Post by » got MiLK ?! on Apr 10, 2009 21:40:31 GMT -5
This guide is copyright of Zinnie of WCARPG.
-- The guide to role-playing --
This guide will cover the basics, as well as some fancy
techniques to make your posts elongated and detailed -
````````````````````````````````````````````````````
• What is role-playing?
Role-playing can mean many different things, but instead of finding a definition for each meaning, I'm going to explain how to role-play on this site.
Role-playing, also shortened to RPing, is writing a detailed summary of your character's actions through an organized sequence. I describe it as writing a story with another person, because you cannot role-play by yourself; that would be called writing a novel or short-story. When we role-play, we must filter our characters' movements and thoughts through the words that we post for others to see. It's pretty hard to describe it, so throughout this guide, I will be using quite a bit of examples. =)
REMEMBER -- This is how I role-play, and therefore the guide will reflect what I think is needed to make a good RP post. Comments are welcome, but no hard put-downs, please! I am only human, and many others have different writings styles than I. This is based upon my thoughts, though I have done a small survey of people that agreed whole-heartedly with me.
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• How do I role-play?
Role-playing is a skill that any may possess with a bit of logic and effort. It's a simple process in which you state what your character does. Remember to always use correct grammar and punctuation while role-playing, as well as pressing the little 'spell check' button before each post. You want your RP posts to look nice, don't you? I'll start off an example with my cat, Honeyflame. Let's say that I'll be making the first post, alright? For this I am going to be using a make-shift kit, which should probably be played by you, if anyone. Well, there are two things you will need to remember if you post first, and those are setting and character description. If you want a proper response from another member, those two things are a must. If they don't know how to properly respond to the character that you have posted with, chances are, members will ignore your post and move onto the next free one. Here is a simple, straight-to-the-point beginning RP post. Remember, I'm doing simple stuff for now. We'll get into the complicated things later, alright? :]
NOTE - Remember to NEVER ever use smilies when you RP. They are simple annoying and POINTLESS.
[[Honeyflame smiled gently at the kit before her, squinting her eyes as the sun's pale rays rolled over the SunClan territory.]] In this sentence alone, I introduced my character, a bit of her personality, and the vague setting; SunClan territory.
[[She nudged the small bundle of fur softly with her nose, coaxing it back into the warmth of the nursery.]] This also reveals more of her personality; we now know that Honeyflame is gentle and soft with kits, and the setting is more direct - the SunClan camp, next to the nursery.
[[As the kit gave a soft mew of protest, the she-cat nudged it a bit harder, sympathetic of it's position; it was so eager to explore the camp, but at this young age, it would freeze to death in the snow.]] This gave you the detailed explanation of the setting; it was morning, there was snow on the ground, and they were next to the SunClan nursery. As you can also see, it shows that Honeyflame feels sympathy towards the young cat, and because of this, she is most likely not evil.
[[Quietly, the she-cat turned tail and walked away from the kit, turning her head slightly to throw it a small smile; as she did this, her belly rumbled, and both the cats laughed.]] This shows the state my cat is in; she is hungry, and now she is leaving the nursery to probably go grab something to eat.
[[The young warrior winked at the kit before padding crisply to the fresh kill pile, eyeing the frozen food with a frustrated eye; "Hunting, anyone?" She mewed, a bit annoyed.]] And this is my finishing sentence. As you can see, I posted the state my cat was in, and what she wanted to do; eat and hunt. Now, let's see it all together.
[[Honeyflame smiled gently at the kit before her, squinting her eyes as the sun's pale rays rolled over the SunClan territory. She nudged the small bundle of fur softly with her nose, coaxing it back into the warmth of the nursery. As the kit gave a soft mew of protest, the she-cat nudged it a bit harder, sympathetic of it's position; it was so eager to explore the camp, but at this young age, it would freeze to death in the snow. Quietly, the she-cat turned tail and walked away from the kit, turning her head slightly to throw it a small smile; as she did this, her belly rumbled, and both the cats laughed. The young warrior winked at the kit before padding crisply to the fresh kill pile, eyeing the frozen food with a frustrated eye; "Hunting, anyone?" She mewed, a bit annoyed.]]
