Post by Piccylo on Jul 8, 2007 23:17:09 GMT -5
Okay, I won't strictly enforce this as rules (nor should any other mod), but here's a list of rules of etiquette for roleplaying. However, even though the mods wont be smacking people with sticks for these, the person who started the game (the GM, if you will) has the explicit right to kick out or not accept anyone who does not follow these rules (or any rules that they might place down). Posting on an RPG that you're not or no longer a part of gives the GM permission to call up a mod, and the mod might give you a warning and delete the offending posts.
1. Don't godmod. The definition for godmodding can be found here. Basically, don't do it. Some people don't mind, but many find it boorish, noobish, childish, and a bunch of other terms with the suffix of "-ish". Biggest reason: it's plain bad roleplaying.
2. Don't take other people's characters out of their character. If you borrow another players character in your post (which is how I've developed my roleplaying style, thus I see good reasons to allow it), don't make the character do things that the character wouldn't normally do. That makes the player very angry, and even though a good RPer should be able to make up for these mistakes made by others, its not a mark of goodwill on your own part. Best to either ask for permission or talk to the person in the lounge about your use of their character.
3. Bad grammar and spelling. I used to be a terrible grammar nazi. I'm not as bad now, mostly because I'll use bad grammar to anger other grammar nazis, but I'll still frown at kids who actually think that putting "lol" in their IC post (unless they're replicating chat for whatever reason) is a good idea. Plus, it makes you look lazy. Lazy = Bad. I've been known to spell-check, grammar-check, and even word count RP posts before. It takes 5 seconds. Do it.
4. Parody style and similar. I've seen people who had terrible grammar, used parody style, and still were rockin' roleplayers. And I've been known to use many an asterisk when roleplaying on IM or chat, but forum posts usually call for more finesse. A good bet: go for book-writing style. It shows at least some patience and some ability to conceive the logic of language. And that's what you've been doing in school, so you have no bloody excuse to say "ITS TOO HRAD I DONT KNOW HAW!!!!!11!" And if you're illiterate, you shouldn't be forum roleplaying in the first place.
5. Try to be at least a little original. The whole purpose of these boards is to fry up some originality to put beside your toast when you wake up at 1 in the morning (What? Am I the only one that does that?) Can't do that without supplying originality in the first place. Keep away from the stereotype Sepherothians, the late teen-early twenty year olds, the orphans, the girls with "neko" somewhere in their names, etc. This isn't to say to not post Harry Potter or never play a teenager or have a tragic past. This is to say: try something new. Experiment. Don't be afraid to play something you've never tried before.
6. Stay away from OOC in IC. There's a rule about this, but sometimes it needs to be made more clear: If the RPG is set in the 50s, and your character is not some sort of prophet, she will know nothing about Miriah Carey's songs. If you're playing a dwarf fighter, you're probably not going to an AA meeting (as much as you might need to go). If you're in a fantasy realm, you're not going to have a cell phone, and if you're in a modern realm, you're not going to ride a dragon.
7. Quality vs. Quantity. Quality will always win out. However, I've put one-liners as a no-no for a reason; it is very hard to squeeze in any amount of quality into a one-liner. One does not simply "walk in" or "die". We want to know if you had a swagger when you came through the door, if your alcohol shows in your steps, or if one can just tell by the presence you have by entering the room that you're a commanding individual. Your character's death is their death; it is the end of their life. Did they want to die? If not, make sure everyone else knows how tragic and horrid the experience is for them. If it is, we want to know their ecstasy. If they changed their mind, we want to see that conflict, damnit. This doesn't mean to make it longer than it needs to be. No one wants to read a 5 paragraph post that could have been summed up efficiently in a few sentences. Remember: Length's only purpose is to accommodate the content. [/b]
8. The GM is effectively god of the RPG, so don't abuse them. If they have specific rules, follow them. If they're doing something that irks you, tell them in a non-flaming way if you want your character to survive. If you want to take the RPG into a different direction, you might want to ask them before you hijack it. They have this power because if you've ever played tabletop, you know how much the GM rules over you, and these kinds of politics are rarely democratic, my friend. And trying to waylay your GM should be done with caution: if you try to box with God, you might find your arms to be too short.
1. Don't godmod. The definition for godmodding can be found here. Basically, don't do it. Some people don't mind, but many find it boorish, noobish, childish, and a bunch of other terms with the suffix of "-ish". Biggest reason: it's plain bad roleplaying.
2. Don't take other people's characters out of their character. If you borrow another players character in your post (which is how I've developed my roleplaying style, thus I see good reasons to allow it), don't make the character do things that the character wouldn't normally do. That makes the player very angry, and even though a good RPer should be able to make up for these mistakes made by others, its not a mark of goodwill on your own part. Best to either ask for permission or talk to the person in the lounge about your use of their character.
3. Bad grammar and spelling. I used to be a terrible grammar nazi. I'm not as bad now, mostly because I'll use bad grammar to anger other grammar nazis, but I'll still frown at kids who actually think that putting "lol" in their IC post (unless they're replicating chat for whatever reason) is a good idea. Plus, it makes you look lazy. Lazy = Bad. I've been known to spell-check, grammar-check, and even word count RP posts before. It takes 5 seconds. Do it.
4. Parody style and similar. I've seen people who had terrible grammar, used parody style, and still were rockin' roleplayers. And I've been known to use many an asterisk when roleplaying on IM or chat, but forum posts usually call for more finesse. A good bet: go for book-writing style. It shows at least some patience and some ability to conceive the logic of language. And that's what you've been doing in school, so you have no bloody excuse to say "ITS TOO HRAD I DONT KNOW HAW!!!!!11!" And if you're illiterate, you shouldn't be forum roleplaying in the first place.
5. Try to be at least a little original. The whole purpose of these boards is to fry up some originality to put beside your toast when you wake up at 1 in the morning (What? Am I the only one that does that?) Can't do that without supplying originality in the first place. Keep away from the stereotype Sepherothians, the late teen-early twenty year olds, the orphans, the girls with "neko" somewhere in their names, etc. This isn't to say to not post Harry Potter or never play a teenager or have a tragic past. This is to say: try something new. Experiment. Don't be afraid to play something you've never tried before.
6. Stay away from OOC in IC. There's a rule about this, but sometimes it needs to be made more clear: If the RPG is set in the 50s, and your character is not some sort of prophet, she will know nothing about Miriah Carey's songs. If you're playing a dwarf fighter, you're probably not going to an AA meeting (as much as you might need to go). If you're in a fantasy realm, you're not going to have a cell phone, and if you're in a modern realm, you're not going to ride a dragon.
7. Quality vs. Quantity. Quality will always win out. However, I've put one-liners as a no-no for a reason; it is very hard to squeeze in any amount of quality into a one-liner. One does not simply "walk in" or "die". We want to know if you had a swagger when you came through the door, if your alcohol shows in your steps, or if one can just tell by the presence you have by entering the room that you're a commanding individual. Your character's death is their death; it is the end of their life. Did they want to die? If not, make sure everyone else knows how tragic and horrid the experience is for them. If it is, we want to know their ecstasy. If they changed their mind, we want to see that conflict, damnit. This doesn't mean to make it longer than it needs to be. No one wants to read a 5 paragraph post that could have been summed up efficiently in a few sentences. Remember: Length's only purpose is to accommodate the content. [/b]
8. The GM is effectively god of the RPG, so don't abuse them. If they have specific rules, follow them. If they're doing something that irks you, tell them in a non-flaming way if you want your character to survive. If you want to take the RPG into a different direction, you might want to ask them before you hijack it. They have this power because if you've ever played tabletop, you know how much the GM rules over you, and these kinds of politics are rarely democratic, my friend. And trying to waylay your GM should be done with caution: if you try to box with God, you might find your arms to be too short.