Post by Fargo on Jan 26, 2008 14:13:37 GMT -5
For those unfamiliar with Forum Based roleplaying this may be confusing at first, but a RP forum is intended for long-term role-playing plots, in this case known as “RP threads”
Think of a RP thread as a short story or a story-adventure with more then one author! Forum based RP can be a lot of fun and is one of the most flexible forms of RP around RL obligations as one can post or add to an ongoing RP when it is convenient for them.
A RP that may be played out in a few hours in a live RP may take a few days to a few weeks to finish, or may expand into numerous sub threads and well… just keep going. It is nonetheless something to get used to. RP Threads however can evolve into something very detailed and intense as more and more people add to them!
Lets start with the basics.
First, you need to create a character profile for every character you wish to RP with. For your first character, you might want to consider something that you see fitting with one of the core factions rather then a Neutral doing his own thing. However if you do want to play a more free-form character that can fit in “multiple places” a neutral character might be for you.
I am in the process of updating the documents containing the basics behind the different races, technology and factions of neospace. Once these are finished they will be powerful tools for new characters. More detailed “tech specs” will be kept to the OOC Forums.
Once you have decided your race and affiliation, it comes down to personalizing your character. In the character forums I have provided a simple, easy to follow format for new characters. Fill out the details with this template and feel free to look to other people’s characters for examples of how this is done, but remember, your character is who you are going to take on so it needs to be your own. Personalize them a bit.
Once the character is posted, you are welcome to create or join an existing RP thread. Remember if you try to start your own plot with your character, it might take awhile for you to get responses to the thread. As we gain members, the activity will go up but for starters, trying to join in on current threads that have no activity might be a good place to start, if you think character fits there.
The poster of the RP should signify who can/should join the thread/RP. As well as have a soild idea of where the setting is. Where does it take place? Remember, plots evolve by themselves over time and more then often in a direction that you may not have expected, but as the initial author you have to set down the initial setting.
The title can be anything, but should include who can/should join the thread signified by ( ) or [ ]’s. For example, if the post has (any) after the title: this means that any character of any affiliation and any ship are welcome to join, so long as you can fit your character in.
Something like (Talosian Republic) or (Confederation) would mean that the RP thread is locked to characters in those factions, where as something like (TSF Protector) should be members of the Ship- Protector’s crew.
Remember, when joining a thread read over the other posts carefully before inserting yourself into the plot. Who are you, how do you fit in? Where is your character when the action started? Are they stuck on engineering repairing a conduit on the reactor core? Are they in the ship’s mess hall grabbing a bite to eat? Some plots take place in a very specific place where all the characters are in the same room, some don’t.
By reading the rest of the story, it will tell you what is taking place and where and give you a hint on where you should insert your character to add to the action.
I think this is enough basics to get people started. Everyone has a different writing style and method; remember this before criticizing people. It doesn’t matter if you add half a page or a three sentence paragraph in your reply to add to the plot, the idea is to make the plot grow; and have fun doing it ^^
Think of a RP thread as a short story or a story-adventure with more then one author! Forum based RP can be a lot of fun and is one of the most flexible forms of RP around RL obligations as one can post or add to an ongoing RP when it is convenient for them.
A RP that may be played out in a few hours in a live RP may take a few days to a few weeks to finish, or may expand into numerous sub threads and well… just keep going. It is nonetheless something to get used to. RP Threads however can evolve into something very detailed and intense as more and more people add to them!
Lets start with the basics.
First, you need to create a character profile for every character you wish to RP with. For your first character, you might want to consider something that you see fitting with one of the core factions rather then a Neutral doing his own thing. However if you do want to play a more free-form character that can fit in “multiple places” a neutral character might be for you.
I am in the process of updating the documents containing the basics behind the different races, technology and factions of neospace. Once these are finished they will be powerful tools for new characters. More detailed “tech specs” will be kept to the OOC Forums.
Once you have decided your race and affiliation, it comes down to personalizing your character. In the character forums I have provided a simple, easy to follow format for new characters. Fill out the details with this template and feel free to look to other people’s characters for examples of how this is done, but remember, your character is who you are going to take on so it needs to be your own. Personalize them a bit.
Once the character is posted, you are welcome to create or join an existing RP thread. Remember if you try to start your own plot with your character, it might take awhile for you to get responses to the thread. As we gain members, the activity will go up but for starters, trying to join in on current threads that have no activity might be a good place to start, if you think character fits there.
The poster of the RP should signify who can/should join the thread/RP. As well as have a soild idea of where the setting is. Where does it take place? Remember, plots evolve by themselves over time and more then often in a direction that you may not have expected, but as the initial author you have to set down the initial setting.
The title can be anything, but should include who can/should join the thread signified by ( ) or [ ]’s. For example, if the post has (any) after the title: this means that any character of any affiliation and any ship are welcome to join, so long as you can fit your character in.
Something like (Talosian Republic) or (Confederation) would mean that the RP thread is locked to characters in those factions, where as something like (TSF Protector) should be members of the Ship- Protector’s crew.
Remember, when joining a thread read over the other posts carefully before inserting yourself into the plot. Who are you, how do you fit in? Where is your character when the action started? Are they stuck on engineering repairing a conduit on the reactor core? Are they in the ship’s mess hall grabbing a bite to eat? Some plots take place in a very specific place where all the characters are in the same room, some don’t.
By reading the rest of the story, it will tell you what is taking place and where and give you a hint on where you should insert your character to add to the action.
I think this is enough basics to get people started. Everyone has a different writing style and method; remember this before criticizing people. It doesn’t matter if you add half a page or a three sentence paragraph in your reply to add to the plot, the idea is to make the plot grow; and have fun doing it ^^