Viewpoint What are some common RP traits that you don't understand the appeal of?

[Frownist]

I think it's the coding thing for me. Definitely not knocking anyone who likes to code. I've seen some pretty posts but I personally don't get the appeal. For one, I can't code. Even if I could, I don't think I would bother. I would be more concerned with the quality of my post more than anything. Again, everyone has their own tastes I suppose.

For me a lot of people make these kinds of post for interest checks, and since I usually use my phone I can’t see them. They don’t usually make a mobile friendly version either.. Sucks.

 

[Jannah]

I similarly don't understand the appeal of using celebrities now that I've been role-playing for many years now. As a frequent gm, I've noticed that it often creates a bit of character bias. Cillian Murphy, Oscar Isaac, and Pedro Pascal are notable examples of face claims that have garnered more favor in roleplays I've been in since their popularity has grown. People have a tendency to fixate on roles they've played, or even the roleplayer themselves will lowkey create a character that is just a remixed version of their well known role.

Personally, I find it a bit distracting. I think smaller actors and models help reduce the initial bias and favor might receive from recognition alone.

I actually also feel the same about popular anime and video game characters. Gojo from JJK is a common one I see in roleplays, and I find it difficult to not compare the roleplayer's character to Gojo himself lmao

I'm on a site that requires face claims and they have to be either actors, signed musicians, or signed models. Years ago I wasn't fond of this rule, but I have grown so used to it now. I just think of it as the actors and such playing yet another role. I mean, they're actors. They literally play characters. It's what they do. It's definitely less weird to think about it like that.

 

[cwosont]

I'm on a site that requires face claims and they have to be either actors, signed musicians, or signed models. Years ago I wasn't fond of this rule, but I have grown so used to it now. I just think of it as the actors and such playing yet another role. I mean, they're actors. They literally play characters. It's what they do. It's definitely less weird to think about it like that.

Yeah, I've no qualms with signed actors or models. It's just A-list actors that I've found distracting over the years, and I say this as someone who used to use actors like Cillian Murphy, Sophie Turner, etc. It was just the reactions and favoritism received for using those particular actors that steered me away from them. I use signed models more these days, and the occasional lesser known actor, and feel that my characters receive more attention for their personality or backstory than they used to.

 

[Jannah]

Yeah, I've no qualms with signed actors or models. It's just A-list actors that I've found distracting over the years, and I say this as someone who used to use actors like Cillian Murphy, Sophie Turner, etc. It was just the reactions and favoritism received for using those particular actors that steered me away from them. I use signed models more these days, and the occasional lesser known actor, and feel that my characters receive more attention for their personality or backstory than they used to.

When I use actors I tend to use a lot of lesser known foreign ones myself. Only rarely will I use an A-list Hollywood actor, typically because I feel they're PERFECT for the character they're going to be portraying.

 

[Auralunabella]

I think mine is when people require or disallow certain types of face claims. Use whatever you want or use nothing and just describe your character, I don't care, as long as the character fits the story and the story is good. If you can't RP with someone because they've used a drawn face claim when you require realistic, or vice versa, it just seems counterproductive to me. I'm all about the writing. I'll use whatever my partner(s) like(s), but I won't even entertain an interest check that says "Realistic face claims only" or any variation of that. Not because I don't use whatever they prefer, but because it seems so restrictive, and leads me to believe that won't be the only restriction imposed on me throughout the RP.

 

[nerdy tangents]

So for me it’s a consistency issue. I am a very visual person so I need the visuals to be similar or it breaks immersion for me.

For instance if your watching a TV show and suddenly one of the character becomes animated but all the other characters are live action that is jarring. Now some TV shows built that into the plot (oh so and so has delusions where they see people as cartoons or the characters are all high as a kite or whatever).

And if thats the case (the plot has some sort of dynamic in it where some people are going to be animated and some live action) than sure. I don’t care what you pick.

But if its meant to be something where all the characters are just people living in whatever fictional world the story takes place in. I’m gonna need you to pick a lane.

Now granted I personally don’t really care which lane you pick. If you want to do drawn images that’s fine. If you want real people also great. If you want written descriptions, well I will definately have a photo of my character but I have no problem writing a written description of that if it’s easier for you.

Because again personally I’m a visual person. I need to be able to see it to get a clear image of the character. But I by no means put my partners under the same restriction.


That said it does kind of put me off when people askme to pick their characters visuals. I don’t mean “oh hey do you want real photos or drawn image?” I mean “oh so can you make/find a visual for my character.”

No. Because it’s not my character and beyond consistency I don’t super care what your character looks like.

 

[Edric Blight]

Well keeping with the whole face claims thing in terms of common RP traits I don’t understand, (and considering some of the previous comments I know this is gonna ruffle some feathers so sorry) but I never understood using drawn face claims for so many situations. Idk, I’m just a big realistic face claim guy so I’ve never understood the appeal of drawn or anime face claims. Yes I said it don’t kill me- it’s just my opinion and a common thing I see that I don’t really understand much. Not bashing it and not saying no one should use drawn face claims- just saying I don’t prefer them.

 

[April_Fools]

When people avoid conflict between muses. They keep to purely outer conflict like villians, monsters, or other conflict but I've seen people go through ridiculous hoops to avoid conflict with another's character.

If it's some random you think will god mod that's one thing. But especially in like romance RP that great shit happens when they get pissed with one another.

