What Keeps YOU Down?

[Darren Blayne]

This is something that caught my mind a very short while ago, because of a certain member's mentionings on a certain thread.

How many of you out there ever feel 'sidelined', as Alkaiser so perfectly put it, when all the 'big storylines' go down? Moreoever, what is it that makes you feel so sidelined, and what stops you from trying to get a piece of the action?

This is something I had been pondering for a while, I'd REALLY like to get the opinions of those dealing with it, out for everyone to see and talk about.

[Jonathan Michaels]

Well, I haven't had enough time to really get into the sidelined feeling, but I do suffer from a really self-induced "I don't belong here" type of thing. For one as a newb I have a tough time getting into the mix of things when you have several characters already with established (and close) relationships and have already closed their thread to soley said group. Untop of that even opened threads are a bit tough to deal with because I don't really want to step on anyone's toes if they've got something planned out and are only opening the threads for the purpose of straying away from a single post thread.

Mostly the issue of whether or not my character is established enough to belong there is the issue or if I even have a reason for being there.

[Shamino Warhen Ph.D]

The Man

[Kei]

Jonathan, seriously? Fuck that. A thread's open for a reason. If that person does indeed have something planned out, then the thread will be set up for it, whether it's already written in a specific location or situation, or in the creator's mind- it'll happen regardless. Just do your thing.

--

As for me. I think the sideline characters are more important than the big storyline people. The latter may be "more involved," but it's the sideline characters who have a choice in a matter, about what they want to do. In the end, I feel that they have more depth because of the handler's wishes to make the character think and reflect on what's happening around them. And, what happens then? They have a more interesting story of their own. I really like reading threads that are just threads with people RPing- I never liked these storyline threads. The whole Stern thing? Skipped it. Anything pillar related? Skipped it. Anything main villain or school heroes involved? Unless it involved me, skipped it. For example, my favorite type of threads are something like Abel and Valencia's meeting; or Shamino's and Kai's race on the mountain. Those were the types of things I've always found important. Because, afterall, the sideline characters make the forum, not these storyline types.

~Manuel

EDIT: It also gives a reason to RP. Like, you're writing freely and cheerfully. Something to look forward to you know? It's always more enjoyable that way I think (this is why I wrote what I did up there ^). Though, from what I remember, After a short absence and certain inactivity on XIN1 I kept Kei out of almost anything related to the board, since he just didn't fit in anymore. Everything there after were personal growth, meeting new kids (new registrants), or even getting ready to fight alongside Gilsin against three eager newcomers. *nods*

[Pain Killer]

Awesome. You skip everything that might affect other people.

Just... just awesome.

[victor]

For me, it just seems like almost every thread nowadays is between two members who have a close relationship or it's a storyline post. I'm just here to do my own thing, so I can't really partake in any of those. And every time there is a new post open, it seems like somebody else gets there first.

It would be nice if I could interact with some of the female members of the board more often, but almost all of them have close relationships with other members of the board already. Yeah, I still feel lonely after I broke up with my long distance girlfriend, even though it's been over a f***ing year...

Simply put, it just doesn't seem like there is much time to get to an original post anymore unless you're on the computer twenty four seven. And given I have college homework and my own time to think about, I can't really do that.

[charlotte]

More often than not, I feel like a secondary character. Not neccessarily sideline, since one of my favorite things to do is jump into storylines.

I don't mind at all though. I'm rubbish at making storylines myself, unless they happen to be personal development (which I'm pretty good at, I think), and playing a supporting role in big events is just fine with me.

There have been very few moments since I first joined this board that I haven't felt like a secondary character, but I'm also fairly new (I believe John and I actually talked about this exact thing one night). I like to think of the different threads and the different stories as scenes in some sort of movie: there are main characters and there are supporting characters too.

I like being a supporting character. It's fulfilling in a certain sense, I suppose.

[kai]

A lot of it, in both my case and my opinion, is the thought that I'm just not good enough to be anything but a sideline character nobody knows exists. I don't know if others share this idea, but it's pretty clear the ones that're always in the biggest storylines, right in the middle of the spotlight, are among the best on the board. Compared to people like, say, Gilsin, I'm complete rubbish. It's discouraging to think that nobody's interested in your posts and probably only read them when you're RPing with a "big name" (and even then skim over your posts to get to the "good stuff") all the time. In that instance, why bother, you know?

[Valencia Donahue]

From time to time, I do feel tons left out by the same well-known characters RPing with one another, even on other accounts so to speak, but I manage somehow. I'm trying to RP with more "secondary characters" to broaden the cast of my own story... Why fit in to another story when you can make your own? It still affects things if you make a good enough impression.

I'm tired, so I'll be brief... I'm a bit too simple-minded to be one of those big shots who know everything about the story as a whole and too independent to really have a "lasting impact" on the overall storyline beyond the role of a secondary character, so I resort to a bajillion Hircine student NPC's and a pseudo-blind Asian with frequent bouts of ADHD.

