Introducing the IC Area

[ZK]

So, what is a role-play?
'To assume or act out a particular role', says the free dictionary.
Do we role-play here on NB? Yes we do, but only to a certain extent. Why aren't we role-playing like champs? Why indeed...
There's a difference between getting the message across with wild gestures and actually using sign-language, you dig?
What we do is not really role-playing. Yes, we do assume the shape of another character, but apart from a few, rare lines of texts here and there, the average 'role-player' on NB just plays himself/herself as a Ninja. It's that simple.
Why do we do this? Is it because nobody really wants to dive into the world of Naruto in the form of another person? We even have the Ninja World, a section where IC (In Character - refers to active role-play where the user acts as another person) should be mandatory. Expected. Yet, the Ninja World is a collection of random appearances, boot-licking, jokes, insults and power-play.
Why's that? Why haven't a few people just started role-playing?
Well, some have. We see a few examples of IC role-play in the Ninja World, but it's fights with a bit of dialogue in between the moves, nothing that develops their characters orserves any real purpose. Furthermore the fights are always between friends and comrades, many of the same generation or the same power-level. The Ninja World is, as it stands, a prime example of the power-gap between many members.
Again, why is it so?
I believe that it's because of the consequences actual role-play has. On NB most people depend on others for one thing or another, which discourages them from trying something daring or exciting in the Ninja World. Nobody wants to look bad, get insulted, get thrown out of their village, etcetera. Your actions have consequences. What you do in the Ninja World follows you through the entire site and beyond.
Furthermore, the lack of actual IC role-play also puts a damper on the individual group and member's ability to create something epic. Even the organized wars have become bad as of late. The group wars where a good spark, but they lacked intensity because they went beyond the Ninja world when they got serious. And when they didn't get serious, the threads turned into jokes.
The active role-play here on NB has the potential to create its own history.
That's why I propose that the Ninja World be turned into an IC Zone.

What does this entail? What's an IC Zone?
An IC Zone is an area where every poster and participant is required to be in character. Off-topic posts, lol-RP, etcetera, is strictly forbidden.
The whole point is to turn the Ninja World into the Las Vegas of NarutoBase, following the concept of 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas'.
Instead of being your account and having two biographies to play with, the IC zone forces a role-player to assume the shape of his biography, which has many advantages.
First of all; betraying a friend, backstabbing, spying, rioting, alliances, all these things become bolded elements of the new Ninja World. Where before a misstep or the sign of betrayal would get your account removed from your village, the new Ninja World restricts it to your biography. It's the essence of role-play. There are no hard feelings or grudges between the 'players' themselves, only their biographies. Best friends outside the Ninja World can be arch-enemies in it.
All it requires is that the participants are able to see the difference between not acting and acting. Turning the Ninja World into an IC Zone makes that compulsory. It would even serve as a great training-area for those who wish to become better role-players dialogue-wise.

Rubbish, Zero, what about Cannon biographies? We can't have six Kakashi's running around, can we? And what about the villages themselves, huh? If you role-play a betrayal and your biography gets kicked, then what happens? Does your account get kicked, too?

Well, I have simple solutions for both.
First, regarding the biography problem, (which I think is a major one, even with Custom Biographies) I propose the creation of a third biography. DON'T LYNCH ME I'M NOT DONE!
Now, I'm not out to make Cali's head blow up, so just chill.
This third biography will NOT include any abilities, techniques, etcetera. Your third biography will be your Ninja World biography, which represents you in the role-play. The third biography focuses on your background-story, your family relations, etcetera. The third biography describes who your imaginary Shinobi is and what he's doing in the Ninja World. Why is here in Amegakure? Why's he missing his left arm? Etcetera.
These biographies will basically be 'skins'. Whenever you get into a fight, you simply link your opponent to one of your two other biographies. Your third biography then 'becomes' this biography for the duration of the fight, though he still retains his appearance.
No need for checkings at all - the third biography is for yourself and those you wish to role-play with.

