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01:21, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Poor RTJ responses by GMs.

Posted by Azraile
Azraile
member, 342 posts
AIM: Azraile
Dislexic
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 04:20
  • msg #146

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

I spent hours working on stuff for a game typing out documents and various RtP stuff all with plenty of encouragement from the GM and after all this time after finishing the charter he deleted everything and said do it again

When I protested he laughed joked and said I should have been more concise.......

The IRL equivalent of sitting there and nodding in agreement to everything a person says about there char, acting like you read it over, and let them work on it all day.... and when when they hand it to you... nod... and burn it and say do it again.


.....................................


yah........ If I was allowed to share the name I would >.>
This message was last edited by the user at 04:25, Thu 24 July 2014.
steelsmiter
member, 1078 posts
GURPS, FFd6, Pathfinder
NO FREEFORM!
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 04:26
  • msg #147

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

Wow, that's terrible.
Azraile
member, 343 posts
AIM: Azraile
Dislexic
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 04:35
  • msg #148

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

Yah I'm so plantained off.

Don't help it was a good sounding idea, though seamed it was because it was bassed off a better idea lol

And before that some one had an awesome idea about a KotE game that would run across history but he apparently didn't like my energy or lack of formality in the RtJ and don't want to have anything to do with me. Even though like I talked about I only gave him the char concept, informal posting, and quick short posts from a phone to go on. That is not enough to judge a person on.... x.x

I would like to think anyone that looked at the game I got running that they would like what they see, the players all have anyway. Only got three games, one is just starting and the other I should have done an interest check first on before I wasted all the time working on it.
This message was last edited by a moderator, as it was against the ToU, at 17:28, Thu 24 July 2014.
willvr
member, 441 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 04:35
  • msg #149

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

That's pretty foul. I will argue for a GM's right to choose RTJs however he pleases; as long as it's transparent though.
steelsmiter
member, 1079 posts
GURPS, FFd6, Pathfinder
NO FREEFORM!
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 04:44
  • msg #150

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

willvr:
That's pretty foul. I will argue for a GM's right to choose RTJs however he pleases; as long as it's transparent though.

Agreed. Nothing was upfront about what that GM did. Like at all. It's almost like Azraile was stalked on comm chat, and information posted there was held against him.
gladiusdei
member, 184 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 05:00
  • msg #151

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

your rtj posts ARE all an ST can judge you on.  It's on you to make them count.  If you come across as unwilling to accept alterations to character ideas, or have a character concept that seems very outlandish or lends itself to power gaming, the gm is well within his rights to simply say no thanks.  Expecting them to basically give you the benefit of the doubt if they don't know anything else about you is going too far.
Azraile
member, 344 posts
AIM: Azraile
Dislexic
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 05:27
  • msg #152

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

Eh the other game seams to just be a whole mess of a LOT of missundstandings, the KotE one... not the god game with the delete everything you have worked on for the past 11 days.
Jarodemo
member, 635 posts
Vestibulum nescio latine.
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 05:41
  • msg #153

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

In reply to Azraile (msg # 146):

What a smeghead! While I support the right of any GM to decide how they select players for their game I don't see the need to be a jerk about it and belittle someone just for the fun of it.

Hopefully he/she will treat many others like that and then suddenly realise they have no players who want to be in their games. They are sure to get blacklisted a lot and their reputation will spread, even if they can't be named publicly in forums.
This message was last edited by the user at 05:42, Thu 24 July 2014.
Azraile
member, 345 posts
AIM: Azraile
Dislexic
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 05:48
  • msg #154

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

well he's on my list for sure... and guess I am on his not that I care lol
PsychoJester
member, 343 posts
Why so serious?
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 05:52
  • msg #155

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

Don't let it get you down. GMs like him are a dime a dozen.
Jarodemo
member, 637 posts
Vestibulum nescio latine.
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 08:49
  • msg #156

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

In reply to PsychoJester (msg # 155):

True. The A&E a lot of bad GMs out there, just as there are a lot of bad players. Finding good ones is the key!

Keep kissing those frogs!!!
Tsuchigumo
member, 22 posts
Hiding Underground
Dirty, Grey Silk
Sun 3 Aug 2014
at 23:09
  • msg #157

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

Having taken into consideration my mistakes from last year, nowadays I look at three things when deciding on who is going to be in my games.

