|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 8:35 pm
 It's simple.
You follow the rules, and you don't die an agonizing death in the RP, only to be reincarnated in a new character after you've solemnly sworn to do it the right way next time.
This is not a summarized version of Role-play 101 &102, so don't even try to skip out on those classes. This is the bare minimum that you should know, that all role-players should know, before they post anywhere. Too many of the following rules are taken for granted or outright ignored when people post.
Just because you can write a decent amount does not mean you're going to be a great role-player by default. Don't even try. It's arrogant, and too often it's completely inconsiderate of the people you are role-playing with. Role-playing is not the same as writing, and the following sections will hopefully teach you the difference.
Three simple rules--
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:02 pm
one.
ACTION
ac·tion
[ak-shuhn] –noun
1.the process or state of acting or of being active
Lo, activity! - the novelty.
This is the basic fundamental of any role-play and it is also what most people never seem to forget. In fact, most posts are teeming with actions. Is this a good thing? NO. Again, you are not the only person that exists in a role-play story. While you are acting, every single other character present is entitled - no, owed - a reaction. (I'll get to reaction later.)
What this means:
Think about your action very carefully. How many people does each of your actions affect? It's not just about who gets hit by what buster sword, it's also about who sees this action, what they think about the action, what they may act on in response to this action, and what may occur in event of this action.
Remember the golden rule: EVERY action has an equal and opposite REaction. This doesn't change just because you want to write an epic-quality, tl;dr post. Okay, your writing is very pleasant to read and you have a great imagination... but RP is not just about you. It's about consideration of facts, people, and elements of the scene.
So, back to your action. It's not just about what you do.. it's about:
{A} How you do it. When you punch someone, you're what... *punch**bam**shazam*? No. You're raising your arm, forming a fist, thrusting it forward and you are aiming at a particular object or region on the body.
{B} Who it's done to. Are you punching an NPC or creature? In most cases, only a small amount of consideration is required in this situation and the extent would be the repercussions of your actions. As in, does the imp's skull crush inwards from the force of your punch?
Are you punching a PC? Then you have to think, "gee, it's very rarely that a person would create a mannequin as a character.. so maybe they are going to do something too!" Be careful with your auto-hits. There are situations that warrant it, yes, but in most cases it just pisses people off. Give a person a chance to react to your attempt of a physical action against them in their post, unless you have a mutual understanding of the situation and have agreed, in OOC, that auto-actions are okay between the two of youl
{C} How long it takes to do. Don't carry on in your post as if you're choreographing a dramatic scene all by yourself. If you're in the midst of other people then they are going to react to EVERY. THING. YOU. DO. Don't assume that an action is minute, because they will not. Be considerate and respectful enough of your fellow RP'ers to allow them the chance to reply to dialog in your post before you disappear, to throw a punch in return once you've given them a knuckle-sandwich to chew on, or even just to notice the mischievous gleam in your eyes while you secretly plot to draw a mustache on their face while they sleep. If you are not conscious of how a person can, and will, respond to your post then stop writing right now. You're here because there are other people that are going to work with you to tell a story, but you have to give them the chance to do so.
If this is too much to remember, then stick to this guideline:
Every post should have one action, and that action should take 60 seconds.
Otherwise, you're assuming that your fellow role-players are either too stupid to think of something to react to in their post, or in some way undesirable to interact with. If it's the latter, please hit the back button on your browser.
The only exception to the 60 seconds rule is if you are posting alone and your character is the only one present in the scene. duh.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:03 pm
two.
INTERACTIONINTERACTIONINTERACTION
in·ter·ac·tion
[in-ter-ak-shuhn] –noun
1.reciprocal action, effect, or influence.
I. cannot. stress. this. enough.
You are in an role-play, not a star in your own "super-you" story. This is WRONG and it is IGNORANT, and it is often not even accomplished because it is all to easy for many people to complain that their character isn't near any others, or they're anti-social, or they're are, in some way, pre-occupied with themselves. Why does your character enter a scene if they are not going to be a part of it. Stop being a wallflower. Make an attempt to talk to or engage physically with another character.
What this means:
{A} Interact with your environment. Don't meander into a scene doing nothing to provide setting in your post. Don't expect others to pick up your slack. Don't sit, touch, walk, lean, or in any way engage in an object without attributing it with at least one adjective.
{B} Interact with other players. Have they been speaking? What are they wearing? What do they look like? Even if you are not yet speaking with another character does not mean that you simply pretend that they don't exist until they come to you. Are you the center of the universe? NO. You are an integral part of the story just as any other player and if you all act like no one by you exist then there will be no story.
{C} Interact with Plot. Hard as it may be for some role-players to believe, but there is an existing story that was there before their characters were. What is your character's purpose in this story, hmm? To stand there and be pretty, find your true love, see about getting your fix of narcissism for the day, or are you going to be a functional, pro-active member of the RP?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:04 pm
three.
re·ac·tion
[ree-ak-shuhn] –noun
1. action in response to some influence, event, etc.
Finally, we get to the good stuff. The sort of stuff you can't get to without other people, the stuff that we're here for. Face it, it's true. If you weren't here for action created by an outside stimulus then you'd be at a notebook, by yourself, doing all the work all alone. There's no trick to this, not if you've been listening already. Just think about your environment; people in it, actions occurring, dialog taking place, and what is going on in the physical environment.
What this means:
{A} INTERPERSONAL: Who's actions are affecting you? Is your arm being stroked tenderly, are you being spoken to, are you being attacked, or are you witnessing the action of someone that affects you emotionally or intellectually. Be aware of what's going on in your environment and react to it, or be treated like the bump on the log that you are.
{B} EXTRAPERSONAL: What is going on around you? Are you in the middle of a snowstorm, crawling through a jungle, in the midst of a howling wind, or in the center of a loud, musical ball? The physical environment is just as rich and powerful as any PC, if you let it me (hint: you should let it be.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
