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Topic:
How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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The_Future_POTUS
Registered:
Mar '07
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Date Posted:
3/26/07 7:29am
Subject:
How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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I just joined this month and am amazed at the plethora of fascinating and original adventure ideas currently ongoing within this forum. I have attempted to join several games and I notice that I am, usually, unbearably late. Thankfully, the individual GMs have been more than willing to put up with my late arrivals. I have personally spent hours spinning up different and plausible ways to introduce my character in such a way that it seems brilliantly planned or, at least, not stupid. I know that my current situation is hardy unique, so what are some ways to decently introduce a late arrival? How about some good example stories? How late were they? Did they make a good entrance? Were you able to advance the plot with it? Or were they just inconvenient?
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As I watch the Jedi train and prepare endlessly for their self appointed role as saviors of the Galaxy
the Sith whom constantly strive and bicker with their comrades; always ready to prey on the weak,
I must wonder;
do none of these people have lives?
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Imperial_Hammer
Title: Manager:
• SWRPF
• NSWRPF
• RPR
Registered:
Sep '04
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Date Posted:
3/26/07 11:00am
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
- Date Edited:
3/26/07 11:02am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Imperial_Hammer
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I'm looking for late arrivals in both of my current games POTUS, care to join? 
How I'm integrating them is to simply introduce a period within the superstructure of the game where they can be welcomed and moved into the action...
For Pirates, we're pulling into a port, an easy and realistic place for people to join up with a Pirate crew...
And for Podracer, we're midseason and the Podracing League has launched a recruitment drive to get new racers...
Within the action of the game, yah, its hard to do. Everyone has their own storylines and are doing their own thing. Its hard to NOT be confused as a newly entered player. But if a GM slows down and engineers ways or times by which players can enter, then it all works very nicely.. 
-I_H
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*Now looking for a new RPF Adoptee*
The Jedi Way is something found within, not in the dead walls of any Order
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weeeee123
Registered:
Mar '07
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Date Posted:
4/8/07 1:54pm
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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If it's a small RPG, I bet that you can ask one of the players to throw you in. I haven't yet been in a larger RPG so I don't know how to put up with those...
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Hammurabi
Registered:
Jan '07
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Date Posted:
4/10/07 1:59pm
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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Is it rude to ask for a summary? Whenever I look at an established RP, I always kinda wonder. Jumping in in midstride is difficult--there's so much established plot and characters. Reading it all is time-consuming, especially if one already doesn't have much time. As an RPer, I do wish for a summary, but I generally don't ask.
Question: Can the first post of an RP be edited anytime? I've never posted an RP, so I wouldn't know. If the poster can edit the first post, then that would be a good place to at least put a few basic facts about the plot. Add things in as they occur, keep a running timeline of sorts. If nothing else, it would be extremely helpful to get a list of characters. Each person's character sheet is essential to understanding the character, and oftentimes these sheets are scattered throughout the RP. If someone were to copy/paste all the character sheets, that'd be wonderful. Perhaps add whether the character is still active.
Wait--idea just occurred to me. Why not set up a Google document or two containing a summary and/or character list? The GM could post the link in the first post (even if you can't edit the first post, this could be done at the start of the RP, or with mod assistance) and, as the RP progresses, they (or anybody, really) could edit and add to the document.
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NaboosPrincess
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
May '01
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Date Posted:
4/10/07 4:18pm
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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That's an interesting idea. First posts (actually, any post in the RPFs) can't be edited after the 90-minute timeframe expires, except by a mod. But that Google thing is a nifty sort of solution.
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Reynar_Tedros
Registered:
Jul '06
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Date Posted:
4/10/07 4:45pm
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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I actually think RPF opening posts should be like Fan Fic intros, in which there is no expiration time for edits. I really don't see any reason to have a timeframe for editing in the RPF.
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Hammurabi
Registered:
Jan '07
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Date Posted:
4/10/07 5:25pm
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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Reynar_Tedros posted:
I actually think RPF opening posts should be like Fan Fic intros, in which there is no expiration time for edits. I really don't see any reason to have a timeframe for editing in the RPF.
If that's done elsewhere on the boards, would it be possible in the RPF?
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and i know no one can sing the blues like blind willie mctell
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NaboosPrincess
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
May '01
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Date Posted:
4/10/07 5:39pm
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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I'm never in FanFic so I'm not aware of their edit times, but I'd be really surprised if they have just their first posts editable-- I thought it was all or nothing. Mods can set edit times in the admin panel, but the set time applies to all posts in the entire forum, as I understand it. But for all I know, they have special board coding in FanFic. In any case, we're not going to change the settings for the RPF. Unlimited edits bring their own set of challenges, and we really don't need 'em.
