Viewpoint Formatting interest checks.

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Hey, RPNation.

I'm no stranger to interest checks though I'm not really sure what is preferred. Do people prefer practicality over aesthetics or vice versa (aka, should I spend time with BBCode or "keep it simple")? What would you include in an interest check (ie: Introduction, Rules, Writing Samples, Characters, etc)? I'm mostly asking from the perspective of someone interested in 1-on-1 Roleplays, but feel free to chime in based on experience with groups too.
 
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As a general rule, people like aesthetics but prefer and need practicality. Nice coding will attract eyeballs but it's pointless if it makes it too much of a hassle to read.

Furthermore, what looks nice to some will not necessarily look nice to others. The color question comes to mind where some people are particularly disturbed by bright colors as/around the text.

You can try coding some simple things as a nicety but I wouldn't recommend coding as a marketing strategy for your interest checks. I say include it if you just like the style, or if if coding is something you do regularly anyway or similar reasons to that. You can borrow a code (with permission) but I would say that approach is best for a big committed and very fleshed out group idea as opposed to simpler group ideas or the more personal approach that a 1x1 interest check demands where you are really looking to showcase yourself as a potential partner.

Of course, this goes without saying but content is king, so that should get the lion's share of the focus. But that's mostly an aside to your question.

On a personal level I use coding a lot but that's largely because I like to do my codes and to find ways to present my characters and posts and the like with some bits and bobs and where possible with some creatively thematic links between the presentation and the character. In interests it also acts as one of the filters.
 
This question reminds me of the time SpongeBob had to write an essay and in one night he drew the word "the" all fancy and antiquated like. However I think it's more about the contents of the post and the persuasiveness of the pitch.

Lots of people say they're interested in naruto but when you're just like " let's be genin and do stuff". The odds of this idea lasting are slim, even though the popularity of the series makes it easy to get eyes on your interest check.
 
Allow me to weigh in here! Personally I love both simple and beautifully coded threads. However, I do a majority of browsing the site and writing, on my phone. A lot of coded interests threads are not very mobile friendly. I can’t be interested in the thread if I can’t read it. ^^;

If you want to do the coding, you might want to consider also doing a simpler version and just tucking it in a spoiler.
 
Allow me to weigh in here! Personally I love both simple and beautifully coded threads. However, I do a majority of browsing the site and writing, on my phone. A lot of coded interests threads are not very mobile friendly. I can’t be interested in the thread if I can’t read it. ^^;

If you want to do the coding, you might want to consider also doing a simpler version and just tucking it in a spoiler.
Mobile friendliness was definitely a concern of mine. I browse on my phone as well and some of the interest checks are too difficult for me to read.
 
Mobile friendly for sure; I personally prefer to use RPN on a computer, but I find codes that are not mobile-friendly (or don't have a mobile-friendly plaintext alternative) off-putting because it speaks to a lack of consideration.

As a queer RPer, one of the things I always look for is mention of gender and sexuality if someone is searching for romance or predominantly presenting ideas as pairings. Not addressing that at all feels... weird? Like they just forgot that people like me exist, and that's probably not somebody I'm gonna jive with, even if I'm otherwise interested.

Writing samples I don't personally care about, but what does get me is striking the right middle ground on plot pitches. There's a sweet spot between the basic 'angel x demon' type of pairing pitch and something that's... overdeveloped. I like RPing for the collaborative aspect; I don't want to just be filling in the gaps of your resurfaced trunk novel, you know? A good plot hook + room to build is the most enticing combo. (And how you write a plot pitch is, in and of itself, a writing sample of sorts anyway.)

Communication preferences are also a big one! IE, whether you want to keep something onsite in PMs vs threads; whether Discord is a must-have or strongly preferred for OOC and/or IC, etc.
 
Hey, RPNation.

I'm no stranger to interest checks though I'm not really sure what is preferred. Do people prefer practicality over aesthetics or vice versa (aka, should I spend time with BBCode or "keep it simple")? What would you include in an interest check (ie: Introduction, Rules, Writing Samples, Characters, etc)? I'm mostly asking from the perspective of someone interested in 1-on-1 Roleplays, but feel free to chime in based on experience with groups too.

it's really each to their own on this site, imo! like others have said, some love coding, some abhor it — i will say it attracts different folks though! i code, so i have always used extensive coding with all of my checks, because i'd like prospective partners who would ideally looking at coded posts when it comes to the actual writing, since that's a big part of what i enjoy about being on this site too.

