Basic Role-Playing Guide
Written by: Seraphim Emmanuel
Adapted for reference within an OWoD free-form role-play channel by: Seraphim Emmanuel
Adapted for reference within an OWoD free-form role-play channel by: Seraphim Emmanuel
~*~ Table of Contents ~*~
Introduction
Basic Role-Playing Language, Abbreviations, Punctuation, and Writing.
Glossary
Out Of Character / In Character Indicators
Role-Play Etiquette (The Dos and Don’ts of Role-Play)
Godmoding
Metagaming
Premature Death
Morphing
Observing Surroundings
Silent vs. Heard Whispers/Speaking
Seen vs. Unseen Actions
Technology & Magic
Role-Playing Rooms, Channels, or Areas
Role-Playing Styles
Character Creation, Backstories & Storylines
Backstories
Storylines
Storytelling
Character Names
Races
Languages
In-Character vs. Out-Of-Character
Some final thoughts.
Expressions of Appreciation.
Basic Role-Playing Language, Abbreviations, Punctuation, and Writing.
Glossary
Out Of Character / In Character Indicators
Role-Play Etiquette (The Dos and Don’ts of Role-Play)
Godmoding
Metagaming
Premature Death
Morphing
Observing Surroundings
Silent vs. Heard Whispers/Speaking
Seen vs. Unseen Actions
Technology & Magic
Role-Playing Rooms, Channels, or Areas
Role-Playing Styles
Character Creation, Backstories & Storylines
Backstories
Storylines
Storytelling
Character Names
Races
Languages
In-Character vs. Out-Of-Character
Some final thoughts.
Expressions of Appreciation.
~*~ Introduction ~*~
First, I should probably explain what role-play (RP) is. RP is more well-known than most people may realize. You see it in your everyday life: commercials, TV shows, movies, etc. Models and/or actors are playing the role of someone or something. This is essentially RPing. I also like to explain to new role-players that it is the same as those actors and models - that you are, in essence, acting.
In this case, we are referencing role-play on an irc server. Notably the DarkMyst server utilizing World of Darkness (WoD) gaming guidelines. You can role-play to be whoever and whatever you want, just so that it fits into the world in which you are playing. For the purpose of this guide we will mainly be referencing WoD. Within WoD you are in a world of vampires, werewolves, mages and even other 'dark beings'. Mostly the things you would find in movies, books and even video games. Here within the WoD you will find a world packed full of evil, deadly, magic and even love.
You are encouraged to put your own little quirks and characteristics into your character that you want; these attributes make your character unique and separate from the rest of the characters.
In this case, we are referencing role-play on an irc server. Notably the DarkMyst server utilizing World of Darkness (WoD) gaming guidelines. You can role-play to be whoever and whatever you want, just so that it fits into the world in which you are playing. For the purpose of this guide we will mainly be referencing WoD. Within WoD you are in a world of vampires, werewolves, mages and even other 'dark beings'. Mostly the things you would find in movies, books and even video games. Here within the WoD you will find a world packed full of evil, deadly, magic and even love.
You are encouraged to put your own little quirks and characteristics into your character that you want; these attributes make your character unique and separate from the rest of the characters.
~*~ Basic Role-Playing Language, Abbreviations, Punctuation, and Writing ~*~
To get a basic understanding of how to role-play, you must first get a grasp on the language of role-playing, the most commonly used punctuation, and style which is used by most role-players all around the world from game to game and so on. So here is a list of what you will need to know, with descriptions.... To get a basic understanding of how to role-play, you must first get a grasp on the language of role-playing, the most commonly used punctuation and style which is used by most role-players all around the world from game to game and so on. So here is a list of what you will need to know, with descriptions....
GLOSSARY
Action/Emote – This is an action performed by a character. (For the remainder of this guide we will refer to the single word, 'action'.) This includes preset actions, as well as type-written narrative actions. An example of this would be “/slap <character name>” for an online action which triggers an action built into the program, such as, "Amorain slaps Garfin around with a trout!" IRC programs typically have a few of these 'pre-written' actions within their programs. If you wanted to perform a personal, more detailed action you would simply type </me> and then the action your character is performing.
Backstory – This is typically a written story, or set of notes, which describe the character, who and what they are. It is the history of a given character.
Cyber Sex – Let’s be honest, this form of RP can be included in a characters life. For those unfamiliar, cybering is typically a term used when characters are having intimate contact. There are many ways to have intimate contact without the graphic detail implied by the term “cybering” or "cyboring".
DM/GM/ST - "Dungeon Master" or "Story Teller" – This is the person who creates and/or runs the story or scenario.
Godmoding – This is typically referred to a player whose character is omnipotent, unbeatable. This happens most often when a player forces their actions on another character, or by claiming extraordinary abilities/situations that other players have to take into account, usually without that character actually having the ability. In older games (such as WoD) where characters of legendary proportions are common, even abilities that they actually 'do' have could be overlooked for the sake of fairness.
IG– “In-game” – This refers to the events which take place within the virtual world of the game.
IRC - Internet relay chat. This is the type of online service provided by individual servers for a text type of communication.
Metagaming – This is when a player uses information they gained through out-of-character means to gain an in-character advantage. It happens when the player finds something out that their character does not know, but then has their character act as if they do. Sometimes metagaming can also occur when the player uses information gained out-of-character to avoid entanglement in a scene or situation.
MMORPG – “Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game” – This is a large world where presumably millions of players connect via the internet to play a role-playing game.
Powergaming - This is similar to Godmoding mentioned above with the inclusion of a player that performs an action or a series of actions without giving the other player(s) a chance to respond as well as not incurring damage themselves, additionally by insisting that their attacks land regardless of fairness and/or the situation.
RL/IIRC - "Real Life" - The world where you are, but your characters aren't. Visit it from time to time, if only to get ideas for your next storyline.
Room/Channel – This is typically where OOC discussion and role-play takes place. This can be in OOC chat channel or an actual role-play channel on the server such as Savannah Nights, where #Savannah_Nights would be the name of the channel displayed within the servers channel listing.
RP - "Role-Playing" – Playing the role of someone, or something. Essentially, “acting”.
RP Nazi/RP Police – This term is completely an OOC reference to players who habitually enforce their own set of rules pertaining to the way RP is done. This is not intended to be a compliment to the player who is attempting to enforce their rules. (Also, there is a difference between guidelines and rules. Guidelines provide flexibility, as does this guide. Rules are more solid and steadfast.)
SL - "Storyline" – The plot of a story. During RP, this could be either an extended or a brief event. It does not all have to take place during the same day that it began. It is common for role-play stories to span many days, or even weeks.
IC – “In-character” – This refers to the speech or actions taking place from the character’s perspective.
OOC - "Out of Character" – The real person, speaking/acting as, and for, themselves.
Note: I do realize the last two are not alphabetical and slightly separated from the other Glossary words. That is because I believe the last two are extremely important to keep in mind so that you, the player, know exactly “who” is saying, and/or doing, “what”. There is an extreme difference between OOC (reality) and IC (fantasy). This issue can be easily confused, I advise you to ask the other player to confirm if you’re ever unsure.
However, the following typically-used indicators should help to alleviate most of the confusion between if an action or statement is OOC or IC.
Backstory – This is typically a written story, or set of notes, which describe the character, who and what they are. It is the history of a given character.
Cyber Sex – Let’s be honest, this form of RP can be included in a characters life. For those unfamiliar, cybering is typically a term used when characters are having intimate contact. There are many ways to have intimate contact without the graphic detail implied by the term “cybering” or "cyboring".
DM/GM/ST - "Dungeon Master" or "Story Teller" – This is the person who creates and/or runs the story or scenario.
Godmoding – This is typically referred to a player whose character is omnipotent, unbeatable. This happens most often when a player forces their actions on another character, or by claiming extraordinary abilities/situations that other players have to take into account, usually without that character actually having the ability. In older games (such as WoD) where characters of legendary proportions are common, even abilities that they actually 'do' have could be overlooked for the sake of fairness.
