Post by Golem Frost on Jun 25, 2016 15:01:51 GMT -5
What is Roleplay?
Roleplay is assuming the role of a character and writing, acting, or playing as that character would. There are many forms of roleplaying: gaming console, live action roleplay, tabletop roleplay, text-based roleplay, forum roleplay, and on and on.
What is Forum Roleplaying?
Forum roleplaying happens when a group of people using a forum to create a story. The story can be loosely related, as in a large forum roleplaying game where many characters inhabit a huge world. The story can also be closely related, as in a small boarding school roleplaying game where all characters know each other.
The actual roleplaying happens through text. Roleplayers write responses to one another through posts. Each post describes the character’s actions, speech, and thoughts. Forum roleplay is often called play-by-post roleplay.
Note that play-by-post roleplay does not always take place on a forum. With the rise of social media, Tumblr has become a large roleplaying hub. Livejournal has always hosted roleplaying communities, too. Forums are still a popular way of organizing roleplaying games, however.
How Does Forum Roleplay Work?
When you roleplay, you assume the role of a character. A character is made-up entity created for roleplaying. You create a character (a person, animal, demon, alien, or whatever is appropriate for your RPG setting) and write from their perspective/role. Your character isn’t you, and you aren’t your character — you’re separate entities. You can think of it like an actor in a movie — the actor is not the character. Johnny Depp is not Captain Jack Sparrow, Mort Rainey, or John Dillinger.
An Example of Forum Roleplay
Alice (a roleplayer, as Baphomet): The hours nearest dawn were the worst for Baphomet. He hated the thought of going underground, he hated where he slept, and he hated the many dreary hours between the closing of the coffin and the rising of the moon. Gray dawn was creeping ever nearer. Even its palest beginnings of light stung his eyes. He scowled.
You (as Azazel): New as she was to the vampire clan, Azazel was already comfortable with her fellow vampires. It was always like that for her — she just melded, wherever she went. Adaptability all but ensured her long survival. There was one exception, though. That exception stood directly in Azazel’s path to sweet darkness. The slim vampire shifted her weight from one pale leg to the other, unsure what she might say to placate the dark-tempered elder. Too late, she realized he would hear even that minute movement.
Alice: Baphomet’s head swiveled around, almost serpentine. He glowered at the new-made vampire — she was young and arrogant as they always were. Their skin was as soft and fleshy as a humans, yet they always thought of themselves as gods and goddesses. “Yes? Am I in your way, little girl?” the vampire asked. He might have tainted the question with coy sweetness if it was not so desperately near to dawn.
And it goes from there! Later in the thread, Azazel and Baphomet might end up fighting, or creeping into a coffin together, or making plans to hunt later that night, or getting stuck outside of their nest, or…
Post Length
Generally, posts will be much longer than the provided examples. Some roleplaying games haveword minimums, a requirement for you to write a certain amount of words within every roleplaying post. You can find roleplaying games without minimums or with very high minimums.
Forum Roleplay isn’t a fan of huge word minimums (800-1000 word minimums generally mean you’ve found a very advanced RPG — or a very silly one, depending). However, it can be helpful (especially for novice writers and the youngest roleplayers) to strive for 200-300 words per post.
Roleplay Realism
Realism is an important aspect of creating a flowing storyline. Even writing novels — if you create a world with rules and then break those rules later (especially unintentionally), it irritates your reader. Roleplay realism is not exactly like real life realism. A game based in the year 5392, with space travel and highly advanced technologies, has different rules of realism than a forum roleplaying game set in 1930. Realism is especially important in forum roleplaying because many people are writing in the same universe.
If you’re playing a kingdom RPG, and the character Azazel states that the princess should inherit because of this law in one thread, but later Baphomet says the prince should inherit because the priest has always appointed the king… well, you see? The characters are giving conflicting information, but both are treating it as the truth.
This could be an interesting plot if it was due to misdirection on Baphomet’s part or a secret scroll Azazel discovered. However, if unresolved — this might lead to confusion later (especially if the players do not remember who was correct). Re-reading old posts might lead to even more confusion.
