Atlantic Roleplay Community Boards

Langois · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:32 am Post subject: A Call to Arms

Hello everyone, I'm Langois, a few of you know me but there are quite a few of you that don't. This post isn't about me though, or you getting to know me. I'm not trying to alarm anyone, but I'm kind of worried about the community. Not drama or anything like that tearing us apart, because I've seen that die down quite a bit. And sure we my have our disputes about rp, but that is because we all have our own idea on how things should be.

But anyway, trying to get back on topic here. I'm worried about numbers in the community, and before anyone goes and says, well people are nearing finals and don't have the time to play, that may be correct to an extent, however, I still have reason to be worried.

People do something over and over again for a while and eventually they leave because its time for them to move on, with many this is not the case.

What my whole point right now is, I was thinking about starting to actively recruit for rpers in general. What I need is help from people who have the dedication to do something like this. People like Cear, Molly, Sid, and Starfire, people who I've seen fired up about doing something like this. What I would like to do is get a few books, I got one in mind that I play on writing, and leaving them at moongates and what not, and then secondly approaching people. Meet and greet, and I don't intend to be in character when I meet people.

And I know right now people are like... WTF? OOC? I want to show people of Atlantic that we're just some uppity snobs, or crazy arse mutha's (which most of us are, *points to self* j/k) I want the people to know that we can be down to earth.

My book is going to be titled The Shattering, by Nystul, I believe thats who wrote it, and I'm going to trick people into picking it up and reading it, I mean a lot of people who wouldn't know what the shattering is might not be intrested in rp. Also instead of leaving my ICQ in the back of the book or along with my ICQ I plan on leaving the link to here.

Alright I'm kind of rambling now, but also something else I would like to create are runebooks. With all the tavern locations in the ARPC, and possibly some home bases around the ARPC that aren't hidden or have any rp purposes for being hidden. And when I meet with people and get to know a bit about them and see they're not just going to be asses I'll give them a book, and invite them to come hang out, and I might even explain a bit about each location in the book, saying hey if you want to be a good guy go there and if you want to be a bad guy go there. But not as simple as that.

Okay, guys I know this is a pretty long read, but anyone who's read this much has to be in some way dedicated to this cause, all I ask for is approval on doing this, and then help, because I'm only one man and I honestly can't take on such a big thing by myself. Thank you for your time, and listening to my idea.

Kal'iksix · Guest

Langois, you have some interesting ideas there. I may be new here to Atlantic but I too am very dedicated to RP and like to see more and more newcomers. I for one being one that have "turned" so to speak in the 5 out of the 6 years playing uo.

Anyways, something that we did on Great Lakes was a type of guild recruitment fair. We had set it up in Yew Abby, with each participating guild in a different section. We advertised everywhere, had mages throwing gates spamming the fair announcement, and stratics reporters there too. The guilds put together a little book explaining the guild and who to contact via ICQ. I know the guild I was in gave out gifts, such as 1k checks, minor arties, powerscrolls, and whatnot (kind of like a little spring cleaning). One person even went through the trouble of handing out RP rune books to the different RP places, guild houses, etc. Ask some of the former GLRP'ers here, I"m sure they remember. AS I recall it was quite successful the first time we did it.

And there's my idea....I too will thank you for reading.
*Steps off her soap box*

Nh'bdy · Seasoned Veteran Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 308

Soap Box?! Perchance your ebony skinned kind are the same as us..hrm..anywhooo, active recruiting is good and all that, but isn't a good way to recruit people to RP is to "Arh Peez" around them? Let's set aside our kingly monikers, or our bejeweled and manevolant neardowells for an eve. Perchance a night of anonymous alternate character fun? A game of Bandits and Brit Guards anyone?
_________________
Work in Progress.
"What do you call a fish with four legs? A stool pidgeon! Bwuagh bwuagh bwuagh bwguagh!"
~Malorn

Har'aak Tor · Adventurer Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 48

I do remember the Guild fair from GL hehe it was hosted by the moderators for stratics I think. Pretty sure Pratt from MOA did a lot of the planning and setting up for it. The roads to the Empath abbey were paved with cloth and line with torches and books.
It wasn't just roleplay guilds though it was open to everyone almost every big guild on GL was there but they held open a few slots for RP guilds. They always had a big crowds because as you said most of the guilds were dropping things to draw people in so many a newbies got all the 110 powerscrolls they could ever want.

