Original Roleplay vs. Canon Roleplay

[Sean]

I like original rp better. you should really try to make your own ideas.

[Not Wildmaven (Harris™)]

Mar 25, 2009 15:24:43 GMT -8 Sean said:

I like original rp better. you should really try to make your own ideas.

please look at the rules. within them, it states that all posts should have well written, sentences, making up nearly a paragraph. That being said, four, or five sentences.

[Jordan]

Mar 25, 2009 15:24:43 GMT -8 Sean said:

I like original rp better. you should really try to make your own ideas.

As stated, please take a look at the rules regarding the minimum requirement for post length so discussion can be made out of the thread.

Mar 25, 2009 17:43:29 GMT -8 Not Wildmaven (Harris™) said:

Mar 25, 2009 15:24:43 GMT -8 Sean said:

I like original rp better. you should really try to make your own ideas.

please look at the rules. within them, it states that all posts should have well written, sentences, making up nearly a paragraph. That being said, four, or five sentences.

I know it can be tempting, but please don't mini-mod.

[Wolfe]

Wow, this page so far is SO productive. =P

Each has its own specific advantages and disadvantages. With an original roleplay, you have more flexibility, and have the ability to make things on the fly. With the canon roleplay, you can have most things in the roleplay completely taken care of from the start, but restricts mobility to some extent. I've played both, and I prefer spin-offs from books/movies more often than not. The originals normally flop, and the canon ones I've found are far too strict for me most of the time. A spin-off has the basic shape of the world set, but since it's only BASED off a book/etc. doesn't mean it's a carbon copy, giving you more flexibility to work with than a full canon roleplay... As it not only allows you to come up with your own plots and subplots, but allows people to CREATE characters instead of choosing them.

That's just my half ah penny.

[Karen]

I beg to differ spiritwolf99. Original RP doesn't normally flop. At least not in my experience. That's the only kind of roleplay my forum offers, and we've been very successful. I believe it's because it's so much more flexible than canon roleplay.

I'm not saying canon roleplays can not be successful, I'm sure there are many that are. I think members enjoy the freedom of coming up with their own characters, plot and settings. And for those that just want to roleplay somewhere already established, you can always offer a bit more structured roleplay, but without canons. For instance, we have a roleplay set in a fictional town, and another one that's a boarding school. Pairs, groups, or open, with original roleplay, the sky's the limit! Just my opinion...

Having said that though, who knows, if I were to try a canon roleplay, I might like it. I never have. But I highly doubt it, I like writing using my own characters and imagination.

[Synthest_Oriannu]

Me, I enjoy Original RP's. I enjoy making my own characters and storyline, and I enjoy having no set beginning or end. I also enjoy having complete freedom of power and ability, not to mention custom rules. I suppose it all depends on whether a person has the imagination to dream up a new world without a book or movie to look off of.

So it all comes down to whether the RPer can stick to something he/she cannot see.

[Jemma V]

well for me, its both. my site is based by Harry Potter (oh yeah, another one, great!) but it's in the future so its mixed both. We go by original and canon characters and it work really well. Personally, I'd prefer a original character for myself so I can build her/him from starch and it will go in my own way which is I am little control freak
so hand down for both

[Wolfie]

For me, Original RPs take the trophy. You have so much more freedom to develop your character, rather than being stuck in a mould that has to be true to the actual character. I will occasionally join a Canon site, but more often than not, will always create an original character. For me, as a creative person, gives me a chance to expand on what I can write about.

As an admin, I have always made Original RPs, just because I feel they're so much easier to create, rather than having to follow a set time-line or structure, Original RPs can be whatever the members make it, or however the admin writes the story in my case
I just hate it when you have a completely Original story but nobody joins it because a lot of them don't want to join anything that isn't Twilight or Harry Potter [/rant]

Well, that's my two pennies

[DRACUMUNKY ?!]

I like a bit of both, depending on the genre, my mood, how good the canons or originals are, and the plot. A lot of sites can be really good if they have a mixture of both canon and original characters. That way, there is scope for members to choose whether they would rather play a canon or an original, or, like I often do, one of each. An original story with canon characters can be good as well, sort of 'what if' type things.
If forced to choose though, I suppose I'd go with original, since I generally play more originals than I do canons.

[robynlovesjoejonas]

Well,I'd have to say that I like the canon roleplay better.Because if there is an application it makes it easier to fill out and does not takes as long.If you have sub-plots,then there is practically no plotting trouble and such.But I do like original as well because then I can do whatever I want and not have to follow the rules of a canon's lifestyle or past,nor their sub plots.I guess either one is okay,but I prefer canon roleplays.