1. Is the character concept something I want to see developed? Am I, as an observer, interested in what will happen to this character?  With all the time I'll be spending with the players' characters, I need like the players' characters as much as the players do.

2. Do I get along with the player in our communications?  Do we have a natural rapport, or is speaking with the player a chore?  Generally, I like to speak to each person who has sent me a RTJ, to know more about their character, or to help their characters better fit into the setting.  It's easy to figure out who is going to min-max and who's going to be a stick in the mud during this process-as well as who is going to be fun to play the game with.

3. Does the player want to tell a good story?  How collaborative are they in the RTJ process?  If the player isn't willing to help tell the story I want to tell, then they belong in a different game.  And I encourage people who don't get into my games to join together and create their own games.  Here's a bunch of people who want to play X setting, why not?
OceanLake
member, 832 posts
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 00:01
  • msg #158

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

If the GM I'm applying to don't synch for whatever reason, I move along.
FergoTheBrute
member, 41 posts
Guys:No Shirt, No Service
Gals:No Shirt, No Charge
Thu 7 Aug 2014
at 22:38
  • msg #159

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

Now I will be honest, when I saw this threads title I was excited to come in here and share my feelings or a relatively recent issue between myself and a GM through a RTJ. However, after reading the first page and some of the seventh I got to thinking. Why come in here and post something negative that will likely not have an impact on said GM or on me other than allowing myself to vent.

So I come here asking for help instead. I am the type of player that wishes to fill out a group, be that cleric the group needs or that skill monkey, and make the group functioning. That isn't to say I don't produce characters I will enjoy but rather I evolve with the interaction of others rather than posting a several page long RTJ. Now I have often lost out to other players with no input or suggestion of editing to my concept by the GM. Thus I continue on using the same method and accept my failures with my success.

So under my circumstances GMs I ask you, what should I do to increase my success. Should I stop trying to improve a game at character creation and instead be self-centered in my concept. When you all are looking at the RTJ do you wish to see a character concept multiple paragraphs for personality and background. If this is what you all want I shutter at the thought. Not because it is something beyond me but rather because I create character for each game to best reflect the theme. While I can only assume that anyone else that post that much is either A) putting way too time into a RTJ they might not get picked for or B) copy and pasting old material with little or no attention to the campaigns theme.

Note: I by no means believe I am the best writer or that my grammar is perfect. Probably far from it, but I try and do my best.
This message was last edited by the user at 22:47, Thu 07 Aug 2014.
willvr
member, 452 posts
Thu 7 Aug 2014
at 22:42
  • msg #160

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

I'm not a fan of the writing sample. I'm not a fan of characters created before hand. What I am a fan of is concepts; and I choose based on which are the 6 or so best concepts that will work together well. This isn't a multiple-paragraph requirement; it's usually only a couple of lines.

Having said this, I run games which always have multiple requests; so I need to draw the line somewhere. If I was running unpopular games, I'd be a lot more open. But it does no good in 3.5 for example, to be flexible, when I know that I'll have at least 2 requests for each of the main character types.
Lord Caladin
member, 181 posts
It all about the journey
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 03:23
  • msg #161

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

In reply to FergoTheBrute (msg # 159):

I think as a GM I would say your doing it right already. Just your question on this thread says to me you have what it takes.

I would not do that much work to join a game. I only say that because to many have failed for me as a player. As a GM I just want an active player that will stick with it or drop early on.
pyrosorc
member, 52 posts
GM and player
Exalted specialist
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 12:15
  • msg #162

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

In reply to FergoTheBrute (msg # 159):

It's going to be hit and miss with your sort of approach.  If you literally give me nothing then I'm not going to pick you.  If you say that you're happy to fill in whatever the party needs, then I'm going to be looking at the general way you're talking to decide whether you're going to communicate well with the other players and fit in.  The problem is that if I get decent applications from a full group who don't have a 'gap', I don't have many reasons to pick the gap-filler.

