Author Topic: Roleplay Etiquette  (Read 16252 times)

ColonelHamilton

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Roleplay Etiquette
« on: March 12, 2011, 12:21:10 am »
Discuss proper roleplaying behavior here. :D

Figured I'd might as well mention some of the more common roleplay faux pas that most of us are familiar with.

1) Godmoding. This involves controlling others' characters. Auto-hitting is a common example of this; you can have your character attack another character, but you cannot determine whether the strike lands and how much damage is done.  Controlling another character's reaction to your own character is also considered godmoding; you cannot say that every male in the room is attracted to your girl, for instance.  Mind control as a character ability is very often a recipe for 'legal' godmoding; personally I recommend disallowing mind control as a power in a roleplay, unless there are serious limitations.

2) Powerplaying. This is almost like godmoding, but not quite.  A power player may not control another's character or auto-hit, but they will load their character up with an absurd amount of powers, and refuse to let their character lose.  In the course of a fight, a good roleplayer will handle things realistic: their character will grow tired as a fight goes on, and they will probably be struck at least a few times by their opponent.  A power player will always let loose perfect and powerful attacks, and never suffer damage.  Power playing does not always have to be combat related.  

3) Meta-gaming.  This is a less well known issue.  Meta-gaming involves taking knowledge that the player has and using it in character.  For instance, Player A's character, upon meeting Character B for the first time, has no reason to know anything about them.  However, if Player A has read Character B's profile, they may unfairly use that information.  It's no fun if a character is secretly a spy, but every other character knows about it for no particular reason. Mind reading as an ability is often an excuse for meta-gaming.

4) Mary-Sues.  Related to all of the above, Mary Sue characters are all about perfection, and therefore fall prey to a lot of the above.  Mary Sue characters will not be allowed to lose by their players.  Mary Sue characters tend to figure out everything immediately (meta-gaming), be the most accomplish characters in the game (power playing), and make sure that every other character is beaten or awed by their power (godmoding)

5)Forgetting that ICA=ICC (In-character actions result in in-character consequences).  When people roleplay, they, of course, try to make their character act consistently.  They also consider the logical consequences of actions and events.  A bad roleplayer, however, may ignore this principle, and get upset when a character suffers from the logical consequences of their actions. If your character is rude and mean, expect other characters to dislike them, even if your character does have a angst filled past as an excuse (the other characters either don't know about it or don't care).  If your character is a soldier who disobeys orders, expect to be scolded or punished by superiors, if not kicked out.  If your frail little cub confronts a vicious monster, expect for them to get injured (unreasonably refusing to take damage is powerplaying).

6) Forgetting that IC=/=OOC (In-character is not out of character).  Some people put a lot of themselves in their roleplaying character, and have a hard time separating the fiction from the reality.  People like this are often upset when they see evil, rude, or cruel characters in a roleplaying game, because they assume that the characters represent the views and personalities of the players.  Other people don't care about that until someone's character is mean to their own character, and they take it as a personal insult.  Remember that roleplay is all about taking on different roles.  Heck, it's in the name!

7) Poor Grammar and Spelling.  People prefer many different styles of roleplay; some like posts to be hundreds of words long, others prefer the quick back and forth of one-liners, which are appropriate for in-game roleplay in Feral Heart.  Also, everyone makes mistakes once in a while.  However, there is no excuse for consistently misspelling words, using chat speak, using inappropriate punctuation, not using punctuation, and neglected basic grammar.  These things are not hard to do and show that you care about the roleplay you are involved in.

8) Roleplay neglect and abandonment.  We've all done this once in a while, but that doesn't mean it's all right.  This involves committing to some kind of long term roleplay and either disappearing or not participating enough by the game's standards.  If you do not have the time for a roleplay, wait until you have time before you join it.

9) Forgetting that RL>RP (real life is more important than roleplay).  This involves excessively attacking those who do not participate in a roleplay due to real life issues.  This may include expecting someone to be online for hours at a time every day, or getting angry when a roleplay partner takes a break for a week or so due to tests, family issues, or computer failure. A roleplay may be a commitment, but it is also just a game.  Partners have lives and cannot be expected to cater to your every roleplay whim.

10) Romance Obsession.  This is ignoring all other aspects of a roleplay in order to fulfill romantic fantasies.  While focusing on mostly romance in a romance-focus roleplay makes sense, doing so in a more general roleplay can be detrimental.  For one, a romance can usually only occur between two people.  This means that a player with Romance Obsession will focus all of their character's attention on the object of their romantic attraction, and ignore every other character, to the roleplay's detriment.  It is also unrealistic, as most people are concerned about things besides romance, especially during zombie apocalypses and supernatural wars, which are common in roleplays. Why is this character doing nothing but pining after a boy when her life is in danger?

