Solo threads and rewards

[Logan]

Thank you for verbalizing what I couldn't think straight enough to do, Letho and Ranger. That's always been the argument and always been the key.

[Max Dirks]

Another note: the EXP equations used for quests produce only base amounts. The judges can adjust that amount if they determine it prudent. Don't be afraid to mention your concerns in the judging requests either. The requests are a good way to communicate with them.

[Cyrus the virus]

Also, since I only really thought about it now, if I ever saw a 10,000 word post I'd just calculate that EXP as if there were 10 posts.

[SunDancer]

While I'm knew here, I have some experience with writing and have been finding ways to improve since the start (and a part of it is maturity...but anyway, that was a tangent).

I have a couple points on this matter: While the number of posts shouldn't matter in the score of a thread, the author(s) should keep in mind that different scenes are better indicated by a new post - the same reason why there are chapters in novels. The number of posts should be up to the author(s) with that (and the judge's ease) in mind; however, if long posts make the thread difficult to read, then the score should be decreased. If long posts decrease the inefficiency of transitions, then the score should be decreased. But, if the length of the post doesn't effect the quality of the writing and the story, then it shouldn't effect the score.

And I understand the...dislike of solos, but there are times where it is necessary; however, most people here are not here to write solos, they're here to interact. If someone writes to many solos, then a Mod should point it out to them.

Now, before people start clamering for a change in the formula, let's know what the formula is. If there is demed to be a problem by the majority of people here, then a change should be made. But not until then.

[Zook Murnig]

If long (or incredibly brief) posts make the thread awkward or difficult to read, that's a deduction from Pacing. Plain and simple.

[Dirge]

Being new, SunDancer, you'd not know about Alcolyte Boshe, but I'm pretty sure the vast majority of what I saw from the characters played by him were rped in a solo or a thread between two of his own characters.

[Tsukiko]

heh and no one mentioned Valentina Snow. She was a very big member way back when and she did almost nothing but solo. She did RP with other people but I never saw her do anything but a solo.

[Dirge]

Very true, I forgot she did a lot of solo's. No issues with either of them, they just wrote how it flowed, which was my point for bringing them up in the first place, had forgotten why I said the names, lol

[Lodekai]

Jess was kind of in her own category, though. She would have 3,4 even 5 pages and each post would be 3000+ words. Very few solos are that length, and they took her months to finish.

[Sighter Tnailog]

Just for the record, I tend to alter my post count formula if I sense that the threads in question are longer or shorter. I would input a 10,000 word post into our formula as if it were 20 posts, and a 3000 word ten-poster in as if it were 6 posts. My rule of thumb for a post is around 500 words, and if I sense that posts are going over or below that mark I'll adjust my scoring accordingly.

Also, just so everyone knows, I have judged a thread before that was only around 4000 words and was exactly 6 posts. And yet it still managed to tell a rollicking good story, kept my attention, made me laugh, and was, in a word, complete. In fact, I didn't even realize the story didn't meet the "technical" requirements until I finished writing the judging. So don't feel wedded to the rules there. We keep them around to prevent people from writing 300 words worth of tripe and trying to get rewards for it. But if your sample is sufficient and engaging and complete, it should be judged in most cases.