Roleplaying

[whitney]

Roleplaying is where you create a fictional character and interact with other writers' characters, usually online. The term "roleplay" is commonly abbreviated as "RP," especially in chat rooms and message boards.


Character Creation:

(NOTE: For those creating their first character, don't worry too much about following this verbatim; start simple, and work on it as you progress as a role-player. As long as you have the basics of physical description and the character's personality down, you should be alright. There is no need to try and be "perfect" unless you feel you absolutely must.)

The First Step: The first thing to think about when creating a character is what you want to accomplish. What will your character be? Are you creating a reflection of the real-life you? Are you writing out an established character? Do you wish to be a predator, or would you rather be prey? Try to make a character that will please you, and, to a lesser extent, serve to attract the type of player you would most like to role-play with. It's not always easy to find the balance, but you can always edit your character. Don't try too hard to "fit in", or have characters that are "like everyone else"; all that usually succeeds in accomplishing is making you unhappy with your character(s). Experiment, innovate, and rely on your intuition and inner feelings. More often than not, the interesting, different character attracts the other role-players.

Over-Powered Characters/Player Effort: A thing to be warned about at this point is God-Moding. God-Moding is when a character is rife with "godly" powers and abilities, such as powerful magic, teleportation, omnipotence, etc., and uses them often. One can have an incredibly powerful character and still play well, but it's just a great deal more difficult. It is highly recommended that you not start with a very powerful character, but--should you wish to play one--create this type of character after you have established yourself as a role-player. Keep in mind, if you create a powerful character, it is likely that players will only be willing to scene with that character based on your reputation as a role-player. Most people are not looking for powerful characters; they are looking for powerful players. Try not to make your character with the intention of "impressing" people with how "amazing" and "awe-inspiring" your character is. More often than not, this will scare people away. People are not impressed by how strong or powerful a character is; they're concerned about how a character is played. Although role-playing is clearly fantasy, it does have its own sense of reality; a character should be played as realistically as possible, making the role-play more enjoyable for all players involved.
For example, take two hypothetical characters: ZargTheFireGod, and LittleGuy:

ZargTheFireGod: "yells and throws the super-gako demon fireball"
LittleGuy: "The defenseless man dives for cover behind the rock he was sitting on. The fiery abomination roars over his cover, leaving everything--including LittleGuy's coattail--charred and smoldering. Despite this, and other setbacks, he quickly grasps a still-warm stone, and jumps from behind the rock, hurling it at Zarg's head."

It's probably rather apparent which player had to put more thought into their post. Strong characters are easy to play, and it usually shows. Weaker characters require a lot more energy to play, forcing the player to do their best, which tends to make role-play a great deal more interesting. More enthusiasm in a scene is something that can be shown even without being physically in front of someone. Characters that take a lot of effort are generally a great deal more appreciated. Characters that are supremely powerful very little effort to play! Playing an indestructible, shape shifting, size changing, all-magic-using mega-sized macro super dragon will, indeed, make you a predator, but it will also make players avoid you. While this is a fantasy world, a sense of realism can add much more to play than most players ever stop to consider.
Power-play characters are seldom fun for other players; please try to avoid them! A character can be powerful but it should have limits, such as detrimental effects as a result of using their powers, morality preventing them from using them outside of emergencies, or no conscious knowledge of their abilities' existence. Weaker, more "normal" characters tend to be a great deal more dynamic. If the "villain" can be hurt, it makes them more realistic. The same goes for the "hero"; what fun is a story in which the protagonist has almost no chance of failing? The more room there is for conflict, the more interesting a story generally becomes.

As for using powerful and intimidating characters--as with any other type--the key is to make sure scenes are enjoyable to all involved. Played right, even the most intimidating character can be part of an excellent scene; it all comes down to how they are played. Powers and strength can be used successfully, but they must be used sparingly, and carefully. Another suggestion is to refrain from using a powerful character as your main character. If you have a powerful character or two, and use them sparingly, people will generally be more attracted to you as a role-player.



