Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza

Do you like serious role play threads? Elaborate - Yes! Very much. I wouldn't be in AoA if I didn't.
Why do you think my shops in the Gondor Market and the Rohan Market hasn't had a single visitor? The WD reputation precedes you ...
Do you prefer serious pubs or silly pubs? I enjoy both; it just depends on the time, place, and people involved. Serious is a bit easier to sustain.

Do you like serious role play threads? Elaborate I just rarely participate in RPs, a couple times elsewhere, I don't think I've ever RPed on the Plaza. I'm not much of a creative writer, but I will read RP threads, especially well structured ones.

Why do you think my shops in the Gondor Market and the Rohan Market hasn't had a single visitor? I don't travel into the regions a whole lot...unless there's a caption thread or some sort of game that won't take a lot of time commitment. Like the Character Elimination...easy routine. Wake up in the morning, make my pot of coffee, check the thread and take sweets from Mushu.

Do you prefer serious pubs or silly pubs? I have participated in pub RPs elsewhere, because in general I think the pub atmosphere and diverse characters you get is cool. Lean more towards silly pubs.

Do you like serious role play threads? Elaborate Should I direct you to our shared RPs in Umbar and the MT Dungeons? I think it's safe to say I like serious RP threads
Why do you think my shops in the Gondor Market and the Rohan Market hasn't had a single visitor? I'm working on a Gondorian character for one, and for the other I have been hijacked and locked in a store with strangers so... working on it
Do you prefer serious pubs or silly pubs? What the fredegar is a serious pub?

Do you like serious role play threads? Elaborate. I think I like the serious ones, but I can usually handle both silly and serious, depending on my mood and how much my character decides to hijack things. I do like the strong potential for character development that the more serious threads offerk.
Why do you think my shops in the Gondor Market and the Rohan Market hasn't had a single visitor? Cause I haven't made it to either of those Marketplaces yet!
Do you prefer serious pubs or silly pubs? I think serious pubs are a bit easier to follow, but then the only pub I'm actually posting in at the moment is On the Rocks. And who knows what is going on there.

Do you like serious role play threads? Elaborate Yes. I find the storytelling aspect of living within ME is excellent, and I like that it is basically writing a story piecemeal. I am a little bit chaotic in my storytelling, and like to be able to switch to another character or time, for a while and come back to it when I am inspired. I am also enjoying the LotR re-read, picking up things to use in RP, so ... I do find that I don't always enjoy other interpretations of what I perceive as canon (:shrug: so sometimes I like the freedom of Free RP where I can tell the tale I want to, in the way I want to, without being contradicted!) I feel so many years of NOT RPing has made me a bit selfish like that, so I am learning to give and take again, but it's a slow process for this old dog.
Why do you think my shops in the Gondor Market and the Rohan Market hasn't had a single visitor? Well. It will depend on what you are selling, I think. I am not currently sure what you are selling, but I have a feeling if you opened a General Store everyone would come there! Markets are hard, because as a roleplayer, I would only come if my character desperately needed something and I wanted to spend a couple of weeks (my experience of shopping so far in Rohan and Gondor) buying something. All three of the shops I've been in called me their first customer though, so perhaps people aren't that into the slowness of buying? In any case, I'm sure it's not personal!!
Do you prefer serious pubs or silly pubs? I think I always prefer serious, but I do enjoy silly IF it is written generously. I think I would tend to avoid a pub that set out to be silly. My favourite pubs of old were the Mordor Event Pubs, which the rulers would post an event in. I was there for one with Roh ~~ THUNDERSTORM ~~ the pub is blown onto the sea of Rhun ~~ and everything went haywire. We wrote madly and hilariously and it was such fun and the thread filled up amazingly, and then as we were posting, nearly all the posts disappeared POOF! But how do you get mad at Sauron for deleting your posts? It does not work! (I don't know why they didn't just open a new thread.) But it was amazing and fun. I quite liked the recent shenanigans in the Shire pub ... I went there for serious and it ended up silly; I did try to ignore it, but it thrust itself at me ... and frankly, you gotta play the cards you're dealt!

Windy.

Do you like serious role play threads? Elaborate I like both serious and silly, though I think I struggle with writing humor so I definitely gravitate more toward the serious side though I also don't like anything too serious. I'm Goldilocks and I just want a happy middle!
Why do you think my shops in the Gondor Market and the Rohan Market hasn't had a single visitor? Well Lail got inconvenienced by someone getting stabbed, but YOU JUST GOT YOUR FIRST CUSTOMER FINALLY!!
Do you prefer serious pubs or silly pubs? So, I find it hard to RP in pubs sometimes. So I don't know. Again, I think I like a middle-ground but I think its good for there to be spaces for both silliness and seriousness and if pubs are silly spaces that's ok with me! Sorry. I'm a flaky tree, I guess.

