Original Roleplay vs. Canon Roleplay

[skyla20011]

I myself love cannons. I enjoy playing cannons from books or movies I have seen or read. But I also like originals. It is fun to be able to make up a character and be able to do what ever I want with it instead of following the rules. I guess you could say I am in the middle. I like them both lol. .

[dare2dream]

Personally, I like sites that allow both canons and originals.

In the case of originals, people have the freedom to play a character that has no set plot, story or history and can be creative and not feel restricted. I know a few people who never play canons for that reason specifically, because if one is expected to follow a set story, the experience isn't as fun or exciting as it could potentially be.

As far as canons go, I enjoy playing them more because then I feel like I'm actually living in the world that the site is set in. They aren't as restricting as people think they are, since most sites allow some level of creativity for these as well. The ability to take a set character and change it to fit my own personal style while not shying too far away from what's already been established for the character is something I see as an exciting, entertaining challenge and helps me get the most out of a site.


But, it does also depend on the site's main plot. A lot of the time, original characters have a hard time fitting themselves into a main plot unless the site is strictly original (like those boarding school forums). In cases like this, originals tend to go through all the effort of making an application only to find themselves not being able to participate in the main plot when the time comes, and that can get frustrating. It also depends on personal preference, and how much freedom one expects from a site. Too much freedom can potentially be a bad thing, but so can too little.

[TheZOMBIE.]

Dec 26, 2009 10:10:47 GMT -8 @jannmthomas said:

I've always hated non-canon role plays. I don't like the fact that things are made up compared to storylines with a soild foundation. In example, Lord of the Rings, is all made up but it has established itself with its own world, Middle Earth, that somehow it becomes 'realistic'. I just don't like fiction-fiction. I'm more of a non-fiction-ficiton fan.

Where are you getting your information? Just because an idea is original doesn't mean it doesn't have a solid foundation. Every story started out as an original idea. What you call "solid foundation" appears to be more of a lack of creativity. You cannot build a solid foundation to a character so you use one already made well instead of expanding your own creative ideas.

[stopskynet]

I think what jannmthomas is saying is that with canon RP, the groundwork is already laid. LoTR or Star Wars or Trek or whatever, already have a history (and often a rich one) built right into the forum, as opposed to an original which is building an internal canon from the ground floor.

To put things in terms of a marketing department, a group which I normally despite, there are many benefits to mixing canon and non-canon.

Basing an RP on a canon gives the RP a built in fanbase, much like the rationale behind a franchise. People will know and recognize the work and will be draw to it. This is one of the major benefits of canon RP.

To assume that this draw will put off others is true. This is mainly the group that dislikes "Franchise X". Those that have never seen it are at less of a disadvantage because any glaring ignornace on the canon can be cured by a quick run to a dedicated wiki(a).

Of course, to restrict a site to just canons is a mixed bag. Some, such as most comic book canons, have been around for half a century or more and have a prodigeous output at that, so finding a character among thousands that you like is not that hard. Others, say off of a single 90 minute movie or a show canceled after less than a season may have fewer so non-canon characters would be easier to justify.

Also, kudos on the reference to Battles.

[Ara (Crow)]

I prefer non-canons myself, it allows me more freedom with my characters, the only time I enjoy canons is when they're from a book, or a TV show, or a movie I like. Custom canons bore me, it's like the owner is forcing you to use their characters, and it's an added minor if you don't like the face claim they chose.

In all aspects, I like making my own characters, I know them about ten times better than I would another person's custom canon, and I can make them my own, and allow them to develop as I want them to, unlike when you are forced to follow a set storyline with canons, which doesn't always happen, but seems so common.

[simlizzie]

I like places that allow you to do both, because personally, whether I want to do a canon or original is up to my mood. Sometimes I'm itching to make my own, but sometimes I need some inspiration. I'd join a forum with either or both, because I find that either way you're challenging yourself to something.

Many people believe that having a Canon means you can't be as creative, but that's very untrue. You can be just as creative, and challenge yourself. I find it quite fun to play a character already made up, but that being said, I do admit that I tend to lean to original. Most of the time I feel like making originals, but on the occasion I find canons a much better choice.

So really, I don't mind if it's original or cannon, because if I joined then obviously I like the plot, and my joining has nothing to do about whether or not they allow canons/originals into their role play.

[jdam1]

I like a combination of both. An original role-play forum based on existing material in which spots are open for the role-players to take liberties and their imagination to soar. It's one of the reasons why I want to get this Roger Rabbit RPG off the ground in a little while, once I find people, but aside from that - I think letting people being able to do as they please with very few limitations can be a lot of fun. Especially when there are multiple different takes on what the canon itself can leave open; for example, one Toon board has a list of specifications for the cartoon characters and what they can do while others assume it was much else, more along a quirky take on evolution with the cartoon characters having been there since. It's pretty nutty, but an interesting 'agree to disagree' conversation.

