On My Way to the Forum
From FiranMUX
Overview
This page will detail a storytelling experiment on FiranMUX that requires little work on the part of players or admin, but much patience and cooperation. In short, we are instituting a program entitled "On My Way to the Forum" in which, for one weekend a month, all RP will take part in the Palace District.
Background
It is a common theory that player dispersion limits roleplaying opportunities, stunts storylines, and makes it more difficult to administer text based games like ours. Firan is amongst the largest games--we may even, room for room, be the largest, if you count dspace.
Quite often, when we type @where we see a playerbase of more than 100 people logged in separate rooms. To combat that, we often try to run crisis-type TPs that call players together. Fires, air raids, floods. You name it.
We've also attempted other solutions such as instituting the @hubs code and giving incentives to players to hang out in public places. These efforts have met with some success, but it occurs to us that it's important to test the theory of dispersion, and a painless experiment is called for.
The Experiment
Goals
- We'd like to establish, by way of this experiment, if Firan's large size is indeed an inhibition to good storytelling and RP opportunity.
- We seek to know whether concentrating the playerbase in a smaller area will lead to more relationships, conflicts, and opportunities that staffers don't have to create. Ie. Will concentration assist players in their interactive storytelling endeavors without calling for outside interference.
- We intend to test the community-based nature of Firan's structure towards being flexible enough to pull off something wacky together.
Procedure
- Go to the Palace District. For the weekend, all players will relocate themselves to any of the many locations in the Palace District. It is our intention to allow players to go themselves, rather than automagically teleport them, so that they can bring with them anything they might need. (If, however, this looks like it's not happening, admin will assist as needed by simply teleporting people to the forum when they log in so as to keep everyone in compliance with the rules.)
- Stay in the Palace District. It is our intention that for one weeked, players keep their characters in the palace district and only leave it for quick trips such as picking up some needed item at home or doing a little crafting. We think the players can do this on the honor system. (However, should we find players leaving the palace district for more than quick trips and therefore corrupting the experiment, admin are willing to lock the gates and keep everyone in.)
- Sleep Off Screen. We realize that sleeping is an important part of Firan life for some characters. We encourage you, in that case, to toggle autosleep on during our experimental weekends. Your character can feel free to RP that they have been sleeping at home at night, off screen, but all on screen time will be in the Palace District. Also, this means that you shouldn't set up private tents in the Palace District unless your character would normally do so.
- Be Creative About Why You're In the Palace District. For some of you, a reason to RP in the Palace District will come naturally. If you're a Clan Leader, you have offices there. If you're a noble, it's important to see and be seen in public places. If you're a priest, there are the temples to tend to. If you're a merchant, there are wares to be sold. If you're a political activist, there are people to agitate for your cause. If you're an artist, there's an auction house to show off your talents. If you're a soldier, there's training to be done at the barracks. If you're a guard, the jails need to be tended. If you're a criminal, there are buildings to reconnoiter and marks to be scammed--laying the groundwork for a stellar con does a credit to the Old City for sure. In short, no matter who you are, you've got some reason to be in the Palace District, even if it involves bathing and meeting friends. Be creative. (The staff would prefer not to create a natural disaster or some kind of plot that _forces_ everyone into the Palace District, but we will consider it if compelled.)
- Explore and Find Privacy: This is your chance to explore the Palace District, certainly. There are nooks and crannies to find privacy all over the place. Feel free to use them for smaller scenes. Also take advantage of places code whenever possible.
- Take Advantage of Opportunities. There are relationships to be made, so avoid turning everything into a massive festival scene by taking advantage of opportunities as they come up to make new connections, seek allies for your causes, create trouble, meddle, and so on. (We will encourage the Viceroy and the Acting Queen, whoever she may be, to hold some sort of festivity in which some nobles may be invited to sleep at the palace. This could be your once in a lifetime chance to do that!)
When
- The first "On My Way to the Forum" was a week long and ran from noon Sunday 7/28/08 to noon Sunday 08/03/08.
- Hereafter each "On My Way to the Forum" will be scheduled for the first weekend of every month, starting at noon on Friday and lasting until midnight Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions
But the Forum is crowded. How can I avoid massive spam scenes?
The entire Palace District and all of its buildings are open to RP. We feel confident that people will be able to find places for one-on-one RP if need be. We will also be willing to add places if things get out of hand.
Can I have both my alts in the Palace District at the same time?
We're confident that you can find ways to keep your alts from being in the same room at the same time. The Palace District is big enough that you can spread out. There's really no reason you should run into alt conflicts.
How will I take commissions if I need a forge, since none are allowed in the Palace District?
If you need to nip out to quickly create something in your forge and return, go ahead. You just won't be RPing there in your forge, and definitely not allowed to idle there either.
How will I pray at the True Temple, since there's none in the Palace District?
If you really need to pray during this one week, feel free to nip out to the True Temple to run the prayer code then come back. However, RP at the True Temple will be disallowed. Also, no idling there either. Keep in mind too that for most monotheists, the polytheistic temple to Zutiv is an acceptable substitute, and liberals might even use the Great Temple in a pinch.
I can think of a couple reasons for my character to visit, but it makes no sense that my character would be spending a whole weekend in the Palace District.
Your character isn't actually spending a whole weekend in the Palace District unless the staff has instigated some sort of plot, in which case your reason will be obvious. What you're doing is playing the director of your own television show here. The Palace District is a 'set' you're using for scenes. Your character does a lot of things elsewhere when the camera isn't rolling. Things are happening 'off screen' but for a weekend, your 'on screen' time is spent with the backdrop of the Palace District.
But I don't like RP. Can't I just come to Firan to chat with my friends?
Firan isn't a social mush--yet--but we do encourage a sense of community, so we extend the courtesy to you to hang out and chat with your friends. In return, we ask that you extend the courtesy to us of doing your idling and chatting from the OOC rooms or on the public channels during these weekends.
