Guides & Resources

I didn't write any of these.


Beginners/Setting Up
Guides
· What is Roleplaying?
· Joining a Roleplay
· Creating a Roleplay Thread
· Common Roleplay Etiquette
· General Roleplaying Terminology
· Literacy Levels
· Game Master Responsibilities

Resources
· Anime Roleplaying Terminology
· BBCode Color List for Roleplay Post Formatting

Exercises
·



Character Building
Guides
· Character Profiles
· Character Advice
· Mary Sues

Resources
· Weapons List
· Species List
· Character Classes List
· Character Design Resources (Names & Personalities)

Exercises
· Character Development Prompts



World/Concept Building
Guides
·


Resources
Magical Definitions and Terminology

Exercises
·


Roleplay Technique
Guides
· Battle Advice
· Preparing for Battle (Advice on character strategies and balance)

Resources
· Description Words

Exercises
·





What is Roleplaying? (Guide)

If you're hearing about roleplaying for the first time, it can be a bit confusing. What exactly does roleplaying involve? Is it something you would enjoy? Fear not; all these questions and more are answered in this short guide.

What is Roleplaying?

Roleplaying is you playing a different person. Maybe you are a shy boy in real life, but in the game you are a brave knight who slays dragons and saves towns from dangerous monsters. It's easy, even very easy, as long as you got good imagination. But taking the first steps into the world of roleplaying can be hard sometimes, and that's where this guide can be helpful.

Roleplaying can take place across a variety of mediums - instant messages, emails, private messages, or open threads in the roleplaying area of the forums. There are many different ways to roleplay, but the fundamental idea is that you create a character you are going to 'play' as, and along with other people and their own characters, write a kind of collaborative story. It's an interactive, exciting way to 'play pretend' through writing - you never know how other characters are going to behave, you can enjoy epic battles and dramatic scenes and explore worlds that only exist in your imagination.

Maybe you and your friends want to play a group of superheroes or battle-hardy warriors in a struggle of good versus evil. Maybe you want to play a regular person in an extraordinary setting. Maybe you want to act out a fun, anime-style romance with your invented character.

Video games are restricted by their programming, and you can't influence what happens in your favourite novels or movies or cartoons. Even if you've ever played games like Dungeons and Dragons, you will have been restricted by rules and gameplay mechanics.

Writing-based roleplaying gives you a freedom that isn't available in these other areas - and has the added benefit of letting you meet new people or have creative fun with your friends.


Are there any rules?

Roleplaying techniques and rules will vary from roleplay to roleplay, but don't let that put you off. There are huge freedoms in writing-based roleplay, and what's more, if you're making your own roleplay, you can make up the rules yourself!

In most cases, what you're "allowed" to do will only be restricted by things like the setting of the roleplay, and your character's own limitations. For example, if you're in a Lord of the Rings-type roleplay surrounded by orcs, your fellow roleplayers won't be happy if your character suddenly escapes on a modern jumbo jet. It's also important to be aware of roleplaying etiquette, but there are other, more detailed guides available on these subjects. Just remember to be courteous, and have fun!

What do I need in order to be able to roleplay?

A basic grasp of writing and a whole lot of imagination are all you need. Roleplaying is just like writing a book, except other people will be taking part, and there isn't often a set plan of what will happen. You may encounter roleplays that use tools like dice throws to determine whether or not that punch your character threw actually landed in the enemy's face, but for the most part, you will be given responsibility in writing out what your character does and doesn't do.

If this is your first time roleplaying, it's best to take a look in the Roleplaying forums at the roleplays currently taking place. Pay attention to how they're set up, and see how other roleplayers are using threads to enact these mini-epic sagas. When you feel confident enough, try joining one!

 

Joining a Roleplay

Want to join a roleplay, but aren't sure where to start? This guide will help you out!


Looking for a Roleplay to Join

When looking for an RP thread to join, I take in several factors:

The Obvious:
-Is the theme something I've wanted to play?
-Does the thread look active?
-Does the scenario in the thread sound interesting?
-Are all the things mentioned in the first post agreeable to me?
-Are any of the players munchkins?

The Not-So-Obvious
-Are there already too many players?
-Is this part of a guild that I'll have to join?
-Is the thread actively recruiting?
-Do I have the time for another RP thread?

If the answer to all these is agreeable to me, I'll usually have a look. Take in all these factors before you jump in, and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble. In particular, the first post in the thread is vital. There you should find everything you need to know, including recruitment status, rules you need to obey, and the opinions of the thread starter. I also recommend reading through the first 3 pages of the thread, and the last 3 (at least) to give yourself a feel for what they had intended it to be, and what it had evolved into.

After Choosing a Roleplay

Make sure you understand any rules the roleplay might have! If you're required to send a profile in BEFORE you post, make sure you do so.

Within the RP, when you introduce yourself, do something non-obstructive to their current thread, but something that will hopefully interest them into interacting with you (Maybe your character accidentally bumped into a precariously balanced statue, caught the heavy thing, and is now striving with all her might to keep it from hitting the ground.).

If you did all this, and posted, and posted, and you were utterly ignored, you have one final thing you can do: PM the player who seems most in charge (and active), and very nicely and politely ask what you can do to get into the thread. Share your concerns about being ignored, and then wait for a reply. If he/she responds, you'll likely have your answer one way or another. If he/she doesn't respond, and is still posting, you may want to consider leaving.

After all, if they display such rudeness, is it really worth RPing there?

 

Creating a Roleplay Thread

From creating a thread to roleplay in, to the basic content you can include, this guide provides a useful checklist when you're starting up a new roleplay

Creating a New Topic

So you want to make your own roleplay? Actually creating your roleplay thread is as simple as clicking the button at the top of the Roleplaying forum, filling in the first post details, and posting your thread. There's more to it than that, though . . .

Thread Title

Pick a suitable name for your roleplay; what you choose is entirely up to you, but it's best to avoid generic titles like 'forest roleplay'. Try and make it more interesting to entice roleplayers to your thread and make it stand out! Many roleplayers also use the thread title as an 'announcement' message, by including important information such as the literacy level, what the theme is, whether the roleplay is accepting newcomers, and whether the thread has been updated or is under construction. Examples include:

Dusk 'Til Dawn (Semi-lit, not accepting)
Trinity High School [Needs boys!]
On a Blade's Edge {Fantasy, U/C}

"U/C" stands for 'Under Construction'. This means that the roleplay thread is not finished yet and should not be posted in. If you prefer, you can build your roleplay thread in the Test Forum first, and then PM a moderator to move it into the appropriate roleplay forum.

What goes in the first post?