Character Description:

This is one of the most vital aspects of getting other people to role-play with you. It is your "advertisement" for your character; in effect, you are trying to "sell" it to the other role-players. A good description should incorporate both personality and important physical traits. One without the other is likely to be ignored; people like to know whom, and what, they are dealing with. And, before you begin, you should realize that a description is not a novel. It should only be long enough to give people a good idea of what your character is like. Players typically want to get the gist of your character as quickly as possible, and will only read the first two paragraphs or so of a description before deciding whether to RP with you or not. Try to be concise, or at least give players a good idea who and what your character is quickly. A good description should take no more than a couple of minutes to read. (If everyone posted incredibly long descriptions, no role-playing would get done, because everyone would be too busy reading each other's descriptions!) That aside, here are some tips that should prove useful:

Life Before the Chats: Usually, people don't just pop into existence as they are; they tend to have a past. Role-playing characters should be no exception. When creating your character's past, make sure it fits what kind of person they are. A spunky, gregarious character is not likely to have come from a background of warfare, poverty, and strife. A quiet, introspective character is not likely to have been a party animal. It is, of course, possible, but try to keep things within reason. Also, it's a good idea to subtly hint at aspects of their past, but try to avoid making this public! (And try not to give away too much too soon!) This gives the character an aura of mystery, and encourages others to interact with them. If the players already know everything there is to know about the characters, they become overly familiar, which is not conducive to realism, for it tends to lower a player's interest in that character. You may wish to write down aspects of your character's past, but these are for your own benefit; try not to tell anyone unless you must! Keeping aspects of your character hidden makes it more enigmatic, increasing the likelihood that curious role-players will be interested in your character. Lastly, do whatever you want with your character's past. You are creating more than just an empty shell; you are creating a unique individual. A well-fleshed past is an excellent way to give a character more depth and personality. Remember: be creative!

Personality: Privately, this is unquestionably the most important part of a character's description. While you should avoid sharing all of it in your information, sharing some personality is helpful. Try to give other players a good idea what your character is like, without giving too much away. Be forward, but subtle. Make other players want to find out more about your character.

Physical Description: Firstly, don't go overboard with it and write more than a page and a half of intense physical description; be selective and drive home the basics. Though this is the most important public aspect of character description, and needs to be in a character's posted profile, it is best kept clear and concise. (After all, other players need to know what it is they are role-playing with, or it gets confusing very quickly.) The most important physical traits, which must be noted are a character's species, size, and most distinguishing traits. Important distinguishing traits include: build (Fat, skinny, tall, short, etc.), coloration, dress, eye color and style, hair color and style, and notable aberrations. (Scars, birthmarks, and other things that give your character that little bit more individuality.)

A thing to note about distinguishing traits: it is best to avoid telling how they came to be; try and pique the other player's curiosity.

You may wish to include a picture as well. It's far easier to get an idea of what a character looks like when you can actually see it, of course! A picture can show in seconds what would take far longer through text, with a greater degree of clarity. A picture needs to compliment your description; a bad picture can damage the value of even the best written description and, conversely, a bad description can nullify even the most perfect picture. A bad picture doesn't necessarily mean ugly, or shoddy; poor formatting (bad scaling, pixelation, poor quality, long load time, etc.), or lack of coherence to your actual character (A red dragoness probably doesn't need a grey wolf as an image...) can also serve to destroy an otherwise good profile.


Presentation: In order to truly make your character desirable to others, you need to present them in a way that draws people to them. Like any good story, you need to catch the reader's attention and pique their curiosity right away. Start it off with something interesting about the character.

Don't make a list! Your character is a person, not a statistic! Just listing traits will often bore other players, losing you potential role-plays. It's far better to start with the most obvious and outspoken traits or details.

