1001 simple ways to Roleplay

[ChikenKannon]

Enter some ways you think a player could roleplay better. For those who don't know, roleplaying is playing your character rather than your player. A more extreme example of this is, your character is a faithful thrall of the empire and in his "luck" he finds a sword blessed by Rel an outlawed god. Does he keep the sword and stretch the rules alittle? Or does he bring the sword to the local blacksmith to have smelted down and purified?


There are many choices to what your character will do, and it's up to you to reason it out with past experiences, his personality, and his moral code. And these choices are up to you to make when you're talking to people, living and so on. The more to roleplay the better you will know your character and be able to act a believable personality.


Some ways of doing this are.

1) Talk to people IC and use OOC or (( or // to tell people when you're talking as a player rather than your character

2) Having a personality will make it easier to remember your character even if someone else has the exact same skills and abilities.

3) Develop your character over time rather than quickly. If you develop your character too fast it may seem like you're just changing the character rather than the character being changed by the events in his life.

4) Stay in character whenever possible and others will do the same.

5) Allow outside influences but ignore affronts, just like real life.

6) Bearing arms in the city is illegal, and I think arming bears is as well, but the real question how does your character feel about it?

7) Know the difference between an evil villianous character archtype and a nuisance. If you are unsure which your character is, then you are probably a nuisance. Nothing wrong with that. Some characters are exceedingly effective at roleplaying that role.

8) Love the role you choose to play but do not be confined by it. Characters make decisions and deal with the consequences, just like real life.

9) That character that has been following you through three transitions means to kill you. Get them first even if they are partied with you. They are the one being sneaky.

10) This is not a game based on how well you can click. You're both player and narrator in this context.

10a) Points granted for the richness of the experience you create for yourself and others; Not the roleplay checklist in your head.

10b) If it's only in your head, it's not roleplay, you're just a weirdo. You need to be helping tell part of the story. Ex-post rationalization such as "But my character is a...!" fails. Utterly.

10c) Acting out a good conflict with another character or playing a good villain should not be synonymous with others thinking "Ugh, that guy again, what a hassle." If you're ruining someone else's experience, you're hurting the community.

10d) It's not sufficient to simply know what your own character's motivation is. If an in-character conflict turns OOC, somebody's doing something wrong. 99% of the time this is a failure to communicate.

10e) It doesn't matter what you say/write. What was understood by the receiver of a message is the content of that message, not what you intended it to be.

11) Don't take it too seriously.

11a) You are not your character.

11b) You don't have to win all the time and/or at all costs. The best role-players get tricked sometimes, bite off more than the can chew, lick their own wounds, and learn something from the experience.

11c) Remember that you're playing, have fun.

12) You don't need to be here every day to be part of this.

13) For chrissakes hang around for a few minutes and amuse yourself. Don't ditch the second you log in and see your friends aren't logged in. Speak to someone new.

14. Just because you are a rogue don't assume that the rogue watching you pick-pocket your victim won't attack you.

15. If there is a know bug (one that has been discused multiple time with no solution to the problem) don't feel that it is alright to exploit it simply because it doesn't change anything on the server or appear to benefit your character.

16. Do not get caught up in language. You don't need to thee and thou everyone just have your character talk like normal then maybe add an accent to a later character if you want.

17. If you don't feel like roleplaying but are having a lengthy conversation with a friend invite the to party and use party chat so others screens are not flooded with ooc chat.

18. The DMFI tools are wonderfull to use with roleplay. Use the rest then emote option to acess lots of different emotes not on your standard "V" action list.

19. Roleplaying is not all about you, if you've been having a fun time as the "lead Roleplayer" nurture other players or just take a back seat and see what other players come up with.

20. If people stop roleplaying around you don't be sad, keep roleplaying, maybe they'll get back into the swing of things. And if not, talk to them OOC maybe they're having a bad day and just want to kill monsters. Maybe they don't realize it.

21. Pretend the NPCs are players, IE don't shout things that would offend most players.

21a. NPC guards are still guards, and if they can hear or see you being a unloyal arse it WILL come back and bite you in the arse.

22) Talk in short sentences to help others talk to you. Pause to wait for others to respond. (Makes note to not try to write a book when having IC conversations. )

23: Being evil doesn't mean walking around with your special baby eating fork and a bottle of barbecue sauce.

24: If you're a thief, don't complain when your face gets melted. It's a rite of passage.

25: Learn to improvise. You're going to get dropped, no matter what your RP says. Born winners will lose eventually, and born losers will win. Be ready for that.

26: Don't feed the Claw. Seriously, it's just a bad idea.

