Some of the games I have joined or looked have a list of things to answer in your rtj. It would be helpful to have that list on the page I am writing the rtj in.

As it stands now, I need to write the questions down on paper so I can look at them while writing the rtj.

Granted, desktop users can just use multiple windows or tabs, but I cant, and I figure mobile users cant, well maybe the newer ones can, idk, Im not wealthy enough for newer stuff.

Dont know how much desire there is but I find it irritating.

I usually copy the rtj, and fill answers after each question / list item. Or you can just write everything after the copied text and then remove it when you're done.

I think it would be really cool if the "Request To Join" link would populate a PM with set content.  That would definitely get a +1 from me.

The work-around is to copy/paste the RTJ info into the PM and then answer them there.  It can be difficult on some devices (my Android phone is next to impossible to do this without it constantly highlighting things I don't want to change), but on my iPod/iPad it's a breeze.  This way you don't need multiple tabs or windows.

Except I cant C&P at all. Though my device is old, but still.

No copy/paste?!?  O.O

Daaaaang.  I like no-frills computing, but that's a little too frill-less for me.

I still like the idea of an RTJ that is pre-filled with GM text that needs to be answered.  That would solve your problem and be especially good for Adult games to make sure that people supply the age statements.

+1

I think this is a great idea, as it would save a lot of time.

+1 from me.  :>

I think most GMs would specify requirements that potential players need to address, so it'd be nice if they preloaded on the RTJ request - sure most of us can copy and paste, but it'd be good not to have to.

I envisage an RTJ template set up by GM (in the same way we have character templates) which automatically loads on the first post in the RTJ thread.  As Evil Empryss says, great for those adult statements.

My only concern with a template is the potential to annoy those who aren't actually doing a RTJ, which I'm sure does happen!

As a GM i like to see if potential players actually read the RTJ thread. More often then not theres a 'i got this awesome char' post and its obvious they haven't even seen the rtj thread. I dont think a standard rtj template will contain all the info i want someone to have read before RTJ-ing.

+0 if this would be a setting the GM could turn on/off
-1 if it would be a standard feature.

This is an interesting idea. Could be a nifty little feature.



I send RTJs to ask questions, certainly. But I suppose it'd be easier to ignore/delete the template content than it would be to add it, yeah?

When I say "template", I mean one the GM creates specific to their game, not something populated by RPOL.  Like you mentioned, that wouldn't be as functional.

Personally I was thinking of just seeing a special post under the normal text box (like how you can see recent posts in a thread you are replying to) with that special post being a list of what is needed in the rtj. Some games ask for a secret word or they wont accept. The secret word being found somewhere in the intro/rtj/houserules thread. I would expect that to work, particularly if when a player goes to fill out an rtj, a box shows up going "what is the secret word?" suddenly they notice they need to go read something, and if they still dont, its another rtj to ignore.

You mean if RTJ is being used as a Private Message ... perhaps we need both RTJ and PM, then, rather than making RTJ do double duty ? <g,d,r>


I didn't envisage an RTJ template replacing the RTJ thread - in fact the thread would be completely separate ... the idea (at least the way I see it) is that once the prospective player hits the RTJ button, the GM could have the PM populated with all the questions that must be answered for the RTJ to be considered ... that is if the GM has set up an RTJ template - it'd be entirely optional for them. :>

I don't know. I think it's really up to the GM, what they're looking for. The age statement part on an adult game could be really handy in a templatish format though because it's a bit of a hassle having to check the wording, and because players often write it slightly differently, and you have to push them to re-write it at times. But I can also see the merit in having them write it themselves when applying to a game. I think it would be very handy to have an age statement 'yes or no' button.

If it's available for the GM to just "fill-in-the-blank" for what gets put into the RTJ, then I think this would work for everyone, as those who didn't want anything could just leave it blank or say "go look at this or that" or "don't forget this" and the potential player could.