I think a RP fair would be good it wouldn't exactly have to focus on recruitment for guilds it could just be hosted by all rpers as a way for the rest of the shard to get to know us. Play some trivia games give out some gold and various prizes make sure there is a informational book with each prize should be fun.

Another good way to go about drawing attention would be to decide on a public place where rpers could gather that would occasionally have non rpers come through. Thats how I first was introduced to rp back on GL for the longest time Skara Brae bank was the RP "hot spot". If rpers had to use a bank they would go to Skara, if they wanted to look for other rpers they would go to Skara, if they just wanted to stand around they would go to Skara. Of course all these good rp guilds and bad rp guilds all in one place would often lead to conflict but it was part of the appeal.
As a young player I just happened apon the rpers at Skara brae became interested and after watching the fights and interactions for awhile I eventually joined a rp guild, which was called the Highland Guard. They helped me out a lot and after a small trial period I think, I was allowed to participate if my first RP battle against the Guards arch enemy BDA which I believe was a drow guild. After that first battle I was hooked I've been in a rp guild of some kind ever since. Though if not for that "hot spot" I may never have even found out about RP.
I know on Atlantic here the rp "hot spots" are the taverns but most of them don't get a lot of traffic from non rpers. I think so far the only time I've seen a non rper at a tavern was at Mazewood and that was some reds from MSI. I did have a lot of fun chasing them around the forests but I don't think any of them even knew why there were a bunch of blues in the middle of fel in the first place. Nor do I think any of them became interested in rping.

Oh and about the ooc thing to talk to new people I agree with that. I think it sometimes scares people off being directly confronted with someone pretending to be some kind of make believe character. I guess it would be something like parachuting into a ren fair blindfolded. Watching rpers rp with another rper is one thing but having a rper come up and try to rp at you can be off putting.

Just some ideas and my thoughts I'd be happy to help with any event to help promote the community I can gate and drop stuff with the best of them. Very Happy

Ilaria Giovanni · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:10 pm Post subject: RP recruiting

I think this is a universal dilemma. Great Lakes also saw dwindling numbers or people log in. I myself came to see RP at Lord British's castle which is where our High Council on Great Lakes met at first, prior to moving to a private home. (The griefing got to be so intense you couldn't do anything)

Gathering of the Guild, yes was organized by MOA and FCB. Then a few others once the ground work was laid joined in. Once these raids are done it could work on Atlantic too. It was a good chance to have guilds of lots of different types of activities get together. It did manage to bridge a little of the gap between pvpers, pvm guilds and rp. (If only for a day)

I've often thought that perhaps an event in Luna would be fun. The only city with a central square, could use the outside ring to host a horse race? or relay. Getting out there and being seen helps, even if we're gonna get those who call us noobs and worse. Just keep you "cods wollup" (spelling) and other insults ready. haha

Ceinwyn ab'Arawn · Transcendent Spammer Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 5017

I RP in public quite a bit Razz

It's how I've gotten a few of our recruits. I think was just the other night I was doing a ritual in the bloodletters. People coming and going to the dungeon there must have been thinking WTF. hehe

I periodically give speeches at Brit bank.

I think your ideas sound good Langois. However I will be punishing you for leaving me off the list. DEMOTION TIME

Public demotion ceremony will take place at Brit bank, sunday 9pm december 7, 2080.

Garrick Koetrig · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:52 pm Post subject:

Great Ideas...One thing to do is every guild make up a description of the guild/city state. I know this already exists for the most part...but if each guild does it in a way to attract people it brings in community members who choose which city-state they wish to join based on these descriptions.