IG– “In-game” – This refers to the events which take place within the virtual world of the game.
IRC - Internet relay chat. This is the type of online service provided by individual servers for a text type of communication.
Metagaming – This is when a player uses information they gained through out-of-character means to gain an in-character advantage. It happens when the player finds something out that their character does not know, but then has their character act as if they do. Sometimes metagaming can also occur when the player uses information gained out-of-character to avoid entanglement in a scene or situation.
MMORPG – “Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game” – This is a large world where presumably millions of players connect via the internet to play a role-playing game.
Powergaming - This is similar to Godmoding mentioned above with the inclusion of a player that performs an action or a series of actions without giving the other player(s) a chance to respond as well as not incurring damage themselves, additionally by insisting that their attacks land regardless of fairness and/or the situation.
RL/IIRC - "Real Life" - The world where you are, but your characters aren't. Visit it from time to time, if only to get ideas for your next storyline.
Room/Channel – This is typically where OOC discussion and role-play takes place. This can be in OOC chat channel or an actual role-play channel on the server such as Savannah Nights, where #Savannah_Nights would be the name of the channel displayed within the servers channel listing.
RP - "Role-Playing" – Playing the role of someone, or something. Essentially, “acting”.
RP Nazi/RP Police – This term is completely an OOC reference to players who habitually enforce their own set of rules pertaining to the way RP is done. This is not intended to be a compliment to the player who is attempting to enforce their rules. (Also, there is a difference between guidelines and rules. Guidelines provide flexibility, as does this guide. Rules are more solid and steadfast.)
SL - "Storyline" – The plot of a story. During RP, this could be either an extended or a brief event. It does not all have to take place during the same day that it began. It is common for role-play stories to span many days, or even weeks.
IC – “In-character” – This refers to the speech or actions taking place from the character’s perspective.
OOC - "Out of Character" – The real person, speaking/acting as, and for, themselves.
Note: I do realize the last two are not alphabetical and slightly separated from the other Glossary words. That is because I believe the last two are extremely important to keep in mind so that you, the player, know exactly “who” is saying, and/or doing, “what”. There is an extreme difference between OOC (reality) and IC (fantasy). This issue can be easily confused, I advise you to ask the other player to confirm if you’re ever unsure.
However, the following typically-used indicators should help to alleviate most of the confusion between if an action or statement is OOC or IC.
OOC/IC INDICATORS
((…)) - These are the brackets used most commonly by RPers when speaking OOC so that other players know they are not acting as their character... This alleviates the issue of informality.
Example: (( Sera slaps George around with a trout! ))
Other brackets commonly used are: [[…]] and {{…}}
*…* - The asterisk symbol is used as a way of narrating, or writing an action in the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence pertaining directly to your character... I will give two examples of this, one mainly of narration, and one mainly of dialogue:
These would be considered a narrated action:
*The Prince walks into the conference room, greeting their Primogens.* Greetings, everyone…
or
The Prince walks into the conference room, greeting their Primogens, "Greetings, everyone..."
This would be considered an acted action:
Greetings, everyone. *Smiles* How are you all?
Any of the above are acceptable when RPing. Typically, you will be able to ascertain which would fit better for the situation your character is currently in.
Example: (( Sera slaps George around with a trout! ))
Other brackets commonly used are: [[…]] and {{…}}
*…* - The asterisk symbol is used as a way of narrating, or writing an action in the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence pertaining directly to your character... I will give two examples of this, one mainly of narration, and one mainly of dialogue:
These would be considered a narrated action:
*The Prince walks into the conference room, greeting their Primogens.* Greetings, everyone…
or
The Prince walks into the conference room, greeting their Primogens, "Greetings, everyone..."
This would be considered an acted action:
Greetings, everyone. *Smiles* How are you all?
Any of the above are acceptable when RPing. Typically, you will be able to ascertain which would fit better for the situation your character is currently in.
~*~ RP Etiquette ~*~
(The Dos and Don'ts of RP)
(The Dos and Don'ts of RP)
Godmoding– This is typically referred to a player whose character is omnipotent, unbeatable or has everything possible at their disposal. This happens most often when a player forces their actions on another character, or by claiming extraordinary abilities/situations/items that other players have to take into account, sometimes without that character actually having the ability and/or item(s). (Such as claiming to be an Antediluvian, Methuselah, God, demi-God, etc., someone or something that cannot be harmed or feel any consequences for their actions or the actions of others.) In older games (such as OWoD) where characters of legendary proportions are common, even abilities that they do possess could be overlooked for the sake of fairness to all players.
The first example could be as follows:
“Amorain grabs his opponent’s gun, pulling it from her grip and using her own gun to kill her by shooting her in the head.”
There are a few issues with that one action. I’ll list some of them here:
First Issue: For this example, we will say Amorain is only a newly embraced childe and his female opponent is much lower in generation, has lived longer and has more abilities/disciplines. It is virtually impossible to believe Amorain would be able to complete this action and kill an opponent that is so much stronger than him. Amorain is performing an action that is far beyond his skills thus making the action unbelievable.
Second Issue: In another example, we will assume Amorain is a Methuselah and his opponent is a newly embraced childe. Yes, the action would be an easy task for him. However, the problem lies in that he did not leave his opponent an out. When in any type of role-play situation, an out must be left for the other player irregardless of their skills, abilities, disciplines or items.
For this example a more appropriate way to have written the sentence would have been: “Amorain grabs his opponent’s gun, attempting to pull it from her and use her own gun to slay her.”
Again, given the generations in this example, it’s easy to assume Amorain would have no problem killing his opponent. However, appropriate RP etiquette would still have Amorain making the attempt, leaving the player of the opponent a chance to make an adequate response. The other character could have the ability to cast escape spells or have another resource to remove them from the situation or scene entirely. Or, there could be another character, as powerful as Amorain, who could stop him from attacking a weaker character. Or still yet, the player can accept the characters death and make Amorain victorious. Provided the player of the dying character didn’t care if the character died, or planned it in advance. (See “Premature Death” below.)
Additionally, another way of Godmoding can be when one player actually performs the action for another player’s character without permission. Typical RP etiquette indicates that performing actions, making statements, etc. with another player’s character should not occur if you were not given permission specifically from that character’s player. There are several reasons for this, one simply being that no one really knows the character more than the player themself. Another reason could be resulting in an unfavorable alteration to a current, ongoing story line that the character is involved in. (It is not unusual to have a character involved in more than one SL. However, this practice is best reserved until you have had more experience RPing.)
Metagaming – This is when a player uses information they gained through out-of-character means to gain an in-character advantage. It happens when the player finds out something that their character does not know, but then has their character act as if they do or avoid a situation and/or other character. Or likewise have a more powerful character (either theirs or another players) appear to help their weaker one.
Premature Death or PermaDeath – “Permanently” killing the character of another player without permission. The player of the character that dies is the only person who can say if their character has died permanently.
Morphing – This typically happens when your character may have bitten off more than they can chew (such as in the second Godmoding example) and the character suddenly becomes someone, or something else for a more favorable ending. An example of this could be that poor Amorain the childe has too big of a mouth at 11th generation and has angered the 5th generation Elder. The situation escalates and they are now in written combat, or combat through actions. When Amorain begins to lose the battle, he suddenly turns into a more powerful character, a “mob” (a monster enemy such as a powerful demon), or even a God/deity.
Observing Surroundings – It is always advisable for players who are new to a channel or environment to first sit back and simply observe the setting they plan to become involved in. Who is in the area? (Furthermore, who is “active” in the room, and who is merely observing?) How is the area decorated? What is the typical use of the space being described?
For example, a character typically wouldn’t walk into a chapel filled with Priests performing their afternoon prayers and yell out, “Give me a cold beer!” Or, in reverse of that, a Priest wouldn’t go into a tavern and expect it to be silent, with the exception of their devoted brethren’s prayers.
