RP 'Sheeple': WAKE UP!

Let me begin by saying that I am rather disappointed with much of the
state of RPing today. I feel that people have lost their lust and
drive for really writing and developing plot and characters. The
content of most RPGs has degenerated into nothing but constant "hat
tipping". You all know what "hat tipping" is; it is when players do
nothing but introduce their characters and maybe show off the
character's supernatural-powers in a nonthreatening (and
uninteresting) way. While I'll admit that a player should introduce
their characters, Role-playing should be MORE than just that. If we
look at a 3-Act story structure there is: an Introduction, a Conflict,
and a Resolution. The reason 80% of all new RPGs die out so quickly
is because they are all writing a story with an infinitely long 1st
Act that can only be destined to run out of steam from lack of interest.

But I am not sure whom to blame: the Moderators or the Players?

Half of all the destined-to-die RPGs I have played are because of Mods
who insist on the game being played THEIR way. While sometimes they
have a story (and sometimes they don't), these Mods make a point to
squash out any and all of the other players' story ideas. They
usually claim to do this because they say the player has over stepped
their bounds. WHAT!? If writing a story is overstepping the bounds,
then what do these Mods think the players are supposed to do? I will
tell you. Players stuck in these Nazi-controlled games are given two
options 1) react to the MOD'S story and never contribute, or 2) "Hat
tipping" with other characters. Most players will chose option #2
because then at least they can contribute a little and show off their
imagination by introducing their own characters.

The other Half of of all the destined-to-die RPGs are due to these
dull unimaginative players. I am not sure if the Mods presented above
have conditioned players to be this way, but when given the
opportunity to create most players will do nothing but "hat tipping."
In games where I have Moded and given players the space to create,
they will usually just wait to be hand-held by the Moderator to drag
their character along a story every step of the way. I am just saying
that it should be the players responsibility to create plots as well
as the Moderator's. Now I am not all saying that all players need to
be Stephen King when it comes to writing, but a player should go into
a game with a little more forethought than "I'm gonna be Wolverine and
I hope the Mod makes him do something interesting."

However, despite all my ranting and raving I understand why this has
all come about. I am sure once upon a time, in the early days of
text-based RPGing, there were no rules and games became teeming with
Mary Sues, God-moders, and other players who do nothing but ruin games
for everyone. So, the Moderators of the day had to wrangle these
disruptive players in by controlling every aspect of the RPG. But
what they did not see, was that new players were coming in all the
time who were learning from these controlled games and believing that
no thought nor creativity were the way RPGs were supposed to be.

But we have to have to HAVE to break the cycle somewhere. Moderators
and Game owners: loosen the reigns on your stories a little and accept
that another player may want to take your story in another direction
or (heaven's forbid!) take their characters in their own direction.
You might find that not only are most players not dick-heads, but
their interesting twists in stories might keep you more interested in
your own game. And Players: You started RPGing because you liked to
write or read, so show it! Invent your own stories, and maybe even
add for your own villain to fight. Create a character with actual
flaws (amnesia or being a adopted does not count) that they can allow
your character to grow and learn to overcome. Finally, (if only for
me) limit your character introductions to only 2 or 3 posts MAX, after
that your character has got to fight something even if that something
is him or herself.

I know we all fear Mary Sues and God-moders, but an Internet of dull
and stagnant RPGs, I feel, is a far worst fate.

Viva la Revolution!