For instance...Sanctus would post the whole "White Gate" Speech and Stahlkrieger would post a brief about Germanic Militant Nazi types....I think this would be a good help to these new community members looking to join a guild.....

.....Just an Idea i had while reading....what say you?
_________________
A government must not waiver once it has chosen it's course. It must not look to the left or right but go forward.--Otto von Bismarck
Any alliance whose purpose is not the intention to wage war is senseless and useless- A Hitler
Exterminate heresy, lest it take root and overturn the state and social order-Charles HRE
Er aber, sag's ihm, er kann mich im Arsche lecken!

Langois · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:37 pm Post subject:

I say, I dread seeing the year 2080... *shivers* I also say, I need a lot of scribes and people who could make runebooks for me. I also need a lot of red leaves so I can stamp books. I have a lot of free time in between rp so I'm going to do this no matter what. I just need help. I remember back when I was recruiting for Sanctus back in March I did a similar method to what I plan on doing now that worked a bit then. Also I liked Garrick's idea of the whole Guild/City State books thing.

As for a fair, that would need to be discussed between all the GM's of the community. I think that is a tremendously great idea, I'm sure that something can be worked out. And the abby on Atlantic would be a great place to have it, wouldn't have to worry too much about griefers I don't think unless it was from LLTS.

But anyways, lets keep these ideas rolling. In the meantime though, I would really appreciate it if I could get some runes from people so I can start marking runes and getting books filled. And then I'll start our crusade. Also if anyone has strong voices on stratics, I'm sure we could use some pull there as well. Alright, well thanks ya'll and lets keep this thing rolling.

Starfire · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject: strengthening

I think the more public we can make some events the better. I have seen lots of WTF's when we have had our small duels and battles in britain. That sort of thing. Also, we need more GROUP events for those in the rp community. Our tavern nights always have lots of participants. We need to institute more such group activities that all feel free to partake in. It is the reason I have been working on hosting weekly tournaments in Mazewood. Here are my thoughts so far. I was thinking making the event on Saturday afternoon or early evening. One week make it jousting/archery, another mage combat, one pet combat one melee combat. Simple rules.
Role players need to know if they show up at such and such a location ... something will always be going on. I even considered hosting a weekly repair and enhancing night with Tati, a night like Friday when folks are laid back and maybe getting ready for weekend fighting. Or possibly Wednesday nights. Again I suggest Mazewood because it is reasonably neutral. Yes, Starfire is a lightbringer but because it is in fel it is a bit more neutral than say Sanctus or Umbra.
Perhaps weekly events could be posted that ALL guilds could participate in.... even Ilshenar champ spawns or fel spawns if folks feel up to it. Rather than one leader trying to keep a small group entertained.... we can work as a team to keep LOTS entertained.
Just my two cents.
_________________
aka: Tatiana Thorn nee Alexi; Summer Kane; Ivory Skyfire; and others

Ariana Lenoir · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:34 pm Post subject:

If you can get me a master runebook, I'll be happy to make a bunch of runebooks and mark the runes to fill them. I can be available to make copies of the info/text books as well. If you let me know how many red leaves you need, I'll be happy to donate those as well.

I won't go out of character, but I will be happy to lock down an rp community book and a 'how to rp' book if anyone writes one up. My house doesn't get a ton of inside traffic, but it does get a fair amount outside of folks shopping at the vendors. (My home is located just outside the southeast gate of Umbra.

I might be able to free up a slot character wise temporarily, transfer the appropriate skills to it and mark some runebooks with a special name if the community can agree on one. "Crafted by Role-players" "Crafted by Atlantic Rpers" I would need a few choices to choose from (ranked by fav to least) in case for some reason a name is disallowed. I can also probably transfer other crafting skills if the community wants other items for 'gifts' to new players or items for prizes for an event.

As far as suggestions.

#1 If someone has a house to use, perhaps a permanent rp resource center could be made. This could include a rune library, books on how to rp as well as ooc guild directory. I ran a shard wide guild directory on Pacific for all types of guilds for awhile and had a very good organization system I'd be happy to explain.