I haven't had much success in strict canon role-plays because I like to try and break new ground, to expand the limits set down in stone in an effort to bring something new to the table in the process. I can't seem to be confined to one thing without putting my own spin in it somehow. For original boards, they can be a lot of fun, especially multiverse role-plays: the best ones were bringing in a bunch of television show characters with ones from games like Ratchet and Clank, Kingdom Hearts, the anime Naruto to Disney's Treasure Planet. I don't see too many of those days...

[Ellis]

It is always good to find the middle way on this, both for the sake of the players and for the sake of the site. When you consider what canons really are, having a canons only site is foolish.

Canons are simply the characters that the writer or writers of the property an RPG is based on have decided or needed in order to fill a particular niche. There is a reason each exists for the sake of the stories that have already been told. Presumably, if a new issue/book/movie/episode of the property comes out, it may have new characters for situations present there that hadn't previously arisen. In the same way, non-canon characters are just those characters that fill niches not contemplated in the original work. Therefore, banning them entirely is not a wise thing to do.

On the other hand, to have a truly original work, one without canons (or in some cases, canons created by the admin, such as a criminal boss for the site's version of the NYPD to face), is also problematic. What's true in Hollywood is true in forums: a preexisting property with a built in audience is less of a risk. People know what Lord of the Rings is. Fans of the property will be drawn to the site. Not so for Medieval Fantasy site, regardless of how good it may be. They might not give it a glance.

Due to this, it is best to have a happy medium, a property with canons that allows for new blood, as long as it doesn't upset the world of course, but that's a different issue.

[Zuki]

In roleplaying, I prefer non-cannon roleplays, as much for myself as for the creator of the franchise from which the roleplay stems. Creating your own character allows you to fully understand the character's personality, history, and thoughts - you know why they behave as they do as well as whatever quirks they may have. With cannon characters you simply do not have the same connection - you will never, so long as you live, get the character completely right because you are not the author and you haven't any idea as to what the character is based off of.

This, to me at least, seems a bit like character theft if creative liberties are taken. If I were to write a book, I wouldn't want anyone to be out there using my hard work and ignoring everything but the name and physical description of the character. In fact, several non-cannon characters I've made have been stolen and roleplayed - the results were laughable. You simply can't roleplay a character that isn't "you" and roleplay them correctly.

[Cman710]

I myself like both, I don't like canon-only RPGs though. It really clears away any artistic freedom a role player can have. No one wants to be stuck playing a specific character because they honestly have no other choice. So allowing both helps a role player out so they can maybe do a little of both.

[loveydovey23]

Personally, I like original. I love making different RPG's about like being in College or Vegas.

[Kami]

Jun 12, 2010 12:00:44 GMT -8 loveydovey23 said:

Personally, I like original. I love making different RPG's about like being in College or Vegas.

Hey there. =] When posting in this area, please be mindful of the rules. Keep all replies at least four sentences, so as your replies add to the conversation topic and keep the discussion going.

[Cman710]

I have another thing to add to this topic. The other serious problem with original RPGs. You get the mean who decide to compare it to EVERYTHING. If you even blatently say it's inspired by something, there's a heavy chance you'll get the morons who decide to come on and diss you for it anyway.

It's amusing but very annoying as well. I think the most amusing thing I ever got was: "This is a terrible idea! Michael Bay and David Hasslehoff should sue you!" The humor being it was lightly inspired by Transformers and Knight Rider. And the fact Transformers is owned by Hasbro, and Knight Rider by NBC just makes it humerous. However, after a bit, it does tend to get on one's nerves.

It happens on Canon sites too. But more often it happens on original sites due to nit-pickers, at least, from what I've seen. THen again you honestly take that risk in making an original RPG, that it'll compared and bashed.

[sirolk]

My site goes Original roleplaying. While it is set within the Battlestar Galactica universe we use all our own characters made from scratch instead of recycling the major characters from the show. Kind of boring to RP a character you already know everything about them and what they've already done. That and you get a sense of accomplishment when you stick with your homemade character and RP it for a few months building (to you and others) a real person with history on the site.

[amaranthine]

In your mind, which one is better?
I prefer original, as it's easier then doing a canon. With canons you have to stick to that universe, and make yourself fit into it, and I don't like it much at times.

Are roleplays with fixed characters, timelines, stories, etc. easier to roleplay than a completely original idea? Are original roleplays easier because it allows more people into the fold without having to be an expert in a certain series of literature, media, etc.?
Originals are easier for me, you get to chose what you want to do a little more, you don't have a set thing to follow, or any of that stuff. I know this is like nothing, but yea.

If you are an admin of an RP forum, which one did you choose and why?
On my forum, I have an original plot, however there are set canons with plots attached to them if you wish to do so. That way, you can have your freedom, but if you wish to, you can grab a canon and play with one of the three mini canon plots.