I always wondered how folks here (on RP Repository) do combat or fighting. Because to me, that's the best part of any RP. A good fight is all I need to enjoy something at minimum. I only use dice as a second referee as I believe it's always better to rely on skill rather than luck.
I LOVE choreographing fights. Mostly for the debate and planning that goes into it. Fighting experience, state of mind, stature and form. If it's against two people who are inexperienced with fighting, it is a bit more luck and I have a mix between coin flips and dice rolling to figure out whether or not something lands or how hard it lands when damage is unintentional.
It's very satisfying to have an underdog come out on top based on quick thinking or because someone messed up, or someone who clearly outmatches someone else displaying why, but I don't always get people who are willing to do that choreo with me. They typically just try to throw something at my character or even just outright hijack my character in order to do their fights and or worse, characters that are invincible with no description or displayed ability.
Supernatural fights are even more interesting to me, but I haven't been in an RP yet where I can properly choreo a fight for that. Talking about abilities, perceptions, the way that everything would be applied and where people would make mistakes.
^ And that. That's a big thing. A lot of the time, I write with people who want to win the fight. That's not really the point, at least not to me. Sure hysterical strength is a thing and all, but when you rely on it to win every fight or dues ex your way through it because you are the 'protagonist' irks me.
But still, adore combat! I just want some good fights.
It's very satisfying to have an underdog come out on top based on quick thinking or because someone messed up, or someone who clearly outmatches someone else displaying why, but I don't always get people who are willing to do that choreo with me. They typically just try to throw something at my character or even just outright hijack my character in order to do their fights and or worse, characters that are invincible with no description or displayed ability.
Supernatural fights are even more interesting to me, but I haven't been in an RP yet where I can properly choreo a fight for that. Talking about abilities, perceptions, the way that everything would be applied and where people would make mistakes.
^ And that. That's a big thing. A lot of the time, I write with people who want to win the fight. That's not really the point, at least not to me. Sure hysterical strength is a thing and all, but when you rely on it to win every fight or dues ex your way through it because you are the 'protagonist' irks me.
But still, adore combat! I just want some good fights.
I know the perfect character. lets do it.
For me, fight rp is never really my priority, even though the majority of my characters are combatants in some form. But when its well done, I enjoy it a great deal.
I’ve always been of the view that freeform work best. The RNG of dice rolling is more of a hindrance than a boon, and I have always been of the opinion that common sense is the best tool in these kinds of writing exercises. While it is possible for a new fighter to land blows on an experienced one, it is extremely rare for a new combatant to get the drop on a fighter that's been around the bush a few times, for example. To me, the use of dice takes away from the level of believability in this kind of rp.
An example I can give in that vein, actually, is a while back, my main was involved in a jousting tournament. This character had never jousted before, never even held a lance, and was up against a character that had been raised around jousting and was far more familiar with the rules and tactics. But because the tournament had been set up with dice rolls to determine hits, my character, a complete novice, won against a more experienced character, who, if we had been given the opportunity to freeform the competition, would have undoubtedly won.
As far as what makes a good fight scene, for me it comes down to 4 things. Communication, Humility, Purpose, and Logic.
Even if the players aren’t oocly skilled or knowledgeable, the best way to make sure everyone comes out feeling like it was a fun is to always be willing to talk to the other player(s). If something doesn’t make sense, if something in a post was missed, it is to everyone's benefit to talk to each other, and do it kindly, so everyone can enjoy the story.
I feel is super important to not go into this kind of rp with a ‘need to win’. Fight scenes are about writing good action sequences, collaboratively making a great story (as all rp is), and learning how to write something that is generally viewed as difficult. But if someone is going into it with the need to be the best or to get another win for their record, the whole experience is going to be miserable. Combat rp is about give and take, trading blows, taking hits and dishing them out, teaching and learning. If a players goal is to just wreck someones character for the fun of it, that’s not someone I want to be writing combat rp with. If you win, win gracefully, don’t laud it over people. If you lose, lose gracefully, don’t complain. People will seek you out more if your behavior is positive, regardless of the outcome to the rp.
Combat rp should serve a wider purpose. This may be a personal nit pick for me due to bad past incidents, but I can’t get behind a combat scene if it was done just for self gratification. Combat rp should have a bigger purpose than to icly (and oocly) show off. Combat should put characters into stressful situations, it should make them question judgement, should make them think, should force them to make a stand. Combat rp should be about heart and head as much as strength of arm, and for me, if my rp partner can incorporate that kind of thing, it makes the scene all the more enjoyable because I’m learning about this character as much as my own is. And that is half the fun.