This really depends on the complexity of your roleplay. If your roleplay is fairly complex and you're going to include lots of posts explaining it at the very start, you may have the roleplay title and a contents list. If this is the case, you will probably want to go ahead and post a few blank posts in your thread to reserve some spaces; that way, you can organise your roleplay content and move it around as you see fit. Alternatively, if you have a very simple roleplay, you may put all the necessary set-up content right in the first post. For a description of the basic components you'll probably be covering in your roleplay thread before any roleplaying actually takes place, head onto the next section.

Roleplay Thread Contents

There are a number of basic elements most roleplay threads will have. This section provides advice on what to cover and how to cover it, in a general logical order. Not all of these elements will be present in every roleplay, or be covered in the same amount of detail in every roleplay, so the final choice of detail is yours!

Introduction

If your roleplay was a novel, what would be written on the back of the cover? Also known as a 'blurb', this will give roleplayers who are taking a look at your roleplay a quick and rough idea of what the roleplay will be like. At the very least, if you have no specific plot in mind, you'll want to give a basic idea of the setting. Other things you could hint at are the time period, technology, plot, characters and genre.

Roleplay Rules

You are the roleplay creator, and what you say goes! If you have some specific rules you want roleplayers to follow, you may want to list them somewhere in your thread. Remember, however, that your rules should not infringe Lake Valor's rules (e.g. you cannot allow or encourage people to cyber, either in the roleplay thread or in private messages), and that you cannot report people unless they have broken the rules, not yours. If, for example, someone posts their profile in the thread instead of sending it to you via private message, that should not be reported; instead, you can delete the post yourself.

When should we report the user rather than handle it ourselves?

Moderator intervention is only required when users have violated the rules. Do contact a moderator when a user is:
posting spam deliberately to disrupt your thread.
posting explicit/graphic content, such as sexual roleplay, sexually-explicit images or very graphic violence.
posting abusive or offensive remarks to flame or troll the thread.
harassing you or another roleplayer.
refusing to leave the roleplay despite being asked (but be polite when you do!)

Do not contact a moderator when:
A roleplayer is godmoding.
An applicant posts their profile in the thread instead of sending it to you via private messages.
A roleplayer is otherwise not following your individual roleplay rules, but they're not violating the rules either.


Remember, moderators are not available to moderate roleplay quality, but to enforce the rules.

Roleplay Information

If you covered the basics of the roleplay in your introduction, you may want to develop some of the areas in more detail so that your roleplayers can refer to this information. Common elements to cover include:
Setting - what is the roleplay world like? Are there any cities, forests, oceans, other environments? Where do people live? What's the climate like?
Plot - what is the focus of the roleplay? What are the characters trying to achieve? What kind of lore exists in the roleplay world? Most roleplays will revolve around a conflict of some kind.
Technology - is the technology advanced or very basic? If there are weapons, are they on the level of super guns and nuclear missiles, or bows and arrows? Is there electricity available; if not, how are lighting and heat supplied? If there is magic, how does it work, and who can use it?
Culture and Religion - do the people of your roleplay world worship any gods? What kind of traditions and values do they hold? Are there any warring factions?
History - what's happened so far in your roleplay world? What are the events leading up to the roleplay? Are there any events coming up that roleplayers can be involved in?
Races - if your roleplay world includes more than humans, what other sentient species are there? What are their cultures and lifestyles like? What are their strengths and weaknesses, and what role do they play in your plot?
Significant People - are there any important people roleplayers should be aware of? Kings, queens, famous heroes, dangerous villains?


You may want to address all, some or none of these areas in varying detail. The more detail, the more complicated your roleplay will be, but it will also result in a very deep and rich roleplay experience to pay off for that hard work!

Character Applications

You'll want to explain somewhere how roleplayers can join your roleplay. Encourage them to read all of the roleplay information you provide so that they don't spend time on a character who is completely irrelevant or unsuitable for your thread. If there are any specific restrictions (e.g. your roleplay world has elves and humans in it, but at the moment you are only accepting humans), make sure they are clear and readable. You will probably want to build a profile skeleton for people to complete so that you have the essential information for their character on hand, and can insert it into your thread. For more information on profiles, check out this guide. Finally, make sure that you make it clear how roleplayers are meant to submit their profiles - can they post it in the thread, or do they need to send you a private message and get it approved before they can start roleplaying?

Extras

There are a number of other elements roleplay creators often like to include:
Event logs which are updated as a roleplay progresses, so that people can see at a glance what has happened so far. These can be difficult to maintain, though, especially if your roleplay moves very quickly!
Links to OOC information, if you have a separate out of character thread
Thread updates, in case you update any information within the thread or post any plot/instruction updates for roleplayers to read
Links to any other information, such as roleplay art, maps etc. that you or your roleplayers might have created


Final Thoughts

That covers the vast majority of information you might want to include in your thread. Something else you might want to consider is presentation (use coloured text, make some graphics etc.), which can really bring your roleplay to life if you put extra effort in. Of course, not all roleplays will follow these guidelines, and that's fine; creativity is the most important material for roleplaying! For ideas, it's always useful to scan some existing roleplay threads, although remember that direct copying of another user's roleplay content is not permitted.

Good luck with your roleplay, and have fun!

 

Common Roleplay Etiquette

Depending on the type of roleplay that you are taking part in (futuristic, present, medieval etc) there will be different rules. Most roleplay threads will outline any rules that they in particular wish you to abide by, but the majority of roleplaying rules are common sense.


Don't Cheat

This is arguably the most important rule. There are many different ways to cheat whilst roleplaying (sometimes referred to as 'munching' or 'Godmoding'), too many for me to go into here, but I recommend that you read the Anti-Munch Project. If you're new to roleplay then it outlines several things that you should avoid. Think of the AMP as a list of roleplaying guidelines. In certain situations it's ok to break them, but I wouldn't recommend it until you've been roleplaying for a while and know how to recognise these situations.

As well as being a term interchangable with munching, Godmoding also refers to a particular type of munching. Godmoders are arguably the worst form of munchers, because their characters have powers akin to Gods. They can dodge bullets, fly, run incredibly fast, do martial arts... Basically, a Godmoder can do anything. It should be easy to see why this can get annoying.

Be Realistic

In some roleplays you might be able to get away with bending the laws of physics, but in 'realistic' roleplays in particular you will have to bear what can and can't be done in mind.

Stick to your Story

It can get increasingly annoying if somebody that you are roleplaying with keeps changing their character, saying that they grew up with their parents on a farm one day, then claiming that they watched their parents die at the age of 1. Once you've got a story going in a roleplay, stick to it.

Only Control Yourself

There's nothing wrong with interacting with another user's character when roleplay (in fact, it's encouraged ) but don't control them. For example, it's fine to say that you offer another character a beer or that you throw a knife at them, but it is not ok to assume that the character takes the beer or that the knife hits him. I'll go into battles themselves in more detail later on, but the basic idea is that you let people control their own characters. After all, you wouldn't like it if somebody was controlling your character, would you?

