OOC Post - RP Styles

I'm really enjoying the new #DCRP side SL with Manhunter. Not only is he a lot of fun to write with, but he uses a much different way of RPing that I haven't done before and it's working out well.

For years (like, a decade) I've always had "live" RP sessions. Basically, everyone shows up at the same time and we tweet in real time. It's a lot of fun and we're also DMing behind the scenes and working out plots and such. I love it.

However -- time zones and RL can get in the way of that, and they have gotten in the way of things. Back in the day my RP group (which was much bigger than it is now) had a standing "appointment" of around midnight Eastern Time (U.S.) for RP. If you couldn't make it, you'd tweet (if you could) that you wouldn't be on and everyone would either work around that or "jack" you if you gave them permission to do so (and most of the time you did). ("Jack" = "hijack" = move your character along as an NPC while you're away. For example, if the group is going on an away mission, we say your character is going along so that when you can join in, you're not left back on the ship.)

With Manhunter (and others, I've since noticed), it's much different. You send a reply when you can. It's usually much more detailed than quick tweets fired off in minutes. You have time to compose a much longer reply. There is still plenty of plotting going on behind the scenes, but you have much longer to ask questions, get answers, and respond.

I like the live-tweeting aspect of RP, but I'm pleasantly surprised with how well the "reply-when-you-can" model moves the plot along and accommodates any schedule or time zone issues.

(Thanks, Manhunter! :D )