Written by: Seraphim Emmanuel, of the Firiona Vie server.
~*~ 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 within a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) such as EverQuest (EQ). 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 EQ. Within EQ you are in a world of dungeons, swords, and knights in shining armor… mostly things you would have found living an adventurous life in medieval times. In playing EverQuest, you will also find a world packed full of magic and fantasy – elves, dragons, and sorcery. In EQ, the only complex technology that exists is what the Gnomes have created (basic mechanical objects like clocks and engines, but not things like integrated circuitry). In other words, your character should pull out a book between battles – not check their friends’ status updates on their touch-screen phone. Of course, 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.
In this case, we are referencing role-play within a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) such as EverQuest (EQ). 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 EQ. Within EQ you are in a world of dungeons, swords, and knights in shining armor… mostly things you would have found living an adventurous life in medieval times. In playing EverQuest, you will also find a world packed full of magic and fantasy – elves, dragons, and sorcery. In EQ, the only complex technology that exists is what the Gnomes have created (basic mechanical objects like clocks and engines, but not things like integrated circuitry). In other words, your character should pull out a book between battles – not check their friends’ status updates on their touch-screen phone. Of course, 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.
~*~ 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....
GLOSSARY
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”.
DM - "Dungeon Master" – This is the person who creates and runs the story or scenario.
Emote – This is an action performed by a character. This includes EQ preset emotes, as well as type-written narrative emotes. An example of this would be “/bow” for an in-game emote (which often triggers an animation of your character performing the action), or “*Amorain bows before his unexpected guests*” or simply “*bows*”. EverQuest also allows for custom emotes, such as “/emote Amorain bows before his unexpected guests.”
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 EQ) where characters of legendary proportions are common, even abilities that they do have should 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.
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.
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.
RL - "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 role-play takes place. This can be in guild chat, in “say” (standard chat, visible to everyone around you) with emotes and /say typed responses, or an actual channel within the game such as TheGolden:Rooster, where TheGolden would be the channel and Rooster would be the password.
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.
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/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:
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”.
DM - "Dungeon Master" – This is the person who creates and runs the story or scenario.
Emote – This is an action performed by a character. This includes EQ preset emotes, as well as type-written narrative emotes. An example of this would be “/bow” for an in-game emote (which often triggers an animation of your character performing the action), or “*Amorain bows before his unexpected guests*” or simply “*bows*”. EverQuest also allows for custom emotes, such as “/emote Amorain bows before his unexpected guests.”
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 EQ) where characters of legendary proportions are common, even abilities that they do have should 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.
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.
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.
RL - "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 role-play takes place. This can be in guild chat, in “say” (standard chat, visible to everyone around you) with emotes and /say typed responses, or an actual channel within the game such as TheGolden:Rooster, where TheGolden would be the channel and Rooster would be the password.
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.
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/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: ((LFG for HoT yard!))
Other brackets commonly used are: [[…]] and {{…}}
*…* - The asterisk symbol is used as a way of narrating, or writing an acted emote 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:
This would be considered a narrated emote:
*A dark warlord walks into the guild halls refreshed and ready for battle* Greetings everyone…
This would be considered an acted emote:Greetings everyone. *Smiles* How are you this dark and gloomy evening?
Either are acceptable when RPing. Typically, you will be able to ascertain which would fit better for the situation your character is currently in.
Example: ((LFG for HoT yard!))
Other brackets commonly used are: [[…]] and {{…}}
*…* - The asterisk symbol is used as a way of narrating, or writing an acted emote 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:
This would be considered a narrated emote:
*A dark warlord walks into the guild halls refreshed and ready for battle* Greetings everyone…
This would be considered an acted emote:Greetings everyone. *Smiles* How are you this dark and gloomy evening?
Either 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. 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. (Such as claiming to be a 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 EQ) where characters of legendary proportions are common, even abilities that they do have should be overlooked for the sake of fairness.
The first example could be as follows:
“Amorain grabs his opponent’s sword, pulling it from her grip and using her own sword to slay her.”