There you go! That's a vague idea of what a beginning post should look like. It can be shorter or longer if needed, but I'd say this is a good average to start with. =)
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• How do I detail my posts?
Detailing your posts is neither hard, nor is it a simple chore. If you wish to improve your posts with details, the way to do it is to get into your character's head. Describe not only what they feel, but how they feel it. Describe what they see, but also what they think of when they see it. These kinds of posts are fun to read and make, for they give you a deeper sense of what your character really is. Do not bore your fellow RP buddies with paragraphs and paragraphs on how the sky looked to your character! Excite them with the feelings that your character feels WITHOUT going overboard on words. Here is an example of this;
[[The leopard complexion of Kao's pelt was well hidden within the night's shadows. He turned his seductive, dark orbs to the she-cat before him, smiling with open menace. "Rainfur, won't you dance with me a bit longer?" He asked, his twisted features forming into a crooked frown. His blackened paws stroked the ground as he circled her, calculating her stature carefully before throwing his unsheathed paw at her head. He snapped her ear, ripping it in two. Her response was a strangled gasp. A crazed laugh spit through his lips as he threw his weight at her, pinning her none-too-softly to the pine littered ground. "It ends tonight!" The force of his dangerous voice tore through the air, not a ripple of mercy or the greater good detected within it. As he lowered his head to deliver the blow, a raven dared to shoot itself through the air. "Who's there?" He hissed as he flipped his head. The raven winked at him with beady eyes, then flapped its wings with an unmatched grace. Kao growled, then snapped his head back down to what really mattered. His eyes grew bewildered as the she-cat before him deteriorized.
His massive body was resting on a cold stone as he awoke. The dream had him wishing more than ever for the reality he was desperate to accomplish. The dawn's rays weaved productively through his pelt, alighting the old scars that had been there for long as his memory kindled. She would be his to kill; if he had to live through StarClan's worst, Rainfur would fall under his tooth and claw. And he would enjoy every minute of it.]]
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• How do I expand my vocabulary?
Expanding your vocabulary is one of the best things to do when you role-play. It's a simple process, but finding the right words for your posts can sometimes be a drag. Do not talk in Shakespearian, but neither do you need to post simple, three worded sentences. I'll give you a quick example of this;
[[The cat ran.]] This is VERY vague, for it tells only two things; there was a cat that ran. We don't know its gender, why it ran, or where it's going too.
[[The small, bengal-spotted she-cat dashed through the ShadowClan forest, her mind keeping the pace of her paws; the rabbit that she was in hot pursuit of would not escape!]] This tells the gender of the character, a brief description of her body, how she was running, and what she was running after, as well as numerous other small details. It's best not to cram too many adverbs and adjectives in a sentence, for if you did that, it might make your writing appear forced and awkward.
If you are having trouble coming up with fancy words to use while you role-play, I suggest you look up the synonmyms of the word you need. There is more than one way to say 'jumped' or 'said'.
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• How do I handle an action sequence?
An action sequence can be one of the most difficult things to role-play. You must incorporate your characters wit with abilities that they possess, such as their speed and strength. Remember to stay away from even the idea of godmoding. It will get you into much trouble with the staff, and with that, you will have some angry RPers on your hands.
Godmoding - Godmoding is limiting the abilities of others' characters by proposing the idea of your character being the 'best' at something. You may not, in any way, limit the abilities of other players to make a cat that is stronger or faster than your own. Your cat may be one of the fastest, but it may not be the fastest. Another thing you may not do, which is related to godmoding, is dodge every single move thrown at you. It's AGAINST the rules! It IS a form of godmoding, because you are making your cat untouchable. Be decent with how you RP. Another think to look at is the number of participants in a fight. If a cat is getting double or triple teamed, chances are, they will loose!
