Role-Playing FAQ Thread
Nov 8, 2008 4:27:42 GMT -5
Post by Adminbot on Nov 8, 2008 4:27:42 GMT -5
Role-Playing (or RPing) can best be described as a game. In essence, you take the role of a character, either preexisting or created from scratch, and interact with a fictional world and other characters by means of writing. Naturally, this requires that both you and those who you interact with use great detail in order to paint a solid picture of what exactly is going on in this fictional world.
Q: So let me get this straight. You're saying I'm taking the role of someone else?
A: Exactly. You, through literary devices and writing skill, portray another character as if you were them. You use that character to explore and interact with whatever fictional world that character exists in.
Q: Alright, then it's like I'm in a different world?
A: Not quite. You shouldn't attempt to make your character(s) too similar to yourself in nature or mannerism. This tends to make them dull and boring, and sometimes your personal attributes simply do not logically fit in the fictional world you're RPing in.
Q: Then I'm pretending to be a completely different person?
A: Exactly. Think of it like acting. When you act, you do not conduct yourself as you normally would. Rather, you take the role of a certain character. This is quite similar, though it is done via writing rather than vocal expression.
Q: What exactly am I supposed to do in this fictional world?
A: That's one of the beauties of RPing. You can do just about anything you want, within the confines and limits of logic as it applies to whatever world you're RPing in. Most of the time there will be some overarching goal or plot to follow to an end, but you can have your character to just about anything in between the beginning and end of the story.
Q: But surely my character would get bored in this fictional world, right?
A: That depends. Two things can make the story of any RP immensely intriguing for you and your character. The first is simply your own imagination. If you create new and interesting challenges for your character, there will always be something to hold your focus and avoid boredom. The second thing is that you are not alone. There are other RPers with their own characters, and interacting with these characters is a crucial part of RPing.
Q: How do I interact with another RPer's character?
A: When interacting with a character that someone else created, you must take into account several factors. First, you should pay close attention to what that character looks like, acts like, etc. Second, you need to use good detail in order to communicate effectively, so that the other RPer knows what you mean when you say something. Third, you should keep in mind that your character does not know everything you do, so even if you know another RPer's character is an enemy to yours, your character might not know that.
Q: Can I just skip interaction and get to the killing part?
First of all, killing is an interaction of sorts, so you aren't free from interaction just because you don't exchange words. Secondly, no, you may not just kill another RPer's character without their expressed permission. This is a form of God-Modding, and is prohibited in most RPs. You have to allow the other RPer(s) a chance to fight back if you intend to attack them.
Q: Earlier, you said something about creating characters...
A: Right. On most occasions, you will need to create your own character for any given RP from scratch. That means that you need to come up with the important details that define what your character is exactly. Don't fret, for most RPs will have guidelines for this, generally called "Character Sheets". These are usually a list of things that the RP requires you to explain about a character. While it is unacceptable to give less than the required information, you are free to add more than is asked for.
That about wraps it up. Did I miss any questions? Feel free to point them out or ask some of your own.
Q: So let me get this straight. You're saying I'm taking the role of someone else?
A: Exactly. You, through literary devices and writing skill, portray another character as if you were them. You use that character to explore and interact with whatever fictional world that character exists in.
Q: Alright, then it's like I'm in a different world?
A: Not quite. You shouldn't attempt to make your character(s) too similar to yourself in nature or mannerism. This tends to make them dull and boring, and sometimes your personal attributes simply do not logically fit in the fictional world you're RPing in.
Q: Then I'm pretending to be a completely different person?
A: Exactly. Think of it like acting. When you act, you do not conduct yourself as you normally would. Rather, you take the role of a certain character. This is quite similar, though it is done via writing rather than vocal expression.
Q: What exactly am I supposed to do in this fictional world?
A: That's one of the beauties of RPing. You can do just about anything you want, within the confines and limits of logic as it applies to whatever world you're RPing in. Most of the time there will be some overarching goal or plot to follow to an end, but you can have your character to just about anything in between the beginning and end of the story.
Q: But surely my character would get bored in this fictional world, right?
A: That depends. Two things can make the story of any RP immensely intriguing for you and your character. The first is simply your own imagination. If you create new and interesting challenges for your character, there will always be something to hold your focus and avoid boredom. The second thing is that you are not alone. There are other RPers with their own characters, and interacting with these characters is a crucial part of RPing.
Q: How do I interact with another RPer's character?
A: When interacting with a character that someone else created, you must take into account several factors. First, you should pay close attention to what that character looks like, acts like, etc. Second, you need to use good detail in order to communicate effectively, so that the other RPer knows what you mean when you say something. Third, you should keep in mind that your character does not know everything you do, so even if you know another RPer's character is an enemy to yours, your character might not know that.
Q: Can I just skip interaction and get to the killing part?
First of all, killing is an interaction of sorts, so you aren't free from interaction just because you don't exchange words. Secondly, no, you may not just kill another RPer's character without their expressed permission. This is a form of God-Modding, and is prohibited in most RPs. You have to allow the other RPer(s) a chance to fight back if you intend to attack them.
Q: Earlier, you said something about creating characters...
A: Right. On most occasions, you will need to create your own character for any given RP from scratch. That means that you need to come up with the important details that define what your character is exactly. Don't fret, for most RPs will have guidelines for this, generally called "Character Sheets". These are usually a list of things that the RP requires you to explain about a character. While it is unacceptable to give less than the required information, you are free to add more than is asked for.
That about wraps it up. Did I miss any questions? Feel free to point them out or ask some of your own.