will certainly be useful.

Overall, I'm active in CoT and have enough time. Granted, homework has granted me with less time, but I have time nevertheless. At least once per week. It's not experience, but it's a requirement.

As you can see, I have more strengths than weaknesses.

My Outlook

Like many things in life, from the concept of competition to the meaning of the Internet, RPing is open to philosophical argument. In this section, I will confirm with you my standings on what a TBRPG is and how I prefer to play them.

A TBRPG is, by definition, a text based role playing game. It's a game where you play the role of any amount of characters and determine their actions by writing them down. Who are these characters? Generally, they are made up. What is the objective of the game? That is usually set into the rules and guidelines of the TBRPG, although sometimes people don't give a specific goal. In the case of the Reality RPG, people have the option in their character sheets to set their own goal altogether. This was a nice piece of consideration of format on the behalf of Robo that I believe should be included in all TBRPGs that don't have a specific obligation for all players to fulfill.

Now on the subject of format, I believe that RPGs are intricate and delicate, and should be treated that way. The first post, which basically defines the RPG, should be carefully constructed so that it fits with the RPG well. Generally, these things are included in the first post: the basic summary of the RPG's theme, the rules, and the fill-out sheet. Also common is a list of staff and several custom details. Custom details generally are what make a TBRPG unique. If you read through my TBRPG first post, you would have noticed many things that apply to that RPG specifically, such as the way the staff was set up, the method in wuich rules would be judged, and of course the many descriptions of the world of the TBRPG. When it comes to RPGs, there isn't solid mold accept for the fact that there must be rules and character sheets. Everything else is customizable and certainly not restricted by a mold. However, although one can be creative, keeping a TBRPG well organized brings efficiency. I will explain some of the components of a TBRPG one at a time and my opinion on them.

The introduction. The introduction, the synopsis, and everything else serves the purpose of explaining to the casual reader what the RPG is about at a glance. Is it science fiction? Is it midevil times? Zombie? You get an immediate sway of the RPG's theme. I think that it would be a good idea to be somewhat broad with this, and also a bit poetic. The RPG will evolve over time, so if the intro is very specific unto the situation at the youth of the game, then it simply won't do. If the RPG was a person, this would be their permanent personal statement. Throughout the coarse of its life, certain things should never change about the RPG, so these will probably be layed within the intro. This isn't to say that the intro should just list off the things that the game is about. On the contrary, be creative, poetic, and/or dramatic, as I said earlier. Look at the Intro for S W A R M. Start your TBRPG off with a bang.

The setting. As it says in the official CoT rules, please try to make your TBRPG original and unique, with a theme that is distinctly its own. The reason stated is that if it is too similar to another, it could be considered a duplicate. That, and I have heard several complaints in the RPG Topic about too many redundant ideas floating around. For the best of the community and its own good, it would be a bad idea to put the story in a setting that would end up building up a particular fad (these days, a certain amount of years into the future with a sudden invasion). Yes, the setting has to be unique, and it also should be strong. If it's an original composition, it would be best to let people know to take the RPG theme is not too be taken lightly. When a TBRPG initially comes off as strong, it is also appealing and people are attracted into joining it.

Rules. These are fundamental, and I would highly suggest making them organized. Make it clear just how seriously the rules are to be taken, and if problems arise in the TBRPG that you didn't anticipate, quickly amend your constitution and alert everyone that you have done so. I would encourage that you make rules according to your preferences. It's even suggested in the CoT RPG Guidelines. There's nothing wrong with it. I have done it myself. I would also make certain rules custom built for the RPG. If there's a specific element that requires a rule to moderate it or affects certain standard rules, then don't be hesitant to make such "odd" rules. Also, for presenting your rules in a friendly, yet straightforward format, I will share my own method. Either before or after the rules are presented, explain how exactly they will be judged. It's important information. I would also consider whether certain rules are more important than others. Of course, then come the rules, which I would number. For each rule, write the main idea, then explain the rule and why it's there, especially if it is out of personal preference.

Characters. Like everything else, make these carefully. You, as the maker of the TBRPG, would probably want to make your characters one of the most important in the TBRPGs. This is usually always recognized, but it doesn't have to be. Perhaps you, the manager, would like to be any other player. However, no matter what place you place them in the society of the TBRPG, make sure that they are woven together with expertise as to set a good example for others. There's not much that can be done about other people's characters, accept for declining requests you don't think are suitable for the RPG.

Character sheets. These should be just as official as the rules. Preference and customized details are not to be discouraged. Much time and consideration should be put into making them to make sure that they are perfect and that no important details could be left out on a character. It's very simple. However, the one thing that I see that varies to some degree among the TBRPGs is whether there's the detail of entering the user's display name at the top, right above the character's name (presuming that the denizens of the RPG have names). I would recommend this option, as it makes putting the profile on the front page somewhat easier.

The Staff. Well, a TBRPG doesn't necessarily need staff, and you don't have to employ one if you aren't comfortable with it. However, if you feel one will be necessary, read these two blog entries. I,II.

The plot. Your TBRPG might be one that starts with no plot and lets the players decide the course of the TBRPG, but if you have a plot, take it into heavy consideration. Obviously, don't reveal it to everyone. When constructing it, write it into bullet points, detailing certain events that you know you want to happen in order throughout the RPG. Make sure that it doesn't restrict the flexibility that members would have while playing. Certainly, it should be the main story, but leave space open for the freedom of other players to roam around and do their own stuff.

When it comes to making a TBRPG, use the Writing Process. This process consists of five steps: prewriting, drafting, revising, proofing, and finally attempting to get it published. While making it, don't be afraid to consult a friend, which I would heavily recommend. It might help to get a second, or even third, opinion. Look over the TBRPG several times, make your adjustments, and once your done, check every sentence for spelling and grammar.

There are many other things that make a text based role playing game what it is, but it's hard to list much farther than that. However, I hope that this gave you a firm idea of where I stand on certain ideas.

Judging

The primary role of the judge is simple: to decide whether the RPG is appropriate or not to be published. What makes a TBRPG appropriate? If it has a good structure and the requester looks like they would run it properly. However, a judge job is evident in his/her name to make their best judgment. Their role isn't to hold the RPGer's hand and make sure their RPG makes it. That's the responsibility of their friends. What you do with your RPG after you've had it approved is not their responsibility, although it's not to say that it isn't their concern. Obviously, it matters as to whether or not it will work out, since they have to be approved before being posted. A judge won't just look at the format and say, "Well, you have it all written out, so go ahead." Looking at the COT RPG Guidelines, the moderators clearly express that they look at factors such as the member's activity and ability to manage their RPG. They make sure they have a plan. They can't enforce these qualities upon the RPG writer, but once again, I must use the word "judgment." We use our best judgment on whether or not they will. If I was a judge, however, being a member of the community and the everyday critic, I would willingly advise the requester out on what they need to change or add to their RPG in order for it to be approved.

As a judge, I would hold a simple philosophy and a simple policy. My philosophy: respect. My policy: to communicate well with the user requesting an RPG and use my best judgment, determined by many of my standings on TBRPG structure, to decide whether or not the RPG is ready to be approved.

Your Honor,

Emperor Kraggh