Distinctive emotional traits may be the more prominent aspect of a character. In this case, it is probably best to start off there. However, you should avoid giving away too much of the character's personality; let the player want to learn more about them. Going overboard may even lead to contradictions; personalities are not static.

A method of description best avoided is "assumptive description", assuming that the other player's character is somehow involved in the description. This, though likely not intentional, tends to seem like power-gaming. Telling the other player what their character sees or does is forced-action, and generally unappreciated. Avoid dictating another player's emotions! Try to avoid stating subjective descriptions. such as "perfect" or "amazing"; allow the other player to decide how they feel. You can include subjective descriptions, but you must phrase them in a way that allows the other player room to decide for themselves, such as "some would call her the picture of perfection" or "it has been said that his skill with the sword is quite amazing". This way, a player is free to agree or disagree without feeling forced.

Another means of presentation is to have the character express something themselves. Be careful with this method. It is not easy to pull off without giving too much away, or being detrimental to the overall effect of the profile. A good way to work around this is combining methods. Include a brief first-person account (maybe a paragraph or two) and follow it up with the main part of the description.

Other Things to Note:

Detail: Your posted description is your way of telling other players what a role-play with you is like. The level of detail one puts in a description is a strong indicator of the way you will roleplay. A short, straight-to-the-point description tells people you are conservative, and prefer to respond to the other player rather than control the scene. It may also imply that you are a bit more direct, and action oriented; rather than flower it up, you want to get straight down to the meat of issues at hand. A longer description implies more liberal, generous roleplaying. It suggest that a player tends to take their time and try to draw-out scenes, enjoying the ride instead of getting right to the main point. Both of these are equally valid. Again, it is a reflection of you, the player. Don't post a short description if you want a long, drawn-out roleplay, and don't post a long description with the intention of "quick fix" roleplays. You can alternate, but your description still implies one or the other, so keep this in mind.

Try to avoid "stock characters"; put creative effort into your characters, and try not to copy other players. Again, one of the most important aspects of character design is to be creative! Don't use established characters, such as Peter Pan or Sonic the Hedgehog. It's perfectly alright to use elements of their stories, such as having a character who's a Lost Boy, or someone who escaped from Robotnik with cybernetic enhancements; just try to avoid using other people's characters! Though it can be done successfully, these are very specific characters, and are best left unused, or only used with someone who really wishes to see this character used. Use them once in a while, but avoid using them on a day-to-day basis.

Character Playability: Over-specialized characters--especially those with traits most would find unappealing--tend to find less interest than more general ones. If you are trying to make a character that is distinctly "you", and absolutely perfect according to your own tastes, be aware that this can often reduce your opportunities for role-play. If you do not mind this, by all means, create a highly-specialized character. However, if you are more concerned with pleasing more people, try to stay away from traits that could prove a deterrent to others.

Some characters/traits may be considered "gross", such as zombification, a horrific stench, or extreme ugliness of form. Think, when making a character, of what people would be attracted to in real life, and try to design based on that, should you desire a more likable character. It's perfectly acceptable to do otherwise, but don't be surprised if you have trouble getting people to scene with you.

Other characters may be considered "creeps" or "thugs"; these are usually characters who are vicious, or prone. Though they can be played effectively, it is more of a challenge than most would realize. Play them if you must, but they are generally better left unused.

Overloaded Characters: Sometimes, a player will try to make a single character that can do absolutely everything. Though this is usually done in an attempt to make it more playable, it often results in making it far less playable. Unfortunately, the more abilities you give a character, the more daunting it becomes to other players. A character who can shape-shift, change gender, etc., will often be seen as a power-play character.

Keep your characters dynamic! Don't give them one expression to carry all the time; even the most bland person in real life has some dynamics. Allow your characters to change, and react. Allow them to learn, and adapt, as people in real life would.