But what about the villages? Well, Though I'd prefer that new IC villages be created, I don't see it happening. Therefore all the village sub-forums will not be a part of the IC-Zone. Instead, those who to must create their threads in the IC-Zone and solve all communication through VM's, PM's and whatnot.
'No!' you might yell, 'this'll stuff the Ninja World with threads I can't participate in!'
Correct. Remember though, the IC-Zone is for role-play and battles, not one of the two. So, yeah, if some Ninjas in IC Konohagakure no Sato suddenly revolts against their Hokage, then no, you, a Kiri nin, really has no business there. But that's how it's always been, we've just ignored it.

Now, what if your biography is killed in combat? Well, while killing an enemy kills the role-play much more than it stimulates it, you'll simply have to create a new third biography/skin.
Remember though, if the biography you killed had other players as his brothers, then they're gonna come after you.

The IC-Zone could be a goldmine for role-players who wish to develop their character, their writing-skills or generally just have fun with no strings attached.

Shit, I ran through a liter of ice-cream and a Red Bull while writing this.
You get my meaning, right?

It's role-play. ACTING! Sensei's aren't Sensei's, Zenryoku is not Zenryoku. You don't lick Roku's butt and compliment his Oath to Order. Why? Cause you're IC! You're in character! Their biogrpahies will be powerful, yeah, but how would you know about them? The Ninja world becomes a whole new place to get yourself a fearsome reputation. Battles mean less because nothing happens if you die (basically). THings should move smoothly along and people actually get a chance to role-play! ROLE-PLAY!

Hell, I've bene wanting to write some sort of NB history for a while now! the New Ninja World would be perfect for that!

Oh, yeah, your third biography would pretty much be required to share your username, or a shortening of it.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?

It'll be awesome! Fun! New! People just need to learn to stop metagaming and Godmodding and stuff! Third person past tense! Stick to it! STICK TO IT!

Imma eat the rest of my ice-cream. Tell me what you think.

tl;dr - IC area, skins for your bios, controlled chaos, awesomness, no strings attached, no Mods gone wild.

 

[Arsenicpop]

+rep

 

[ZK]

+rep

I will find you...

 

[nj tandi]

Wow,great.You've really thought this out.Well done.

 

[Arsenicpop]

I will find you...

*Hides*

I was just impressed with the idea.

 

[XiayouLili]

I thought I'd never get done reading that. O_O

 

[LordSasukeOfSixPaths]

i like your idea +rep

 

[Punk Hazard]

I really like this idea. But, how about instead of having a third bio, you just pick one of your two to be your main or default bio which represents you.

For example, let's say I choose Gaara to be my default bio. Then I leave Suna. If someone from Suna confronts me, then by default, I am using Gaara, unless I state I am using my other bio. Then I'd just post as Gaara and not as Rikerslade.

 

[Urda]

I don't know about the Third Bio thing, but everything else seem alright. Also, thats "real" Roleplaying. Some here on NB just don't like doing long text. They just jump into fighting. Many say Long Text ruins the fun and enjoyment of RP.

 

[Level77Art]

Plus rep. This Thread Needs To Be Seen.

 

[Riku..]

I've honestly been waiting for a more story driven RP (the Ninja World isn't even close to story driven) for a while but never put in the time to think about it long enough to see how it could be done, so kudos and +rep for the idea to start off. ^_^