There are a few issues with that one action. I’ll list some of them here:
For this example, we will say Amorain is only level 20 and his female opponent is level 90. It is virtually impossible to believe Amorain would be able to complete this action and slay an opponent that is 70 levels above him. Amorain is performing an action that is far beyond his skills thus making the action unbelievable.
In another example, we will assume Amorain is level 90 and his opponent is level 20. Yes, the action would be an easy task for him. However, the problem lies in that he did not leave his opponent an out.
For this example a more appropriate way to have written the sentence would have been: “Amorain grabs his opponent’s sword, attempting to pull it from her and use her own sword to slay her.”
Again, given the levels in this example, it’s easy to assume Amorain would have no problem slaying 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 the spells Gate, or Shadow Step, 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 owner. There are several reasons for this, one simply being that no one really knows the character more than the player themselves. 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.
Premature Death – “Permanently” killing the character of another player without permission. The player of the character 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 ShadowKnight has too big a mouth at level 20 and has angered the level 90 Paladin. The situation escalates and they are now in written combat, or combat through emotes. When Amorain begins to lose the battle, he suddenly turns into a more powerful character, “mob” (a monster enemy such as a dragon), 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 Clerics performing their afternoon prayers and yell out, “Give me cold ale!” Or, in reverse of that, a Cleric 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.
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 serving wench is greeted with a charming smile as he removes his cloak to reveal the shining plate armor of a Paladin.*
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, over a series of encounters, others can have an idea of how you envision your own character (aside from what the game itself allows).
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 /tell or another form of private message. As a result, my whispers require two actions on my part and typically look like this:
Emote within the room, seen by all:
*Amorain leans close to Tarlel and whispers softly in her ear.*
Followed by a /tell 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”. If you do not want your characters actions to be seen by others within the room, I would suggest performing the action by /tell. My private actions can typically look like this:
Emote within the room, seen by all:
*Amorain leans close to Tarlel and whispers softly in her ear.*
Followed by a /tell to Tarlel so only she knows what the whisper is:
/tell 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 /tell or an emote within the room (visible to all), such as:
/tell Amorain *Grins up at him leaning close and whispers, “Let’s get a room.”*
…or
/emote 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 MMORPG EverQuest. The only technology available within the game so far is what the Gnomes have created, up to the latest expansion. Generally this includes clockwork pieces such as cogs, gears, and pinions, in addition to engines and piping.
Magic tends to have more leniencies since its limitations are nearly boundless. However, to avoid being accused of Godmoding, it is best to stick with the magic available to your character at that time. 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 than the game’s graphics allow. For instance, if the game allows you a spell that hurls an icicle at an enemy, 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 orc. It flings its arms up in a feeble and futile defense. The shard pierces its flesh, exploding on impact, and showering its surroundings with 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 EverQuest, up to the latest expansion, it doesn’t exist.
The first example could be as follows:
“Amorain grabs his opponent’s sword, pulling it from her grip and using her own sword to slay her.”
There are a few issues with that one action. I’ll list some of them here:
For this example, we will say Amorain is only level 20 and his female opponent is level 90. It is virtually impossible to believe Amorain would be able to complete this action and slay an opponent that is 70 levels above him. Amorain is performing an action that is far beyond his skills thus making the action unbelievable.
In another example, we will assume Amorain is level 90 and his opponent is level 20. Yes, the action would be an easy task for him. However, the problem lies in that he did not leave his opponent an out.
For this example a more appropriate way to have written the sentence would have been: “Amorain grabs his opponent’s sword, attempting to pull it from her and use her own sword to slay her.”
Again, given the levels in this example, it’s easy to assume Amorain would have no problem slaying 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 the spells Gate, or Shadow Step, 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 owner. There are several reasons for this, one simply being that no one really knows the character more than the player themselves. 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.