(For the love of gawd, I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SCREW WITH MY "PLANS". As long as it ain't godding, I LOVE IT WHEN PEOPLE SURPRISE ME INSTEAD OF MAKING ME DO ALL THE RPING. If I want things "scripted", I'd either [CLOSE] the thread or state in the OOC that I need buffer-posters to keep things going.)

::heads off to post or do HW::

[Kyukaku]

That's the problem with you kids nowadays. I suppose I seem to be more of a spotlight guy these days, with pretty much all my characters, but that's not how it should be.

Back in the day, everyone seemed to look at their own character as the protragonist, with whatever storylines are going on. I did just see the new Heroes, so I'm goin to continue with that. You know (or don't know I suppose) how that show has like a million main characters and stories going on at once? Well they always end up intertwining, just like ours do.

You're all the main characters of your own storylines, so never hold back from joining a thread in worry of messing up someone else's. Always join what you think would benefit your own character and storyline.

This game revolves around every single one of you, make sure you treat it as so.

[pinefresh]

Posting in an OOC thread before I reach 100 posts...shame!!!!

Anyways having been a player back in XIN RPB1 and here as Malikai I can tell you what its like to be new. Yes it sucks, people get caught up in thier personal storylines that exclude everyone else and there is no place for most of us in the major school storyline threads. All I can say is just shrug it off. To be honest with you complaining will not change a thing so don't bother with it. All I can tell you is to make open threads, join others open threads, make friends among the newer people and develope. Thats how we all started out in the beginning. If you really want to RP with some of the oder guys then PM them and ask.

I often join open threads that have just started out so I'll be around somewhere so do some of the other guys. Just be patient keep up the Rping, make friends and one day you'll be the big man/ woman on the board.

[Kyukaku]

If you prefer Pine's way, then go ahead, but I know I did the complete opposite and I'm pretty well off for it.

My first week, I jumped headfirst into the main plot at the time, which was the first Stern plot. And by being an annoyance, I got my ass kicked by two of the best, and you know what? I was better because of it. It got me noticed, as it gave me a point to work off of, and it brought me into all my major circles now. Hell, one of those guys that beat me up was Kyu's rival forever, and eventually his roomate here. The other, you know now as the school captain.

If you want to get in the thick of it, I suggest just doing it. This is for your entertainment afterall.

[Alkaiser]

That's probably the best remedy to this whole conundrum of sidelined members. I've done just about everything short of jumping in face first and letting someone's fist catch me, and it really hasn't gotten me all that far. Moral of the story, take a few risks and see where you land.

My biggest problem is that all of my threads seem to lead to my character's ambitions to silently stockpile allies and power, but I'm kinda lost as far as a goal. I mean I get a few views from people watching their asses to make sure I'm not planning to mob their objectives out of their hands, but that's not much for me to run on. I should find myself something worth fighting for. The watchers are good, but it's hard to hate even the most tyrannical bastards who strive for peace.

[Felix]

First, I feel actually compelled to post in this thread.

Second, Shamino man, thats who has everyone being held down. lol

And so what holds me down, myself, naturally. I don't think that putting him into a big thread will get him recognition and that stops me from throwing him in there. I guess I just have to be more "balls to the wall" from now on, eh?

Another point I'd like to make, just as everyone else just about did the same, is that even if a thread has 2 people in it, a third entrance or even just a third persons disturbance is always welcome, and keeps the two writers from getting into a derailed plot. I'd love for a third person to come into my open thread now, with Martin, and twist it somehow. But that all leads to people not having the nerve to post. If you don't openly post and put yourself in others threads, things don't happen, and the main storylines will always have the same old people in them over and over again. Threads shouldn't be limited to two people and they aren't. It's more like an unwritten guideline here that I think needs to be broken. We have tools here, Pm's, AIM, MSN messenger that allow us to communicate with each other.

And I just re-read everything and it sonuds like I ranted off in a few different directions. Also, I have an open thread still if anyone wants to jump in. It's in the cafeteria section, not more than 4 threads down. It may be old but its still considered open to me.

[Vincent Moreaux]

Well, I've been a member here on and off for about a year and a half now and no body here really knows me at all despite how many threads I've been in or created. I've tried multiple times to join and/or create/continue storylines and finish threads with people, but inevitably, each time I am thwarted by random disappearances and I'm left hanging there with two or three completely idle threads and I, of course, lose interest.

I too then disappear and eventually find my way back hoping there might be a second chance for me, so I rid the board of the idle character and create a new one (I've thus had three characters not including Vincent between Varron and Hircine). As much as I try to insert my character into the storylines (like that brawl between Tiao and like five other people near the beginnings of the board that just abruptly ended in a dead-end), something seems to go wrong.

I understand that real life gets in the way sometimes, but there is no way someone could be so busy as not to at least check up on something or have the common courtesy to say "Hey, I'll get back to you in a couple days/weeks because blah blah blah."