Although I think that the whole "character skin" thing will actually take away from the RP. I mean, the idea is to make everything feel like it has a purpose or a journey to it, perhaps a method for training can even be included in here to some extent if it ends up becoming the "preferred method" of RP. But the whole skins thing seems like such a... backwards step solely for the reason that you can choose either one of your biographies to apply this skin to. The way I see it, the in-character RP is meant for people who actually WANT to make interesting stories, right? So why not just cut out the middle-man and make it like this: one of each cannon character can exist in this system, just like only one jinchuuriki can exist at a time, and anyone who wants to participate simply must make a custom in order to participate. The only problem that I see here is that people who have like Minato bios won't really want to participate since apparently, even if you pass the test, you can't take character-specific techniques like FTG on a custom bio. But... I dunno, I think that the system would be negatively affected story wise if one minute you fight as a pure samurai and the next you have a thousand ninjutsu techniques. Your training, your past experiences in battles, it's all part of your history but this whole third character who can act as one of two characters business takes a huge chunk out of that. Meh... I want to say more about this because you're idea is actually being implemented for the most part successfully somewhere else, but I'd have to get permission from the maker before bringing that up (and no, it's not a place that I would not be allowed to link or talk about on NB). So I'll be back. O^O

Honestly, the best way that I see this working is putting more time in it to develop it enough to where it can just completely overtake the Ninja World system. =/ There's no reason to have this AND the Ninja World. Because after all, this is essentially what the Ninja World system was meant to do, even if it didn't quite work out that way. In the end, the problem with the Ninja World is that to an extent everyone's restricted by their kages and as far as missing-nin go there's not much to do.

 

[Gèckö]

can someone please summarize

 

[ZK]

I really like this idea. But, how about instead of having a third bio, you just pick one of your two to be your main or default bio which represents you.

For example, let's say I choose Gaara to be my default bio. Then I leave Suna. If someone from Suna confronts me, then by default, I am using Gaara, unless I state I am using my other bio. Then I'd just post as Gaara and not as Rikerslade.

Because Cannon biographies would disturb the flow of the 'universe', no? The Ninja World of NB would be an 'alternative universe' of the Narutoverse. No Tsunade on the wall or Onoki running the show. Pure Nb'ers gone wild, bro!
Furthermore, it's just a skin, but it serves the purpose of forcing YOU to create your OWN character, instead of just ripping Kishimoto's.

 

[Ldude]

This is a brilliant idea. I can see you put a lot of effort into this. Question: do we need to have the first 2 biographies before we make an IC biography? Or can we have ONLY an IC biography?

Shit, I ran through a liter of ice-cream and a Red Bull while writing this.
You get my meaning, right?

XD

+rep for being funny.

 

[ZK]

I've honestly been waiting for a more story driven RP (the Ninja World isn't even close to story driven) for a while but never put in the time to think about it long enough to see how it could be done, so kudos and +rep for the idea to start off. ^_^

Although I think that the whole "character skin" thing will actually take away from the RP. I mean, the idea is to make everything feel like it has a purpose or a journey to it, perhaps a method for training can even be included in here to some extent if it ends up becoming the "preferred method" of RP. But the whole skins thing seems like such a... backwards step solely for the reason that you can choose either one of your biographies to apply this skin to. The way I see it, the in-character RP is meant for people who actually WANT to make interesting stories, right? So why not just cut out the middle-man and make it like this: one of each cannon character can exist in this system, just like only one jinchuuriki can exist at a time, and anyone who wants to participate simply must make a custom in order to participate. The only problem that I see here is that people who have like Minato bios won't really want to participate since apparently, even if you pass the test, you can't take character-specific techniques like FTG on a custom bio. But... I dunno, I think that the system would be negatively affected story wise if one minute you fight as a pure samurai and the next you have a thousand ninjutsu techniques. Your training, your past experiences in battles, it's all part of your history but this whole third character who can act as one of two characters business takes a huge chunk out of that. Meh... I want to say more about this because you're idea is actually being implemented for the most part successfully somewhere else, but I'd have to get permission from the maker before bringing that up. So I'll be back. O^O

Honestly, the best way that I see this working is putting more time in it to develop it enough to where it can just completely overtake the Ninja World system. =/ There's no reason to have this AND the Ninja World. Because after all, this is essentially what the Ninja World system was meant to do, even if it didn't quite work out that way. In the end, the problem with the Ninja World is that to an extent everyone's restricted by their kages and as far as missing-nin go there's not much to do.