Offline? Leave Them Alone!

If somebody says that they are going offline but you wish to continue roleplaying, then the best way to do it is to pretend that the character started to ignore you or went off to do something else. Just because somebody has gone offline without making excuses IC does not mean that you can attack them, kill them, draw funny faces on them with pen, or anything like that.

 

General Roleplaying Terminology

If you're new to roleplaying, some of the words more experienced roleplayers use might be very confusing! Below is a summary of the most common terms, and what they mean.

• Roleplaying Terms
  • Roleplay : To assume the role of. Example: I am roleplaying a knight. I am pretending to be a knight.
    
  • RP : An abbreviation of the word Roleplay. Example: I'm going to RP for a bit.
    
    
  • Profile : A character sheet depicting the qualities and information about a certain character such as name, gender, inventory, powers, etc. Example: Name: --- / Age: --- / Appearance: --- ...
    
    
  • Out-Of-Character : Commonly abbreviated as OOC. Means to talk outside of one's role; to talk as yourself rather than the character/role that is being roleplayed. Commonly is surrounded by symbols such as (()), []. Example: ((Drat, my keyboard is a mess.))
    
    
  • In-Character : Commonly abbreviated as IC. Means to talk/post as the character/role you are roleplaying (i.e. To resume the role I was roleplaying as.)
    
    
  • God Moding : Roleplaying in-character but ignoring all rules of roleplay, dictating what happens to other roleplayers' characters, making their own character a super-being who can't die. Generally used to describe a character being roleplayed in battle situations (e.g. every attack they perform hits, they dodge every attack directed at them, they are unfairly powerful compared to other characters).
    
    
  • Non-Playable Character : Commonly abbreviated as NPC, also referred to as Non-Player Characters. A character that isn't controlled by just one roleplayer, such as an innkeeper in a tavern or a guard at a gate. An NPC may be controlled strictly by the person in control of the roleplay, or the roleplay creator may let anyone control them. Example: The following are non-playable characters: Billy, Bob, the goblins, and the guards.
    
    
  • Puppeteering : If a roleplayer has to leave for an extended period of time, sometimes they may permit their character to be 'puppeteered', or controlled by other roleplayers, so that everyone else can continue with the story without waiting.
    Example: ((I'm off on holiday for a week now, guys! Feel free to puppeteer my character if you need to))
    
    
  • Storyline : Every roleplay has a story in it...read the first page of every RP you're going to participate in before jumping in. Also called the plot.
    
    
  • Closed RP : A closed RP means that it is restricted to ONLY the users that were invited. It's best not to disrupt other RPs that you're not involved with.
    
    
  • Open RP : An open RP means it's open to anyone who wants to join.
    
    
  • RP Rules : Every RP made by different users has their own set of RP rules, please follow them to avoid embarassment.
    
    
  • Quest RP/Long-term RP : These RPs are very committed. If you're not the 'serious' role player than this isn't recommended for you. The reason is a Quest RP can go on for a long time, with a very carefully crafted story. These RPs are often organized by "serious" roleplayers who know their stuff.
    
    
  • School RP : A place for those that would enjoy a good educational RP. Class is in session!
    
    
  • Anime/Manga/Game RP : These RPs are mainly based on the series itself. For example: A thread was created called "Final Fantasy RP" and that means the RPers on that thread may RP in character as Cloud or Tidus or be original characters that they have made up RP with the FF characters.
    
    
  • Original Characters (OCs) : Often used in roleplays based on existing book, cartoon, game or movie series. Just because you choose to roleplay in the world of Final Fantasy VII doesn't mean that you have to play one of the game's main cast, like Cloud or Sephiroth. You could make up your own character within the Final Fantasy VII world e.g. a shopowner who works in Midgar called Claude. Claude would be an OC, or original character.
    
    
  • Canon Characters : 'Canon' characters are those which already exist in an existing series. If you play Cloud in a Final Fantasy, he would count as a canon character. The word 'canon' can also be used to describe anything already established within a game, book, movie or cartoon world. For example, Squall and Rinoa's relationship in Final Fantasy VIII is considered 'canon' because it happens in the game. Sometimes people will want to roleplay scenarios which are not canon - for example, roleplaying a romance between Squall and Selphie instead.
    
    
  • Symbols : Sometimes you will see those asterisks * used during an RP. Those often times by most users are used to describe motion/action. But not everyone uses it like that. Some may use color on the text and others will use slashes / or make it to italic or small text or :: or ~.

 

Literacy Levels

Many roleplays have "literacy" requirements, hoping to attract those who roleplay at their level. How should you define yourself?

What is literacy, besides being able to read and write?

Literacy in roleplaying typically means your skill as a roleplayer. Just about every group roleplay and one on one request will mention a certain literacy requirement, and it is crucial to get to know the system. The levels aren't set in stone, which sometimes creates confusion, but there's always a general range where a roleplayer can fall.

What's it based on?

As mentioned before, each definition isn't set in stone. The terms are always the same, but they don't mean the same to every roleplayer. Be sure to pay attention to any side notes to a literacy requirement for more specific instructions. Such specifics include post length, grammar, and the ability to help carry out a plot. These are all important to any roleplay, but post length typically bears the most weight in determining how literate a roleplayer is. To some, how much you can write per post is the most important thing, while to others your ability to move the plot is most important. Pay attention to these details to avoid any misunderstandings.

The Different Titles

You'll probably see these terms all over this subforum. It's best to prepare yourself by knowing these beforehand.

Non-Literate

Non-Literate is typically known as the style of roleplaying where one doesn't usually use complete sentences, and actions are marked by asterisks (*). You may also hear this style referred to as Semi-Literate, but that level usually requires fully written sentences. These roleplays typically move a lot faster than the others due to their incredibly short post lengths. Non-Literates are usually beginners, and therefore do not deserve any sort of scorn. Everyone has to start somewhere, and everyone almost always begins to move up in the ranks.

Semi-Literate

Semi-Literates are usually regarded as those who write out complete sentences with decent grammar, but don't write more than a few sentences per post. Roleplays at this level are quickly moving as well for the same reasons as Non-Literates, but require a bit more thought in putting those actions and dialogues into words. Post length isn't so much of an issue in Semi-Literate roleplays, but grammar usually is, so make sure you're up to date in English class.

Literate

This class makes up the majority roleplayers. There are higher grammar standards, but you're not normally expected to be absolutely perfect at this level. The typical post length averages at a well-rounded one to three paragraphs, making for a relatively quickly moving yet slightly challenging roleplay. At this level, one is expected to know the etiquette and other standards required of them as a roleplayer, even if those specific rules aren't stated in the roleplay. These roleplayers also typically have a good sense of plot and character.