-Preferences: Make sure you tell people your preferences, but keep it concise. You want to give players a good idea of what you are looking for in an RP, but try not to be too picky. Be willing to compromise! Role-playing is not a one-way street; you must give as much as you receive, and sometimes this means doing some things outside of your preferences. This does not mean you should do something you really don't want to do. If you don't want to do something because it is a turn-off, or actually makes you uneasy, by no means must you do it. Politely tell the other player that you can't, and they will almost always understand.

Personal Lists: A good idea is to keep a list of aspects of your character you may forget privately. Keep it handy on your computer, or nearby, and consult it when needed, but don't post it publicly as part of your profile. You want to leave room for people to learn more about your character, giving them a reason to ask questions in-character. (A character may not know much about another, but if the player knows too much, they are discouraged from asking in-character.)




Role-Playing Mechanics and Writing:

Linguistics: Please try to obey the proper rules of the language spoken in the chats. (English, in most cases.) Do not use "shorthand" or "code" languages, such as "l33t" or "Netspeak" (AOLspeak), especially in role-plays. Also, try to refrain from using overly-stylized or dialectical writing styles outside of character speech. You may, of course, use a dialect, or another language, or odd mannerisms for a character's actual speech, but do not take it outside of a character's own thoughts and vocalizations.

Examples:

Nathan: *The chubby, well dressed gentleman tips his hat in greeting with a polite smile* Hello my friends. It's good to see you all again. Does anyone know where Charles is?

This is clear and understandable to most everyone native to English, the predominant language, therefore is proper.

Kimmy: *Large and in charge, the heavily pierced and gold studded badger lumbers in on all fours.* You wassap y'all?! Check it, I gots mah bad self daun wit'a bling-bling! I's gots ta axe y'all, if's y'are down wit it.
While, in this example, the in-character speech is quite different from "normal" English, it is still perfectly acceptable, for the rest of the pose is written in standard English.

furman: *da kat man walks in 2 da clearing n waves* "yo peeps!"

Though the speech itself is acceptable, the entire pose is written in Netspeak. This makes it difficult to understand, and gives the impression (rightfully so, in most cases) that the player is lazy, and self-centered.




Opening a Scene:

Open and Closed Scenes:
There are generally two types of publicly posted scenes: Open, and Closed. An open scene is one in which any character can just wander in and interact with anyone else in the scene. These can often lead to interesting encounters, and pairings that wouldn't have otherwise occurred. When starting an Open scene, let people know. An excellent way to do this is to add the OOC tag ((Open)) (This is not some special command. This means manually typing it in.) to the end of your opening post. A Closed scene is one that has already been planned between two or more players in private, but will be carried out in public. A players are discouraged from joining a Closed scene in progress without first asking the players involved. (Asking is also a good idea if an Open scene is already in progress and you wish to join.) As with starting an open scene, let people know the scene you are starting is Closed. This can be accomplished, logically enough, with the ((Closed)) tag. Also, if you are in a scene already in progress, open or closed, please ask the others involved before inviting another character in. Sometimes, those involved might not want another present; "too many cooks spoiled the broth!" Designating open and closed scenes is not, essential; and it's okay if you forget. No one will jump on you if you neglect to use these conventions; they are merely here to help remove confusion.

Setting: Setting the stage is a reasonably important part of opening a role-play. It's good to let the other player(s) know whether or not you are using the set-scene for a given roleplaying area, or modifying it a bit. Some important aspects of setting to consider are: Time of day, weather conditions, and ambient light. These things are not necessary, but problems can arise when one player thinks it's around noon, and the other thinks it's the middle of the night.

Entrance: Try to give the other player(s) an impression of how your character is feeling at the time. Be creative. Try to make your character's entering actions distinctive. Instead of just wandering in and saying "hello", give it something more.

Examples:

The fox: *waves and says, "Hi."

The fox: *Enters with his hands in his pockets, mumbling something about 'those blasted herons', and stops abruptly as he realizes he isn't alone.* "Er, hello..." *He swallows nervously, realizing too late that he's fallen into some very dangerous company…*

Both are technically correct, but second one gives others a much better idea of the character's initial mood and willingness to play. It also has a catch; something that might intrigue another character, leading them to the inevitable question: "Wait, what's this about herons?" Give people a reason to interact with your character, and you will likely find yourself starting a fun role-play.




