Call for help for writing a Roleplay Tutorial

...for in character discussions, contributions and Wheel of Time themed stories.
Reyne
Posts: 1418
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2017 2:46 am

Re: Call for help for writing a Roleplay Tutorial

Post by Reyne » Fri Aug 06, 2021 2:33 am

I don't remember where I originally read this advice but I found it helpful.

When writing character bios or backgrounds, get the concrete details you want like birth place/date, name, family, education, stats/skills/talents/appearance etc figured out first. Then work backwards to fill in the actual content from there.

Like okay they're really strong - why? Just born with it? Are their parents or family famously strong? Or did they work out a lot? Why'd they do that? Was there a town bully they wanted to beat?

Or, okay they have a cool scar across their face. How'd they get it? Were they hunting? Were they trying to show off and catch some big game they probably shouldn't have been going for? Do they take a lot of risks that somehow end up paying off? Maybe they just fell out of a tree as a kid but it's a good story to tell at the tavern. :D

isabel
Posts: 1713
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2016 5:19 am

Re: Call for help for writing a Roleplay Tutorial

Post by isabel » Sun Aug 08, 2021 11:25 pm

Just had an interaction that reminded me of what I think is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT thing in RP:

Even if your character RPs someone arrogant or self-centered or whatever, as a player you need to be plugged into cues from the person you are RPing with. Don't try to control other people's RP and don't give them zero room to RP what they want. Especially important when there is a hierarchy.

Good RP is fun for both people - if you're scolding or yelling at someone, dont' just do what is fun for you. Too often people blur IC and OOC and take out OOC feelings/grudges IC. If it's not feeling 'fun', whichever end of the RP you're at, then you should really walk away. It's not RP anymore, it's some kind of Role-punishment or something lol.

Racquel
Posts: 403
Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2015 6:15 pm

Re: Call for help for writing a Roleplay Tutorial

Post by Racquel » Mon Aug 09, 2021 4:27 am

isabel wrote:
Sun Aug 08, 2021 11:25 pm
Just had an interaction that reminded me of what I think is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT thing in RP:

Even if your character RPs someone arrogant or self-centered or whatever, as a player you need to be plugged into cues from the person you are RPing with. Don't try to control other people's RP and don't give them zero room to RP what they want. Especially important when there is a hierarchy.

Good RP is fun for both people - if you're scolding or yelling at someone, dont' just do what is fun for you. Too often people blur IC and OOC and take out OOC feelings/grudges IC. If it's not feeling 'fun', whichever end of the RP you're at, then you should really walk away. It's not RP anymore, it's some kind of Role-punishment or something lol.
+1

Elysia
Posts: 7908
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2015 1:29 pm

Re: Call for help for writing a Roleplay Tutorial

Post by Elysia » Mon Aug 09, 2021 8:43 am

I think we're going to need more than one post that focusses on a specific detail.

E.g. how to build a character's background, like Reyne said, having some attributes and adding a reason/story as to how.

The technical options, like socials, emotes, argles.

Roleplay courtesy, like the thing Isabel mentioned.

How to edit a log, like Racquel mentioned further up.

There might be some other aspects as well. But smaller posts seem to be smarter than one long, big ass manual. :P

Jenda
Posts: 358
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 9:33 pm

Re: Call for help for writing a Roleplay Tutorial

Post by Jenda » Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:19 pm

A couple things I remember from the tutorial I wrote before but cannot find. Bear in mind, these are just my own suggestions and thoughts and they are directed towards new players. You do what you want. I've seen some pretty amazing RP here that at times goes against some of my tenants (though it's not frequent). So take it with a grain of salt.

1. Immersion - RP isn't necessarily about long embellished emotes and tea parties. Simply immerse yourself in the world and act as your character would act. Be present.

2. Also keeping in mind the meta of enjoyment of everyone else. If anyone's played table top rpgs this concept should be familiar. "That's what my character would do" is not a good enough reason to go murder hobo in those games, or go blue falcon, and likewise with wotmud. The player behind the character is still responsible for the character's actions. Other people don't have to like what you do, but there's no need to be disruptive or malicious for the lulz. You can totally be the bad guy ICly and a good player/person behind the keyboard.

3. Please don't RP for another character. This includes char descriptions. Example: "Soandso is so gorgeous / intimidating / awesome that you gasp and faint because of how awesome they are."

or "Emote flashes his dagger. You're super scared now and drop your weapon and run." (obviously exaggerated for effect)

Don't do that. Allow the other people you're playing with to make up their own reaction. Show, don't tell. It might not go your way. It might go in awesome surprising directions. There might be misunderstandings. Reacting as your char would perceive things is part of the fun.

4. Some RPGs are all about emoting thought process and internal dialogue while trusting the other players to not react ICly to things they wouldn't OOCly know... Such as Neverwinter Nights. This includes what you've read on forums. Example, your character would not know Jenda's life story, the name of her horse, etc.

Personally, I have observed that wotmud is quite different in that people emote only what others would see, avoiding the spoilers and allowing others to react as we would in the real world. Without access to inner thought dialogue. leaving room for misunderstandings, interpretation, etc.

Example: "Jenda is unsure what to make of the man, leaving her uncertain and nervous. She narrows her tilted eyes as she studies him."
vs " Jenda narrows her tilted eyes as she studies the man."

This allows for "the man" (any other player) to make their reactions more natural, unimpeded by meta and ooc bias. He may take offence, or choose to react differently somehow. Maybe even become nervous himself.