Advanced Literate

This is the big time in roleplaying. These roleplayers mean business, and make a bigger deal of their standards. You're expected to make as little grammar errors as possible if any at all, as well as write anywhere from three-four paragraphs on, depending on the roleplayer's preference. While this title is stretched quite widely, and some who claim to be such don't think others deserve to be called such, it basically means that you can help with a compelling plot, have real, interesting characters, and describe everything with fluent detail. These roleplays aren't always necessarily the best, however. Every title has their weakness, and sometimes Advanced Literates get so caught up in detail and pretty language that they forget to advance the story sufficiently with their post. Therefore, some prefer lower level roleplays just to bypass all of the fluff.

Elite

Roleplayers rarely call themselves Elite in this day of age, but you'll occasionally see someone or a roleplay that does. Elites bypass Advanced Literates both in post length and in substance, their posts equating to pages on a word processing program. These roleplayers are extremely serious, but it's rare that you'll come across one, so don't feel intimidated.

Mirror Literate

This title applies to one-on-one roleplayers only. It's a somewhat rare title, but it is occasionally used, so it's good to know the terminology. Mirror Literates simply roleplay with anyone of any level, and adjust their level in that certain roleplay to match their partner. The number of these is slowly growing, as post length isn't so important to some as it is to others.

 

Game Master Responsibilities

The Game Master, or GM, of a roleplay can have great responsibilities in terms of guiding and maintaining the roleplay. This guide will help you understand these responsibilities and advise you on how best to handle them.

• Overview
  
  The creator is usualy considered the GM of the game, and they do have unquestionable control in most cases. They are the referees in fights, they are the controllers of NPCs (unless they are created by others), and they are the controllers of the plot/storyline. But I'll do my best to address each case individually.
  
  Just how much control over the story does the creator have usually?
  
  Like I said, the creator usually has indefinite control over the story, though it really depends on the GM. There needs to be leniency, and there needs to be space for sub-plots to fall in. In essence, you really just need to trust in their judgement before doing anything about it. I myself was left with control over a guild at once point when the leader left for a bit, and I ended up moving the story along as I saw fit. How ever, the story was already in place and I just had to work the others through it. I did the best I could with the absence of the guild leader and ended up doing a pretty good job in the opinions of my comrades. The reason for that is because I allowed space for each of their characters, I took questions and answered them, and I took charge in a way that I deemed justifiable.
  
  The best you can do is trust the GM knows what they're doing, though don't be afraid to put a little of your on stuff in (within reason of course).
  
  
• What to do when:
  
  You have a lacklustre roleplayer?
  
  While I question the definition, I believe there are more than a few things to do here. If by lacklustre you mean he/she is illiterate by your standards, then there is something you can do. While it does tend to push them away from what I've seen, you could ask them to put more work into their writing and try to follow the story more so, as well as being more exuberant in their posting style. This isn't an actual insult so much as a constructive criticism in my opinion. I've had it done to be a long time ago, and I grew from it. I've told others that and they've bettered themselves as well. Problem is that most users see it as an insult and a stab at their own pride as a roleplayer.
  
  A roleplayer is going against the plot?
  
  If some one goes against the plot, it's not always a bad thing unless it's to an extravagant extent. If they change the entire storyline with what they're doing, then yes it is the GM's duty to step in. Before they can do that, they need to have permission from the GM first and THEN move into it.
  
  Now, I said it's not always a bad thing also. Sub-plots make for an interesting read also. If there is a romance brewing, then that's a sub-plot. If by chance the roleplayer found out his/her lost sister was still alive, then yes that's also a sub-plot. They go on and on, and they can improve upon the actual story itself.
  
  Someone isn't posting very often?
  
  There is a matter of how lenient the GM is in posting. More so, how active the actual thread itself is. I know a few roleplays where the GM only asks that the users post every week to every two weeks in very advanced roleplays. Also, there are roleplays that don't merely go into paragraphs, but dwell into short stories themselves. A rarity, though there are a number of threads out there dedicated to that form of roleplaying. On the opposite of this is the threads that have posts every 10 minutes from different users. These are more likely to get the roleplayer reamed if they post one once a day or even every few days. Not only does it make the person look bad in the eyes of the others, but it also makes for a lack of story knowledge. Story is vital for all participants to know. For one thing, knowing the plot would help many to avoid these issues I'm discussing.
  
  Someone just doesn't give a flip?
  
  If they don't care then there is nothing you can do about it. Kindly ask them to leave, have the GM ask them to leave, and if that doesn't work, then you may report the user and have a site moderator step in. And don't be scared to use that 'Report this Post' button, but just use it wisely.
  
  Do we just inform a mod and let them handle it or should we try to get them back on track on our own?
  
  If the roleplayer has been repeatedly asked to change what ever it is they are doing wrong by the GM, and there is no reconciling on the defendant's side, then there is the chance of having to call a moderator to step in. This is, however, a last resort and you can only do it if he's breaking site rules. Harassment, however, is one of the rules that needs to be upheld, and if the person continues without care or regard of his actions, is actively hurting the plot or the other users' sub-plots and stories, all without the permission of the GM (and especially if in spite of the GM), then there is justification to report the user in question.
  
  This is, like I said, a last restort. More times than not, it's better that the people participating ask the user to control him/herself. If it's by PMs or even by OOC posting in the thread itself, the users are the first persons that the individuals in question must face. If you can do something to prevent mod interference, then it should be done.

 

Anime Roleplaying Terminology

Anime is an extremely popular form of entertainment, and it can often be seen to inspire roleplaying escapades. Below is a list of common language and terms from Japanese anime which can be found in anime-based roleplaying.

• Anime Terms
  
  Some of the terms below signify particular anime concepts, while others are simply the Japanese words for common English words. Remember that using random Japanese may not be the best way to create a convincing character!
  • Hai : 'Yes' in Japanese.
    
    
  • Iie : 'No' in Japanese.
    
    
  • Inu : 'Dog' in Japanese.
    
    
  • Itai : 'Ow', 'Ouch', in Japanese.
    
    
  • Kitsune : Foxes and/or demon/anthropomorphic foxes, sometimes referred as 'Fox People'.
    
    
  • Kyuubi : Nine tailed fox in Japanese. This is a word ONLY for nine-tailed foxes.
    
    
  • Nani : 'What?' In Japanese.
    
    
  • Neko : 'Cat' in Japanese.
    
    
  • Nekojin : Cat people.
    
    
  • Oni : 'Demon' or 'Ogre' in Japanese.
    
    
  • Yatta : 'Yay' in Japanese.
    
    
  • Youkai : 'Demon' in Japanese.

 

BBCode Color List for Roleplay Post Formatting

Need to jazz up your roleplay thread with some colorful formatting? Try using some of the colors below! Remember, people still need to be able to read it.