It is not recommended to just jump into ongoing RP head-first if you are new to it. Even as an experienced RPer, I will watch the room silently for a while before posting my characters narrative entry and/or interacting with other characters.
An entry into a room can be as simple as:
*Amorain walks into the room and grins.* Hello everyone.
Or, a more detailed entry such as:
A well-built human male enters, his piercing blue eyes scanning to see who is in the room. The waitress is greeted with a charming smile as he removes his coat to reveal the expensively fine suit of a Ventrue. (Vampire, 5th Generation, App 6, Cha 5. Image link: http://www.savannahnights.org/uploads/insertimagehere.jpg)
Entries can be as detailed, or as simple as you wish, it all depends on what you want to put into it. Personally, I prefer the more detailed description. My reason is that while Amorain appears polite in the first example, it really doesn’t describe “him”. The second example describes exactly “who” and “what” has walked into the room. This way using auspex, or over a series of encounters, others can have an idea of how you envision your own character.
Scene Obstruction & Showcase Writing - This is the intentional, or unintentional, attempt of a player to interrupt a current scene occurring for the purpose of story-telling or acting out their scene. This faux pas can be performed by new, as well as seasoned, players. It may be completely unintentional, but it does keep other players from being able to understand exactly what is going on in a room.
An example could be describing "how" your character got to the tavern within the main channel where other players are trying to RP while actually in the tavern. How your character got there may not be as important as their arrival at, or even presence within, the tavern.
For example:
Amorain finished off his dinner. Though, the street whore was plentiful dining, he did prefer more 'refined' blood. Virgins are always so delicious. And, looking into those innocent eyes before corrupting them just adds to the flavor. He considered keeping this street whore for part of his herd. But, he wasn't going to waste his time trying to remember who she was when there were so many like her on the streets. After dropping the girl to the cold, hard ground, he walked down the dark alley to his waiting limo and climbed in, instructing the driver to take him to a new tavern he had heard about.
Going on to explain about the ride, his thoughts during the ride, perhaps seeing another street whore and being tempted to stop for a snack are all unrelated to what is actually going on within the tavern. The player may be, like myself, a very elaborate writer. (Yes, I know I'm wordy.) However, including all this information within the tavern main channel obstructs from the RP of other players that is actually going on within the tavern. If you absolutely must write this narration down, it is highly suggested you ask other players in the OOC channel if they mind you putting this narration within the OOC or IC channel. Most players will comply just out of curiosity, it truly depends on which players are online at that moment, their level of interest and/or ability to pay attention to your writing.
Another example of Scene Obstruction is when a player brings their character into an active scene and/or conversation that is completely irrelevant to the scene/conversation taking place.
For example:
Amorain slides his arm around Tarlel, placing kisses upon her neck between soft whispers, "Gods, woman... You are beautiful."
Tarlel's body shivers against Amorains and she responds by looking up at Amorain whispering, "Let's get a room."
Garfin walks up to Amorain and Tarlel and pulls a rabbit out of his hat shouting, "Tada!" Then, holds the rabbit out to Tarlel, "Here, you hold him, his name is Roger. Now, for my next trick..."
Amorain and Tarlel are most likely not going to be interested in Garfin's next trick, and Garfin might actually find himself in a bit of trouble for interrupting their moment in which they are clearly more interested in each other than anything else going on. This 'coming out of left field' type of RP obstructs the scene within which the players of Amorain and Tarlel would have justified cause for ignoring, or even still correcting, the player of Garfin.
Silent vs. Heard Whispers/Speaking – Admittedly, even after all my years of RPing, this one still throws many players off. Because, in reality, some whispers in a room could be heard, while others cannot. Therefore, my suggestion to handle this issue is this – if you don’t want your characters whispers to be heard by anyone near your character, or even across the room (as I’ve seen happen before), send the whisper via a private message (PM). As a result, my whispers require two actions on my part and typically look like this:
Action within the room, seen by all:
*Amorain leans close to Tarlel and whispers softly in her ear.*
Followed by a PM to Tarlel so only she knows what the whisper is:
*Whisper* By the Gods, woman… you are beautiful.
Or: Whispers, “By the Gods, woman… you are beautiful.”
(Either is acceptable, of course, I was merely providing an example of different writing techniques.)
Seen vs. Unseen Actions – This is also an occasional issue. Again, because in reality some actions can be seen by all, while some cannot be seen at all. Therefore, I refer to the above examples of “Silent vs. Heard Whispers”. Important note: If you do not want your characters actions to be seen by others within the room, I would suggest performing the action by a private message. My private actions can typically look like this:
Action within the room, seen by all:
*Amorain leans close to Tarlel and whispers softly in her ear.*
Followed by a PM to Tarlel so only she knows what the private action and whisper is:
/query Tarlel Whispers, “By the Gods, woman… you are beautiful,” and grabs her butt.
Now, of course, Tarlel has a chance to respond to Amorain’s flirtatious action. Her response could also be private by PM or a written within the room (visible to all), such as:
A privately written action by Tarlel could be:
/query Amorain Grins up at him leaning close and whispers, “Let’s get a room.”
…or
A more publicly written response/action written within the main room by the player of Tarlel could be:
/me Grins up at him leaning close and whispers, “Let’s get a room.”
Technology & Magic – Please remember this guide was created for reference with the MMORP OWoD in current times for the channel #Savannah_Nights on the irc DarkMyst (irc.darkmyst.org) server. (Now a closed channel.) Technology within the game is what is available in current times. Generally, this would include cell-phones, computers, etc., in addition to the games allowances as dictated by WhiteWolf in their OWoD player guides and other books.
Magic tends to have more leniencies since its limitations are nearly boundless, although not completely. However, to avoid being accused of Godmoding, it is best to stick with the magic available to your character at that time in reference to their level/abilities/disciplines as dictated by WhiteWolf in their OWoD player guides and books. As you become more experienced in RPing you will find where you can bend the boundaries of magic and to what acceptable, and believable, level.
A good way to make magic your own is to simply describe it in greater detail. For instance, you could describe it as follows:
“Icy vapors envelop Tarlel’s hand, trailing between her fingers in a slow cascade to the floor. With a shout, she hurls a crystalline spear at the ghoul. If the spear pierced the ghouls flesh, it would explode on impact, and shower its surroundings with icy shards of glassy shrapnel.”
This way, you’re not changing the game by altering the spell, but you still get to allow your character a seemingly-unique spell.
A good rule of thumb is, if it doesn’t exist within the world of OWoD player guides and books, it doesn’t exist.
Remember though, when within an active story-line directed and narrated by a story-teller, or even with another player; you must leave that ghoul an out. Your character should make the attempt at the action. Spells can fail or not be strong enough, or a punch to the face may miss.
The first example could be as follows:
“Amorain grabs his opponent’s gun, pulling it from her grip and using her own gun to kill her by shooting her in the head.”
There are a few issues with that one action. I’ll list some of them here:
First Issue: For this example, we will say Amorain is only a newly embraced childe and his female opponent is much lower in generation, has lived longer and has more abilities/disciplines. It is virtually impossible to believe Amorain would be able to complete this action and kill an opponent that is so much stronger than him. Amorain is performing an action that is far beyond his skills thus making the action unbelievable.
Second Issue: In another example, we will assume Amorain is a Methuselah and his opponent is a newly embraced childe. Yes, the action would be an easy task for him. However, the problem lies in that he did not leave his opponent an out. When in any type of role-play situation, an out must be left for the other player irregardless of their skills, abilities, disciplines or items.
For this example a more appropriate way to have written the sentence would have been: “Amorain grabs his opponent’s gun, attempting to pull it from her and use her own gun to slay her.”
Again, given the generations in this example, it’s easy to assume Amorain would have no problem killing his opponent. However, appropriate RP etiquette would still have Amorain making the attempt, leaving the player of the opponent a chance to make an adequate response. The other character could have the ability to cast escape spells or have another resource to remove them from the situation or scene entirely. Or, there could be another character, as powerful as Amorain, who could stop him from attacking a weaker character. Or still yet, the player can accept the characters death and make Amorain victorious. Provided the player of the dying character didn’t care if the character died, or planned it in advance. (See “Premature Death” below.)
Additionally, another way of Godmoding can be when one player actually performs the action for another player’s character without permission. Typical RP etiquette indicates that performing actions, making statements, etc. with another player’s character should not occur if you were not given permission specifically from that character’s player. There are several reasons for this, one simply being that no one really knows the character more than the player themself. Another reason could be resulting in an unfavorable alteration to a current, ongoing story line that the character is involved in. (It is not unusual to have a character involved in more than one SL. However, this practice is best reserved until you have had more experience RPing.)
Metagaming – This is when a player uses information they gained through out-of-character means to gain an in-character advantage. It happens when the player finds out something that their character does not know, but then has their character act as if they do or avoid a situation and/or other character. Or likewise have a more powerful character (either theirs or another players) appear to help their weaker one.
Premature Death or PermaDeath – “Permanently” killing the character of another player without permission. The player of the character that dies is the only person who can say if their character has died permanently.
Morphing – This typically happens when your character may have bitten off more than they can chew (such as in the second Godmoding example) and the character suddenly becomes someone, or something else for a more favorable ending. An example of this could be that poor Amorain the childe has too big of a mouth at 11th generation and has angered the 5th generation Elder. The situation escalates and they are now in written combat, or combat through actions. When Amorain begins to lose the battle, he suddenly turns into a more powerful character, a “mob” (a monster enemy such as a powerful demon), or even a God/deity.
Observing Surroundings – It is always advisable for players who are new to a channel or environment to first sit back and simply observe the setting they plan to become involved in. Who is in the area? (Furthermore, who is “active” in the room, and who is merely observing?) How is the area decorated? What is the typical use of the space being described?
For example, a character typically wouldn’t walk into a chapel filled with Priests performing their afternoon prayers and yell out, “Give me a cold beer!” Or, in reverse of that, a Priest wouldn’t go into a tavern and expect it to be silent, with the exception of their devoted brethren’s prayers.
It is not recommended to just jump into ongoing RP head-first if you are new to it. Even as an experienced RPer, I will watch the room silently for a while before posting my characters narrative entry and/or interacting with other characters.
An entry into a room can be as simple as:
*Amorain walks into the room and grins.* Hello everyone.
Or, a more detailed entry such as:
A well-built human male enters, his piercing blue eyes scanning to see who is in the room. The waitress is greeted with a charming smile as he removes his coat to reveal the expensively fine suit of a Ventrue. (Vampire, 5th Generation, App 6, Cha 5. Image link: http://www.savannahnights.org/uploads/insertimagehere.jpg)
Entries can be as detailed, or as simple as you wish, it all depends on what you want to put into it. Personally, I prefer the more detailed description. My reason is that while Amorain appears polite in the first example, it really doesn’t describe “him”. The second example describes exactly “who” and “what” has walked into the room. This way using auspex, or over a series of encounters, others can have an idea of how you envision your own character.
Scene Obstruction & Showcase Writing - This is the intentional, or unintentional, attempt of a player to interrupt a current scene occurring for the purpose of story-telling or acting out their scene. This faux pas can be performed by new, as well as seasoned, players. It may be completely unintentional, but it does keep other players from being able to understand exactly what is going on in a room.
An example could be describing "how" your character got to the tavern within the main channel where other players are trying to RP while actually in the tavern. How your character got there may not be as important as their arrival at, or even presence within, the tavern.
For example:
Amorain finished off his dinner. Though, the street whore was plentiful dining, he did prefer more 'refined' blood. Virgins are always so delicious. And, looking into those innocent eyes before corrupting them just adds to the flavor. He considered keeping this street whore for part of his herd. But, he wasn't going to waste his time trying to remember who she was when there were so many like her on the streets. After dropping the girl to the cold, hard ground, he walked down the dark alley to his waiting limo and climbed in, instructing the driver to take him to a new tavern he had heard about.
Going on to explain about the ride, his thoughts during the ride, perhaps seeing another street whore and being tempted to stop for a snack are all unrelated to what is actually going on within the tavern. The player may be, like myself, a very elaborate writer. (Yes, I know I'm wordy.) However, including all this information within the tavern main channel obstructs from the RP of other players that is actually going on within the tavern. If you absolutely must write this narration down, it is highly suggested you ask other players in the OOC channel if they mind you putting this narration within the OOC or IC channel. Most players will comply just out of curiosity, it truly depends on which players are online at that moment, their level of interest and/or ability to pay attention to your writing.
Another example of Scene Obstruction is when a player brings their character into an active scene and/or conversation that is completely irrelevant to the scene/conversation taking place.
For example:
Amorain slides his arm around Tarlel, placing kisses upon her neck between soft whispers, "Gods, woman... You are beautiful."
Tarlel's body shivers against Amorains and she responds by looking up at Amorain whispering, "Let's get a room."
Garfin walks up to Amorain and Tarlel and pulls a rabbit out of his hat shouting, "Tada!" Then, holds the rabbit out to Tarlel, "Here, you hold him, his name is Roger. Now, for my next trick..."
Amorain and Tarlel are most likely not going to be interested in Garfin's next trick, and Garfin might actually find himself in a bit of trouble for interrupting their moment in which they are clearly more interested in each other than anything else going on. This 'coming out of left field' type of RP obstructs the scene within which the players of Amorain and Tarlel would have justified cause for ignoring, or even still correcting, the player of Garfin.
Silent vs. Heard Whispers/Speaking – Admittedly, even after all my years of RPing, this one still throws many players off. Because, in reality, some whispers in a room could be heard, while others cannot. Therefore, my suggestion to handle this issue is this – if you don’t want your characters whispers to be heard by anyone near your character, or even across the room (as I’ve seen happen before), send the whisper via a private message (PM). As a result, my whispers require two actions on my part and typically look like this:
Action within the room, seen by all:
*Amorain leans close to Tarlel and whispers softly in her ear.*
Followed by a PM to Tarlel so only she knows what the whisper is:
*Whisper* By the Gods, woman… you are beautiful.
Or: Whispers, “By the Gods, woman… you are beautiful.”
(Either is acceptable, of course, I was merely providing an example of different writing techniques.)
Seen vs. Unseen Actions – This is also an occasional issue. Again, because in reality some actions can be seen by all, while some cannot be seen at all. Therefore, I refer to the above examples of “Silent vs. Heard Whispers”. Important note: If you do not want your characters actions to be seen by others within the room, I would suggest performing the action by a private message. My private actions can typically look like this:
Action within the room, seen by all:
*Amorain leans close to Tarlel and whispers softly in her ear.*
Followed by a PM to Tarlel so only she knows what the private action and whisper is:
/query Tarlel Whispers, “By the Gods, woman… you are beautiful,” and grabs her butt.
Now, of course, Tarlel has a chance to respond to Amorain’s flirtatious action. Her response could also be private by PM or a written within the room (visible to all), such as:
A privately written action by Tarlel could be:
/query Amorain Grins up at him leaning close and whispers, “Let’s get a room.”
…or
A more publicly written response/action written within the main room by the player of Tarlel could be:
/me Grins up at him leaning close and whispers, “Let’s get a room.”
Technology & Magic – Please remember this guide was created for reference with the MMORP OWoD in current times for the channel #Savannah_Nights on the irc DarkMyst (irc.darkmyst.org) server. (Now a closed channel.) Technology within the game is what is available in current times. Generally, this would include cell-phones, computers, etc., in addition to the games allowances as dictated by WhiteWolf in their OWoD player guides and other books.
Magic tends to have more leniencies since its limitations are nearly boundless, although not completely. However, to avoid being accused of Godmoding, it is best to stick with the magic available to your character at that time in reference to their level/abilities/disciplines as dictated by WhiteWolf in their OWoD player guides and books. As you become more experienced in RPing you will find where you can bend the boundaries of magic and to what acceptable, and believable, level.
A good way to make magic your own is to simply describe it in greater detail. For instance, you could describe it as follows:
“Icy vapors envelop Tarlel’s hand, trailing between her fingers in a slow cascade to the floor. With a shout, she hurls a crystalline spear at the ghoul. If the spear pierced the ghouls flesh, it would explode on impact, and shower its surroundings with icy shards of glassy shrapnel.”
This way, you’re not changing the game by altering the spell, but you still get to allow your character a seemingly-unique spell.
A good rule of thumb is, if it doesn’t exist within the world of OWoD player guides and books, it doesn’t exist.
Remember though, when within an active story-line directed and narrated by a story-teller, or even with another player; you must leave that ghoul an out. Your character should make the attempt at the action. Spells can fail or not be strong enough, or a punch to the face may miss.
~*~ Role-Playing Rooms, Channels, or Areas ~*~
RP can take place anywhere within OWoD. RP can occur within a main channel, such as #Savannah_Nights with typed speaking, actions and/or responses, privately through PM's. The setting is typically predetermined by the room title, a website, or other description chosen by the Channel STs/Ops. Our example within this topic is obviously a tavern, and better yet, a tavern more specifically located within the city of Savannah, GA, U.S.A. that you can look up on the internet so you will know the city and its residents better.
There may be specific guidelines, or even rules, for a channel. It is suggested you maintain typical RP etiquette as discussed within this guide, or possibly contact the player(s) in control of that room to find out if there is a certain set of rules. There are typically OOC channels for this purpose, as well as daily chatter between players. However, following typical RP etiquette usually will suffice.
There may be specific guidelines, or even rules, for a channel. It is suggested you maintain typical RP etiquette as discussed within this guide, or possibly contact the player(s) in control of that room to find out if there is a certain set of rules. There are typically OOC channels for this purpose, as well as daily chatter between players. However, following typical RP etiquette usually will suffice.
~*~ Role-Playing Styles ~*~
I can’t say there is an exact “right way” to RP. Your character is as individual as you are, and each character is as different as you have created them to be. Therefore, in a room full of players, there are as many unique writing styles as there are players. To say everyone must adhere to a certain rule-set or standard would be similar to telling every writer/author in the real world to use one writing style. That will obviously never happen; writing styles and skills vary from writer to writer, or as on irc, from player to player.
The following is only a suggestion to the most common ways to write your IC and OOC actions and statements.
I will give a few examples that will show you why, starting with the most common issues that cause confusion in RP...
Example 1:
- Amorain: *Smiles* We fought back the Sabbat tonight... But, we are in need of more strong soldiers to push forward... Any volunteers?
- Tarlel: *Grins.* How about a Brujah? ((5th Gen))
- Garfin: Grins. Will a 9th Gen Sabby Laso work for ya?
In the example above the player of Garfin is trying to engage in the RP invitation… A commendable attempt, by what is most likely a new RPer, or someone who isn’t as detailed into their writing. In my opinion, either way is acceptable since the message Garfin is trying to convey is understandable.
Now, obviously, if all the players were going to stay strictly IC, Amorain and Tarlel would most likely look at Garfin with confused expressions and ask him what an "9-tee-hech Gen Sabby Laso" is. Most likely the players of Amorain and Tarlel know that the player of Garfin meant "ninth generation sabbat lasombra", such as how Tarlel wrote out for herself. However, some players are bigger sticklers on writing out titles. I’ve rarely seen this guideline pointed out as an issue worth addressing, as long as the message you're trying to convey is understandable.
A second issue that could arise is that Garfin’s generation was typed into the in-character statement. The most common way of addressing a character’s generation IC is to include it within double-typed parentheses. However, if Garfin plays a childer whom he insists is either far younger or far older; this too could be an issue. As such, it is often best to include the generation after the in-character message, as in Tarlel’s response. This distinction helps to avoid metagaming as well, since there is a clear marker where the character’s dialogue ends and information for the player is provided OOC.
Example 2: (This example could also include Scene Obstruction & Showcase Writing, see above.)
- Amorain: *Whispers to Tarlel.* By the Gods, woman... you are beautiful.
- Garfin: I'm a 5th gen Rav! Watch me do a trick!
- Tarlel: *Winks at Amorain.*
In this example, it’s obvious that Garfin is not engaged in the current RP situation. In fact, it appears they are completely oblivious to what is happening around them. You can see how Garfin’s advertisement about their generation and clan has not only interrupted the flow of RP; it is also completely out of context of the actions taking place. Now, let’s have poor Garfin be more aware of the type of room he is in, and what is going on around him.
Amorain: *Whispers to Tarlel.* By the Gods, woman… you are beautiful.
Garfin: *Grumbles* You two should just get a room already.
Tarlel: *Winks at Amorain*
Now, we can easily assume Garfin was observant of his surroundings, and it also appears he was pretty tired of watching Amorain and Tarlel flirt. Also, the flow of the RP was not interrupted by unrelated text.
The following is only a suggestion to the most common ways to write your IC and OOC actions and statements.
I will give a few examples that will show you why, starting with the most common issues that cause confusion in RP...
Example 1:
- Amorain: *Smiles* We fought back the Sabbat tonight... But, we are in need of more strong soldiers to push forward... Any volunteers?
- Tarlel: *Grins.* How about a Brujah? ((5th Gen))
- Garfin: Grins. Will a 9th Gen Sabby Laso work for ya?
In the example above the player of Garfin is trying to engage in the RP invitation… A commendable attempt, by what is most likely a new RPer, or someone who isn’t as detailed into their writing. In my opinion, either way is acceptable since the message Garfin is trying to convey is understandable.
Now, obviously, if all the players were going to stay strictly IC, Amorain and Tarlel would most likely look at Garfin with confused expressions and ask him what an "9-tee-hech Gen Sabby Laso" is. Most likely the players of Amorain and Tarlel know that the player of Garfin meant "ninth generation sabbat lasombra", such as how Tarlel wrote out for herself. However, some players are bigger sticklers on writing out titles. I’ve rarely seen this guideline pointed out as an issue worth addressing, as long as the message you're trying to convey is understandable.
A second issue that could arise is that Garfin’s generation was typed into the in-character statement. The most common way of addressing a character’s generation IC is to include it within double-typed parentheses. However, if Garfin plays a childer whom he insists is either far younger or far older; this too could be an issue. As such, it is often best to include the generation after the in-character message, as in Tarlel’s response. This distinction helps to avoid metagaming as well, since there is a clear marker where the character’s dialogue ends and information for the player is provided OOC.
Example 2: (This example could also include Scene Obstruction & Showcase Writing, see above.)
- Amorain: *Whispers to Tarlel.* By the Gods, woman... you are beautiful.
- Garfin: I'm a 5th gen Rav! Watch me do a trick!
- Tarlel: *Winks at Amorain.*
In this example, it’s obvious that Garfin is not engaged in the current RP situation. In fact, it appears they are completely oblivious to what is happening around them. You can see how Garfin’s advertisement about their generation and clan has not only interrupted the flow of RP; it is also completely out of context of the actions taking place. Now, let’s have poor Garfin be more aware of the type of room he is in, and what is going on around him.
Amorain: *Whispers to Tarlel.* By the Gods, woman… you are beautiful.
Garfin: *Grumbles* You two should just get a room already.
Tarlel: *Winks at Amorain*
Now, we can easily assume Garfin was observant of his surroundings, and it also appears he was pretty tired of watching Amorain and Tarlel flirt. Also, the flow of the RP was not interrupted by unrelated text.