#2 We need to get our events/stories up on Stratics. I was a past admin/news manager for stratics and it is a good way to get new rpers. Several folks here can be responsible for typing up news stories and submitting them.. yes, we might get some twinks, but sometimes even those can change their tune and surprise you. One person can be responsible to at the end of the month, submitting the next month's tavern schedule with maps/times of each location. Maybe someone can make up a 'newspaper' and submit what is going on in the community with quotes from those involved. (For example the current Embargo in Moonglow, Latest "notices" posted, gossip etc.) We should be submitting news to other uo-wide forums such as uoforums.com as well.

#3 Stratics and other websites like uoforums have an rp section for help/stories. We should ALL pitch in with this and help by posting cross-post stories on them that fall into their rules. We can also help answer questions and brainstorm with other communities that may post there. Let's face it when it comes to marketing, image is everything.

#4 The fancy sig makers on this forum should make up a few community-wide signatures. These can range from season, general or humorous to support this RP community. People can use these signatures on uo forums, stratics, etc to help advertise while they post. Someone can go and gather what the sig limits are for each forum and we can keep a sticky in the picture forum with them so people can link to them in their signatures. Maybe the forum owner would be willing to host them for us. These should be banners with this forum's url in it and not specific guilds. I'm sure all guilds would like to see more members, but it shouldn't be a competition. Any new rper benefits us all whether or not they end up in a guild we're in.

To give you an idea of what I mean... keep in mind these would NOT be appropriate for those forums, but these are banners that were created for an old rp guild on another shard and were used on the community forum as advertising with a humorous twist. Hopefully I won't get spanked off this forum for the language.

Point being, if we get some community banners up AND start using them on outside forums when we post, it will help get the attention of those who read our posts even when we are posting about nothing to do with rp.

Anyways, those are my suggestions and how I am willing to help. If you can't tell.. I have a heavy marketing/business streak in me and just love letting it free when I can.. heh. Hopefully someone likes these ideas...

*scampers off*
_________________

Ceinwyn ab'Arawn · Transcendent Spammer Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 5017

Starfire, you have alot of great ideas but I think Mazewood, or anyplace in Fel is a bad idea for new roleplayers. Newbies would be afraid to go, and well.. the bad sort, with this sort of advertising, you attract the wrong sort. When you throw a net this wide, you are bound to catch a few sharks. Maybe someplace more neutral and safe for newbies?

Ilaria Giovanni · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:28 pm Post subject:

Mayhaps we could insert a tavern night at an NPC tavern in some city?
Perhaps staffed by a mix of guilds?
Typically a large group of people and mounts in a traveled city will attract a few folks. I know at least on Great Lakes a fair number of folks log at the tavern between west brit bank and the shipwright.
Of course it would have to be a PG rated tavern night, but could be interesting.

Your looking for a runebook or RP locations? Taverns etc? I have a set in my luna house that might work as a starting point.

Darrien Church · Honored Member Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Posts: 1810

Garrick Koetrig · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject:

We should host a party, drink lots of ale and they will just follow the bottle caps...it works! I tested this myself on friday night!
_________________
A government must not waiver once it has chosen it's course. It must not look to the left or right but go forward.--Otto von Bismarck
Any alliance whose purpose is not the intention to wage war is senseless and useless- A Hitler
Exterminate heresy, lest it take root and overturn the state and social order-Charles HRE
Er aber, sag's ihm, er kann mich im Arsche lecken!

Molly · Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 1:08 am Post subject:

If you want a place that is good for an event in Fel you could use the community center in Skara. It was made for this sort of thing and people would be protected there.

There are lots of other places too. Even Brit castle would work for Tram or the fair grounds. We have done them there as well.
_________________
Grand Duchess Molly Kaldhel
Oracle of Truth
The House Gauntlet
Sanctus, Luna, Malas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXoGDbJ5nLU
_______________________
"In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman."
-Margaret Thatcher-