In order to be successful in a forum roleplaying game, you should know your RPG’s acceptable level of realism. If you don’t care about realism, you can always find a simpler, freeform game. However, in some of the most complex forum RPGs, realism is very important.
Writing in A Collaborative Environment
OOC Does Not Equal IC
Definitions
OOC
Out of Character. This is the player, the person behind the computer.
IC
In Character. This is the character, the fictional creation.
One of the most important things to remember in forum roleplaying: your character can be different from you. Many people say your character should be different, and that it’s the best way to roleplay. New roleplayers find it easy to create “themselves” as characters. This can very easily lead to destructive roleplay behavior, though! For example, a player with a self-character may take offense at another character disliking the self-character.
IC does not equal OOC. Keeping that in mind is very important for an enjoyable roleplaying experience. Just because a character dislikes your character does not mean that player dislikes you. A fight between players does not mean characters have to start disliking one another (though it may be easiest to avoid drama by avoiding the roleplayer).
In Character and Out of Character are separate realms best kept separate.
IC Action Equals IC Consequence
One essential of forum roleplaying is remembering you are writing a story with many other players. Though your character is important to you, others’ characters are equally important to them. Though there is great freedom in online forum roleplaying, it’s not absolute.
It is important to remember that for your character’s actions, there are often consequences. Though it was a fun plot when your character suddenly snapped, your RPG group leader may not approve. This plot could end up with your roleplay character being kicked out (in a Limited Consent game) or killed (in a Non-Consent game).
Don’t expect to be able to do whatever you want at all times. If you roleplay, there are other people playing, too. If your character does something, other characters will react. Some roleplaying games have courtesy policies requiring at least cursory discussion of certain plots. If you do not extend this courtesy to others before plotting something out of the ordinary, you may end up with some unintended or unwanted consequences.
Interweaving Stories
It is also important to remember that your character is not the central point of the plot at all times. Don’t join a thread where there is clearly something going on between the other characters and expect everyone’s focus to shift to your character. Play to the story; don’t expect others to gravitate toward or even care about your character in any particular moment.
Azazel: The coyote leaned over his mother’s grave, his ears folded back and his expression somber. There was not an ounce of happiness within the man. She didn’t need die, he thought, again and again.
Baphomet: He wandered toward the other wolf, clearly distraught. “I lost my favorite bag, man,”he said. This was his absolute favorite possession and he really wanted it back.
This would be really rude in real life — it’s also really rude in roleplaying. If a player has a particular idea or plot in mind, reply only if you’re interested in shaping that storyline with them.
Roleplay Thread Types
There are usually different types of forum roleplaying threads:
All Welcome or Open threads are free for any roleplayer to join.
Private or Closed threads are intended for specific roleplayers who were invited to that thread.
Don’t join private or closed threads you weren’t invited to. Your post may be deleted or removed, depending on the RPG rules.
Ask before you start a private thread for someone. If your thread “demands” their presence or requires it, it’s kind of inconsiderate of their thread load, real life, other duties, and so forth. Please be considerate.
Bad Roleplay
If you’re brand new to roleplaying, please see the Bad Roleplay Guide. These are very important aspects to avoid when learning how to forum roleplay.
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Bad Roleplay.
There are several bad roleplay behaviors common to many RPGs. They are often employed by those new to forum roleplaying games. This is because these things are specific to roleplay, some to forum roleplay. It’s no wonder newcomers don’t know all the ropes yet. However, bad roleplay also may come from experienced players.
While bad roleplay may seem harmless, it is at best irritating to other players. At worst, it’s against your RPG’s rules. Some forum roleplaying games ban these behaviors specifically. Other games rely on the “tacit assumption” that bad roleplay (metagaming, powerplay, godmodding) is neverokay. Unless you’re certain, avoid these “techniques.”
Contents
Introduction Notes
Absolute Bad Roleplay Guide?
Bad Roleplay and RPG Consent Level
Godmoding
Types of Godmoding
Is it Really Bad Roleplay?
Notes for New Players
Notes for RPG Administrators
Absolute Bad Roleplay Guide?