In reply to adrasteia1 (msg # 14):

There is already an age statement button though.  If you set the game to Adult then, yes, you automatically need age statements.  :)

Exactly - template solution would be completely optional - GM can put in whatever THEY require in their RTJ, or choose to leave it blank.

I'm going -1 on this idea.

As a player, I like to know what's required of me in the RTJ before I begin to write it. I don't want to click on the RTJ button and discover that the GM wants stuff I'm not prepared to create at that point. If other people are unable to cut/paste the way I do, I'm sorry, but I usually take all of that info to a Word document to complete it and save it before I submit.

As a GM, I don't want to have to work around a set template that may not address what I'm looking for. I also don't want to have to do my RTJ thread and then port all of that over to yet another location. And I want the RTJs saved to PM, especially if they involve an Adult age statement, so that I don't have to keep track of something else.

As an observer of Rpol, I am skeptical that enough GMs will find this satisfactory and/or take the time to use it to make it worthwhile. I'd suggest that 'secret word' GMs intention is to make their passwords sufficiently obscure to be certain a player has really paid attention to the pre-application threads, rather than just scanning them because they know there's a trick to the RTJ.

I think what adrasteia1 is referring to is once the game was marked adult, then in the RTJ there would be a "yes or no" option where you only had to click a button to say, yes, I'm an adult.

My own opinion on that would be that it might make it a little too easy to cheat - writing up the age statement is a little more effort, plus you have to put your birthdate in it.


In reply to Gaffer:

If the template was set up so that each individual GM could put what they want into a text box, then the preset wouldn't be an issue, and as for not knowing until you click, I think most GMs would still have the thread, and even if they didn't then you could simply back out of that page if you didn't wish to do the application after reading over it.

How about a RTJ message that sits above the compose screen, rather than a template?

I think that might work for ease of writing, so long as there was nothing that needed to be copy/pasted.

Im fine with that

Player may have questions/ideas etc that don't fit a template.

If someone doesn't do at least a little work they probably wouldn't work out anyway.

---

Though honestly... I just open up two tabs in the browser. fine for desktops not so fine for handhelds.
This message was last edited by the user at 15:29, Thu 31 Oct 2013.

In reply to BBR & PrettyBirdie1:

I meant what PrettyBirdie was suggesting. Maybe a message window that says 'I, username, am __ years of age and able to view adult material in my place of residence', that they can then click yes or no on.

If you wanted to, you could have that and leave the 'age' field blank, or one for a birthdate, so the person is required to enter it. That way it would require a bit more effort than saying yes or no, but it would also be more streamlined for GMs than hunting down the correct wording and checking each person has made their age statement in the right way (which sometimes needs correcting). This would also allow for searchability and comparison on the database, so you could automatically check that the details match when the person sends in the form.

I'm not really sure what I think about RTJ templates. Maybe have some optional sections on it, that a GM can choose by clicking checkboxes? Then a GM could perhaps personalise them, so that when a player goes to fill out the RTJ form, they get a tailored version? If that's a bit too complex, then maybe just the means to tailor sections would be really useful.
This message was last edited by the user at 15:43, Thu 31 Oct 2013.

Showing a message is what I was trying to suggest, perhaps even the op message from the rtj thread.

As for age statements, I agree with writing them rather then checking a box. Checking a box can easily become something done without thought, writing a complete is not. Also only age OR dob is required, and I dont give my dob on the web, so I will only give age, if the gm doesnt like it she can always say no. As far as I know when I last check the rules, the exact wording has flexibility to it as long as the required age is presented as being above the limit for their region and higher then 18 or the ability to determine age( aka dob) as being such.

As for rtj templates, I would not want a template, because sometimes I want to ask the gm questions before deciding whether to actually try to join.
This message was last edited by the user at 19:34, Thu 31 Oct 2013.