27) Background stories are great, but remember, all characters start at level one. A level one fighter calling himself a retired Talon Commander is ridiculous. Why not become the Talon Commander instead of starting off as one?

28) Using tells for OOC banter is even better than using (( or //.

29) Cultural studies are great roleplaying aids. I've played an Elven Samurai, a Halfling Yanomamo, and a Half-Orc Sioux.

30) Have a goal, big or small, and communicate that to the DM team.

31: Don't spam your background all at once. You don't walk up to a new acquaintance and give them your life story IRL; so unless your character is a chatterbox, they shouldn't either. It's more interesting to learn things over time.

32) While immersing yourself in your character make sure that you're able to step back and realize that things done or said to him or her isn't an affront to you.

33) If you're uncomfortable with the way someone interacts with one of your characters, send the person a tell and say it. Most likely he/she will back away and apologize.

34) Have respect for your fellow players and their wishes. Steamrolling over people will most likely get you a bad reputation.

35) Be humble, open to criticism and willing to learn from anyone.

36) This is a personal preference, but use imaginative and personal *text here* emotes. This is, to me, one of the most important aspects of RP and one of the hardest to get right.

37) Doing a quest does NOT exclude RP. Oftentimes I find myself and others going mainly OOC when doing a dungeon, but for a unique and thrilling experience keep it character. Liven the battles up with imaginative emotes for some extra points! :)

38) Another personal one, but I find people who write all lower case or with abbreviations hard to interact with. Common ones like "etc" I can understand, but when you type "u" instead of "you" my hands will inevitably reach out to choke you :P

39) During DM-events, be sure to listen to any instructions the DM gives you and whatever happens keep it IC unless the DM states otherwise. Just because you don't understand why something happened doesn't mean it doesn't have an IC explanation.

40) Chill out with a cup of coffee. And Imagine your character in both adventurous and everyday situations. Then hit the play button in your head. Usually you get some fun visions and laugh. And find out what your character would NOT do, which says a lot about your char. I use it for growing/refueling my characters

41. DM's are sneaky. Don't ignore ANYTHING.

42. If you intend on insulting someone, be prepared to deal with the
consequences. Eventually someone will kill first, ask questions later.

43. Always role-play while you're hunting. You never know what might
happen. That bugbear you're about to kill might just object.

44. Just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should. So, taking that
into consideration, just because you can play a jerk... doesn't mean you
should do it.

[Eowade]

When she wants you to dress up like a fireman use lots of candles in the room.
If you get her a return of the jedi princess leia outfit make sure you have the chains and accesories to go with it.
You can't play cop without handcuffs.
If she asks you to put on a diaper just leave.

Oh wrong roleplay..... what why you lookin at me like that.

put on armor before you play.
If you play a drunk dwarf play drunk.

[Black Hand Enclave]

Back here on topic.

5) Allow outside influences but ignore affronts, just like real life.

6) Bearing arms in the city is illegal, and I think arming bears is as well, but the real question how does your character feel about it?

7) Know the difference between an evil villianous character archtype and a nuisance. If you are unsure which your character is, then you are probably a nuisance. Nothing wrong with that. Some characters are exceedingly effective at roleplaying that role.

Love the role you choose to play but do not be confined by it. Characters make decisions and deal with the consequences, just like real life.

9) That character that has been following you through three transitions means to kill you. Get them first even if they are partied with you. They are the one being sneaky.

[blackheart]

10) This is not a game based on how well you can click. You're both player and narrator in this context.

10a) Points granted for the richness of the experience you create for yourself and others; Not the roleplay checklist in your head.

10b) If it's only in your head, it's not roleplay, you're just a weirdo. You need to be helping tell part of the story. Ex-post rationalization such as "But my character is a...!" fails. Utterly.

10c) Acting out a good conflict with another character or playing a good villain should not be synonymous with others thinking "Ugh, that guy again, what a hassle." If you're ruining someone else's experience, you're hurting the community.

10d) It's not sufficient to simply know what your own character's motivation is. If an in-character conflict turns OOC, somebody's doing something wrong. 99% of the time this is a failure to communicate.

10e) It doesn't matter what you say/write. What was understood by the receiver of a message is the content of that message, not what you intended it to be.

11) Don't take it too seriously.

11a) You are not your character.

11b) You don't have to win all the time and/or at all costs. The best role-players get tricked sometimes, bite off more than the can chew, lick their own wounds, and learn something from the experience.

11c) Remember that you're playing, have fun.

12) You don't need to be here every day to be part of this.

13) For chrissakes hang around for a few minutes and amuse yourself. Don't ditch the second you log in and see your friends aren't logged in. Speak to someone new.

