Guide to RPing

Subject: Guide to RPing Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:11 am

When you first began to roleplay (or if you are a beginner), you will probably be confused by the many acronyms, abbreviations, and other jargon sorts of terms that RPers casually toss around, even if you did RP a fair amount. This is a compilation of important terms in RPing, especially on this site. They are arranged alphabetically, but there's not much of them to begin with. I recommend you memorize some of the easier ones.

Autohit : During a RP fight, or text-based fighting, your post includes mention of actions that affect the other character with certainty. Autohitting is also considered a form of godmodding.
Alternate Universe (AU) : An RP taking place in a certain fandom, but without any Canon characters or settings.
Canon : (1) The official or generally accepted storyline or turn of events. (2) The original history or backstory of a character. (3) A character originally created by a published author or which already exists in another fandom. In the case of this forum, all these are related to Bleach.
Closed : (1) A RP that is no longer accepting players or characters. (2) A RP between two people.
Fandom : An existing setting or 'universe' in which writers may create RP. This forum is set in the Bleach fandom.
Freeform : (1) A type of RP where there are no explicit guidelines on length or format of posts, usage of RP characters, plot, or determining the success of various actions during combat. (2) Another term for text-based RP.
Gary Stu : See Mary Sue.
God-Modding (GMing) : Controlling another RP character's actions, dialogue, or thoughts without that RPer's permission to do so, typically by writing a post in which you direct the actions, dialogue, or thoughts of that RPer's character.
In Character (IC) : A post or piece of writing made from the point of view of one or more characters that adds to a storyline, or roleplay.
Mary Sue : A character who is idealistic, lacking flaws, an overidealized self-insertion of the RPer, unrealistic, or characterized by several cliched and archetypical traits, including physical appearance, nomenclature, history, and personality.
Metagaming : Information or knowledge in an IC post which does not reflect the character's range of information or knowledge, but information or knowledge gained by the RPer in an OoC setting, discussion, or research.
Non-Player Character (NPC) : (1) Any character which is not available for a player to play. (2) Any characters playing supporting roles, or background roles.
One-Liner : An IC post consisting of one sentence, or one line of text in a very literal sense.
Open : (1) A RP which is still accepting characters. (2) A RP without a clearly defined plot, beginning, middle, and end.
Original Character (OC) : A character that is not an existing Canon, but completely new.
Out of Character (OoC) : A post or piece of writing made from the point of view of the RPer, not related to a RP.
Player Character (PC) : Any character which may be created or controlled by a RPer.
Private : (1) A RP exclusively between two RPers. (2) A RP with all spots already filled, or already collaborated by a specific group of RPers in advance of either the OoC or IC thread being posted publicly. (3) A RP that has never been publicly open to signups.
(Character) Profile : A post containing a description of a character for RPing.
Signups : A thread containing OoC information for an Open RP, where RPers may ask for permission to RP.
Subplot : A plot developed by RPers, which takes place within the frame of the overarching plot.
Sue : See Mary Sue.
Text Based RP : RPs which are primarily constructed and continued through written pieces, each RPer controlling one or more PCs, posting in sequence.

In short, the basics of RPing are everything that you need to know to have your posts looking good. This doesn't include the actual content of your RP, but it does play a small part. It can make your posts a lot nicer on the eyes of those reading it, therefore making them want to RP with you a lot more then otherwise. No one wants to read a 10,000 word paragraph, with no punctuation and incorrect use of quotations, etc., so as soon as you read this, it would be a smart thing to start fixing your posts accordingly.

Sometimes changing your font size, style, and color can be a really cool thing to do. That is, if you have any sense of what is easy to read and what isn't. I'm definitely not discouraging this idea, however. It adds a unique sense to your character that some others may not have. However, don't get too creative...it hurts the eyes. There are other ways to get creative, and to be remembered as a unique character.

One thing that can help seperate your characters thoughts, actions, and speech is by changing whether it is italic, bold, or normal font. There isn't any preordained order, but normally italics are used to emphasize something (alternately, when using italics, you emphasize with bold or normal), or to denote thoughts. Bold is typically used for speaking, and normal...is normal. Can be used anywhere, anytime. As I said, there aren't any set rules, so you can choose any which one you want...but you had better stick with it. Changing the usage of these font codes mid-RP isn't the best course of action, and can be very annoying.

As everyone with an elementary-level education in English can tell you, there are three major perspectives :

1st-Person : "I", "me"; used when telling a story from one's own perspective.
2nd-Person : "you", "your"; used to talk to a person or a group of people.
3rd-Person : "he", "she"; used when narrating a story that happened to someone else.

