X-Men: Retribution's October Newsletter - October 2nd, 2004


This newsletter is posted via xmr-mush@yahoogroups.com. To join, send a
blank email to xmr-mush-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/xmr-mush/.

Alternatively, it is also posted at our forum, located at:
http://www.btvs.ca/xmr and our LJ group: xmr.

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Contents:
Paradigm Shift - a word from the head-wiz
Site of the Month
Code Updates
Plot Info
In the Margins - bits and bobs
Feedback Loop - your letters
Classifieds

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Paradigm Shift

RP Savings and Loans

This month I'd like to put forth the theory that RP, at least once you
reach a certain level of quality which I would (with bias, perhaps) like
to believe we maintain on XMR, is much like a bank. You can only take out
what you put in.

Okay, so pat little metaphors and similies aside, what does this mean? In
short, you have to give in order to get in RP. You have to be willing to
allow scenes to be about other people (sometimes even expend effort
helping them along in that direction) if you want your own turn in the
limelight.

Certainly, sometimes this is not going to get you very far. There are
souls out there in RP-land who will take all that you can give and never
seem willing to turn around and reciprocate. But I like to believe this
is a minority of players out there, or at least can be if people are only
made aware that sometimes you do have to step back a bit and simply allow
the scene to be about someone else.

In stories, we have our main characters and our bad guys and the rest of
the world is supporting cast. But in MU*ing, everyone is a main
character, and aside from the occasional NPC, there really is no
supporting cast. But stories that only have protaganists soon unravel.
And so, we each must take our turn being supporting cast for each other.
This is where quality RP is achieved.

So I propose you step back once in awhile and really give some thought to
your own methods of RP. It's no good worrying about that of other
players; just concern yourself with your own. Do you consistently tend to
use any opening to bring the scene around to focussing on your character?
Do you frequently and repeatedly drop hints (anvils, perhaps) to get other
characters to ask yours about his or her secrets, powers, skills, etc? Do
you use anything at your disposal (setting, NPCs, etc.) to make your
character seem more important within the scene? Are you only really happy
RPing if a scene is about your character? Can you say you likely know as
much if not more about the other characters you RP with as their players
do about yours? Do you have any interest in learning secrets or simply
information about other characters? Do you have 'tricks' that you use
regularly in RP to take a slow scene and thrust your character into the
starring role (tics, issues with your powers, things beyond the control of
your character but that conveniently draw all attention to them, etc.)?

Please, though, don't let this article make you paranoid. Note the words
I use in my questions: consistently, frequently, regularly, etc. As with
most things, these only become a problem when moderation is lost. When
most if not every scene needs to be about your character. Chances are, as
with many of my monthly articles, if you're worrying that this might apply
to you, it likely doesn't.

Still, it never hurts to sit back and give it some consideration once in
awhile. If you're truly worried you might have a problem here, you can
always simply ask. Ask your fellow players. Ask staff. If you're in a
scene and you want to try something to explore a facet of your character
but aren't sure if it's crossing the line just ask. Otherwise, all I ask
is that you be aware. Try to give a little extra, every once in awhile.
Pick up on something subtle on another character and give the player the
opportunity to really shine with it. With most players, they'll be
impressed and flattered that you noticed and thought to do something with
it. They'll want to RP with you more. And perhaps they'll start trying
to give you the same in return. Which brings me back to my beginning.
Who knows, you may even stumble upon a bank where the interest rate
outstrips the fees and you wind up with more than you started with.
Certainly can't hurt to try, can it?

Thank you,
Paradigm

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Site of the Month

This month's site is a FanArt one recommended by Eeyore. As I have really
no experience with it, you get no colourful commentary this time around,
just an URL:
http://home.att.net/~lubakmetyk/gallery.htm

Please note that there ARE adult images on the site, though they all
appear to be safely behind further warnings.

(If you have any suggestions for future SotMs, be they personal sites or
just ones you like, by all means, please @mail me the URL. Even if they
don't get used as a SotM, they may be included in our Feedback Loop
section.)

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Code Updates

- +tokens are going live along with the launching of The Great RP
Challenege (http://xmr.dune.net/tgrpc.html). See '+help tokens' for more
information.

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Plot Info

Plot Involvement : A How-To Guide
by Eeyore

Think there's no plots going on? Think again. As a rule there are always
plots going on, but most of them don't begin as knock-down drag-out
fights; a plot
begins often as something small and seemingly insignificant until someone
follows it up. Here are some ways you can find the plots and get involved.

1. Read the bulletin boards.

Often, a plot is heralded by a news post. If someone went to the trouble
of writing up a television spot or newspaper article, chances are it's a
plot.
Follow these up rigorously - you might be surprised at the results.

