kevintheradioguy
Salt
This is an old guide for beginner RPers I once made, and I think I just want to leave it here as well.
So, I've been asked a few times about how you improve your RP skills. Which is an odd question, if you ask me, as roleplaying is just playing pretend. You don't have to have some special skills or be gifted in wordweaving to be a good roleplayer. However, when confronted with this question and examples of some games... let's just say, I understood why someone might ask you "Hey, I'm not too satisfied with my RP partner, can you advise something?". I have seen numerous roleplays, whether on forums, in chats or on Skype, that looked like if one player was dragging another one along, almost forcing to play, while the second player was very passive and mostly had posts alike to "And then I do what I did before".
I am not going to go deeply in how to play, as you can and you should pursue your own style. But here are a few tips on how to become a better partner for your RP mates. I am going to speak from my personal experience, accompanied by my personal points of view and personal examples. I'm not trying to promote myself, it's just, again, personal opinion. If you're not OK with this, well, then keep it to yourself, because, really, I don't care, however rude that might sound.
Post length.
Now, I have a number of characters here, and this number might and will grow, so I'll show you an example of favourite four. Let's look at their info section screenshot and look at highlighted parts of preferred post length.Short answer on "How long my post should be" is "It doesn't matter". Some people might brag with their ability of writing four, five, six paragraph posts, but does that alone make them good? No, it absolutely doesn't. It doesn't matter if you write three paragraphs or three sentences. Your three sentence post can be interesting and full of action, while a three paragraph post will spend its entirety describing a flowerpot, which isn't that much of a game, right? Some people like descriptions, and it's perfectly fine. Others prefer to write about action, and that's fine too. Desiring to write more dialogue is as well fine.
Whether you're a master of expression and description, or a laconic vignette writer, as long as your post has a semantic load, so to speak, its length doesn't matter. It's kind of like with penises: size doesn't save you if you have no idea how to use it. Sorry, I had to make that joke.
In short: don't worry about your post length. Until you follow further advice, your length can be anything.
Contents.
Basically, a good (not brilliant, not great, just: good) post consists of three parts I'm going to describe in depth a little later. These are:1. Reaction.
2. Interlude.
3. Action.
There are some points, like, you can cut out interlude, or replace reaction with an action, but we'll talk about it later. For now, let's concentrate on this simple scheme: reaction - interlude - action.
Basically, as you start, try to make your post consist of three paragraphs, even if each one of them will be one sentence long. It's just for convenience. You can edit, divide, slightly change places or combine them later.
Reaction
Newton's third law is: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This applies to the post as well. Your partner did something in her last post, and what you have to do in the beginning is to react on that. If you got punched you can't just pretend it didn't happen in your poost, right? Read closer: what your partner actually did in her last post, imagine how it influences your character, and write about it. Your partner started yelling at your character. Does that offend her? Or makes her laugh? Does she try to ignore it, while silently boiling inside? Write about it. Your partner made an effort when she wrote that post, give her some respect and make a covert note in your own that'll say "Yes, you did this, I've read it and I noticed it".Ignoring (in character) is a reaction as well. Just don't ignore it out of character. If your character doesn't care about what happened, specifically state that. Write something along the lines of: "Rina didn't move when canine's fist hit her hard metal shell. As a robot, she was endurable enough not to budge. If she could sigh, she would. "Stupid organics" - she thought to herself, but decided to pretend nothing happened and continue with her usual overly polite behaviour." This will be much better then to just write nothing.
Interlude
A space between a reaction and an action is better filled with explanation of whether why your character reacted the way she reacted, or why your character is going to make the next action of hers. Sometimes, it's good to explain not only what your character does, but why she does that. That is especially helpful when we're talking dramatic scenes, and complex characters.If you're going to lie as your next action, add a description of it. It doesn't have to be something alike to "She gave him a sly look, obviously up to something". In fact, you can specifically state there was no look, and your partner should not suspect anything. But mentioning that the next thing you say isn't true is very helpful, and it prevents misunderstandings between you and your partner.
