TRF's writing is very good. I like being part of TRF because it is a community of writers who produce roleplays that are of a high quality and fit together as a whole, as some great, long tapestry stitched together by individual accomplishments into a massive whole.

That being said, I recently realized again just how depressing this good writing is.

It's always been my wish, ever since I first came to TRF, to change it from a galaxy of evildoers and sad, dark, spiralling tales of ever-worsening catastrophes, and to do that I worked to defeat the Empire. As time has gone on, however, that task has grown somewhat, to include defeating BDE, defeating the Sith, defeating the Union, heck, probably even the Cree'Ar Domion eventually.

When I look at the battlegrounds, I see perhaps a couple threads by me or the handful of Coalition writers. Those few are the only ones, I realize, which are working towards a better galaxy. Even the Jedi are only really training themselves or fighting Sith pointlessly - they don't accomplish anything at the end of the day, they haven't even got any leadership or direction. So far as I can see, they do not help. I would not ever expect a Jedi to accomplish anything or solve any problem.

The problem becomes even more clear as you take a look at how many threads there are going on a TRF. About half involve evil things happening - many of these things permanent, so that they go on long after the thread ends. There is a vast backlog of murderous villains, bloody conquests, plagues, genocides, and oppressive actions that is so massive that even if everyone stopped writing today except for me and the Coalition, it would be years before we finished each to a satisfactory conclusion.

Without finishing page three of the Battelgrounds, I found twelve threads by the Empire alone that were filled with morally reprehensible actions that would have ongoing consequences. I've reacted to this by trying to stem the tide a little by running interference on the villainous plots of Imperials that are just starting in an effort to put a stop to them, but I'm not being treated as a fellow writer trying to change the outcome so much as an obstacle, a small speed-bump who will be driven over and shortly thereafter maximum speed will be achieved again.

In the face of such an unrelenting, somewhat unchangeable, neverending stream of depressing threads, I have to be honest, I've lost heart. I'm really trying here, but tell me honestly, is it all in vain? Will my best efforts always be dismissed and my best plans constantly treated poorly? Should I just give up now and take up solitaire? In brief, are my attempts to change the face of TRF futile? Because if not, they are increasingly appearing to be.

yes

wow... now that i read, that you made even me think is my coalition char`s work all in vain who tries to work towards a galaxy of justice and freedom... o_O Imperial`s run on like madmen taking over new planet`s :ohwell What happen`s when the space ends? WAR! Are we going to win? looks almost hopeless to me... :mad

You need to face some hard truths.

Even in our real world the morally bankrupt outshine the truly pure of heart. Evil deeds will always cast a shadow on things and those who commit them are often in power for two simple reasons.

A.) Those who would wish to do such things actively seek the power to do so.

B.) Power corrupts.

You are looking at this from the wrong angle, as many seem to these days, and even I once did. This is not a video game to be won or lost. The is a collaboration of people writing a story, in which all can win so long as it is the story itself which comes first, and not the need to win in every situation.

Dark Lord Maim

You need to face some hard truths.

Even in our real world the morally bankrupt outshine the truly pure of heart. Evil deeds will always cast a shadow on things and those who commit them are often in power for two simple reasons.

A.) Those who would wish to do such things actively seek the power to do so.

B.) Power corrupts.

You are looking at this from the wrong angle, as many seem to these days, and even I once did. This is not a video game to be won or lost. The is a collaboration of people writing a story, in which all can win so long as it is the story itself which comes first, and not the need to win in every situation.

nah not every, but my question is am I able to make a greater difference in this story even by winning some battles

You make a difference in the story weather you win or lose. You make a difference by being a part of it and giving some of yourself over to it. You help the story come alive on levels that a single writer cannot. You embody your characters and make them living, breathing entities in the minds of those who read your posts and share in the story with you.

Depends how much of a difference you want to make and what kind of a
difference. If you want to make it so that GC rules the galaxy and TNO, well you have your work cut out for you, but it is theoretically do-able. If you want make it so that you help a small portion of the galaxy achieve a better life and stuff, well GC is already doing that. If you want to go down in TRF's history, regardless of what for, then just talk to me and I'll give you my expert opinion on how its done.

Well I don`t want the GC to be an ultimate power, but TNO always just seems so strong... :) Every single member there is a better rper than i will propably ever be :p

Dark Lord Maim

You need to face some hard truths.

Even in our real world the morally bankrupt outshine the truly pure of heart. Evil deeds will always cast a shadow on things and those who commit them are often in power for two simple reasons.

A.) Those who would wish to do such things actively seek the power to do so.

B.) Power corrupts.

You are looking at this from the wrong angle, as many seem to these days, and even I once did. This is not a video game to be won or lost. The is a collaboration of people writing a story, in which all can win so long as it is the story itself which comes first, and not the need to win in every situation.

The problem is that I do not share your perspective, nor do I feel I have to adopt it. This IS something where there are winners and losers, and not only that, the winners have ultimate control over the galaxy. If I controlled the galaxy, in this writing environment, I could write about brilliant successes and advances until the galaxy was a practical utopia, because it is an RP environment and thus anything is possible. The only thing, the ONLY thing that stands in the way of any vision for the galaxy is might.

It doesn' matter if I'm 'good' or 'evil', nor does it matter if other people are. All that matters is who is winning and what their vision is like. As I said, if I won and extended my control across the galaxy, and the great roleplayers of TRF took up good characters instead of more Sith, more Imperial Grand Moff Secret Service Gestapo Death Squad Propaganda Machine frigging sons of fascism, then the TRF galaxy would be a good place, with good people, and the stories would revolve around the rare instances of trouble or disorder.

That's what's got me down lately, just the fact that the galaxy is how it is simply because one side is winning right now, and I've been feeling it is futile to try and beat them. I was kind of hoping for a little positive reinforcment in this respect, but then again, it is a little whiney.

Eh, that is why you are having trouble, then, if you see this as a game of winners and losers. However, to your ideals themselves let me make a point or two.

In A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi the forces of 'Good' were heavily out numbered, out gunned and all around out classed by the Imperial War Machine. Yet still the pushed on and, eventually, achieved victory over it. This is just one example of how sticking to your belief structure can pay off in the end.

However, the idea of overnight success is a misguided one and, as I am sure you are aware, the Empire ruled for a good long time before anything was ever truly accomplished to change that fact. If you believe in your cause, then stand by it. True loyalty to one's fellows and/or ideals is not tested in the times when everything is going your way, but rather when the deck is stacked against you and the outlook at it's most grim.