Forums » RP Discussion » Boring 1x1s

Am I the only one who finds that if an RP is "1x1" and platonic, it gets boring after about four posts?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that sex is the only thing that could be interesting to RP about (it's not, and I'd rather not RP for the sake of sexual satisfaction), but there's just not enough drama to fuel a 1x1 role play.

Anyone else agree/disagree? Why? Give me some input here x_x;

Most of the 1x1s I do end undying sadly. Either the person never replies, I stop replying due to they seem to have no interest, or I get bored from no real plot and the person does one line replies. I need more plot driven people! but yeah seems the more sexual ones are of any fun heh...

Right? It's like, if it's not sex or violence people are entirely disinterested. Or is it that people just don't know what plot is anymore?

I agree. But in the cases of the 1X1 i've done it seemed to me the other person was never interested. Oh well I guess that person wasn't interested. But plots do seem more fun especially if the characters have a background together.

There can be plenty of drama to keep a 1x1 going on for a long time if actual conversation is brought into the play. I'm not talking here about 'small talk' where the characters have chats like:

"The sky is really amazing today!"
"Yes it is."

I'm talking about actual conversation, where your character gets to express their views (and listen to other views) about topics. I'm talking about the ones where it goes a bit like:

"I'm glad to have you with me while we plan this raid on the fish hatchery. I never would have noticed that my blueprints are outdated."
"Thanks. I learned how to pay attention to the dates there back in Blutopia, where I built sonic Herjigger factories. And besides, I believe fish should be free."
"Oh... Umm. I was going to EAT the fish." *nervous laugh* "SOOOO What got you out of construction into eco-terrorism?"

Conflict already! Dun dun DUN - and everyone still has their clothes on and weapons sheathed. You'll notice what keeps that going is that the second person takes a moment to expose one of their believes and a little bit of their past, and the first person RESPONDS to that and asks a question. Their response and question will give the second person something to react to.

As long as both parties keep making sure their characters give little hooks like that, you can haul a 1x1 along for a really long time, letting your characters learn about other perspectives and giving you a chance to show off your backstories. As soon as one of them responds to a potential hook with a dead-ended response like "Cool," or "Yeah," or worse - the dreaded internal monologue no one can respond to - THAT is when it will start to slow down.

That's why I prefer RPing on Furcadia; you can have 1 x 1's (multiple) going on, and group or open RPs too. That way the character is getting further developed in more than one way.

I like your post, a lot. Very resourceful.

On that note, though, there are times when the only real response one can give without breaking character is something that doesn't draw the conversation out.
I guess, though, some characters are actually better designed for group role play, while others are more flexible.

For instance, if I wanted to play Night I couldn't do what you just mentioned. Not if I wanted to play him to the letter. He's like... well, I guess I could liken his personality to Batman in a way, unless he's with someone whom can bring out a more playful side of him (e.g. Destiny or Kai.) He's brooding, introverted and self-centered.
In perfect contrast, though, is the character (I -might- implement him later, but only if I do so with his boy-toy Lysander), White. White is an exact contrast to Night, and there's a lot of story behind his creation (to sum up: Night was in a war, split personalities... he was practically all-powerful at the time (not anymore; remember, Night's 12 IRL years in the making and a helluvalawt has happened since then... he's my first chara, so at some point he was newbish ))so when he split his personalities, one manifested itself into the physical form that is today's White.

White is bubbly and could keep a 1x1 going for years if I really tried with him lol

Lol you posted this while I was typing the above, so I'll respond in kind
Plots are definitely fun, and if you're 1x1ing alongside someone with whom your character has a bit of background, it makes the one-on-one experience run a lot more smoothly.

Honestly, I almost never do anything other than 1x1s anymore because I just don't have the time to keep up with group RPs.

My 1x1s tend to always be interesting! I do find that my 1x1s where only a line is given as a post do fade out quickly. But if you give effort, and put a paragraph post, then there's a lot to do! There's always a lot that can happen without violence or sex. There's plenty of drama! A kidnapping could happen, so-and-so's family member dies, or a disease/illness is developed! RPs with just happiness do tend to get a little boring, but that's why you spice it up with some drama! I have an RP going right now with a little girl who just got adopted. There's been plenty of cutes and happy feels, but there's also magic! Doors appearing out of nowhere, places leading you to random rooms, and interesting creatures! There is plenty of fun that can be had in 1x1s, if you have the right partner and if you're willing to put detail into your posts

(Lil' off topic here):You actually brought up a very good point here (whether you meant to or not xD!) and I love telling people this.