Using Colored Text

To make your text a different color, you need to wrap it in BBCode tags.

Code:

[color=COLORNAME]Your text[/color]
e.g.
[color=blue]example text[/color]

gives you:
Example text

You can also use the hexadecimal value instead of the color name, like so:

Code:

[color=#HEXVALUE]Your text[/color]
e.g.
[color=#0000FF]Example text[/color]

Color List

The format is as follows:

• Color name [hexadecimal value]

For very light colors you may need to highlight them in order to see them. Enjoy!

Reds

• IndianRed [CD5C5C]
• LightCoral [F08080]
• Salmon [FA8072]
• DarkSalmon [E9967A]
• LightSalmon [FFA07A]
• Crimson [DC143C]
• Red [FF0000]
• FireBrick [B22222]
• DarkRed [8B0000]

Pinks

• Pink [FFC0CB]
• LightPink [FFB6C1]
• HotPink [FF69B4]
• DeepPink [FF1493]
• MediumVioletRed [C71585]
• PaleVioletRed [DB7093]

Oranges

• Coral [FF7F50]
• Tomato [FF6347]
• OrangeRed [FF4500]
• DarkOrange [FF8C00]
• Orange [FFA500]

Yellows

• Gold [FFD700]
• Yellow [FFFF00]
• LightYellow [FFFFE0]
• LemonChiffon [FFFACD]
• LightGoldenrodYellow [FAFAD2]
• PapayaWhip [FFEFD5]
• Moccasin [FFE4B5]
• PeachPuff [FFDAB9]
• PaleGoldenRod [EEE8AA]
• Khaki [F0E68C]
• DarkKhaki [BDB76B]

Purples

• Lavender [E6E6FA]
• Thistle [D8BFD8]
• Plum [DDA0DD]
• Violet [EE82EE]
• Orchid [DA70D6]
• Fuchsia [FF00FF]
• Magenta [FF00FF]
• MediumOrchid [BA55D3]
• MediumPurple [9370DB]
• BlueViolet [8A2BE2]
• DarkViolet [9400D3]
• DarkOrchid [9932CC]
• DarkMagenta [8B008B]
• Purple [800080]
• Indigo [4B0082]
• SlateBlue [6A5ACD]
• DarkSlateBlue [483D8B]
• MediumSlateBlue [7B68EE]

Greens

• GreenYellow [ADFF2F]
• Chartreuse [7FFF00]
• LawnGreen [7CFC00]
• Lime [00FF00]
• LimeGreen [32CD32]
• PaleGreen [98FB98]
• LightGreen [90EE90]
• MediumSpringGreen [00FA9A]
• SpringGreen [00FF7F]
• MediumSeaGreen [3CB371]
• SeaGreen [2E8B57]
• ForestGreen [228B22]
• Green [008000]
• DarkGreen [006400]
• YellowGreen [9ACD32]
• OliveDrab [6B8E23]
• Olive [808000]
• DarkOliveGreen [556B2F]
• MediumAquamarine [66CDAA]
• DarkSeaGreen [8FBC8F]
• LightSeaGreen [20B2AA]
• DarkCyan [008B8B]
• Teal [008080]

Blues

• Aqua [00FFFF]
• Cyan [00FFFF]
• LightCyan [E0FFFF]
• PaleTurquoise [AFEEEE]
• Aquamarine [7FFFD4]
• Turquoise [40E0D0]
• MediumTurquoise [48D1CC]
• DarkTurquoise [00CED1]
• CadetBlue [5F9EA0]
• SteelBlue [4682B4]
• LightSteelBlue [B0C4DE]
• PurwaBlue [9BE1FF]
• PowderBlue [B0E0E6]
• LightBlue [ADD8E6]
• SkyBlue [87CEEB]
• LightSkyBlue [87CEFA]
• DeepSkyBlue [00BFFF]
• DodgerBlue [1E90FF]
• CornflowerBlue [6495ED]
• RoyalBlue [4169E1]
• Blue [0000FF]
• MediumBlue [0000CD]
• DarkBlue [00008B]
• Navy [000080]
• MignightBlue [191970]

Browns

• Cornsilk [FFF8DC]
• BlanchedAlmond [FFEBCD]
• Bisque [FFE4C4]
• NavajoWhite [FFDEAD]
• Wheat [F5DEB3]
• BurlyWood [DEB887]
• Tan [D2B48C]
• RosyBrown [BC8F8F]
• SandyBrown [F4A460]
• Goldenrod [DAA520]
• DarkGoldenrod [B8860B]
• Peru [CD853F]
• Chocolate [D2691E]
• SaddleBrown [8B4513]
• Sienna [A0522D]
• Brown [A52A2A]
• Maroon [800000]

Whites

• White [FFFFFF]
• Snow [FFFAFA]
• Honeydew [F0FFF0]
• Mintcream [F5FFFA]
• Azure [F0FFFF]
• AliceBlue [F0F8FF]
• GhostWhite [F8F8FF]
• WhiteSmoke [F5F5F5
• Seashell [FFF5EE]
• Beige [F5F5DC]
• OldLace [FDF5E6]
• FloralWhite [FFFAF0]
• Ivory [FFFFF0]
• AntiqueWhite [FAEBD7]
• Linen [FAF0E6]
• LavenderBlush [FFF0F5]
• MistyRose [FFE4E1]

Greys

• Gainsboro [DCDCDC]
• LightGrey [D3D3D3]
• Silver [C0C0C0]
• DarkGray [A9A9A9]
• Gray [808080]
• DimGray [696969]
• LightSlateGray [778899]
• SlateGray [708090]
• DarkSlateGray [2F4F4F]
• Black [000000]

 

Character Profiles

Many roleplays will require you to build a character profile in order to join. This guide summarises everything you need to know!

• Overview
  
  A character profile is a description of your character that helps you remember things about them and, when you post them in an RPG you are going to join, tells the other players a lot about your character. A lot of people use the profile you submit to help them determine whether to let you into the RP or not.
  
  Sometimes, if your profile isn't long enough and you didn't put enough work into it, you will be rejected from an RP. There are also a lot of RPGs that don't really care about a character profile. Some roleplays like to find out information about characters from certain events, and not have it all listed in a profile. This is up to the Game Master.
  
  Profiles are usually a form that you fill out for your character. An example of what a profile might look like:
  
  
  Profile Example
  
  Code:

  	Name:
  	Age:
  	Race:
  	Appearance:
  	Personality:
  	History:
  	

  
  That's a pretty good opportunity to give your character a good start. However, a lot of roleplayers tend to give very little info that would be considered beneficial to the roleplay. Take a look at this profile example:
  
  
  
  Under Developed Profile
  
  Spoiler

  Name: Van Helsing
  Age: 35
  Race: Human
  Appearance: Black hair and cloths. Coats with some weapons hidden.
  Job: Vampire Hunter
  Personality: Loner
  
  
  This example gives no valuable information besides your name, race, and age. Here are some tips on what you should try to add for the remaining profile:
  
  Appearance
  • Apperance is where people tend to make mistakes. You should not say "see avatar". If you do not put effort into describing a character, we may take that as you may be too lazy to stay and roleplay for extended periods of time. And then, of course, there are things that you can't show just by dressing your avatar. What if your character was missing an arm or had green skin? Your description can also help set the mood. For instance, you can say only that your character wears black clothes, or you can say why-- to blend in with the vampires, maybe? You should take the opportunity to describe your character yourself to show that you care about the roleplay and your character.
    
    
  • People tend to also paste in a picture for appearance. Usually these images are big and obnoxious. However, explaining how the character looks and giving a link to an image may help improve your description skills. Maybe you have trouble explaining what you want or think, or you know that most people don't know what a yumi is, so you get a picture instead. You should try to be original with your pictures and not use art or photos that you do not have the rights to. Also, try to keep the images sig worthy. Nothing hurts worse than a profile picture stretching the page.
    
    
  • Say you find a nice picture and want to base a character of that. Then do that! But don't let that be the end-all-be-all of your character: use your imagination! Change things around!
    
    
  • Maybe you have trouble saying all of it in a paragraph. Make subtitles then! I tend to do the same. It doesn't have to be amazing.
    
    
  • Also, people tend to do clothes for appearance. You could use up a whole paragraph just doing clothes, so be careful not to bore the reader. Mention clothes in a few sentences and only include what is most important. We don't care what they wear unless it tells us something about them.
    
    
  • While describing though never refer to something outside the roleplay. Don't say:
    -> She wore a battle suit like Lina from Slayers
    -> His hair was straight and black like Ross from Friends.
  Here is an example of the appearance section in a profile:
  
  
  
  Appearance
  
  Spoiler

  Gender: Female
  Height: 5"2
  Weight: 45 - 50 kgs
  Eyes: A bright and cheerful blue! Always sparkling. During a fight though they tend to change to a colder colour.
  Hair: A long blonde, just short of her waist. Oddly enough, natural pink streaks are mixed through the golden blonde. Her fringe sits high, falling over her eyes.
  Build: Slim and slender
  Complexion: Smooth and creamy
  Civilian Appearance: While at school she wears the middle school Juuban high uniform (depending on which season) often accessorised with a scarf during the colder weather. Outside of school she often wears a pleated purple mini-skirt with a soft yellow blouse. Her clothes often have no labels and are very sophisticated but by the look of them they seem expensive.
  Accessories: With her school uniform it's her scarf during winter and her black book bag all through the year. A cloth hangs over her bag distinguishing it from others. It's a small character from the manga Wish. Lucinda also wears star like shaped purple earrings that dangle to about her mid-neck.
  Special Markings: N/A
  Spoiler
  
  Listed out and easy to understand. Or you can use paragraph form:
  
  
  
  Quote:
  
  Spoiler

  Appearance: Blue-black, as a hair-dye box would say, is the colour of her hair, which is thin and straight. It falls to just below the shoulder blades, and is cut in several angles and lengths, the shortest at her cheekbone. Her eyes are a midnight blue. In daylight they appear to be several shades lighter but at night they appear to be black and almost empty, looking straight through somebody's soul. She's tall, 5'9" in height, and slim. Unlike others she doesn't appear starved and is on the healthy scale of things. Long legs seem to have been obtained from her mother, only told from pictures though. Her only piercing is single in her ears.
  
  
  Whatever suits your own style.
  
  Personality
  
  • People tend makes mistakes here as well. You should try to avoid writing things like 'it depends on the situation'. If you would like to say something of this sort, use things such as certain situations make your character act differently then they normally would.
  The easiest way is to write it out 'novel' style or, in other words, the way a novelist would describe their character's personality.
  
  
  
  Quote:
  
  Spoiler

  Lucinda seems quite snobbish to people who don't know her very well since she's quite wealthy and lives in one of the best apartments in that area of Tokyo. When people get to know her she's actually quite a nice and generous person, not even hurting a fly. She's very confident with a high self-esteem so others say mean things about her and stab her in the back. She ignores it though. Hating confrontation she avoids arguments whenever she can and often will stop saying whatever she was going to so not hurt people's feelings. Lucinda rarely gets angry so if she's angry at you you've done something really wrong. She often gets distracted as well, even stopping midsentence. In three words: Fun, caring and unique.
  
  
  That covers a lot. In short:
  Appears snobbish, is actually quite friendly and generous, wouldn't harm a fly, confident, high self-esteem, rarely gets angry, sometimes flaky, fun, caring and unique.
  
  The last thing I'm going to say is history. Some roleplays will ask for a history. Try to think of different situations that your character has gone through. Try not to use these examples, as they are often used and very cliche.
  
  • Parents died when the character was very young.
    
  • The character has lost their memory, and is trying to find theirselves.
    
  • The character is searching for their love, who was kidnapped.
  That should help you in creating your own character!

 

Character Advice

• • If you are in multiple roleplays, you should use different characters, but always those that you enjoy playing. If you do not enjoy playing a character, let him get killed and start over. If you do, do not ever use him in another roleplay unless he dies in the one he's currently used in or said roleplay ends.
    
    
  • Try to avoid perfect flawless characters. If your character has no flaws, it needs to be redone. And not little flaws like nail biting or flaws of perfection like loyalty to friends. Those are boring(!) Make things interesting. Not everyone's a genius. Try making your character slow, but not a carcicature. Over the top anything is usually too much for people to bare. Keep things simple and moderate. Keep them from pulling out their knives. Seriously, those things hurt. Unless you're roleplaying Fighter, who is too dumb to realize he is being stabbed. But that's a whole 'nother case.
    
    
  • Most roleplayers turn their characters into beefed-up super creations that could very well save the planet or destroy it. This is a strange, yet simple, reason behind this way of producing invididuals in stories.
  Psychologically speaking, the characters people tend to make are usually a representation of one self; an impersonation if you will. And this tend to create an effect of wanting power and strength. And who doesn't want to be able to summon up demonic hordes or to stand up 12 feet tall with devilish and angelic wings sprouting from their backs? Of course we all want to be masters of all the elements in the world and have a bad-arse attitude towards everything, even a heroic complex that makes us look grand and spiffy. Then again, when's the last time you saw some one like that in real life?
  
