New to Role Play? Concepts and Basic R/P guidelines

Basic RP Guidelines

This is a set of basic guidelines/suggestions for roleplaying, covering all the essentials if you're new to this side of the forums. Credit to TheDeSade for the idea. This gives a general idea of how to go about roleplaying, but all in all it boils down to having fun. :)

Creating your own RP – Have an idea for a fun roleplay? Create your own and have an idea where it’s headed. Generally you want to start with a basic idea/plotline and setup the environment which you are going to be playing in (house, dungeon, etc) and maybe include a statement about what role(s) you want filled and/or how many people are allowed to join.

Introducing Your Character – If you like, show your rp partner what your character (you) looks like, slender and lean, buff and brawny? Clothes, personality? You could your first post to introduce your character and push him/her into the story.

Joining RP’s – When joining someone’s rp, ask permission if they request it, take care that the host may have some rules or character requirements in order to join. And make sure you…

…Read the Posts – It’s essential to keep yourself informed as to what is happening within the rp Especially if the roleplay started before you joined. Make sure you know what’s going on so you can properly respond without changing certain things about the rp that either don’t exist or shouldn’t/can’t happen plausibly, or even doing something that conflicts with another post.

Be Considerate – Try not to move/act/speak/react for another person. When posting you post for Your character only, try not to make someone do something they didn't. Reacting for another person can interrupt the mood, break the scene, cause writer’s blocks, and can be frustrating if its something the other person doesn't want. Avoid this by speaking/reacting/moving Only for Your character. It might be helpful to send a pm to your partner to make sure this kind of posting is alright to avoid any conflictions.

If you were say "I slapped your ass, making you moan" that would be an example of reacting for another person. Make sure its okay beforehand.

Grammar/Spelling – Double check your entry, it never hurts to have clear sentences for easy reading. You want your posts to be clear and precise so there is no confusion as to what is happening.

One Liners – Attention to detail, you could add a bit more to that sentence if you really wanted to. Go through thoughts and emotions, physical response to the thoughts/emotions, words, how is it being said, loudly, softly, in rage, in passion? Physical actions, how is the action being done? Quickly, slowly, affectionately? Be creative and paint a picture in our minds of what is going on.

Keep in “Character” – Put yourself into the rp, how would you react to what’s going on? See it from your character’s point of view, if your character’s nipple got twisted, I hardly think you would stand there and do nothing. Your body would tense from the pain, you might gasp or moan, you would wince or bite your tongue knowing that this was only the beginning.

Show Me! – (Setting) Again, not always necessary, but indeed wonderful to have when bringing a partner into an rp. Where is the scene taking place? What’s the mood of the environment, bright and cheery, dark and ominous, or dim with sensual light..? You are the storyteller here, whether you are the host or the participant. Create a fun story to share with your rp partner(s) and those who like to read the roleplays.

(Dialogue) How you describe things is important, there’s a hundred ways to say “I love you.” How was it meant? How was it said? Was there a twitch in the eye, a locked gaze of lust, a wistful sigh?

(Response) This also applies to action- if something happens to your character he/she would definitely react to it.

Roughly a physical act (what was done) leads to your characters reactions:

physical reaction – twitch, shudder, scream
sensory reaction - What it felt like physically- soft, painful, sharp
emotional reaction – thoughts, vocal comments
deliberate reaction – What they did/said in retaliation (to prompt more action :P)- bite, kiss, swear etc.

Paint the picture, tell a story, show us an image. =)

Everyone goes about rping differently, use whatever works for you and just enjoy yourself when doing it.

Happy RPing! :D