RP TIPS

So you are new to RP and looking for some tips on how to get better? You may even already know how to RP but are wanting to better yourself. Listed below are some basic RP tips to help guide you and improve that I have personally wrote out for you to read if needed, based on my 6+ years experience RPing.

1. The difference between IC and OOC

▪️ When you are roleplaying for the first time or meeting new characters you would not know anything about that other person's character, basically any OOC information you may already know including their character's name, your character would not know themselves, roleplay getting to know the other character as if you have never met them before. This is considered Metagaming.

▪️ The person's character may have conflict with yours but that doesn't mean OOCly the person actually hates you, IC actions are not a personal attack on you it's just roleplay. The same goes for IC relationships, just because your character IC is dating another person's character, doesn't mean you two are actually dating IRL. I mean.. for example you are a hetero girl IRL with a female OC and the other person is also a female IRL but is roleplaying a male OC.. It just doesn't work and is a huge nono, unless you want to date OOCly then fuckin go for it, no one is gonna judge you, but keep in mind someone's character is not necessarily how they are or who they are IRL.

2. Talking OOC

Most roleplayers know that if you are posting any OOC comments that they should be in brackets (Example) or ((Example)) Either way works. This is to help differentiate your RP from OOC and can be used for questions, small funny comments and whatever else you wanna say that is OOC. The general rule for talking OOC is to not crowd RP channels with alot of talking, you can use #💬-rp-commentary for more in depth discussions or #💬-general if it's nothing really to do with the roleplay.

​

3. Detail

You may be thinking "I can't write for shit how am I suppose to RP?" You really do not need to be a skilled writer to roleplay. You can successfully and effectively RP with just a couple of lines. A good way to RP is to carefully read what the other person has posted, take bits from it to create your own post by basically re writing what they said towards your character and adding in your reaction. This is an easy cheat to make effective posts and used by many.

Example:

RPer 1 - She handed him a bag of rice with a cheerful smile, showing that she was a friendly individual. "Don't use it all at once." She said with a small laugh.

RPer 2 - He returned the friendly smile as he took the bag of rice from her hand, giving her a nod. "Thank you, I won't." he replied with his own chuckle.

However this may not always work, but usually it does. The general rule for RP is to atleast say an action with some form of detail to describe what your character is doing and feeling at the time. If your character is saying something, try and describe how they say it and what facial expressions they would be using, even if it is just a neutral expression and tone.

Another great way to add to your posts is to even describe your character's clothes, describe their hair blowing in the wind, describe the cool breeze brushing against their face or how the hot sun is glaring in their eyes. Basically picture yourself in that situation and imagine how you would be feeling, what environmental aspects might be effecting you and describe it.

Another way to have simple but detailed posts is to type out your character's reaction to what the other RPer said or did. Think of how it would effect your character, describe their emotions, how they felt about the situation (Did it surprise them or scare them? etc.) and then type their response, either with words or actions or even better, both of those.

​

4. One post at a time.

Don't be one of those people who does multi-line posts it's annoying as well as spammy. Also don't post more than maybe two actions per post, let the other RPer have a chance for their character to react to what your character is doing or saying.This also includes posting an action towards someone's character and then before they have a chance to reply your character in a new post has walked off or left to interact with someone else. That is frustrating and annoying. The general rule for posts is to wait for someone to respond before posting again. This could also include doing a post of blowing something up, it's a good idea to break up what your character is doing into multiple posts that gives other characters a chance to intervene or even help if they want to.

5. Post only for yourself

This means do not post: He ran over and stabbed her in the arm, causing her to scream in horror. Post something like this instead.: He ran over and stabbed her in the arm, hoping she would scream in horror. Leave your posts to your own character, never ever say what another person's character does or how they react, it's not your OC to control.

6. Combat

This is briefly outlined in the rules but always leave combat open ended when you are attacking and always ask permission first before RPing that you are slapping, stabbing or whatever someone else's character. One thing that is super annoying is people attacking others who don't want their character to be attacked or killed. The dice roll bot has been added to the server to have fairness in combat, I suggest using it.

​

7. Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation

While this is not really important but at the same time it is. If people can't make sense of what you are writing then they will either not want to RP with you or be very confused at what you are trying to say. Type your words properly and don't use abbreviations such as lol or u instead of you, basically just avoid text speech. Using commas in the right places is also important, but don't use them too much. This also includes making it clear when your character is talking, use quotation marks for speech in RP. Also including in this one, use full sentences don't just lazily put half a sentence in.

8. Roleplay Style

Now the question is how you roleplay. Most people use third person in a present tense. However you can use past tense if you wish. This can also help you in differentiating IC and OOC if you are using third person compared to I did this and I did that. Third person, if you don't know, is she did this she said that. It may also be necessary in putting in your posts your OC's name to help others understand which character you are roleplaying. You don't need to every post but occasionally saying: Elinor walked over to him etc. Is a great bit to add in here and there, especially if you are just starting an RP with someone.

9. Keep to your character

When creating your OC you should outline their personality, who they are and have a general idea of how they act. Don't do something that is out of character for your OC and makes no sense. Like if your OC is a mean bitch, why would they be nice to someone without any good reason.

10. Don't be overly stubborn

One thing that pisses me off so much is not being able to convince someone's OC to change their mind about something no matter what my character does or says. Just don't be that person, give in or atleast compromise the situation with them. Even if your OC is super stubborn all the time, usually people can be persuaded to change their minds.

​

11. Godmodding

What is Godmodding? Basically it is when someone is just super over powered. For example being attacked in such a way it should have badly damaged them, such as an explosion, but they just walked away and shrugged it off like nothing happened. Other forms of godmodding are making actions for other people's characters, dodging all attacks, having your attacks hit every time. Never do this and you should be good.

​

12. Metagaming

What is Metagaming? Basically it is when someone knows information about another character OOCly that their character ICly would not know. A common example of this is going somewhere IRP because you OOCly know that another character is there, but if you ask yourself "How would my character know they are there?" You probably wouldn't be able to answer that question. A great way to get information is asking other characters about someone else's OC, if they know them and where they might be etc. You can even eavesdrop on conversations to get this information, if your character is stealthy enough. Even knowing something as simple as a certain dragon OC likes head scratches, your character wouldn't know this without being told first somehow. Don't do this and you'll be good.