Plan for a BAAR Revival

[Mr. Capiatlist]

I am planning a revival of the AARland BAAR, originally an old staple of this corner of the subforum. For those not in the know, the bAAR was a role-play area where you play yourself. Basically posts were in the third person and you'd interact with the other characters in the bAAR. There were some rules that I feel made it... awkward. Some were necessary (like avoiding constant "bAAR fights") but not quoting other users made it hard to follow.

Moreover I have some ideas that perhaps you guys will want to chime in on.

First - I want to say the no fights rule is sticking around, and the no quotes rule will get the boot. I also want to encourage the use of first person.

So what's the point? What's the shtick?

Well, with the help of AARland's characters, I want to make the bAAR a live event, open during pre-announced specific windows during weekends where we can talk about our lives; our writing; our favorite stories, movies, comics; and share some proverbial drinks through the forum in more or less real time. I want to be forward that while I think other discussion methods would be better (e.g. skype or slack), I am avoiding those for now for the sake of not angering the big-wigs.

Now, I am not certain how well this will work or if it will even work at all. But I want to hear from you guys and I want to figure out a good time to open the bAAR for the first time in and long, long time. What do you think? What times work for you? Is this a good idea? A crazy one? A bad one? I'm interested in hearing from you.

 

[loup99]

I think having a place for friendly discussion in the AARland, just like there is on the Spanish forum, to a lesser extent French forum (with the "It is X hour" threads) and in the RPG section is a good idea. Although the idea of making it limited to certain points of time rather than constant is interesting. The only issue with the specific live windows that I can think of at the moment are the time differences, but that depends on how long each window is.

Does avoiding "bAAR fights" mean that arguing is discouraged, or does it have a different meaning?

 

[Mr. Capiatlist]

Does avoiding "bAAR fights" mean that arguing is discouraged, or does it have a different meaning?

People used to role play stereotypical western bar fights - smashing bottles over heads, breaking tables, scaring off the bar wenches, busting up the piano, &c.

 

[loup99]

People used to role play stereotypical western bar fights - smashing bottles over heads, breaking tables, scaring off the bar wenches, busting up the piano, &c.

Oh, I didn't interpret it as a literal rule against fights.

 

[coz1]

The former bAARtender walked past the old haunt and was surprised to see a light on inside. There was no sound of the Wlakpack playing and Erika Blow was at home surely still trying to find a way to get back at the Judge in some way. He was curious. coz1 felt he must enter to see what in blazes was going on. He pushed open the door, it creaking due to age old hinges that badly needed some oil.

The cobwebs were thick and coz hated spiders, but he pushed forward. He looked up to see the pictures on the wall, long since become filthy with dust. There was Rictus, the founder, still proudly displaying his Union Jack. And Norgesvenn, the smoke clearly billowing around him as a cigarette dripped from his lips. Eochaid too was still there, the cuddly teddy bear that he was.

coz1 gave over a large smile as he spied his own picture alongside those old friends of his that followed, Amric and Alexandru H. It caused him to look over to the entrance to the Tea Room, long since covered over with boards to keep it all in one place.

"Poor Judge...never again will he get a proper Gin and Tonic."

He was unable not to look at the old table that used to house the legends..."That's where Lord Durham and MrT used to sit and plan for the future. What amazing ideas!"

All of the sudden, he realized he was not talking to himself as he previously thought. There in the corner was a prospective new owner, knocking at the walls with his fist and listening for how poorly the drywall had kept up.

"You there," he called out. "Are you thinking of buying the place?"

Mr. Capiatlist looked over and nodded, "It's possible. If I can rebuild her."

coz1 simply smiled and moved behind the old counter. The mahogany wood was still fine. The beautiful mirrored back wall still allowed any tender to see the room even with their back turned. And when he ran his hand under the counter, it was as if it called out to him. There it was. The fabled Dirty Rag (tm).

He turned back to the prospective owner and smiled..."You could do a lot worse."

"But will they come?" Mr. Capiatlist asked.

"Just remember to tell them Joe Storey has the tab. He may not seem to be around to pay for it these days, but his checks always clear."

* * *

That's how we used to do it. I could not help myself. As you may imagine, as a former bAARtender, I have a few thoughts on this.

