A Labor of Love

I MUCK for recreation and fun. Yet there are times when it's just stressful and annoying, not fun at all. Those days make me think I need a new hobby. 'tis a shame I don't see much appeal in options that come to mind...



In theory, I MUCK because:
- I enjoy roleplaying.
- I can RP at almost any given time online.
- There are a variety of people and viewpoints to interact with.

In practice, there are a handful of people who - whether through direct requests or more subtle interactions - take all of my available attention, so the variety isn't a factor. The lack thereof grates on me sometimes.

I've always put effort into Furryfaire, though not as much or as overtly as some. A while back, I even volunteered my way into a wizard position. Usually, that's not so bad. About once a week, though, I end up frustrated with people who are either unprepared or unable to grasp a concept. It's not always there fault, but I really do expect better of "repeat offenders." The position is a burden, and one I shouldered out of my love of the place.

But is any of that enough?

I find myself not having fun most of the time in organized plots. Whether it's because I feel led around by the nose, or because things are not interesting/challenging, or just because someone ELSE is bitching constantly, I actually have FUN in maybe one TP session out of half a dozen. Probably less. The most I usually hope for is a chance to roleplay that doesn't leave a bad taste in my mouth. Sometimes I don't even manage that.

A lot of people are pointing at the "power characters" and saying they spoil everything. I've done it myself sometimes, I imagine. As I look at things now, however, I see something different. The system, the mechanics used to govern roleplaying, is simply not designed for "high level" play. There's a threshold (and it varies depending on character type) which, once crossed, means would-be threats are just a joke and any actual threat begs the question "If they're that potent, why are we even getting a chance to stop them?" It's most obvious in the magic system, but it exists elsewhere too. And, as time goes on, it only becomes worse as more characters pass the threshold or leave it in the dust. The problem is, I don't have an alternative. I could suggest some patches (and I have done so repeatedly), but the underlying problem remains. Even so, I don't "trust" everyone there to play without a system, and I don't have a better system to suggest.

So, often, my interest and enjoyment take a nosedive the moment dice are rolled. What scenes strike me as "fun" these days almost never involve rules and rolls. And those tend to be seriously limited in scope by a very finite circle of what can be done, who can be interacted with, and what's going on out-of-character.

Some days, I don't think about this stuff and it doesn't bother me. After last night, this isn't one of those days. Days like this, I spend wondering just what else I could do with myself instead. Books and single-player games only last so long. TV's not worthy of that much time. My work schedule rules out (or at least seriously complicates) a number of possibilities. I don't really feel enough drive to try and do serious writing or anything. I'm just at a bit of a loss. S'pose it doesn't help that I'm a creature of habit anyway.

So it goes.