Important Writing Points:


Realism: Try to make your character behave realistically. For example, if your character is a middle-class male from the suburbs of some Earth-like world, and he is suddenly thrown into the swamp and comes face-to-snout with a gigantic, ferocious looking dragon, he's probably not going to say: "Hey, how's it going?" Try to put yourself in your character's shoes, and think like them. Act natural. This is one of the keys to a good role-play. Also, be careful with names! Don't use another character's name in a way that says your character knows it (such as saying: "Hello, <name>") unless that character has given yours its name.

Attention: Pay attention to detail. Sometimes, what seems like a little mistake to you can effectively ruin the scene for your partner. Always be mindful of what they have to say, and what they have said. Read and understand a character's description before making comments about them. Often enough, someone will miss something vital, like the color of someone's eyes, or even the form they are in. On the same note, don't over-react if someone screws up. Accidents do happen, and it was probably just a simple mistake. Kindly point out that the mistake was made, and move on with the role-play.

Shock Value: Try to remain consistent with your role-play style most of the time; that way, when you do break it, you will have a much greater impact. For example, someone who normally scenes in tidy 4+ sentence paragraphs writing a one-line pose, such as:

The 'roo's jaw drops. "He said... what?"

will "shock" the other player more than they would if they normally wrote short posts. The converse can also prove true; if someone who normally writes in concise, 3-sentence-average posts suddenly writes a pose that fills half the screen, it's going to be sure to turn heads. Consider using the occasional break for dramatic effect; but try not to overuse it!





Technique:

Write What Comes, and Observe:
Write as you would if you were writing a story; just keep in mind that you are writing it for the other player. Observe how others role-play, and learn from them. Do not copy other people! Learn from them, but try to develop your own unique style. Be mindful to of repeating your partner's--and especially your own--poses. Using the same words over and over again is tiresome and shows that you lack a sufficient grasp of the English language to use a variety of ways to state the same thing. Once again: be creative!

Ask Around: If you see someone you think is a good role-player, contact them when they're not busy, and ask for some tips and advice. There is no better way to learn than actual interaction, and no reason to be ashamed of asking for help! A great way to improve is to occasionally roleplay for the sake of improvement; find someone willing to help you out, and listen carefully to the advice they give, and use it. You should see noticeable improvement if you take the time to ask for help.

Be Concise: Be descriptive in what your character says and does, but try to keep from letting outside interference into the roleplay. Not only can it bore the other player, but it can also waste screen real-estate, scrolling other posts out of the chat's visible area. Don't concentrate on introspection when in the heat of action, and don't have your character begin thinking of something that isn't pertinent to the RP; actions speak louder than words, and words speak a great deal louder than thoughts. Some of the best role-players can create a much greater impact with three sentences than a post that will fill the screen. A long post isn't automatically a good post, just as a short post isn't automatically a poor one.

Be Expressive: When your character performs an action, try to be descriptive, and give the other player a better picture of what is occurring. Avoid simply stating actions.

Here's an example of simple action:

Sam: *Throws a rock at Twitch.*

Though this is correct, and does tell the other player what happened, it leaves out important details, such as force, aim, and motivation. A better way to say this would be:

Sam: *Casually reaches down and selects a nice, flat, smooth stone. He looks left and right quickly and, noting that he is not being observed, draws his arm back with a mischievous grin. Quickly, he snaps it forward, sending the rock forcefully toward Twitch's tail.*

With this, you know far more about the action. In the first example, it could have meant anything, from a malicious attack to poor aim. In this example, however, it gives the other player the impression that it is more a rather painful means of catching the other character's attention. Had it been left without the description, it could have been misinterpreted as an attack, and responded to in kind. Clarity is one of the most important aspects of writing!





