Roleplaying Guide

Roleplaying is a great activity that almost anyone can take part in. You don't need a flashy computer with heaps of memory to roleplay and a good RP will be more fun than any computer game you've ever played. However, being a successful member of a roleplay forum takes a bit of practice. There are some basic rules and guidelines you need to observe and follow that can be applied to almost any decent roleplaying site on the web. This RPGuide is intended to help you figure out some of the basic concepts of roleplaying.

Special thanks to Joy, Nattie and Silawen for their help in writing this guide. ^^

Spelling and Punctuation

One of the most basic of writing skills is the ability to proofread your own work to make sure others - and even yourself - can read them back. We don't ban people for not spellchecking their posts but it's in your own interests to make sure other players can understand what you're posting. If they can't, sooner or later you won't have anyone willing to roleplay with you. ^__~

Punctuation

Punctuation is vital in any type of writing. It helps the writing flow and prevents confusion among the people who are going to read your posts. If someone doesn't understand what you've written, chances are they'll miss something. Here's an example:

Liam jumped over the wall he landed in the dust and then fell on his face this made his nose bleed everywhere oh no he said that really hurt.

Writing that sentence gave me a headache so reading and understanding it is even harder! There's no way of telling what's speech, and the lack of commas and full stops mean that the sentence is long and confusing. Here's the sentence with some punctuation.

Liam jumped over the wall. He landed in the dust and fell on his face - this made his nose bleed everywhere.

"Oh no!" he said. "That really hurt!"

Isn't that so much easier to read?

Elysian Fields actually has special BBCodes to format your character's speech for you. You can find out more here.

Apostrophes

Use apostrophes to indicate ownership and for replacing letters, not to show plurals. For example, "They are" becomes "they're", "I am" becomes "I'm", and "you are" becomes "you're". For ownership, a good example is "the dog's bone", or "the man's hat". Apostrophes are never used to show a plural! "I had three banana's" should simply read I had three bananas.

Spelling

Spelling is another area that can cause confusion. If a word is spelt incorrectly, it can completely change the meaning of a sentence. For example, "The book was red" instead of "the book was read". To get around confusion like this, make sure you read through your posts before you submit them. If you find yourself missing mistakes and typos, try reading through your posts sdrawkcab! Er... I mean backwards. x) A last resort could be to stick your text into a spell checker in a word processing programme like Microsoft Word or even using an online one like this. Just remember that spellcheckers don't recognise typos when they're technically spelled correctly (like he when it should be she xD).

Post Length

Each of Elysia's areas require different word lengths per post depending on the level of that forum. The Ao Coast, as a Level 5 area, has a post requirement of 200 words while the Fae Forest, as a Level 2 area, only requires 100 words. You can check each forum's requirement by reading that board's forum description.

There's no maximum limit but of course we don't expect you to write out six paragraphs either. It can be difficult to meet the higher requirements but it's definitely not impossible. A good reply will include some details about your character so that other players can interact with them realistically. Here's an example of a good way to make your character buy a cream cake.

Mildred tottered across the smooth floors of the bakery, eyeing all the cakes longingly. She was a huge fan of all types of cakes, but her pension didn't stretch very far. One cream cake a week was all she could afford now. She lent down creakily to get a better view of the food behind the glass counter, and decided which one to have-that cream bun with a shiny cherry looked perfect. She slowly stood up to her full height again, which was barely taller than the counter itself, and called croakily to the man behind the till.

"Excuse me young man, I'd like to make a purchase." She said, reaching into her large red handbag for her dried out leather purse.

This paragraph has given us a lot of information about Mildred without being obvious. Lets see what we've found out:

• Mildred likes cakes.
• Mildred is a pensioner.
• Mildred carries a big red handbag.
• Mildred owns an old leather purse.
• Mildred isn't as flexible as she was.
• Mildred is probably quite fragile.
• She's about as tall as the counter in the bakery.
• Mildred doesn't have an awful lot of money.

This is rather a lot! It's told us about our character's background without simply saying "Mildred is old and likes cake but hasn't got much money in her purse which she keeps in her handbag".

Another way to make your posts longer is describe, describe, DESCRIBE! This not only makes your posts longer but it also makes it easier for people to roleplay with you. Remember, roleplaying is not like a computer game - not everyone can see the same thing you can see. If you ask two people to describe a doctor's waiting room they may not give you the same description. The basic details may be similar - lots of chairs, maybe a table filled with magazines from March 2004 - but they might not say the room is the same size. One person might describe an airy, open room while the other claims that it's a small, windowless box with a stuffy atmosphere. The chairs may be different too - one person says the seats are hard brown squares with stuffing spilling out of them whereas the other describes elegant wooden chairs that fit the curve of your back in the most amazing way. If you really want your roleplay partners to know where you are, you need to tell them through the art of description.

This is where you need to use your own judgement but if you're still struggling then here are some tips on how to lengthen your posts and reveal character background. ^^

1. What can your character smell?
   If they're standing next to a fish stall, they're probably wrinkling their nose with distaste, or depending on their race, may even be licking their chops with hunger!
2. What can your character see?
   Is it dark? Sunlight filtering through the windows giving a smoky, dusty look to the room? Is any other character nearby? Can you see NPCs milling around? Elysia is full of creatures great and small so there should be something to watch.
3. What's the weather like?
   Check the newsbox at the top of every forum page to see what season it is in which area. Check previous posts for mention of the weather and to see if other characters are doing anything that could affect the atmosphere. For example, if an Ayad is practising with tornadoes, you're going to feel the effects. If someone already said it's windy and raining, don't suddenly have it be sunny unless at least a day has passed in-character.
4. This reminds me of the time I...
   ...fill in the blanks. Every situation tends to remind us of something similar that's happened in the past. Did they stand at that particular spot one day talking with their first Elysian friend? Has anything changed since then? Did another character say something that dredged up bad memories or good ones? This is a good way to reveal more about your character and will give you at least one more sentence. ^__~
5. How is your character feeling today?
   General mood can affect their responses to a situation. For instance, if I'm already cranky and irritable, having my modem drop its connection three times in the space of five minutes will make me blow my top, whereas if I'm reasonably mellow I'll just get mildly annoyed - and the same could be true of any character.
6. How does your character feel...
   ...about the things going on around them in this particular thread? If someone just stole from your character how will they react emotionally? Will they feel bruised, betrayed, annoyed, amused, stunned? Will they sit down and burst into tears, stand there screaming for someone to stop the thief, or give chase themselves?

You can write at least two paragraphs before you've even reacted to the thread you're in if you use these tips. ^^ And the more information you give in your posts, the easier it is for other players to respond to you and react in kind, which in turn will make the roleplay flow that much more smoothly.

If you aren't sure how long your post is, you can always try counting the words in your post. Microsoft Word has its own word counter or you can use an online one like this one to make sure your post is long enough. ^^

Godmodding is a crime

Godmodding is a way of cheating in roleplay and is where you control other characters through your own posts, such as making them take damage when you hit them or even just having them walk across a room. If you don't have permission to godmod (and a note in your post to say so) all gming will be moderated and you could be warned for it. Here are some examples of godmodding posts to give you a better idea of what we mean.

The sun was shining so brightly that he was forced to shield his eyes with his arm as he grabbed the girl's hand and tugged her out the door.

There are two godmods in this quote - grabbing the girl's hand, and tugging her out of the door. In both instances, the man's player isn't giving the girl's player a chance to react. The girl might have snatched her hand away. She might be struggling and screaming, she might try to fight him off, or she might eagerly follow him. Either way, not giving the other player chance to decide how their character will react is godmodding.

Dave kicked open the door and immediately launched himself at the demon. Not giving Harry time to react, Dave grabbed him by the collar and punched him in the face repeatedly.

There are two godmods in this quote as well - grabbing the demon, and punching him. For one thing, Harry might have twisted out of Dave's grasp or avoided his grab altogether. For another, he might have shielded his face with both arms so Dave's punches wouldn't have landed.

Godmodding doesn't just apply to fighting and action scenes. It can involve kissing and hugging, having someone else's character walk across the room, having someone else's character speak, and much more. Just remember that the only character you control is your own.

So if you can't godmod, how can you describe the actions of your characters? It's tricky sometimes, especially in fight scenes or between lovers, but it can be done. Using adjectives and verbs such as "attempted" and "tried" make all the difference. Here are the examples above rewritten without godmodding.

The sun was shining so brightly that he was forced to shield his eyes with his arm as he tried to grab the girl's hand and tug her out the door.

Saying he "tried to grab" gives the other player chance to have the girl struggle or go along willingly - it's up to the other player if your character's moves were successful.

Dave kicked open the door and immediately launched himself at the demon. Grabbing at Harry's collar, Dave drew back his fist and punched towards his face repeatedly.

Here again, you're giving Harry's player chance to squirm away and dodge the attack. Dave isn't punching Harry's face, either, he's punching towards the demon's face, so Harry can easily dodge. This also gives Harry's player chance to say whether or not the punches landed on his face, missed entirely, or hit something else.

The English dictionary is full of great synonyms for 'tried'. Why not try these?

• Attempted
• Tried
• Hoped to
• Wanted to
• Aimed to/at
• Endeavored to
• Strived
• Struggled to
• Ventured
• Sought to
• Meant to
• Planned to
• Wished
• Made an effort to
• Made a bid to

Perfection is unrealistic

Powerplaying

Elysian Fields is based on a levelling system that determines what your character can do when. Ignoring that system to make your character use abilities they don't have, for example teleporting between dimensions when their race doesn't have that power, or having a Level 2 Vampire create a large illusion, is called powerplaying. If you aren't sure what your character can do at what level, check the guides or ask a member of staff. ^__~

Mary-sueing

Perfectionism also comes in the form of 'mary-sueing'. This is where your character is so perfect they're too good to be true, a 1950s Stepford Wife who annoys everyone around them because there's just no way of besting them. They're flawless physically and mentally with dozens of friends, riches coming out of their ears, and are capable of anything. These characters are completely unrealistic, annoying, and frankly very boring.

Meta-gaming

Meta-gaming is where your character has out-of-character knowledge that affects their actions and/or gives them an unfair advantage. It could be something like having your character know the other person is mad even when they're not showing any signs of anger. It could also be knowing something that happened elsewhere on the site when no one's told them what happened. Don't do it. :P

Extra Tips

Here are a few extra little tips that will help to make your roleplaying experience a much more enjoyable one. ^^

1. Read the posts before yours
   It's important to know what else has happened in the RP since your last post. Someone may have left or entered the area that you're in or bought a drink; perhaps the person you're roleplaying with has burst into tears or suddenly attacked you without warning. Even subtle changes affect the way you and your character will respond and not reading the changes in your thread will make you miss things and bog the roleplay down in confusion about who's actually done and doing what. Ignoring the actions and words of other characters is also a moddable offense so make it clear if your character's deliberately ignoring or is unaware of something that's going on. There's a big difference between in-character and out-of-character ignorance. ^__~
2. Keep your characters consistent
   Don't have a vicious, world-hating, savage character that then turns into a sweet and charming pillar of the community who frequently sees little old ladies across the road. It's unrealistic and will leave readers confused! Your character may well react differently with different people as we all do in real life but don't make it so Jekyll-and-Hyde.
3. Roleplay shouldn't be about your mood
   Even though you're writing as another character, a part of you will always be in your writing. This means that if you're in a stinking bad mood when you sit down to the computer, your character is likely to seem a bit miserable too. It can adversely affect the character and the situation they're in so if you're in a bad mood, it's better to leave your roleplaying until you're in a better state of mind.
4. Know your character
   Create a journal for your character and write down their character profile. That way, you can flesh out your character's background with information about their past, family and their likes and dislikes and it's a public record for everyone to see. Don't just make it and abandon it though - keep using it! Know what your character likes! Would they kill for a box of Guylian chocolates? Would they turn their nose up at a tray of peaches? Do they watch every single rerun of Star Trek and sing along to TV commercials? If they ran into an old flame on the street, would they hide or walk up to them nonchalantly and ask them how they're doing? How would they react if an Aide poofed into the room and told them to duck?
   
   All of this will help to round out your characters and make them three-dimensional instead of cardboard cut-outs of people but remember to be consistent. While people naturally evolve and their tastes change, it's a gradual adaptation to the world around them, not a sudden change. Your character won't love pepsi in one thread and detest it in another. ^__~
5. Look at other characters
   This is where character descriptions really become useful because whenever we see another person, we always have a reaction. Are they shorter than you? Taller? Muscle-bound Schwarzeneggers or weedy wimps? Blondes, brunettes, redheads? Do they smile a lot or are they a sourpuss? Old, young, middle-aged, effeminate or butch?
   
   It's not easy to note these things in-character as not everyone gives information about their own characters and don't always have graphics that accurately represent them. However, try poking around the other character's journal to see if there's a physical description of some kind and try and use it in your posts. ^^ If they're pretty/handsome, who knows - maybe your character is attracted to them, but you won't find out unless you look. ^__~
6. Speak when spoken to
   It's incredibly rude to ignore other players so if a character enters your roleplay and starts to interact with your own character, you should respond to them in some way. There are characters who would ignore attempts to interact with them which is fair enough but as a player you need to roleplay them ignoring the other characters. You can't just pretend it didn't happen or there'll be hurt feelings. ^__~ The Aide Dazadi, for instance, has a habit of just blanking out people she doesn't want to talk to but her player will usually make note that she's deliberately ignoring them so the player understands what's happening. This also makes for more interesting roleplays as the ignored characters can take offense rather than their players. ^^