OOC: How to be a better Roleplayer

[Bait the Bard]

I am posting this to try and improve the overall standard of Roleplaying in these boards, as I have seen many keen roleplayers, yet most of them needing some encouragement and support. It is the compiled thought of me and a couple of friends on how to improve you roleplaying skills.

• Use Punctuation - While you don't have to study English at Oxford to post here, good grammar can get you a long way. It makes a post much easier to read, as well as helping you do those English essays that we all know and love. Read the following paragraphs, and ask yourself which one is easier to read:
  
  fredrik walked down the hall it was cold but he had a good coat on so he wasnt cold there was a door at the other end where a boy was standing you what are you doing he said
  
  Fredrik walked down the hall. It was cold, but he had a good coat on so he wasn't cold. There was a door at the other end where a boy was standing
  
  "You, what are you doing" he said.
  
  You get the idea.
  
  Use quite a few paragraph breaks, they allow a reader to easily see where a new thing happens, or where someone is speaking. Use of CAPITALS, commas, and "quotes" are all devices to make your posts better, and easier to reply too.
  
  
• Don't Use Symbols - The use of *s, ~s and .:s are the mark of a more inexperienced roleplayer, or a roleplayer that spends more time in chatroom RPs. I have nothing against chartroom RPers, but while in the boards can you please take the time to write long posts. While they (in most cases), easier to post, they detract from the overall view of the post. many experienced roleplayers often do not reply to posts with symbolistic roleplaying (using symbols), so to get more responses and better roleplaying skills, try not to use symbols in roleplaying.
  Include your actions in you description. Even if it is hard to start off with, it will get easier, as well as greatly improving your roleplaying skills, and making you enjoy (IMO) roleplaying even more.
  
  
• Be Descriptive - Be lengthy. be descriptive. These are some of the words I find myself repeating to newer roleplayers (and more experienced ones), and it can't hurt a bit. Just simply describing what the temperature was, or the color of your clothes can make all the difference between a poor post and a good one. Once you have got the basics, move on to deeper descriptions, and it will become more enjoyable and interesting.
  
  She walked down the hallway.
  
  She walked down the cold hallway, its bare stone a grey color beneath her feet.
  
  You see what I mean?
  
  
• Read books - While some of you may not enjoy reading, it is the best asset of a good roleplayer. read interesting fantasy books, and look and intake how the author writes things. By reading lots you will subconsciously include the way books are written in your post, and your posts will greatly improve. Also, books are great fun to read anyway.
  
  
• Use the 3rd Person - While most of us do this automatically, some people find it hard to write in the 3rd person. Never the less, give it a go. It makes your posts easier to understand, as well as making it easier to describe things. However, some people are good at writing in the first person, so if you think you are good enough, and your posts are clear, that's fine too.
  
  
• Don't Powerplay - You have no control over other characters! You cannot decide that you're attack happened to kill them, or that you found the best magic item. Be realistic! Ignoring this will make other people angry, and might even get you banned.
  
  
• When in dought, PM - if you're going to attack someone, PM them first. If you want their magic item, PM them. PMing allows for OOC discussiopn that will not bog down the thread, and stop lots of arguments. It's not to hard.
  
  
• Read the CoC - Take the time to read it, it will teach you the nasic rules of the site, and help you avoid arguments and suchlike.

I will add more items when I remember them or find them out. if you have anything to contribute, please PM me or send an e-mail to Bait the Bard

- the annoying bard

 

[Tenzhi]

Don't Use Symbols - The use of *s, ~s and .:s are the mark of a more inexpirienced roleplyer.

Actually, it's often the mark of someone who has spent a great deal of time roleplaying in mIRC. In that environment, it is quite customary to post actions between ::'s or *'s and singing is often preceded by ~'s.

 

[Ruthia]

.


[*]Be Descriptive - Be lengthy. be descriptive. These are some of the words I find myself repeating to newer roleplyers (and more experienced ones), and it can't hurt a bit. Just simply descriping what the temperature was, or the color of your clothes can mkae all the difference bettween a poor post and a good one. ONce you have got the basics, move on to deeper descriptions, and it will become more enjoyable and interesting.

She walked down the hallway.

She walked down the cold hallway, its bare stone a grey color beneth her feet.

You see what I mean?




[*]Use the 3rd Person - While most of us do this automatically, some people find it hard to write in the 3rd person. never the less, give it a go. It makes your posts easier to understand, as well as making it easier to describe things.
[/list]


- the annoying bard [/B]

Just have a couple of things to point out. Not everyone has to do lenghty post, I seem to be able to get my point across in smaller post with less words. It doesn't mean I'm a bad poster, it just mean's I can be describe stuff without having to take up half a page talking about my clothes, hair, or eye color.


Also I've only seen a few characters who don't talk in the third person but I'll give you an example of one who does, Myranthor. And he is an excellent poster, his post are hardly ever confusing, and he can describe the details just fine.



And lastly I have a rule to add.



Read the CoC and remeber FoD

Take the time to read the Code of Conduct, it will help you understand the basics and not get into trouble. Also remeber Freedom of Destancy whenever you role play. This means that you can not control another characters actions, and things will not allows go the way you want them to.

 

[MaliciousAngel]

All of these things mentioned are stylistic...One can choose their own POV, they can adjust their punctuation for their own purposes. Blah blah blah...

Here are a couple things that will make you a better RPer...

PM people when your actions will conflict.

When you are trying to pickpocket someone, PM them. When you are going to try to slice their fingers off, PM them. All the cases where you are going to do something to potentially annoy someone? PM them... So hard? I think not...

Thats it! Just keep writing and you will get a feel for it all. Fine your own niche. Invent new and exciting characters that are interesting to watch as well as fun to play. Experience is the best tutor, so experience everything...Style will come later...

Good health!

 

[WizO_Pounamu]

Decisions...

As has been pointed out by a few players, this OOC thread really doesn't belong here.

I do think it has relevance though, and could be useful so long as people remember that no one's rules about RP are set in stone but taking them to mind does wonders for social interaction.

Discussion is healthy. So with that in mind, I'll make sure this is avaliable but in perhaps a more appropriate locaton. Of course if the thread deteriorates then I'll have to rethink this.

Hopefully that bridges the gap.

Have fun everyone!

- Pounamu

 

[Bait the Bard]

Edited the first page to include the above points (and for spelling :embarrass ).

 

[WizO_Pounamu]

*mutters*

Ok, I live and learn.
Can't have it stickied in The Map of the Planes where the thread originated and is relevant but not have it stickied here in OOC General...

However I am still most certain that it is better here than in MotPs, an IC board.

Life likes throwing minor curveballs. lol

Sorry folks!

- Pounamu

 

[Bait the Bard]

:bump:

Seems to be the story of my life, I try to help and just end up bumping endlessly..

- the annoying bard

 

[Fenmarel]

The reason you are having to bump this instead of posts being made is that on this particular section of the boards there have been so many posts about this no one looks anymore.

The ones that should be reading this don't bother with the boards or think they are marvelous rpers to begin with and they have no room for improvement. You know the rp gods that roam here. Do what you can to improve your own style of play to make you happy. Help people as you see something needs to be said to them and not on a board and you will have a much better success rate than trying to use these boards for anything of this nature.

 

[Bait the Bard]

Mm, true. Yet I'll still kepp bumping it occasionly, just incase someone does want to read it.

- the annoying bard