What seems to happen in roleplays all the time that you can't stand?

[Melpomene]

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For example: I can't stand when a roleplayer is constantly making their character a victim. Of literally everything. This is literally their only character trait, being a victim. Okay, maybe it isn't their <em>only </em>character trait, but it is close. Then they try to make everyone else in the roleplay feel bad for their character and want to be their character's friend. On that note, let's talk about tragic backstories. Don't get me wrong, I love a good tragic backstory. I hate when that backstory is basically the character development. I hate when the character has no draw backs from something that would cause so much emotional trauma that they would be seeing a psychiatrist for years. I take that back, they cry... Sometimes. But other than that they are pretty okay. Basically, I hate when people use a tragic backstory because they want other characters to pity their own, and/or they were too lazy to come up with something creative. *Ahem* well, wasn't that a rant? Now, let me hear your rants about rps!


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[Knacks]

I'm sure the one thing everyone hates but inevitably happens is a Gary-Stu/Mary-Sue character.

 

[rebandvodka]

I will follow up with a big YES to the whole 'constantly playing a victim' deal. If there is one huge pet peeve I have when roleplaying, it is by far that and I'm beyond glad someone else is finally pointing it out. Roleplays become extremely predictable and way less enjoyable for the receiving end when the other person always expects you to, in some way, rescue theirs or feel obligated to have pity for them 24/7. I understand having a backstory in most cases is necessary and I don't have a problem with, per say, 'angst' or one character experiencing something that causes them to be/feel upset/trapped/or traumatized but come ON.


Aghhh, drives me nuts!

 

[Melpomene]

I will follow up with a big YES to the whole 'constantly playing a victim' deal. If there is one huge pet peeve I have when roleplaying, it is by far that and I'm beyond glad someone else is finally pointing it out. Roleplays become extremely predictable and way less enjoyable for the receiving end when the other person always expects you to, in some way, rescue theirs or feel obligated to have pity for them 24/7. I understand having a backstory in most cases is necessary and I don't have a problem with, per say, 'angst' or one character experiencing something that causes them to be/feel upset/trapped/or traumatized but come ON.
Aghhh, drives me nuts!

Yay! Someone who agrees. On the other side of the spectrum, I also hate the constant hero. You know, the person who saves EVERYONE. Like, they won't let anyone else be badass, or defeat a bad guy. They are also the people that constantly need to be the most powerful as well. Like, they are unbelievably powerful. No matter what your character does, that one is better. In every way except being a decent character with decent character development. Their only trait is badassery, and sometimes douchebaggery. But they expect everyone to like them anyhow.

 

[rebandvodka]

Oh yes, I totally understand that! I have run into players like that way more than desirable- And I am so glad you brought it up because that, to me, is equally as irritating as the ones who are constantly victimizing themselves. I believe that as a whole, it's unfair for a character or certain player to feel as if the light should constantly be on them, you know? Like, whether it be playing a victim or much like you said, always being the set hero, it's unfair to those who are also a part of the story when no focus is given to their character. Roleplaying is no fun when you don't give EVERYONE a chance to do their own thing, have their own say and work their own personal ideas and such into the plot!

 

[Saccharine Cyanide]

For example:
I can't stand when a roleplayer is constantly making their character a victim. Of literally everything. This is literally their only character trait, being a victim. Okay, maybe it isn't their only character trait, but it is close. Then they try to make everyone else in the roleplay feel bad for their character and want to be their character's friend.


On that note, let's talk about tragic backstories. Don't get me wrong, I love a good tragic backstory. I hate when that backstory is basically the character development. I hate when the character has no draw backs from something that would cause so much emotional trauma that they would be seeing a psychiatrist for years. I take that back, they cry... Sometimes. But other than that they are pretty okay. Basically, I hate when people use a tragic backstory because they want other characters to pity their own, and/or they were too lazy to come up with something creative.


*Ahem* well, wasn't that a rant? Now, let me hear your rants about rps!

The only time I like it when a character is constantly a victim, is when they're victimized by their own negative actions.


Likewise, a tragic past is interesting when the character themself is the cause of the tragedy. You get all kinds of juicy things like guilt and regret.

 

[Melpomene]

[QUOTE="Saccharine Cyanide]The only time I like it when a character is constantly a victim, is when they're victimized by their own negative actions.
Likewise, a tragic past is interesting when the character themself is the cause of the tragedy. You get all kinds of juicy things like guilt and regret.

[/QUOTE]
I agree, that makes for a far more interesting character. I actually don't mind victims of drug abuse in rps, because they are putting the drugs into their own bodies. They did it to themselves, no one forced the drugs on them. Now, I also only like drug abuse/mental illness when it is handled correctly (Do your research damn it! It isn't that hard!). Anyways, thanks for replying! Sorry for my rambling!