Role-Playing Courtesy and Etiquette:

The goal of roleplaying is to provide an enjoyable experience, not only to one's self, but also to the others participating in a scene. (In fact, this is the most important part; most of the enjoyment of the roleplay is not in one's own posts, but how the other person responds, and what they do for the role-play.) Keeping this in mind, some basic guidelines for etiquette should be observed:


Area Rules: Before you use a role-playing area, such as a chat or a web board, please be sure to read through the rules. Most areas have a reasonably similar set of rules, and most of them are "common sense rules", but there are always differences in rule sets. Familiarize yourself with what you can and cannot do in a role-play area first, then use it. One area may be more strict on OOC conversation, another may be more strict on the type of scene one can have. Try not to assume something is acceptable unless the rules either say it is acceptable, or they do not mention it. In the latter case, common sense will usually suffice.)


Themed Areas/Role-Plays: More often than not, there is a "theme" to a role-play, such as vore, or exploration. Please be courteous to fellow role-players, and try to stay on topic. For example, Playing D&D Gladiators in a vore-themed chat is unacceptable unless it is directly--and quickly--related to vore. If you wish to do something outside of the given theme, it is a good idea to check with those around you first, especially if there is already and active role-play. (Always keep in mind: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.")

Out Of Character Conversation:
This is acceptable, though within certain limits. If there is no role-playing occurring, it is reasonably safe to communicate OOC. (However, some people will not begin a role-play when the chat is "cluttered" with out of character, so it is best to avoid it unless necessary.) Also, any actual OOC posting is public; it is for everyone to see, and respond to. If you wish to communicate with someone individually, please do so through Personal/Private Messaging (PM) if the chat allows (Some chats can become inundated with PMs, removing public posts from the screen.), or through instant messenger clients, email, or some other form of communication. Also, try not to correct typos if you feel they cannot easily be figured out by the other player. (For example, if you accidentally type "teh" instead of "the", there's no need to correct it; just grin and bear it, and get on with the scene.)

Group Scenes:
Often enough, scenes will occur in which three or more characters participate. These can sometimes get complex, and have the potential to ruffle someone's feathers. Please be considerate of the other players in the scene. Try not to let someone get ignored-out. (If all else fails, tell them you and a partner you have chosen wish to take it out of the main scene. Most people will understand. It's better than leaving them wondering if you know they are even there.) Try to agree on an order of posting. Every player has a different rate. Try to be conscious of this, and don't post until the other players have posted. If you feel someone is hindering the scene with slow-posting, kindly ask them to leave the scene, or live with the others not waiting. A group scene is a group scene; try not to leave participants behind.

Multiple Scenes:
This is when you participate in more than one role-play at the same time. This is tolerated, but often frowned upon, so it is usually best to avoid it. Though it is possible to multi-scene without a noticeable detriment to one's typing, it is still considered rude by many players. (Especially if it affects your typing, making them have to wait longer between poses.) If you feel the need to multi-scene, please inform everyone involved! In fact, if at all possible, ask the other players before starting or otherwise participating in another scene. Also, there's usually no harm in a simple "idle chit-chat" type of scene with a friend elsewhere while you wait for the other player to post in the main scene. Lastly, multi-scening in the same area is never acceptable! With most multi-scening, the other players can usually just ignore it--"out of sight, out of mind"--but when you are trying to do it right in front of them, it's rather difficult to ignore.

Using Multiple Characters in One Scene:
This will either mean switching characters at some point, or actually using two or more at the same time. Though this is a vague area, it is probably best to avoid this, unless you are very sure your partner will not mind. (It never hurts to ask first!) Using multiple characters in the same scene is a lot of work, and it will often either extend the time between your posts, or reduce the length and quality of your posts. However, the use of multiple characters can sometimes add to the interest of the role-play. As with any other ambiguous area, try to use common sense and your best judgment. One thing to note, however, is that splitting off from the main scene and entering another scene in the same area is not acceptable. Please stick to one scene in a given area.