So which one should you RP in? You should RP in 3rd-person, as it is a lot neater, and it does not leave others confused. If you're in an RP with multiple people and keep saying things in 1st- and 2nd-person, no-one is going to have a clue what you are talking about. By using third person not only can you give the characters perspective, but also the perspective of someone watching from above, like a movie. A character might not notice every little detail, but in an RP it is important to include these. Details are power, because you chose everything about the RP.

The only time you wouldn't use 3rd-person is if your character is thinking. Then you can use 1st-person, as you are quoting your character's direct thoughts.

You definitely need to have a paragraph format. Nor blurbing. Including paragraphs gives the reader time to breath, and it is a lot easier to see and understand. When starting a new paragraph (as most experienced RPers use more than one paragraph), always have a space between them. There needs to be a clear break. And whenever your character says something aloud, start a new paragraph.

Finally, never, ever put OoC remarks in the middle of an IC post. Put them at the top or the bottom of each post, as it does not break the flow of the RP. And even with OoC remarks, long messages should be placed at the seperate discussion thread.

No-one wants to RP with a generic character that just blends into the background. There are a lot of stereotypes, and while these can add to the RP, it is more likely that they'll be NPCs (ex. the gruff bartender who was an ex-bruiser) instead of a PC. This is because, if a PC stays the same, they quickly get annoying. You should make your character unique, someone special. Don't go for a burly, silent warrior or the hyperactive, ditzy chatterbox. This part will help you create a character that, if not unique, is at least special or understandable.

Looks can make your character unique, though sometimes that isn't the best way to go. There are more creative ways.

The part of the character application that asks for your character's personality is probably the most important. It makes up who they are, and is the deciding factor in everything they do, say, or think. Someone really optimistic isn't going to be depressed very often, and would generally say encouraging things. This is the character's foundation, so build it until you can't type anymore. You can get really creative here, so let your mind flow.

People who talk little should express themselves through their actions, and RPers should put more emphasis on the movements and thoughts of the character. Alternatively, characters who can't keep their mouths shut will probably have little to no thoughts at all. No matter what your character is, it is important to maintain balance. For instance, the seemingly silent character might say something profound once he opens his mouth.

The past of your character is perhaps another one of the most important things, as it can play a large role in how they act. Most characters have had one bad experience that has shaped their lives, and is still a conflict today. Your history is helpful when creating a more in-depth character, and is a sign of an advanced RPer.

The "bad experience" can easily become cliche, however, so be careful of what you write here.

So we've covered how to make your character special. It is also important, however, to make sure your character remains realistic. Your character isn't going to stray off the average height-weight chart if they aren't suffering from a debilitating disease that strips them of their constitution, and they aren't going to be as violent as to get themselves in a combat situation every time they RP. In some regards, you have to make your character sound convincingly human; they should be regarded as another person, not a plaything.

What is even worse is, sometimes players create characters, but suddenly decide to change how they play with them. For instance, a member writes an application for a happy, bubbling airhead, but next day, they play that character as a cynical jerk just because they felt pissed at the world. Don't. Just don't.

To sum it up, be as creative and detailed as possible when you write your application, but make it realistic; and once it is approved, play according to what you have written.

There is nothing harder and more frustrating than RPing with a perfect character.

Sure, Mary Sues come in great varieties. There's the male version, Gary Stu; then there's the tearjerker that is too cliche to draw any tears at all, Angsty Sue; then there's the character that is the complete opposite, and therefore a subset of Mary Sue, Anti Sue; the list goes on and on. Then there's the author-induced version, where the character is someone the author thinks they are or want to be. These all have common traits -- they are horrible characters to RP with, often denote the terrible quality of the person who made him/her, and are to be avoided at all costs.

Some incredibly advanced or experienced RPers are capable of RPing Mary Sues in such a way that they are actually welcomed, but don't think of yourself as one of them.

There are several Mary Sue Litmus Tests that are reliable and give a pretty good rating of whether or not your character is a Mary Sue. When taking such tests, remember to reply as truthfully as possible; likewise, if you find yourself arguing to yourself to prove yourself wrong (wha...?), the answer is probably "yes". Here is an example.

Most RP characters can garner a few points, but remember to use this as a loose test to check if your character is a Mary Sue or not.