  The personas people create are, in a sense, what they themselves wish to be. Even the more experienced writers occasionally let that aspect out, if not subconciously. More times than not, you'll end up seeing inexperienced or casual players dishing out the same entities that are constantly over powered for the certain roleplay, and some that don't even fit at all. Gross caricatures are a constant in more casual roleplays. You'll see princes and princesses, as well as fallen angels and chosen ones all the time.
• Strengths/Weaknesses by Keckhs
  
  Most good roleplayers know that there is a fine balance between strength and weakness. Too much strength turns a character into a god-moding super demon, while too much weakness can have them killed in ten pages. If you're having trouble with giving your character enough strengths or weaknesses, consider the following.
  
  A strength in one situation can be a weakness in another. If , say, your character happens to own a metal sword that is resistant to fire, he may be able to fend off fire attacks. But if he is faced with electric attacks, the sword may conduct the electricity and shock him to death. This is equally effective on abilities not concerning weapons.
  
  Personality quirks, while they have almost nothing to do strength and weakness, add an extra sense of realism to a character. In almost all cases, realism is a plus. Try different combinations of quirks for different results.
  
  Finally, don't forget this last topic: consider both the upsides and downsides to a weapen/scenario/etc. Everything has positive aspect and a negitive aspect. It may just happen to be that the delicious ice cream cone Miyako is eating will cause her to have allergic reactions, or the field that is wonderful for bird watching in the summer is a deadly mud trench during rainy season.
  
  Combining the aforementioned techniques with similar others will help to give your character that sense of 'realism' you've been searching for. Don't be discouraged if things don't go well at first. Learn from the masters, practice, and -most importantly- keep trying! I once heard that success is getting up one more time than you fall down. You haven't failed until you've given up.

 

Mary Sues

What is a Mary Sue, and why do I care? All these questions and more answered in the following guide!

• What is it? Short Definition
  
  The Mary Sue is a term in writing for a certain type of character. This character is an extension of the author's ego. That means it is a copy of everything (or at least a lot) of what the creator wanted. In Role Play terms, it is a powerful, 'perfect' character. There are few true Mary Sues, but there are way too many normal Mary Sues.
  
  
• What is it? Detailed Definition
  
  The Mary Sue is an ideal character. Strong, attractive, popular, and cool, the Mary Sue (Gary Stu for male characters) is a huge pitfall. Everyone wants to play one, but no one ever should. These characters are, bluntly, stupid.
  
  The characters often have a great number of skills. They don't have to be masters, but they have a lot, and they are great at most of them. In simple terms, the character is a Jack of All trades, but is as good as someone who specializes in that sole trade.
  
  The Mary Sue is also highly beautiful (in more than one aspect). They appear to be heavenly, and are often exquisite in many different types of clothing. Their soul tends to be 'beautiful' (to the creator, which means it may not be innocent). That can make for a wicked personality.
  
  The Mary Sue is a huge part of any story or Role Play. They suck up the other character's roles, hogging the plot to them. The Role Play dies because of it, and the Mary Sue brought everyone down with her.
  
  
• What to do with a Mary Sue?
  
  If a Mary Sue is detected, please tell the Role Player politely. If they ignore or even flame you (which is against the rules), then you can gesture a Spork, the mighty weapon against Mary Sues, at them wildly, but realize that they may be to fearful that they made a bane of characters.
  
  At this point, send them the Mary-Sue Litmus Test for them to test the Mary Sue. A good character (in Role Play sense) should follow this table:
  Role Play Type - Score
  Non-Literate - 50
  Semi-Literate - 40
  Literate - 30
  Advanced - 20
  
  The scores are the maximum allowed. However, some of the questions in the test are asking about a story plot. For that, simply tell them what has happened (and if the answer does not score you a point, then what you plan to happen).
  
  If you do get a Mary Sue, then you must figure out what to do. Sometimes, the best way to eliminate a Mary Sue from a Character is to look at the things that gave you points. Choose a few, and then adapt your character so that those things do not apply anymore. Then the score would go down.

 

Weapon's List

Plenty of roleplays involve battle scenes, and what's a good battle without some awesome weaponry? If you're designing a new character, browse the list below and see what kind of weapon might suit them and their backstory. The weapon you pick will greatly affect the fights they find themselves in, so choose wisely!



The List

The weapons below are organised into categories and accompanied by a brief description.

Swords

• Bastard-sword: Straight blade, hand and a half sword- used with one or two hands.
• Bokken: Wooden sword, used to train samurai in Japan.
• Dao: Single edged Chinese sword, normally called "Broad Swords" in English.
• Cutlass: A curved blade sword, sailors normally used these.
• Flamberge: A wavy edged sword, typically long swords or rapiers or a large claymore.
• Gladius: A Spanish sword used by roman legionnaires.
• Katana: Japanese long sword.
• Katar: Weapons that were known to sit just above the wielder's knuckles with a horizontal handgrip.
• Kodachi: A small sword that should be considered a "dagger".
• Kris: Two kinds of Kris; one is a wavy blade used for piercing, the other is a asymmetrical heavy sword.
• Long-sword: A sword used to increase armor protection.
• Rapier: A fancy hilted weapon that is considerably thin and pointed at the end.
• Sabre: A knuckle guarded curved weapon, originally used for cavalry.
• Smallsword: A European dueling sword.
• Claymore: A Scottish two handed weapon roughly 55 inches.
• Greatsword: The largest versions of swords, typically straight and two handed.
• Scimitar: A sword made for slashing, a very curved sword, Think Aladdin.
• Tachi: More curved and a bit longer than the Japanese long sword, typically worn by cavalry.
• Tano: Smaller version of the Katana.
• Wakizashi: Normally worn with the Katana, it is similar but shorter to the Katana.
• Zanbatou: "Horse-slaying sword" a pole arm with a large heavy blade at the end.

Knives

• Bayonet: A knife usually attached to the end of a rifle, used mostly in the Civil War..
• Bolo - a heavy bladed, ornate knife found in the Philippines
• Bowie: A large sheath knife.
• Butterfly, FrameLock, Lockback, Linerlock, Slip-Join, and Switch Blade: All are folding knives.
• Dagger: A special type of knife, where the tang of the knife is place centerline of the blade.
• Dirk: A Scottish dagger.
• Ka-bar: Seven inch fighting and utility knife used by the US Marines in WW2.
• Kunai: Flattened iron nail, it can be thrown like a shuriken.
• Kukri: A heavy curved Nepalese Knife.
• Leatherman: A little larger than a Swiss Army knife.
• Machete: A long wide blade used to cut through plants.
• Stiletto: A long sharp narrow knife.
• Tano: Smaller version of the Katana.
• Victorinox: Swiss Army Knife.

Staffs

• Bo: Korean staff.
• Hanbo: Martial art Quarter-Staff.
• Long: Longer than the Quarter Staff, which is lighter as well.
• Quarter: An English staff, normally made of hawthorn, oak, hazel, or ash.
• Shakujou: A Buddhist's staff.

