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A RP survival guide
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Post by
Patty
So, this is mainly for newish people to Roleplaying, and mainly handles Roleplay interactions in game, as there is already
a thread for forum based RP.
However, there might be a couple of things unknown to more veteran roleplayers, or some overlap between already existing threads.
---
So, firstly -
What race to choose?
Choose whichever race you want to, because all races have enough lore to use to your advantage. However, I would first recommend researching your race.
Here has a couple of general hints and a little general knowledge about the races.
So, basically - There are no races to avoid, but if you are extremely inexperienced then I find humans an easy pick. Why, I hear you cry! Well, because we are humans in real life, not a super-powered Naaru in disguise as Varian’s secret Orc mother.*
*Please, don’t choose to roleplay as a super-powered Naaru in disguise as Varian’s secret Orc mother. It was a hyperbolised example of what not to choose.
How do I roleplay the race I have just picked?
One of the great things about RP is its versatility. Some races have common traits, but they do not all act the same. For example, most Dwarves have a scottish-sounding accent, but don't necessarily drink a lot. However - the best way to find out how to roleplay your race is to look into their lore and history.
Wowwiki
has enough information on the races to use it as your only Lore knowledge, but if you want some more depth I would recommend buying the older games and maybe the books.
Here
is a how to about making your background, which is
crucial
to your roleplaying. It is important to remember that before WoW, when your characters are approaching (or have approached) adulthood - Your character existed. They didn’t just spawn in the middle of Northshire abbey with a sword and shield! They had a childhood, they might have experienced some quite staggering things.
Without further ado, I give you links galore on races! Before you say “lolz all posts r eu they dnt appli 2 me unless im eu”, remember we play the same game - no matter from what part of the world. Tips on races are just as relevant as ones you may find on the US forums. (Sorry, they are official site posts.)
Blood Elf RP guide
Gnomes guide!
Night Elves
Trolls
Tauren
These only cover a few races, but generally the Lore can give an outline of what your character might act like.
Okay, so I have my character - how do I find roleplay?
Sorry, but this roleplaying malarkey tends to involve quite a bit of research. Look on your realm forums (unofficial and official, if possible). Most roleplaying tends to be quite boxed in between a group of friends, or a guild. These are places to look for finding RP, but here is something which might be extremely shocking! *dramatic, operatic music* You make RP. When you see someone walking or running past you, a simple /e or something can spark a whole RP conversation, which brings me nicely to the next point.
Survival.
Surviving RP encounters:
Roleplaying for the first time may seem very intimidating, and some roleplayers can be very elitist and might just ignore you. Some might not even roleplay at all, which can be a little disheartening. But, if you are on an RP server - you should find some RP sooner or later (hopefully quickly). So, here are a few quick tips on interacting with other roleplayers:
1 - Just because their character has a name hovering over their head doesn’t mean your character knows their name. You have to ask what people’s names are, it isn’t something you instinctively know. Similarly, if you read a RP-add on description (such as MRP) - Your character does not know that the person stood next to you was almost mauled to death by a marauding scorpion when they were only 7 years old unless they are explicitly told.
2 - The people you RP with should initially be seen as strangers. Try to avoid giving them your autobiography after saying two sentences to each other.
3 - Out Of Character writing is generally depicted with the dreaded ((OOC - Blah, blah)). This is against the
rules of RP servers
, which I would suggest you read before joining an RP server. Remember - /y, /s and /e are all In Character channels on RP servers.
4 - Don’t try to make any sexual advances with someone you have just met. Erotic Roleplay is pretty much universally found in Goldshire and Silvermoon - So these are generally places to avoid, rife with OOC and hormonal teenagers who want cybersex.
5 - Dancing naked on mailboxes, tables and generally anything is frowned upon. Similarly, try to avoid wearing black mageweave gear if you are a female character. It makes you look like a cheap hooker.
6 - You are not Onyxia in disguise as the secret Gnome Queen of the Engineers! Nor are you Arthas’ bastard brother who’s mother is Jaina Proudmoore! Avoid Mary-Sue-age (sue-age, ucwhutididthar?) Use a
litmus test
if you want to brush up your character a little.
What's a
Mary Sue
?
"A Mary Sue (sometimes just Sue), in literary criticism and particularly in fanfiction, is a fictional character with overly idealised and hackneyed mannerisms, lacking noteworthy flaws, and primarily functioning as wish-fulfillment fantasies for their authors or readers."
7 - Ignore button is your friend. ERPers, spammers and non-Roleplayers can ruin one's RP experience. But, with ignore, they don't have to ruin your immersion.
8 - If at first you don’t succeed - try again! Ask for constructive criticism, and you will probably find that your character is much better fleshed out afterwards.
9 - Somewhat linked with aforementioned rules, I'll make this explicitally clear. Avoid making close relationships with powerful lore figures because it may backfire; and a character like A'dal has bigger fish to fry than a pesky human who felt your Draenei's tight and toned buttocks!
10 - Please, don't use a gnome to roleplay a human child. I'm
actually
pleading
here! Gnomes make severely demented children, and I have seen numerous attempts by people to pull this off. All have failed miserably.