Now that you know what godmoding is, I can safely say we may begin. When RPing your character physically with another {walking to them, clawing at them, etc.} it is best to stay away from complex, long posts. You must give the other player a chance to respond to the actions that your cat has made! It's much easier to show you an example than to say it, so here I go. =)
Person One ;;
Nightdancer snarled quietly at the she-cat before her, unsheathing her claws silently from black paws. Without so much as a warning, she leapt into the air, her dark gaze transfixed to the SunClan cat before her. Twisting her body in mid-air, the she-cat threw her paws down hard into the ground, attempting to pin the unlucky trespasser beneath her.
Person Two ;;
Honeyflame wasn't prepared for the move that Nightdancer had weaved her into. Blankly, the she-cat twisted her head to the attacking cat, but it was too late. The ShadowClan she-cat had made hard impact with her body, knocking all breath out of her. Honeyflame gasped as she tried to pull herself free of her enemy.
Person One ;;
Nightdancer howled in satisfaction as she felt the she-cat under her gasp for a breath. Snapping her head up to the sky, she didn't realize until it was far too late that Honeyflame had slinked under her feral grip. Closing her eyes, the black she-cat glared at the young SunClan cat before her. Nightdancer was older by a few moons, and therefore more experienced, as well as larger and longer in size. Grimacing, the she-cat held her ground, waiting for the onslaught she was soon to recieve.
Person Two ;;
Honeyflame breathed slowly, catching her breath with each rush of air. Before long, her head was clear, and her chest no longer heaved. It was her turn! Grinning wickedly, Honeyflame tried to ram her body into the bigger she-cats. A force like this would send Nightdancer spiraling back. The only problem was her aim; would the she-cat miss?
Person One ;;
Nightdancer forgot to breathe as she quickly moved out of the way, or so she thought. As the cat was traveling to her at top speed, Nightdancer moved just in time to save her head from the collision. Instead, Honeyflame's shoulder hit her body; a dull moan escaped Nightdancer's lips as she was thrown into the ground.
REMEMBER to keep the physical features, as well as your cats intellect in mind when you RP! If your cat is a scrawny, young, malnutritioned kit, standing up against a well-fed, heavily built older kit, chances are, your cat will lose! Fight fairly so that we may avoid disagreements with the person you RP with. Also, keep in mind that if your cat is a peace-loving hippie, they will be more reluctant to attack than the other. If violence isn't there thing, they would choose to flee over fight, right?
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My own Nifty tricks to RPing.
These are the nifty little tricks I use when I post on this website. Keep in mind, you may apply these to other RP topics, such as horses, humans, etc.
○ I use the little trick of bolding out my characters' dialogue when they speak, and italicizing my characters' thoughts. It helps add definition and beauty to your post, and with that, helps your RP buddy see what your character needs to say and do. This isn't neccessary, nor is it strongly reccommended. It's just nice to do. =)
○ When RPing, I try hard to mix up the nouns I make. If I have an entire post about my cat Nightdancer, it's hard not to mention her presence in the post more than once. That's why I try to mix up the nouns I call her. Instead of Nightdancer, I can always say the black she-cat or the Shadowclanner, or even The Essence of Night, for that is the nickname I gave her. There is more than one way to announce your character's presence, frankly.
○ Another thing I do is try to add detail and length to my post; in other words, I try to match the persons' I'm RPing with style. If they post a one sentence, poorly punctuated piece of writing, then they will probably get a 5 sentence paragraph out of me, if that. Length is not always necessary, though in the right instances, will come in handy! An example of this would be like me RPing with my two favorite RP buddies ; Puddles and Riversoul. They tend to post detailed, lengthy posts, which are almost always full of detail. I try to match their posts as best I can, though sometimes, I still fall short. Don't you think its annoying when you show a post that you really worked hard on, then you get a few undetailed sentences in return? It's rude, and it ends up really killing your muse, which takes us to my next topic. Try your best, because anything less is really not worth posting.
○ When I have a shortage of muse, I tend to talk to my friends and search the web aimlessly. There's not much else you can do! My advice - don't RP if you feel like scraping up a post is going to be torcher! Role-playing with others should NOT be a chore. It should be something you enjoy. Now, if you are holding up a plot and after a few days it doesn't pass, I suggest you give the character to someone else. It may be a depressing thing to do, but remember, there will always be new oppurtunities. If your RPing muse is hopping around too much, try to find the source of all your troubles. Most likely, it's something that'll pass on its own.
