Original Roleplay vs. Canon Roleplay

[Gateway Hogwarts]

I prefer original rps as original rps are more likely to attract members since cannon rps limit creativity as most sites want the cannons filled first. Sites that wait to have their cannons filled make it hard on themselves to get members. Original rps allow people to make their own characters then role-play away. Also keep in mind the fact that Original rps get members much quicker than cannon based rps.

[elsendor]

I am definitely for original roleplay, but I don't mind dabbling in canon once in a while. Originals definitely take more effort to create, to dream up effectively, but I think they're well worth it.

I'm in the process of creating my very first roleplay forum, but I've created threads of all sorts in the past. The biggest pitfall is that, if you don't have a pretty good idea of where you're going with the concept, you're going to lose control really fast. The roleplay I'm hoping to start is one I've been working on (on paper and offline) for months. I guess I'm a perfectionist, in that I want everything to start out perfectly, but I also want to make sure, in the simplest of motives, that it doesn't entirely flop.

I'm an aspiring writer, so I guess I'm biased in favor of original ideas. I get annoyed when I see the sixteenth...seventeenth...eighteenth Lion King Roleplay (Seriously?) or even worse, see people taking the original works I know and love and making an absolute HASH of them, changing everything important about the stories...like making Frodo and Sam gay instead of best friends, or a key character who died not die, or something equally unacceptable.

So to avoid that sort of disappointment, I tend towards originals.

[Anya Ozera]

I am for both. Because while I like the creation of orgiianl ideas and characters, sometimes I need a mix of canon characters to balance em out. Besides I love some characters so much to be able to completely get rid of them and make an all original roleplay, I just cant' do it.

But origianl and canon characters have their pros and cons. But I prefer em both!

[Kaida]

I'm a writer (or trying to be anyway) I'm staff on a site that is an original cannon....that means that while it is based off of and uses the Cannon characters from a manga series, it's also got original characters that have their own...similar...twists of fate. Right now we don't have anyone playing any of the Cannon Characters. We'd like to have the cannons played but the regular members aren't interested as long as there are open original main characters. (And we as staff don't really have time to keep up with our characters as well as our staffing duties).

I'm also Admin (owner) of a site that I think is completely original but honestly? Even we were actually writing a book there is very few possiblities of there ever being a truly 100% original plot-line out there anymore. If you are going to be picky you can find something in every piece of written word that is based off of what someone else has already said (movies and TV) or written. It's not that we aren't trying to be original. It's that there are too many people in the world and too many ways get let the public know of our written word or videos the make truly original pieces of work.

I tend to make up original characters whenever possible on RPGs just because then I don't have to worry about how someone else has interpreted how a Cannon character would react in a situation that wasn't in the original piece of media or literature. But that's just me.

[sochii]

I'm offended by those who think role-playing canon characters is about laziness. Some people are more inspired when role-playing or writing about canon. I like to role-play canon characters because I feel like there's still potential in the story and character. Like...it's not finished and I can fill in the blanks.

I find it just as challenging to role-play a pre-made character than an original character because you don't want to change the character you love.

I support both, though.

[Mircea Gnosis]

I choose original.

It may very well not be the easiest, but it is certaintly the most fun. When Roleplaying on a fixed plot and characters, It limits the imagination to just one particular thing. While roleplaying in a free-lanced plot, you get more range of ideas.

The original is very unique, most of the time. Like my forum, It's a fifteenth century roleplay and you have more options of where to roleplay and with who. Whereas, fixed Rps only follow one thing or person.

So, I chooses original because it's more laidback, but a challenge to the admin. That's what makes it fun!

[crescencia]

I choose original. Though I don't think original RPs get more members than canon ones, though it also depends on the canon. Like Kingdom Hearts and Naruto, for example, can get loads of members usually. For me though, it depends on the plot and how everything is setup on the forum. I'm very picky with that. Original RPs usually have less boundaries.

["Ice Heart" Ryuske]

I chose to make an original rp because the chances of anyone having a similar idea to yours is slim to none. I also like the openness of the rp as it allows for more people to join and jump right in, with everyone contributing to the plot, and not just a chosen few. I've never been a fan of cannon based rps due to the restrictive feel that having cannons can put on an original character rper. I tried making cannon rps and never got any members. Granted, I struggle now with Original rps, but I feel I have a better chance, depending on the right plot.

[linlaah]

I have tried making both canon and original rps in the past, and honestly? The original got about five members, lasted for about a week, and then fizzled out and died. Canon work better. As for myself, I usually join canon ones, if they have an original plotline (for the most part, anyway). Also on most canon sites I create or join, I always see if original characters would work as well. (:

[Descent Into Darkness]

Being the owner of two RP sites that offer both OC's and Canons, I would have to say that I like both. With Canons, if a person knows what that character is like and what their gifts/abilities/powers are like, they can easily play them and it gives them an idea on creating an OC whenever they are ready to. But sites that offer ONLY Canons, well, let me say this much. There are only so many Canons available to play before you run out and leave nothing for a new member to have a reason to join your site.

The same goes for an RP site that is all only OC's (and I am talking for comics and movies here mainly, not RPs that are original and based on real life types of situations) because you end up running into the Mary Sues and Gary Sues here. Too many characters ending up with almost the exact same powers/abilities/gifts as the other. With character creation, the player should be able to take it to the limits.

When it comes to time lines, sure playing by the letter of whatever comic/movie/video game it's based on can be fun, but it also limits what you can do as far as plots, side plots, etc as well as making a character change in some ways. Being able to expand on their gifts/abilities/powers, or making their story line go further and in a different direction than the comic/movie/video game had it going in. RPGs should be about having fun, being able to play that character that you've always wanted to play and to take them in a direction that not even the original creators ever thought of instead of having the limitations placed on them by that creator or story line.

