So...if I were to say...start my own RPG.

...which I have already, mind you, but it blows big wookie reproductory organs (or muscles...I'm still entirely sure, I know the anatomy of a wookie about as well as I know the basement of Anna Nicole Smith's house). See, I've always been an avid fan of online RPGs. No, not those "hur, I clicked it and it died" graphical ones like Everquest. I mean like, the cheap-o kind you find on Angelfire and Geocities...where you hop onto a message board or chatroom, MANUALLY TYPE "::My character laughs maniacally as he hobbles over, stomping on the pathetic squirrel that dared to oppose him.::" or what have you before a webmaster pops in and MANUALLY UPDATES your stats on his site. Y'know. Those kind.

But of course, there's been a major shortage of those lately. More specifically, I think 98.5% of the good ones died around '98-'99. So I make my own when I get bored. Hence far, it's been quite successful, as I've gotten anywhere from ten to twenty members for each RPG--not bad, considering I run them by myself (I can very rarely find anybody to help me update). The one I've been running lately, though, has been--well, I won't recap the full statement, as you can find it above. It's the one about unnaturally hairy genitalia. It was *originally* crafted with the basis of Dragonball Z, but with original characters and more than a fair share of elements from video games and other anime (i.e., Final Fantasy, Breath of Fire, Chobits). It's a neat little RPG and all (www.db-legends.tk), it's just that I suffer from the woe that befalls most DBZ-related products: it's full of idiots. Idiots that can't roleplay. Idiots that don't understand the concept of non-numerical damage. Idiots that think I can't count. At any rate...it's magically morphing into a big pile of poo, as out of ten or so members, only three are actually doing anything (and those three are mentally incapable of zipping their own pants up without catching something). Now we come to my dilemma.

I need an online RPG idea. A good one. A creative one. A crazy one. One that lends itself to plenty of ideas, such as items and attacks and such. One with a system that won't drive me literally insane as I attempt to update it once a day or bi-daily. DBZ RPGs are always good for this, what with all the mythology and mystical-ness floating about the series, not to mention the fact that the Power Levels and such practically scream "MAKE AN RPG OUT OF ME." But then, I would be stuck in the same dilemma: New RPG. Different system. Same kind of roleplayer (the kind that doesn't). So...give me something crazy. I beg of you. You're all fine, intelligent people (pardon me while I wipe the brown off my nose). I know you can think of SOMETHING to aid this poor, bored teen.

So far in my life, I've managed two DBZ RPGs, three medieval-fantasy ones, two fighting-game based RPGs with E-fed systems, one E-fed, and...uh...I really can't remember what else. If you need anymore specification as to what I'm asking for, don't hesitate to ask. If I put this on the wrong board, don't hesitate to delete and/or move it. I just want suggestions from SOMEBODY, and my friends are about as creative as a McDonald's commercial.

[Mr. Viewtiful]

Try a Soul Calibur-esque RP. Or perhaps one which requires the use of a DDR machine, a toilet seat, and cream pie in order to save the world from ultimate destruction. Is that crazy enough for you?

[stuper of thought]

or you can creat one where the world is going to be invaded by blobs that look like poop and the only way to kill them is to throw flaming bags of cow manure at them.

[Forever Zero]

Hmm, well, like you said, DBZ is a sound concept, but execution usually fails. Many DBZ fans are also leet speakers, random flamers, and all around idiots it seems at times, and can't be trusted to do anything requireing thought. I personally would have found an RPG idea like that interesting, but it seems your are A. Abandoning it, and B. It is full of idiots, so I'll avoid it.

As for ideas for a new roleplaying system? Look through the RP section of this site is a good place to start looking for ideas. There is Sci-Fi (A little, and started by either me or batgirl only it seems...), Fantasy (Tons of it, you could practically drown in it all), or alternate world scenarios (A few unsuccesful mercenary RPs, and an interesting world scenario one come to mind.). As of right this second, I can't think up anything to help you personally, but take a look at the Eternal Night thread for an interesting idea that while a bit complicated for a simple forum RP, for something of the level you were planning, it may work.

Do you think too many people would be too put off by messageboard-based fighting? I mean, I could do alot more as far as statistics and levelling up with a messageboard (where I don't have to keep up with HP changes occuring every three seconds, not to mention MP or whatever for attacks and how much damage each move should do and etc, via a chatroom). I mean, if worse comes to worse, I could just request that each player post their remaining stats after each roleplay (like, how much HP they have left after their opponents' last attack, whatever).