Here are a few steps to fix a Mary Sue :

Know your material. Try not to go on hearsay, or what you've seen in two or three episodes. If you can't watch the whole season or read the entire series, that's what the Internet is for.
Avoid making your character related, or similar to a Canon character. Absolutely. This is an original RP!
Give your new character some real flaws. Ones like impatience, obsession with looks and trouble making friends are examples of flaws within the character. They should be flaws that have real consequences for the character in his or her life and advance the story forward.
Share the spotlight. Don't try to hog all the attention, and remember that other characters deserve a chance too.
Make things hard for your new character. One of the most annoying things about Mary Sues is how easily everything comes to them: fighting skills, special talents, strong relationships, special powers that appear just in time to save the day, etc. If your character has to struggle and deal with real problems it will be much more interesting. If they do everything perfectly with no real adversity, they'll be hated.
Take your time. One of the biggest flaws of Mary Sues is that things happen far too quickly. It will probably take a while for your new character to become really close to others, or be in a position to accomplish lots of amazing things. Go slowly.
Avoid making the character gaining similar traits as you. If you do so, you might as well start a diary.

It's hard to add length and detail without either rambling or leaving too much up to the eyes of the viewer, but it's achievable. In order to make your RP posts longer, you can employ the five senses, your emotions, or almost anything; you can even save some details for later, as long as they aren't important.

You should include all five senses in your RP, and it is incredibly easy to do this every post, since there are so many things in every environment that it would be nearly impossible to run out of things to include in your post. Just use your creativity and imagination. Sight is the most important, as it sets the scenario and allows you to add more sight into the RP. Smell can be used to make the setting a little bit more realistic. Hearing and touch are two senses that most RPers tend to overlook, but are nevertheless very important. Taste...is important if you're eating. The possibilities are endless.

Another important detail is your character's looks. While your profile is there for people to read, it's good to have an eye freshner. Make sure, however, not to have it in every post, as it can get annoying. Instead, you can incorporate it with your landscape. For instance, say that your "blond hair was blowing in the wind". Now we know your hair is blond, and long enough to blow in the wind.

Otherwise, you can add your clothing. Your character isn't going to wear the same thing over and over again, though this might be a little different for Shinigami. But clothing can change in every RP thread, and if you enjoy it, you can make it an itneresting process. If you don't like the thought, you can just skip.

You would also need to include where you are in your first post, but don't try to put every detail about your location in one post. Save some, because it's a great way to increase the length and detail. As long as it's not important (the fact that the setting is a forest is important, but we don't need to know that the giant firs light everything in a dappled, natural fashion.), you can save your details for later. But if you still don't feel like it, landscapes change; there are multiple things you can add to the location as the RP continues.

Emotions and thoughts are another huge part of adding detail to your posts. They can change the expression on your character's face, therefore they are an important part of detail, because it changes the readers' image of the scene and your character. Always, always, always include what your character is feeling/thinking. Writing about your emotions/thoughts actually helps an RP move along a lot better.

Actions are, once again, another very important part of your posts. Even if your character is just sitting on the ground, there can be actions. Perhaps you are fiddling with a ballpoint pen, or pulling out grass stalks. Maybe you're brushing a strand of loose hair behind your ears, or scratching an itch on your arm. Whatever action your character takes is completely up to you, but it is always a good idea to have one.

Now you know how to add detail, but it is always important to put it in a concise fashion. If you put too much detail into one post, it will be hard to read and unappealing. Dividing the existing facts into edible, understandable, and "fun" portions is a skill of an experienced RPer. Between 100 and 250 words is excellent, but the desired length may be different for other RPers.

There are some basic do's and don'ts in RPing which, if kept, will make the thread more interesting. No matter how skilled you believe you are at RPing, you should read through this list, as even small things can annoy others. The do's should be kept, and the don'ts should be avoided. Get it? Let's move on, then.

The Do's

Be unique. Nobody wants to RP with a see-through character.
Be in-depth, especially on character creations. This will improve your RPing skills because you know your character better, and this will allow others to be more informed. It helps if your RP replies have details too.
Re-read your posts, and check for spelling and grammar mistakes. Important, but not many people choose to do it.
If you want help, ask for help. The Staff (especially the RP Mods) are there to give advice, but they can't if they don't know you want any.
If someone gives you help, accept it. Don't take it as an offense, even if they say things about your character. Who knows, maybe they're right.
RP according to your character's profile and allignment. Don't be afraid to say harsh things; RPs are IC -- whatever is being exchanged isn't in real life. And it becomes a problem if you don't RP as you described your character. If you have an evil character...be evil!