11) Instant Romance.  A combination of Romance Obsession and Illogical Events and Behavior.  This is when a player is so eager for romance, they have their own character fall in love with another character for no other reason than that the player finds the object of their character's affection to be attractive.  While this can make sense if the character falling in instant love is portrayed as shallow, often the player wants this to be true love.  Instant Romance ruins a chance for interesting and realistic development between characters.

12) Illogical Events and Behavior.  This covers just about anything in a roleplay that makes no or little sense. Instant Romance, as described above is an example of this.  Characters should be consistent, and NPCs should act in a logical manner.

13) NPC Puffery. Using Non-Player Characters in order to make one's own character look good.  For instance, a player might have their character make a painting, and write that everyone in the class gasped at how beautiful it was and that the art teacher declared the piece to be a work of genius.  Someone playing a wolf may say that a rival pack attacked and all were beaten by their own character.  This is a form of Mary Sueism, where the world around the character is manipulated in order to make the Sue look cool by comparison.

14) Leaving People Behind. This is especially relevant in forum roleplays, where response time is expected to be slower.  While it is unreasonable to wait forever for someone to post, it is also unreasonable to post so quickly and often that they are left behind.  When the fast posters' characters are alone together and their actions do not effect anyone else, not waiting for others makes sense.  However, it is different when everyone else in the roleplay comes back after a few hours to see seven pages of  just Fast Poster 1 and Fast Poster 2, who have jumped time forward to the next day.

So, what are some of your thoughst on roleplaying, good and bad?
« Last Edit: March 17, 2011, 11:55:52 pm by Alexander Hamilton »

Offline VelociraptorGirl

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Re: Roleplay Etiquette
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2011, 12:47:20 am »
THANK GOD. A basic roleplaying guide. I don't RP outside of my pack anymore because it's too annoying. Maybe this will help. I hope so.

Wudiin

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Re: Roleplay Etiquette
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2011, 01:28:29 am »
I love you for making this.

ColonelHamilton

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Re: Roleplay Etiquette
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2011, 01:34:57 am »
This isn't really a roleplaying guide, but now that you mention it I might make it one. XD

Wudiin

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Re: Roleplay Etiquette
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2011, 01:38:34 am »
People need it XD. Write one out for canines and felines, I'm tiredof seeing small wolves run up to my MUCH larger feline characters thinking they can win.

Offline shusuke

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Re: Roleplay Etiquette
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2011, 02:10:40 am »
Alex ILU <3 +karma

I was going to make something like this but yours is much better than mind 8|

Just putting basic tips on how to avoid doing these things and make the roleplay fair is enough, I feel. :3

Small canines biting large felines = chihuahuas who have a death wish

ColonelHamilton

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Re: Roleplay Etiquette
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2011, 02:24:23 pm »
Adding two more for now. : )

5)Forgetting that ICA=ICC (In-character actions result in in-character consequences).  When people roleplay, they, of course, try to make their character act consistently.  They also consider the logical consequences of actions and events.  A bad roleplayer, however, may ignore this principle, and get upset when a character suffers from the logical consequences of their actions. If your character is rude and mean, expect other characters to dislike them, even if your character does have a angst filled past as an excuse (the other characters either don't know about it or don't care).  If your character is a soldier who disobeys orders, expect to be scolded or punished by superiors, if not kicked out.  If your frail little cub confronts a vicious monster, expect for them to get injured (unreasonably refusing to take damage is powerplaying).

6) Forgetting that IC=/=OOC (In-character is not out of character).  Some people put a lot of themselves in their roleplaying character, and have a hard time separating the fiction from the reality.  People like this are often upset when they see evil, rude, or cruel characters in a roleplaying game, because they assume that the characters represent the views and personalities of the players.  Other people don't care about that until someone's character is mean to their own character, and they take it as a personal insult.  Remember that roleplay is all about taking on different roles.  Heck, it's in the name!

Offline SecondChance

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Re: Roleplay Etiquette
« Reply #7 on: March 12, 2011, 02:55:54 pm »
*Bows down to the all-mighty Alex.*

Thank goodness somebody posted this! I hope that everyone who roleplays - but doesn't actually know how to - reads this and learns!

Offline GemWolf

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Re: Roleplay Etiquette
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2011, 05:54:58 pm »
I love you for this. xD Now hopefully the RP's will be more friendly.

Offline Beeskee

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Re: Roleplay Etiquette
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2011, 07:47:55 pm »
Brilliant post. I was hoping there would be something like this.


The only suggestions I can think to add are specific to Feral Heart, such as reading the wikipedia article about the species you play, etc.


Freefall (the comic linked in my signature) gives pretty good insight into the wolf (or any other predator) thought process.