Bad roleplay concepts may be different according to games, styles, and groups of forum roleplaying games. What is “powerplay” at one RPG is referred to as “godmodding” elsewhere. This guide is not intended as the be-all, end-all definition of bad roleplay. It provides a basis for RPG administrators who wish to define bad roleplay similarly. In short: there are many definitions for these concepts. You may or may not agree.
Bad Roleplay and RPG Consent Level
The Bad Roleplay guide is designed for Strong Consent roleplay games. Concepts such as powerplay may not apply at Non-Consent games.
Godmoding
Definitions
godmoder (noun)
A roleplayer or roleplay character engaging in metagaming, powerplaying, or godmodding.
godmoding (verb)
The act of godmoding.
godmode (noun)
Generally not used in forum roleplay, though characters may be referred to as “in godmode” in rare instances.
Godmoding refers to several types of bad roleplay as an umbrella term. All godmoding attempts to shift the roleplay in the godmoding player’s favor. In essence, godmoding is any attempt at giving a roleplaying character an advantage that does not normally exist in-game.
The word comes from video games, where godmode includes “features such as invincibility, unlimited ammunition or lives, or similar power boosts” (Godmoding). Forum roleplay players can’t use exploits or cheat codes to power-up their characters — but certain roleplay behaviors can achieve virtually similar results.
The advantages gained by godmoding in forum roleplay can be:
Against other players and their characters — e.g., the super-powered beast-hulk who smashes any challengers in a fight, no matter what.
Against the game world and its realism rules — e.g., the twelve year old magician who can suddenly defeat a previously unbeatable enemy.
Against the environment — e.g., the teenager in a high school town RPG who never references or writes about being in class and instead works full-time, despite a truancy policy being enforced in-game.
The problem? RPGs are a world built and played in by players. Everyone has to agree to the same rules about the way the game is played.
…for the writing to make sense.
With the beast-hulk character, yeah — sure, sometimes there are unbeatable people. However… they are very, very rare. If unbeatable or overpowered characters were allowed in RPGs, enough people would want an overpowered character that it would unbalance the game. Anyone trying to play a regularly-leveled character would quickly be beaten to a pulp. It alters the dynamic of the game.
In the high school roleplay, it raises questions about where the truancy officers are, and why they aren’t enforcing the law on this character. Especially if the truancy officers have been vigilant, this makes little sense.
…for the players to maintain a sense of fairness.
In the magic-based roleplay — the most likely reason for the enemy being unbeatable is to build a sense of danger and/or excitement. If this enemy played some role in the game, it’s not fair for a single player to unilaterally decide to make a major change to the world.
In the high school roleplay, it’s not fair for this character to avoid truancy and gain monetary advantage over other characters. Everyone else’s characters have to abide by the truancy rules.
Types of Godmoding
Read on for specifics about the different types of godmodding and why they make for bad roleplay.
Godmodding is godmoding specific to character creation, skills, and certain situations (e.g., combat).
Powerplaying is godmoding by controlling another roleplayer’s character without permission.
Metagaming is godmoding specific to the use of OOC knowledge in roleplayed actions, behaviors, thoughts.
Retconning is godmoding specific to erasure or alteration of past events..
Is it Really Bad Roleplay?
Notes for New Players
Don’t worry about making mistakes. If you’ve accidentally done some bad roleplay, please don’t feel bad about yourself. There are very few comprehensive guides to forum roleplay out there. Every game is different — some games are radically different. Your mistakes don’t make you a bad person, of course!
Notes for RPG Administrators
“Bad roleplay” can be an honest mistake. It can be difficult to separate what you know from what your character knows, after all — metagaming can happen accidentally. Powerplaying, too, can happen unintentionally. New players may not know powerplay exists.
In these cases, it’s not really bad roleplay — it’s inexperience or a mistake. RPG admins who wish to be fair and welcoming are well-advised to differentiate between intentional and unintentional bad roleplay. Sorting intentional from unintentional can be difficult for an RPG admin, but it’s worthwhile in the name of fairness.
The four major forms of bad roleplay.