I've seen some various threads about rating players and DMs. I've also seen Roll20's official response to these. I think that the suggestion of a rating system is an attempt at forcing a solution on some challenges players face. I also think there is an ethical way to meet those challenges without the attendant toxicity and politics that a public rating system can devolve into. Let's start by defining our goals with such a system... RP gamers can want very different things from their gaming sessions. So a system that helps a player align with play-styles that they favor is desired. As a individuals who are playing a very social game, we all want to honestly know if we have have contributed to the enjoyment that others derive from playing the game with us. Let's face it though, giving constructive criticism is hard and often receiving criticism is even harder. So a system that allows positive feedback to support things the community would like to encourage in an anonymous non-confrontational way would be best. I think there is a way to achieve both these two goals. Create a standard list of attributes that players enjoy in their gaming sessions from both other Players, GM, and Game Sessions themselves, things like... Rules As Written: (GM, Game Session) The GM relies heavily on source rules and does not substitute very many house rules. Rules As Intended: (GM, Game Session) The GM relies on source materials but will deviate from the written rules in some cases to ensure that consistency and fairness apply. Custom Rules: (GM, Game Session) The GM uses the rules as a baseline but will often apply house rules or deviate wildly from the source material. Cannon Setting: (GM, Game Session) The GM/Game Session generally conforms to what players expect to see from published materials. e.g. If the game is Dungeons & Dragons, the GMs game world is or closely resembles Faerun. Custom Setting: (GM, Game Session) A player in can expect the game setting to be unique and surprising. Role-Play Lite: (GM, Game Session, Players) This sort of play focuses on silly fun and genre bending or breaking role-play. Role-Play Serious: (GM, Game Session, Players) This sort of play focuses on a touch of the dramatic with complex characters in a deeply immersive world. War-Game: (GM, Game Session, Players) This sort of play focuses on tactics and strategy on the game board. Funny: (Players) This player always had a way of keeping things light and making us laugh. Actor: (GM, Players) This player made the game more real for the group with speeches, voices, and a way of bringing the characters to life. These are just examples above, but after a game session has concluded, a pop-up similar to the forum pages. This pop-up would allow players to select the above positive attributes. The answers are then displayed as a score that ONLY the GM, Creator of the Game Session, or Player can see. This will allow people to take this sort of feedback as an experience to learn from. Likewise these invisible attributes could be placed into the Looking for Group feature... allowing players to look for campaigns and sessions that work for their sort of play-style, sorting Games to the top based on traits that are most important to the Player. (not a filter, a sort)
