Post by Khalai on Dec 12, 2014 0:19:15 GMT -6
Pre-intro-intro- This is a post I wrote originally for another game entirely. However, I think it would be helpfull to some of our newer to RP members so here you go!
Introduction-
So, before I start spouting on about everything I have to say on the topic of RP (or Roleplay if you have no idea what I'm talking about), I thought it might be nice if I actually tell you my credentials. Not that I will ever think I am the best in the world at any one thing, but I happen to believe that I happen to know a fair amount about this particular topic. That being said, I have 6ish years of RP experience. In addition to that, I am a very critical of good (even though saying “good” here is subjective) story telling. The point of me saying that is just so you don't think I'm running around screaming everyone is bad at everything as I toilet paper the trees outside. Not the case. I was simply informing of -my- personal outlook of how RP should work. Some of this is basic and used relatively universally in all RP in all games. Some of it is my own opinions on the matter. If there is anything you don't agree with, I am always willing to talk about it. If you have any questions about what I say here, please ask. I fully offer whatever knowledge I have to help you.
Now, On with the mass quantity of text that is this post.
RP BASICS-
This part is arguably the most important stuff I can teach on the topic. These things are by far and away the most known and most universally accepted rules of RP.
Rule #1 of RP-
In every single rp encounter, be it with any level of experience rp-ers, you must be aware of a very simple fact. YOU ARE -NOT- YOUR CHARACTER. Think of it like acting, Robert Downey Jr. is not actually Tony Stark. Harrison Ford is not actually Indiana Jones, Jennifer Lawrence is not actually Katniss. Thus, you are not your character. Anything you say or do when you are in character, is not meant for the person who is playing that character, but the character itself.
IC-
Also known as, “In Character.” The adjective form is ICLY (the “LY” bit is kinda a funny way to put it, but it in essence means “In Characterly” As in, “We are going ICLY now”). In it's most basic sense, it is to describe the state of the player character relationship. When one is IC that means they are acting as their character.
OOC-
Otherwise know as, “Out of Character.” Or OOCLY/OCLY. Big shock, it means your not acting as your character.
These two are pretty important in conjuncture with one another. The idea is for everyone who is rp-ing with you to understand what state you are in at every moment. The way to keep track of is by use of brackets, ((like this)) [or this] {I've also seen this}. The brackets mean that someone has gone ooc or oocly. Likewise there are diffrent marks that can be seen as ic as well. Most people will talk normally in chat, some will add “quotation marks.” In my book, both of these are fine. An example of these would be..:
Bob: I want some apples.
Laloop: I will cut down a tree for you!
Bob: That seems slightly unreasonable Loop.
Laloop: Find me an apple tree, We are gonna have apple and wood-chip pie for months!
Bob: Maybe I don't want an apple now. ((Lol Laloop is a tad crazy huh?))
Laloop: ((yeah she's kinda special)) I AM THE MASTER OF ALL APPLES, THERE WILL BE PIES!
We will go into detail about what is acceptable and what isn't (or shouldn't be) later in the post. For now, we move on to other rp basics.
Meta gaming-
Meta gaming is acting on, or knowing information before your character has received the information icly. The most common mistake I see with this particular basic rule is people using character names Icly before being given them. Yes, I understand that you can see the character's name on the nameplate that floats above their head. Icly, if you have not been told the name, you do not know it. Part of the fun of rp is learning things from the characters you rp with. Meta gaming removes this option and makes things less fun.
God Modding-
This actually is an umbrella term for a handful of things. The basic idea here is modifying your character's ability to near god level. This can mean anything from forcing your actions on people and not allowing them to make a choice or have a way out, to making your character ICLY OP.
Example:
Bob: ((Bob actually can fly, eat dragons whole when they are still alive, and owns all of the Eastern Kingdoms.))
This actually parlays into the next topic--
Emotes-
Emotes are expressed in a handful of ways. Mid-chat I see them often like, * does stuff *
or -Is doing things-. Context of the sentence will be helpful for you here. You can also choose to write what your character is saying mid emote.
/em Laloop does stuff then says, “Check out these things that I am doing.”
This is also where the god-modding comes back into play. For example:
/em Bob slaps Laloop over the head with a carp.
This is an example of forcing actions onto a character (the other version of God-modding.) Just as your character is your own, so is each person's character. That means that you can not (or should not) force the actions of your character onto another character.
Finally, What you shouldn't say-
Since Azeroth itself isn't a modern world, or even set on Earth, there are a few things that you should take into account. Text speak like LOL, OMG, FML and the like are not things this world knows. It is then unreasonable to put them into any of your emotes or in character speaking. Additionally, emoticons are also unreasonable to put into rp chat because they are emotes that you can type out and get a much deeper emotional connection. No one anywhere says semicolon parenthesis when they mean to wink at you(unless they wanna creep you out.) So just type out what face your making.