You went where i wanted to go, but I didn't dare because I wanted to see how NB would react first
The idea of the skin is to pick the last trac eof Cannon characters away, allowing the NB Ninja World to make a history for itself.
My original idea was that the 'skin bio' had a permanent biography to which it was linked, but I didn't think NB would agree.

But yeah, essentially, this is meant to replace the old Ninja world. Naturally, this one will be more story driven, but the plot will be created by the participants as they go. Just like a role-play should be.

But essentially the third biography would become its linked character in all but name and appearance. It's aminato biography with all the restrictions that comes with it, except it looks different and has another story.

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

I love the idea, Zero. Personally, though, I think people might shoot this down because they're afraid of change.

While I support this immensely, it may also be effective to just do it and show them that it's a lot of fun. o.o

 

[Punk Hazard]

Because Cannon biographies would disturb the flow of the 'universe', no? The Ninja World of NB would be an 'alternative universe' of the Narutoverse. No Tsunade on the wall or Onoki running the show. Pure Nb'ers gone wild, bro!
Furthermore, it's just a skin, but it serves the purpose of forcing YOU to create your OWN character, instead of just ripping Kishimoto's.

I see. Well, then I'd have to agree with Riku, only have one person with a certain canon character. If the character is taken, then you gotta make a custom bio.

However, there's some big drawbacks to this.

1. People with a strong cannon bio, like Minato or Nagato, wouldn't want to just drop it.

Possible Solution: A tournament. Let's say two or more people have Nagato. To decide who keeps it, the two owners of Nagato would battle using their Nagato bios. The person who keeps the bio will be determined either by a judge or judges who decide who used the bio better(kind of like a bio test), or simply by who wins.

2. People will want things like Rinnegan, Space-Time etc.

Possible Solution: A tournament, like before, but different. Every six months or so, a tournament will be held. This tournament will allow the winner to have something like Rinnegan, Space-Time, Kaguya abilities, etc. in a custom bio. Following some requirements, such as certain rank, certain things mastered, MUST be using a custom bio, etc., people can apply for the tournament. The winner will be able to have a certain ability in their custom bio that they usually wouldn't be able to get.

3. History. People like being able to simply copy and paste history. Well, a history shop could be open for those who don't want to write their history. Here, they could hire people to write their history, put the kumi to some use other than GFX requests.

4. Jinchuriki. People will like being Jinchuriki.

Possible Solution: Challenges for the Bijuu. Let's say you have a Jinchuriki bio and I want to be a Jinchuriki. With permission from an RP mod and if I don't have a Dojutsu or Eight Gates, I can challenge you. If I win, then I have the right to take your Bijuu, as long as I am either capable of extracting and sealing the Bijuu myself with Fuuinjutsu, or if I find capable of and willing to do so.

I know this may seem like a bit too unfair and too much, but these are just my thoughts on the matter.

 

[Crutch Kaguya]

Zenryoku is not Zenryoku.

I like it. U_U

 

[ZK]

I see. Well, then I'd have to agree with Riku, only have one person with a certain canon character. If the character is taken, then you gotta make a custom bio.

However, there's some big drawbacks to this.

1. People with a strong cannon bio, like Minato or Nagato, wouldn't want to just drop it.

Possible Solution: A tournament. Let's say two or more people have Nagato. To decide who keeps it, the two owners of Nagato would battle using their Nagato bios. The person who keeps the bio will be determined either by a judge or judgea who decide who used the bio better(kind of like a bio test), or simply by who wins.

2. People will want things like Rinnegan, Space-Time etc.

Possible Solution: A tournament, like before, but different. Every six months or so, a tournament will be held. This tournament will allow the winner to have something like Rinnegan, Space-Time, Kaguya abilities, etc. in a custom bio. Following some requirements, such as certain rank, certain things mastered, MUST be using a custom bio, etc., people can apply for the tournament. The winner will be able to have a certain ability in their custom bio that they usually wouldn't be able to get.

