Why do we post?

Numinous · July 17, 2006, 09:45:16 PM

I'd just like to hear everyone's opinions on this question. I've been having some issues lately which are making the act of displaying my setting difficult and it's taking toll on my motivation. I highly doubt anyone will use my setting, and it feels like a waste of time right now...

So, why do you post your setting? Why not just leave it in a Word file and be on with it? What's the point?

CYMRO · July 17, 2006, 10:34:05 PM

Ego, mainly.
To share the brilliance that is my world creating ability, secondly.

Raelifin · July 17, 2006, 10:36:18 PM

Hmmm... are emo brains more tasty than non-emo?

1) Other people WILL use the setting. Pessimism needs to be shot, if it doesn't commit suicide first.

2) The layout of ideas is conducive to higher brain functions like "I do believe, sir that elves might just be unneeded here..." or "Indeed, the baselope is comparable to the narwhal!"

3) Once you begin the slippery slope of not treating your setting well, it is destined to perish at the bottom of a sarlac pit of intestinal troubles.

Lmns Crn · July 17, 2006, 10:52:20 PM

Because people do use them. I know of at least one Jade Stage campaign that's been ongoing for quite some time, among people that I will never actually meet. That's a strange and wonderful feeling. There may be more that I'm unaware of, just as there may be groups that use your material, if only you knew. If that's not high praise, I don't know what is.

Also, the feedback I get is very valuable. Not everything has to be a detailed debate; even simple "I like it; it works" comments are sometimes enough to reassure me that I'm not talking crazy-talk, something that I'm not always certain of when writing in a vaccuum.

Also, it's motivation. I don't have a gaming group right now, so you guys are the people I share my work with. I write more prolifically and more skillfully because I know I'm going to end up sharing it with you. If I were just collecting Wordpad files that no one else would see, I wouldn't be compelled to write nearly as much.

Oh, and it's pretty fun.

limetom · July 17, 2006, 11:25:41 PM

I've got nothing better to do. Honestly.

(I have no life...)

the_taken · July 18, 2006, 12:09:22 AM

I post in the hopes of someone with a more stable brain will help me. :cry:

Ninja D! · July 18, 2006, 12:26:24 AM

I agree with the_taken and it is fun.

Ishmayl-Retired · July 18, 2006, 07:01:34 AM

Cuz posting in a message board gives much prettier options than writing on notebook paper ;)

SDragon · July 18, 2006, 08:16:24 AM

why? because of the feedback. Xiluh, unlike some of the worlds here and on WotC, is less then a year in the making. on top of that, this is my first world, so sometimes im stuck for a direction to build in. when somebody here says "well, what about this? i want to hear more about it", i know where to work next.

on top of that, i always enjoy it when somebody finds Xiluh and says "wow..... this is different; its fresh, and unique." thats encouraging enough to keep working on it. even if nobody here ever DMs a game in the world, i can still be glad somebody liked it and not be at a loss. not that i wouldnt be glad if somebody actually ran a game in Xiluh, of course, but its not nesseccary to make the world worthwhile.

also, LCs reasoning behind motivation rings true here, too. hopefully i can eventually get my own gaming group, but as for now, youre the only people that see it. its much more motivating knowing its being shared, and not something only i ever see.

Lmns Crn · July 18, 2006, 08:33:49 AM

Quote from: sdragon1984why? because of the feedback. Xiluh, unlike some of the worlds here and on WotC, is less then a year in the making. on top of that, this is my first world, so sometimes im stuck for a direction to build in. when somebody here says "well, what about this? i want to hear more about it", i know where to work next.

I want to raise my hand and say that I feel this, too. I was startled at how productive I became when I started writing as a series of responses to questions, rather than just penning things down as if writing a sourcebook. I love questions, because they show you where to go next.

the_taken · July 18, 2006, 12:47:53 PM

Quote from: Luminous CrayonI love questions, because they show you where to go next.

I actualy work best in response to questions, comments and suggestions. It's called reactive creativity.

Epic Meepo · July 18, 2006, 01:45:05 PM

Posting is a good way to test out new game mechanics. If half a dozen people can poke holes in something, you know you can still improve upon it.

Besides, you never know when you'll want a time-stamped record that you can point to and say, "I did too think of it before WotC did!"

SDragon · July 18, 2006, 03:08:19 PM

Quote from: RaelifinHmmm... are emo brains more tasty than non-emo?

dont you know? emo brains are unnesseccarily bitter.

Elven Doritos · July 18, 2006, 03:15:49 PM

I actually don't post much content for RV, I just post notices about new content. I do post the occasional new Stars Above content.

That aside, I post because of many of the reasons stated above.
1) I don't know of anyone who uses my material, but it's there to inspire other people's creativity.
2) Ego. I need all the praise I can get.
3) Criticism- I want to hear people's beef with my work. If I understand my own weaknesses as a writer, I can try to overcome them.
4) Ego.

Ninja D! · July 18, 2006, 06:47:58 PM

Quote from: sdragon1984, newly found god
Quote from: RaelifinHmmm... are emo brains more tasty than non-emo?

dont you know? emo brains are unnesseccarily bitter.

*applause*

The Campaign Builder's Guild

News:

Why do we post?

Numinous

CYMRO

Raelifin

Lmns Crn

limetom

the_taken

Ninja D!

Ishmayl-Retired

SDragon

Lmns Crn

the_taken

Epic Meepo

SDragon

Elven Doritos

Ninja D!