How to Role Play: A Character Guide

[Ginger - The Waitress]

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY BEFORE STARTING YOUR OWN ROLEPLAY

As in most roleplaying sites there are guidelines and rules. We don’t want you to feel intimidated by these rules and guidelines, and we know not everyone can remember not to do these things (and people sometimes slip up even experienced ‘old timers’. The main part of this is to have fun but to make sure that you stay within the limits of your vampire/character within the game.

This guide was first written by Anjana, this has been posted with permission by the author herself.

This updated verison to what she has written, is by Kittie and is of course posted with my permission.

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First thing we want to explain is that spelling and grammar isn’t a huge deal. We are not expecting you to write something that could be published as the new bestseller, but we do ask that you put some effort into what you write. If we can’t understand what your saying then the chances are no one else will either. Try to stay away from chat lingo.

Example of bad roleplay:
Human: -walk in- hi my name is mary
Vampire: lol hi mary
Human: how r u?
Vampire: good u?
Human: good, can u turn me?
Vampire: Sure
Human: k
Vampire: -gives biter link-

This is fine in in chat rooms, but you should not post this here. Try to write out full words. Like below:

Human: -walks into the city- Hi my name is Mary
Vampire: -laughs out loud- Hi Mary!
Human: How are you?
Vampire: I’m good how are you?
Human: Good, can you turn me into a vampire?
Vampire: -nods- sure
Human: Thank you
Vampire: -bites you hence turning you into a vampire- (then give biter link in a PM)

If you are pretty bad at spelling, there is a spell check on this site, or you could try Microsoft Word. Below our the other topics you can find in this thread.

Creating a Character
Powers (such as Telepathy)
Powerplaying
Which Form to Choose

[Ginger - The Waitress]

Creating a Character

Creating a character is of course the first real thing you need to do for you to roleplay. It helps if you have something in mind, and then can make a character sheet Once you have an over all idea on the type of character you would like to have, you should take a look at the How to Roleplay Powers Guide by Kittie so you know what will/shall happen with your character and the choices you have made for them.

It helps if you do not create a ‘god’ character. Such as someone who can destroy the world. There is only one God that strong in this game and that is RavenBlack himself. Meaning there shouldn’t be Dragon Ball Z Super Saiyan, attacks. Your character can’t really be completely invincible without have Neutrality (3) which basically makes the vampire invincible but unable to fight back.

Your character should have some flaws, and weaknesses, as they add to an individuality of a character. We all know that from movies and novels that they are indeed powerful creatures in comparison to humans and so forth, but they are not gods. Plus you should always remember that even those in the movies and novels tend to have grown in power the longer they have been around. (In this case though gaining powers in the game) You character is indeed just starting out, and older vampires have been around a lot longer. For more information on where you would fall in starting out compared to others who may have been around longer, please go here[ /url]

This doesn’t mean you can not challenge older members, you can be off-Standish, and impudent all you like. Just keep in mind that they most likely have the upper hand when it comes to a fight and if you run your mouth to much in character, they may simply zero your vampire. So don’t play your character as though you could wipe them off the face of the earth, because to be truthful you do not have that power starting out.

[Ginger - The Waitress]

Powers (such as Telepathy)

As we’ve said before, because this forum is connected to an interactive game, you shouldn’t use powers or skills that are not somehow connected to the game itself. *How to Roleplay Powers Guide by Kittie* The ideal roleplayer is someone who can connect their powers into the game, or simply use the game powers alone.

This means, that your character should not be able to use Telepathy if they do not have the power in the game itself. This also means that you should not send forth telepathic message, however you of course can hear telepathic messages from vampires who indeed have telepathic messages.

On this site we have it so you can send messages without having to worry about someone else reading it. (Do keep in mind that staff members can do so if required) To send a ‘telepathic message’ in roleplay, simply type in the username of the person who you wish to send it to.

If you are in a roleplay with my character and you wish to send her a telepathic message, you would send it as:

[whisper=admin]Message[/whisper]

This command only works in the In Character section. If we find that it’s being abused to break rules. (And we will find out) we will take actions against such things.

The reason why you can’t just go and use these powers, without having first gaining them in the game is because older members, and sometimes even younger ones, have worked or paid for those powers to be able to use them. If you wish to be quickly powered in the game, best to pay for the powers. Though it’s just as rewarding to work towards those powers. The choice is your and no one should judge you for whichever way you wish to ‘train’ your vampire.

Mind-Reading, is a form of Telepathy, however, you shouldn’t ever read someone’s mind unless they have given you permission to do such a thing. Just because the fellow writer may have written their character’s thoughts in their posts, doesn’t mean that your vampire has read or seen such things. The human behind the vampire has indeed seen it. Telepathy powers would not change this fact. Just like you should not use Telepathy to read the messages sent to another character.

However, one is always able to pick up another’s body language, as well as perhaps aura’s.

Powers not in the game, such as flying or spitting fire, or whatever you may be able to create should have ways to explain them in the game itself. We have gotten a guide going for the back powers and things that many people come up with. Also understand that you are free to use your ‘spitting fire’ to explain that of an ‘Holy Water’ attack. Just understand that not everyone approves of such things.

[Ginger - The Waitress]

Powerplaying

This is a crime most of us will probably at some point commit - but it is important to keep it to an absolute minimum.
Powerplaying means one player takes control over the actions of another player's character.
Example, using myself as the one powerplaying another player's character, who we shall name Cronos.
I was growing increasingly impatient and told Cronos to go to hell, who with a swipe of his hand opened the earth and jumped down into the firy abyss without even waving good-bye.
I can tell Cronos to go to hell all I like, but what his writer then lets Cronos do is not for me to describe. Maybe his writer wishes Cronos to break into tears over my character's rudeness. Maybe he wants Cronos to swear back at my character. Whatever might be the case - it is not my decision and I shall not make Cronos do anything, but just wait and see what his writer will make him do (only exception from this rule is when you have clear permission from another player to take momentary control of their character's actions)

[Ginger - The Waitress]

Which form to choose

Writing in first or third person are the most widely used forms when it comes to roleplay.
Example for first person: "After the short walk, I sat down on the bench and watched the moon rise slowly over the rooftops of the sleeping city."
Example for third person: "After the short walk, he sat down on the bench and watched the moon slowly rise over the rooftops of the sleeping city."
Which form one wishes to choose is simply down to personal preference, same when it come to past or present tense. One thread can easily contain some writers who will write as if the story happens in the past, whilst other writers will have their reply posts written as if the story is happening in the presence. There should be no arguing over this, just acceptence of different preferences ^_^