Encouraging Descriptions

We will file suggestions here that did not make the cut. Don't expect detailed responses, but the most common reasons are:

  • implementing the suggestion is impractical, or too much work for the gain
  • the suggestion is thematically against our design philosophy
  • the suggestion is too detailed/low-level
    Keep your suggestions broad and focused on RP benefits, please, not detailed suggestions of how to fix everything.

Moderators: Active Admins, Forum Moderators, Active DMs, Contributors, Area Developers, Artist/Animator, Suggestion Moderators

Locked
yellowcateyes
Project Lead
Project Lead
Posts: 1445
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2014 2:02 am

Encouraging Descriptions

Post by yellowcateyes »

Increase RPR tick by +1 EXP if your PC has a non-standard description of 100 characters or more.
User avatar
IndifferentPerson
Posts: 649
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:46 am
Location: 44th most violent city in the world.

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by IndifferentPerson »

what if i just spam my descript box with random characters
User avatar
The Rambling Midget
Arelith Supporter
Arelith Supporter
Posts: 3295
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 2:02 am
Location: Wandering Aimlessly in the Wiki

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by The Rambling Midget »

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
The Beginner's Guide to Factions
New to Arelith? Read this!
This is not a single player game. -Mithreas
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. -Winston Churchill
User avatar
Twily
Arelith Supporter
Arelith Supporter
Posts: 1121
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 3:30 pm

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by Twily »

It's a good idea in theory, but as was pointed out it could be tricky to actually apply while avoiding potential cheeseballery(which would give DMs more work).

Also, TRM, What the heck did you type?


Google Translate says:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it. But who has the charms of pleasure by desire, that avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure. These cases are they can not foresee, are upon fault quae workshop to leave gently breath this is your troubles.
User avatar
Queen Titania
Community Manager
Community Manager
Posts: 3443
Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2014 6:44 pm
Location: The Seeliecourt singing with Tinkerbell

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by Queen Titania »

The suggestion is very likely not mechanically possible.

Quantity isn't quality, and while there are blank descriptions, and standard descriptions that may not add anything to the examiner, there are descriptions that I find far too lengthy, devoting needless attention to a minor detail, or worse, details about sexual attractiveness. I'd rather see blanks and standards than those. There are also shorter descriptions that are as succinct as 100 character plus descriptions.

The suggestion is a nice idea, it just doesn't seem feasible because it can't assess some of the other points I and others have brought up
Please don't feed my sister.
User avatar
Rattus_norvegicus99
Arelith Supporter
Arelith Supporter
Posts: 1059
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:23 am
Location: EST - USA

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by Rattus_norvegicus99 »

DM Titania wrote: Quantity isn't quality,
Amen.
John 3:16

Skype Arelith.rat
Seven Sons of Sin
Posts: 2198
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 3:40 am

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by Seven Sons of Sin »

While I like it, I once used standard description in a disguise character to pretend I was a different player.

Mind games.
Previous:
Oskarr of Procampur, Ro Irokon, Nahal Azyen, Nelehein Afsana (of Impiltur), Vencenti Medici, Nizram ali Balazdam, (Roznik) Naethandreil
yellowcateyes
Project Lead
Project Lead
Posts: 1445
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2014 2:02 am

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by yellowcateyes »

Oh it's very mechanically possible. Whether it's a good idea or not is something else entirely.

Generally, Arelith has trended towards giving players the benefit of a doubt in offering them creative descriptive tools. Exhibit A: Customizing and placing fixtures. This was unheard of in the early server days. And, for a long time, fixtures automatically added [Name of Player] in front of its customized name, just so that DMs could track down the creators of horrible abominations.

The fact that [Name of Player] was removed showed that players were responsible enough with fixtures and item customization that it was no longer needed.

I'd like to think that, similarly, players would be encouraged to fill in an actual description rather than put in a bunch of random characters for the sake of that extra experience point. In most instances, blank descriptions are simply indications of a lack of effort. Giving a bit of incentive will encourage more players to make that effort.

As for wit in brevity, that goes without saying. A hundred characters is very short, however, something along the lines of a single paragraph. The exact number, of course, is not as important as the underlying suggestion.
Dinosaur Space Program is my working partner on Arelith-related projects. If my inbox is full or I take a while to get back to you, feel free to PM them questions or concerns.
User avatar
Anime Sword Fighter
Posts: 582
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 10:47 am

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by Anime Sword Fighter »

Twily wrote: Also, TRM, What the heck did you type?

never use Google Translate for Latin

learn to translate it yourself

peasant
DirtyDeity
Posts: 240
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 9:32 pm

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by DirtyDeity »

If you want to encourage people to get a description, exaggerate out the parts they have below-average in *looks*. That'll make them feel bad, and they'll write something less horrid!
User avatar
Mithreas
Emeritus Admin
Emeritus Admin
Posts: 2555
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2014 3:09 am

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by Mithreas »

It's possible, but I'm not doing it.
Twily wrote: Also, TRM, What the heck did you type?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorem_ipsum :)
xkcd.com is best viewed with Netscape Navigator 4.0 or below on a Pentium 3±1 emulated in Javascript on an Apple IIGS at a screen resolution of 1024x1.For security reasons, please leave caps lock on while browsing.
SwampFoot
Posts: 255
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2014 4:20 am

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by SwampFoot »

Mithreas wrote:It's possible, but I'm not doing it.
Kudos to that. Mostly my descriptions evolve over the life of the character adding bits according to what he may be carrying or insignias of factions he might have joined. An XP bonus for a description would probably cause me to write a poorly thought out back-story that would feel forced and add little to my actual RP.
User avatar
Thake
Posts: 331
Joined: Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:12 am

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by Thake »

@ Topic

I find short descriptions best. 4-8 brief sentences that give an idea about what's noticeable first glance.

I don't want to read about the two hundred reflections that one of fifty shiny shirt buttons do when the sunlight refracts and breaks..


Coreybush11 wrote:
Twily wrote: Also, TRM, What the heck did you type?

never use Google Translate for Latin

learn to translate it yourself

peasant
It's a filler text to demonstrate the graphic elements of a document. Then, it's nonsensical, improper Latin.
Mithreas wrote:PC deaths give my life meaning, people.
yellowcateyes
Project Lead
Project Lead
Posts: 1445
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2014 2:02 am

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by yellowcateyes »

Thake wrote:@ Topic

I find short descriptions best. 4-8 brief sentences that give an idea about what's noticeable first glance.

Fun fact: Your post is 425 characters without spaces.

If you can write 4-8 sentences without surpassing 100 characters, you're either writing haikus or talking like Hodor.

Example of a 100 character composition:
This is a human male of so-so height with so-so colored hair and so-so complexion. His eyes are that color. He likes swords.
User avatar
Barradoor
Arelith Silver Supporter
Arelith Silver Supporter
Posts: 443
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:49 am
Location: Tuscon AZ, help I need friends

Re: Encouraging Descriptions

Post by Barradoor »

*looks at Amacceam's 556 word, 3120 characters, character description, looks down*

(that's taking out the things to pronounce her name; (Ama-see-uhm) the things labeleing *her armor* and the one line of *Her vesture* It's nice, yo.)

*cough* I like it....
Mithreas wrote:get good
eters wrote:I will try to resonate with you in a way you can understand
Peppermint wrote:if Barradoor is the voice of reason you know things have taken a horrible turn
Barradoor wrote:
!!HIGH LEVEL MECHANICS BELOW!!
Locked