Post by Spitzfamine on Jul 15, 2015 12:56:04 GMT -6
Hello everyone.
In this topic, I will go over the list of rules for what we call The Elementalists. Some of these are strict and final. Others are flexible, depending on the context. The purpose of rules in an RP is to ensure that everyone has a good time in the RP by keeping certain things consistent.
The Basic Rules
These are the strict ones, and following these will have you become a better RP'er.
1. Avoid creating overpowered characters. The RP is a high-fantasy drama, which means that fantastic elements permeate pretty much everything in Vanda, the RP's fictional world. However, you can go too far. Make sure that, at least in your mind, your characters have very well-defined, realistic limitations. Hopefully, I should this easy for you to follow.
2. No unnecessary violence. When it comes to violence, I have a policy: make it relevant, or cut it. This isn't Slasher VII. Your violence must make sense in context. Characters choose to be violent for important reasons. Make those reasons apparent and meaningful.
3. No breaking the 4th wall. This also includes observations that the character couldn't possibly have made with their current knowledge. Our genre is realistic fantasy, and we like to keep it that way. Leave the 4th wall breaking to Family Guy and absurdist theatre.
4. Do not make your posts shorter than two lines unless you have a very, very good reason to do so. At least dedicate 1-2 minutes writing something meaningful. This helps move things along. If I don't think you've put thought behind your posts, I'm going to ask you to take more time when posting. Short posts are never acceptable. We also expect proper grammar. We're not Nazis, but we do have standards. You should too.
Story Rules
The following rules help move the story along.
5. No short, meaningless dialogue. "..." or any variation of that is not allowed-unless it is meaningful. If you don't think someone else can respond to it, spend more time thinking what to say. Make it natural, but not too natural. Reveal character with every detail. If you need help, don't be afraid to PM me or someone else for assistance.
6. Interact. Make sure that you involve other characters besides your own in posts. If you make a post about your character doing something off by himself, don't expect somebody else to go out of their way to make sure your character has something to say. Things don't work like that. That's called being a loner, and those characters tend to be boring and pointless in RP topics. Above all, they are impossible to work with, often because they force the plot to gravitate around them, which can derail entire stories.
7. If you want to do an event, involve other characters, but don't do it so that you are forcing someone else to make it work. If you don't have any idea what you're doing, don't expect someone else to finish your event for you. That's not fair. If you have a situation where it seems that your event is forcing someone else's character to act, you might want to consider an Out of Context post, which is a post written through collaboration over PM that involves more than one user's characters. These can be very effective, so consider them.
Character Rules
These rules involve character development, creation, ideas, etc.
8. Develop your characters. Have them change, and make it feel natural. People change every day, and no one stays the same. Experiences tend to move people. Give your characters emotions. Give them fears. Don't have them be apathetic to ANYTHING! I will repeat this. IF YOUR CHARACTER HAS NO EMOTIONAL INVOLVEMENT IN ANYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING, YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG! GIVE YOUR CHARACTERS PERSONALITY! GIVE THEM EMOTIONS! GIVE THEM WAYS TO EXPRESS THIS EMOTION! See how I used all capitals to express emotion here Do not do that. Acceptable outlets include singing, dancing, and other hobbies. People have hobbies! People do things to entertain yourselves! If your character doesn't have a hobby or an interest, then they are not very complex, and you need to change that.
9. If you want a character to think something when it can be better used as a line of dialogue, go with the dialogue. Revealing character thoughts has a purpose, and that is to help others know what to post in response to your character's dialogue.
10. If you find yourself relying on other characters to develop your character, you are in big trouble. Excessively needy characters are a drag on the entire RP.
11. If you find yourself relying on other users to think up ideas for your character, you are in trouble.
12. If you find yourself complaining that your character never gets involved in anything, first look at the way your character interacts with other characters. What are you doing wrong? How could that character be more involved in things? It's always better for a character to be social than cool. Cool characters made for the sake of being cool get boring.
13. If you are running out of ideas, stop and think about how you can make things simple again. Simple is always best.
14. No bunnying. This means don't take control of others' characters unless they give you their permission. This is a big no-no, and I'll probably get onto you for it.
15. You may only have one main character at the beginning of the RP, as well as however minor characters you need to reveal and/or develop your main character. This does not mean that all of your character's traits are revealed through other characters. If you think you can realistically pull this off, though, let me know. I bend to creativity when I think it will improve the RP.
16. Above all, don't give up. Things can be fixed, and things can change too. Be flexible, and don't be pessimistic. Remember, you can always talk to me about anything. I check my PM Inbox frequently, and topics even more so.
