and how do I be a better roleplayer?
Or more specifically, how do I be a roleplayer that someone wants to actually roleplay with?
Or more specifically, how do I be a roleplayer that someone wants to actually roleplay with?
That is a very difficult question to answer, as there are many different types of RPers. I won't pretend to be a fantastic RPer, but I've definitely learned a lot here. Below are things I look for in an RP partner and have tried to better myself in...
As far as roleplays go...
Literacy
Literacy is one of the most important parts of being an RP partner, in my opinion. The importance here goes beyond just making sure you form a coherent sentence - it's respectful to your RP partner's time. Personally, I have trouble continuing an RP if I have to work to read and understand the posts from the other person. I'm not saying you have to have flawless grammar, as I'm pretty sure I've butchered some comma and semi colon usage in this post alone; but you do need to put forth an effort. We all make mistakes, of course, so a typo isn't something to lose sleep over.
Find Your Niche
Play who you want to, and others will play who they want to. Not everyone will see eye to eye, be it characters or play styles, and that's okay. Length, posting times, genres, and play styles are all personal preferences. Find what you like and find others who like the same thing. If you want to play a three-hundred year old neko with a scythe that doubles as a flame thrower, more power to ya. However, the player with the impoverished 14th century English sellsword is under no obligation to be in the same RP, and vice versa.
You Aren't Your Character
In other words, keep IC and OOC separate. Your character doesn't have to win everything, and insults at characters aren't personal attacks. I have been in some RPs where people broke character because they just had to win the fight. In my opinion, putting your character on a pedestal is not as important as the story between you and other people. In other RPs I've seen, arguments started IC or OOC due to something that happened on the other chat.
Take Advice With a Grain of Salt
If you really want to improve, listen to what people have to say. We have a superb community, and many will offer help when asked; but only if you are willing to accept it. I've gotten a lot of helpful criticism for my characters, both prompted and uncalled for. You can choose what you want to listen to, but also understand most people aren't trying to be rude.
Participate On RPR
If you're wanting to find more RPs here, then being an active member really helps. Discussions on the other forums can help connect you to other players. You'll find a really friendly community, and connect with others who want to do similar RPs as you. Personally, I find as many RPs via connections established through banter than I do the LFRP.
Understand Where Things Go
The forums only take a few minutes to go through, and you should be able to get a clear picture of what goes where. Still, a lot of people seem to RP in LFRP and OOC chats. While this seems like a small thing, I do know some RPers are less likely to RP with someone who doesn't take the time to understand where and how to post.
As far as characters go...
Spicing Up Profiles
It's your choice how you make the pages. Sometimes they can be very important, other times they may be nothing more than some notes for you. If you'd like to pretty up your character profiles, then take a look at the custom profile widgets and other features the site has to offer. Not everyone relies on design, but spicing it up can be a good way to attract attention for your character. This isn't to say that you can't RP unless you finish a bunch of profiles. The only totally complete character profile I have is Ilyse, and she isn't even my most used character.
The character profile capabilities here are good enough that they are used by people who don't even RP here. If you understand it, it can be an amazingly fun tool.
Organize Information
Organization of information, in my opinion, is much more important that beautification. Make use of the character pages so that people can easily navigate. Decide what information should be written down, and what you would like to keep to yourself. Some people like to put as much information as they can. This is fine, it can be fun reading up on a character, but make sure you make it readable and don't have a giant wall of text. I've met a lot of RPers who like to put just enough to let you know who you are dealing with, but keep other information to themselves (either up in their heads or on other documents). This works too! In fact, I do it on a lot of characters myself. Just make sure you don't forget the information you didn't put down and be prepared for questions if you are vague.
The Actual Character
I can't speak a ton of this, but it goes back to finding your niche. I love having limiting factors on my more powerful characters (such as Ilyse above, whose magic is dependent upon the phases of the moon). If using characters from other works of literature or media are more your speed, then go for it. If you like making original characters, then take a look at what you do and don't like in a character. Put a piece of yourself into them, even if it's only one personality trait. I find that makes it a lot easier to RP as them. And, you'll probably hear this a lot, flaws do make a character interesting. There's no such thing as perfect.
Final Notes...
BBCode can, when you understand it, be a major asset to RPing and character profiles. Take a look over it, maybe even save the page.
Please, please do not, when looking for an RP, just tell someone to look through your 20+ characters and tell you what they want. That's asking them to take a lot of time to learn about a lot of characters they may not care about. If you're trying to see who they would like best, help narrow it down. Approach them with a couple of characters if you can't make a decision.
Typing this all out, it looks like a lot. But, really, it all boils down to just putting in some effort. Pay attention, put your best foot forward, and be courteous. You'll find RPers who do the same and those who don't. It's up to you to find the RP partners you want to stick with
Hope this helped!