If there are some thoughts you'd like to add about the scene, but do not want to make your post a monologue, they are also better placed here.
Basically, this is the part where you add atmosphere to your post, as well as explain your character and show their personality via author's words. Here is where the description of the world around, your feelings and thoughts go.
Action
And this is the part where you do something for your partner to react to. It's like tossing the ball: you caught it (reaction), you held it in your hands (interlude), now it's time to toss it back (action).First and foremost: doing nothing isn't an action. Your partner has to have something to react to, so forget about writing something that will mean "and she continues doing what she did before". That is a sign of a bad roleplay. Give your partner something to work with! If you're lost, and you have no idea what to do next, end the scene, start a new one, or just write to your partner with a suggestion on how to change or improve their post so you have something to do. You have to toss the ball back.
Examples.
As an example, let me show a part of an amazing game I had with another guy, and then we look on how it was built. I had to edit them a little, so the scene won't be so confusing, as they are torn from the middle of the game, so forgive if I haven't noticed some tautology there. It's the scene after a concert one character had, and another one visited.In a few minutes young people let Etienne go, deciding to discuss alone whatever they were asking him; and he turned to walk to the bar. Zhaan was at a loss: how should he stop genasi? Anything that came onto his mind sounded rude or even intimidating.
It was a first time he ever saw a species like this: the creature's teeth and nails were dark red, which for some reason troubled the half-orc. He looked like fire. Grey, spotted skin, smelling of ash and flames, orange eyes, thin rigid lips of terracotta colour. Gods, those lips. Zhaan caught himself on thought that genasi has amazingly beautiful lips, which made him slightly blush and try to look away.
When the minstrel turned up in the immediate vicinity, trying to squeeze between him and a couple of actively whispering to each other drunks, half-orc did the first thing that came to his mind: he raised his hand and put it on genasi's chest, stopping him.
"Since when" - He started with the most charming smile he could master, - "genasi make such good bards?"
Not expecting the sudden stop, Etienne yielded back a little, looked at his side and slowly turned his gaze upwards, staring at half-orc's face; about a head taller then genasi. He arched his brow in silent question. Such behaviour didn't seem to confuse him even the slightest.
"You're not satisfied with something?" - He hummed with no challenge in his voice, rather, with curiosity. He gazed at his company with interest, openly examining tribal scarring on his face.
"Honestly?" - He grinned, as he leaned forward a little, crossing his hands on his chest in a playful manner. - "It is about race. People are firstly interested in seeing a circus freak, secondly in hearing stories. You of all people must understand."
Now, those posts are good. They're not great for anything but social roleplay, but they're pretty good. Let's now break these posts into parts and see how they fit the structure above.
Zhaan's post.
In a few minutes, as young people let Etienne go, deciding to discuss alone whatever they were asking him; and he turned to walk to the bar. Zhaan was at a loss: how should he stop genasi? Anything that came onto his mind sounded rude or even intimidating.
This is obviously a reaction on a previous post. The concert has ended, and Zhaan wants to stop Etienne and talk to him. He reacts on things happening: the end of the show, Etienne stopping to chat with other people, and then going past Zhaan to visit the bar and probably get a drink. Here you can see, hoe Zhaan writes "Yes, I have noticed what you did" while also covering it up with lyrical cover: he announces (it's partly interlude) what he is going to do about it next.
It was a first time he ever saw a species like this: the creature's teeth and nails were dark red, which for some reason troubled the half-orc. He looked like fire. Grey, spotted skin, smelling of ash and flames, orange eyes, thin rigid lips of terracotta colour. Gods, those lips. Zhaan caught himself on thought that genasi has amazingly beautiful lips, which made him slightly blush and try to look away.
