My days playing RP is well and truly done with, now that Spiral Knights Forum is about as dead as the last time I visited a compound level, but much like the many RPs Thinslayer abandoned, there are so many loose ends, so many things I witnessed with no real answer to (and no, Bible will almost certainly not give me any of those answers).
I will hereby lay down some questions, although I am sure most of you would turn around and keep silence, but I hereby request you all, for one time, make me understand just why any of you would do such a things?
Question no. 1 - Why is digital better?
I drew traditional art for the longest time around here, I think I can even make the bold statement that I made the most amount of SK related drawings, even more than Ian himself. I never charge money for my art, not because I think they are worthless, but for I think that my artistic energy should never be directed by the lust for money, that stains the nature of my art.
I have drawn many arts for other people (three pieces for Thinslayer which he never, EVEN replied a single word to), often thankless, I even had a digital artist calling me that it is 'Unbecoming' of me to fish for a compliment, but I want to ask you, if I invest effort, time and dedication to a piece of art work, and it was made with you in mind, should it worth any less? I am not asking for 'OMG MDJ your ART IS THE BEST', because that simply isn't true. But 'Thanks,' or 'Good job midnight' would be very much appreciated.
Now imagine you, in my position, and witness as those who didn't thank you for your effort, running off like dogs on mating season, jumping onto the nearest digital artist and start throwing CEs at them, you should have an approximation of what I am thinking right now.
Oh, Vinny, this is your last year's Xmas art exchange present.
Question no. 2 - Why does a RP take so long?
No, I am not talking about the length of the whole RP, a long RP is fine, just look at how machinauts turned out. But I want to know why is it so difficult for anyone, even the GM to advance the story/plot even for a bit, I know it is meant to give character some development, shaping the world around them as they see fit (Thinslayer's intervention not withheld) but does it really have to take THAT long?
Take clockwork heroes for example (Why didn't Thin just revive Skylark Fall RP?), the story lasted for 2 months, and all that happened was all of the RP characters got to the rescue camp, remember Skylark fall? My RP character got to the rescue camp in no more than ten posts and not before looking like badass while doing it, call me overly glorifying my characters, trying to make your character act all depressed, survival inclined, generally mean spirited and creepy isn't any better now is it? We all have that one character archetype we want to play, so why is mine deplored? I can go slow if I choose to, in fact, the character APP I submitted the first time to clockwork heroes was meant to be played out slowly.
And I can already see the replies of 'it is the journey that matters, not the destination', but has anyone thought of character closures? I have so many RP characters that have loose ends and their journeys unfinished, it is like when you are 20 years old and have lost both of your legs in a car crash, your dreams and your future crushed and forever altered. Can I please have some closures? Or at least knowing that the journey I followed through meant something?
And no offense Hexlash, but if you are reading this, I am sure your character is hiding in the corner somewhere, or in another position where his/her well being is not likely going to be harmed, and your character is making some of observation on other RP character again isn't she/he? And I am sure Thin only made Cherub to rub it in my face with the whole 'I cherish life but in reality is it better just to shoot people in the head mercilessly because that is true Mercy for that is what the bible told me.' motif.
Oh, and Doc, is your character an easy going, hyper optimistic, happy go-lucky guy/gal? Hey, I don't blame you, because we need someone to offset Darkwatch and Vinny now don't we? Oh, and is Liminori still struggling to write?
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I am an artist, not a RPer, I seek new things, changes in things, especially in a RP, this is why I am trying to come up with new RP themes when everyone else seemed to just want to go safe, how many times have we played 'I crashed on skylark and this is my story' any way? Too many IMO, it is in my artistic nature to express myself and point out the cliches, and hey, if you think I am repeating/copying themes in my stories, then I am going to admit it, please, tell me how I can change and improve.
I think that is all the question I have for now... there is more in my mind, thousands of them, we can be here to debating to the next Xmas if we want to, but please, I do not want to have any elongated debate with anyone anymore, I am tired of endless talking with no significant outcomes, talking to people who will never accept my believes and ideals is like smashing my head against a wall. It is painful and pointless, and I am sure you think the same way to (I think you know who 'you' are), so without any a due, maybe you can give me an answer and maybe then I will have some peace.
As someone who does similar things, I will answer some of your questions; since apparently it's a lot easier to do than make a post on an RP.
1: I've never truly complimented your work, nor looked down upon it, but mainly because I felt a small compliment was a petty and uneeded one, much like I find it hard to come up with a good one.
I've only asked a digital artist on one occasion for art. Why? I don't have CE, I don't have money. Which is why you get more requests from me; I don't plan on going into SK again for a long, long time. Perhaps why digital artist get so much praise is that people think it's harder than physical art. And it really is, if you suck at converting pencil/brushstrokes into mouse led art, like me.
I guess it may be a bit late, and incredibly watered down, by reading all this, but thank you for the art you've done for me.
2: Why? It's clearly not experience, as shown by Thin. It's more the cooperation of everyone, and getting everyone to post on time, as well as the author's belief in the story.
I can't really answer your question in all of it's weight, but perhaps I can grant some insight.
I find it's a chore to pull a story out of my backend, because I generally have absolutely nothing planned beforehand.
I hope to god that it comes to me in the heat of the moment, before the story gets stale.
This is, perhaps, why my grades in English/Language Arts fly through the roof and back to vog on a weekly basis.
It is, also why, I usually don't post RP's.
"Struggling to write"
Now, that's a low blow, but definitely true.
However, me not posting whatsoever for a little more than two weeks wasn't procrastination, this time.
I've been busy moving.
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Sorry if this wasn't helpful, and thank you for reading through this.