hard agree. to add my own tidbit to the conversation, it is very difficult for me to see a logic reason for people to gatekeep or not share certain codes with each other. every reason i've seen thrown out is as weak as an overcooked spaghetti noodle between my fingertips.

like the biggest one... stealing? from the coding languages i know (html, css, python) and even human language, there are not an infinite amount of ways you can go about constructing things. there are billions of people in the world and there will be inevitable overlap. even if you are the first to construct something, it is likely you will not be the last.

i don't even see anything wrong in copy-pasting strings of code or remembering how to write certain code. the latter is arguably how you learn how to do those things in the first place. if i had to re-learn how to duplicate a technique or functionality code every time i wrote it, i'd ask the gods above to take me home. most code that you're looking for was already figured out. even if i did all of my code from scratch, there is likely one other person out there that did it nearly the same as me.

now, stealing code to take a whole visual design or concept for your own is wrong. sometimes even with proper credit. but that's a whole 'nother conversation.

regardless, shout out to the one of many creators in this community, fizzyelf, for making some of the most revolutionary jcink functionality codes i've found thus far public and free-to-use.

i have a threshold for it but it tends to not be a negative thing. i tend to like more information over a little information.

the only time i will say something is too long to tolerate reading is when the text is composed of giant paragraphs with no variance in the length of the paragraphs and sentences they're composed of. as a reader, it is exhausting to read walls of text and run on / overtly fluffed sentences.

so, i suppose, for the most part it boils down to how 'proper' (using that in a loose, opinionated way) the other person writes.

i will say that taking a different approach to how i play the game has been fun. the way it is shaping up, it feels nearly like a completionist run. i used to do ironman characters on other games esp. on runescape. so, i figured why not?

the premise of the challenge is being as self sufficient as possible without getting assistance from other players. but there are a few additional limitations and exceptions i made:

+ quest, event, and dungeon loot is fair use so long as it is done solo or with npcs. if any content is cleared that requires you be assisted by other players, the loot must be discarded.

+ any equipment loot (gained by player assistance or not) can be stashed for cosmetic purposes only.

+ dungeons, trials, and raids may only be completed once unless otherwise requested by quests.

+ the market board is off limits but npcs vendors are fair use.

+ in order to move onto the next expansion: you must complete the relic weapon of at least one class in order to proceed.

i have other self imposed rules such as completing all the hunt logs and side quests of an area. as well as leveling up all the combat and crafting classes i can to the expansion cap before moving on.

it's a bit of a work in progress with some input from my friends on what seems fair / unfair, the trial and error of seeing what is possible or impossible, and other factors. but overall i think it is a doable challenge for a slow play side character.

if you want to join along or add me, my ironman is jerry mudpie on midgardsormer (aether). he'll be a paladin. 💅

alternatively, my main character is porcelain roze on jenova (aether). when i am playing, i do extremes and all other current content on the regular. white mage and dragoon main forever.

i've become a professional lurker

pretty much in the same boat. i think the last bouts of drama i saw / was involved in in addition to how badly i was ignored despite my efforts was my last straw.

regardless, i think private/semi-private spaces or writing by yourself, for yourself is the move.

i think the one people remember me most for is when i had an archbishop that got beheaded in front of his entire country for being a semi-falsely accused heretic to his church. i left the site around that time but i'm pretty sure it sparked a leadership struggle between his children.

my favorite was when my character poisoned herself to try and prove a point to herself and her husband who had been treating her very poorly for years. i suppose it wasn't really a true death considering she was a goddess and she was just killing off her mortal form. but... it was a really beautiful end to a plot arc for her and very fun for me to write.

pixar cars rp when???

this is so cute wtf

i think your onto something here ?? its trendy imo, love it 10/10

if i ever find an rl site that allows face claims of people in their younger years, i'm obligated to break out young al pacino so fast and i'm making the best character i've ever made. better if they allow face claims of people who are deceased. breaking out the vault of old time actors because i love them so much.

otherwise... i need to be able to write dark, controversial topics and/or mature content in general. even if i won't ever write it, i like to have the option open in case someone comes at me with some crazy, unhinged plot.

also, if i can't adapt my favorite characters to the setting, i don't want it !!

i've started not to like discord esp. after the multitude of bad rp experiences i've had over the past year or two. a lot of information gets lost, people get spoken over / ignored, drama can start and spiral out of control easier, it is harder to lurk before you join, distracts from roleplaying, etc. and for someone like me, i find it can be intimidating and overwhelming. esp in larger communities.

i miss not having discord servers for those reasons. i can't deny it is convenient and makes some things a lot easier. but i could do without it.

i saw some rp forum do that once and from what i remember it was a pretty pay-to-play type deal. you could level up a character / get popular powers from the show it was based on if you paid x amount of real life cash. it had an active member base so i just tipped my hat with respect and moved on.

however, it's not right to me for a team to try and pool for donations when running costs are free or very low if you decide to pay. esp if it's for in-character benefits. to put it into perspective... unless you're hosting the site yourself, the costs of upkeep with premium service and a custom domain isn't expensive to afford. for example, jcink premium is $9.99/month and it includes a bundle of benefits. proboards seems a bit pricier but it doesn't seem to be much over $20/month. then, a custom domain is typically paid for yearly and most are very cheap (around $10/year).

those expenses are all optional too and not required to run a forum whatsoever. even cosmetic upgrades such as skins or custom scripts are nice but not needed.

i'd be more accepting if the work put into the site went above and beyond what a typical site does. it'd have to be very customized and offer content worth donating such large sums for (ie. lore books, custom artwork, unique and complex codes, etc.). then, i'd say the staff team would be earning the right to do so. but similar to what wraith said, it's good to be critical and know where the money is going.

overall, i'd say y'all should leave while you're ahead of the game if it doesn't sit well with you. they're doing what mobile game companies do but without the expenses of an actual business that has paid employees. not sure if it's illegal either but if the roleplay is based on copyrighted media, that is something to think about too. not that anyone would get into serious trouble but it could get the forum removed / shut down without notice.

im a big fan of guidebooks esp when its seamless tabbing instead of like... just reloading each new page. i know coding it in is an actual hot mess and a half in terms of actually inputting the data on the staff end. but lord as a user i am abso in favor of it.

threads are okay if it's a site that doesn't have a ton of lore and information needed to know. even a mix of both threads + guidebook can be good if done right.

"im so tired" has become my motto and i'm like... when can i stop being tired? :joy: