Post by BobCat on Jan 26, 2016 12:24:39 GMT -7
I copied and pasted this from a post I had seen a while ago. Here are some pretty good guidelines to follow if RP is new to you!
Is an RPG Right for You?
Do you write well, or at least want to improve your writing skills? Do you enjoy writing? Do you have a lot of time to devote to something? If so, an RP might be right for you. As long as you are on regularly enough and have enough time and desire to devote to your RPG, you will make a wonderful addition to one.
How To Be Liked In RPGs
1. Keep OOC(out of character) posts to a minimum. These get annoying to sift through and can easily trash up an RPG. If you have to post OOC, at least include a IC(in character) post as well. That is the purpose of an RPG afterall...
2. Listen to the RPG Master. Simple. They created it, they control it. If you have a problem with something, take it to PMs, as complaint posts look just as trashy as OOC Posts.
3. DON'T POST ONE-LINERS! For god sake people. It's in ALL of the different RPG rules. DO. NOT. POST. THEM. Plain and simple. They are hard to respond to, as they give no detail whatsoever, and you can lose a lot of respect from your fellow RPGers by posting them.
4. Follow the rules or get out. The RPG Master took the time to write them, it's their RPG, and they allowed you to join, so follow them. It's incredibly disrespectful not to, and your breach of the rules will not go unnoticed.
5. Use correct grammar and spelling. I can't tell you how often I see a short post riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes. Yes, it's ok to make a few mistakes once in a while. After all, we are human. But if you know that you cannot spell worth beans or your grammar skills were never what they should be, use spell check or have someone proofread it for you. It doesn't take much effort and really adds to the RP.
6. Use descriptive words and vary sentence structure. Instead of writing:
"He went to the store. He bought some food. He went out the door. It was raining and cold. He went home."
Make it more interesting:
"The squeaking of his shoes on the terazzo floor caused the salesclerk to look up at him angrily. He tread more carefully as he entered the large produce store, careful not to make a ruckus. As he walked down the isle of food sent in by local farmers, his jaw dropped in awe. The food this season was terrific; the melons were ripe and round, and the apples large and inviting. not a single blemish could be seen on the spectacular fruits and vegetables, and he quickly grabbed all the food he could carry. As he waddled towards the saleslady, she frowned again.
Sir, would you like a bag?" She asked, her brows furrowed. He thanked her and shoved the food into a bag. Grabbing money out of his wallet absentmindedly, he accidentally shoved an extra 10 dollar bill at the salesclerk. A blush spread out over his face. He mumbled apologetically and removed the bill from her small stack. Her frown greatened, and he hurried out of the store.
Unfortunately, luck was not on his side. Rain plummeted down to earth, beating out a steady tune on the asphalt parking lot. He held the bag of produce over his head and ran for the car. He fell on the way, however, and some fruit spilled out The large cantaloupes rolled out underneath the wheel of a tan Mercedes station wagon, and he shuffled over to it and grabbed it up roughly in with the other fruits. He cursed the rain and wrapped his one free arm around his body. It was cold! He fumbled a while in his pocket for the car keys, but evetually emerged triumphantly holding them. He unlocked his car fluidly, and climbed in his patent leather seats. Speeding the whole way home, he couldn't wait to show his wife his amazing finds."
7. Let others post. Yes, I know you're on all the time and the other members of the RPG are only on sometimes, but you should still respect them. Don't post random, undescriptive posts just because you need something to do. Wait until you have something meaninful to say. It is also annoying to read tons of irrelevant posts made by bored RPGers.
How To Get Inspiration For New Posts(and longer ones!)
As most of you probably know, it's quite difficult to make a post off of a one-liner post by someone else.
1. Write a detailed description! The more detailed you are when you fill out the character form, the more it'll help you in the long run. Say, perhaps, this is Bob's (really basic) form:
Name: Bob Wilson
Gender: Male
History: He was a cook in a village, and his parents died when he was young. He's looking for a friend.
Personality: He is really friendly, and likes meeting people. He sometimes gets angry though, and you don't want to see him when he's angry!
