The Rise and Fall of the Roleplay Genre (2020)

Raison d'être
I have been asked by my fellow IA academic and cartographer, Estus, to write a short history of RP. In doing so, I have decided to publish this short piece amidst the current discussions on RP. If anyone wishes to use this as reference / post elsewhere, please feel free.


Before "RP" (Classical Age: 2012-2014)
After custom map maker and scenario editor were released, AtWar had an increase in the number of possibilities. Scenarios dominated, especially FFA colonials and team maps. Many retrospectively admire the scenario 'purity' of this age. However, there did exist UN created by Cronus, Cpt. Magic and Tunder. Eventually, other map makers would create more advanced versions: with LoN and many other 'political scenarios' following suit.


The Rise (The RP Dark ages: 2014-2016)
The origins of RP are dated to Tempted's RP. However, as Tempted and his deputies left few historical records and did not contribute to forum posts, all few remaining accounts are from prominent scenario/cartographer perspectives. Tempted's RP's rose to prominence in 2014, with its city and reinf spam, unit statistical inflation and sp farm. The impact of this on the scenario community was devastating and can be attested by any who lived before its arrival. The only game was roleplay.

The scenario counter-reaction was inspired with great hatred and animosity, with many leading cartographers advocating for a metaphorical 'Crusade' or 'Reconquista' against RP. The scenario politics of this time, though well documented, are extremely convoluted and will be skipped. Eventually, as a result of scenario disputes, Adog's Illuminated RP was distributed to two people: Trystane Martell and then Fappino. Trystane had used the title 'King of RP' passingly and possibly jokingly, but Fappino came to dominate and made this his title.


The Fall (The Scenario Renaissance: 2016-2020)
From 2015 - 2020, Fappino's and his descendants (sometimes called Fappinii or Lucii) dominated the RP sphere. They controlled the RP maps and most RP clans, creating vast networks of coalitions to perpetuate roleplay. Some prominent members include: Vohlt, Alois, Pera, Acidus, Achilles, Pera, Elijah, JoeWarner etc.

However, though in 2016 the PPD (plays per day) of Fappino's RP averaged 26, by 2020 NWE (a map descendent) was only 1-2. Why was this? The Fappinians failed to adapt to the changing times.

• Infighting in the RP community
• Hard SP-multiplier nerfs
• Aetius and Pyrrhus continued the reconquista (whilst Tik-Tok, Tunder and Adog had given up) and created modern scenarios
• The large influx of 'political scenarios'
• Fappinians were often shunned by elite scenario cartographers who refused assistance to what they saw as an extension of Tempted's 'cancer'

RP's cause of death? Mismanagement by RP leaders, a genre often ignored by skilled cartographers, a community marginalised by staff and a playstyle nerfed by SP multipliers.

Epic compilation.

Ok

And this is the story of atwar racism.

TL;DR Version:

Roleplay in 2014

Roleplay in 2020

See i knew it trstane rper forever!

Why am I the villain

Napísal Al Fappino, 31.05.2020 at 20:59

Why am I the villain

Possibly because, to put it mildly, RP is not exactly the favourite genre of the kind of core players that frequent the forums.

Make a history thread explaining the great eternal map maker war that was happening in the shadows for years

Napísal sirivann, 01.06.2020 at 14:14

Make a history thread explaining the great eternal map maker war that was happening in the shadows for years

I would love to, but it'd be too long.

Also: conflicting sources (although for that I would probably try to represent all views) and also there are often complex histories unrecorded too.

Maybe I might point specific turning points when AW history may have changed. Like alternate AW history threads would be cool. I don't think it would be that popular though.

Great piece once again Adog. I look forward to the other posts!

Napísal Professor Adog, 01.06.2020 at 14:32

Napísal sirivann, 01.06.2020 at 14:14

Make a history thread explaining the great eternal map maker war that was happening in the shadows for years

I would love to, but it'd be too long.

Also: conflicting sources (although for that I would probably try to represent all views) and also there are often complex histories unrecorded too.

Maybe I might point specific turning points when AW history may have changed. Like alternate AW history threads would be cool. I don't think it would be that popular though.

DA FUCK U TALKING BOUT , LONG GOSSIP IS BEST GOSSIP

Napísal Al Fappino, 31.05.2020 at 20:59

Why am I the villain

You're still my favourite Span-erm... Portuguese noob

That's because I was the king, I had done something which you had failed... conquered tempteds Rp! But then it was time to ascend to the heavens and pass on creation like you had with me... what my children created next was well... cancer