Do you like serious role play threads? Elaborate. Yes, but I like a bit of humor in them too. If stuff gets too serious it’s too much like RL, and where’s the fun in that?

Why do you think my shops in the Gondor Market and the Rohan Market hasn't had a single visitor? Mine hasn’t either, except for the scavenger hunt. So I don’t feel bad for you.

Do you prefer serious pubs or silly pubs? Silly! Pubs are supposed to be fun! Not talking about how broke/tired we are, or how bad the crops are, or how the market is down again, etc.

Do you like serious role play threads? Elaborate: If they are around 250 give or take word post, yes. Longer post I find hard to write and it takes me most of the day to do it and I miss my lunch and, sometimes my supper. *grin*
Why do you think my shops in the Gondor Market and the Rohan Market hasn't had a single visitor? Do you have a gluten free booth? Personally, there are too many places to visit right now. I have only briefly visited Gondor.
Do you prefer serious pubs or silly pubs? What's a serious pub?? I prefer silly pubs where I can drink out of my boot.

Do you like serious role play threads? Elaborate I mean, I like them philosophically, but I don't like posting in them lol
Why do you think my shops in the Gondor Market and the Rohan Market hasn't had a single visitor? I mean probably because you're a giant dragon tbh
Do you prefer serious pubs or silly pubs? I never liked pubs, only ever posted there as one-off favors to friends on old plaza. Haven't made a single pub post on new plaza.

Do you like serious role play threads ? Elaborate - Yes. Mostly because I am not remotely funny enough to keep up in the crazier RP shenanigans. Also, well, the sensible ones sometimes even remind me of reading the actual Tolkien canon books. Which I very much enjoy.

Why do you think my shops in the Gondor Market and the Rohan Market haven’t had a single visitor ? Did you turn the sign around to ‘open’ yet ?

Do you prefer silly pubs or serious pubs ? I prefer to RP in serious pubs if there is an IC development/plot reason. I don’t tend to join in with the silly because see question 1.

@Elenhir how do you know me so well..

In the true spirit of minions, next set of questions goes to the first one who can get them up! Fight your way, kill each other and post! Only one set though..

Fine, since no one else has the cojones

1. What sort of nonfiction do you/would read?
2. What's the longest post you've made on NuPlaza?
3. Structured RPGs vs Free RPs, which do you prefer and why?

1. What sort of nonfiction do you/would read? Bible, teaching books, gardening books, cook books, astronomy, Bill Bryson's commentary on life - whatever takes my fancy really. Don't have a lot of time in term time though.
2. What's the longest post you've made on NuPlaza? Erm ... I guess one of my Elfie's RP posts.
3. Structured RPGs vs Free RPs, which do you prefer and why? Free RP. on OldPlaza I didn't do a structured RP that I enjoyed and I don't like being hemmed in by expected outcomes with no flexibility. I quite like the idea of goals, but not being able to do what I want to with my character would annoy me. I avoid(ed) the AoA in Rivvy because I didn't feel I would enjoy the structure of RPing known characters doing known things. I like to fill in the gaps of what Tolkien missed. I like freedom.

1. What sort of nonfiction do you/would read? Hmm I guess biographies. I did buy Scott Kelly's and do plan to read it.
2. What's the longest post you've made on NuPlaza? Mine havent been that long on NuPlaza, too much rust.
3. Structured RPGs vs Free RPs, which do you prefer and why? I dont think I have tried a structured RPG, most of the ones I am in are pretty much make it up as we go along :P I am assuming you mean something like AoA for structured? If so I avoid that like the plague :P I like sticking to canon as much as possible, but hell WD would never have come about if I was 100% strict on that. I like a little freedom to let creativity rule and to go down a sideroad if that seems more interesting.

1. What sort of nonfiction do you/would read? Lots of philosophy, most recently medieval philosophy of education.
2. What's the longest post you've made on NuPlaza? By word count probably one of my movie retrospective posts (which I need to get back to writing) but by literal post length on the screen probably one of the lore archive posts (which I am more interested in doing).
3. Structured RPGs vs Free RPs, which do you prefer and why? Structure is love, structure is life. Even something as simple as an SNL skit has structure. Without structure, there's no meaning. I also don't think structure means pre-determined outcomes, it just means the players generally have a goal in mind in the scene.

