Goodbye LJ, hello Dreamwidth? (Now with an added link list for RP on DW)

[jessihoney]

HEY DW PEOPLE. Who knows, maybe I'll actually start making personal updates again over here... it's been like a year and a half since my last one, lol. :V The great LJ exodus of 2011 looks like it's well underway. I wonder if this will kill RP on LJ completely... ANYHOW. Messing with the settings on this and where is everything idgi. /o\

AND NOW I'm going to compile various links of explanations/comms/things to make RPing on DW easier, mainly for my future reference:

A Guide to RP-specific features on LJ vs DW
multiversal's general wiki entry about DW and swapping over
An index for a DW community recommendation post -- some RP-specific stuff here
DW FAQ about the differences between DW and LJ regarding site-specific html
A pretty comprehensive LJ-to-DW guide -- still being worked on but looks pretty good.
Some help for settling in at DW
Dreamwidth resource list - a way more organised link dump than mine

A how-to for installing LJ layouts on DW
How to make DW look like LJ
Tropospherical Blue DW site skin - makes the site look very close to LJ (this link also has some bug fixes and new code in the comments, but I haven't tried that out at all)

Dreamwidth, Tables and You - a guide for getting html working on DW.
dreamcodes - a sharing comm for profile codes, muselists and CR charts
A workaround for getting profile codes to display

A list of active DW RPGs on rptalk, a general RP discussion comm
localroleplay -- a comm for advertising DW RPGs
rprefugees -- a new comm for LJ deserters :V
dwroleplay -- an archive/journal for info, discussions and help with roleplays on DW, with another list of active DW RPGs

dear_mun -- WE ALL KNOW WHAT THIS IS (and it's totes on the active list but I used it all the time to voicetest on LJ so :V)
memebells -- Open prompt comm. (Nothing there yet but I assume it'd keep the same name?) ACTUALLY, if it's open memes memebells-style you want, memelicious appears to be up and running and active. Or... semi-active. IDK. Everything is very disconnected and spread out so far. There's a few different places for this stuff and checking out the links from the list of active rps will probably yield something.

I... hesitated to put this in, but: rpanons. I don't read the anon comms on LJ and I don't really like anon culture myself as I think it can breed bad things, but I decided I'd stick it on the list anyway because I think it's actually probably a valuable resource for people trying to network with a new and currently rather disconnected/spread out RP scene. Finding games or players may be easier here because there's more people. I imagine it's probably been advertised on the LJ anon comm so there'd probably overlap in the userbase, which is a plus. Anyhow. There it is. :V

witchbaby's Why We Should Move To Dreamwidth

Also, not RP-specific, but the masterlist of community masterlists (because DW is less active community-wise than LJ) can be found here.

OKAY, I think that's it for now. ANYWAY I have nothing else important to say so I'mma keep fiddling with this layout and stuff! o/

Comments

[demimonde]

ooooh I didn't know where the link to that currently active list was, TY! ...hi it's Liisu.

[jessihoney]

HEY LIISU! c: np about the link. If there's anything else I should stick in there, let me know?

[demimonde]

Totes! I think you've got all the stuff I'm currently aware of, but I'll drop you a line if I find anything else? SO MUCH SETTLING IN TO DO mO_Om

[jessihoney]

Cheers, bb! There iiiis. I'm still all like LJ WILL FIX ITSELF RIGHT??? but I'm beginning to suspect it might just be Stockholm syndrome at this point. :V

[demimonde]

NGL at this point if they revert, I'm still not gonna go back - like, it's objectively a smarter and more logical decision.

If I'm paying for my hobby, and my options are a website that doesn't provide what I need or respect me as a customer, or a website that both provides what I need at a baseline and is willing to adapt to my needs, and values me as a customer, and doesn't cost me as much...

[jessihoney]

Yeah. I think like... idk, I've literally had a LJ since I was 13 and it was the only social media I used regularly for a really long time, plus the first and only place I've RPed ever, so parting from it kinda sucks. /WAY TOO EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED IN THIS LOL

Plus, my games haven't moved as of yet. So idk. I don't want to lose them.