Physical Description: He is tall and he has brown hair. He wears ratty clothes and his eyes are blue.
Now, although if not specified by the owner of the RP, there is nothing wrong with this, it doesn't give you anything to go by. If this is all the information you have on your character, how are you going to make a post about him? You have barely scratched the surface of his life, and since you created him, you can totally create his life. It can be quite fun, actually, to make up the life of someone totally fictional. It's all up to you, so why not use this tool to your advantage? most people overlook the description, but it's a very handy tool and can help your RP'ing immensely.
And for those of you who write short applications because you don't have the time, that's not an excuse. If you get on regularly, (Which you should if you want to be an active member in an RP,) then simply save it into a Word document and finish it when you get on next. Most RPG-makers look for good RPGers, not the first ones to create a profile.
2. Develop your character. Although you may have a nice, shiny beautiful description now, you're not done. You also need to develop your character. Create a detailed profile for your own use, or use the one provided. Filling this out will help with developing plots and typing longer and better posts. Not all of the items on the list need be filled out, and not all may be applicable. This is just a structured way of creating your character. feel free to add on any as well. These are just some ideas.
Generic Human Character Development Help Form
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Eye Color:
Hair Description(Length, style, color, etc.):
Skin Tone:
Blemishes/Distinguishing Physical Features:
Height:
Weight:
Body Type:
Facial Description:
Clothing Styles/Favorite Outfit, etc:
Favorite Food:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Fears:
Loves:
Social Disposition(Outgoing, shy, etc):
Family History:
Personal History:
Ancestry:
Special Abilities(would be applicable for special powers, vampirism, etc.):
Pets/Pet History:
Criminal Record:
Country of Birth:
Country of Current Residence:
Favorite Book:
Favorite Movie:
Friendly Towards Strangers?:
Medical Issues/History:
Current Year(is it present day, or the 1800's in your RPG? This'll help you keep up with styles, and things that belong to specific eras.):
Two Words That Describe Him/Her Most:
A Generic Description of Him/Her:
Animal Form
Name:
Species:
Breed:
Eye Color:
Fur/Feathers/Whatever Description(length, color, texture, etc.):
Weight:
Height:
Distinguishing Features:
Body Type(short and stocky? Long and flowing? Whatever you like ^.^):
Facial Description:
Hobbies:
Enjoys Solitude or Companionship?:
In a Pack?:
Ranking(in pack and whatnot):
Favorite Place:
Area of Residence:
Time Period:
Fantasy Creature or Factual Creature:
Special Abilities/Powers:
Social Disposition:
Two-Word Description:
Favorite Food:
Favorite Other Animal:
Mate:
Age(exact, not generic):
Family History:
Bloodlines/Ancestry:
Personal History:
Place of Birth:
Generic Description of the Character:
Of course, this is for personal reference only. Save it as a Word document, and come back to it whenever you're out of inspiration or need to check something. No need to make it up on the spot, because you already have it. Also, include any pictures necessary. Could be of the hair color they have, of their house, their family, their pets, or themselves. It doesn't matter. Think outside the box
3. Create a plot. Probably one of the most important things to remember. Always ALWAYS have a plot on hand. Keep a list of basic ideas for posts to give you inspiration.
Say, you want your wolf to lead a hunt. Well, write that. Keep list of detailed events that you want to use sometime. You don't have to use them now, you can wait as long as you want before using them, but they're there. Also, you can create a complicated personal plot. It can be a few paragraphs or a few pages, it's totally up to you. Go crazy, and you'll always have a list of ideas to refer back to.
Don't be afraid to submit RPG Plot ideas to your RPG Master either. Make sure to PM them, though, but if think it would be a good idea to have a feud between two pack members, or to have the whole pack move to a totally new location, just speak up. Make sure it is approved, but use a long, convincing post and you'll almost always get your way.
Similarly, on an even larger scale, maybe you want to have two Clans/Packs meet eachother, or start a war. Just make sure it's ok with both Masters, then create a combined post for both RPG's. The opportunities are endless, and if you just think of new and creative ideas, you won't get bored with RPing. Boredom is one of the main reasons people quit RP's. Spice things up with a plot!