The original bAAR was part of the original thought of AARland before it ever was how we know it today. At the time, EU2 was the only game in town and there was a rather thriving community of actors that really enjoyed this playground that Paradox Entertainment (as they were known at the time) allowed us. I say us, but really it was them. LD, MrT, Warspite, the aforementioned bAARtenders...and many more helped build that playground as the writer's area of the forum. Indeed, they were playing the game (which would become "games" plural) but they wanted to try and help foster a community of writers interested in the craft. Thus the character aspect of the original bAAR that pretty much continued in every other incarnation. The no quoting rule was simply to force participants to find a creative way to respond.

I would applaud any effort to get a new bAAR off the ground. And at this late date, I would agree that some of the old rules may not need apply. However, I would suggest that part of the charm was the character work done. I would say I could not care less about the quoting aspect. That old gun likely does not even work anymore anyway. But the fun of reading member's character moments was truly unique. If we are writAARs here, why would we not wish to support that? (And I'd say the same thing about the SolAARium that has sadly been relegated to page who knows what at this date.)

As for the "live event" thought...I'm not saying it is a bad idea. Far from it. I just don't know how that would work as it has already been suggested that we all live in different time zones. Outside of practicing the craft, a major goal of previous bAARs was trying to promote other work. It was bad form to say "I have a new AAR!" and very good form to say "so and so has a great new AAR." It help spread the word. I can certainly see that promoting an "event" might help get people on the same page across all the games, since we have such a large forum and that is a roadblock. I'm just not sure there is ever a good time in which all could or would participate.

To be sure, I believe if it was brought back, it could serve that purpose. It just should not be that alone. Reopen under new management, allow for people to recommend works as they wish in an open environment and sure...every now and then announce a "chat session" or whatever one would wish to call it. I would not make it something that is "only open" during such sessions. Perhaps I have misunderstood the suggestion, and if so, I apologize. But if you build it...they will drink.


And yes, loup99. there were many silly fights that simply allowed for a post count and not much else back in the day. Arguing in and of itself was not uncommon, but frowned upon as it was not the thread for it at the time. That did not stop us. We just found other threads to do that. It was never really promising no matter where it happened.

 

[Mr. Capiatlist]

However, I would suggest that part of the charm was the character work done.

I misspoke, I would still want role playing to be done. I just might loosen the restriction to third-person only. Myself, I nearly always write in first person, in fact AARland is about the only place I don't.... except that one time I posted in a... different... kind of site as a way to practice writing (and get feedback on)... uh... romantic scenes.

I would say I could not care less about the quoting aspect.

Yeah, I have to admit that is what really turned me off to the old bar. Made things hard to follow.

As for the "live event" thought...I'm not saying it is a bad idea. Far from it. I just don't know how that would work as it has already been suggested that we all live in different time zones.

That's true, and I'd like to hear more from @loup99 on how the threads in the French and Spanish subforums work. What partially gave me the idea, though, is your fault - I get so many notifications from your Rightful King AAR that I started to think a dedicated group of talking heads might actually make it work.

Outside of practicing the craft, a major goal of previous bAARs was trying to promote other work. It was bad form to say "I have a new AAR!" and very good form to say "so and so has a great new AAR." It help spread the word. I can certainly see that promoting an "event" might help get people on the same page across all the games, since we have such a large forum and that is a roadblock. I'm just not sure there is ever a good time in which all could or would participate.

A thin line surely exists between those who would only pop in to say "LOOK AT ME!" before vanishing like a fart in the wind and those who wish to contribute. I'm sure I can get that old quote gun working, maybe re-purpose it.

To be sure, I believe if it was brought back, it could serve that purpose. It just should not be that alone. Reopen under new management, allow for people to recommend works as they wish in an open environment and sure...every now and then announce a "chat session" or whatever one would wish to call it. I would not make it something that is "only open" during such sessions. Perhaps I have misunderstood the suggestion, and if so, I apologize. But if you build it...they will drink.

That's an interesting possibility, and not one I considered. But you are right in assuming I meant to literally close the thread between sessions and only open it when I could devote my full attention to it.

And yes, loup99. there were many silly fights that simply allowed for a post count and not much else back in the day. Arguing in and of itself was not uncommon, but frowned upon as it was not the thread for it at the time. That did not stop us. We just found other threads to do that. It was never really promising no matter where it happened.

And what fun they were.


Reading your intro really got me back into the old days, back when I was a lurker. What a rush.