Premature Death – “Permanently” killing the character of another player without permission. The player of the character 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 ShadowKnight has too big a mouth at level 20 and has angered the level 90 Paladin. The situation escalates and they are now in written combat, or combat through emotes. When Amorain begins to lose the battle, he suddenly turns into a more powerful character, “mob” (a monster enemy such as a dragon), 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 Clerics performing their afternoon prayers and yell out, “Give me cold ale!” Or, in reverse of that, a Cleric 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.
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 serving wench is greeted with a charming smile as he removes his cloak to reveal the shining plate armor of a Paladin.*
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, over a series of encounters, others can have an idea of how you envision your own character (aside from what the game itself allows).
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 /tell or another form of private message. As a result, my whispers require two actions on my part and typically look like this:
Emote within the room, seen by all:
*Amorain leans close to Tarlel and whispers softly in her ear.*
Followed by a /tell 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”. If you do not want your characters actions to be seen by others within the room, I would suggest performing the action by /tell. My private actions can typically look like this:
Emote within the room, seen by all:
*Amorain leans close to Tarlel and whispers softly in her ear.*
Followed by a /tell to Tarlel so only she knows what the whisper is:
/tell 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 /tell or an emote within the room (visible to all), such as:
/tell Amorain *Grins up at him leaning close and whispers, “Let’s get a room.”*
…or
/emote 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 MMORPG EverQuest. The only technology available within the game so far is what the Gnomes have created, up to the latest expansion. Generally this includes clockwork pieces such as cogs, gears, and pinions, in addition to engines and piping.
Magic tends to have more leniencies since its limitations are nearly boundless. However, to avoid being accused of Godmoding, it is best to stick with the magic available to your character at that time. 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 than the game’s graphics allow. For instance, if the game allows you a spell that hurls an icicle at an enemy, 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 orc. It flings its arms up in a feeble and futile defense. The shard pierces its flesh, exploding on impact, and showering its surroundings with 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 EverQuest, up to the latest expansion, it doesn’t exist.
~*~ Role-Playing Rooms, Channels, or Areas ~*~
RP can take place anywhere within EQ. RP can occur within guild chat, in /say with emotes and /say typed responses, privately through /tells, or an actual channel within the game such as TheGolden:Rooster. The setting is typically predetermined by the room title, or, more obviously, your surroundings. Our example within this topic is obviously a tavern, and better yet, a more specific tavern within EQ that you can visit so you will know the layout 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. 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. 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 people, 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 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 in EQ, 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 embarked on a great journey this fine eve... But alas, we are in need of more brave souls to push forward... Any volunteers?
- Tarlel: *Grins.* How about a ShadowKnight? ((level 80))
- Garfin: Grins. Will a 95 SK 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 SK is. Most likely the players of Amorain and Tarlel know that the player of Garfin meant ShadowKnight, such as how Tarlel wrote. However, some players are bigger sticklers on writing out titles. I’ve rarely seen this guideline pointed out as an issue worth addressing.
A second issue that could arise is that Garfin’s level was typed into the in-character chat. The most common way of addressing a character’s level IC is to call it their number of “seasons", or how old they are in years. However, if Garfin plays a Dark Elf 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 level 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:
- Amorain: *Whispers to Tarlel.* By the Gods, woman... you are beautiful.
- Garfin: 95 SK LFG!
- 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 for a group has not only interrupted the flow of RP; it is also completely out of context of the actions taking place. Now, let’s make poor Garfin 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.
Keep in mind that while RPing, characters typically wouldn’t say things like LFG, WTS, WTB, etc. while they are in character. These are OOC events that should not be interrupting a room/channel. If you must make a sale or auction for one thing or another, be more vague and don’t use informal abbreviations.
For example, “WTS Glowing Black Sword, 1k obo PST!!!” can be rewritten to match RP like so:
“*Gestures at his cramped wooden stall* I have a fine assortment of weapons and armor available for sale. Please, come have a look!”
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 embarked on a great journey this fine eve... But alas, we are in need of more brave souls to push forward... Any volunteers?