THAT SAID, DW IS LIKE A BILLION TIMES FRIENDLIER.

[demimonde]

I think I got my first LJ when I was fifteen or sixteen? Not sure. It's been my RP home for a reallyyyy long time and I'm gonna miss the things that I'm going to lose in moving, but I guess I'm just looking at it like, long term I'll lose a lot more if I stay and I'll waste a lot more time and it just seems so unnecessary when I could just use a site that works.

I feel you on games not moving, though, it's hard to relocate if you're doing it on your own in a hobby like this. I am really grateful to my mods that we got our move underway so quickly and I've been doing what I can to help them keep it smooth :V

[jessihoney]

WELL, my two little games, idk what the plan is there but I think I'd be happy to swap if they wanted to. TLV's the big one, though. We're looking at the possibility of shifting; we've been discussing it in mod discussion, and we'll be putting up a discussion post for players soon. The problems is that I know there are some people who don't want to make the jump, so we're thinking we need to get our players' feelings before making any decisions.

However, personally, the 'wait and see' benefit of the doubt I was giving the developers hasn't yielded anything good yet, and all the points you made about wasting time on a bullshit service that doesn't care about us are true, so... /shrug

[demimonde]

My understanding atm is that traditional blogging service isn't LJ's earner any more; they're gonna tailor the site to what does make them money is the bottom line. I can't blame them for that, even if I can blame them for the increasingly shitty way they treat their customers in general, but I have to think why would they support something inconvenient to them if they don't have to? And it looks more and more like they really don't have to.

But yeah, in a large game like that, I see the problem ... otoh, if you do manage to get TLV to move en masse or mostly, that'd probably be a huge boost to the RP scene here on DW because of what a large and established game it is. That'd be a good thing, imo.

[jessihoney]

Considering the info about Singapore using the site as a kind of Etsy and drawing in a LOT of money for them, I wouldn't be surprised if they just really don't need our revenue at all. Like, RPers/English-speaking traditional bloggers have contributed quite a bit of money to LJ, but if it was enough to make a big dent in their profits, why would they not be kissing ass to get people to stay, especially with open DW account creation? Seems to say that they just don't need us anymore.

...this is actually an interesting point and something I hadn't really considered. I've been worrying about the lack of a RP scene on DW and whether we'd be able to get enough apps to balance out drops and keep the game steady, but with any luck, you're right and it would help. Thanks!

[demimonde]

Yeah, that's exactly my thought. If we were necessary or valuable, we'd be being treated differently; the redesigns are aimed at making the site better for what it's being used for now, by the actual money earner for the site. That's pretty much all I need to know about what the smartest move is going to be for me in the long term.

(It is kind of tragically hilarious to me that LJRP is so unused to good business and customer service that they're mad at Dreamwidth for having both, ngl.)

Roleplayers have serious hustle when it comes to networking, in my experience; the more of us are here, the more of us will be here. People bringing their friends, people who come with one game joining or creating another, etc, etc - I think the more games move, the more games will be able to consider moving a feasible option.

[jessihoney]

Sad but true, all of this. The redesigns and how all of this has gone down just screams 'WE DON'T WANT YOU'. And, man, I can hardly even imagine what RPing would be like without constant fuckery from the site team, DDoS attacks and other random site problems. IT SEEMS LIKE A BEAUTIFUL CRAZY DREAM.

(Collectively we're kind of like a dog that's been whipped to the point of biting someone trying to pet it, tbh. :V)

This is actually really, really true. RPers flock to RP--considering how persistent we've been in using a service that has often been broken and has been going majorly downhill for the last year or two just to keep up our pretendy funtimes... Yeah, actually the more I think about it, the more hopeful a move actually looks. Seriously, thank you for this. This is making me feel way more positive about potentially shifting.

