Things that annoy or puzzle you about Cantr

[*Wiro]

I'm surprised they're so important. Most descriptions are so generic and boring anyway (I'm sure many will disagree, don't take offence). I always read them, but my image of a character is mostly based on their role play.

[Otherside]

I guess they matter more to readers/writers, less to players. I don't mean to sound like an arse... But every character that appears in a novel at least has a demeanour or a look or an allusion to help your mind paint a picture. There aren't many with nothing... I guess it helps keep the two separate.

[*Wiro]

I guess I'm a little stuck in time. It's so important to me what a character's personality is like, and how the player emotes them. That's what I see most of the time, so it's bound to have a big effect I guess.

That said, there's plenty of really nice descriptions too and I like writing my own descriptions for my characters, rooms, furniture, clothes and weapons.

[Otherside]

It's so important to me what a character's personality is like, and how the player emotes them. That's what I see most of the time, so it's bound to have a big effect I guess.

I still agree completely, all the descriptions can only add to it all and make the world richer... and for the small amount of effort it takes, it adds a lot. Even better are the contrasts... The wallflowers that end up being infinite... and the big hefty bruisers that like nothing more than painting birds.

Its a novel that we're all writing and living... so why not liven it up?

[Joshuamonkey]

To be honest I don't pay much attention to descriptions. I do read them sometimes, but I wouldn't say it affects how I interact with other characters at all; it's more like it just tells me something about the player and what they want people to think about their character (which I shouldn't think about..). But I do agree that they should be written.

[BosBaBe]

It seems kind of rude to ask someone to make a description. I can't imagine anyone wanting to hear that, unless the player didn't realize the feature existed or know how to use it.

I don't do it in a rude manner, I just ask them if they know the feature exists and that it's nice to get a general idea of what the character looks like. Many a time I've mentioned it and they'll say they put the description in the wrong box or something. xD I don't demand they have it, I just sort of guide them in the right direction. I'd be perfectly happy if they just wrote one lines worth of a description, it's better than nothing.

I personally find personality in a character important, and it's true that if their actions don't portray it, their elaborate description seems like just a gift-wrapped void of nothing. A description can't save that. But a good character, with good rp, along with a good description, is wonderful.

What I hate even more than the lack of descriptions are the one line responses lacking any emotes or depth what so over. You sit there writing something, with detail and thought and emotion, and then the other character will respond with, "Oh, that's nice." And oh my goodness, you may just be graced with a *smiles*.

I know some people don't know what to say, or they're not one to write a lot. But it's so draining to write something which has plenty of points to respond to or supply an action, and all they do is smile? Responding with a sentence that contains just three words? It puts you off, you'll sit there afterwards thinking, "Now what do I do? :/". It kills an rp completely.

I had that a couple of days ago. And when I didn't respond to the player's one liner, the character got annoyed that I didn't respond immediately.

Don't get me wrong, even I get my days where I'll just write a one line thing with some generic emote, but when it happens all the time... :c

[Chroma Key]

Some people, me included (and I've held my hands up to this several times already), aren't elaborate RP'ers and prefer a concise style that may even come across as curt at times.

There are several other reasons why a post you put so much effort and thought into does not get the kind of response you desire, varying from the lack of time the player has online, to, like you said, not knowing what to say (but not wanting to ignore it, either). I wouldn't take that personally, or as a slight to you. Whilst I understand that this might be frustrating, I bet there are many others who appreciate those posts and your style, and respond in kind.

For me... I've been put off from saying anything at all for fear that, god forbids, the long posters get offended this way, which they usually make very clear... so unless my (very small number of) chars are addressed specifically, they refrain from responding in any way. No great loss, I'm sure.

[Cdls]

Was feeling a bit sarcastic and was going to respond to all that with only a simple: --- ---



I don't mind the one liners if they contain something to go on. I have seen quite a few characters use one liners that had more quality than those who write paragraphs of filler text. Now don't get me wrong, those that do write out quality, paragraph level responses are amazing, I guess the point I am making is something I have said before a few times....quality > quantity.

My opinion at least.

[ObsessedWithCats]

I think occasional awkwardly halted conversations because one character couldn't find a response that would keep it going are pretty realistic, though they should be consistent within a given character and allowing for the player's time limitations.

