RPG Sims - We need a Review Board

It works for movies, why not for games? All you have to do is find a reviewer that has the same tastes as you do. Not every movie reviewer out there is a good choice for me. But I've found a few that I've learned to trust -- if they like the movie, I will probably (but not definitely) like it. And if they don't like it, I probably won't.

I think if the RP review was looked at this way, it could work. A good reviewer would be one that could clearly explain the strengths and weaknesses of a particular system -- as s/he saw them. A good reviewer for *me* is one that also has similar tastes in RP. Or perhaps very different, so I can judge RP based on the *opposite* of what the review says.

No way do I want a "Board of 2LRP" to tell me what is good or bad, though. I get told what to think enough in real life.

One thing I'm tired of...is the whining about "ooooh, someone *mean* might post a bad review of Sim X".

I don't care. I'll read a forum, tally up the good and bad posts about Sim X, and if I'm still intrigued...I'll visit.

SOMETHING...is always better than nothing. And deciding NOT to do something like this simply because of a few simpering fears about someone posting a bad review is ridiculous.
I'd simply like the chance to have some sort of consolidated SLRPG resource where I can find out what others are doing...where they're doing it...and if I might be interested in doing it with them. Even if it involves goats. Or elves. Or terrifyin' space monkeys.

I mentioned above the work being done by Pirate Cotton as a resource for SLRPGs. I forgot that Onder Skall has done something similar in the past. I'm not sure if he still has it, but a while ago he set up a "Games Park" that served as an info hub for all sorts of SL Games.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Patagonia/229/109/30

I think this would actually be a good idea.

The main problem with "just try out places and see for yourself" is that most RP sims seem to be rather difficult to get involved with. I mean, just about every one I see has banlines everywhere, demands that guests wear titlers and not talk to anyone, or instructions that everyone "in" the RP should ignore anyone who is not known to also be "in" it.

I can see people who try one or two such sims, and don't find what they're looking for, to just decide it's too much bother to keep having to fit into these places and giving up.

Ah, Everwind has the same usual guest tag requisiste, but we also provide a backpack etc. so that you can look like an explorer while you're exploring ^_^

We actually had two really great RPers come in the other week - big props to them - who actually did RPing as the backpackers. They were 'lost time travellers' kinda like in the multitude of kids movies where little Annie gets lost in the woods and stumbles upon a world of dragons and so forth.

I think this kind of RP is welcomed, as long as you don't go around disturbing any big events that may be going on. We even took time to RP with them, and it was very interesting - taking them up to the arena to 'teach' them how to handle a sword etc. etc. and we even went off in search of a wizard who was able to tp them home. ^_^

Hear hear. It's all opinion, readers should do with it what they will, and not get wrapped around the axle of thinking they're being told what to think.

... So even though they were "great roleplayers" you sent them away?

No, we did not send them away... it was a part of their roleplay - they wanted to do it... from what I was made aware, they were travelling between different places, exploring as it is... So I don't know what other sims they may have gone to.

I wish soooo much that there was something in place as the OP describes. Even a directory would be great, if it could be detailed enough to give me the information I need before investing my time in yet another attempt to find an RP home.

I'm one of the people who gave up after finding only ban lines, cliques who wouldn't talk to me, empty sims, and very little roleplay beyond the shallow, infantile, violent, or lovesick. I'm a mature, thoughtful, devoted, RPer who wants to get to know people, and then make interesting stories with them. I know there are many places out there for me. But it's a huge world, and I haven't been able to find them.

Thanks Katryna for the kind words about Everwind, we love having you there.

My partner (Grace Loudon) and I both own and created and own Everwind. We've also had the opportunity to check out many other sims/themed roleplay sims. We've both been roleplaying online for 10+ years and put into Everwind what we've wanted to see and experience.

There are a lot of great roleplay environments out there. The problem with a review board is you're going to run a risk on people bad-mouthing sims or disliking them because they couldn't follow the rules and were banned.

Sim owners reserve the right to boot/ban people for whatever reason they see fit. And this certainly doesn't entitle their entire sim to be a victim of slander. A review board is fine, just as long as the reviewers give FAIR and UNBIASED reviews that are derived from being sore over them getting banned/kicked out.