~*~ Character Creation, Backstories & Storylines ~*~
Hopefully by you now have a better understanding of what RP is, when and where to RP, and a working knowledge of some basic verbiage and guidelines. Now the fun really starts. Creating your character and building their life!
Backstories
First, depending on what you want people to know about your character, you can choose whether to post your character’s entire backstory, or just an edited portion. Some players even have a few different versions of their backstory saved. This way, they can choose what information is to be shared, and which information they prefer not to share.
For example, I wouldn’t have a problem posting the entire backstory of some of my characters that are of a good alignment. They typically don’t have anything to hide, and are usually forthcoming with information about themselves. My more evilly-aligned characters are not so forthcoming, and there may be information included in their backstory that I would prefer to remain a hidden secret for a surprise later on. Watching someone discover something that has been a hidden secret for a long time is always rewarding.
Backstories can be posted on a channel/room site, or a collaboration site where numerous people RP together, or perhaps even your own site. Backstories can also be sent to another player directly, if you want them to know more about your character. You’ll find there are many uses for backstories, even if only for your reference.
A backstory isn’t mandatory; you’ll find many things in RP are not. That is why this work you are reading has the word “guide” within its title. It is intended solely for that purpose, and nothing more. The RP world has many different variations, from situations, to events, to players and so on.
Now, back to your character’s backstory... I’ve found that the best backstories are those that the player has put some thought into,,, especially those which were creative. Here are some basic questions to ask yourself when creating your character:
- What race/species are they?
o If they are vampire, when were they embraced? What is their actual, versus appearing age?
o If they a Garou, were they born in human or wolf form?
- Where did they grow up?
- Where is their family now?
- What were some past influences in their life? This could be people, places, events, etc.
- Are they of good, evil or neutral alignment? How close to that alignment are they, and do they ever stray from it? For example, using Dungeons & Dragons alignment scale, your character could be neutral-good, when they were young. Over time, certain people and/or events “mature” them and now are chaotic-evil.
- What are their physical attributes?
- What skills do they possess?
- What are some of their personality traits? Do they have any “quirks”?
Basically, a backstory will include many of the little things that give reason to why your character is who, and what, they are. This will help you be better prepared should you ever be asked any questions about your character.
From what I’ve discovered, a majority of RPers both experienced and inexperienced “wing it”. However, also from my experience typically only the more experienced and skilled RPers pull it off eloquently. So I do suggest you have some sort of backstory for your character or at least a well detailed outline within your mind.
If you’re ever in a situation where you truly do not know how your character would react to a certain issue, person, or situation, I would suggest contacting the other player(s) involved and letting them know (in an OOC message) that you’re stumped. Although, by the time someone has created the backstory and has a basic idea about their character, they typically know how that character would respond to any given situation.
Another thing to keep in mind when “winging it” – you, and most likely your character as well, cannot control the actions of other players/characters that you do not specifically own. That statement tends to refer to the last example of “Godmoding” in the Glossary section of this guide.
Now, this is not to say winging it is a bad thing. In fact, that is what happens most frequently when you RP. No one can always predict what is going to happen when their character enters the room. So, they wing it through the RP.
Storylines (SL’s)
Throughout this guide we’ve mentioned storylines quite a few times. The examples within this guide are small samples of some pieces of a SL. As stated within the Glossary section of this guide a SL is described as: "The plot of a story. During RP, this could be either an extended or a brief event. It does not all have to take place during the same day that it began. It is common for role-play stories to span many days, or even weeks."
SL’s can be organized by a single DM/ST, or by any number of players. Most times the DM, or a select number of players within the group of players participating, are the only ones to know the anticipated end result of the SL. Rarely is all the information given upfront. This is typically due to keeping the participants, as well as the observers, intrigued. However, prior permission should be obtained for any type of “permanent” affect on a player or character (including such things as embracing, ghouling, imprisonment, or that which can alter the flow of RP events occurring in the near future).
Additionally, SL’s can be run on websites, most typically through forums, in a chat channel or chat room. The last place storylines are found is most often referred to as Live Action Role Playing. Or, as it’s commonly abbreviated, LARPing. That is to say the RP for that SL will take place live, in real time, during an RP event in this world, RL.
Storytelling (ST)
Storytelling includes a SL, however this is typically when players RP an event while completing them online while in-game. Let’s say Amorain, the Antediluvian, is heading to Savannah to exact revenge on Garfin. The player can start the story writing in narrative format about the preparations before travel. Then he might include the actual events during that travel, ending with their encounter with Garfin. While the player is telling the story, they are actually performing those events as they happen online in-game. It is best when orchestrating an event like this to have the longer narratives written up ahead of time, so things go more smoothly and your companions don't grow bored.
Another example may be that someone is actually telling a story that they have created from scratch, perhaps as if they were writing in a diary. Or maybe you were invited to observe a storytelling event between players, merely for entertainment.
Whatever the case may be, storytelling can be a fun and effective way to express your character creatively, challenge them effectively, or even permanently killing them off. (Such as if Amorain were only a neonate when challenging the Antediluvian.)
When storytelling, you can invite other players/characters to attend to be either involved within the story, or simply observe for entertainment purposes. It is recommended that you create your own channel to invite others to join if they wish to be involved or observe. Otherwise, your storytelling may not be so well received if it completely takes over another channel, or even the #Savannah_Nights channel. It may also interrupt the flow of the channels current state, be it active or quiet.
Try not to be offended if no one wishes to join the channel to participate or observe. Unless planned and invitations given well in advance, players may be busy with other activities. I suggest realizing the situation this way… You are in the middle of your storytelling, and another player invites you to join their storytelling channel, and then becomes offended because you can’t. This, of course, is not limited solely to storytelling. The other players may be AFK, playing multiple scenes/characters (multi-boxing) or in an intense RP scene. So, please remember, part of your storytelling is planning ahead and understanding when other players/characters cannot join in and/or observe.
Backstories
First, depending on what you want people to know about your character, you can choose whether to post your character’s entire backstory, or just an edited portion. Some players even have a few different versions of their backstory saved. This way, they can choose what information is to be shared, and which information they prefer not to share.
For example, I wouldn’t have a problem posting the entire backstory of some of my characters that are of a good alignment. They typically don’t have anything to hide, and are usually forthcoming with information about themselves. My more evilly-aligned characters are not so forthcoming, and there may be information included in their backstory that I would prefer to remain a hidden secret for a surprise later on. Watching someone discover something that has been a hidden secret for a long time is always rewarding.
Backstories can be posted on a channel/room site, or a collaboration site where numerous people RP together, or perhaps even your own site. Backstories can also be sent to another player directly, if you want them to know more about your character. You’ll find there are many uses for backstories, even if only for your reference.
A backstory isn’t mandatory; you’ll find many things in RP are not. That is why this work you are reading has the word “guide” within its title. It is intended solely for that purpose, and nothing more. The RP world has many different variations, from situations, to events, to players and so on.
Now, back to your character’s backstory... I’ve found that the best backstories are those that the player has put some thought into,,, especially those which were creative. Here are some basic questions to ask yourself when creating your character:
- What race/species are they?
o If they are vampire, when were they embraced? What is their actual, versus appearing age?
o If they a Garou, were they born in human or wolf form?
- Where did they grow up?
- Where is their family now?
- What were some past influences in their life? This could be people, places, events, etc.
- Are they of good, evil or neutral alignment? How close to that alignment are they, and do they ever stray from it? For example, using Dungeons & Dragons alignment scale, your character could be neutral-good, when they were young. Over time, certain people and/or events “mature” them and now are chaotic-evil.
- What are their physical attributes?
- What skills do they possess?
- What are some of their personality traits? Do they have any “quirks”?
Basically, a backstory will include many of the little things that give reason to why your character is who, and what, they are. This will help you be better prepared should you ever be asked any questions about your character.
From what I’ve discovered, a majority of RPers both experienced and inexperienced “wing it”. However, also from my experience typically only the more experienced and skilled RPers pull it off eloquently. So I do suggest you have some sort of backstory for your character or at least a well detailed outline within your mind.