What I'd probably suggest is that you outline 2 or 3 concepts, very briefly, that you'd quite like to play, then mention that you're adaptable to fit the party.  That gives me a better idea of who I'm talking to and still gives you a shot at getting into my game if there are applicants for all sorts of roles.
Tileira
member, 382 posts
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 13:48
  • msg #163

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

In reply to pyrosorc (msg # 162):

I agree with pyrosorc. It's good that you want to adapt to the group rather be specifically one thing, but that means GMs have no idea what you're like as a player. They haven't got anything to make a judgement on.

I understand that is can be easier and more satisfying to build your character based on their partners, but the RTJ is how GMs figure out whether you're a good fir for their game.

Giving two or three concepts and explaining that you're happy to fill any role in the party at least shows something about the way you think when it comes to creating and playing a character.
FergoTheBrute
member, 43 posts
Guys:No Shirt, No Service
Gals:No Shirt, No Charge
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 14:01
  • msg #164

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

pyrosorc:
If you literally give me nothing then I'm not going to pick you.

What I'd probably suggest is that you outline 2 or 3 concepts, very briefly, that you'd quite like to play, then mention that you're adaptable to fit the party.  That gives me a better idea of who I'm talking to and still gives you a shot at getting into my game if there are applicants for all sorts of roles.


By no means do I leave the RTJ blank, I filled it all out with the expected material (name/race/class/personality/background). But before that I will write a short message thanking the GM for the opportunity and then that if my character concept isn't exactly what the game needs but there is another spot I could adjust my RTJ. I think it is key to setting up conversation with the GM so you can possibly get more information about the game than is previously posted. The last game I went for I posted two separate characters and even was open to writing up a third one if the first two were niches were taken.

The GMs responded that it looked great. Then a few days later he sent me a message that I didn't make the cut. Like, come on you can't say someone's work is great then drop them like a wet newspaper without at least explaining why.
Sir_Chivalry
member, 174 posts
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 15:48
  • msg #165

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

In reply to FergoTheBrute (msg # 164):

Sure you can. Your work was great, however there were six slots and six other people who gave me the characters I felt would best work. That's implied in "Your work was great/you didn't make the cut".
FergoTheBrute
member, 44 posts
Guys:No Shirt, No Service
Gals:No Shirt, No Charge
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 17:41
  • msg #166

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

In reply to Sir_Chivalry (msg # 165):

By 'you can't' I mean 'you shouldn't'. Obvious because someone did it makes it possible.

If a person puts quality effort into writing up a RTJ you should say more than "Thanks for coming, now shove off." That's not saying everyone that puts a good RJT means they should be in your game. But it should be common courtesy to put an effort in relaying why someone of note was not selected. If not for the continuing fact that more often than not people back out within the first few weeks of a game starting. It is always good to have secondary players lined up. Offer those players to watch (become lurkers) and have an opportunity to play if a spot opens.
Sir_Chivalry
member, 175 posts
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 18:39
  • msg #167

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

In reply to FergoTheBrute (msg # 166):

Common courtesy would be accepting you didn't get in and politely leaving. The GM owes you nothing unless he expressing led you to believe you were getting in, which is not what "your stuff looks good" means at all.
Lord Caladin
member, 182 posts
It all about the journey
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 19:12
  • msg #168

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

In reply to FergoTheBrute (msg # 166):

I understand you feeling the way you do, but you shouldn't judge on your standards of how others should be. Their game, their way, and Yes its the high way if they want it that way.

I'm not that way but many are. I kind of feel it's a dead topic, I don't think anyone reading this would change their mind, either way (good, bad or indifferent)based on the comments so far.

BUT hopefully someone will think it through next time when they give a reply to a RTJ :)
DarkLightHitomi
member, 655 posts
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 19:14
  • msg #169

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

On the contrary, it is courteous to acknowledge someone's efforts for you, and an RTJ is for the GM considering it has to follow the RTJ requirements and such.

It is rude to have a fit over someone else's lack of courtesy though.

Thus the GM should acknowledge RTJs, but also players should just walk away if the GM doesn't. Any kind of conflict over it will only make things worse and basically burns any bridges that may still have been built later.
Merevel
member, 648 posts
Gaming :-)
Very unlucky
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 19:38
  • msg #170

Re: Poor RTJ responses by GMs

Funny thing, almost every time I have had to remind a gm that I had an rtj, I got accepted. Coincidence? Probably.
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