2. Talk to other players.

Other players have information. Even if they don't have information
directly on something, they might know a character involved in something -
or might have
something in their own backgrounds worth following up.

3. Follow up any clues you find.

This might seem self-evident, but it's often the least followed point. If
you find out something, it's not going to follow itself up, like a dog
chasing its
tail; it's up to you as a player to do something about it! And there's
plenty to be done.

There are five things to do for following up clues in RP :

TALK to other players IC. Don't expect instant outpouring of information;
give them a reason to want to work with your character. Whether it's
threats or
bribes, make sure you follow through on your end of it. Other people are
not ATMs of information; to get something out of it, you need to put
something in.
Talk to them OOCly, find out how the plot can benefit them as well as you.
Plots are for creating RP, and if you give people the chance to be
involved,
something can almost always be worked out - even when PCs are on opposite
sides of the fence ICly.

TALK to staff about what you want to do. Staff can tell you if your ideas
are practical and give you input and suggestions. They may also be able to
recommend players who will be of particular aid if involved; never
underestimate the OOC knowledge staff can wield on your behalf!

TALK to both staff and other players about what's going on. Communication
isn't just a good idea; it's required. Don't separate your communications
to one or
the other, as having everyone in the same loop helps keep things flowing
much more smoothly than if you have two separate loops which only
intersect at one
point : you. @Mail is very much your best friend in this, and staff has
several aliases which can help you : *STAFF and *PLOT are both of
particular
relevance.

PLAN what you want to do and how. Involve other people in this if at all
possible; remember that no matter how smart you are, two heads are better
than one
and someone else might notice something which you've overlooked. You've
got to have some sort of plan; it's rare that just wandering blithely
through RP will
net you in-depth results.

RELAX. Don't obsessively plan every single detail; noone can and it won't
get you any further along. Get a rough plan in motion, work with staff and
other
players to set a time to play out whatever it is you want to do, and go
for the gold. Remember that no matter what position you play on your team
(or even as
an independent), OOCly, you aren't in charge and you don't have to be.

Always remember that the purpose of a plot is to create RP, not to stifle
it. And never be afraid to ask for help. You never know - the next plot
that
happens might be focused on you. And above all else...


REMEMBER TO ROLEPLAY! Have fun; it's a jungle out there.

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In the Margins

Kurt maintains the lead in +salutes for the third month running, now with
29. Nice work Kurt!
For more information on +salutes, see '+help salutes'.
--
+thought as of October 2nd: "I see the hole in your thinking ... where the
logic drained out."
To set your own +thought, see '+help thought'.
--
+roster stats as of September 2nd:
- Xavier's: 10 members
- Brotherhood: 6 members
- X-Men: 5 members
- Order of Rational Parity: 4 members
- Mutancy Investigation Bureau: 1 member
- Independent: 1 member
- No team set: 12 characters
We have 39 approved characters as of October 2nd.
--
September birthdays: Unity on Sun Sep 23 11:59:00 1990
October birthdays: Hank on Sat Oct 21 07:57:57 1978
Caden on Sun Oct 21 02:20:44 1984
--
Our Embassy on OGR is available for any game downtimes. To get there, log
onto OGR at: ogrmux.com port 6700, create a character bit, and then @tel
to #1867. The embassy can be used as a gathering place and up to two
additional rooms can be provided upon request for RP. We also have our
own channel there: XMenRetribution.
--
We had 45 logs submitted to the list in September. Thanks you guys!
Keep sending 'em in and let's see if we can't get even higher for October!
You can view our logs here: http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/xmr-logs/
--
The Great RP Challenge is going on all this month! See
http://xmr.dune.net/tgrpc.html for more information.

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Feedback Loop

In the future, this will be a space for you to have your say. You can ask
questions or give opinions and they will be addressed here also by staff.
We will strive to include every question and opinion, but may need to
withhold or edit some for content or to reduce repetition. If your
question is not addressed here, you may always contact staff for a private
answer.

To submit a question, @mail or email (paradigm@...) Paradigm,
with the words 'Feedback Loop' in the subject line.
--
We still haven't received any feedback on our newsletter. Please feel
free to write in and let us know what you think. Is there anything that
should be included that isn't? Do you find it useful or no?

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Classifieds

In the future, this will be a space for players to post classifieds. You
can submit birthday wishes or other such greetings for specific players,
put out ads for characters/concepts you'd like to see played, bring
attention to sites or other games, or any other myriad messages.

To submit a classified add, @mail or email (paradigm@...)
Paradigm, with the words 'Newsletter Classifieds' in the subject line.
--
No classifieds submitted yet.