 

[Chained Echoes]

Let me start by saying, I have no issue with romance. It can be fun if characters get together or even something platonic is great. I've been seeing this a lot lately, not just here, but other places where romance is a must. Like it has to happen. I guess I don't get really the appeal of the "must" part. I mean how can anyone say romance must happen if they don't know how, in a 1x1, the other person's character will react to their character or even like said character for that matter? It feels like there's no real choice. It's just kind of strange in some sense to not have a relationship play out organically if there needs to even be one.

 

[Frownist]

Well keeping with the whole face claims thing in terms of common RP traits I don’t understand, (and considering some of the previous comments I know this is gonna ruffle some feathers so sorry) but I never understood using drawn face claims for so many situations. Idk, I’m just a big realistic face claim guy so I’ve never understood the appeal of drawn or anime face claims. Yes I said it don’t kill me- it’s just my opinion and a common thing I see that I don’t really understand much. Not bashing it and not saying no one should use drawn face claims- just saying I don’t prefer them.

I understand. I don’t like people who only allow realistic face claims because if I just draw the way my character looks then I’ll be much happier honestly and I don’t really like to use other people’s work. It’s pretty hard to find a face claim I like. I guess I’m just really picky, lol.

 

[Edric Blight]

I understand. I don’t like people who only allow realistic face claims because if I just draw the way my character looks then I’ll be much happier honestly and I don’t really like to use other people’s work. It’s pretty hard to find a face claim I like. I guess I’m just really picky, lol.

Fair enough. I’m admittedly picky too but in the sense of I like realistic and don’t prefer drawn. But to each their own, that’s the glory of it. (:

 

[Cogwork]

I guess I don't get really the appeal of the "must" part.

I don't get what is so weird about it.

Would you be as confused if someone who wanted to run a comedy roleplay required that comedy had to be included in their rp?

 

[Steve Jobs]

I'm not sure why people go through the trouble of applying to a roleplay, plotting with others, and then ghosting. I understand if a person loses interest or gets busy but it's the ghosting part that really befuddles me. Surely if you were active enough to plot with people, you can tell the GM you want to leave right?

Not to mention, it's a waste of your and everyone's time if you never intended on actually posting.

 

[Chained Echoes]

I don't get what is so weird about it.

Would you be as confused if someone who wanted to run a comedy roleplay required that comedy had to be included in their rp?

We aren't talking about comedy though, at least I was not. Going back to the topic of the thread, I answered what I found as to not be appealing. It wasn't a knock against anyone that requires romance as a must. You may not agree which is fine but it's how I feel and it won't change whether or not you choose to question it. As not to have another derail of the topic, please don't tag me again if you take issue.

 

[ViperBite]

Even though it’s already mentioned, I’d have to go with coding. I’m assuming it’s similar to making a post appear aesthetically pleasing? Yeah. I had people refuse to write with me because I don’t “pretty up” my posts.

 

[Jackalope]

Hello! I'll been RPing for quite some time (over a decade, though I can't figure out the exact number), and quite a lot of things have changed over the years! I've been noticing a couple new popular things in RP that weren't really around the last time I was on a forum, and things that have been around since time immemorial.

So, I was wondering: what are some RP tendencies that you don't really "get"? I don't mean pet peeves or straight-up complaints, really. Just things that you may not necessarily dislike, you just don't understand why people do them or why they're popular. Maybe they're even habits that you do, and you don't really understand why you do them! Who knows- maybe someone on the thread will explain it, and then you'll get why people prefer it!

I'll start with two of mine:

1. I've never understood the appeal of "celebrity" or household names as faceclaims, even when I started RPing. I suppose they could have a certain appeal if you're picking actors and envisioning your RP as a TV series or movie. For me, though, I feel like I would be taking away a certain degree of originality or creativity by giving my character the face of someone extremely popular. Something like that phenomenon when you watch a movie and the actor is so popular that it's hard to see them as their character and not just the actor. Like, nobody ever calls the Rock's characters by their names.

2. The former is my old guard "RPer yells at cloud", but this is a new one I've noticed that I don't think I've seen before: a lot of character post codes I've seen have a section to put down the character's mood. I don't really understand that. I feel like a character's mood usually comes across well enough in the post itself? Especially with long posts. It just seems a little redundant and I don't get it.

1. I hate when my partners ask for RL face claims. It strikes me as so odd and just... no one consented to me using their picture as my character. I feel like that's important somehow, comical though it may be, since they're public figures.

2. That's... That's a thing? I don't think I've seen that yet. But that's weird. If you can't convey through your post, then... what's the point?

 

[kawaiiyote]

• many have said coding, & i agree - though i actually like/enjoy coding! i do not, however, have any desire to implement it in roleplay posts.
  • i want to be able to read and post on mobile if need be.
  • i just wanna yeet my posts. it's so tedious to copy code, first, then insert the text. hate it, won't rp on a site that requires this.
  • anything that makes it harder to read is an immediate, resounding, no. tiny fonts, low contrast, contained themes so you have to scroll several times to read one paragraph? absolutely not. and if it breaks on my cell (lookin' at you, beautiful but convoluted google docs layouts), i'm not into it. at all.
• "wanted faceclaims." usually if i see a section like this in a group, i'll leave. i do not want my character boiled down to the faceclaim i pick for them, but for their personality and the way they're written. "i want to write against a ___ fc" gives me the ick. people can enjoy what they enjoy ofc! it's just not for me. (suggested fcs is a little different; especially if it's just a resource for new characters. like, "hey, these fcs have resources that help them fit in really well in this setting," etc.)
• a super specific one, but: that person in the group who can do nothing but talk about their character. they'll interrupt every conceivable conversation, especially if it's focused on other characters, to dump headcanons about theirs. i love the enthusiasm, but the lack of self awareness is secondhand embarrassing.