1. What sort of nonfiction do you/would read? History, theology, art history and theology, and children's spirituality to name a few. I read a lot of nonfiction, especially considering I went about 4-5 years reading a ton of books, but zero novels. I only started reading novels again in March.
2. What's the longest post you've made on NuPlaza? A little over 1000 words. I've also made lots of posts around 800-900 words. Though for sheer amount of scrolling, it would probably be my attempt to gather as many Halloween icons as possible.
3. Structured RPGs vs Free RPs, which do you prefer and why? It honestly depends on what currently is going on. I prefer to have some sort of a vague plan/end goal, but how said conclusion is reached is discovered along the way. The reactive RPing is what makes this style of writing more entertaining than just straight-up writing a story.

Do you like serious role play threads? Elaborate I do! My roleplaying is really rusty and I find a lot of you to be intimidating to roleplay with (because you're really good and detailed!) But I enjoy reading them.
Why do you think my shops in the Gondor Market and the Rohan Market hasn't had a single visitor? Uhhhh I guess I better make a character to go visit them then!
Do you prefer serious pubs or silly pubs? Silly pubs! Serious pubs have too many corners

What sort of non-fiction do/would you read ?Anything instructional, like ‘learn to play guitar’, ‘grow your own garden vegetables’ and etc.
Whats the longest post you’ve made on NuPlaza ?
A certain Ranger combat post in which I was so very out of practice for that I ended up including everything and anything I could imagine it should contain, and then ended up posting in two parts because it was too much for one. On old plaza, my record would almost certainly have been one of the debate posts.
Structured RPGs vs Free RPs, which do you prefer and why ?
I might be going against type here, but I most prefer the Free RP which gives some space for character development; whereas structured RPGs don’t always have the time flexibility for such things (as it would likely detract in some cases from the finely detailed plan). Generally, if an RP has a clear genre and a solid motive to carry it forward, then it will be all good. I do feel I should speak up here for AOA which, despite being a retelling of the Silmarillion by a whole assorted group of gathered writers, is by no means as restrictive as it may seem. At least almost half of the content is non-canon ‘filler’ material which rather fleshes out the original story, via the addition of often very original Plaza-member’s characters, and the only real limit is that it should embrace and enhance but never really contradict Tolkien’s canon. I would count it as a lot less ‘structured’ than other RPGs I have participated in. An awful lot depends on the GM, rather than the ‘type’ of the RPG.

1. What sort of nonfiction do you/would read? History, accounts of specific events (like Into Thin Air, what a book!), and biography (I spent one whole summer as a preteen reading the biographies of famous swing clarinetists, don't ask)
2. What's the longest post you've made on NuPlaza? Possibly my latest cooking contest post. 1300+ words, which stands in stark contrast to my more typical 500-800 words.
3. Structured RPGs vs Free RPs, which do you prefer and why? I like 'em both! I think it just depends who I'm playing and what the larger circumstances are. I enjoy improving silliness or even seriousness because you get to play off of what other people write a bit more, but sometimes it's nice to have structure and guidance/direction from a GM. A healthy mix, I say!

1. What sort of nonfiction do you/would read? Writing craft. Theology. Homestead/livestock/gardening books.

2. What's the longest post you've made on NuPlaza? For non-RP, Chapter 1 of Modig Redux (1,819 words). For RP, probably this post (1,589 words) in Fields & Forests.

3. Structured RPGs vs Free RPs, which do you prefer and why? I like elements of both. I like, well.. the *structure* of structured RPs, because I know what's expected of me. But I like Free RPs for the opportunity simply to explore a setting/character. However, even in a free RP, I like to have an end goal that I'm working toward.

1. What sort of nonfiction do you/would read? I suppose this means stuff not related to work? Biographies, instruction manuals (sports stuff, gardening and what not), not sure what else currently...
2. What's the longest post you've made on NuPlaza? I don't think my posts have been very long; I seem to have developed the ability to write short and to the point, so might have to learn again how to write longer descriptive posts. It's not like anyone requires 3000+ words training ground posts from me anymore... maybe a pity too.
3. Structured RPGs vs Free RPs, which do you prefer and why? All sorts of RPGs that hold an element of surprise - when the planning still leaves room for that and makes me think of the possible reactions.

1. What sort of nonfiction do you/would read? Autobiographies and memoirs, books about animal-human relationships, nature and natural science, psychology and travel/outdoor/adventure. I have a real love for lost-in-nature types of books or outdoor survival stories like Into the Wild but I also loved Into Thin Air which I literally could not put down. I'm morbidly fascinated by "Death in [Insert National Park here]" books. Turns out, the most common way to die at the Grand Canyon is flying in a plane/helicopter. Drowning is also quite common.
2. What's the longest post you've made on NuPlaza? Not sure. I tend to try not to write posts that are too long.
3. Structured RPGs vs Free RPs, which do you prefer and why? I don't like planning things out too much. I prefer Free RPs because I love to see where the characters lead me. When I write a post, I can often see many different directions things can go in and I like exploring those possibilities with others.

