WELCOMEOk I'm going to create a list of tips and essentials for RPing. This should help all those new to this process. This will be pretty easy and a good refference if you're confused about anything. I've been RPing for a little over a year now and this is pretty much almost every day (geek I know...) Anyway this is what i have picked up from being on Gaia Role Playing.
TIP #1. When scanning for a new RP to join try and find something that will be able to hold your interest, such as one of your passions. (ex. If you love music try and find one about a music school or being in a rock band.)
TIP #2. When you do find a title that interests you, make sure they've got a nice organized first page. This is usually a sign they put effort into their RPs and will stick with it till it meets it's doom of dying. It also helps you be able to find information you may need easily.
TIP #3. Always read the story before joining! The Title isn't enough to give you all the information sometimes! (even if it does say "Just Another Forest RP" There might be an original story behind it after all) Trust me you don't want to join, read the story, and then have to tell them you changed your mind. Or start off completely naive to the concept of what people are talking about.
TIP #4. Once you have read the rules, copied the profile skeleton, and read a little bit of what people have already written(if any) make sure to subscribe to the thread! They disappear quickly and if you come back too late you may never find them again. After subscribing it will be added to a list you can get to by:
Firefox= Put your mouse over home, a submenu will appear underneath the tags, run your mouse over that until it is over subscribed threads, click and the list will appear.
MIE (Microsoft Internet Explorer)= Click the 'My Gaia' tag, a page will appear (and possibly a daily chance if it's the first time visiting the page that day) You will see a small section about your subscribed thread you can click there OR You can run your mouse over 'Community', again a small submenu will appear, click 'Forums', near the top right corner of the list of forums there is a link that says 'Subscribed Threads' Click it and the list will appear.
(NOTE: The options for MIE will work for both but The one for Firefox will not work for MIE. I recommend Firefox if you are serious about using this site. It is MUCH more convenient!)
TIP #5. Now you must send your profile. This is probably for me the part that takes the longest (besides the actual RPing of course...). There really isn't much to this part but I suggest giving your character a good, compelling background story that will match their personality and correspond with any identifying scars or maybe even a special weapon. This helps draw attention from the other characters so you won't seem so bleak and boring. I also want to add that if you have a picture as your appearance try to make it convenient for other. Meaning if you have a large picture use a URL but if it's a reasonable size go ahead and use the picture. This allows more people to join without stretching the page too terribly.
TIP #6. For those making an RP I kind of covered some of it when I was talking about looking for an RP but here are a few more pointers. Make sure the title is eye catching and not something like "Another Forest RP..." Trust me people get sick of seeing that after awhile, perhaps something like "Shadows of the Forest" if you want to give it a bit of mystery to it. Also put the essential things needed for an RP (Story, Rules, Profile Skeleton, Profiles, exc.) in logical order. Meaning don't put your Profiles at the the beginning and don't put your Story at the very end!
TIP #7. This ought to be obvious but make sure you're happy with your story line before starting to make the RP. Those first few minutes your RP is out is often crucial! This is when your RP is spotted most often so if you already have an intro up you can't be pondering on the storyline otherwise people will move on and not give the RP a second chance, unless you have a really good title that keeps them intrigued. One way to make sure to get it up fast is write it in a word processor and copy and paste it, then just add italics, bolds ore whatever else you may need.
TIP #8. Pre-made Profiles often take the longest to make (if you have them) But it's not necessarily the making of them but find a picture that suits them or possibly it's the background story that troubles you. Again it helps to have them already made. It helps save time when making the foundation of the RP. Also your Profile Skeletons should probably remain some-what simple. This gives people room to breathe not have to think about it too much.
TIP #9. When RPing, I don't care if the rules mentioned this or not, DO NOT PUT * *, ~ ~, - -, OR ANY OTHER ONES YOU MAY COME UP WITH FOR ACTIONS!!!!! It is probably one of the most recognized things you find in role playing forums and also one of the most annoying! People don't want you to do it! Save yourself trouble and just stick to third person format (unless asked otherwise) and put "quotation marks" when your person is speaking.
TIP #10. Final tip and most important. HAVE FUN! Don't make yourself get into something you find awkward or boring. Make the story fun and lively with some comedy. I can't tell you how many RPs die because everyone is so freakin' up tight. This is for pleasure and a nice way to pass time. I'll tell you what this also serves as great inspiration for aspiring writers such as myself. So please just enjoy it while it lasts other wise you may find your self more stressed than when you started and who wants that?
I hope this has helped out a few people. If you need further tutoring just post on here and I'll run classes. We'll do practice RPing and I'll help you on things I see that may be slightly flawed or I'll tell you you have no problem and send you on your merry way! ^_^ You may also PM me if you want to add your own tips and advise. I'll be putting advertisement and banners on here as soon as I get some! I get the feeling there will be many RP banners though so you can also use this as a reference for recommended RPs!
Today's Practice RPing situation:
Today we'll do one of the most popular RP topics, vampires! I'll start off with my own post and you can reply to mine ore just introduce yourself. I will also post my profile as well as the profile skeleton you may use if you want to practice making profiles!
Profile Skeleton:
Username:
Character Name:
Age:
Gender:
Race:(you may be another race but I highly recommend practicing being a vampire)
Appearance:
Personality:
Bio:(optional but again, it helps make your character a little more interesting)
Character Name:
Age:
Gender:
Race:(you may be another race but I highly recommend practicing being a vampire)
Appearance:
Personality:
Bio:(optional but again, it helps make your character a little more interesting)
Submitted profiles for this round:
Username: -Valnea-
Character Name: Valnea
Age: 157
Gender: Female
Race:Vampire
Appearance: Valnea
Personality: Mysterious and harsh at times Valnea is often times found by herself chanting in some sort of ancient language or singing an old lullaby. She rarely speaks when she does it is often something that should be heeded with utmost care.
Bio: Valnea was born a human child but when she was at the age of five was bitten. Over the years she came to be feared, causing drastic changes in her once kind and charismatic personality. She became quiet and cold and at one point completely vanished from the eyes of the earth. When she resurfaced there was a mark on her forehead. She never spoke that it's purpose was to keep her thirst at bay and allowed her primitive instincts to remain restrained. Since her return she is found wondering the old cathedral, long abandoned in a small village that is very much so in the middle of nowhere.
First Post:
Valnea's cold grey eyes scanned the hazed horizon for travelers horizon, her pale skin reflecting the ruthless flashes of lightening, webbing through the mountains of grey clouds overhead. Her white hair whipped her neck and back as vicious gusts of wind howled at her, threatening to carry away her light, agile body into the skies above. Her clothing was soaked and what was being moved by the wind clung to her body like an extra layer of skin. The lantern in her hand swung making small squeaks as it's rusted hinges ground against each other and the flame with flickered endlessly yet refused to go out. Over head the ancient bell rang in it's crumbling tower. The rain fell almost completely horizontal, hitting the tomb stone like bullets from the heavens, splitting into millions of droplets when it hit before the water slowly ran down the carved lettering of the departed's names. Her eyes noticed every detail of the looming forest ahead, every falling leaf, branch, and tree. Not a soul to be seen, at least not at the moment.
"Rain, rain go away. Come again some other day..." She sang almost in a whisper as her colorless lips curled into a small smile.
