Welcome to Gaia! ::

by Harmonica

Barton Town is for RPing. That means that people here, whether they are in the OOC subforum or one of the other subforums, are focused on starting, joining, or running an RP. This means that if you are talking about some thing else you are going to bore every one. So, when posting:

• Avoid commonly frowned upon things such as spamming, large quotes, or stretching the page. Really, no one likes when they have to read ten paragraphs sideways. And there is no logical reason that you should ever have a single word that long anyway. If your character's screaming, then say "He screamed for ten hours straight." Do not under any circumstances ever write it out. Also, avoid inserting random things into your post such as "I like pie." We are all quite aware that pie is the greatest thing since sliced bread. If that is irrelevant to the point at hand, save it. It's not funny and you will be eaten alive by your fellow, annoyed Roleplayers. And they'll flip ya man. Flip ya for real.
  
  
• Presentation is just as importance as substance. If your post history shows that you do not stick around long in roleplays, you most likely will not be accepted. Posters with dedication are appealing. Those that cannot stick to a single thread are not. If you don't want to be dedicated, there are a million threads in the Chatterbox begging to give you gold in exchange for spam. Join an RP. Keep it alive as long as possible. Then when you apply for a new one, people will see that you have what it takes to be part of the heart and soul of a roleplay.

• If you are in multiple roleplays, you should use different characters, but always those that you enjoy playing. If you do not enjoy playing a character, let him get killed and start over. If you do, do not ever use him in another roleplay unless he dies in the one he's currently used in or said roleplay ends.
  
  
• Try to avoid perfect flawless characters. If your character has no flaws, it needs to be redone. And not little flaws like nail biting or flaws of perfection like loyalty to friends. Those are boring(!) Make things interesting. Not everyone's a genius. Try making your character slow, but not a carcicature. Over the top anything is usually too much for people to bare. Keep things simple and moderate. Keep them from pulling out their knives. Seriously, those things hurt. Unless you're roleplaying Fighter, who is too dumb to realize he is being stabbed. But that's a whole 'nother case.
  
  
• ...most roleplayers turn their characters into beefed-up super creations that could very well save the planet or destroy it. This is a strange, yet simple, reason behind this way of producing invididuals in stories.
  
  Psychologically speaking, the characters people tend to make are usually a representation of one self; an impersonation if you will. And this tend to create an effect of wanting power and strength. And who doesn't want to be able to summon up demonic hordes or to stand up 12 feet tall with devilish and angelic wings sprouting from their backs? Of course we all want to be masters of all the elements in the world and have a bad-arse attitude towards everything, even a heroic complex that makes us look grand and spiffy. Then again, when's the last time you saw some one like that in real life?
  
  The personas people create are, in a sense, what they themselves wish to be. Even the more experienced writers occasionally let that aspect out, if not subconciously. More times than not, you'll end up seeing inexperienced or casual players dishing out the same entities that are constantly over powered for the certain roleplay, and some that don't even fit at all. Gross caricatures are a constant in more casual roleplays. You'll see princes and princesses, as well as fallen angels and chosen ones all the time.

The only requirement for making a roleplaying thread is to press the button in the correct forum. smile If you are unsure where to place your roleplaying thread, let me show you the Barton Town Forum Map. It's here that you'll find the answer to where your thread should go.

The creator is usualy considered the GM of the game, and they do have unquestionable control in most cases. They are the referees in fights, they are the controllers of NPCs (unless they are created by others), and they are the controllers of the plot/storyline. But I'll do my best to address each case individually.

In the case of a lackluster rper?

While I question the definition, I believe there are more than a few things to do here. If by lackluster you mean he/she is illiterate by your standards, then there is something you can do. While it does tend to push them away from what I've seen, you could ask them to put more work into their writing and try to follow the story more so, as well as being more exuberant in their posting style. This isn't an actual insult so much as a constructive criticism in my opinion. I've had it done to be a long time ago, and I grew from it. I've told others that and they've bettered themselves as well. Problem is that most users see it as an insult and a stab at their own pride as a roleplayer.

Someone who is going against the plot

If some one goes against the plot, it's not always a bad thing unless it's to an extravagant extent. If they change the entire storyline with what they're doing, then yes it is the GM's duty to step in. Before they can do that, they need to have permission from the GM first and THEN move into it.

Now, I said it's not always a bad thing also. Sub-plots make for an interesting read also. If there is a romance brewing, then that's a sub-plot. If by chance the roleplayer found out his/her lost sister was still alive, then yes that's also a sub-plot. They go on and on, and they can improve upon the actual story itself.