So this finishes the basics. Please leave any questions you have, I will help the best I can!
Introduction-
So, before I start spouting on about everything I have to say on the topic of RP (or Roleplay if you have no idea what I'm talking about), I thought it might be nice if I actually tell you my credentials. Not that I will ever think I am the best in the world at any one thing, but I happen to believe that I happen to know a fair amount about this particular topic. That being said, I have 6ish years of RP experience. In addition to that, I am a very critical of good (even though saying “good” here is subjective) story telling. The point of me saying that is just so you don't think I'm running around screaming everyone is bad at everything as I toilet paper the trees outside. Not the case. I was simply informing of -my- personal outlook of how RP should work. Some of this is basic and used relatively universally in all RP in all games. Some of it is my own opinions on the matter. If there is anything you don't agree with, I am always willing to talk about it. If you have any questions about what I say here, please ask. I fully offer whatever knowledge I have to help you.
Now, On with the mass quantity of text that is this post.
RP BASICS-
This part is arguably the most important stuff I can teach on the topic. These things are by far and away the most known and most universally accepted rules of RP.
Rule #1 of RP-
In every single rp encounter, be it with any level of experience rp-ers, you must be aware of a very simple fact. YOU ARE -NOT- YOUR CHARACTER. Think of it like acting, Robert Downey Jr. is not actually Tony Stark. Harrison Ford is not actually Indiana Jones, Jennifer Lawrence is not actually Katniss. Thus, you are not your character. Anything you say or do when you are in character, is not meant for the person who is playing that character, but the character itself.
IC-
Also known as, “In Character.” The adjective form is ICLY (the “LY” bit is kinda a funny way to put it, but it in essence means “In Characterly” As in, “We are going ICLY now”). In it's most basic sense, it is to describe the state of the player character relationship. When one is IC that means they are acting as their character.
OOC-
Otherwise know as, “Out of Character.” Or OOCLY/OCLY. Big shock, it means your not acting as your character.
These two are pretty important in conjuncture with one another. The idea is for everyone who is rp-ing with you to understand what state you are in at every moment. The way to keep track of is by use of brackets, ((like this)) [or this] {I've also seen this}. The brackets mean that someone has gone ooc or oocly. Likewise there are diffrent marks that can be seen as ic as well. Most people will talk normally in chat, some will add “quotation marks.” In my book, both of these are fine. An example of these would be..:
Bob: I want some apples.
Laloop: I will cut down a tree for you!
Bob: That seems slightly unreasonable Loop.
Laloop: Find me an apple tree, We are gonna have apple and wood-chip pie for months!
Bob: Maybe I don't want an apple now. ((Lol Laloop is a tad crazy huh?))
Laloop: ((yeah she's kinda special)) I AM THE MASTER OF ALL APPLES, THERE WILL BE PIES!
We will go into detail about what is acceptable and what isn't (or shouldn't be) later in the post. For now, we move on to other rp basics.
Meta gaming-
Meta gaming is acting on, or knowing information before your character has received the information icly. The most common mistake I see with this particular basic rule is people using character names Icly before being given them. Yes, I understand that you can see the character's name on the nameplate that floats above their head. Icly, if you have not been told the name, you do not know it. Part of the fun of rp is learning things from the characters you rp with. Meta gaming removes this option and makes things less fun.
God Modding-
This actually is an umbrella term for a handful of things. The basic idea here is modifying your character's ability to near god level. This can mean anything from forcing your actions on people and not allowing them to make a choice or have a way out, to making your character ICLY OP.
Example:
Bob: ((Bob actually can fly, eat dragons whole when they are still alive, and owns all of the Eastern Kingdoms.))
This actually parlays into the next topic--
Emotes-
Emotes are expressed in a handful of ways. Mid-chat I see them often like, * does stuff *
or -Is doing things-. Context of the sentence will be helpful for you here. You can also choose to write what your character is saying mid emote.
/em Laloop does stuff then says, “Check out these things that I am doing.”
This is also where the god-modding comes back into play. For example:
/em Bob slaps Laloop over the head with a carp.
This is an example of forcing actions onto a character (the other version of God-modding.) Just as your character is your own, so is each person's character. That means that you can not (or should not) force the actions of your character onto another character.
Finally, What you shouldn't say-
Since Azeroth itself isn't a modern world, or even set on Earth, there are a few things that you should take into account. Text speak like LOL, OMG, FML and the like are not things this world knows. It is then unreasonable to put them into any of your emotes or in character speaking. Additionally, emoticons are also unreasonable to put into rp chat because they are emotes that you can type out and get a much deeper emotional connection. No one anywhere says semicolon parenthesis when they mean to wink at you(unless they wanna creep you out.) So just type out what face your making.
So this finishes the basics. Please leave any questions you have, I will help the best I can!