I have one character who I initially created to explore the world further without having to consult a thesaurus or draw too far into my social-interaction-energy reserves to play, and so the character is pretty much defined by minimal emoting and minimal wordiness. I try to make what he does emote a bit more thoughtful to make up for all the blank stares and slight frowns, but I still kind of feel bad for all the people who have to put up with him. Still, that's who he is and it doesn't exactly make things easy for him and in this case it's no longer laziness on my part making for awkward RP. I have a couple of other characters who're much better at keeping a conversation going even if the other side is flagging a bit, and one who'll pretty much match whoever he's talking to.

[BosBaBe]

Was feeling a bit sarcastic and was going to respond to all that with only a simple: --- ---



I don't mind the one liners if they contain something to go on. I have seen quite a few characters use one liners that had more quality than those who write paragraphs of filler text. Now don't get me wrong, those that do write out quality, paragraph level responses are amazing, I guess the point I am making is something I have said before a few times....quality > quantity.

My opinion at least.

True, but the simple "That's nice. *smiles*" really has nothing to it, I don't mind a one liner where there really is something happening. But what I'm talking about is a bland, empty response, that happens ALL the time. That's just no quality, and no quantity either. I don't always write paragraphs of text, my posts can sometimes be one or two lines, but I refrain from the the simple, emotionless blurt of text that would have made no difference to the rp if it wasn't even said. Because that's how it feels when you look at it. It feels like nothing happened at all.

Some people, me included (and I've held my hands up to this several times already), aren't elaborate RP'ers and prefer a concise style that may even come across as curt at times.

There are several other reasons why a post you put so much effort and thought into does not get the kind of response you desire, varying from the lack of time the player has online, to, like you said, not knowing what to say (but not wanting to ignore it, either). I wouldn't take that personally, or as a slight to you. Whilst I understand that this might be frustrating, I bet there are many others who appreciate those posts and your style, and respond in kind.

For me... I've been put off from saying anything at all for fear that, god forbids, the long posters get offended this way, which they usually make very clear... so unless my (very small number of) chars are addressed specifically, they refrain from responding in any way. No great loss, I'm sure.

This is just fine, as I said above it's fine to have something short if that's all it takes. But when it's empty and might as well not have been posted at all, it's frustrating. I'm not saying everyone should go out there and write paragraphs. I can appreciate the one - two liners if it's at least got some depth and builds towards my view of the character, but if it's bland and empty, it feels like you're rping with a brick/cardboard cut out.

[Cdls]

But what I'm talking about is a bland, empty response, that happens ALL the time.

When I come across that, I tend to see it as the character showing a lack of interest in whatever is going on, and continue on based on that assumption.

Maybe I have been lucky and haven't come across it often enough to make it stand out, or maybe it does happen often around mine but is so generic that I don't really notice it.

[curious]

EXCESSIVE... whispering.

[Cdls]

EXCESSIVE... whispering.

Sometimes people want to have a private conversation and not have to go inside to do it.


What annoys me about that is if that is ALL they do, and ignore everyone and everything going on.

[Otherside]

For me, it is always quality over quantity... Sure, some players can write elaborate emotes detailing everything. But after a while it is a bunch of great words in a slightly different order. I'm sure I am guilty of this to an extent, but some players and characters just have a way of doing so much, with sometimes very little. They can take an RP and change the direction, or add something small that becomes so much more.

Chroma, you do this... and you don't always know. But your characters that I have met, are great, and loved because of it. They are a lot more real than many, and it shines.

But replies that lack any substance, after significant effort, are crushing at worst, and I usually take that as not interested, unless I see the depth in the character beforehand... and persevere.

[Alladinsane]

It can go both ways I think.

What can be tougher with the shorter responses is trying to convey that the speaker is feeling a bit sarcastic, or annoyed (In that case a *smile* may mean alot more than a smile within the context of the entire conversation). Short responses can indicate disappointment, sadness, or many other things that I probably don't possess the temerity to write.
I often find that less can be more (though there are times when I hate less... my wife for instance, when she gets quiet, I start looking for places to hide) and a few emotionless words can convey much. In literature I only know of a few writers who can pull this off well though.

So I try look at the mood that the preceding entries conveyed and the still waters may conceal treacherous currents.



Or as stated before, it may indeed be a bunch of hooey.