````````````````````````````````````````````````````
This guide will cover the basics, as well as some fancy
techniques to make your posts elongated and detailed -
````````````````````````````````````````````````````
• What is role-playing?
Role-playing can mean many different things, but instead of finding a definition for each meaning, I'm going to explain how to role-play on this site.
Role-playing, also shortened to RPing, is writing a detailed summary of your character's actions through an organized sequence. I describe it as writing a story with another person, because you cannot role-play by yourself; that would be called writing a novel or short-story. When we role-play, we must filter our characters' movements and thoughts through the words that we post for others to see. It's pretty hard to describe it, so throughout this guide, I will be using quite a bit of examples. =)
REMEMBER -- This is how I role-play, and therefore the guide will reflect what I think is needed to make a good RP post. Comments are welcome, but no hard put-downs, please! I am only human, and many others have different writings styles than I. This is based upon my thoughts, though I have done a small survey of people that agreed whole-heartedly with me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
• How do I role-play?
Role-playing is a skill that any may possess with a bit of logic and effort. It's a simple process in which you state what your character does. Remember to always use correct grammar and punctuation while role-playing, as well as pressing the little 'spell check' button before each post. You want your RP posts to look nice, don't you? I'll start off an example with my cat, Honeyflame. Let's say that I'll be making the first post, alright? For this I am going to be using a make-shift kit, which should probably be played by you, if anyone. Well, there are two things you will need to remember if you post first, and those are setting and character description. If you want a proper response from another member, those two things are a must. If they don't know how to properly respond to the character that you have posted with, chances are, members will ignore your post and move onto the next free one. Here is a simple, straight-to-the-point beginning RP post. Remember, I'm doing simple stuff for now. We'll get into the complicated things later, alright? :]
NOTE - Remember to NEVER ever use smilies when you RP. They are simple annoying and POINTLESS.
[[Honeyflame smiled gently at the kit before her, squinting her eyes as the sun's pale rays rolled over the SunClan territory.]] In this sentence alone, I introduced my character, a bit of her personality, and the vague setting; SunClan territory.
[[She nudged the small bundle of fur softly with her nose, coaxing it back into the warmth of the nursery.]] This also reveals more of her personality; we now know that Honeyflame is gentle and soft with kits, and the setting is more direct - the SunClan camp, next to the nursery.
[[As the kit gave a soft mew of protest, the she-cat nudged it a bit harder, sympathetic of it's position; it was so eager to explore the camp, but at this young age, it would freeze to death in the snow.]] This gave you the detailed explanation of the setting; it was morning, there was snow on the ground, and they were next to the SunClan nursery. As you can also see, it shows that Honeyflame feels sympathy towards the young cat, and because of this, she is most likely not evil.
[[Quietly, the she-cat turned tail and walked away from the kit, turning her head slightly to throw it a small smile; as she did this, her belly rumbled, and both the cats laughed.]] This shows the state my cat is in; she is hungry, and now she is leaving the nursery to probably go grab something to eat.
[[The young warrior winked at the kit before padding crisply to the fresh kill pile, eyeing the frozen food with a frustrated eye; "Hunting, anyone?" She mewed, a bit annoyed.]] And this is my finishing sentence. As you can see, I posted the state my cat was in, and what she wanted to do; eat and hunt. Now, let's see it all together.
[[Honeyflame smiled gently at the kit before her, squinting her eyes as the sun's pale rays rolled over the SunClan territory. She nudged the small bundle of fur softly with her nose, coaxing it back into the warmth of the nursery. As the kit gave a soft mew of protest, the she-cat nudged it a bit harder, sympathetic of it's position; it was so eager to explore the camp, but at this young age, it would freeze to death in the snow. Quietly, the she-cat turned tail and walked away from the kit, turning her head slightly to throw it a small smile; as she did this, her belly rumbled, and both the cats laughed. The young warrior winked at the kit before padding crisply to the fresh kill pile, eyeing the frozen food with a frustrated eye; "Hunting, anyone?" She mewed, a bit annoyed.]]