1. What sort of nonfiction do you/would read?
Biographies or autobiographies of historical figures, primarily US Presidents, or books about antebellum US. But I've read a few autobiographies from athletes/celebrities I like. Eric Clapton's autobiography is a good read.

2. What's the longest post you've made on NuPlaza? Not entirely sure, it's either one of my lore posts, or a post in the Movie forum, explaining my displeasure with The Hobbit movies.

3. Structured RPGs vs Free RPs, which do you prefer and why? I liked to read structured RPGs, but to participate in I prefer Free RPGs. Probably from just not wanting to have a long time commitment. I would feel like structured RPGs require more of a commitment.

@Menolly - Ranger Confidential is on my list and I'm going to add the other one, too! Thanks for feeding my morbid obsession! I've had Death in Yellowstone sitting on my shelf for years but I'm waiting to read it until after I go.

1. What sort of nonfiction do you/would read?
Erm, not enough. But I've got Julie Andrews' memoirs out from the library right now. In retrospect, I probably should have gone with the audiobooks considering their subject and narrator. Next on my list is West with the Night, the early 1940s memoir of Beryl Markham, recommended to me by my dad. (@Lailorn this seems like the sort of thing you might like too if you haven't read it already! I went through a major Everest phase fueled by a Gordon Korman series as a kid and still haven't quite gotten over my fascination with books like Into Thin Air.) Sometimes I read baseball books.

2. What's the longest post you've made on NuPlaza? I have a suspicion it's not in Ages of Arda, but the Great Elvish Culinary Contest. To quote my own DM's..."DEAR LORD WHO KNEW IT TOOK SO LONG TO PRETEND TO BAKE A QUICHE".

3. Structured RPGs vs Free RPs, which do you prefer and why? Huh, well, speaking of AOA, it strikes a good balance on this for me as far as serious RP. I rarely touch free RP threads or pubs because I'm not really assertive enough OOC to spontaneously drive a plot along. So I like having set end goals and things to react to while still being able to do what I want with my own characters. A bit of structure brings context to Chaos and Shenanigans as well (see the above quiche).

1. What sort of nonfiction do you/would read? Besides work stuff, mainly Biographies. Super behind the times, but reading the Hamilton bio right now.
2. What's the longest post you've made on NuPlaza? Absolutely no idea
3. Structured RPGs vs Free RPs, which do you prefer and why? Mixture. Not too structured, but sitting around in a pub with nothing happening gets boring imo

@Almarëa Mordollwen the questions are all yours! I loved your list of nonfiction (particularly the medieval literature and all its components). Have you heard of Saga Thing? Medievalist professors talk about Icelandic Family sagas. Great stuff.

well it seems Alma is busy at the moment (OOC I totally understand) so I'll leave the next set of questions to which we can give very unhelpful and sarcastic answers to anyone on the floor. Fight over it!

Jumpin' in.

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment?
2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep?
3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why?

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment?Picture that alignment square, with the nine alignment squares inside that square. Now picture where the lines of Neutral, Chaotic Neutral, Neutral Good, and Chaotic Good all come together to make a point. That's about where Ducky's alignment rests.
2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep? I don't like wine, but I might make an exception for Dorwinion. And I imagine I could drink a fair amount, I'm not a lightweight.
3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why? Bilbo, he's got the same sort of stumble messily through it approach that I use for Ducky and I relate to it in real life a fair amount as well haha

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment?
Lawful, as Poul Anderson would have it. (Lawful-Good per 3.5 rules, but why are we still using those?)
2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep?
Depends on when the glasses start. In the evening after a hard day's work? Three. Starting in the late morning after a hearty brunch and a good night's sleep? 2+ bottles easy. (Also, never drink because you're sad, folks!)
3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why?
From the hip, Faramir, because of oh-so-many reasons, one of which is probably because PJ and co. did him so dirty.
If I sit down and think about it, Hama, as elucidated several years ago thusly:
"Háma, the door-ward of King Theoden, is a brief and oft-overlooked epitome of what a man ought to be. He's loyal to his master, willing to fight even the Lord Aragorn in defense of the Golden Hall, yet his loyalty is not something constructed with clunky two-by-fours - his eyes are open and his oaths bind him to serve that which his lord also served in happier times. He is insightful, wise enough to know when to act on that insight, and willing to pour out his own life that those he loves may live. The foe may have hewed his body after he fell, but they had to hew him at the gates.
Door-ward to the last, I give you Háma. Wæs hail!"