 

[coz1]

I misspoke, I would still want role playing to be done. I just might loosen the restriction to third-person only.

It was never a rule, just a guidepost that people followed.

That's true, and I'd like to hear more from @loup99 on how the threads in the French and Spanish subforums work. What partially gave me the idea, though, is your fault - I get so many notifications from your Rightful King AAR that I started to think a dedicated group of talking heads might actually make it work.

I'm pleased that someone is getting so many notifications. I truly wish it were me!

I would agree certainly that it has an effect much like FB (I won't type it out) that helps see when one responds to a post. But I would add that part of the old bAAR spirit was not getting a personal response, but trying to help someone else get such.

That's an interesting possibility, and not one I considered. But you are right in assuming I meant to literally close the thread between sessions and only open it when I could devote my full attention to it.

So then I understood it correctly and that being so, I think that would be ill considered. If you open it, just open it completely. Outside of dedicated "live chat" it should, and has been, simply a recommendation thread for over a decade.

And what fun they were.

As a former mod...Not always.

Reading your intro really got me back into the old days, back when I was a lurker. What a rush.

As I said...couldn't help it. Especially after some news tonight...I dedicate that to MrT. I know he could have done it a lot better than I. He, more than anyone else I have ever encountered on this forum, taught me how best to approach this entire endeavor. And...his post would have been a lot longer.

 

[loup99]

That's true, and I'd like to hear more from @loup99 on how the threads in the French and Spanish subforums work. What partially gave me the idea, though, is your fault - I get so many notifications from your Rightful King AAR that I started to think a dedicated group of talking heads might actually make it work.

When you mentioned "chat", speaking about your own life or the person to be used, I thought upon the threads in the French and Spanish forums. The way it works is that everything is written in third person, no quoting or debating was allowed initially, each post was to be started with the time of the moment and be about what one was doing at the moment. Then it involved into free discussion in first person in Spanish forum, while in the French forum it remains more strict, but with more liberties in terms of the subject. It is completely different from the BAAr, but in some posts in the past, there have been both tendencies towards more of a chat or more towards a roleplay format.

So then I understood it correctly and that being so, I think that would be ill considered. If you open it, just open it completely. Outside of dedicated "live chat" it should, and has been, simply a recommendation thread for over a decade.

I think that if it is a recommendation thread when there is no chat, it should remain open, as that would not require specific moderation. Otherwise I understand why Mr. C wanted to close it, as the discussion could spiral out of control without a moderator or a somewhat strict format.

 

[Nuada Airgetlám]

I think I'm getting my head around how the BAAR worked. I'm curious.

 

[Mr. Capiatlist]

I think I'm getting my head around how the BAAR worked. I'm curious.

If you've played D&D before, it'll come naturally.

 

[Tom D.]

If you've played D&D before, it'll come naturally.

What is D&D if I may ask?

 

[Mr. Capiatlist]

What is D&D if I may ask?

Dungeons and Dragons.


Perhaps AARland D&D night is in order.

 

[Nuada Airgetlám]

I have the idea, cheers. How regular was BAAR attendance? My availability might be a little random for a while.

 

[Mr. Capiatlist]

I have the idea, cheers. How regular was BAAR attendance? My availability might be a little random for a while.

It varies, especially if it isn't live (and I don't think I'm favoring the live set up anymore, been talked down from that ledge).

 

[coz1]

If anyone is curious, I believe all of the old bAARs threads are linked in the fAARq (link in my sig.) I doubt anyone cares to read the whole threads (that could take forever) but reading some old snippets might give you an idea of how it was run previously as well as offer ideas as to what might be improved, kept just right, etc. I will go ahead and say that The Tea Room was the most sophisticated in my mind, but that might be because I was the bAARtender there.

 

[Mr. Capiatlist]

If anyone is curious, I believe all of the old bAARs threads are linked in the fAARq (link in my sig.) I doubt anyone cares to read the whole threads (that could take forever) but reading some old snippets might give you an idea of how it was run previously as well as offer ideas as to what might be improved, kept just right, etc. I will go ahead and say that The Tea Room was the most sophisticated in my mind, but that might be because I was the bAARtender there.

Definitely good ideas, especially for those wondering how the users act. They should be (?) locked, at least the most recent was when I did a clean up in preparation for revitalizing the General Boards a month or two back.

Obviously not running as quickly as I hoped.