The Don'ts

Don't have a telepathic character. It's really frustrating to RP with someone who can read your every thought, and insert their own ideas into your head.
Don't have a perfect character. This is pathetic. Characters have their own flaws, so don't overlook them.
Don't be passive in a RP. Others aren't going to drag to RP on for you; you have to act, describe, and be part of te RP.
Don't mix up IC and OoC. Whatever is being exchanged IC has no place OoC...and vice versa.
Don't swear excessively. A precise F-bomb at a critical point is fine, but don't put more than one swear word in a post, and space them out. A lot.
Don't join more RP's than you can reasonably handle.
Don't EVER be annoying. A hyperactive character, a jerk, or an overall nice person are okay to RP with, but if you try and do this 24-7 everyone is going to be pissed off. Your character's mood should change throughout the RP, and they should act to different people differently...if they can't, I doubt their sanity.
Don't EVER God-Mode. Never, ever, ever, do anything to the placement or situation of the other character (RPing a character's actions, thoughts, and speech for them)...ever. Even if you are given permission. It is extraordinarily annoying.

So you've finally mastered how to RP properly. Now, all you need to know is how to RP with someone else. Normally, when you want to RP, you will put up a notice on one of the Member's Lounge subboards asking if anyone wants to join you on an RP. This is known as a sign-up thread. Or if you don't feel like it, you can look through the other sign-up threads other members have made and ask if you can play too. If the RP hasn't started, or the story can afford a couple more extra people, you will be able to RP!

For closed threads (more on that later), the normal method of asking would be a private message. You are free to make a discussion thread afterwards, but you don't have to have a sign-up sheet. You do have to realize, however, that if someone declines your offer, you shouldn't force them to RP or hate them for it.

There are three kinds of RPs on this forum; open, closed, and plot. Open threads are those that are open to everyone, though there might be a limit on how many. An example of an open RP would be strolling through a park or visiting a public place. Even when a thread is open, it's RPing manners to ask permission on the sign-up thread first. Closed threads take place between two or more members that the creator of the thread chooses. An example of a closed RP would be when you recieved an invitation to someone's house. Plot threads are those, created by the Staff, as board-wide missions. If you sign up fast enough, you'll be able to help move the plot onward. Likewise, you will have to ask permission.

In order to specify if an RP is open or closed, add (open) or (closed) after the title. (ex. Diamond Dust Rebellion (closed)) Others are expected to respect the thread's status. Posting without permission in a thread you haven't signed up in will be punished severely, as it detracts greatly from the fun of RPing.

Once an RP reaches a conclusion, add (finished) after the title, like this : Diamond Dust Rebelliion (closed; finished). Once you've done that, the thread is finished and will be moved to the Filing Cabinet. If an RP goes without a reply for more than a month, it is counted as dead and will be moved to the Filing Cabinet regardless. The only difference is, you will not be able to get any rewards if you do not finish the RP.

You are free to start your own plots with others, and these are called subplots; they have almost nothing to do with the main board plot, but we allow them to make RPing more fun.

An RP Mod will look after your RPing, sometimes giving you hints and suggestions, and otherwise helping RPers explore possiblities. While an RP Mod doesn't necessarily join every RP, it is wise to ask them for advice in the discussion thread. What is a discussion thread? A discussion thread is a seperate thread in the Member's Lounge. Sometimes, you can choose to make your sign-up thread your discussion thread. Anyhow, a discussion thread is where members can pitch in and suggest things about the current RP. It is advised to make one, as then you can arrange with other members how you want it to end, and have a fun time. Also, there will be less accusations of GMing flying around, as members will plan traps and other surprises beforehand.

So, now you've signed up for a thread and you've started RPing! Player 1 posts their introduction, player 2 does the same, and so does player 3, and now...what next? How do you keep on RPing? Does player 1 go first, or player 2 or 3?

The answer would be 1. 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3...this is called the posting order -- basically, the sequence of RPing posts repeats itself. Now, just because player 2 has to go somewhere for something, and is inactive, doesn't mean that player 3 can skip his turn. Have patience and wait; while there won't be any penalities for not keeping posting order, as this should be enforced by the members, not the Staff, there's a much better chance that an RP will finish when the posting order is kept.

When signing up, think carefully; don't sign up on more RPs than you can manage, and don't sign up on more than one RP with the same person you are RPing on another thread. This is because (1) you could end up screwing everything up, and (2) actions on one thread could affect another, so it's not really wise to RP with the same person in two different places at the same time without knowing exactly where your relationship is heading.

If you've read until here, good for you; now, go ahead and start RPing!

Thanks so much to these sites for providing us with info!

Ylanne's Guide to Roleplay Terminology
Land of Mystics RP Guide
The Original Mary Sue Litmus Test
WikiHow : How To Avoid Making a Mary Sue