Post by RandomWiktor on Jun 23, 2008 21:49:17 GMT -5
How to RP
Roleplaying is essentially a form of interactive writing. Therefore, a great deal of creative freedom and choice is involved. I urge you to use your abilities as writers to their fullest extents. However, because RPing is interactive, there are a few basic forms communication needed to prevent confusion.
# 1 Rule: When RPing, you must post in guest mode! It is much easier to have the character name(s) in the "name" slot than to try and figure out what character is being RPed. Furthermore, it prevents threads from being cluttered with signatures, avatars, and other page-slowing, visually irritating distractions.
- Because this site is for all levels of RPG experience, we do not have strict limits for post length and grammar. However, it is strongly encouraged that each post include a minimum of one paragraph, and has a minimum of grammatical and spelling errors.
- Net slang, l33t, n00b slang, and other "sloppy english" is prohibited and will result in an initial warning, and if not heeded, deletion of posts. RPing is about writing, and net slang is an insult to language.
- It is most typical to write in the third person (___ does __, not I do ___), and in the past tense. You may write in the present tense if you please, but I forbid writing from the first person. You are not performing an action; your character is.
- It must be made clear when you you are typing actions and when you are typing dialog. Common methods include enclosing actions in symbols, creating font differences, spacing between action and dialog, or using quotation marks for speech.
- When posting more than one character simultaneously, you should find some way to work their name into the text, or at least distinguish them clearly somehow. If you have difficulty doing this in text, please place the character's name before or after the string of text relevent to him/her.
- A single character may not be in multiple threads at once; it simply defies logic. You must clearly leave the current thread to move on to a new one, or alternately, the thread must be declared dead.
- I consider creating threads that "invite" other players by typing that you see/hear/detect "someone" to be power playing. If you create an opening thread, someone will reply; there is no need to "force" them into joining it the way you want them to.
- If a thread you have created is directed to a specific person, and no one else, you should place the other player's username or involved character's name after the topic title.
- If a thread is "closed," or being used solely for plot development amongst your own characters, type "N/I" (No Interference) after the topic title. To re-open the thread to other RPers, include an OCC saying "open" within the thread.
- By that stretch, if you see a thread that is "N/I" or directed to a specific player, leave it alone; anyone who infringes upon another RPer's plot will have their posts in the thread removed after a first warning, and may suffer temporary banning for repeated offenses.
- To talk to another player, or make a comment within a thread, you should create an "OCC" - Out of Character Comment. You may do this by typing "ooc:" and the comment, or if it is occurring within the text as a side note, you may enclose the comment in double parenthesis.
Finally, above all, be creative, be involved, and HAVE FUN!
Roleplaying is essentially a form of interactive writing. Therefore, a great deal of creative freedom and choice is involved. I urge you to use your abilities as writers to their fullest extents. However, because RPing is interactive, there are a few basic forms communication needed to prevent confusion.
# 1 Rule: When RPing, you must post in guest mode! It is much easier to have the character name(s) in the "name" slot than to try and figure out what character is being RPed. Furthermore, it prevents threads from being cluttered with signatures, avatars, and other page-slowing, visually irritating distractions.
- Because this site is for all levels of RPG experience, we do not have strict limits for post length and grammar. However, it is strongly encouraged that each post include a minimum of one paragraph, and has a minimum of grammatical and spelling errors.
- Net slang, l33t, n00b slang, and other "sloppy english" is prohibited and will result in an initial warning, and if not heeded, deletion of posts. RPing is about writing, and net slang is an insult to language.
- It is most typical to write in the third person (___ does __, not I do ___), and in the past tense. You may write in the present tense if you please, but I forbid writing from the first person. You are not performing an action; your character is.
- It must be made clear when you you are typing actions and when you are typing dialog. Common methods include enclosing actions in symbols, creating font differences, spacing between action and dialog, or using quotation marks for speech.
- When posting more than one character simultaneously, you should find some way to work their name into the text, or at least distinguish them clearly somehow. If you have difficulty doing this in text, please place the character's name before or after the string of text relevent to him/her.
- A single character may not be in multiple threads at once; it simply defies logic. You must clearly leave the current thread to move on to a new one, or alternately, the thread must be declared dead.
- I consider creating threads that "invite" other players by typing that you see/hear/detect "someone" to be power playing. If you create an opening thread, someone will reply; there is no need to "force" them into joining it the way you want them to.
- If a thread you have created is directed to a specific person, and no one else, you should place the other player's username or involved character's name after the topic title.
- If a thread is "closed," or being used solely for plot development amongst your own characters, type "N/I" (No Interference) after the topic title. To re-open the thread to other RPers, include an OCC saying "open" within the thread.
- By that stretch, if you see a thread that is "N/I" or directed to a specific player, leave it alone; anyone who infringes upon another RPer's plot will have their posts in the thread removed after a first warning, and may suffer temporary banning for repeated offenses.
- To talk to another player, or make a comment within a thread, you should create an "OCC" - Out of Character Comment. You may do this by typing "ooc:" and the comment, or if it is occurring within the text as a side note, you may enclose the comment in double parenthesis.
Finally, above all, be creative, be involved, and HAVE FUN!