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For those of you that have never done anything like this, roleplaying is very much like writing a story except it's done with the cooperation of other people. It's a wonderful way to make friends and improve the quality of your writing by forcing you to expand the way you think about a story. Many people also use roleplaying to test out characters they plan on using in novels, because it teaches you about them and how they'd react in certain situations.
Here's a quick, simple run-through of how the entire process works. If you're left with any questions or ever feel unsure about how to proceed, feel free to PM one of the staff members for some advice. It's what we're here for, after all.
(Please note, this is a guide for group roleplaying. The 1x1 section is much more informal in its requirements and compositions.)
Terminology
OOC – Out of Character. Where you plan the story, submit your character sheet and discuss events with other members of the roleplay.
IC – In Character. This is where the story happens, with events such as interactions between characters and so on.
CS – Character Sheet. The information pertaining to your character. Usually what kind of character sheet you fill out depends on what the GM wants.
GM – Game Master. Also known as the author of the game, this person's word is absolute within the roleplay. All their rules apply and are to be followed to the letter, as well as the rules of the roleplaying section.
God-Modding. This is something that, regardless of skill level or the seriousness of the roleplay, is strictly off-limits. God-modding means taking control of or dictating the actions of a character that's not your own. An example of this is; "Jack pushed Andy to the floor, making him break his arm." In this case, the person who plays Jack stole control of Andy from another player and made him take damage. The only occasion this is acceptable is if you get permission from the other player first.
Meta-Gaming. Somewhat similar to god-modding and just as illegal, meta-gaming means to use information gained through the OOC thread or IC areas which your character(s) had no direct access to. In other words, you're using an advantage gained through information which you basically plucked out of the air.
Step 1, Getting Started
It all begins with the OOC thread. This is where the GM will give you important information about the roleplay, such as plot, rules, what kind of characters they want you to make, and so on. They will also usually provide a character sheet skeleton, the bare bones you need to make a character. It will look something like this:
The Game Master wrote:Name:
Gender:
Age:
Appearance:
History:
Personality:
Once you've filled out this form and posted it in the thread for the GM to see, they will either accept it, reject it or ask you to make some alterations before you're allowed to take part.
Step 2, Writing With Style
Once you've been approved by the GM, you're free to post in the IC thread. Depending on which skill level section the roleplay has been placed in, your writing is required to meet a certain standard. Here are some examples:
Level 1 - For the beginner roleplayer. If you're looking for a casual roleplay with no length requirements, this is where you go. As mentioned, there are no length requirements for this section. You may post one sentence in the IC if you so wish. If you're only just starting out as a roleplayer and don't feel that confident yet, this is where you can hone your skills and familiarize yourself with the process without feeling self-conscious or under pressure.
Level 2 - For the intermediate roleplayer. Decent post lengths, story progression and character development is what you'll find here. If you're a more experienced roleplayer looking for a reasonably casual RP, this is the section for you. Unlike the beginner section, there are certain length requirements. Two decent sized paragraphs minimum per post, as well as good writing quality.
Level 3 - For the experienced roleplayer. Complicated plots, large posts and vivid characters reign supreme in this section, as well as strong emphasis on quality writing. The most advance of all the sections, Level 3 is for the experienced, veteran roleplayer who enjoys long posts and complex character interactions. Four decent paragraphs are the minimum requirements, as well as story progression and character development with each.
One thing that each of these sections require is decent spelling and grammar. It's very easy to run your post through a spellchecker before submitting it. We also ask that you refrain from using chat speak and remember to capitalize appropriate words and use commas and periods.
Step 3, The Fun Part
And that's it! The best and most important part of roleplaying is keeping it fun. The sky is the limit when it comes to creating stories with a fun group of people. You can explore the lowest cave of an alien world or fly through the sky on the wings of a mighty dragon. So it enjoy it, fellow rpers. I'll be seeing you around in a game or two!