otherwise, it's worthwhile to consider what you would like to see as well and crafting an interest check based on that. i personally like having concrete plots to work off of, which is why i include more detailed plots (beyond pure pairings) in my own checks. if you're the type to ask for samples, offer one of yours too! i don't think preference matters unless you fall into an extreme (which you'll be able to get a good sensing of as long as you're looking at some of the other checks!), and interest checks are often less about engagement and more about compatibility. make one based on what you would look for, and if you're struggling to get partners from there, then look back and see what you might be missing, though it might just be an issue of niche more than anything oftentimes (︶▽︶)

that said, some basic things i feel like all people should include:
- an introduction. your name, pronouns, etc. at least a little bit to make you personable!
- an age range for partners you are looking for and where you're at. if you're not comfortable sharing an exact number, an estimate or a range is fine! but many rpn users are a little picker with the age of people they're writing with, enough that minors have made threads complaining about the sheer number of people looking exclusively for partners 18 and above.
- gender pairings you're looking for, or the genders you're looking to write! also a big thing people recruit based off of
- any deal-breakers you might have (i.e. the format, off-site/on-site, specific triggers or no-no's in partners) should be stated clearly in your interest check too, even if you don't otherwise make a rules section. will root out at least those that read it through, and saves you time! if you have none, that's cool too! you could consider traits of yourself that might be dealbreakers to others, and make that clear too — i consider coding to be a dealbreaker to some, so i make it clear that it's something they'll have to accept if they want to write with me


all in all,, there's no need to make it too detailed unless you're looking for something more specific, like a particular plot to play a particular character in. lots of things can be left to later discussions ( ^▽^)b
 
Things I find essential to an interest check's worldbuilding summary. These apply mainly to my preffered genre of low fantasy group rp, but some apply to all types of story.
  • Where does the rp take place geographically? Whether it's on Earth or elsewhere, whether the location is a real or fictional place, it's important for me to have a more specific location than simply "the Midwestern USA" or "Narnia" or "terraformed Mars."
  • What sort of time period does it take place in? The answer should be more specific the more closely matched to an unaltered Earth timeline the rp is. High fantasy and historical sci-fi can get away with "It's [like] the Victorian Era" better than realism or many low fantasies can.
  • What species and factions are playable?
  • To what degree are players allowed to collaborate in the worldbuilding?

Other hings I must know about the rps I'm interested in, and will ask about if they're not included in the interest check.
  • Will the OOC be onsite, or over Discord?
  • Are there any requirements for style, formatting, and length? How flexible are they, if there are any?
  • How frequently is everyone expected to post?
  • Will there be a specific order we're all expected to post in?
  • How many characters are we allowed to make, at minimum and maximum?
 
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I’m actively answering this one on mobile as we speak, so obviously I would say making sure it’s mobile friendly is one of the important things for me. I use the site that way a lot.

I’d echo most of what’s being said— having some info on the worldbuilding and plotline, having a bit more than “Y x Z” as prompts. Another thing I really appreciate is a standard for expectations. What kind of tone are you looking for, group dynamics, how long you plan for it to run, all that good stuff.

As for fancy posts— totally optional to me. I admit a BIT of fancy is fun, attractive, and attention grabby, but it’s not necessary and I do admit that I sometimes find fancy posts to be a little overproduced, for lack of a better term. Too many scrolls, too tight on the screen, too many gifs, too many hidden tabs… it gets weird to navigate and makes it hard for me to finish reading a post or character page.
 
What would you include in an interest check (ie: Introduction, Rules, Writing Samples, Characters, etc)? I'm mostly asking from the perspective of someone interested in 1-on-1 Roleplays, but feel free to chime in based on experience with groups too.
Hi!!

Any layout works really. I think you know the basics of what to include. But keep it clean, direct to he point and readable. The biggest diff I'd say in 1x1 vs Group is that in groups you tryna sell the RP PREMISE and in 1x1 you tryna sell your RP PRESENCE.

Like in 1x1 there is sooooooooo many similar and same-same ideas, prompts and pairings that the competition comes down to showing why you a better partner than dude who has the same promps as you.

When I did 1x1 I would have my top 3 to 5 craving/plots outlined in like a paragraph longsimple blurb. Then I'd write IC'ly a paragraph of an open ended interaction with my most engaging and enticing writing.

I find that sparking something in others in 1x1 keeps them around and that's what I mean about presence. Others see you get looooooots of replies and they get this idea in their head that you something fine when you actually just mid lol

Oh and a rep as a non-ghosting partner is like RPgasm to lots of partners too lol
 

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