There you go! That's a vague idea of what a beginning post should look like. It can be shorter or longer if needed, but I'd say this is a good average to start with. =)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
• How do I detail my posts?
Detailing your posts is neither hard, nor is it a simple chore. If you wish to improve your posts with details, the way to do it is to get into your character's head. Describe not only what they feel, but how they feel it. Describe what they see, but also what they think of when they see it. These kinds of posts are fun to read and make, for they give you a deeper sense of what your character really is. Do not bore your fellow RP buddies with paragraphs and paragraphs on how the sky looked to your character! Excite them with the feelings that your character feels WITHOUT going overboard on words. Here is an example of this;
[[The leopard complexion of Kao's pelt was well hidden within the night's shadows. He turned his seductive, dark orbs to the she-cat before him, smiling with open menace. "Rainfur, won't you dance with me a bit longer?" He asked, his twisted features forming into a crooked frown. His blackened paws stroked the ground as he circled her, calculating her stature carefully before throwing his unsheathed paw at her head. He snapped her ear, ripping it in two. Her response was a strangled gasp. A crazed laugh spit through his lips as he threw his weight at her, pinning her none-too-softly to the pine littered ground. "It ends tonight!" The force of his dangerous voice tore through the air, not a ripple of mercy or the greater good detected within it. As he lowered his head to deliver the blow, a raven dared to shoot itself through the air. "Who's there?" He hissed as he flipped his head. The raven winked at him with beady eyes, then flapped its wings with an unmatched grace. Kao growled, then snapped his head back down to what really mattered. His eyes grew bewildered as the she-cat before him deteriorized.
His massive body was resting on a cold stone as he awoke. The dream had him wishing more than ever for the reality he was desperate to accomplish. The dawn's rays weaved productively through his pelt, alighting the old scars that had been there for long as his memory kindled. She would be his to kill; if he had to live through StarClan's worst, Rainfur would fall under his tooth and claw. And he would enjoy every minute of it.]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
• How do I expand my vocabulary?
Expanding your vocabulary is one of the best things to do when you role-play. It's a simple process, but finding the right words for your posts can sometimes be a drag. Do not talk in Shakespearian, but neither do you need to post simple, three worded sentences. I'll give you a quick example of this;
[[The cat ran.]] This is VERY vague, for it tells only two things; there was a cat that ran. We don't know its gender, why it ran, or where it's going too.
[[The small, bengal-spotted she-cat dashed through the ShadowClan forest, her mind keeping the pace of her paws; the rabbit that she was in hot pursuit of would not escape!]] This tells the gender of the character, a brief description of her body, how she was running, and what she was running after, as well as numerous other small details. It's best not to cram too many adverbs and adjectives in a sentence, for if you did that, it might make your writing appear forced and awkward.
If you are having trouble coming up with fancy words to use while you role-play, I suggest you look up the synonmyms of the word you need. There is more than one way to say 'jumped' or 'said'.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
• How do I handle an action sequence?
An action sequence can be one of the most difficult things to role-play. You must incorporate your characters wit with abilities that they possess, such as their speed and strength. Remember to stay away from even the idea of godmoding. It will get you into much trouble with the staff, and with that, you will have some angry RPers on your hands.
Godmoding - Godmoding is limiting the abilities of others' characters by proposing the idea of your character being the 'best' at something. You may not, in any way, limit the abilities of other players to make a cat that is stronger or faster than your own. Your cat may be one of the fastest, but it may not be the fastest. Another thing you may not do, which is related to godmoding, is dodge every single move thrown at you. It's AGAINST the rules! It IS a form of godmoding, because you are making your cat untouchable. Be decent with how you RP. Another think to look at is the number of participants in a fight. If a cat is getting double or triple teamed, chances are, they will loose!
Now that you know what godmoding is, I can safely say we may begin. When RPing your character physically with another {walking to them, clawing at them, etc.} it is best to stay away from complex, long posts. You must give the other player a chance to respond to the actions that your cat has made! It's much easier to show you an example than to say it, so here I go. =)
Person One ;;
Nightdancer snarled quietly at the she-cat before her, unsheathing her claws silently from black paws. Without so much as a warning, she leapt into the air, her dark gaze transfixed to the SunClan cat before her. Twisting her body in mid-air, the she-cat threw her paws down hard into the ground, attempting to pin the unlucky trespasser beneath her.
