Forums » RP Discussion » What you like Vs. What you play

The typical thing is that what we like influences what we play - but have you noticed any cases where that clearly doesn't hold true?

What got my thinking about this is that I do very much enjoy goofiness, and I suspect I'm more likely to keep stalking an RP (yes, I do that sometimes) with plenty humour than one that's pure drama. I'm prone to doing random odd things for the hell of it IC/IRL, too. But my RP always sways toward the dramatic and the sensible, and I have serious doubts about my ability to properly play some of my own characters!

If you did get a chance to do a more humorous RP, would you?

I have had chances. I presently have chances. I have made efforts to use these chances. That's how I know it's such a weakness for me.

Well you're not going to improve on your weak spots if you don't take these chances, right?

Isn't that what this is all about deep down, in some ways? To get better at writing/roleplaying?

If so, then a really good way to get better is to RP on topics that you're not as good in as others. But that's just my opinion.

I secretly really like cheesy campy B-movie RP where the technology/magic is so ridiculous they don't ever bother explaining anything. Ever seen the roboticizers in Sonic? That level of campy. I can't indulge in things like this though because anyone as into cheesy stupid crap as me is unlikely to know much about making a well-rounded character/etiquette/literacy.

Not to derail but there's nothing to suspect, you're stalking those RPs precisely because in your own words they're more emotionally varied, i.e. better. Plenty humour versus pure drama - the mistake a lot of people do is having their drama be monotonously sad, grim etc., and it comes out bland. A great story uses as many different emotions as possible - a drama with humour is better than one without.

Haha yes!! I do have to admit, even though I'm the kind of guy that has a tendency to want to explain EVERYTHING, and I usually try to when I rp, there are times when I just go "screw it" and have all sorts of shenanigans.


Now I want to RP again. Haven't been back here for a while.

You see, it seems like I have a similar issue with you but on the exact opposite end of the spectrum. i play a lot of funny scenes with my characters and although my characters actually have some dramatic and serious things about them, because of their occasional silliness, they never really get taken seriously or those aspects are never really explore. Its not so much as fear to explore those areas as two issues i have run into. One I don;t like to hog the spot light, i like to let others have a spot light on their characters and when in a group, other characters have something dramatic happening to them, i avoid doing anything that would take attention away from what is going on with them. I mean like I imagine it would be very frustrating to have a plot around your character be disrupted because someone else is dealing with other drama on their character and you get sidelined. I never want to be the person to do that someone.

Another thing I also tend to avoid is having dark and brooding characters or when I do, they are not the sort to go out an look for help. Most of them have learned to deal with things on their own because they have always done things on their own. I know dark and brooding characters are a very much loved archetype and so when I play some archetypes, I try to poke fun at them, so to make it clear to others that I am not someone who is edgy and trying to stir up a lot of drama and attention on myself. And when I have characters who do have very serious things happen to them and they can't reach out for help, a lot of times, like many people struggling with mental illnesses or issues in their life, they figure other people have more 'real' problems then them, and they hide what is going on in their life. Many of my characters pretend everything is happy and great and they are the funniest and nicest people when in reality they are just inches away from breaking down and a lot of people miss out on the subtle hints that something is wrong with them. Like the over enthusiastic laughter, the sudden change in subjects in conversation, the over emphasis on pleasing others, or constantly filling their lives with parties or fun things as if they are trying to fill a void. In a way just like like real life, people suffering from mental illnesses become experts at hiding their symptoms out of fear and at some point they have lived behind a mask for so long, they can't break away from it. You're never sure if people really like you or the mask and maybe they would never really love the real you.

It's something that flies over peoples heads quite a bit and I really need to figure a nice balance between the things I want to do, making others that I roleplay with happy, having realistic and psychological characters actions, but without being too subtle.

Chaotic_Law - Eh, I'm too lazy to really try to improve much. I just do it passively, and I RP to have fun. (And sometimes to try to help others out.)

sland - Never played Sonic, never watched the toons, only rarely seen the game being played. I think I can guess well enough from the name, though.

Kahmical - By our powers combined-!

Though, you should get past your "I'll be goofy so they can be dramatic" thing. Humor pulls at least as much. I mean, imagine some dramatic moment - a heartfelt revealing of some deep, dark secret, real seriousface stuff - and someone farts. That's just not a dramatic moment anymore and the Gassy One has stolen the show!

Well I also don;t do that either. Instead my goofy "side characters" are the ones to try and help the situation or step to the side, you know being the kind of people in the background that helps move the thing go forward. Thats generally what i mean by not stealing the show.