Character Interaction: If you are playing a character who is attacking or otherwise chasing another character, give them ways to avoid capture. Try to give the other player breathing room. The same goes for playing the defensive character: there should be no forced actions. Forced actions are, in effect, writing the other player's character. Do not write the the actions or thoughts of the other player's character! This is known as power-playing; controlling the other player's reactions. This is generally not appreciated. The only time forcing actions is acceptable is with the consent of the other player. This can occur when their character is obviously under your character's complete control, or their character is willing to let yours do just about anything. Still, it is best to be avoided.

Examples:

"The serpent girl scoops up her mouse lover's legs, making him sits down on her lengths so she can hug him, turning them into a tangled knot of affection."

This is a case in which forced action is acceptable. When you're in a consenting scene and your partner is not objecting, then forcing their actions can save time by cutting down on superfluous posts. They aren't given a choice in what happens to them simply because you both know what is going to happen.

"As the rabbit flees, the dragon flips its tail around, and trips it, causing it to collide with a tree, unconscious."

The rabbit's player was given no chance to respond to the attack, and has been rendered incapacitated without the player's permission. It leaves no opening for the rabbit's player. The same move, played out properly, would look something like this:

"As the rabbit flees, the dragon flips its tail around, a swift blow aimed directly for the rabbit's ankles."

This allows the other player to choose their own reactions, either letting it connect and incapacitate the rabbit, or jumping free and extending the chase.

RESPECT:
This is BY FAR the most important aspect of roleplaying etiquette! The text you see on the screen is put there by other people. They have feelings and desires, just as you do! They can be pleased, thankful, content, happy, sad, depressed, hurt, or angry, just like you. What you say and do in and outside of the chats matters. By common definition, role-playing is a game. It is a means of entertainment. But it is not "just a game"! These are real people you are interacting with. The fact that it's "just text on a screen" tends to de-sensitize many people to social interactions over the internet. This is a grievous error. Communication over the internet is just as powerful as speaking with someone face-to-face. There is just as much potential to hurt someone's feelings. There is just as much potential to anger someone. There is just as much potential to make someone feel good. There's even the potential to fall in love. (It really does happen, when people treat each other as they are meant to.) Never forget: Role-players have feelings! After all, it's these very feelings that drive us to come together an role-play, and enjoy each other's company.

-Environment: Make people feel welcome! When someone enters the chats and you're not already busy elsewhere, greet them, and let them know people want them around. This is especially important with new players. If someone you've never seen before shows up, it's a good chance they're a new player. Greet them, and ask if they could use any assistance. Try and let them know that the chats are a friendly place to role-play; this will gain more players, and more variation, which makes everyone happy!

Training Newcomers:
Face it, no one is born with the innate ability to roleplay perfectly. When people first start roleplaying, they will be nervous, and inexperienced, and need all the help they can get. Instead of ignoring them out of lack of desire to role-play with them, talk to them; ask them if they're willing to accept advice and training. Often enough, someone who seems uninteresting and inept really just hasn't been trained yet. If you put the time and effort into helping them out, you will often be rewarded with another good role-player and a new friend!

Being Open to New Experience:
Be willing to try new things! Unless you are absolutely sure you wouldn't like something, don't be afraid to give it a try. Sometimes you will end up not liking it--you can always politely tell the other player so, and stop. No one is forcing you to do anything you don't want to. However, don't just brush off something new before you've at least experienced it. Just like anywhere else in life, the only way we progress is by taking risks and trying new things.

Giving:
Just as you role-play hoping for a good scene from the other player, they do so expecting a good scene from you. Pay attention to what they say, and their preferences. Don't write for your self;--you can do that on your own time--write for the other player. For example, say you are playing predator. Which would you prefer:

"He feels himself being pulled down the throat toward the stomach, and despairs. He feels the walls of the throat pressing against him, trying to squeeze the life out."
Or:
"He struggles as the hot flesh closes about him. Tiny hands press into the inside of the beast's throat, sending prickling sensations. He thrashes and wriggles furiously, poking into the flesh around him uselessly."