Both of the sites that I run have a high member count and each person has both Canons and OC's and since there are no rules saying "Hey, you can't do that with so and so because that's just not the way they have them written!" or, "Hey, so and so is supposed to have a relationship with her/him!" Everyone has fun RPing because there aren't any restrictions on what their character is allowed to do. No set direction in which that character is supposed to go. Improvisation is a key factor in whether a site based off of comics/movies/video games survives and stays afloat and remains a fun place to interact and RP.

[``Megara Spice]

which one is better? Are roleplays with fixed characters, timelines, stories, etc. easier to roleplay than a completely original idea?

the answer is simple; both have their pros and cons...

When it comes to characters themselves; I find that some people prefer to play a canon character whose history, family, personality and such is already set out for them OR perhaps they are just interested in being part of a plotline that has been created by an admin (if these plots involve characters created by the admin themselves they are still canons but we refer to them as original canons or plot canons). Others, however, prefer to create an entirely new character within a universe, whether it come from literature or something the admin has thought up themselves and that is entirely their choice.

Personally I think that canon characters involve less creativity (if taken directly from a book - an example of a more creative canon would be the future children in the harry potter series because we don't know anything about them besides their names, ages and parents history) but at the same time they are appealing.

When it comes to sites; original can be good but the concepts are not always easy to understand. they can be unique and most people wont think of the same idea which is a bonus because there is a high chance that the board will be one of a kind or at least close enough to it. canon can also be good as well because it gives people the chance to interact in a universe created by their favourite author/director and actually take part in a world that captivates their imagination. I know I love Harry Potter RPGs but at the same time I will only RP on a vampire/werewolf site if it is an original creation and not based off a movie or book. It all depends on the genre really.

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?

Over the years I have had a mixture of the two. I personally find that my canon RPs work better than my original ones and its not for lack of idea but simply because I find writing an interesting plot a lot easier when there is something to work with (and I am paranoid about my personal ideas being stolen as I do write stories myself and would not want ideas taken from that).

You don't have to be an expert about a particular series just to RP in that series, you just have to know the foundations of the characters and the basic events that happened.

For Example; (using Harry Potter because I do actually know a bit):

- Harry's Parents died, he grew up with muggle relatives
- Harry kills Voldemort
- Harry marries Ginny Weasley; has three children (James, Albus and Lily)
- Ron marries Hermione

there are the basics of the series from 1-7. I know people who have become excellent HP RPers off that information alone. Of course you have an advantage if you actually know the series properly but its not always essential to RP, because a lot of the plots now days are alternate universe or describe exactly what has happened up until the point of the site and what is going to happen in the future.

But sites that offer ONLY Canons, well, let me say this much. There are only so many Canons available to play before you run out and leave nothing for a new member to have a reason to join your site.

The same goes for an RP site that is all only OC's (and I am talking for comics and movies here mainly, not RPs that are original and based on real life types of situations) because you end up running into the Mary Sues and Gary Sues here. Too many characters ending up with almost the exact same powers/abilities/gifts as the other. With character creation, the player should be able to take it to the limits.

I have to say I agree with this statement 100%, its captured basically what i would have said on the situation.

[TELSA !?]

I am partial to both.

I like setting up characters with stories already in place and having something to work with for a short while. However, creating my own character allows me to use my own imagination and make them who I want while at the same time incorporating some of my own personal quirks within the character.

I am partial to both and find that there is a tie between them for me.

[historyshadow]

I don't know. I prefer the Origionals but then I like the canons. I love Harry Potter canons that has kids of their own so I can usually use my imagination for that. For we know that Oliver Wood doesn't have kids or at least that's assumed well I play a Wood on many sites and it's the kid to Oliver Wood or well now a grand child of Oliver Wood as well. It's quite fun but making up my own is definately the best by far!

[``Megara Spice]

Dec 22, 2009 23:40:36 GMT -8 historyshadow said:

I don't know. I prefer the Origionals but then I like the canons. I love Harry Potter canons that has kids of their own so I can usually use my imagination for that. For we know that Oliver Wood doesn't have kids or at least that's assumed well I play a Wood on many sites and it's the kid to Oliver Wood or well now a grand child of Oliver Wood as well. It's quite fun but making up my own is definately the best by far!

That is exactly what I like about canon RPs as well. Using your example about Harry Potter for instance;

JKR only mentions the names of certain pairings childrens;

Harry & Ginny: James Sirius Potter, Albus Severus Potter, Lily Luna Potter
Ron & Hermione: Rose Weasley, Hugo Weasley
Bill & Fleur: Victoire Weasley, Dominique Weasley, Louis Weasley
Remus & Tonks: Teddy Remus Lupin
Percy & Audrey: Molly Weasley II, Lucy Weasley
George & Angelina: Fred Weasley II, Roxanne Weasley
Luna & Rolf: Lorcan Scamander, Lysander Scamander
Draco & Astoria: Scorpius Hypherion Malfoy

and who some of the other characters are paired with;

Neville Longbottom & Hannah Abbott'


but other than that the rest of it is left up to imagination. we have no idea if Oliver Wood went off and married some rich blonde beauty from America and sired 5 children or if Charlie Weasley met the woman of his dreams in Romania. These are things she has not told us and its for this reason that canons are actually left open to the imagination and become more appealing.

[Abstract Aeon [RP]]

I am Admin of an Original concept and I think it's easier. A Canon Role play is harder because you're restricted to that one movie, book, etc. You don't have freedom to do whatever you want. But an Original concept is also hard for an admin because sometimes it gets hard to think of an idea, or what is or isn't restricted, or to answer many questions from members.

;D