- Tarlel: *Grins.* How about a ShadowKnight? ((level 80))
- Garfin: Grins. Will a 95 SK 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 SK is. Most likely the players of Amorain and Tarlel know that the player of Garfin meant ShadowKnight, such as how Tarlel wrote. However, some players are bigger sticklers on writing out titles. I’ve rarely seen this guideline pointed out as an issue worth addressing.
A second issue that could arise is that Garfin’s level was typed into the in-character chat. The most common way of addressing a character’s level IC is to call it their number of “seasons", or how old they are in years. However, if Garfin plays a Dark Elf 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 level 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:
- Amorain: *Whispers to Tarlel.* By the Gods, woman... you are beautiful.
- Garfin: 95 SK LFG!
- 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 for a group has not only interrupted the flow of RP; it is also completely out of context of the actions taking place. Now, let’s make poor Garfin 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.
Keep in mind that while RPing, characters typically wouldn’t say things like LFG, WTS, WTB, etc. while they are in character. These are OOC events that should not be interrupting a room/channel. If you must make a sale or auction for one thing or another, be more vague and don’t use informal abbreviations.
For example, “WTS Glowing Black Sword, 1k obo PST!!!” can be rewritten to match RP like so:
“*Gestures at his cramped wooden stall* I have a fine assortment of weapons and armor available for sale. Please, come have a look!”
~*~ 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 good alignment. They typically don’t have anything to hide, and are usually forthcoming about 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 your guild 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, 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. Some basic questions to ask yourself when creating your character:
- What race are they?
o If they are a Half Elf, which parent was Human and which was Elven?
o If they are Drakkin did they volunteer to be infused with the dragons’ blood? Or, were they kidnapped and an unwilling volunteer?
- 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, 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, 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 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, or even while in-game. 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.
Storytelling
Storytelling includes a SL, however this is typically when players RP an event while completing them IG. Let’s say Amorain, the Dark Elf, is heading to the Commonlands to exact revenge on Sgt. Slate. 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 Sgt. Slate. While the player is telling the story, they are actually performing those events as they happen IG. 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 kill them off. (Such as if Amorain were only level 20 when challenging Sgt. Slate.)
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 /guild 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 this 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, in a raid/group, soloing a tough mob, 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 good alignment. They typically don’t have anything to hide, and are usually forthcoming about 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 your guild 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, 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. Some basic questions to ask yourself when creating your character:
- What race are they?
o If they are a Half Elf, which parent was Human and which was Elven?
o If they are Drakkin did they volunteer to be infused with the dragons’ blood? Or, were they kidnapped and an unwilling volunteer?
- 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, 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, 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 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, or even while in-game. 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.
Storytelling
Storytelling includes a SL, however this is typically when players RP an event while completing them IG. Let’s say Amorain, the Dark Elf, is heading to the Commonlands to exact revenge on Sgt. Slate. 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 Sgt. Slate. While the player is telling the story, they are actually performing those events as they happen IG. 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 kill them off. (Such as if Amorain were only level 20 when challenging Sgt. Slate.)
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 /guild 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 this 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, in a raid/group, soloing a tough mob, 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 DarkElf ShadowKnight create fear. A more realistic name for that same ShadowKnight could be Amorain Darkheart. While the surname is still descriptive in nature, it may still typically be considered an acceptable surname. As with any part of the character creation process, I encourage you to use your imagination and see where it takes you!
Sony has their own set of rules regarding character names. I highly recommend you visit the Sony Station site HERE and familiarize yourself with their rules.
Sony has their own set of rules regarding character names. I highly recommend you visit the Sony Station site HERE and familiarize yourself with their rules.
~*~ Races ~*~
Below is a listing of the races within EverQuest including their more “technical” name and their “RP” names.
Barbarian – Northman, or Northwoman; Northerner.
Dark Elf – Teir’Dal; Drow
Drakkin – DragonKin
Dwarf – No “polite” RP names known.
Erudian – No “polite” RP names known.
Froglok – No “polite” RP names known.