Person Two ;;
Honeyflame wasn't prepared for the move that Nightdancer had weaved her into. Blankly, the she-cat twisted her head to the attacking cat, but it was too late. The ShadowClan she-cat had made hard impact with her body, knocking all breath out of her. Honeyflame gasped as she tried to pull herself free of her enemy.
Person One ;;
Nightdancer howled in satisfaction as she felt the she-cat under her gasp for a breath. Snapping her head up to the sky, she didn't realize until it was far too late that Honeyflame had slinked under her feral grip. Closing her eyes, the black she-cat glared at the young SunClan cat before her. Nightdancer was older by a few moons, and therefore more experienced, as well as larger and longer in size. Grimacing, the she-cat held her ground, waiting for the onslaught she was soon to recieve.
Person Two ;;
Honeyflame breathed slowly, catching her breath with each rush of air. Before long, her head was clear, and her chest no longer heaved. It was her turn! Grinning wickedly, Honeyflame tried to ram her body into the bigger she-cats. A force like this would send Nightdancer spiraling back. The only problem was her aim; would the she-cat miss?
Person One ;;
Nightdancer forgot to breathe as she quickly moved out of the way, or so she thought. As the cat was traveling to her at top speed, Nightdancer moved just in time to save her head from the collision. Instead, Honeyflame's shoulder hit her body; a dull moan escaped Nightdancer's lips as she was thrown into the ground.
REMEMBER to keep the physical features, as well as your cats intellect in mind when you RP! If your cat is a scrawny, young, malnutritioned kit, standing up against a well-fed, heavily built older kit, chances are, your cat will lose! Fight fairly so that we may avoid disagreements with the person you RP with. Also, keep in mind that if your cat is a peace-loving hippie, they will be more reluctant to attack than the other. If violence isn't there thing, they would choose to flee over fight, right?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
My own Nifty tricks to RPing.
These are the nifty little tricks I use when I post on this website. Keep in mind, you may apply these to other RP topics, such as horses, humans, etc.
○ I use the little trick of bolding out my characters' dialogue when they speak, and italicizing my characters' thoughts. It helps add definition and beauty to your post, and with that, helps your RP buddy see what your character needs to say and do. This isn't neccessary, nor is it strongly reccommended. It's just nice to do. =)
○ When RPing, I try hard to mix up the nouns I make. If I have an entire post about my cat Nightdancer, it's hard not to mention her presence in the post more than once. That's why I try to mix up the nouns I call her. Instead of Nightdancer, I can always say the black she-cat or the Shadowclanner, or even The Essence of Night, for that is the nickname I gave her. There is more than one way to announce your character's presence, frankly.
○ Another thing I do is try to add detail and length to my post; in other words, I try to match the persons' I'm RPing with style. If they post a one sentence, poorly punctuated piece of writing, then they will probably get a 5 sentence paragraph out of me, if that. Length is not always necessary, though in the right instances, will come in handy! An example of this would be like me RPing with my two favorite RP buddies ; Puddles and Riversoul. They tend to post detailed, lengthy posts, which are almost always full of detail. I try to match their posts as best I can, though sometimes, I still fall short. Don't you think its annoying when you show a post that you really worked hard on, then you get a few undetailed sentences in return? It's rude, and it ends up really killing your muse, which takes us to my next topic. Try your best, because anything less is really not worth posting.
○ When I have a shortage of muse, I tend to talk to my friends and search the web aimlessly. There's not much else you can do! My advice - don't RP if you feel like scraping up a post is going to be torcher! Role-playing with others should NOT be a chore. It should be something you enjoy. Now, if you are holding up a plot and after a few days it doesn't pass, I suggest you give the character to someone else. It may be a depressing thing to do, but remember, there will always be new oppurtunities. If your RPing muse is hopping around too much, try to find the source of all your troubles. Most likely, it's something that'll pass on its own.
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