 

[Saccharine Cyanide]

I agree, that makes for a far more interesting character. I actually don't mind victims of drug abuse in rps, because they are putting the drugs into their own bodies. They did it to themselves, no one forced the drugs on them. Now, I also only like drug abuse/mental illness when it is handled correctly (Do your research damn it! It isn't that hard!). Anyways, thanks for replying! Sorry for my rambling!

Hmm...with drug abuse, I don't know if they deserve it so much. There isn't a satisfying fall from grace; no sense of hubris. It's a bit different from someone who's victimized by something like pride or greed, I think. Drug victims are more sympathetic.


Ooh yes, it also bothers me when people are inaccurate about mental illness and neurodivergence. I know it's been said before by other people, too. I'm personally neuroatypical, so it's especially grating. On the other hand, I don't want people to not try to write neuroatypical characters because they're afraid they'll get it wrong. It's a conundrum.

 

[call me rae]

Mostly two things make me just turn away flat out from a roleplay.


Well three but the third one is against site rules anyway so isn't relevant to RPN.


Anyway people who alter the plot without warning. Like they want "surprise plot twists" to add spice when all it usually does is just derail the plot for their own gain. I just can't.


People who use OOC or character sheet information to give their characters an edge.


Nope. I just wont. You do that once and I'm gone.

 

[Melpomene]

[QUOTE="Saccharine Cyanide]Hmm...with drug abuse, I don't know if they deserve it so much. There isn't a satisfying fall from grace; no sense of hubris. It's a bit different from someone who's victimized by something like pride or greed, I think. Drug victims are more sympathetic.
Ooh yes, it also bothers me when people are inaccurate about mental illness and neurodivergence. I know it's been said before by other people, too. I'm personally neuroatypical, so it's especially grating. On the other hand, I don't want people to not try to write neuroatypical characters because they're afraid they'll get it wrong. It's a conundrum.

[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I won't jump on someone because they got a few facts wrong, but I at least need to see they put effort into writing a mentally ill character, like they actually have an idea about how it works, and how people with it tend to act.


Like, I have seen a lot of schizophrenia when it comes to rps, and a lot then just made their characters have hallucinations at that was about the long and short of it. They didn't have any of the usual schizophrenic behavior, like disorganization, social isolation, etc. Once again, that stuff could be found with basic research. Anyways, I don't know if I am overreacting or not. I get that it is just Rps, but I feel like for heavier subject matters like drugs and mental illnesses, one needs to at least research a little bit, at least try to get it correct.

 

[Ammokkx]

I've already said it once before, but public shipping. I'm not going to mention I'm so against it, I'm not going to take away your fun, but hot-diggidy-damn what is even the point? It forces you into a situation where you're writing for one specific thing and you're willingly removing your creative freedom to have a character fall in love with anyone, not to mention it feels much less organic when it's planned. People aren't created to fall in love with each other, and when they do, there's a good reason for it. Shipping character X with Y in a group roleplay with both parties agreeing to it, I can't say I'll stop them. But that won't make me feel any less icky about it. Why can't e just go at it with an open mind and find out that one character had feelings for another about halfway through because of X reason? Wouldn't it be much cuter if they confessed out of the blue after a bit of a struggle with themselves in the IC?


All of the above only applies to group RPs. 1x1 is a different beast.

 

[Frederick]

Incomprehensibly violent characters. Like they took the "Some men just want to watch the world burn" quote and decided that this is a valid character sheet.


When someone goes so crazy with their BB-code that you can't even read it.


And I also agree with the inaccurate mental disorder thing. I once tried out a mental hospital rp, and got stuck with someone roleplaying split personality disorder/schizophrenia in the most horrendously offensive way possible.

 

[Grey]

Don't we already have a thread for this?

 

[Frederick]

Don't we already have a thread for this?

Ah, yes, I shall complain there as well.

 

[Melpomene]

Don't we already have a thread for this?

We do? Sorry I didn't know (':3) forgive me?

 

[InsanEleven]

Currently my victim character redirected a bomb into his own a crew to save a hall full of students. Does that count as their own negative actions? He actually was a fairly well balanced military lieutenant and spaceship pilot before.


On a sidenote, I think the one trope I hate the most isn't so much with being the victim, but the opposite of that. You know the type; no development, and it's always themselves as the hero of the day. I'd rather deal with a victim character than a hero that rushes into everything and ruins the flow of the RP. You can choose not to save the princess, but you can't exactly resurrect the big bad monster to give the rest of the people a chance.