I think the suggestion of a template was meant to be not a "fill-in-the-blank" but rather, text that is automatically placed into the box. Just like the:


There would be:

Perhaps, but the rtj treads arent always like that, sometimes they include limits, or lists, etc, things there are not always "fill in the blank" and displaying the op post of the rtj thread makes it easy on the gm, since they just write all once, check the box that it is the rtj, then done.

Right. In the same way you can put whatever you want beneath the "reply to" you could put whatever you wanted, even deleting words they said. It would be like just regular text within the box you type in. Not fill in the blank.

In reply to PrettyBirdie1 (msg # 27):

Not to mention being able to remind people joining adult games right there what the exact verbiage of the age statement should be.  I've had to kick enough of them back even when the RTJ thread specifically states what it should be that this would be a good indicator to me if I wanted someone in the game.  Making a mistake when going from a thread to the RTJ is one thing; not being able to copy something sitting right in front of them would be a deal breaker for joining.

Perfick! Same functionality as a template and/or makes it easier for users to copy and paste if needed (eg an age state,emt for adult).

Also if the GM puts all the RTJ info into that message, it solves a (admittedly very minor) problem with RTJs either falling off the bottom of the thread count, or taking up space at the top if tagged as a Notice. If all goes according to plan, then hopefully GMs won't be recruiting too often/existing players don't need to see that RTJ info any more.

Prospective players just click on RTJ to see the requirements above the compose screen ... which is better than clicking to open an RTJ thread cos you're already in the compose screen if you do decide the game is for you.

And of course, if the GM doesn't want to change, they don't need to populate the RTJ message, they just continue on as is (assumedly with an RTJ thread in their game).

I like ! :>

This seemed like a really useful little feature. Have you thought any more about possibly implementing it sometime in the future?

Maybe it does, but if they're not RTJing to my game (or at least putting my age statement out in their first post) I probably won't be answering many questions. If I need to ask any questions myself, I'd rather delete the autofill than I would to deal with copy pasta and having multiple tabs up, any of which could decide randomly to timeout at random. I often have a blank page when I have to copy crap.

-1 to an annoying template.

+1 for a message that sits above compose screen.

Thought I did this ages ago!

It's been added to the beta site for testing.

I'd +1 for a message that sits above the compose screen, Although I would personally like the option to add it as a quote if for no reason than to preserve formatting.
This message was last edited by the user at 02:27, Fri 20 June 2014.

Question... will this RTJ text be available 'after' completing the RTJ and having been added to the game?  [if you wanted to go back and re-read something?  (such as being able to have a link to display it in the Game Information page. or even having it displayed for players underneath the Game Introduction page for players.

You could potentially have it display in a box under the introduction in two cases.  (one the player is in the game already, or the second instance would be if the Requesting Players flag is set on, then anyone (not banned) would see it below the introduction.  (And yes, obviously, it would also appear above the post where a non-added member starts a RTJ message thread.)

+1 for a message that sits above compose screen.


For people saying "but I want to know before I click RTJ":
Firstly, if you don't like the requirements when the RTJ shows them, you're not committed to submitting the RTJ. You can walk away.
Secondly, GMs are not likely to miss out creating a public thread about what they want from players. An RTJ thread will likely contain more information for you, and the RTJ message box just the information the GM wants you to give.
I foresee more people failing to use the feature than those failing to create a public thread about how to apply.

Spiffy!  I like the idea of the message above the composing screen rather than a pre-generated post.

-1


I have a super old, Nokia brick style phone. I can't c/p or use the dice roller or do much else besides read and write posts.

I wouldn't use this feature on my old phone because the screen is small. It would be have to be like a form with entry blanks. Posting on RPOL with my phone is tedious enough.

If this feature were available for iPads and laptops, I probably still would skip it. It would be easier to c/p and write at my leisure with lots of screen space.

When I'm gaming with my phone and I find a game that I must join, then I make time to get online with a computer.

In reply to Eggy (msg # 38):

Okay, so why a -1 and not 0?
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