[Mon-da-oth]

14. Just because you are a rogue don't assume that the rogue watching you pick-pocket your victim won't attack you.

15. If there is a know bug (one that has been discused multiple time with no solution to the problem) don't feel that it is alright to exploit it simply because it doesn't change anything on the server or appear to benefit your character.

[Eowade]

ok real ones

16. Do not get caught up in language. You don't need to thee and thou everyone just have your character talk like normal then maybe add an accent to a later character if you want.

17. If you don't feel like roleplaying but are having a lengthy conversation with a friend invite the to party and use party chat so others screens are not flooded with ooc chat.

18. The DMFI tools are wonderfull to use with roleplay. Use the rest then emote option to acess lots of different emotes not on your standard "V" action list.

Edit: fixed numbers

[ChikenKannon]

11b) You don't have to win all the time and/or at all costs. The best role-players get tricked sometimes, bite off more than the can chew, lick their own wounds, and learn something from the experience.

19. Roleplaying is not all about you, if you've been having a fun time as the "lead Roleplayer" nurture other players or just take a back seat and see what other players come up with.

20. If people stop roleplaying around you don't be sad, keep roleplaying, maybe they'll get back into the swing of things. And if not, talk to them OOC maybe they're having a bad day and just want to kill monsters. Maybe they don't realize it.

21. Pretend the NPCs are players, IE don't shout things that would offend most players.

21a. NPC guards are still guards, and if they can hear or see you being a unloyal arse it WILL come back and bite you in the arse.

[Black Hand Enclave]

22) Talk in short sentences to help others talk to you. Pause to wait for others to respond. (Makes note to not try to write a book when having IC conversations. Yes, I am my own worst enemy on this one. )

[Stormknife]

23: Being evil doesn't mean walking around with your special baby eating fork and a bottle of barbecue sauce.

24: If you're a thief, don't complain when your face gets melted. It's a rite of passage.

25: Learn to improvise. You're going to get dropped, no matter what your RP says. Born winners will lose eventually, and born losers will win. Be ready for that.

26: Don't feed the Claw. Seriously, it's just a bad idea.

[Rob]

27) Background stories are great, but remember, all characters start at level one. A level one fighter calling himself a retired Talon Commander is ridiculous. Why not become the Talon Commander instead of starting off as one?

28) Using tells for OOC banter is even better than using (( or //.

29) Cultural studies are great roleplaying aids. I've played an Elven Samurai, a Halfling Yanomamo, and a Half-Orc Sioux.

30) Have a goal, big or small, and communicate that to the DM team.

[Stormknife]

If Rob numbers like I think he will...

31: Don't spam your background all at once. You don't walk up to a new acquaintance and give them your life story IRL; so unless your character is a chatterbox, they shouldn't either. It's more interesting to learn things over time.

[StormRunner]

32) While immersing yourself in your character make sure that you're able to step back and realize that things done or said to him or her isn't an affront to you.

33) If you're uncomfortable with the way someone interacts with one of your characters, send the person a tell and say it. Most likely he/she will back away and apologize.

34) Have respect for your fellow players and their wishes. Steamrolling over people will most likely get you a bad reputation.

35) Be humble, open to criticism and willing to learn from anyone.

36) This is a personal preference, but use imaginative and personal *text here* emotes. This is, to me, one of the most important aspects of RP and one of the hardest to get right.

37) Doing a quest does NOT exclude RP. Oftentimes I find myself and others going mainly OOC when doing a dungeon, but for a unique and thrilling experience keep it character. Liven the battles up with imaginative emotes for some extra points! :)

38) Another personal one, but I find people who write all lower case or with abbreviations hard to interact with. Common ones like "etc" I can understand, but when you type "u" instead of "you" my hands will inevitably reach out to choke you :P

39) During DM-events, be sure to listen to any instructions the DM gives you and whatever happens keep it IC unless the DM states otherwise. Just because you don't understand why something happened doesn't mean it doesn't have an IC explanation.

[KoolestLoser]

These are excellent.

[urgualamand]

40) Chill out with a cup of coffee. And Imagine your character in both adventurous and everyday situations. Then hit the play button in your head. Usually you get some fun visions and laugh. And find out what your character would NOT do, which says a lot about your char. I use it for growing/refueling my characters.

And if you feel like it, then write it down and let us read it in the forums

[Vahene]

41. DM's are sneaky. Don't ignore ANYTHING.

42. If you intend on insulting someone, be prepared to deal with the
consequences. Eventually someone will kill first, ask questions later.

43. Always role-play while you're hunting. You never know what might
happen. That bugbear you're about to kill might just object.

44. Just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should. So, taking that
into consideration, just because you can play a jerk... doesn't mean you
should do it.

K