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment? Neutral evil for WD, Lawful good for the others. Dont know about Jormund though..
2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep? 1
3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why? Sauron, cause he would kill me if I said otherwise..

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment? True Neutral.
2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep? Real-life me? Probably half a glass. IC Taeth? Eh... maybe 4 or 5? She downed like... 3? 4? shots of Nazgul Essence before she passed out, after all.
3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why? I've always loved Radagast, because of the care he shows for nature and animals. I hated what Peter Jackson did with him in the Hobbit.

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment? Frost runs the gambit from chaotic neutral to lawful evil, Walpurga is chaotic good through and through, Numey is Neutral good, most of my others are lawful to neutral evil
2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep? Wine doesn't make me sleepy, technically I would just drink til I passed out which would be at least 3-4 bottles
3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why? The Witch-King, he's the face of the bad guys for the most part and, even though he doesn't get near enough screen time, he does the most damage to the good guys. I have to also admit I enjoy the MERP non-canon lore on him as well

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment? That was an interesting test. I picked my alignment before I did the test and I was correct. I am a Lawful Neutral character.
2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep? Well now, that would depend on the size of the glass. Probably 2 normal size glasses.
3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why? I sort of have a crush on Aldarion of late. We have spent the last two weeks together trying to solve a riddle in Fangorn. He really is an interesting character.

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment? I haven't taken a Myers-Briggs test in a while, but every time I do, I'm 75%+ in IST, and pretty much a dead even split between the J and P. My Myers-Briggs Star Wars character was Owen Lars (ISTJ)...so I believe that would put me in lawful neutral in terms of alignment. ISTP would be lawful chaotic (or Chewbacca)

2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep? For Thanksgiving I downed an entire bottle of chocolate wine, before the napping. But was it the wine or the turkey? Who knows? It surprisingly had a high alcohol content and was very delicious (I'm not a big wine drinker). I imagine Dorwinion wine would taste even better and have a higher alcohol content, so I'll say 5 glasses.

3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why? Bilbo. I love his humor and outlook on life. He's the perfect bachelor but also tries to play matchmaker. I laughed hard in Rivendell when Aragorn returns and he's like "hey, friend, why weren't you at dinner? Your bae Arwen was there" <3

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment? Zarâm is probably chaotic neutral. Éomund is mostly lawful good, with a little bit of chaotic good thrown in. I have not RPed my other charcters enough to have a solid feel for their personalities.
2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep? Probably about 3-4. I have consumed a bottle of wine throughout the course of an evening, though the next day was far from pleasant.
3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why? I think I have to say Sam. He's so supportive and is always there when you need him the most. And everyone needs a Sam in their lives.

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment? Somewhere between lawful good and neutral good (boring!). Working on another character who will be more exciting lol
2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep? Probably a bottle and a half. Ish. Depends on the situation.
3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why? Aragorn. He super competent, but still asks for help when he needs it.

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment? Tarawen is probably neutral good whereas Zôr is neutral evil.
2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep? Several.
3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why? Like Gwai, I'm gonna say Aragorn

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment? Its been ages since I thought about D&D alignments and I hate putting things in boxes with labels, but I would say Lailyn is somewhere between lawful and neutral good.
2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep? I would probably throw up before falling asleep and I therefore have no interest in finding out! Wine does bad things to me!
3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why? Now? I'm not sure. Maybe Sam. I find him to be relatable but also admirable for his loyalty and determination.

@Aerlinn - thank you I will add that book to my list! Also - I feel you on feeling passive in RP, too...I'm working on it.

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment? nearly all of my characters are called Sil... Silendra/Silendris is chaotic evil, but Silarien is lawful neutral. Silvereye is chaotic neutral. Silas is probably lawful good, the poor dull lad.

2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep?
Not many, that stuff is powerful by all accounts. How big are the glasses?

3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why?
It’s pretty much always a toss up between Finrod Felagund and Fingolfin. Finrod for being a poet who also hulked his way out of chains to wrestle a werewolf to save his BFF (but not the rest of his troops mmkay) and Fingolfin for the Seven Wounds, which was a badass achievement

1. What is your plaza character's (or characters') true alignment?
Pele - definitely lawful good, but Shamara might be neutral evil.

2. How many glasses of Dorwinion wine could you drink before you fell asleep?
Ummm... A few sips as I do not drink alcohol?

3. Which Tolkien character is your very favourite NOW, and why?
Faramir (still or again?) because I keep admiring his ability to resist the ring, his honour and his kindness.