If you have any addition or any comments, feel free to post. Hope this helped
Is an RPG Right for You?
Do you write well, or at least want to improve your writing skills? Do you enjoy writing? Do you have a lot of time to devote to something? If so, an RP might be right for you. As long as you are on regularly enough and have enough time and desire to devote to your RPG, you will make a wonderful addition to one.
How To Be Liked In RPGs
1. Keep OOC(out of character) posts to a minimum. These get annoying to sift through and can easily trash up an RPG. If you have to post OOC, at least include a IC(in character) post as well. That is the purpose of an RPG afterall...
2. Listen to the RPG Master. Simple. They created it, they control it. If you have a problem with something, take it to PMs, as complaint posts look just as trashy as OOC Posts.
3. DON'T POST ONE-LINERS! For god sake people. It's in ALL of the different RPG rules. DO. NOT. POST. THEM. Plain and simple. They are hard to respond to, as they give no detail whatsoever, and you can lose a lot of respect from your fellow RPGers by posting them.
4. Follow the rules or get out. The RPG Master took the time to write them, it's their RPG, and they allowed you to join, so follow them. It's incredibly disrespectful not to, and your breach of the rules will not go unnoticed.
5. Use correct grammar and spelling. I can't tell you how often I see a short post riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes. Yes, it's ok to make a few mistakes once in a while. After all, we are human. But if you know that you cannot spell worth beans or your grammar skills were never what they should be, use spell check or have someone proofread it for you. It doesn't take much effort and really adds to the RP.
6. Use descriptive words and vary sentence structure. Instead of writing:
"He went to the store. He bought some food. He went out the door. It was raining and cold. He went home."
Make it more interesting:
"The squeaking of his shoes on the terazzo floor caused the salesclerk to look up at him angrily. He tread more carefully as he entered the large produce store, careful not to make a ruckus. As he walked down the isle of food sent in by local farmers, his jaw dropped in awe. The food this season was terrific; the melons were ripe and round, and the apples large and inviting. not a single blemish could be seen on the spectacular fruits and vegetables, and he quickly grabbed all the food he could carry. As he waddled towards the saleslady, she frowned again.
Sir, would you like a bag?" She asked, her brows furrowed. He thanked her and shoved the food into a bag. Grabbing money out of his wallet absentmindedly, he accidentally shoved an extra 10 dollar bill at the salesclerk. A blush spread out over his face. He mumbled apologetically and removed the bill from her small stack. Her frown greatened, and he hurried out of the store.
Unfortunately, luck was not on his side. Rain plummeted down to earth, beating out a steady tune on the asphalt parking lot. He held the bag of produce over his head and ran for the car. He fell on the way, however, and some fruit spilled out The large cantaloupes rolled out underneath the wheel of a tan Mercedes station wagon, and he shuffled over to it and grabbed it up roughly in with the other fruits. He cursed the rain and wrapped his one free arm around his body. It was cold! He fumbled a while in his pocket for the car keys, but evetually emerged triumphantly holding them. He unlocked his car fluidly, and climbed in his patent leather seats. Speeding the whole way home, he couldn't wait to show his wife his amazing finds."
7. Let others post. Yes, I know you're on all the time and the other members of the RPG are only on sometimes, but you should still respect them. Don't post random, undescriptive posts just because you need something to do. Wait until you have something meaninful to say. It is also annoying to read tons of irrelevant posts made by bored RPGers.
How To Get Inspiration For New Posts(and longer ones!)
As most of you probably know, it's quite difficult to make a post off of a one-liner post by someone else.
1. Write a detailed description! The more detailed you are when you fill out the character form, the more it'll help you in the long run. Say, perhaps, this is Bob's (really basic) form:
Name: Bob Wilson
Gender: Male
History: He was a cook in a village, and his parents died when he was young. He's looking for a friend.
Personality: He is really friendly, and likes meeting people. He sometimes gets angry though, and you don't want to see him when he's angry!
Physical Description: He is tall and he has brown hair. He wears ratty clothes and his eyes are blue.
