Helping your online group communicate

The storylines that my role playing RPG act out move quickly.  (That's the great thing about using Twitter to role play - the action is so fast!)

With our group, we like to have everyone help with coming up with storylines.  We also need a way to communicate while the scenes are being acted out.

There are several ways I've used to help my RPG communicate.

1. Google group (used in conjunction with Gmail):  This is fine for sending emails back and forth as a group, and it can help with communicating while a scene is being played out; however, members often complain about the sheer volume of emails sent back and forth.  (Ours would send more than 100 back and forth each week.  Sometimes more than 100 a DAY if there was a lot of discussion on a scene.)  Another drawback:  If someone sent an inappropriate email to the group, you had no control over it after the fact.  It was in everyone's inbox.
2. Website (I used www.freewebs.com):  The website was good for posting ideas and such.  They even have site templates specifically for roleplayers!  The site is easy to use and also easy to update.  It's also free with the option to upgrade.   The only downside:  no way for instant communication.  Members also had to be reminded to check the site a lot. (And even I would forget to check it.  I know, I'm a bad girl.....)
3. Ning. com:  I have starting using Ning for our group, and so far I love it.  It has a forum, member pages, and even has a chat room.  The chat room has been a HUGE benefit.  People can post ideas on the forum, and then we can talk it out in the chat room, then we can post the details on the forum.  I also use the forum to let the group know when I won't be available for RPing and such.  It's good for other announcements.  I love it.  And it's FREE - but you have the option to upgrade if you want.  (Check out our RPG site here:  www.swstrpg.ning.com )  The chat room is also a HUGE boost for site visits - people hang out in the chat room a lot.  It's awesome!

So those are my thoughts about helping your role playing RPG communicate.

Questions?  Observations?  Leave a comment!

Again, you can visit our space role playing RPG site here:  www.swstrpg.ning.com

Mooooooom! You're embarrassing me!

**Disclaimer:  No preteens were harmed in the making of this blog post.  Only their pride was wounded. :D

*happy sigh*  Nothing does my heart good like embarrassing my kids.  I figure it's nice payback for a total of 2 weeks of labor while bringing them into this world.   (Long and painful story, don't ask.)


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When I see them squirm and check to make sure none of their friends are nearby, I know I've done a good job.  It's all I can do not to give a fist pump and shout "YESSS!"  Hehe

How does this relate to role playing?  Glad you asked!

I went to the local bookstore to do some research for RPing. (Translation:  buy some Star Trek books.)  While talking to the sales associate, I casually mentioned that I am part of an online role playing group on Twitter.  (Okay, it was more like:  "Guess what?!  I RP on Twitter and it's so much fun and we have a ST/SW/Firefly crossover RP and we have a blast you should join us!"  The aforementioned conversation is done with the words quickly blurted out and has the appropriately excited and animated hand gestures to accompany it.)

THEN the clerk mentioned she was rather fond of Star Trek, as well.  (Translation:  "OMG!  No way!  I LOVE Star Trek!  That sounds so cool!  Do you guys have a website or anything?!?"  Again, hand gestures and a look of rapture accompany this declaration of geeky joy.)

At this point - the epitome of our Trekkie Nirvana - up walks my daughter.

I wish I could have had a camera in order to capture the look on her face.  A mixture of horror and..........well, actually, horror pretty much covers it.

BUT WAIT!  IT GETS BETTER!

You see, my lovely daughter had come seeking me out so she could get money from me.  (*insert evil grin here*)  It is quite amazing the things that children will suffer through to get money at the Mall, especially female children.

So, being the wonderful mother I am, decided to torture her further.  (*insert diabolical laugh here*)

Instead of letting her slink off and come back to ask for money when my Trekkiefest was over, I grinned and said, "Oh look!  There's my daughter!" and proceeded to put an arm around her as I talked to my fellow Trekkie.  She actually hid her face. ("Moooooom!  You're embarrassing me!")  She quickly asked for her money and left.

It was awesome.  I figure it's good payback for her making me listen to Adam Lambert songs all the time.

When Role-playing goes wrong.....

I was looking for an illustration to help explain role playing better.

I found this:


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Okay, so that's not the best illustration, but you get my drift....