Common Cliches
As a reminder, cliches are not always a bad thing. Sometimes, if you feel stuck or need ideas, feel free to go back on these and borrow from them. They wouldn't be cliches unless someone found a way to make them work once, right?
Finally, I want you to understand what our RP is striving for. These are some of the most basic categories of RPs in the most general sense:
Narrative--Most of the narrative events in many games are pre-chosen. In a successful design, the narrative fragments will have an impact because of the choices that the player performed beforehand.
Simulation--Though the simulation is set, it allows people to navigate though them in many different ways. This is the sandbox side of a game.
Games--The game system, the other side of the sandbox. Things to do, ways to do them and challenges to get in the way.
The Elementalists is an example of a Narrative RP, with random elements of each scattered into it as we go along.
Basically, what I start out with is a skeleton plot of each major saga and go from there, keeping in mind how characters are acting/changing/etc. and trying to judge what can work and not work. It is a very dynamic, fluid process, and I think it gives you as much freedom to develop your characters as you want, provided you stay within the canon (I'm flexible here if you have a great idea) of the RP world.
Character Types to Avoid
I personally have trouble coming up with ideas for the following character types:
-Assassin who sold his/her soul to the devil for revenge, but decides to change his/her ways and become good, albeit through the use of devil-acquired super powers
-Subverted Stereotype characters, portrayed as an extreme stereotype or archetype who are self-aware of how cheesy and shallow they are.
-Quiet character with a traumatic past who stays introverted throughout the story except for choice moments when they open up just to get hurt again.
-Badass warrior so awesome and manly he'd make Chuck Norris bleed semen out his eyes if the two ever crossed paths.
-Video Game characters.
-Demon mooks evil because their master/race/dark lord is evil.
-The Evil BAD GUY who is evil and bad simply for the sake of being evil and bad, and makes people do horrible things because it is evil to make people do horrible things to good, innocent people.
Keep this topic and its information in your mind. Not only will it help you be a better RPer, it'll help you become a better writer. I guarantee it.
*Disclaimer: Neither Spitz nor any of the administrators or moderators of The Verse nor any associates of the forum now and forever guarantee improvement in writing and/or RPing skills as a result of reading this topic.*
You may discuss these rules, ask me to elaborate, or even argue about the rules. I... do not recommend trying that last one unless you're REALLY certain you can argue against it effectively.
As a personal note, I have at least tried to follow these rules for... a long time now, and I like to think I'm pretty okay at my hobby.
In this topic, I will go over the list of rules for what we call The Elementalists. Some of these are strict and final. Others are flexible, depending on the context. The purpose of rules in an RP is to ensure that everyone has a good time in the RP by keeping certain things consistent.
The Basic Rules
These are the strict ones, and following these will have you become a better RP'er.
1. Avoid creating overpowered characters. The RP is a high-fantasy drama, which means that fantastic elements permeate pretty much everything in Vanda, the RP's fictional world. However, you can go too far. Make sure that, at least in your mind, your characters have very well-defined, realistic limitations. Hopefully, I should this easy for you to follow.
2. No unnecessary violence. When it comes to violence, I have a policy: make it relevant, or cut it. This isn't Slasher VII. Your violence must make sense in context. Characters choose to be violent for important reasons. Make those reasons apparent and meaningful.
3. No breaking the 4th wall. This also includes observations that the character couldn't possibly have made with their current knowledge. Our genre is realistic fantasy, and we like to keep it that way. Leave the 4th wall breaking to Family Guy and absurdist theatre.
4. Do not make your posts shorter than two lines unless you have a very, very good reason to do so. At least dedicate 1-2 minutes writing something meaningful. This helps move things along. If I don't think you've put thought behind your posts, I'm going to ask you to take more time when posting. Short posts are never acceptable. We also expect proper grammar. We're not Nazis, but we do have standards. You should too.
Story Rules
The following rules help move the story along.
5. No short, meaningless dialogue. "..." or any variation of that is not allowed-unless it is meaningful. If you don't think someone else can respond to it, spend more time thinking what to say. Make it natural, but not too natural. Reveal character with every detail. If you need help, don't be afraid to PM me or someone else for assistance.
6. Interact. Make sure that you involve other characters besides your own in posts. If you make a post about your character doing something off by himself, don't expect somebody else to go out of their way to make sure your character has something to say. Things don't work like that. That's called being a loner, and those characters tend to be boring and pointless in RP topics. Above all, they are impossible to work with, often because they force the plot to gravitate around them, which can derail entire stories.
7. If you want to do an event, involve other characters, but don't do it so that you are forcing someone else to make it work. If you don't have any idea what you're doing, don't expect someone else to finish your event for you. That's not fair. If you have a situation where it seems that your event is forcing someone else's character to act, you might want to consider an Out of Context post, which is a post written through collaboration over PM that involves more than one user's characters. These can be very effective, so consider them.