All too often, especially in real-time RP (like, over IRC or something), people claim they are "sick of the drama, I just want good rp!" -- and this is not limited to OOC drama as I had originally believed, but the drama that drove the RP itself!
The entire time they're going on and on about how such and such character did this and it's getting annoying to have to put up with the drama they cause, I'm thinking "so you want to just... sit here? I mean, without that drama the RP will die."

I've always enjoyed both group RPs and 1x1s in balance. On the website I used to RP on, I had characters that would commonly engage in 1x1s. The only difference was that when I did those they were in open rooms, with random people, and others could jump in at any time. (That's one of the advantages to having a freeform RP chatroom.) We would occasionally move to private rooms if we really didn't want people to disturb us. They were always fun, especially when all the characters were interconnected. (In hindsight I had some COMPLICATED storylines back then. )

I think it's all about who and how. Who you RP with, and how it's executed. I've been in some seriously boring 1x1s as well, which is why when I'm doing forum RPs I like groups better, but, again, 1x1s can be good if done right. (I'm in two good ones right now, actually. )

It's usually a lack of preparation. Worldbuilding is boring, making NPCs is boring, all of the activities involved in making a story interesting is mostly dry and boring. But without it, there's nowhere to go and nothing to do, and nobody wants to be the first to suggest an idea for fear of having it declared worthless by the other player(s), or they may feel that it's just not worth the effort.

Groups are an excellent idea because multiple people working together can create a fully functional setting in a fraction of the time it would take one or two people. This avoids burnout, so by the time they're done, they may still actually be interested in playing in the world they've created.

Another problem with forum-based narratives is that what starts out fun and interesting invariably begins to feel like an obligation after a short while. When it starts to become a job, we stop putting in effort, and stop caring, in some cases even hoping that the narrative dies so we stop having to check on it (though we may not be aware of it).

I am with Disducibus on this. Not necissarily furcadia but where there is environment beyond the two. I do not get bored with 1x1s. Also, though, those 1x1s have time that pass between scenes and interactions with other characters that help shape it each encounter.

That's exactly what will happen! Though I really understand what you're saying, I know a way to fix the other person's problem as well! I sometimes get like that too. I get so tired of all these super sad things happening. And that's why I balance it out with good things! Whatever happens, it always tends to bring the two characters together, and I always give them a 'time of grace', where things are better and nothing bad happens. It helps to balance the RP out, so it gives happiness but also keeps the drama and action!

^^^ Like

This topic sparked an hour long discussion, to which my friend compared it to a terrible, terrible script, called Fatboy. I do not recommend this play to anyone that is sensitive or underage, and I will not go into detail.

"But I enjoy world-building! Filling the space with npcs and scenery creates a sense that a character is not floating in empty, white space!" But I suppose I am the only one on my coconut-bearing island. "Having other characters besides the usual two creates atmosphere, changes how the characters act, the dialogue, and creates the sense that they are not Will Smith in I am Legend. Even the monsters that he is fighting are npc's, and they make the movie exciting to watch, unless one watches that movie just to watch Will Smith and his trusty pooch run around an empty city."

My friend turned to his window, at some point in the conversation. "People want to get out of the exposition as quickly as possible. It's usually rising action, climax, falling action, strung together in a ever-repeating cycle. It's not over until the fat lady sings, but conclusion sounds like character death, and people usually don't like to kill off their characters." Then he paused. "It doesn't matter if there's exposition, others will want more. If there's a forest, I'm going to want more. I want to consume! Action! Flesh! Blood! I want it all, and I consume it! AH, CONSUMPTION!"

To which I will say, we did stand about, pretending to consume the air, for a few minutes. But! I will say that I believe in goal-orientated character plot, where the character influences the world (unless there is not a world for them to influence...), and the world changes, due to the character's actions. It is a simple mechanic employed by many video games. This may also come into play when two characters are simply standing about, looking at the sky. Neither character has a goal. It is true that having the characters start divulging their past and who they are to each other is interesting, it does seem to be forced, unless one, or both characters freely tell their life stories to anyone who will listen to them. And once the stories are over, the bus arrives, and one character gets on, because that is her/his goal, and the other stays on the bench, because his/her goal of wanting to spill their stories to someone is complete. Which is a very nice conclusion!

But, my words should be taken with a grain of salt, as between school and other activities, my one-on-one games tend to wither...in the exposition phase, or just after it. Oh, what tragedy~