[demimonde]

YYY - I've been based out of DW in my personal journal since 2009 and it's been so good, I was honestly disappointed that the last LJ fuckery didn't result in a proper move. It wasn't as feasible at the time, in fairness (prices were a lot steeper here when they started out), but now it's just...I don't see any practical way of staying at LJ and I'm kind of just glad that I can cut my ties there and make this my main site, finally.

(I HAVE NOTICED THAT...I think I might be more in that camp if I hadn't been using DW for so long already, I am the worst about CHANGE BEING BAD!!!)

It's no problem! I know people have concerns about that, but I think when you look at it as a long term thing then you can see how it could be a really positive thing for us. (Also maybe anoncomm won't come? Fingers crossed.)

[jessihoney]

Yeah, I had a few friends make the shift for personal journals back in the day and I always thought the site looked good but I couldn't afford it. I'm really pleased that the invite-code-less account creation coincided with the fuckery (whether accidentally or by design, idec) because it's given me a chance to poke around the site and see what the big deal is without faffing around for codes--NOT TO MENTION MAKING A BILLION CHARACTER ACCOUNTS--and turns out the place is pretty great so far.

(I WAS V. MUCH IN THAT CAMP YESTERDAY but... it's just not worth it, anymore. DW seems to ACTUALLY want us and our fistfuls of disposable cash, so LJ can suck it. :V)

The more I think about it, the more positive it seems as a move for the RP community as a whole. I really hope people do make the shift and stick with it, because... yeah. Having a friendly, caring place to play is a massive, massive bonus.

[demimonde]

If you DO get a paid account, btw, oh my god TURN ON BETA TESTING AT ONCE; I was saying the other day that the only part of the LJ redesign I saw promise in was the new browse function if it were massively tweaked for functionality. DW's new beta browse is exactly what I wanted from that. It's like they were like HEY LIISU REMEMBER ALL THOSE THINGS YOU WANTED? THESE ARE FOR YOU BABY GO BUY YOURSELF SOMETHING PRETTY.

(Hahahaha Samm was like "we're basically a rampaging horde of mad-eyed rpers with fistfuls of cash" and she is so right. WE WILL PAY FOR THIS SHIT.)

Yeah, between the superior functionality and the management here, I'm not going anywhere in a hurry.

[jessihoney]

HMMMM AND NOW I WANT TO GO TRY IT OUT. I thiiink I'll probably end up getting a month paid to check it out, because damn that sounds kind of amazing. /debates

(Seriouslyyyy. WE WILL PAY SO MUCH FOR THIS INTERNET HOBBY let us give you our money m0_0m)

ngl I am already loving the feel of the place, so... who knows, I might actually start using my personal journal again. :V

[demimonde]

it's only three bucks for a month >_> omfg seriously also the customizable entry page I HAVE STARS IN MY EYES TAKE MY MONEY DREAMWIDTH

hang out with me on dw jessi ok i love it here

[jessihoney]

OMFG THIS ICON BROWSER. everything's beautiful and nothing hurts ;u;

YEAH OKAY it's fabulousssss i wanna stay~

[demimonde]

OH MY GOD RIGHT IT'S ALL MY DREAMSSSSS

stay forever mO_Om

[jessihoney]

WHAT THE FUCK EVERYTHING'S FUNCTIONAL AND AMAZING WHAT IS THIS BULLSHIT.

/lounges all over the furniture

[demimonde]

USING A SITE THAT WORKS??? WHAT IS THIS MADNESS

[jessihoney]

RIGHT???

oh god the cut expander thing is awesome too.

[demimonde]

i keep flipping out about it, DW IS JUST GETTING BETTER AND BETTER

[jessihoney]

WHAT ELSE IS THERE ON THIS BETA TESTING THING HM? mO_Om

it's so lovely to have things that work. ;-;

[demimonde]

EXPLORRRRE also apparently on chrome comments auto-justify? WHICH WOULD BE COOL, I am forever justifying stuff

[jessihoney]

I'm not using Chrome unfortunately but I will poke around happily with these features. This is pretty great. :V

[demimonde]

it's so nice to be on a website where they announce something is changing and i go PRESENTS???? :D???? instead of D: WHAT'S BROKEN NOW

[jessihoney]

I CAN IMAGINE. CCC:

[selfindulgence]

I want to move my little game :CCCC

My initial reaction was not to move it, because it seemed like nobody else was on board with a move so I thought it would kill the game before it even opened...