Someone who is posting every other week?

There is a matter of how lenient the GM is in posting. More so, how active the actual thread itself is. I know a few roleplays where the GM only asks that the users post every week to every two weeks in very advanced roleplays. Also, there are roleplays that don't merely go into paragraphs, but dwell into short stories themselves. A rarity indeed in Barton Town, though there are a number of threads out there dedicated to that form of roleplaying. On the opposite of this is the threads that have posts every 10 minutes from different users. These are more likely to get the roleplayer reemed if they post one once a day or even every few days. Not only does it make the person look bad in the eyes of the others, but it also makes for a lack of story knowledge.

Story is vital for all participants to know. For one thing, knowing the plot would help many to avoid these issues I'm discussing.

Someone who just doesn't give a flip?

If they don't care then there is nothing you can do about it. Kindly ask them to leave, have the GM ask them to leave, and if that doesn't work, then you may report the user and have a site moderator step in. And don't be scared to use that 'Report this Post' button, but just use it wisely.

Do we just inform a mod and let them handle it or should we try to get them back on track on our own.

If the roleplayer has been repeatedly asked to change what ever it is they are doing wrong by the GM, and there is no reconciling on the defendant's side, then there is the chance of having to call a moderator to step in. This is, however, a last resort and you can only do it if he's breaking site rules. Harassment, however, is one of the rules that needs to be upheld, and if the person continues without care or regard of his actions, is actively hurting the plot or the other users' sub-plots and stories, all without the permission of the GM (and especially if in spite of the GM), then there is justification to report the user in question.

This is, like I said, a last restort. More times than not, it's better that the people participating ask the user to control him/herself. If it's by PMs or even by OOC posting in the thread itself, the users are the first persons that the individuals in question must face. If you can do something to prevent mod interference, then it should be done. For more info on how to use the "Report this Post/Thread" button, click here. <link to be added>

Just how much control over the story does the creator have usually?

Like I said, the creator usually has indefinite control over the story, though it really depends on the GM. There needs to be leniency, and there needs to be space for sub-plots to fall in. In essence, you really just need to trust in their judgement before doing anything about it. I myself was left with control over a guild at once point when the leader left for a bit, and I ended up moving the story along as I saw fit. How ever, the story was already in place and I just had to work the others through it. I did the best I could with the absence of the guild leader and ended up doing a pretty good job in the opinions of my comrades. The reason for that is because I allowed space for each of their characters, I took questions and answered them, and I took charge in a way that I deemed justifiable.

The best you can do is trust the GM knows what they're doing, though don't be afraid to put a little of your on stuff in (within logic of course).

• Aliens
  
• Androids
  
• Angels
  
• Anthromorphs/Furries (Animals with human characteristics.)
  
• Centaurs (Half human half horse.)
  
• Demons
  
• Dragons
  
• Dwarves
  
• Elementals (Creatures of the elements.)
  
• Elves (Drow, High Elves, Wood Elves.)
  
• Faeries (Dark Fae, Light Fae, Sprites, Nymphs, Will-o-Wisps.)
• Gargoyles
  
• Giants
  
• Gryphons/Griffons
  
• Half-Breeds
  
• Hobbits
  
• Humans
  
• Imps
  
• Mermaids/Mermen
  
• Mythical Creatures/Monsters (Chimera, Sphinx, Minotaurs)
  
• Nagah (Snake people)
  
• Orcs
  
• Pegasus
  
• Undead (Vampires, Zombies, etc.)
  
• Unicorns
  
• Werecats
  
• Werewolves

• Abjuration: Defensive magics. (Example: Magic Shield)
  
• Alteration: Magic which distorts a person's physical structure.(Example: Burning Hands)
  
• Alchemy: Magic with the use of metals. (Example: Defense +5 *On armor*)
  
• Compounding: Magic by use of herbs. (Example: Potion of Life)
  
• Conjuring: Summoning. (Example: Summon Lesser Water Elemental.)
  