Now, although if not specified by the owner of the RP, there is nothing wrong with this, it doesn't give you anything to go by. If this is all the information you have on your character, how are you going to make a post about him? You have barely scratched the surface of his life, and since you created him, you can totally create his life. It can be quite fun, actually, to make up the life of someone totally fictional. It's all up to you, so why not use this tool to your advantage? most people overlook the description, but it's a very handy tool and can help your RP'ing immensely.
And for those of you who write short applications because you don't have the time, that's not an excuse. If you get on regularly, (Which you should if you want to be an active member in an RP,) then simply save it into a Word document and finish it when you get on next. Most RPG-makers look for good RPGers, not the first ones to create a profile.
2. Develop your character. Although you may have a nice, shiny beautiful description now, you're not done. You also need to develop your character. Create a detailed profile for your own use, or use the one provided. Filling this out will help with developing plots and typing longer and better posts. Not all of the items on the list need be filled out, and not all may be applicable. This is just a structured way of creating your character. feel free to add on any as well. These are just some ideas.
Generic Human Character Development Help Form
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Eye Color:
Hair Description(Length, style, color, etc.):
Skin Tone:
Blemishes/Distinguishing Physical Features:
Height:
Weight:
Body Type:
Facial Description:
Clothing Styles/Favorite Outfit, etc:
Favorite Food:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Fears:
Loves:
Social Disposition(Outgoing, shy, etc):
Family History:
Personal History:
Ancestry:
Special Abilities(would be applicable for special powers, vampirism, etc.):
Pets/Pet History:
Criminal Record:
Country of Birth:
Country of Current Residence:
Favorite Book:
Favorite Movie:
Friendly Towards Strangers?:
Medical Issues/History:
Current Year(is it present day, or the 1800's in your RPG? This'll help you keep up with styles, and things that belong to specific eras.):
Two Words That Describe Him/Her Most:
A Generic Description of Him/Her:
Animal Form
Name:
Species:
Breed:
Eye Color:
Fur/Feathers/Whatever Description(length, color, texture, etc.):
Weight:
Height:
Distinguishing Features:
Body Type(short and stocky? Long and flowing? Whatever you like ^.^):
Facial Description:
Hobbies:
Enjoys Solitude or Companionship?:
In a Pack?:
Ranking(in pack and whatnot):
Favorite Place:
Area of Residence:
Time Period:
Fantasy Creature or Factual Creature:
Special Abilities/Powers:
Social Disposition:
Two-Word Description:
Favorite Food:
Favorite Other Animal:
Mate:
Age(exact, not generic):
Family History:
Bloodlines/Ancestry:
Personal History:
Place of Birth:
Generic Description of the Character:
Of course, this is for personal reference only. Save it as a Word document, and come back to it whenever you're out of inspiration or need to check something. No need to make it up on the spot, because you already have it. Also, include any pictures necessary. Could be of the hair color they have, of their house, their family, their pets, or themselves. It doesn't matter. Think outside the box
3. Create a plot. Probably one of the most important things to remember. Always ALWAYS have a plot on hand. Keep a list of basic ideas for posts to give you inspiration.
Say, you want your wolf to lead a hunt. Well, write that. Keep list of detailed events that you want to use sometime. You don't have to use them now, you can wait as long as you want before using them, but they're there. Also, you can create a complicated personal plot. It can be a few paragraphs or a few pages, it's totally up to you. Go crazy, and you'll always have a list of ideas to refer back to.
Don't be afraid to submit RPG Plot ideas to your RPG Master either. Make sure to PM them, though, but if think it would be a good idea to have a feud between two pack members, or to have the whole pack move to a totally new location, just speak up. Make sure it is approved, but use a long, convincing post and you'll almost always get your way.
Similarly, on an even larger scale, maybe you want to have two Clans/Packs meet eachother, or start a war. Just make sure it's ok with both Masters, then create a combined post for both RPG's. The opportunities are endless, and if you just think of new and creative ideas, you won't get bored with RPing. Boredom is one of the main reasons people quit RP's. Spice things up with a plot!
If you have any addition or any comments, feel free to post. Hope this helped
