[Nahara46]

What do you consider a proper 'end point' for a thread? Do you just cut it off when you're bored of it, or is there some how you define a 'completed' thread. I'm asking because as I RP I find that my definition of 'completed' seems to never been the same- something someone else calls done, I stick in incomplete because while the main purpose of the thread was technically finished, there's still a string of conversation, or reactions to stuff to do and it can be hard for me to just let go of a thread and move on (which probably is why I have so many). More often than not I end up with dozens of 'in limbo' threads where my partner sticks them in 'completed'.

My definition tends to be if: A) My characters have left the vicinity, or B) If the conversation came to an end/was properly 'faded off' and not just cut somewhere. Which is a really vague explanation, so any thoughts on how to end a thread/when?

[SIFR]

I end it when the main point is done, and there is a story behind why.

STORYTIME, KIDS!

So, when the Ancient Sifr was a young roleplayer (youngish. I'd been rping for maybe six years or so? Middle aged rper?), she had a RP buddy who was, she later figured out, very mentally unstable.

The thread she was in, the idea of it was done, so Sifr said in OOC brackets that it was a good end point.

Then came the angry exclamation on MSN.

"I wasn't done!"

Okay. Carry on. I decided that since it had been only a page, why not, a little more.

Five pages later of literal one sentence posts, I went to the person and said that the horse had been beaten to the point of bloody welts and it was time to stop.

"YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO STOP CAUSE YOU HATE ME!"

And from that moment forward, Sifr decided that the thread stopped when the main idea was done and if people didn't like it, they didn't have to thread with me.

[Nahara46]

Damn thats rude omg.

I'm okay with like- ending soON after the main point is done, I just like doing 1-3 posts (anymore than that and yeah it's beating a dead horse) to try and tie up any loose ends and get things properly faded out and/or actually ending the interaction altogether.

That's pretty ridiculous that they held it out that long- 5 pages? Damnnn.

[SIFR]

With one sentence replies. You forgot that. In those days, you either had super literate 500 words per post RP sites or you had no word reqs, so sometimes it could get pretty extreme

[GARDEN]

i end threads when the point of the thread is done, or when i'm pretty much at a loss for how to continue it but also keep it interesting.

[Egao, Egao Everywhere]

When the story concludes. I've had threads only one page long, another over ten pages long. I usually imagine a thread to be a chapter in a book. A thread for me doesn't end when one person leaves. It's just when you want to cut the story there to a stop. You don't have to show everything of what had happened. I'm the type of rper who actually skips introductory parts and thread immediately to the main point while establishing events or actions that would have gone in the introduction. It's just more elegant that way. You also put more important content in your posts by referring to the previous encounter as they inform the reader and show what the character thinks.

My threads are hardly ever about a convo. We probably RP in a vastly different genre.

[Elena]

Dec 20, 2014 6:24:59 GMT -8 Egao, Egao Everywhere said:

When the story concludes. I've had threads only one page long, another over ten pages long. I usually imagine a thread to be a chapter in a book. A thread for me doesn't end when one person leaves. It's just when you want to cut the story there to a stop. You don't have to show everything of what had happened. I'm the type of rper who actually skips introductory parts and thread immediately to the main point while establishing events or actions that would have gone in the introduction. It's just more elegant that way. You also put more important content in your posts by referring to the previous encounter as they inform the reader and show what the character thinks.

My threads are hardly ever about a convo. We probably RP in a vastly different genre.

I wholeheartedly agree with you, seeing each thread as a chapter too.

When the general purpose of the thread is met, I can end it when one of the writing partners gets a "good ending line". Which is relative, I know. The subsequent discussion or facts can be considered as happening offscreen, even if the characters are still together and none was leaving.

Other times, if one of the writing partners had abandoned the thread for a reason or another, either the one with the latest post edits her post to make for a proper ending, or I am to intervene with a character or a NPC, as suited. Sometimes an officer gives the sailors an order then; somebody is called somewhere. Other times, something else happens, and it is suggested that the characters are focusing on the new aspect - I ended a stalled tavern thread by setting the tavern's barn on fire, and the drinkers had to help putting out the fire.

[Zozma]

If it seems like a place I would stop for a chapter break, then the thread is over. Typically, I go to another character and then eventually come back around to that character for their next chapter. I treat each thread of mine as a chapter in the same book series.

Like I had a character whose father was an administrator of the nightmare fighting academy where the RP takes place. His father wanted him to have a better role model in his life, so he nudged one of his clerical workers in his direction and made him his mentor at work, hoping his work ethics and morals would rub off on my character (who was a rebellious speedster snot). The characters met, hated each other, but had a few drinks to try and take off the edge. They slept together and woke up the next morning in horror, then parted ways. End of thread.

Then we went to another thread with totally different characters. My character was a capricious assassin with a masochistic side. He purposely ran into a creep in an alleyway and toyed with him. Creepy stuff happened. Then my character met with his best friend, who always sorta babied my character. My character lies down with his head in his friend's lap, curls up, and they talk. My character lets it slip that he's got a new job but is annoyingly skimpy on the details and his BFF gets worried. My character falls asleep and then later, he disappears to do his job.

In the next thread, I have a character who works in the same administrative building as the first two. He stays late one night and walks past a new mail boy and thinks nothing of it. His story goes on--even though he's about to get married, he's seeing my assassin dude's BFF on the side and that's where he's going that night. He goes to him that night but later during that night, the BFF receives a mangled text message from his assassin friend that's trying to say "night night" which is his signature before he goes to sleep with his BFF. Worried, the BFF runs off in a panic and finds my assassin character bleeding and poisoned.

Then the next thread is the first guy finding out his father has been assassinated, etc.

Basically, I end threads with the promise that the story will pick up in the next installment. I get a funny little joy out of finishing a thread to completion. I feel accomplished. So I don't like dithering around and dragging a thread for 5 months. I usually start and finish a thread within two weeks (sometimes my partner will even finish a whole thread in a day) and then get on to the next one. I love it and wish more RPers were the same.

[fudge]

I end threads... yknow, both of the characters leaving the scene or place they met in the thread. That simple. Unless we haven't reached that stage, then I consider it inactive.