Gnome – No “polite” RP names known.
Half-Elf – Ayr`Dal
Halfling – Hobbit
High Elf – Koada’Dal
Human – No “polite” RP names known.
Iksar – Lizard
Ogre – No “polite” RP names known.
Troll – No “polite” RP names known.
Vah’Shir – Vah, Shir
Wood Elf – Feir’Dal
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 names, some are polite, and some are not.
Barbarian – Northman, or Northwoman; Northerner.
Dark Elf – Teir’Dal; Drow
Drakkin – DragonKin
Dwarf – No “polite” RP names known.
Erudian – No “polite” RP names known.
Froglok – No “polite” RP names known.
Gnome – No “polite” RP names known.
Half-Elf – Ayr`Dal
Halfling – Hobbit
High Elf – Koada’Dal
Human – No “polite” RP names known.
Iksar – Lizard
Ogre – No “polite” RP names known.
Troll – No “polite” RP names known.
Vah’Shir – Vah, Shir
Wood Elf – Feir’Dal
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 names, some are polite, and some are not.
~*~ Languages ~*~
Through the game mechanics, each race has its own language. Some, such as the Half Elves and Drakkin, are born with the ability to understand and speak two languages. For the Half Elves, this is due to the fact that they are a mixed race of a Human and Elf. For Drakkins, this is due to the fact that they were born Human, but infused with dragon blood.
It is possible to learn the languages of other, near-civilized, races such as Goblin, Orc, etc. These languages are rarer in occurrence, but can still be learned by any other race you wish to play. Languages aren’t so limiting and difficult to traverse as they used to be. Typically, each server has a “main” language that most people know so communication is easier (most servers have a “common tongue” that is known innately by all characters; Firiona Vie does not). For the Firiona Vie server, the main language is Elvish, since it is the most common tongue.
Within RP, you may also come across other languages not originally associated with EQ. 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 Dark Elves may speak in Drow; High Elves in a more written form of Elvish; even the Ogres and Trolls 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.
It is possible to learn the languages of other, near-civilized, races such as Goblin, Orc, etc. These languages are rarer in occurrence, but can still be learned by any other race you wish to play. Languages aren’t so limiting and difficult to traverse as they used to be. Typically, each server has a “main” language that most people know so communication is easier (most servers have a “common tongue” that is known innately by all characters; Firiona Vie does not). For the Firiona Vie server, the main language is Elvish, since it is the most common tongue.
Within RP, you may also come across other languages not originally associated with EQ. 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 Dark Elves may speak in Drow; High Elves in a more written form of Elvish; even the Ogres and Trolls 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.
~*~ 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 EQ. That’s why we all paid for the game and continue to pay our monthly dues to keep the game alive on our computers, right? But, RP can be challenging at times, especially when your character is going through some sort of growth or dealing with some issue. 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. 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 error within this guide itself, such as incorrect location names, etc. Again, I don’t pretend to know everything. If I did, I’d tell Sony how to fix all the bugs they seem to pretend don’t exist.
Now that you have this guide... take it and run with it! Create a character and let them walk across Norrath 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. 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 error within this guide itself, such as incorrect location names, etc. Again, I don’t pretend to know everything. If I did, I’d tell Sony how to fix all the bugs they seem to pretend don’t exist.
Now that you have this guide... take it and run with it! Create a character and let them walk across Norrath 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 myself, and my characters.
Thank you to those who took the time to review this guideline 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 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. Nasorin, 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. Thank you.
Thank you to those who took the time to review this guideline 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 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. Nasorin, 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. Thank you.
Written by: Seraphim Emmanuel, of the Firiona Vie server.
V. January, 2012
V. January, 2012
Feel free to print, email, c&p... Basically, you can distribute this guide as you please. I'm 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.
ALSO, before people 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 to your liking, suggestions are accepted, but save your flames for the bonfire. :p
ALSO, before people 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 to your liking, suggestions are accepted, but save your flames for the bonfire. :p