3. History. People like being able to go to a certain simply copy and paste history. Well, a history shop could be open for those who don't want to write their history. Here, they could hire people to write their history, put the kumi to some use other than GFX requests.

4. Jinchuriki. People will like being Jinchuriki.

Possible Solution: Challenges for the Bijuu. Let's say you have a Jinchuriki bio and I want to be a Jinchuriki. With permission from an RP mod and if I don't have a Dojutsu or Eight Gates, I can challenge you. If I win, then I have the right to take your Bijuu, as long as I am either capable of extracting and sealing the Bijuu myself with Fuuinjutsu, or if I find capable of and willing to do so.

I know this may seem like a bit too unfair and too much, but these are just my thoughts on the matter.

@ Bolded: They'll be able to be all those things, use all those techniques, etcetera. They'll just be wearing a skin. Essentially they'll have the same bio, just with a different appearance and another story.

@ Dark red: If one cannot write a small story, then one cannot role-play. Simple as that. .

 

[Riku..]

I see. Well, then I'd have to agree with Riku, only have one person with a certain canon character. If the character is taken, then you gotta make a custom bio.

However, there's some big drawbacks to this.

1. People with a strong cannon bio, like Minato or Nagato, wouldn't want to just drop it.

Possible Solution: A tournament. Let's say two or more people have Nagato. To decide who keeps it, the two owners of Nagato would battle using their Nagato bios. The person who keeps the bio will be determined either by a judge or judgea who decide who used the bio better(kind of like a bio test), or simply by who wins.

2. People will want things like Rinnegan, Space-Time etc.

Possible Solution: A tournament, like before, but different. Every six months or so, a tournament will be held. This tournament will allow the winner to have something like Rinnegan, Space-Time, Kaguya abilities, etc. in a custom bio. Following some requirements, such as certain rank, certain things mastered, MUST be using a custom bio, etc., people can apply for the tournament. The winner will be able to have a certain ability in their custom bio that they usually wouldn't be able to get.

3. History. People like being able to go to a certain simply copy and paste history. Well, a history shop could be open for those who don't want to write their history. Here, they could hire people to write their history, put the kumi to some use other than GFX requests.

4. Jinchuriki. People will like being Jinchuriki.

Possible Solution: Challenges for the Bijuu. Let's say you have a Jinchuriki bio and I want to be a Jinchuriki. With permission from an RP mod and if I don't have a Dojutsu or Eight Gates, I can challenge you. If I win, then I have the right to take your Bijuu, as long as I am either capable of extracting and sealing the Bijuu myself with Fuuinjutsu, or if I find capable of and willing to do so.

I know this may seem like a bit too unfair and too much, but these are just my thoughts on the matter.

Meh, honestly, if I went through a Nagato test and passed it and then tried to use it in the IC area and had to do another tournament or else I had to drop it, I'd call BS. Like, if you pass the test, then you earned the bio, doesn't make sense to force them to take another test to use it.

The simple and most obvious solution to problems 1, 2, and 4 is if we can convince mods to allow people to have techniques like that on custom biographies provided that you still pass the same exact test. To be honest, if that isn't allowed, then this RP would kind of go down the drain. No Jinchuuriki, no one with the Sasuke, Kakashi or Itachi Mangekyou stuff, no one with Space-time techniques, no one with Dust, Lava (except Bishamon I suppose), or a lot of other interesting abilities. There really wouldn't be much interest at all without stuff like that. If cannon techinques allowed on custom bios (again, provided that you pass that character's test) were allowed then it would no longer be unfair to say that everyone who participates must make a custom biography.

As for the history shops, why would you do that? The entire purpose of this RP is to make a collective NB history. If you don't want to make a story, then you have no place in this style of RP to begin with.