If you’re ever in a situation where you truly do not know how your character would react to a certain issue, person, or situation, I would suggest contacting the other player(s) involved and letting them know (in an OOC message) that you’re stumped. Although, by the time someone has created the backstory and has a basic idea about their character, they typically know how that character would respond to any given situation.
Another thing to keep in mind when “winging it” – you, and most likely your character as well, cannot control the actions of other players/characters that you do not specifically own. That statement tends to refer to the last example of “Godmoding” in the Glossary section of this guide.
Now, this is not to say winging it is a bad thing. In fact, that is what happens most frequently when you RP. No one can always predict what is going to happen when their character enters the room. So, they wing it through the RP.
Storylines (SL’s)
Throughout this guide we’ve mentioned storylines quite a few times. The examples within this guide are small samples of some pieces of a SL. As stated within the Glossary section of this guide a SL is described as: "The plot of a story. During RP, this could be either an extended or a brief event. It does not all have to take place during the same day that it began. It is common for role-play stories to span many days, or even weeks."
SL’s can be organized by a single DM/ST, or by any number of players. Most times the DM, or a select number of players within the group of players participating, are the only ones to know the anticipated end result of the SL. Rarely is all the information given upfront. This is typically due to keeping the participants, as well as the observers, intrigued. However, prior permission should be obtained for any type of “permanent” affect on a player or character (including such things as embracing, ghouling, imprisonment, or that which can alter the flow of RP events occurring in the near future).
Additionally, SL’s can be run on websites, most typically through forums, in a chat channel or chat room. The last place storylines are found is most often referred to as Live Action Role Playing. Or, as it’s commonly abbreviated, LARPing. That is to say the RP for that SL will take place live, in real time, during an RP event in this world, RL.
Storytelling (ST)
Storytelling includes a SL, however this is typically when players RP an event while completing them online while in-game. Let’s say Amorain, the Antediluvian, is heading to Savannah to exact revenge on Garfin. The player can start the story writing in narrative format about the preparations before travel. Then he might include the actual events during that travel, ending with their encounter with Garfin. While the player is telling the story, they are actually performing those events as they happen online in-game. It is best when orchestrating an event like this to have the longer narratives written up ahead of time, so things go more smoothly and your companions don't grow bored.
Another example may be that someone is actually telling a story that they have created from scratch, perhaps as if they were writing in a diary. Or maybe you were invited to observe a storytelling event between players, merely for entertainment.
Whatever the case may be, storytelling can be a fun and effective way to express your character creatively, challenge them effectively, or even permanently killing them off. (Such as if Amorain were only a neonate when challenging the Antediluvian.)
When storytelling, you can invite other players/characters to attend to be either involved within the story, or simply observe for entertainment purposes. It is recommended that you create your own channel to invite others to join if they wish to be involved or observe. Otherwise, your storytelling may not be so well received if it completely takes over another channel, or even the #Savannah_Nights channel. It may also interrupt the flow of the channels current state, be it active or quiet.
Try not to be offended if no one wishes to join the channel to participate or observe. Unless planned and invitations given well in advance, players may be busy with other activities. I suggest realizing the situation this way… You are in the middle of your storytelling, and another player invites you to join their storytelling channel, and then becomes offended because you can’t. This, of course, is not limited solely to storytelling. The other players may be AFK, playing multiple scenes/characters (multi-boxing) or in an intense RP scene. So, please remember, part of your storytelling is planning ahead and understanding when other players/characters cannot join in and/or observe.
~*~ Character Names ~*~
If you plan to RP your character it is recommended you choose your characters name wisely. For example, the name Mickey Mouse is not very likely to help a powerful Tzimisce create fear. A more realistic name for that same Tzimisce could be Amorain Darkheart. While the surname is still descriptive in nature, it may still typically be considered an acceptable surname. Since OWoD, and most channels, is set within a current-time setting you may want a more modern name such as Amorain de la`Shon. As with any part of the character creation process, I encourage you to use your imagination and see where it takes you!
~*~ Races/Species ~*~
Below is a partial listing of the races within OWoD, including their more 'accurate' name, and their RP references.
Vampire - Kindred
Werewolf - Shifter (The term 'shifter' applies to most any race/species that can shift from one form to another.)
Mage
Changeling
The above only name a few of the numerous races/species given within OWoD. If you're looking to 'go beyond the norm', I'd suggest visiting the White Wolf Wiki site and learn about their other races/species available. However, before you go too far into creating a character that goes 'beyond the norm', I highly recommend contacting the channel STs/Ops for the channel that you intend to bring that character in to. Some character types may not fit within the setting of the channel, or may be too powerful or weak.
There are, of course, “slang” terms used for the races. However, since your character must grow and learn… I will let you discover those through experience. Trust me, they’re fairly obvious anyway. And, as with all "slang" terms, some are polite, and some are not.
Vampire - Kindred
Werewolf - Shifter (The term 'shifter' applies to most any race/species that can shift from one form to another.)
Mage
Changeling
The above only name a few of the numerous races/species given within OWoD. If you're looking to 'go beyond the norm', I'd suggest visiting the White Wolf Wiki site and learn about their other races/species available. However, before you go too far into creating a character that goes 'beyond the norm', I highly recommend contacting the channel STs/Ops for the channel that you intend to bring that character in to. Some character types may not fit within the setting of the channel, or may be too powerful or weak.
There are, of course, “slang” terms used for the races. However, since your character must grow and learn… I will let you discover those through experience. Trust me, they’re fairly obvious anyway. And, as with all "slang" terms, some are polite, and some are not.
~*~ Languages ~*~
I've found that English is the most often used language throughout the world. However, there are as many languages as there are ethnicities, cultures and even religions within the world and OWoD. There are even some more archaic languages. The possibilities of a character knowing any language is nearly limitless. The character may have been to a specific region or country and learned the language there, or it may be a part of their heritage and/or culture.
Within RP, you may also come across other languages not originally associated with OWoD. However, as players create, and/or adopt, and maintain these languages, they have become more and more acceptable. Thanks to the creativity of those “old school” RPers, the Elders may speak in latin, or the Antediluvians seem to have a language all their own. Finding a good teacher is sometimes all the help you need to learn these “role-play languages”. However, you can typically find good dictionaries, translators, etc. on the internet if you are interested in learning more.
Some examples of the most often form of written role-play when using a language other than English is shown below.
Amorain walks up to Tarlel, wrapping his arms around her as he whispers in French, "Hello, my sweet."
Amorain walks up to Tarlel, wrapping his arms around her as he whispers in French, "Bonjour, my sweet."
First, it is safely assumed that only those who know the French language will understand what Amorain has said to Tarlel since it is written in the descriptive part of his post that he is speaking in French.
Second, it is perfectly acceptable to combine some English within some more popular known words of the other language. The player of Tarlel may not know the French language as well as the player of Amorain and may need constant interpretation via PM if the entire statement was in French. This could be tedious for both players, and slow the scene down, possibly to frustrating levels.
Another, and less frequently used, example of written role-play when using a language is when the character speaks completely in a particular language such as below.
Amorain walks up to Tarlel, wrapping his arms around her as he whispers, "Bonjour, chere."
For demonstration purposes, and because I am not even close to being a beginning French speaker, obvious verbiage in the French language was used. (Although quite possibly incorrectly.)
Granted, using a language other than English looks pretty, and the players/characters of others within the channel may think it's exotically beautiful. However, if the statement the character was saying was more complex rather than a simple greeting, other players and/or characters, including Tarlel may be completely at a loss as to what was said thus requiring interpretation by the player of Amorain. Again, the need for constant interpretation, and/or slowing down a scene for said interpretation, can become frustrating and therefore less frequently used.
Unless, of course, and the language is utilized for more complex role-play or if it is intentional to speak a different language to confuse other characters and/or keep what is spoken as a secret. However, that is rarely the case and the examples above are what is typically utilized and acceptable within RP.