Here we can see more lyrical digression. Zhaan explains in this post why exactly he is willing to stop Etienne: it is obvious Zhaan is romantically or sexually interested in him, and probably wants to flirt. He also leaves us a small notice: he blushed, but never stated the blush went away. Whether on purpose or not, this should be noted, as it makes for a good hint for another character: Etienne can notice the blush and whether continue with the flirting, or reject it right here and there.
When the minstrel turned up in the immediate vicinity, trying to squeeze between him and a couple of actively whispering to each other drunks, half-orc did the first thing that came to his mind: he raised his hand and put it on genasi's chest, stopping him.
"Since when" - He started with the most charming smile he could master, - "genasi make such good bards?"
As his action, Zhaan stops his interest in a rather rude manner, allowing him to react to such action. Also, he starts a dialogue, which, surprise-surprise! Is an action too. It's not just a statement, it's a question that is ought to make a reaction. As a little bonus we get the somewhat forced charming smile, that, again, is a hint on flirting. Seeing how another hint was thrown before, it is obvious to us that Zhaan whats for Etienne to notice the flirt, and react to it.
Now, let's go to Etienne's answer.
Not expecting the sudden stop, Etienne yielded back a little, looked at his side and slowly turned his gaze upwards, staring at half-orc's face; about a head taller then genasi. He arched his brow in silent question. Such behaviour didn't seem to confuse him even the slightest.
As a reaction, Etienne decided to show that he noticed Zhaan's action, describing it as "I didn't expect this to happen so I nearly fallen back", which adds to the lyrical cover. He also notes why he won't react on this gesture in an aggressive manner: he doesn't care about such stop.
"You're not satisfied with something?" - He hummed with no challenge in his voice, rather, with curiosity. He gazed at his company with interest, openly examining tribal scarring on his face.
The question in the beginning is still a reaction, however, the rest is a sort of interlude: Etienne agrees to the dialogue and examines his RP partner, noticing first and foremost his tribal scarring, which might or might not be the hint on how he perceives Zhaan: as a barbarian. Based on this, their future contacts might be based. Zhaan can whether enhance this point of view, for example, via talking about his tribe, or mentioning other tribal elements in his post, or ignore it completely.
"Honestly?" - He grinned, as he leaned forward a little, crossing his hands on his chest in a playful manner. - "It is about race. People are firstly interested in seeing a circus freak, secondly in hearing stories. You of all people must understand."
Most of Etienne's action consists of dialogue. He answers the question asked and exhibits slight aggression, mentioning Zhaan's race. This line can be a hint that Etienne is whether a racist himself, or suffers from racial prejudice, allowing for Zhaan to react on this in a suiting manner: get angry on the mentioning of his own race, or become compassionate about Etienne being seen as a "circus freak". Furthermore, Etienne mentions a playful manner, which is an answer to Zhaan's mentions of attempts on flirting. It seems that Etienne is interested in footsie, and he states that the character starts being sassy in return.
And other things.
You can by all means juggle with your paragraphs. You can be as short or as long as you want. This is not exactly a guide on how to become a better writer, it's about becoming a better partner for another person: read what she has to say, and do something in your post. It's very basic, but it will help beginners, or those who feel they lack some skill.Some other advice:
Please, don't use your character's hair colour instead of a pronoun or a synonym to her name. Calling your character "blonde" or "redhead" should rather filthy. And not in a good way.
Don't be afraid to ask your partner to change something or explain something. She will appreciate the fact you care. If she doesn't - she's an asshole, don't play with her any more.
Try to write posts the way you want them to be written to you. Before posting, ask yourself "Would I like this, if I got it?" or "If my partner writes something like this, will I be able to reply?".
Do not make too many actions! It will turn your posts in mish-mash or unsynchronized things
I highly advice using this table, or at least reading it from time to time.
Read books! Or listen to stories on youtube. In time, you'll find your own style, but if you feel you lack a capacity to write literate, dramatic posts, reading is a good thing. Of you like the book, for a short time you'll get a boost of energy and inspiration and will unwillingly try to copy the style, used by the writer. And it's not a bad thing: it is called learning.
Eat vegetables.
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