11 - Try to avoid phrases like "...but appear to hold a great, dark secret behind their beautiful, royal blue orb-like eyes" Or "Very sexy" In descriptions or emotes. Rather, say something like "shuffles uncomfortably at the word <whatever the word is>" Or "Some people feel rather attracted to this character's <enter features without telling an autobiography here>".
12 - When using RSP or MRP or describing a character, less is more. Give a simple overview of them, not three pages of continuous prose on the torment inflicted on them by some evil band of murlocs or their indescribable hair which you managed to describe with several hundred words, where a handful would have sufficed!
--
That is all so far, I may add more later if I feel more needs to be added. Suggestions/feedback/moar linkz are welcome.
Post by
Patty
Reserving this incase I need to add a lot more. Feel free to post away now. :)
Post by
HiVolt
Include the full definition of the Mary-Sue/Gary-Stu in the 6th rule, so that people who can't bother with links at least have that staring them in the face.
Otherwise, very good. Reported for sticky.
Post by
Patty
Sticky request =)
Thankies. ;)
An RP Survival Guide not A lol.I always get confused between "A RP" and "An RP" Because "A" Sounds better - but is generally used before words starting with a vowel. :/
Good points...but what if you or Skree or Adams or Gum or GC or Dralas wanna ERP what then?Keep it in private, but Blizzard do not like it because of the adult nature, and the game is 12+ rated.
Edit: Thanks Hi, I should add the definition of a Mary Sue (Must resist linking to Rhonin!)
Post by
HiVolt
An RP Survival Guide not A lol.I always get confused between "A RP" and "An RP" Because "A" Sounds better - but is generally used before words starting with a vowel. :/
And it can be used before words starting with a hard H, even though it sounds terrible to the ear... mine at least.
/endnitpicking
:P
Post by
Patty
And it can be used before words starting with a hard H, even though it sounds terrible to the ear... mine at least.
/endnitpicking
:P
But not in "RP", am I correct? :)
Post by
HiVolt
And it can be used before words starting with a hard H, even though it sounds terrible to the ear... mine at least.
/endnitpicking
:P
But not in "RP", am I correct? :)
I was actually referring to "an". You are correct in that "a" is reserved for consonant-sound word-beginnings.
Two hyphenated phrases, back-to-back... yeah, I'm that good. :D
Edit: Wow, I just realized my mistake there. Sorry for the confusion, it is fixed.
Post by
Patty
I was actually referring to "an". You are correct in that "a" is reserved for consonant-sound word-beginnings.Oh, right. :P
Two hyphenated phrases, back-to-back... yeah, I'm that good. :DO, u!
Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
HiVolt
Nice guide, Patty, although I'm trying to figure out...
3 - Out Of Character writing is generally depicted with the dreaded ((OOC - Blah, blah)). This is against the rules of RP servers, which I would suggest you read before joining an RP server. Remember - /y, /s and /e are all In Character channels on RP servers.
... this rule.
Most RP servers I've been on (this is US, though, so I'm not sure about EU), we use (( )) chat a lot. =O
It was pretty much what Patty described when I was on Cenarion Circle-US but like Hyper described when I was on The Scryers-US. The tolerance of it varies from server to server, it seems.
Post by
Patty
Nice guide, Patty, although I'm trying to figure out...
3 - Out Of Character writing is generally depicted with the dreaded ((OOC - Blah, blah)). This is against the rules of RP servers, which I would suggest you read before joining an RP server. Remember - /y, /s and /e are all In Character channels on RP servers.
... this rule.
Most RP servers I've been on (this is US, though, so I'm not sure about EU), we use (( )) chat a lot. =O
It's used, but it's against the rules which Blizzard doesn't regulate very well. They state that /s is strictly in character, even with (( ))
Post by
Patty
Okay, I found teh linx.
Absolutely no out of character (OOC) or Non-Fantasy related dialogue should take place in the /Say, /Yell, or Party Chat Channels
- I'll add this to the OP.
Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
HiVolt
Okay, I found teh linx.
Absolutely no out of character (OOC) or Non-Fantasy related dialogue should take place in the /Say, /Yell, or Party Chat Channels
- I'll add this to the OP.
Woah, I could get the say and yell part, but party? o_O It seems if we're allowed to OOC (( )) and party OOC, Blizz is doing a terrible job of enforcing these rules...
Yeah, the RP rules are sadly, a highly-neglected thing.
Post by
Patty
Woah, I could get the say and yell part, but party? o_O It seems if we're allowed to OOC (( )) and party OOC, Blizz is doing a terrible job of enforcing these rules...
They are awful - But the ((OOC - Blah, blah)) Was invented by users. I also think the /party OOC is tolerated as long as you confirm that it's okay with the other party members.
Post by
Adamsm
Good points...but what if you or Skree or Adams or Gum or GC or Dralas wanna ERP what then?/rolls eyes. Tauman, grow up.
Post by
366611
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Patty
Somehow I feel like this thread is made for a certain person..... *Cough*
demondarkness
*Cough*
It's not made for anyone specific. :P
Post by
Patty
Updated this with a couple more rules for the survival guide. Although this is primarily dealing with in-game encounters, some tips are very helpful in forum-based RP as well.
Post by
Monday
Nice. I was actually on Wowwiki and there were aritcles on there about RP'ing a certain race, you might want to include them.
All just start: "How to RP a *insert*"
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