I'm a fairly busy person by default. Like I said in the Inactivity Notices thread...

lnd said:

I've got six college courses(Coll.Writing I, Public Speaking, Coll.Alg., Applied Strings I, French I, and Freshman Psych), at least an hour or two a day free-time practice on cello that needs to be done, admin responsibilities on another site, extracurriculars (work study, student support services, and high school tutoring), and a personal life to maintain (long-distance relationship plus friends/family things).

And as of today, add on eight hours of work study a week.

Basically, what I'm getting at is that despite how many people are part of this board (note 137 members), there is only a fraction of those that are actually active and frequent.

Support: After posting my first thread as Vincent entitled "Face the music (open)" on the rooftop, I went on a search to find a thread that I could join. I went through every board and could not find one that was not A. Too old, B. Already deep in progress, or B. Reserved until I got to the beach (that's twelve boards including sub-boards) where I joined Jonas' "Beachfront Grilling (open)."


I don't know if I made much if any sense here because it's late and I need sleep, but I hope I kind'a said what I mean. Hell, I'll come back tomorrow and check up on it and correct myself if need be.

Goodnight, all.

[Li]

I created my characters with the intention of being "sideline" characters. Those quiet guys who have their own thing but slowly watch from afar. Zerreth and Li have been in important storylines, but as a follower. I actually don't have a problem being part of the peanut gallery. Personally, I feel that I have more control and power as a follower. Sure, he has to listen to whatever his head says, but he's also allowed independent thinking. Sure, it sucks that he's not the main guy of some big storyline, but having rep for loyalty feels better than simply having rep for being some bigshot. (no offense to anyone)

[Vincent Moreaux]

I know what you're saying, Li. Vincent is one of those sideliners and I'm hoping that I may actually get somewhere with him because out of all the boards I've been on, he is by far my favourite.

I think that was my problem before as well, creating a too-balanced character personality-wise and just didnt get anywhere with him because he was "too normal."

[Tiao Lei Shen]

lnd said:

Well, I've been a member here on and off for about a year and a half now and no body here really knows me at all despite how many threads I've been in or created. I've tried multiple times to join and/or create/continue storylines and finish threads with people, but inevitably, each time I am thwarted by random disappearances and I'm left hanging there with two or three completely idle threads and I, of course, lose interest.

I too then disappear and eventually find my way back hoping there might be a second chance for me, so I rid the board of the idle character and create a new one (I've thus had three characters not including Vincent between Varron and Hircine). As much as I try to insert my character into the storylines (like that brawl between Tiao and like five other people near the beginnings of the board that just abruptly ended in a dead-end), something seems to go wrong.

I understand that real life gets in the way sometimes, but there is no way someone could be so busy as not to at least check up on something or have the common courtesy to say "Hey, I'll get back to you in a couple days/weeks because blah blah blah."

I'm a fairly busy person by default. Like I said in the Inactivity Notices thread...

lnd said:

I've got six college courses(Coll.Writing I, Public Speaking, Coll.Alg., Applied Strings I, French I, and Freshman Psych), at least an hour or two a day free-time practice on cello that needs to be done, admin responsibilities on another site, extracurriculars (work study, student support services, and high school tutoring), and a personal life to maintain (long-distance relationship plus friends/family things).

And as of today, add on eight hours of work study a week.

Basically, what I'm getting at is that despite how many people are part of this board (note 137 members), there is only a fraction of those that are actually active and frequent.

Support: After posting my first thread as Vincent entitled "Face the music (open)" on the rooftop, I went on a search to find a thread that I could join. I went through every board and could not find one that was not A. Too old, B. Already deep in progress, or B. Reserved until I got to the beach (that's twelve boards including sub-boards) where I joined Jonas' "Beachfront Grilling (open)."


I don't know if I made much if any sense here because it's late and I need sleep, but I hope I kind'a said what I mean. Hell, I'll come back tomorrow and check up on it and correct myself if need be.

Goodnight, all.

Are you saying I let a thread die? That's not like me. Remind me.

Also, your problem could very well be the fact you keep making new characters. I have no idea who you are, and I guarantee its because of that fact.

[artemis]

There is definitely something to be said about board inactivity as well. In Artemis's case he would only be seen in certain places under certain circumstances, which makes him fairly difficult to rp at the moment.

He is not one of those outgoing characters who would start a conversation or a relationship with people because he is so intreverted. As a result I am limited to the number of threads I can join while still staying true to my character.

I have been here for about a month now, which really isn't that long so I am not very worried about becoming a sideline character just yet, but I am on here typically at least twice a day and no matter how hard I look it is hard to find a thread to join that fits the exact cretieria that Artemis needs at this moment.

Hopefully once his character develops and he becomes more social this won't be much of a problem, but it is a argious process to develop him in this environment because of lack of useable threads. There are few threads i can create for him without over developing and over saturating his character. It is very important that his development is a gradual process I just wish it would go faster.