How to Roleplay for Beginners

Subject: How to Roleplay for Beginners Sun May 24, 2009 9:42 pm

-----------------------In the Beginning

1. Create a character. This character can be anyone and anything, depending on the roleplay, for example if you're in a medieval roleplay, your character could be a mage or a king or a knight.
Give them a name, an appearance, some special trait or ability, possibly even more frivolous things like their favorite food. Keep in mind that your character must be able to play a role in the story, hence the term "roleplay."[/colour]

2. Think of the setting and time period they're in. If it's a fantasy roleplay, you can even create your own setting. However, if your roleplay is based on a series or book, you might want to stick to a familiar area

3. Know the lingo. When the roleplay is literate, don't use ** == [] -- <> for actions! Use narration to describe actions, like this -> Ken walked to his house and sighed, "I wish I ate my bagel this morning." There are sites with full lists of the terms, so look into those. (With a few acceptions)

4. An intro can mean everything. Try to include who your character is, what they're doing, what they look like, and perhaps a bit about their past if that's needed.

5. Within a few in-character (IC) entries, you should have established some sort of connection between your characters and the others, to where your actions affect the story in some way that the others are able to react to. You risk your character becoming disconnected, otherwise.

6. Never kill someone unless you have the permission of the person who created the roleplay and/or the person who's character you are thinking of killing.

7. Similarly, never take control of anyone else's characters without either their permission or the permission of the 'boss' of the roleplay. Generally, the most you are allowed to control in other characters is dialogue, and even then, you typically won't be allowed to make them say too much.

8. When you are talking regularly (as in not roleplaying), always use some form of brackets to denote being out of character such as ((text)) or [ text ]. You can also use abbreviations like 'OoC'.

Subject: Re: How to Roleplay for Beginners Sun May 24, 2009 9:43 pm

-------------------------Roleplay Terms

- The "boss" of the roleplay is the creator. They have created the rules, forum, and (possibly) the scenario. If you don't like their rules, then you may have to leave.
- Basic roleplaying keywords are:

* RP: Roleplay
* OOC: Out of Character (You may also use parenthesis to show that it is you who are speaking, not your character.)
* IC: In Character
* bic: Back in Character
* pp: Powerplaying (Which refers to trying to control other people's characters.)
* gm: Godmodling (Which refers to trying to have a "perfect character".)

Subject: Re: How to Roleplay for Beginners Sun May 24, 2009 9:43 pm

---------------here are some different types of Roleplayers (Please be atleast a Semi-lit roleplayer (with a few acceptions))

- Literate: A very good roleplayer who shows that they are able to properly use grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, ect. A literate roleplayer knows when long introductions are appropriate, understands the place for short one or two sentence posts and keeps in character emotions separate from their own.

- Semi-Lit: A decent roleplayer who has an "OK" grasp of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, ect. A Semi-Lit roleplayer typically writes (sometimes excessively) long introductions several paragraphs in length and posts of up to a paragraph and longer.

- Illiterate: A terrible roleplayer who disregards all grammar, punctuation,
capitalization, etc. Their spelling is usually equal to chatspeak. An illiterate roleplayer typically writes one paragraph for their intro, and around one or two sentences per post.

Subject: Re: How to Roleplay for Beginners Sun May 24, 2009 9:44 pm

-----------------------------------more info on Roleplaying

* here are many different types of roleplays. If you do not like one, you may find another you like better. Make sure what you write goes along with the type of roleplay you're doing.

* In order to maintain a more enjoyable atmosphere, remember to treat others with respect. You will be treated with respect in return. Ex. Never curse someone out; it gets you nowhere.

* Remember that you can only control your character (not those of others), unless you have the other person's permission. People are apt to be annoyed if you control their characters without warning.

* In roleplaying, many people enjoy the "skirt" rule. "Long enough to cover the essentials, short enough to be interesting." This will mean what it does, but it usually means three or four sentences that give your fellow roleplayers what they need to know to respond while keeping it short and sweet.

* In literate to semi-lit roleplays, length can be an issue. Many advanced roleplayers expect several paragraphs. If they are the GM (Game Manager), the person who made or is in charge of the roleplay, then, again, discuss it politely or leave if you can't write that much.

* Have a way that you can contact with your other roleplayer(s) on a regular basis. This varies for different people, so discuss it before you begin the roleplay if you think it might become an issue.

* It is considered good taste to notify the GM of the roleplay when you won't be able or willing to contribute to their roleplay for a while.

Subject: Re: How to Roleplay for Beginners Sun May 24, 2009 9:44 pm

-------------------------------Rules and info (more)

*Never GodMode. This is acting like you rule over everyone. People usually find it quite annoying.

* You can kill yourself at anytime [virtually]. However, you can not kill other player's characters at anytime without their permission.

* No one likes a character that's too powerful for their own good. Make sure your character has faults, and their powers are on a more normal scale. And please, never, ever make an all-knowing character unless you, yourself are all-knowing. Which, most likely, you are not.

* Never powerplay. No one likes to roleplay with someone who is in one place, then is mystically in another without moving, or has actions completed that they have not included in their post.

* A lot of roleplayers prefer you to have a certain standard for how much you write, and it always varies. You might aim to write three good sentences while someone else wants three good paragraphs, or vice versa.

* Whatever you do, do not ramble! Nobody wants to read three paragraphs about minute details like the color of a dinner plate, the past of a character from birth to present day or the tone of their voice! Little details about a 'fragile ivory dinner plate' or a 'low, raspy hum' are great, but be careful; write too much and people will skim or even skip over your posts!

* No one likes someone who makes two or three posts and doesn't post forever. If you have to go on a trip, have a job or something, then inform your fellow roleplayers so they don't sit on their butts waiting for you all day. Also, if you don't like how a roleplay is going, work it out with the people you're roleplaying with, instead of just leaving.

* Another thing to avoid is creating a Mary Sue/Marty Stu. You do not want your character to be 'cliche' or unoriginal. A character who is too perfect, too powerful, without weaknesses or overburdened by a tragic past may be seen as a Mary Sue if these elements are not very well thought through or considered. http://www.onlyfiction.net/marysue2.html is a good source for consideration- this website provides a test to help one determine how original and creative a character is, compared to common Mary Sue traits.

* If a roleplay is "yaoi" or "shounen ai," it is asking for a homosexual relationship between two men. When it is "yuri" or "shoujo ai," it's asking for a homosexual relationship between women. These are popular concepts and if they're part of your roleplay, make sure new players are aware before they agree to join!