A Simple Guide to RP, by Linrae

Chapter 1: Getting Started

1.1 Pre-development

There are basically two ways that an RP character evolves. One requires luck and flexibility, that method being that you create a character and allow it to evolve naturally. Without defining any quirks, issues, shortcoming or strengths until they spill out from RP. This method is generally used by the RP Professionals.

For those new to Role-playing though here's a formula that has worked for many a new player.
Well Thought out History + Relevant Costume + Memorable Issues + Glimmering Personality = Recognizable Character

We'll hit each in order.

Well Thought-out History:

Not everyone is capable of sitting down and writing out the complete and involving back-story of how their character came into being. But every player that wishes to enter into the realm of RP should at least have 7 basic facts ironed out prior to character creation (using the formula above, those that use the luck approach need to plan nothing)

Your basic facts include:

• Where were you before beginning to play Shadowcove?
• How did you come to be in Shadowcove?
• What are your abilities?
• Where did your abilities come from?
• What is your purpose in Shadowcove?
• What is your character's personality?
• What are your "quirks" ?

Think it through a little bit, then jot it all down on a sheet of paper, these are the most basic of limitations for your character. What you place down here is not set in stone, but it should also be followed very closely. These seven facts make your character who they are.

So let's put a sample character together.

Where were you before beginning to play Shadowcove?
I came from a land where it is night for 9 months of the year and necromancers hold power over most of the major cities.

How did you come to be in Shadowcove?
I was working for the local necromancer on the night of a full moon. They were trying to open a portal that would give them enough power to take over the neighboring city. Something went wrong though and the power began to warp and change the necromancers. I became very afraid, dropped what I was holding and tried to run, only I couldn't move! Tendrils crawled up out of the partially formed portal and wrapped themselves around me and it grew very cold. I think I screamed, but then everything went black. I woke up in front of the castle in Britain with just my clothing and a few odds and ends in my backpack.

What are your abilities?
I was just a servant before, but ever since I was pulled through that portal I've found that I can tap into the void and pull power to myself and cast spells.

Where did your abilities come from?
This part is where the main skill of all RPers comes into play. creativity! You could be experimented on, they could come naturally to you, you could have mutated, they could be made available to you by some form of machinery that you have implanted, or they could be granted to you by a god/goddess/magickal object. For our sample character the abilities were absorbed during the portal transfer, we just don't fully understand (yet) how to use them.

What is your purpose in Shadowcove?
Here is where you decide why you're going to stay in Shadowcove. For our sample character then. I have decided to make the best of this opportunity, to see what I can learn and maybe become as powerful as those necromancers back home.

What is your Character's Personality?
This is the most fun portion so far. You need to simply indicate what your character's basic traits are like. A neat trick for this is to find 2 characters that you somehow relate to, and merge them together. For our sample character we'll say. I am used to a lot of suffering, going hungry and being yelled at. I have always wanted to rebel against such treatment, but never had the power to do so. Now I will and no one will ever speak ill to me or treat me badly again!

What are your character's quirks?
What do you like? What do you hate? Is there something your character is afraid of? All good role played characters should have some sort of disadvantage that can be played with. Our sample character will be afraid of Necromancers on a subconscious level. Anytime they meet one they will look at the ground, shuffle their feet and hunch their back a bit.

It's possible that over time this quirk will go away, but another should surface to take it's place.

1.2 Character creation

What's in a name?

L33t and d00d names are out. Try to refrain from using names that are easily associated with known fantasy characters as well. Think to yourself, "Is this a name I'd be able to pronounce? Would I see this name in a novel? Does this sound like a "real" name? For our sample let's say we're male. My name is Rothmans. I don't have a surname, only the necromancers were allowed more than one name.

What I look like. Hair and Clothing!

Dress the part of your character. What colors do they favor? What colors would they never be caught dead in? Our sample character then. I adore green, but it looks horrid on me, maybe because I have gray hair. I have decided on a set of dark red leathers with brown calf boots and a brown cape. I also like the feathered hat, so have one of those in red as well. I was rather unkempt as a servant, so I have long hair and a long beard. I have rather pale skin too, due to the lack of sunlight most of the year.

Chapter 2: First Contact

2.1 The Rules of Engagement

There are some things that you need to understand before getting started that will help keep you from getting upset. Your character is an unknown at this point. Not everyone will react to them immediately.

You will have to take the first steps at interaction. If individuals don't see talking they often think that you are RPing a character that is unseen or that lurks in the background. So speak up!

Two ways to do this without actively interfering in the RP of others is to walk up to the area where the other are and say, "Greetings, I am Rothmans, might I join you?" Now it can always be simplified to meet your characters personality. Try using "Is this seat taken?" when in a tavern or a town hall. Try emoting things like: *Curls up on the outskirts of the small crowd, not wanting to interfere, but wanting to listen* is fairly effective for your shy characters. Again use your imagination.

Once you have started the conversation there are a few rules that you should pay careful attention to. Every RP community has it's own rules around how RP is conducted. Here are the generally accepted Rules of Engagement when involving yourself with RP. These make up the majority of the things that will cause your character to get on the bad side of many RPers.

No Powerposing/God Modeing/Run-way RPing.

