Best roleplay competition (?)

[Jos Elkink]

Do you guys think it would be possible and interesting to have some kind of roleplay competition implemented in the game? Something where people could vote for a certain character and then we get a winning character every month?

The implementation wouldn't be that complicated, but there are maybe some problems. That is, wouldn't ok-played characters in a busy region have a much higher chance of winning than a really well played character in a quiet region? And how many players can know a certain character in the first place?

And should you be able to vote for a character you can't actually see at the moment?

Any comments / ideas?

This idea is triggered by Pirog's RP praise thread: http://www.cantr.net/forum/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

[Black Canyon]

Interesting. I like the idea and enjoy reading these type of threads, however I do think the issue you mentioned is a problem. I have found that many excellent role-players tend to display their talents with characters in private or more limited interactions. I generally do not post in the "rp praise" threads, even though there are many I have praise for, in order not to risk revealing my own characters and to avoid any questions regarding who they might be.

At the same time.....I support anything that would increase and improve upon the amount and quality of role-play in the game. It is definitely the aspect of the game that I find the most important and enjoyable.

[Anthony Roberts]

I think it would be an interesting aspect to be added to the game, however, I do agree that it would have its problems.

You could always slap an island somewhere that people can't get to, and allow players a 16th character to be spawned on that island (If they want to participate in any competition), and just let them crack at it? Of course, THAT'S a problem in its own... you'd have posts flying everywhere it would be hell to sort it all out... I can't think of any other solution.

Would the winner of each monthly competition be slapped somewhere for all to praise, or something?

[Pirog]

A great idea! I will vote for anything that promotes good RPing

That is, wouldn't ok-played characters in a busy region have a much higher chance of winning than a really well played character in a quiet region?

Maybe, but not necessarily.
Personally I have a hard time keeping characters in busy RP towns like Quillanoi and Siom, because there are so many posts that I find it hard to follow them all...there my characters tend to be more passive.
And it is easier to notice a great RPer in a more solitary place than in a town bustling with activity.

And I'm sure we are all mature enough see this as a funny thing and not a serious competition.

And should you be able to vote for a character you can't actually see at the moment?

I certainly think so. I see no reason for not allowing it...or would the competition be about "the RPer this month"?

If a characters wins it shouldn't be able to be nominated for a certain amount of months, preventing the same guy/girl from winning every month...

Another way to go about it would be to post a top ten list or something. That would perhaps be even better, since it would make more people happy and working as motivation for people to give their top listed characters some extra attention to win the next month
(With this system it would perhaps be best with a "best this month" competition)

[Pirog]

And although I would like a 16th character I think the "honor" is enough for reward. That way it would be kept serious...if it became a competition with prizes people might start taking it too far just to win...

[Pirate Lass]

I must agree that I dislike the idea of a RP competition.

[The Industriallist]

I wouldn't mind a "Best this Month" type voting-based contest with no prize other than having your character's name listed somewhere on the player page. Anything more than that would be a really bad idea.

[The Sociologist]

And should you be able to vote for a character you can't actually see at the moment?

I'm not sure what you mean by that. One would have to vote on the main player menu page, and how could you then tell who your individual characters can see or not?

I am utterly and totally opposed to voting from inside the character pages, as each character has its own personality and they cannot be expected to concern themselves with issues such as "roleplay". Their situation may require them to hate X, even if X's player is the best roleplayer around.

So I don't see how such a scheme could be implemented. No harm in a monthly forum poll or something like that, though.

Finally, I don't believe this is anywhere near a high programming priority. I've been spending some time walking through towns where the greater part of the population seems to have died, or to be in the process of dying... from boredom. In many places they sit on vast quantities of semi-processed stuff and nobody bothers to do anything with it. Even Alenz Hills is just about supine. Some of them wake up once a week...

Like I said before, improving motivation and fixing the economy and trade is a much higher priority.

Your economic model is currently massively over-stabilized.
.

[nitefyre]

I disagree with an ingame vote.

I think a topic (like the multiple ones that have been made before Pirog's) are sufficient. If you wanted to make it official, that's cool with me. Official Topic of the Top Roleplayer. Voted on for every month. Advertised in a message to every player, to visit the forums to vote.

[Nick]

Nay.
Whats the point anyway, really?

[west]

I must agree that I dislike the idea of a RP competition.

Seconded.

[1959 Apache]

With all due respect Jos, this is not a good idea. Players are supposed to RP their characters to the best of their ability, and pick up techniques through experience. This should be done for love of the game. A competition will only serve to have players try to out-RP everyone else, taking away from the 'natural' actions of characters. I can see a stream of over dramatic events staged specifically for the purpose of trying to win a competition which cannot be judged to everyone's satisfaction anyway. Do you think there is an objective method of judging such a competition that would suit all of the players who will attempt to win it?

I see it as something that can only detract from the game.

[The Industriallist]

I change my vote from an apathetic "why not if it doesn't affect the game itself" to an apathetic "don't do it"

I really don't see that it would have much effect, but maybe other people would care more about it than I would. And if they did, it might make more people do stupid things. And doing stupid things is bad.

[Pirog]

I would think that people who are good RP'ers would be mature enough to see it as something casually funny instead of a life-or-death competition...but perhaps that is just a prejudice on my part.

I think we should give it a try...it can't be hard to implement and if it goes wrong it can just be removed.