Path Revitalisation Excitement Thread (positivity yay)

[Amalea]

[quote=Doc]Yea, I am not a fan of the idea of getting rid of rpp. Or making it straight experience.

We work hard to earn that rpp, to then buy an Rp power. There is a sense of accomplishment that comes with rpp. [/quote]

This. Amalea just got enough RRP to get the two RP powers she's been after. Now it's a matter of waiting on storylines and choosing curses.

I like that RP has its own leveling system that encourages writing and gives writers something to work towards - both conversion and RP powerwise.

Gaining RP powers via RP makes sense. You're putting the work into developing the character and as they grow, it follows that their abilities and reputation would as well. To change gaining RP powers to using grid experience lessens that sense of working towards the power and sense of character development.


Also...I've never exchanged RRP for cash so that wouldn't be an option I'm interested. I find she makes enough money grid-wise.

[Prudence]

Yeah, I Dont want cash either. Every now and again I do it to see what the pay out is, it's not appealing to me at all.
><

[Charlie]

Don't fix want ain't broken.

I'm a little at a loss as to what has prompted this RPP getting axed logic… In fact, I'm a little lost as to the vision you have for this forum, David. Last year, you posted a topic titled Path Roleplay Focus in which you outlined your ideas to make this forum more roleplay friendly and focused—including the increase cap on RPP Levels. There have been a few changes since, though most remain grid-centric.

Amongst the roleplay-centric changes you've made, there's been the loot drops which tie us back into the grid. There has also been the implementation of the Storyteller system, which has the potential to greatly facilitate forum posting for chat-based roleplayers. It is still buggy, and doesn't actually offer the same level of customisation that many people tend towards. A minority actually seem to be using it, in spite of there being a lot of chat-based roleplay happening and being posted. Which is a shame, because it's a fabulous system that should be used to its full potential. From your original list, there's also been the creation of the GM group, which hasn't been particularly successful beyond Doc's amazing job with the May GM. We were told there'd be a Chapter instead of a July-August GM, but it's now the end of August and no one knows what's going on...

This week has been fantastic because it's brought people back, gotten them excited. It's incentivised people into creating stories, bridging across comfort zones, and makes the forum far more attractive to newcomers looking for an active roleplay site. This is why I suggested what I did on Megan's account, to keep giving it steam and foster more activity and creativity. But somehow, in the course of twenty-four hours, it's gone from you agreeing it's a good idea to wanting to remove RPP altogether?

To remove RPP just seems like another grid-centric change that moves us away from empowering roleplayers. It's a change that no one has actually asked for... and which seems to further fudge the line between gamer and roleplayers, which people have made very clear they want to maintain. I like curses. I like powers. And the people before me, like Amalea's player, have worded it perfectly as to why. In fact, many people have commented on the need for more curses and powers, and the need for RPP incentives to get more underrepresented groups playing. I think it's very telling that people are wiling to invest that much in something that has no grid application. And if they don't want to use that towards curses and powers? They can exchange it!

I'm excited about many of your upcoming projects, but looking at that list, there's no denying the vast majority of changes remain grid-based that hold no promise of Path becoming more roleplay-centric. And removing RPP? It has more potential to turn people away from engaging roleplay, like The Master's player pointed out.

Edited: I had written June-July, when it was July-August. Thanks Amalea for pointing that out. Sorry about that!

[Amalea]

Josh ran a successful event in June.

Also, by Storyteller System, I'm assuming you mean the RP Dice Roller? I think the actual ST System is still in development? The dice roller doesn't suit a good portion of roleplays, so I'm not surprised it isn't being used. It also might be partly due to the fact the dropdowns to set up a roll aren't being shown (at least for me) when posting.

[Azraeth]

From your original list, there's also been the creation of the GM group, which hasn't been particularly successful beyond Doc's amazing job with the May GM. We were told there'd be a Chapter instead of a June-July GM, but it's now the end of August and no one knows what's going on...

There's going to be an event around September first. Apologies for the lack of GM events for July and August - I was away for a big chunk of August for a wedding, or I would have made sure there was one.

Ideally, there's going to be a GM event every month, sadly there was a bit of a mix up with timing is all, and I don't forsee that happening again.

A few thoughts though on the topic of the GMs - right now, the primary active GM team is me, Doc, and Ripper. I heavily encourage anyone who wants to be an active GM to notify me or David, because trust me, getting more help for GM projects would be a real god send.

As far as I'm aware, the chapter is still upcoming.

And I've been working on a few other project ideas with the GM team for release over the next few months, so there is going to be plenty of stuff to do. Not all of it will be related to roleplay, but all of it will (hopefully) be fun!

As far as the rest goes, I don't really have an opinion about doing away with RPP versus keeping it, so I'll leave that discussion to the rest of you. <3!

[Mooncalf]

We won't get rid of RRP and make it simpler (while keeping it basically the exact same system) if that's not what people want.