[~Sarzah~]

Feb 13, 2009 12:42:20 GMT -8 Patrick [ASE] said:

Roleplays are a very prevalent form of forum today. Many people roleplay based on books, movies, television series, etc. that they have seen or read. Others roleplay based off an original story or concept so they have more freedom.

In your mind, which one is better? 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.? If you are an admin of an RP forum, which one did you choose and why?

Suggestion from Houdini Derek

Oh dear me... I really don't like canon RPs. I prefer originals, myself. Canon RPs like Twilight tend to get on my nerves a bit because they are nothing new to me. I prefer a new, exciting plot that I have never actually seen before. Heck, it doesn't have to be much different, just not the same old site that the last person made.

[Kaythara]

I'm going to make a case for Canon RPs here since they're getting dismissed so easily. The argument is almost one-sidedly in favor of Originals so I won't bother talking about the advantages and disadvantages there.

I think most people here fail to see the opportunities presented by fandom-based RP. Having an already concretely established time line, setting, character base, and set of ground rules can be restricting and boring if you fall into the same-old established in canon. It can also be an excuse for people to be lazy and not think for themselves. When such narrow-minded people take over canon RPs, things are not fun.

However, they can also present a challenge and opportunity for growth as a writer. That seems like an odd thing to say; how can writing about what somebody else already did let you develop skill? With the exception of the main character in a novel, we get to see how the characters act and hear what they say, but the why is something we don't really know. Why do they act that way? Why do they say those things? How did they become who they are? How do they really think? Another person's mind went into making those characters and playing them effectively can mean leaving your comfort zone and seeing things from a perception not your own even moreso than what you would normally get into for a character out of your own head.

Vomiting up canon actions is easy. Keeping someone true to character while simultaneously expanding upon them and getting deep into their heads is not.

[Freya]

I prefer original stories based off a familiar concept. I hate being in RPs based on any particular fandom where it's nothing but replaying canonical stories or the trite and always annoying "return of prior villains" syndrome too many fandom-based RPs suffer from. However, it's not always fun to enter a whole world invented by the game admin, either, 'cause then you have to constantly worry, "Am I doing this right? Am I messing up her world or her storyline?" So making a new story with new characters in an existing fandom universe is the best option for me. It's familiar enough that (as long as you're familiar with the fandom) you don't have to worry about messing everything up, but it's different enough that you still have some creative freedom in story and charas.

[Kurama]

I prefere original RP to that of cannon. I think it just makes it alot more fun. I also think that in RP-ING each person should have to post at least two paragraphs. I mean I wouldn't want to work hard on something and then someone come back with just one line or one paragraph. I think that is boring. I also beleive that if your a hard core RP-ER that you had better make at least four paragraphs per post. Now on the other hand I can see only writing a paragraph if your new to RPG. But still you could learn. XD

[fαllεη •]

Personally, I am in favour of the canons.

It's so incredibly easy to find a Twilight, Harry Potter, Warriors, or anime-based role-play; as Sarzah said, "[Canon RPs] tend to get on my nerves a bit because they are nothing new to me."
I actually relish the challenge of looking for an original RP more than I do the playing of a canon. The canons are always the same; "Oh Bella, I don't want you to hurt yourself!" "Oh Edward, I love you so much I'll throw myself off this cliff!"
To which I respond; "Hey, that was my idea!"

Because they're so easy to find, not only are the canons without the feeling of their original counterparts (not that I fight for Ms. Meyer's tear-inducing saga), but none of the characters are ever... thought about. I haven't seen one Edward who has that believable 'I am Edward' streak, nor have I seen a Bluestar who actually felt any more personal than the others.
The Harry Potter fanzones are definitely better structured. Their characters' thoughts are from a good, true, interesting perspective, and they are not lacking in originality. But there is still something about the canons that makes me wince. Perhaps it's my past experiences with the less-interesting characters that puts me off; I'm terrified of looking around a corner and coming face-to-face with Mary Sue-the-fifteen-hundreth. Maybe I'm just prejudiced.

Either way, there's something in original RPs that canons just don't have, and I simply enjoy playing them a whole lot more.
I don't mind role-plays based on books or comics either, as long as the canons are steered clear of. There can be some really good ideas out there, as quite a few loosely-based Warriors sites can demonstrate.
And I can understand that some people just want to slip into the shoes of their favourite characters for a bit, just to try the out for size.
But, personally, I need something different, something with a new spark in it. Something that feels like you can take it anywhere, not just the same old Harry Potter-plodder. Spiritwolf, I have to agree with you on most levels, but I am sticking to the original side of the fence. Viva la originale!