BUT I REALLY WANT TO MOVE IT :C

[jessihoney]

I WASN'T ON BOARD AT FIRST and I probably would have made a D: face if you'd said you were moving yesterday, but... turns out I kind of really like DW. The actual communication and welcoming feel and stuff is SO REFRESHING.

ALSO, I'D FOLLOW ARTHUR ANYWHERE BTW. BECAUSE GODDAMN THIS REDEMPTION NEEDS TO HAPPEN. :|

[selfindulgence]

THIS IS GOOD. Because goddamn, I want to move all of Arthur's icons over to DW already, BUT I COULDN'T JUSTIFY DOING IT IF THERE WASN'T A GAME TO PLAY HIM IN.

After Christmas, I'll put up a poll asking players what they want. It's reached the point where it's honestly the principle of the matter for me: even if LJ rolls back on the changes (which it won't), I want to be able to cut all ties to it. BUT I WON'T IF PLAYERS WANT TO STAY THERE /SOB

[jessihoney]

IKR. IT WAS SO PAINFUL CHOOSING ONLY 15 ICONS FOR PERRY. ;-; But no, seriously, I think most people will be okay with moving. I think there's a lot of NO I HATE CHANGE >| going on, but the service just seems a ton better here.

tbh this is kind of where I am, too. If my games don't move, I'll stick around but the longer this goes on and the more gross info being revealed about the shit that's happening, the more I want to just personally make the shift. Because I'm sick of being kicked by LJ after years and years of loyalty to the place.

[selfindulgence]

Yeah, actually... I'M RIDIC IMPATIENT, and I hate sitting around waiting, so I'm gonna put the poll up now.

[jessihoney]

DO IT. \o/

[demimonde]

dwroleplay is also up!

[jessihoney]

Thanks! Added it. c:

[demimonde]

np! they're getting super organized in terms of being a resource, it looks good.

[jessihoney]

Yeah, I just took a quick look over it. It looks pretty awesome!

[dingsi]

Hello, I am here via linkhopping (can't remember specifics, chronic having-fifty-tabs-openitis), and I just need to say, this is so awesome. I mean, the influx of users, yes, it makes me want to hug people (feelings~!) but also seeing the organising, the exchange and the lists and networking and then someone sets up a love meme or friending frenzy or decides to gift some newcomer with a paid account and *flail* it's so awesome. I sincerely hope you and all the other RP peeps will find a good home on DW and feel comfortable here.

[jessihoney]

Thank you so much! <3

I'm loving it here already and I really hope my RP peeps are as well. DW has such a lovely atmosphere (see: your comment! C:) and I'm hoping we can kickstart some awesome RP community here because it just seems like a fabulously positive place. And I lovvvve the organisation and the lists and everything as well! It's been great to see and I'm crossing my fingers that it continues.

Also hellooo Angry Beavers~ I loved that show as a kid. XD

[rydra_wong]

Also here via umpteen links, and what dingsi said, basically. *g* I'm not an RPer but am linking to your post so more people who are can find it.

I also wanted to mention (in case it's useful) that esper has written this handy post for RPers on how to make your tables work on DW:

esper: dreamwidth, tables, and you - or - how i stopped worrying and embraced new html standards

[jessihoney]

Hey, thanks! I'm so chuffed by how welcoming DW has been so far. I kind of started the list as an anal way of keeping track of stuff myself, but if other people find it useful that's great, so linking is awesome. c:

And I will totally add that to the list as well, because I know people are having some difficulty adjusting to the html on DW. Thank you!