Cheers!
~Gamers
P.S- I've written this a bit out of order, so I may be back later to edit and organize it some more.
As far as roleplays go...
Literacy
Literacy is one of the most important parts of being an RP partner, in my opinion. The importance here goes beyond just making sure you form a coherent sentence - it's respectful to your RP partner's time. Personally, I have trouble continuing an RP if I have to work to read and understand the posts from the other person. I'm not saying you have to have flawless grammar, as I'm pretty sure I've butchered some comma and semi colon usage in this post alone; but you do need to put forth an effort. We all make mistakes, of course, so a typo isn't something to lose sleep over.
Find Your Niche
Play who you want to, and others will play who they want to. Not everyone will see eye to eye, be it characters or play styles, and that's okay. Length, posting times, genres, and play styles are all personal preferences. Find what you like and find others who like the same thing. If you want to play a three-hundred year old neko with a scythe that doubles as a flame thrower, more power to ya. However, the player with the impoverished 14th century English sellsword is under no obligation to be in the same RP, and vice versa.
You Aren't Your Character
In other words, keep IC and OOC separate. Your character doesn't have to win everything, and insults at characters aren't personal attacks. I have been in some RPs where people broke character because they just had to win the fight. In my opinion, putting your character on a pedestal is not as important as the story between you and other people. In other RPs I've seen, arguments started IC or OOC due to something that happened on the other chat.
Take Advice With a Grain of Salt
If you really want to improve, listen to what people have to say. We have a superb community, and many will offer help when asked; but only if you are willing to accept it. I've gotten a lot of helpful criticism for my characters, both prompted and uncalled for. You can choose what you want to listen to, but also understand most people aren't trying to be rude.
Participate On RPR
If you're wanting to find more RPs here, then being an active member really helps. Discussions on the other forums can help connect you to other players. You'll find a really friendly community, and connect with others who want to do similar RPs as you. Personally, I find as many RPs via connections established through banter than I do the LFRP.
Understand Where Things Go
The forums only take a few minutes to go through, and you should be able to get a clear picture of what goes where. Still, a lot of people seem to RP in LFRP and OOC chats. While this seems like a small thing, I do know some RPers are less likely to RP with someone who doesn't take the time to understand where and how to post.
As far as characters go...
Spicing Up Profiles
It's your choice how you make the pages. Sometimes they can be very important, other times they may be nothing more than some notes for you. If you'd like to pretty up your character profiles, then take a look at the custom profile widgets and other features the site has to offer. Not everyone relies on design, but spicing it up can be a good way to attract attention for your character. This isn't to say that you can't RP unless you finish a bunch of profiles. The only totally complete character profile I have is Ilyse, and she isn't even my most used character.
The character profile capabilities here are good enough that they are used by people who don't even RP here. If you understand it, it can be an amazingly fun tool.
Organize Information
Organization of information, in my opinion, is much more important that beautification. Make use of the character pages so that people can easily navigate. Decide what information should be written down, and what you would like to keep to yourself. Some people like to put as much information as they can. This is fine, it can be fun reading up on a character, but make sure you make it readable and don't have a giant wall of text. I've met a lot of RPers who like to put just enough to let you know who you are dealing with, but keep other information to themselves (either up in their heads or on other documents). This works too! In fact, I do it on a lot of characters myself. Just make sure you don't forget the information you didn't put down and be prepared for questions if you are vague.
The Actual Character
I can't speak a ton of this, but it goes back to finding your niche. I love having limiting factors on my more powerful characters (such as Ilyse above, whose magic is dependent upon the phases of the moon). If using characters from other works of literature or media are more your speed, then go for it. If you like making original characters, then take a look at what you do and don't like in a character. Put a piece of yourself into them, even if it's only one personality trait. I find that makes it a lot easier to RP as them. And, you'll probably hear this a lot, flaws do make a character interesting. There's no such thing as perfect.
Final Notes...
BBCode can, when you understand it, be a major asset to RPing and character profiles. Take a look over it, maybe even save the page.
Please, please do not, when looking for an RP, just tell someone to look through your 20+ characters and tell you what they want. That's asking them to take a lot of time to learn about a lot of characters they may not care about. If you're trying to see who they would like best, help narrow it down. Approach them with a couple of characters if you can't make a decision.
Typing this all out, it looks like a lot. But, really, it all boils down to just putting in some effort. Pay attention, put your best foot forward, and be courteous. You'll find RPers who do the same and those who don't. It's up to you to find the RP partners you want to stick with
Hope this helped!Cheers!
~Gamers
P.S- I've written this a bit out of order, so I may be back later to edit and organize it some more.
Gamers wrote:
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