The top post is perfectly valid, but it doesn't evoke as much feeling in the other player as the one on the bottom. Introspection is fine at times, but interaction is far more important.

Asking Questions:
If you're not sure of something, feel free to ask someone! It's better to risk bothering someone with a "petty detail" than risk making a grievous error. This doesn't mean you should bug someone in the middle of their scene, or anything like that; ask someone you are role-playing with, or someone who is not in a scene. People tend appreciate players who are considerate enough to ask questions first, shoot later. Also: Ask your role-playing partners what they want in a scene. Often enough they'll just go for whatever happens, but it's better to at least give them a chance to tell you what they want, so as to make it more enjoyable for them, and for you.

Gaming Mentality:
Alright, this can't possibly be stressed enough: free-form role-playing Is NOT A VIDEO GAME! There are no "rules" that exist outside of real life. There is no scoring. There is no "object" save to have fun. It's not a sport. You're not role-playing to "win". You are sharing yourself, and your fantasy, with other living people. These are Player Characters. They are there for the same reason you are: to have fun, make friends, and have good role-plays. It's alright to be silly, or do strange things; all in good fun. However, please take the others around you seriously. Just as you wouldn't enjoy them treating you like an object, or text on a screen, extend them the same courtesy.

Persistence:
Do not be doggedly determined to roleplay with someone. If someone does not wish to role-play with you, they do not wish to role-play with you. No means no! Do not continue to ask for role-plays from someone who has refused, or otherwise continue bothering them. You can't be everyone's ideal partner. People have differing tastes; don't push yourself on them. If you don't make a bother of yourself, they might ask you to role-play with them at some point. Also, do not hound women!!! Whether they're just female characters, or suspected female players, do not stalk them. It is because of the constant unwanted attentions of immature people that most actual women are scared away from the chats. Please, treat those around you as equals, regardless of gender.

Completion of Role-Plays:
When you finally finish a scene, be sure to thank the other player for the experience; it's always nice to know you're appreciated. If the scene was particularly impressive or enjoyable, feel free to say so, even if you weren't in the scene. Players enjoy knowing the others around them enjoy watching them play, and it encourages them to scene in public more often.

The Right to Scene: The chats are for everyone. We all have an equal right to use them for role-play, so long as we remain in the rules of the chat, and within legal bounds. Everyone has the right to the scene of their choice, within these limits. For example, in a vore-themed chat, there can be yiffing that ends in vore, normal "soft" vore scenes (A scene in which someone is swallowed, relatively unhurt), hard vore scenes (A scene in which the prey is generally crushed, torn apart, or otherwise bloodied and hurt in the act of being eaten), and many other things. These are all perfectly acceptable. If you are offended by the material in a scene, and it is within the bounds of the chat rules and the law, do not complain to the players or operators. You are likely to scare the players away from the chats. They have just as much right to play their way as you do yours.

-When Problems Arise: No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes are inconsiderate, and hurt people. If someone makes an inflammatory remark, respond with a cool, considerate response. Try to make them understand that you have nothing against them, but are opposed to their actions. And keep in mind: You are not always right. Be willing to back out of an argument if it gets too heated. Your goal is to make things more peaceful, not force your opinions on others. If a problem persists, contact the operators of the chat. If this is a real problem, the operators will do anything in their power to solve it. That's what they're there for, after all.

Conclusion:

We hope this guide has proven useful to you, and given you sound advice, whether you're new or old, experienced or inexperienced. This guide exists as a means for everyone to meet on common ground, and hopefully avoid most difficulties that could arise. Feel free to contact the writers of the guide if you have any thoughts or suggestions.

And most importantly of all: Have fun role-playing! Grateful

[ShadowPie]

*thumbs up* I approve of this. This is great.