This is defined by RPing actions that affect another player without their permission. Actions that involve the killing of another character are part of this as well. Example: *reaches into the air around Lady Dianna and squeezes the life from her heart with his awesome powers* While that example is graphic other more subtle actions can still be called Powerposing. Example: *sings a song of such beauty and purity that it causes all within its sound to fall under her spell*

Stay in Character

Nothing will break immersion in your character as fast as breaking character while RPing. Try to keep your character's thoughts, feelings and reactions at the forefront of your mind at just about all times. Should the need come up for you to gain some clarity on a situation or something that was said then always indicate when Out Of Character, or OOC, by using either the (( )) approach, or the more complicated OOC: approach.

When in doubt, Ask!

No one's character has ever been hurt by sending a .msg to the individual(s) that you are RPing with asking an OOC question about something you want to do with or near their character. If you want to summon up some creatures and want someone to act frightened so that you can have your character make it go away out of compassion, ask them to help you. Use /tell's like you would a dress rehearsal to see how all the pieces will fit together.

Share the Spotlight!

This one is pretty easy. Just like in Real Life your character will not always be at the epicenter of all the RP activity. Be mindful that if another is at a particularly dramatic or difficult point in the active RP around you, it may not be the time to figure out why your magickal watch is saying "Eat Fried Beans". Be willing to share the spot light with others and they will be willing to share it with you.

Foster the Community

If there is an event going on, try to make it a point to attend when your RL allows it. When you have become more comfortable RPing, take someone else under your wing and show them how it's done. Any activity that is supportive of the RP community is a must to for most RPers.

However the reverse of this is also true; do nothing that will create a dislike of the RP community as a group while Rping. RPing a rabid orc that spreads Rabies to everyone, even non RPers, reflects poorly on the community as a whole. So be mindful that your reactions are reflected upon all RPers.

Suspension of Disbelief

Part of successful Roleplaying is being able to dispel your disbelief. We all do it even if we don't think we are. By logging into the game we automatically forfeit a small piece of our disbelief. If you really analyze it none of our powers exist, none of our characters exist, and Shadowcove itself doesn't exist. Upon entering the game we make the world around us. real.

Successful RPers will allow other players to indulge in creating their own stories, even if it means allowing something that doesn't appear "plausible" based off past knowledge. My tip with this, swiped rather blatantly from the more successful RPers I've met, is to think of Shadowcove as a nexus to multiple realities with multiple truths. If you adopt a similar thinking then suspending your own disbelief will be a cinch. Be respectful of those with stories outside your beliefs, and you'll find that you'll be included more readily in the community and have a much better RP experience within Shadowcove.

2.2 Storylines - How to make your Character Come Alive

A major part of RP comes after the initial introduction. Once you have made your entrance into the community and have decided to move up to the next step then you may well want to give an RP Storyline a try.

An RP Storyline is an interactive story that not only involves you, but those around you. It takes a good bit of planning, and some well thought out activities to make it a success.

You will want to start out with story that you want to share with the community. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, maybe something general, like your sister has been kidnapped.

You'll then need to decide who you need to help you out. If it's been a magickal kidnapping, maybe you need a powerful magick user, or if it was a mercenary type of kidnapping, perhaps you'll want some muscle to help bust them out. Just choose the basic bare bones of what you're going to need to make the rescue/story a success.

Your next step would be to contact the individuals you would like to have help you, send them an OOC e-mail or /tell and ask them if they would be able to help out with this. In this same e-mail or /tell it is always a good idea to see what their availability is like. After you hear back from the majority of folk you can set a date and time to have everything begin.

Next I would suggest writing up a brief intro story that you can share on the Shadowcove forum so that everyone involved will be up to date on the story and you can announce to the rest of the community what is happening. You'll be surprised how many people will want to help with the story, and will reply to your post. Try your best to include those that would like to help in some way, but also stay true to the original purpose of the Storyline. It's great that 1500 heroes want to help save your sister, but if she's been kidnapped by a group of mercs then it might be better to take a small team in to get her.

Keep the story simple.

You don't need to have it completely outlined or anything, but have a good idea of where you want this story to go, but be flexible enough for on-the-spot changes.

Have a workable solution.

Something that can be guessed without a lot of research. If it's something impossible or some really quirky piece of lore that only a Left-handed Half-Elf from the Planet Nadox can solve, you'll lose your audience in a hurry.

Give out clues!

If there's any way to give out clues, do so. If not, again, you'll lose your audience.

Get People Involved.

If you're going to have other people involved, make sure they have their clues as well. Maybe they're the clue-giver or whatever.

Time.

Here's the tricky part because I don't want to rain on anyone's parade..errr...story. If you plan to involve just yourself and a couple of people, drag it on as long as you want. But if you plan to involve the whole realm then two to three days (real time) is usually sufficient. Most people want an "end" to the story or at least a conclusion to each play session.

If the story is going to be long make sure you keep updates on the forums. Also remember, we're here to Role Play, so if folk ask you things in game do not tell them to go read the forums, take time to give them a short briefing and then OOCly let them know they can get full details on the forums.

"Fights"

As there is no PvP on Shadowcove you'll either have to fight monsters or go for the duel option with another player if your story requires people to fight people.