My idea was that RPP is a bit of a needless hoop to jump through, when you consider that by spending that RPP on, say, a RP power, you're losing out on potential EXP in the process anyway. So people's complaints about missing out on level ups due to spending XP on RP powers is moot, as that's still the case with the current system anyway. Of course I wouldn't be getting rid of anything we've got at the moment if I was going to go ahead with turning RPP into straight up XP, and that includes RP levels. You'd still gain RP levels as the system would track the amount of RP you've posted and inform you when you level up your RP level, which would give a beter conversion rate. I also was not planning on taking away XP from people and giving them cash instead; either there would be a switch on the forum to change between cash-gaining posts VS XP-gaining posts, or the amount of cash you got wouldn't detract from the XP you gained.

But people aren't in favour of the change, so we won't do it. Though I do feel that people jump to conclusions about potential changes before I've had a chance to explain that nobody would lose anything, and all the change would really do is make it simpler for newbies.

[Prudence]

I actually liked it. I just didn't want/am not interested in money for rp
:/

[Azraeth]

I think any modification to Path that makes it simpler (easier to learn, in this case), and therefor more attractive to new players, is a good thing.

David, I'm not sure if you've sort of officially or semi-officially put the idea of doing away with RPP to rest, but I really like what you proposed, as outlined in your last post. Personally, I think making the cash gains from roleplay incidental to the whole thing would probably be best, if only because I don't think most people are going to be hugely attached to the money gain anyway, and those who do like it, would be pleased to be able to get both EXP and cash.

I also wanted to say that I'm really excited to see so much going on with Path, and I think you are a huge (I. E. Central to) part of that. Hell, this thread is called the 'Path Revitalization Excitement Thread.

I think most creators reflect the energy around them, so let me just say that I have a lot of faith in your vision for Path. Even if you decide against nixing the RPP, I think there is a world of good coming out of this thread, and your list of projects. I find myself really looking forward to what you have planned next!

[Caligrace]

We won't get rid of RRP and make it simpler (while keeping it basically the exact same system) if that's not what people want.

My idea was that RPP is a bit of a needless hoop to jump through, when you consider that by spending that RPP on, say, a RP power, you're losing out on potential EXP in the process anyway. So people's complaints about missing out on level ups due to spending XP on RP powers is moot, as that's still the case with the current system anyway. Of course I wouldn't be getting rid of anything we've got at the moment if I was going to go ahead with turning RPP into straight up XP, and that includes RP levels. You'd still gain RP levels as the system would track the amount of RP you've posted and inform you when you level up your RP level, which would give a beter conversion rate. I also was not planning on taking away XP from people and giving them cash instead; either there would be a switch on the forum to change between cash-gaining posts VS XP-gaining posts, or the amount of cash you got wouldn't detract from the XP you gained.

But people aren't in favour of the change, so we won't do it. Though I do feel that people jump to conclusions about potential changes before I've had a chance to explain that nobody would lose anything, and all the change would really do is make it simpler for newbies.

I cannot think of single one of us that is against making the game simpler for newbies. It's just hard for veterans to adjust to change easily when this is what we've been used for so long.

Onto the concerns!

For those that post on the forum continuously, I can see why the suggested change is a little confusing. While I can understand the RP level gain and how it would work to continue to keep track of where we are at, it's still not clicking for me how it's going to work when you actually make a post and gain the experience to convert for RP powers.

It'll go straight to your exp amount on your CS is what I'm assuming, and from the RP power page, you would select the option to use exp instead of RPP?

Also, with that in mind, you mentioned that we're already risking losing our experience levels in favor of powers, but it truly doesn't feel that way. There's a vast difference in using 50,000 - 200,000 RPP to gain a power that you've been working towards on your character, then to turn around and use it from your EXP pool, instead. That could take us back an entire level if I'm understanding how it'd work correctly?

I think that's the biggest issue that we have with that portion, and what makes us a little hesitant.

Personally, I only use my RPP to push myself that .5-1% over the edge to gain my level, meaning I only use my 500 for free every other day at most. Granted, I've been using it a lot more recently, but that's just to catch up.

Again, as someone who is both grid and story oriented, this change could be fun. I just want to fully understand the extent to what is being put on the table, which is why I - and I feel everyone else - voiced their questions and concerns, so you could address them when you had the time to sit and explain it. :)

[Mooncalf]

No worries, we'll keep RPP as it is for now. I like to listen to people when possible, and this wouldn't be a change that would be a huge deal to make, so I think the better option is to not scare people off with almost needless change. We can revisit the idea later down the line, if we feel it's needed.

Regarding RPP powers, I've thought of an alternative idea, which would be to make it so that you still gain RPP as well as straight up XP, and you could exchange that RPP for things which have no grid value, but do have roleplay value (RP powers and proficiencies for example). Just a thought, if we ever did make it happen.