5. New players, please do not be afraid to show some vulnerability. Know the book cannon and the game. And know that in some cases in this game you will have to back up your words with action. In my DnD time, NVWN time, and wotmud time and more, I've run into a few players who want to be billy badass. Some village boy is not going to realistically say I'm the dragon reborn and step to a grizzled Sheinaran Lancer or Lion Warden with ages of experience. You can't come into the game expecting to immediately be blademaster gaidin wolfbrother. If you do? Take your beating icly :) turn it into a plot. Work with it and learn. Pay your dues.

That's all I can remember for now.

Elysia
Posts: 7908
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2015 1:29 pm

Re: Call for help for writing a Roleplay Tutorial

Post by Elysia » Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:24 pm

Wrote another draft. Let me know if you feel anything needs changed/ added.
How to build a character's roleplay and/or background.

Step 1: Decide how knowledgeable your character is.

This will depend in part on your own knowledge. For example:
  • Do you/they know the Old Tongue? Then they're most likely nobly born, or from a very wealthy merchant family who tries to rub shoulders with the most influential.
  • Do you know a lot about lore and history? Again, that can be used to point towards an educated character, which usually means rich or nobility.
  • If you know a lot about lore and history and can you pretend to not know anything? Then the more basic backgrounds open up to you.
  • Do you not know one bit about lore and history? Anything from the working classes or an average to poor background is a good option.
  • If you want room to grow your character, for example if they join the Tower, you can always start small. It's easier to go forward than backward.
Step 2: Decide what nation they are from.
  • Need an excuse to hate the Seanchan? Something around Tarabon, Arad Doman, Amadicia or Two Rivers is a good option.
  • Was the character raised as a fighter from a young age? Chances are one of the Borderlands would suit you.
  • More average backgrounds can of course be from any of those areas, but also from the center and south-east of the map.
  • Keep in mind the clan you're joining. The Illian Companions may not be fond of clanning someone from Tear.
Step 3: Decide what age the character is.

Older vs younger can look like this:
  • Are they experienced, or fresh off the farm/ away from home?
  • Have they seen much of the world, or very little?
  • Do you want to play a confident character, or an insecure one?
  • Do you want room to grow with the character? Then you can start young.
Step 4: Add in small details.

For example, think of a quirk. It's a low effort way of giving your character some literal character.
  • Are they fat and love food? Are they often drunk? Do they have a favorite food or drink?
  • Do they look down on people from any area, for example 'Southlanders who don't believe in Trollocs?'.
  • Do they think less of fighters who use flimsy weapons, e.g. rogues and other dodge types? Or do they think armor wearing brutes are stupid?
  • Are they afraid of channelers/ Aes Sedai or do they admire them?
  • Do they jump when confronted with spiders or snakes?
  • Do they have a tic, like twirling their hair, drumming their fingers, shifting nervously?
Step 5: Replace some commands with custom ones.

By using the mud or client alias, you can replace some of the standard commands with custom ones, to give a bit of depth to your character.
  • Replace say with something else. For example: emote speaks in deep voice 'Some wine please.' Or: emote says in a Murandian accent 'No, thanks.' <--- You will often have to add the closing '.
  • Replace an oft used command, like nod or smile. For example: emote nods his head graciously. Or: emote laughs raucously, slapping her thighs.
Obviously, you can go beyond this, as far as you'd like. Even down to do be doing all the do be's from the Illianer accent. However, this should be a good first step for those who haven't a clue where to start.

Callesa
Posts: 517
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2015 2:45 pm

Re: Call for help for writing a Roleplay Tutorial

Post by Callesa » Wed Nov 17, 2021 5:32 am

I really like this!

What I'd add: Not sure how to word it for the purpose of the tutorial, but I think an important message is: "it doesn't have to be too complicated. And less is sometimes more."

There are two reasons, why I mention this:

1.One of the most common worries about rp (and specifically about joining the Tower) are the expectations that everything has to be complicated and "I cannot create a good enough background story". No, start simple, it is totally fine. You don't need a unique and complicated backstory, you can start small and rp from a simple background to your own unique path. After all, Rand was a simple farmer's son at first too.

2.Simple is often better, over-combined things may be confusing and even annoying. I personally find it better, when a new novice is a simple shoemaker's daughter, who had naively dreamt of marrying a local minor noble, and now discovers the life in the White Tower, than a novice, who had half a family massacred by troolocs, half by aiels, her best friend was taken as a damane, and her first love turned out to be a male channeler.

Another bit: Leave space for development.

I will again use a novice as an easy example, but it applies to many others too. It is more appropriate and interesting, when a novice learns weaves, asks stuff, (also profit from the apprenticeship ranks in your clan to learn various things you didn't know before without feeling bad even about newbie stuff. It is never embarassing to ask questions as an apprentice/novice/etc), than when she is a know it all already.

It is simply weird, when a novice starts discussing stuff like the intricacies of the Prophecies during her first week in the White Tower. She can grow into a specialist in the field, but there is simply no RP backround justifying this right away. It is also a bad strategy. If you start like that, where do you want to grow and continue?

Chloro
Posts: 427
Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2021 2:21 pm

Re: Call for help for writing a Roleplay Tutorial

Post by Chloro » Tue Nov 30, 2021 3:00 pm

How can I help with this?

Some of my helpful hints or how I Character build:

1. Make sure the name feels good to you, its going to help you get into that Character mode.
2. Pick a homeland you like, and learn 1 or 2 characteristics about it. Like Domani plunging neck lines, or Kandori merchant chains.
3. Keep your outline simple, the character will grow with time.
4. For channelers specifically decided if you want to be a wilder or not, wilders come to the tower all to often, it is refreshing to get a Saider virgins come through where you go through the learning experience with your peers.
5. Don't be afraid to show emotions or flaws, they tend to lead to the best rp experiences you can get. (Here is an example viewtopic.php?f=102&t=15420)
6. Most important, have fun, no character is perfect when it starts!

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