• Divinity: Holy magic. (Example: Bless)
  
• Elements: Magic of the elements. (Example: Fire Ball)
  
• Enchantment: Magical charms and binding spells. (Example: Dispel Magic)
  
• Evocation: The same as "Elements" (Example: Fire Bolt)
  
• Hedge Magic: Cantrips, Self taught. (Example: Cast Shadow)
  
• Heraldry: Magic with the use of crests or symbols. (Example: Protection)
  
• Illusion: Illusionary magics. (Example: Watery Double)
  
• Invocation: Ritual Magic, Candle Magic. (Example: Create Pentacle)
  
• Nature: Druid magic, magic based on nature. (Example: Vine Wall)
  
• Restoration/Healing: Magic that recovers ailments of a character, like curses, damage, poison, or disease. (Example: Cure Moderate Wounds)
  
• Spellsongs/Dance: Magic that is based on dances and songs. (Example: Song of Courage)
  
• Necromancy: Magical study of death. (Example: Raise Dead)

These words should help you describe your character and their surroundings.

Colors
Black: charcoal, coal, dusky, ebon, ebony, jet, livid, murky, obsidian, onyx, pitch, pitch-dark, raven, sable, shadowy, slate, sooty, starless, swart

Blue: azure, beryl, cerulean, cobalt, indigo, navy, royal, sapphire, teal, turquoise, ultramarine

Brown: amber, auburn, bay, beige, brick, bronze, buff, burnt sienna, chestnut, chocolate, cinnamon, cocoa, coffee, copper, drab, dust, ecru, fawn, ginger, hazel, khaki, mahogany, nut, ochre, puce, russet, rust, sepia, snuff-colored, sorrel, tan, tawny, terra-cotta, toast, umber

Gold: aureate, auric, auriferous, aurous, aurulent, blond, blonde, caramel, dusty, flaxen, gold, golden, honeyed, mellow yellow, ochroid, straw, tan, tawny, wheat

Gray: ash, ashen, clouded, dappled, dove, drab, dusky, dusty, grey, heather, iron, lead, leaden, livid, oyster, pearly, peppery, powder, shaded, silvered, silvery, slate, smoky, somber, stone

Green: apple, aquamarine, beryl, chartreuse, emerald, fir, forest, grass, jade, lime, malachite, moss, olive, pea, peacock, pine, sage, sap, sea, spinach, viridian, willow

Orange: apricot, bittersweet, coral, peach, red-yellow, salmon, tangerine, titian

Pink: blush, coral, flesh, flush, fuchsia, red, rose, roseate, salmon

Purple: amethyst, bluish red, heliotrope, lavender, lilac, magenta, mauve, mulberry, orchid, plum, pomegranate, reddish blue, violet, wine

Red: bittersweet, blood, blush, brick, burgundy, cardinal, carmine, cerise, cherry, chestnut, claret, copper, coral, crimson, dahlia, damask, flaming, florid, flushed, fuchsia, garnet, geranium, magenta, maroon, pink, puce, rose, roseate, rosy, ruby, ruddy, russet, rust, salmon, sanguine, scarlet, terra cotta, titian, vermeil, vermilion, wine

Silver: argent, argentate, bright, chrome, lustrous, magnum, mercury, nickel, pale, pearly, plated, silvered, silvery, sterling,

White: alabaster, ashen, blanched, bleached, chalky, frosted, ivory, light, milky, neutral, pallid, pasty, pearly, pure, silver, silvery, snowy

Yellow: amber, bisque, blond, buff, cream, gold, ivory, lemon, saffron, sand, tawny

Body Parts
Arms: appendages, fin, limb, member, wing,
Eyes: hues, opticals, orbs, pools, spheres, windows to the soul
Hair: fiber, fluff, fringe, fur, hairstyle, lock, mane, mop, ruff, strand, tress, tuft
Hands/Fingers: appendages, claws, paws, phalanges, talons
Face: appearance, expression, features, mug, profile, seeming, visage
Legs: appendage, column, flipper, limb, member
Wings: appendage, down, feathers, pinions

Clothing
Clothing General: apparel, array, clothes, costume, covering, drapery, dress, duds, ensemble, equipment, frock, garb, garments, gear, get-up, outfit, rags, raiment, threads, ensemble, wardrobe
Jacket: coat, fur, hide, parka, pelt, trench, tunic
Glasses: bifocals, contact lenses, eyeglasses, four eyes, frames, goggles, rims, shades, specs, spectacles, trifocals, windows
Robes: cape, cloak, cassocks, frock, mantle, shawl
Shirt: bodice, bodysuit, middy, pullover, shell, slipover, t-shirt, turtleneck
Pants: bell bottoms, bells, bloomers, breeches, britches, chaps, cords, corduroys, denims, drawers, dungarees, jeans, knickers, overalls, pantaloons, shorts, slacks, trousers
Shoes: boots, soles