Make Love the Skydancer Way: A Guide to RP
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:51 am
I've been teasing Trevalin for a while, telling him I'd post a guide to getting into roleplay in TSW. Now that he's sufficiently teased, here it comes.
DISCLAIMER I: I make no certifications of being an RP deity. I'm just someone who has two fairly successful RP characters and am providing a path to getting into the game. In fact, here's a guide from TSW-RP.
DISCLAIMER II: If you do everything I recommend here, you may find it to be too much. Part of that has to do with me being reasonably manic and another part has to do with this being stuff I've done at various times but not necessarily all at the same time. If something appeals to you, go for it.
Having said that, consider these first two rules mandatory.
Antu's First Rule of Roleplaying - There is never a situation in which it is inappropriate to contact the other player out of character to seek clarification. If you find yourself sitting there wondering how you should take something that was just said, ASK. Seriously, it will save you so much grief. If you think the other person might be angry at you in real life, ASK.
Antu's Second Rule of Roleplaying - Don't cross the streams! Keep in-character information and emotions in-character and leave out-of-character information and emotions out. This doesn't mean that you have to play with someone you don't like, but it does mean your character should never hold something OOC against another character IC. Addendum: Except Brilliantjerk. Seriously, just add him to /ignore now.
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GETTING STARTED
1. Don't play a non-standard character for your first character. I have three roleplay characters currently. The first is an IC Templar; the second is a goddess; and the third is an IC Illuminati. Which of these stands out? Here are some other non-standard characters I've encountered:
(*ERP = Erotic Roleplay, aka t3h cyb0rzz)
2. Consider Twitter. Let's pretend you didn't all hiss at the screen just now. Twitter is a really good way to connect with other roleplayers as well as to get into the mind of your character. Now the Secret World isn't exactly secret on Twitter, so that takes some getting used to, but it can still be a surprisingly fun outlet. Twitter is generally more fun if you have friends there of some sort, so feel free to add @AntuSkydancer @AlexRekvijem and @GoldRapier if you do decide to give it a try.
3. Journal. I'm big into journals, although I fall behind every now and then. Or now. Journals are another way to get into your character's head so you know how your character would think.
4. Get the TSWRP mod and put information other players should know in there. This includes OOC information (e.g. Alex's info says "The character is sexual, but I do not ERP") as well as IC information about your looks and effects (e.g. Antu's powers).
5. Place limits on your character. So remember how I play a goddess? Guess what? She's got limits. She can be killed, her magic is not unstoppable ( except to normals), and there's nothing that requires other players to acknowledge her powers (see Antu's First Rule of Roleplay). A character without limits is called godmoding.
6. Don't control other characters. This is called godmodding (the extra d is for dicketry). Notice the difference: "Alex stabs Trevalin." "Alex attempts to stab Trevalin." In the first case, I've assumed the attack will land. In the second, I'm giving him the option to evade or accept it.
~~~~~~~~~~
Supplemental Rules
1. It is okay to play a straight female or a male.
2. It is okay to play a character not interested in sex.
3. Ealdwic is like your high school: everyone gossips and judges. Just accept it and you'll be happier.
4. It is okay to say no. Don't let other people make decisions for your character.
DISCLAIMER I: I make no certifications of being an RP deity. I'm just someone who has two fairly successful RP characters and am providing a path to getting into the game. In fact, here's a guide from TSW-RP.
DISCLAIMER II: If you do everything I recommend here, you may find it to be too much. Part of that has to do with me being reasonably manic and another part has to do with this being stuff I've done at various times but not necessarily all at the same time. If something appeals to you, go for it.
Having said that, consider these first two rules mandatory.
Antu's First Rule of Roleplaying - There is never a situation in which it is inappropriate to contact the other player out of character to seek clarification. If you find yourself sitting there wondering how you should take something that was just said, ASK. Seriously, it will save you so much grief. If you think the other person might be angry at you in real life, ASK.
Antu's Second Rule of Roleplaying - Don't cross the streams! Keep in-character information and emotions in-character and leave out-of-character information and emotions out. This doesn't mean that you have to play with someone you don't like, but it does mean your character should never hold something OOC against another character IC. Addendum: Except Brilliantjerk. Seriously, just add him to /ignore now.
~~~~~~~~~~~
GETTING STARTED
1. Don't play a non-standard character for your first character. I have three roleplay characters currently. The first is an IC Templar; the second is a goddess; and the third is an IC Illuminati. Which of these stands out? Here are some other non-standard characters I've encountered:
- Vampires (note: everyone hates vampires)
- Shapeshifters
- A half-angel
- A Stygian witch
- A chosen one
- A Nyxie
- Theodore Wicker's sister
- A half-demoness
- At least three chicks with dicks (no, really; I think they were sent to mess with ERPers)
- Normal humans
- So many were-bitches
(*ERP = Erotic Roleplay, aka t3h cyb0rzz)
2. Consider Twitter. Let's pretend you didn't all hiss at the screen just now. Twitter is a really good way to connect with other roleplayers as well as to get into the mind of your character. Now the Secret World isn't exactly secret on Twitter, so that takes some getting used to, but it can still be a surprisingly fun outlet. Twitter is generally more fun if you have friends there of some sort, so feel free to add @AntuSkydancer @AlexRekvijem and @GoldRapier if you do decide to give it a try.
3. Journal. I'm big into journals, although I fall behind every now and then. Or now. Journals are another way to get into your character's head so you know how your character would think.
4. Get the TSWRP mod and put information other players should know in there. This includes OOC information (e.g. Alex's info says "The character is sexual, but I do not ERP") as well as IC information about your looks and effects (e.g. Antu's powers).
5. Place limits on your character. So remember how I play a goddess? Guess what? She's got limits. She can be killed, her magic is not unstoppable ( except to normals), and there's nothing that requires other players to acknowledge her powers (see Antu's First Rule of Roleplay). A character without limits is called godmoding.
6. Don't control other characters. This is called godmodding (the extra d is for dicketry). Notice the difference: "Alex stabs Trevalin." "Alex attempts to stab Trevalin." In the first case, I've assumed the attack will land. In the second, I'm giving him the option to evade or accept it.
~~~~~~~~~~
Supplemental Rules
1. It is okay to play a straight female or a male.
2. It is okay to play a character not interested in sex.
3. Ealdwic is like your high school: everyone gossips and judges. Just accept it and you'll be happier.
4. It is okay to say no. Don't let other people make decisions for your character.