Within RP, you may also come across other languages not originally associated with OWoD. However, as players create, and/or adopt, and maintain these languages, they have become more and more acceptable. Thanks to the creativity of those “old school” RPers, the Elders may speak in latin, or the Antediluvians seem to have a language all their own. Finding a good teacher is sometimes all the help you need to learn these “role-play languages”. However, you can typically find good dictionaries, translators, etc. on the internet if you are interested in learning more.
Some examples of the most often form of written role-play when using a language other than English is shown below.
Amorain walks up to Tarlel, wrapping his arms around her as he whispers in French, "Hello, my sweet."
Amorain walks up to Tarlel, wrapping his arms around her as he whispers in French, "Bonjour, my sweet."
First, it is safely assumed that only those who know the French language will understand what Amorain has said to Tarlel since it is written in the descriptive part of his post that he is speaking in French.
Second, it is perfectly acceptable to combine some English within some more popular known words of the other language. The player of Tarlel may not know the French language as well as the player of Amorain and may need constant interpretation via PM if the entire statement was in French. This could be tedious for both players, and slow the scene down, possibly to frustrating levels.
Another, and less frequently used, example of written role-play when using a language is when the character speaks completely in a particular language such as below.
Amorain walks up to Tarlel, wrapping his arms around her as he whispers, "Bonjour, chere."
For demonstration purposes, and because I am not even close to being a beginning French speaker, obvious verbiage in the French language was used. (Although quite possibly incorrectly.)
Granted, using a language other than English looks pretty, and the players/characters of others within the channel may think it's exotically beautiful. However, if the statement the character was saying was more complex rather than a simple greeting, other players and/or characters, including Tarlel may be completely at a loss as to what was said thus requiring interpretation by the player of Amorain. Again, the need for constant interpretation, and/or slowing down a scene for said interpretation, can become frustrating and therefore less frequently used.
Unless, of course, and the language is utilized for more complex role-play or if it is intentional to speak a different language to confuse other characters and/or keep what is spoken as a secret. However, that is rarely the case and the examples above are what is typically utilized and acceptable within RP.
~*~ In Character vs. Out-of-Character ~*~
Again, I’d like to reiterate that it is extremely important to keep in mind whether or not you and the person(s) you are RPing with are IC or OOC so that you, the player, know exactly “who” is saying “what”. There is an extreme difference between OOC (reality) and IC (fantasy). At first you would think that the difference is obvious. However, this issue can be easily confused. Again, I advise you to confirm with the other person(s) if you ever feel there is a question.
~*~ Some Final Thoughts ~*~
RP is meant to be fun for everyone involved, just like the game. (After all, it is a game, right?) That’s why we all paid for the books on our shelves and/or pdf files on our computers or flash-drives, right? But, RP can be challenging at times, especially when your character is going through some sort of growth or dealing with some issue(s). Such as if Amorain and Tarlel were married and the character Tarlel experienced a “permanent death”. It would be expected that Amorain may be seeking revenge on her killer, or is depressed for some time to deal with her death. Life really isn’t always full of rainbows and butterflies, so it would be unrealistic to expect that your character will never have any negative experiences either as they progress through their “life”.
Don’t take it personal. If you have a character, story or even an idea and someone else doesn’t like it, that is typically an indicator that there is a difference in tastes, RP style, or belief. Again, there is no written 'law' on how to RP. The boundaries are typically as limitless as your creativity. However, being sensible, polite and employing general etiquette are always good guidelines to follow, be it in RL or RP.
I would like to remind the readers of this guide that everything noted within this work are my observations from my experiences within the RP world and meant only as a basic guide. I do not profess to be the know-all, end-all to RP. Therefore, everything within this guide should be considered my opinion, and nothing more. All character names provided within this guide were created as the guide was written, no reference to an actual character or player is intended. Additionally, there may be some errors within this guide itself, such as incorrect Clan names, etc. Again, I don’t pretend to know everything. If I did, I’d probably be making money writing for White Wolf rather than writing freebie guides for players.
Now that you have this guide... take it and run with it! Create a character and let them walk into a channel and grow! I am certain you will have fun and be as addicted to RP as many others are. Myself included!
Don’t take it personal. If you have a character, story or even an idea and someone else doesn’t like it, that is typically an indicator that there is a difference in tastes, RP style, or belief. Again, there is no written 'law' on how to RP. The boundaries are typically as limitless as your creativity. However, being sensible, polite and employing general etiquette are always good guidelines to follow, be it in RL or RP.
I would like to remind the readers of this guide that everything noted within this work are my observations from my experiences within the RP world and meant only as a basic guide. I do not profess to be the know-all, end-all to RP. Therefore, everything within this guide should be considered my opinion, and nothing more. All character names provided within this guide were created as the guide was written, no reference to an actual character or player is intended. Additionally, there may be some errors within this guide itself, such as incorrect Clan names, etc. Again, I don’t pretend to know everything. If I did, I’d probably be making money writing for White Wolf rather than writing freebie guides for players.
Now that you have this guide... take it and run with it! Create a character and let them walk into a channel and grow! I am certain you will have fun and be as addicted to RP as many others are. Myself included!
~*~ Expressions of Appreciation ~*~
Thank you to all of those who I've had the fortune to RP with. Truly all of you are contributors to this guide, even if unknowingly. Being able to RP with you allowed me to learn and grow, as well as my characters.
Thank you to those who took the time to review this guide before release. Your time, effort and input are sincerely appreciated.
I would like to extend my appreciation to Llux Von`Lich on the Firiona Vie server of the online MMORPG video game EverQuest for allowing me to use his guideline as a template for this one. It was a terrific help in beginning this guide.
Last and definitely not least, thank you to my editor, mentor and first-and-foremost dear friend. Without you, I'd never have discovered the level of RP and writing I could accomplish. I'm appreciative of every touch that you've brought to my life, and the life of my characters. From the very depths of my heart, I thank you.
Thank you to those who took the time to review this guide before release. Your time, effort and input are sincerely appreciated.
I would like to extend my appreciation to Llux Von`Lich on the Firiona Vie server of the online MMORPG video game EverQuest for allowing me to use his guideline as a template for this one. It was a terrific help in beginning this guide.
Last and definitely not least, thank you to my editor, mentor and first-and-foremost dear friend. Without you, I'd never have discovered the level of RP and writing I could accomplish. I'm appreciative of every touch that you've brought to my life, and the life of my characters. From the very depths of my heart, I thank you.
Written by: Seraphim Emmanuel
Adapted from its original version for reference within an OWoD free-form role-play channel by: Seraphim Emmanuel
v2.1 August, 2012
Adapted from its original version for reference within an OWoD free-form role-play channel by: Seraphim Emmanuel
v2.1 August, 2012
( Just passing this along just in case anyone finds it useful and wants to use it to help suck someone into the RP world. Please forgive any type-setting errors, it seems my programs didn't want to make it too easy to just cut & paste this information. Feel free to distribute as you please! )
ALSO, before ppl go freakin' out.... PLEASE read the "Some Final Thoughts" section where it states, "I would like to remind the readers of this guide that everything noted within this work are my observations from my experiences within the RP world. I do not profess to be the know-all, end-all to RP. Therefore, everything within this guide should be considered my opinion, and nothing more." I'm sure there are also some forms of correction and/or additional information. So edit and distribute as you please, suggestions considered, but save your flames for the bonfire. :p
ALSO, before ppl go freakin' out.... PLEASE read the "Some Final Thoughts" section where it states, "I would like to remind the readers of this guide that everything noted within this work are my observations from my experiences within the RP world. I do not profess to be the know-all, end-all to RP. Therefore, everything within this guide should be considered my opinion, and nothing more." I'm sure there are also some forms of correction and/or additional information. So edit and distribute as you please, suggestions considered, but save your flames for the bonfire. :p