Character Rules
These rules involve character development, creation, ideas, etc.
8. Develop your characters. Have them change, and make it feel natural. People change every day, and no one stays the same. Experiences tend to move people. Give your characters emotions. Give them fears. Don't have them be apathetic to ANYTHING! I will repeat this. IF YOUR CHARACTER HAS NO EMOTIONAL INVOLVEMENT IN ANYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING, YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG! GIVE YOUR CHARACTERS PERSONALITY! GIVE THEM EMOTIONS! GIVE THEM WAYS TO EXPRESS THIS EMOTION! See how I used all capitals to express emotion here Do not do that. Acceptable outlets include singing, dancing, and other hobbies. People have hobbies! People do things to entertain yourselves! If your character doesn't have a hobby or an interest, then they are not very complex, and you need to change that.
9. If you want a character to think something when it can be better used as a line of dialogue, go with the dialogue. Revealing character thoughts has a purpose, and that is to help others know what to post in response to your character's dialogue.
10. If you find yourself relying on other characters to develop your character, you are in big trouble. Excessively needy characters are a drag on the entire RP.
11. If you find yourself relying on other users to think up ideas for your character, you are in trouble.
12. If you find yourself complaining that your character never gets involved in anything, first look at the way your character interacts with other characters. What are you doing wrong? How could that character be more involved in things? It's always better for a character to be social than cool. Cool characters made for the sake of being cool get boring.
13. If you are running out of ideas, stop and think about how you can make things simple again. Simple is always best.
14. No bunnying. This means don't take control of others' characters unless they give you their permission. This is a big no-no, and I'll probably get onto you for it.
15. You may only have one main character at the beginning of the RP, as well as however minor characters you need to reveal and/or develop your main character. This does not mean that all of your character's traits are revealed through other characters. If you think you can realistically pull this off, though, let me know. I bend to creativity when I think it will improve the RP.
16. Above all, don't give up. Things can be fixed, and things can change too. Be flexible, and don't be pessimistic. Remember, you can always talk to me about anything. I check my PM Inbox frequently, and topics even more so.
Common Cliches
As a reminder, cliches are not always a bad thing. Sometimes, if you feel stuck or need ideas, feel free to go back on these and borrow from them. They wouldn't be cliches unless someone found a way to make them work once, right?
Finally, I want you to understand what our RP is striving for. These are some of the most basic categories of RPs in the most general sense:
Narrative--Most of the narrative events in many games are pre-chosen. In a successful design, the narrative fragments will have an impact because of the choices that the player performed beforehand.
Simulation--Though the simulation is set, it allows people to navigate though them in many different ways. This is the sandbox side of a game.
Games--The game system, the other side of the sandbox. Things to do, ways to do them and challenges to get in the way.
The Elementalists is an example of a Narrative RP, with random elements of each scattered into it as we go along.
Basically, what I start out with is a skeleton plot of each major saga and go from there, keeping in mind how characters are acting/changing/etc. and trying to judge what can work and not work. It is a very dynamic, fluid process, and I think it gives you as much freedom to develop your characters as you want, provided you stay within the canon (I'm flexible here if you have a great idea) of the RP world.
Character Types to Avoid
I personally have trouble coming up with ideas for the following character types:
-Assassin who sold his/her soul to the devil for revenge, but decides to change his/her ways and become good, albeit through the use of devil-acquired super powers
-Subverted Stereotype characters, portrayed as an extreme stereotype or archetype who are self-aware of how cheesy and shallow they are.
-Quiet character with a traumatic past who stays introverted throughout the story except for choice moments when they open up just to get hurt again.
-Badass warrior so awesome and manly he'd make Chuck Norris bleed semen out his eyes if the two ever crossed paths.
-Video Game characters.
-Demon mooks evil because their master/race/dark lord is evil.
-The Evil BAD GUY who is evil and bad simply for the sake of being evil and bad, and makes people do horrible things because it is evil to make people do horrible things to good, innocent people.
Keep this topic and its information in your mind. Not only will it help you be a better RPer, it'll help you become a better writer. I guarantee it.
*Disclaimer: Neither Spitz nor any of the administrators or moderators of The Verse nor any associates of the forum now and forever guarantee improvement in writing and/or RPing skills as a result of reading this topic.*
You may discuss these rules, ask me to elaborate, or even argue about the rules. I... do not recommend trying that last one unless you're REALLY certain you can argue against it effectively.
As a personal note, I have at least tried to follow these rules for... a long time now, and I like to think I'm pretty okay at my hobby.