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Shark movies bring out a rough crowd.
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GraySaberFreque
Registered:
Nov '06
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Date Posted:
4/10/07 6:14pm
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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NaboosPrincess posted:
I'm never in FanFic so I'm not aware of their edit times, but I'd be really surprised if they have just their first posts editable-- I thought it was all or nothing. Mods can set edit times in the admin panel, but the set time applies to all posts in the entire forum, as I understand it. But for all I know, they have special board coding in FanFic. In any case, we're not going to change the settings for the RPF. Unlimited edits bring their own set of challenges, and we really don't need 'em.
Though it showsa time limit, the author of the fanfic(ie, first poster) can edit every post they made inside the thread.
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NaboosPrincess
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
May '01
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Date Posted:
4/10/07 6:34pm
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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Huh, how 'bout that? They must have bribed the tech gurus for that one. 
-----signature-----
Shark movies bring out a rough crowd.
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darth_nemisis
Registered:
May '04
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Date Posted:
4/10/07 9:02pm
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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I like that Google idea...I am always reluctant to join in late games, and always ask for summaries. That could ease some pain for the GMs....
I believe some people have it mistaken. The fan fic forum has their edit time disabled, therefore, you can edit any of your own posts made at any time. I don't believe there is an option for setting only the first post so it can always be edited.
Although, I am no mod, so I could have it wrong.
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Hammurabi
Registered:
Jan '07
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Date Posted:
4/11/07 3:17am
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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In any case, I think Google docs is worth spreading around. I don't know how many GMs know of it, but I'm sure many would use it here if they knew of it.
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and i know no one can sing the blues like blind willie mctell
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The_Future_POTUS
Registered:
Mar '07
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Date Posted:
4/15/07 7:43am
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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This is great! Hopefully the GMs will start using the google documents. So any stories, strategies, disasters? I would love to hear ‘em!
-----signature-----
As I watch the Jedi train and prepare endlessly for their self appointed role as saviors of the Galaxy
the Sith whom constantly strive and bicker with their comrades; always ready to prey on the weak,
I must wonder;
do none of these people have lives?
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Sinrebirth
Title: SWC Galactic Senate Host
Registered:
Nov '04
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Date Posted:
4/25/07 3:10pm
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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As I tend to create games with Galactic-scale storylines, I generally don't have many problems. If your crew are enroute somewhere, insert the new player at the place they're going to arrive - so they can hook up. Like a port, or some-such.
In the Sith-Imperial War RP I've created entirely separate subplots for new characters, usually padding out a storyline. I had four Sith ready to attack Yag'Dhul, and then I gained two new Sith. So I sent those Sith into the system before and gave them a sabotage storyline. Another detail added, while the four Sith had to finish off a few things.
Sometimes it doesn't work so well, and sometimes it does. It usually depends on how you do it. Padding is usually the way to go, and then link them in.
Or, create an entirely new plot. I had Sith pretending to be Jedi attacking Imperial Knights, initially. Then I had a new player that wanted to have his own secret Jedi Order, but was trapped in the Sith dungeons. To start, I didn't like the idea at all, but I warmed to it quickly when I thought on it. Thus the Sith pretending to be Jedi actually became Jedi controlled by the Sith. Great plot change, as I could introduce an entirely new side to the story.
It also worked wonders with a Force strong madman who needed a background. I'm really pleased with how that's gone.
So, either place them at the end of a journey, add detail to an ongoing plotline, or create something fresh. It depends, with the latter, how attached you are to your plotline.
Did that help at all?
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CE's Sinre, now - for good reasons, I promise you all! Sey's Sinre  The First Canon Apologist The Missing Chapters of LotF: Invincible http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=28933751&brd=10477&start=29297240
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SirakRomar
Registered:
Mar '07
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Date Posted:
4/25/07 5:59pm
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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All I can add is my perspective as a player . . . but at the example of Sinres "Sith-Imperial" war, the new player-plots colided with the old ones and it gave us all quite a feeling of being in "Part II" of the story. New characters are introduced, new layers opened for the characters already existing. Late arrivals have become "the fresh inspiration" for us all. Instead of a burden it is a surprise. Worked very good.
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SephyCloneNo15
Registered:
Apr '05
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Date Posted:
4/26/07 9:03pm
Subject:
RE: How to introduce those basted late arrivals
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Of course, there are some cases wher 'those basted late arrivals' just don't fit. Like my Halo RP. We're down to under a hundred SPARTANs, most of them NPCs, and many of them already named NPCs, and I'm not quite ready to accept non-SPARTAN PCs, meaning any newcomers would have to wait.
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