Lastly, for me, logic is important (though it can be tossed aside now and then). I’ve always been of the mindset that combat should reflect the physics of the universe being rped in. If it doesn’t make sense to be able to ‘double jump’, it wouldn’t make sense for that to be a thing in a combat scene, either. And yeah, I get supernatural abilities, but they need to make sense to the rp universe, as well. Sometimes its fun to just use the ‘rule of cool’ and do all these crazy things, but for the most part, I like to incorporate logic to what can and can’t be done. For me, that makes it easier to picture what’s happening, and from there, believe it could be possible.
I’ve always been of the view that freeform work best. The RNG of dice rolling is more of a hindrance than a boon, and I have always been of the opinion that common sense is the best tool in these kinds of writing exercises. While it is possible for a new fighter to land blows on an experienced one, it is extremely rare for a new combatant to get the drop on a fighter that's been around the bush a few times, for example. To me, the use of dice takes away from the level of believability in this kind of rp.
An example I can give in that vein, actually, is a while back, my main was involved in a jousting tournament. This character had never jousted before, never even held a lance, and was up against a character that had been raised around jousting and was far more familiar with the rules and tactics. But because the tournament had been set up with dice rolls to determine hits, my character, a complete novice, won against a more experienced character, who, if we had been given the opportunity to freeform the competition, would have undoubtedly won.
As far as what makes a good fight scene, for me it comes down to 4 things. Communication, Humility, Purpose, and Logic.
Even if the players aren’t oocly skilled or knowledgeable, the best way to make sure everyone comes out feeling like it was a fun is to always be willing to talk to the other player(s). If something doesn’t make sense, if something in a post was missed, it is to everyone's benefit to talk to each other, and do it kindly, so everyone can enjoy the story.
I feel is super important to not go into this kind of rp with a ‘need to win’. Fight scenes are about writing good action sequences, collaboratively making a great story (as all rp is), and learning how to write something that is generally viewed as difficult. But if someone is going into it with the need to be the best or to get another win for their record, the whole experience is going to be miserable. Combat rp is about give and take, trading blows, taking hits and dishing them out, teaching and learning. If a players goal is to just wreck someones character for the fun of it, that’s not someone I want to be writing combat rp with. If you win, win gracefully, don’t laud it over people. If you lose, lose gracefully, don’t complain. People will seek you out more if your behavior is positive, regardless of the outcome to the rp.
Combat rp should serve a wider purpose. This may be a personal nit pick for me due to bad past incidents, but I can’t get behind a combat scene if it was done just for self gratification. Combat rp should have a bigger purpose than to icly (and oocly) show off. Combat should put characters into stressful situations, it should make them question judgement, should make them think, should force them to make a stand. Combat rp should be about heart and head as much as strength of arm, and for me, if my rp partner can incorporate that kind of thing, it makes the scene all the more enjoyable because I’m learning about this character as much as my own is. And that is half the fun.
Lastly, for me, logic is important (though it can be tossed aside now and then). I’ve always been of the mindset that combat should reflect the physics of the universe being rped in. If it doesn’t make sense to be able to ‘double jump’, it wouldn’t make sense for that to be a thing in a combat scene, either. And yeah, I get supernatural abilities, but they need to make sense to the rp universe, as well. Sometimes its fun to just use the ‘rule of cool’ and do all these crazy things, but for the most part, I like to incorporate logic to what can and can’t be done. For me, that makes it easier to picture what’s happening, and from there, believe it could be possible.
^ Uproarious applause and all of my yes, please! Definitely more eloquent than me on the subject.
And an add on; The psychological component is always the biggest factor to me enjoying anything. Knowing how things are going to affect our characters is super fun. Just because I know how another character things doesn't mean my character does or that it's a bad thing.
A lot of writers I've come across are very invested in their character's mystery. But in most cases, the mystery is unnecessary. Letting me into their head doesn't mean they've lost, and letting you into my character's head doesn't mean I'm setting them up for a loss.
It's just a new situation, a learning experience.
And an add on; The psychological component is always the biggest factor to me enjoying anything. Knowing how things are going to affect our characters is super fun. Just because I know how another character things doesn't mean my character does or that it's a bad thing.
A lot of writers I've come across are very invested in their character's mystery. But in most cases, the mystery is unnecessary. Letting me into their head doesn't mean they've lost, and letting you into my character's head doesn't mean I'm setting them up for a loss.
It's just a new situation, a learning experience.
Who wanna fight?
The thing about what I said on dice is that I use it if and only if I cannot make heads or tails out of a post I'm reffing. Especially incomprehensible or "WTH" posts.
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