On the other hand, alot of people on AIM tell me message boards are too slow. On the other other hand (because I have three), people on AIM tend to suck.

[Forever Zero]

I prefer using the Forum format, just because I've never really used a message board before, but whatever works easiest. Whatever you do though, you might want to try and set up a system that allows for some sort of dice rolls online where everyone can see them and not cheat (Don't even know if this exists, but it would be cool...), because Forum RPs are notorious for God-Modding, and it seems that your last RPG was ruined by people that don't know how to RP, and dice rolls help to cut out some of the cheating that can happen in Forum RPs.

Yeah, I would consider using AIM...since it's very easy to make chatrooms with it, and it has a dice rolling system where you just type //roll-dicenumber-sidenumber and bam, there it is. Whole chat sees it. Of course, not everybody has AIM...and even though it's free, alot of people are lazy.

I'm obviously going to need SOME kind of statistical count (HP, MP, levels, etc), as alot of people have trouble with "theorized" damage (you cut my arm, my arm is hurt, I roleplay not doing extensive things with that arm)...it's just going to be difficult thinking up a system that's not so complicated that I can't manage it. If there's a whole lot stats to keep up with (Strength for physical damage, Mind for technological damage, Spirit for ki or magic damage, Speed for dodging and turn rate, etc), I could get overwhelmed rather quickly in keeping up with what attacks do what amount of damage and to whom.

[Atronflame]

The problem with DBZ, is that it has hoards of fans... well, fans that suck.

Ive actually heard Rm2k Tsukuru (RpgMaker 2000) called DragonBallZ Game Maker2000. I mean... wtf. I dont know how you can even possibly call it that, considering every single DBZ game Ive ever played was incredibly cliche and/or crappy. Im dead serious on that.

But... to the point. DBZ is horribly over-used. If you want to make an RPG, dont put ANYTHING about DBZ in the title, and if you want to use things out of it, change the names/ and other stuff so it doesnt seem like a rip off or something. And, if you like things about DBZ, what is it that you like? Is it the amazingly lengthy and yet simple fights? Or, the power level? Or... etc?

Youre right about one thing, though. Large AIM based Chat-Rooms are amazingly hard to manage, what with the fact that people can instantly say something, and every now and then you'll get some jerk who will try and ruin things for everyone. Or something...

But, at one point I attempted to play a Message Board based RPG with Faith. Some of you may remember her. Others might not. Anyway.
It was called "Council of Emerelda"... and it was actually pretty well inspired, based off the world of her book. Anyway.

The problem with message boards is getting the right amount of members. If you have just 2 its going to suck. But if you have like 90 its going to get a bit more difficult to manage.

It really depends on what youre looking for...

I think what's appealing about DBZ RPGs, at least online, is the fact that it's so easy to think of stuff for it. I mean, what the thirty or so attacks listed from the series, all the items they bluntly state the purposes off, the various races that are rather well fleshed out in the shows...and the power levels, the show's basically an RPG waiting to happen. In fact, it would probably make a better SNES run-and-shoot-things game than it does an anime. The story certainly lends itself that way...

But anyway. I think running an E-fed-style RPG could work out really well (it has in the past, anyway)...only problem is that so few people actually know how E-feds work, and for that matter, want to try and play one...especially since E-feds are generally wrestling-based (hence the name, E-federation).

The only people who usually know how E-feds work are wrestling fans. Wrestling RPers don't want to join an RPG based on non-wrestling. Non-wrestling RPers don't want to join an RPG based on something wrestling-related. It's like...double screwjob. As far as actually running it, though, it can be very fun and they're not overly hard to manage...it's just finding people to join that sorta thing practically takes an act of congress.

Ahhh the joys of creating your own RPG. finding the right setting theme etc. Really this is a tough job due to the fact that practically its all been done, or has it? DBZ has like the wise atronflame & forever zero previosly stated a huge fanbase that has some fans that well lets face it might not understand some RPG concepts. So what to do it on? PIRACY! YAR SAIL THE SEVEN SEAS LOOT AND PLUNDER AND SVREAM YARGH ALL DAY!!!! just kidding. If you want ideas go to block buster or the movies. thats what i think