Polearms

• Bayonet: When used on the end of a rifle; a Bayonet can be considered a spear.
• Bill: A chopping blade with several spikes on the end, usually six to seven feet long.
• Halberd: A two handed pole arm with an axe head.
• Lance: Long heavy spear used in jousting matches.
• Long Warhammer: A long spear with a hammer like head.
• Pike: A spear about 10 to 14 feet long used by cavalry.
• Pollaxe: A spear with an axe or hammer on the head.
• Spear: A sharpened pole either wood or metal. Or may be fashioned with a "spear head"
• Scythe: Typically used for a mowing tool, but can be used as a weapon.

Clubs

• Club: A wooden object used to beat people with in battle.
• Mace: A mace is a metal club or metal reinforced club.
• Mere: A Maori war club, it has almost flat sides and a round top.
• Morning Star: A mace with a curved head that has spikes surrounding it.
• War Hammer: Close combat weapon resembling a hammer.

Flails

• Cat o' Nine Tails: Multi tailed whip, used on ships as punishment.
• Morning Star: A spiked metal ball attached to a handle with a chain.
• Nunchacku: Two sticks connected with chain or a thong of fabric.
• Whips: Leather bound weapons that have a handle and a flexible strip.

Missiles

• Ballista: A giant "Cross Bow" that throws heavy bolts.
• Cross Bow: A bow mounted on a stock and uses bolts or quarrels.
• Long Bow: A common bow.
• Miniature Cross Bow: Simply, a miniature version of a Cross Bow attaching to the wielder's arm.
• Recurve Bow: A bow which ends curve away from the archer when in firing position.
• Shuriken: A tactical weapon, Japanese throwing stars.
• Yumi: A Japanese Long Bow, it is larger than its wielder.

Firearms

• Cannon: A large, smooth-bored, muzzle loaded gun.
• Hand Gun: A small gun used either with one or two hands which uses bullets rather than shot.
• Shot Gun: A gun which shoots "shot", tiny balls from the barrel in a large spread.
• Rifle: Any long gun which uses a bullet, not to be mistaken as a 'Shot Gun'.
• Submachine Gun: An automatic weapon which combines automatic fire and light weight ammunition of a pistol.

Other

• Bolo: rope with a weighted ball at each end

 

Species List

One of the joys of roleplaying is that you're not restricted to being human! Below you'll find a list of species commonly found in roleplays.

• The List
  • Aliens - creatures originating from different planets, galaxies or universes
    
  • Androids - non-organic creatures made of metal, and usually built to resemble humans
    
  • Angels - holy, white-winged, celestial beings
    
  • Anthromorphs/Furries - Animals with human characteristics, or humanoid physical traits such as walking on two legs etc.
    
  • Centaurs - Beings with the lower body of a horse and the upper body of a human
    
  • Demons - Usually violent and malicious creatures associated with evil, and opposing angels
    
  • Dragons - Reptilian creatures capable of flight, usually huge in size and able to breathe fire
    
  • Dwarves - Short humanoid beings that prefer to live underground
    
  • Elementals - Creatures whose existence revolves around the elements - see nymphs, dryads, undines, djinn etc.
    
  • Elves - Usually tall and beautiful humanoid beings with long lifespans; there are several common subspecies, such as drow (dark elves) and wood elves (forest-dwelling elves with strong bonds to nature) etc.
    
  • Faeries - Small, magical beings, usually humanoid in appearance and possessing insect-like wings for flight. Common varieties include Dark Fae, Light Fae, Sprites, Pixies, Brownies etc.
    
  • Gargoyles - Beasts capable of turning to stone.
    
  • Giants - Humanoid beings of massive size
    
  • Gryphons/Griffons - Traditionally, a cross between a lion and a bird, but there can be many other varieties which include many creatures half-bird, and half-other
    
  • Half-Breeds - Creatures with parents of mixed species e.g. half-elf, half-demon
    
  • Hobbits - Small humanoids with stout bodies and bare, hairy feet, found in the Lord of the Rings series
    
  • Humans - self explanatory! Usually considered to be the most average of species
    
  • Imps - mischievous creatures of various forms
    
  • Mermaids/Mermen - Beings with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish
    
  • Mythical Creatures/Monsters Creatures drawn from the mythologies of our hundreds of cultures - chimera, sphinx, minotaur etc.
    
  • Naga/Nagah - Beings with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a snake
    
  • Nymphs - elemental creatures from Greek and other mythology; the most commonly found types are dryads (tree spirits), naiads (fresh water spirits), undines (water spirits), gnomes (earth spirts), sylphs (air spirits), and salamanders (fire spirits)
    
  • Orcs - ugly, beast-like humanoids, often with pig-like faces
    
  • Pegasus - a winged horse
    
  • Undead - any non-living creature, such as vampires, zombies, ghosts etc.)
    
  • Unicorns - a horse with a single horn protruding from its forehead; winged unicorns are known as alicorns, and in eastern mythology, unicorns are usually more goat or deer-like than horse like and known as kirin/kilin
    
  • Were-creatures - humans that are either half man, half animal or can change into a particular animal, particularly during a full moon; the most common variety is a werewolf

 

Character Classes List

Many traditional games and roleplay systems categorise characters according to the skills and abilities they have. Below you'll find a list of the most common character 'classes' you'll encounter.

• The List
  • Archer: A class which the character usually wields bows and arrows.
    
  • Assassin: A trained killer, known to be very sneaky and have quick attacks.
    
  • Bard: A singer/song mage, which uses songs to convey attacks.
    
  • Cleric: Priest, someone who can use healing spells and the sort.
    
  • Druid: Usually seen with a familiar and associated with aspects of nature, a Celtic type of mage.
    
  • Guardian: A protector, usually protecting someone of royalty.
    
  • Gypsy: Sometimes considered a bard, but for the most part dancers.
    
  • Knight: A person sworn into fealty, normally wearing a suit of armor.
    
  • Magi: A spell caster, wizards and magicians.
    
  • Monk: Martial Artists, normally he or she uses her hands and feet as weapons.
    
  • Oracle/Seer: Someone who peers into the future with the use of items or his/her own mind.
    
  • Paladin: A holy knight.
    
  • Ranger: Sort of like a druid, he/she is normally seen with an animal companion, a tracker.
    
  • Rogue: Someone who does not abide by the rules of the "land" but his or her own.
    
  • Royalty: Kings, Queens, Princesses, and Princes.
    
  • Shaman: A holy man/woman for tribes and the such.
    
  • Shinobi: A Japanese assassin, very quick and stealthy.
    
  • Summoner: Someone who has the ability to summon creatures.
    
  • Thief: Simply, as the name implies a thief a swindler.
    
  • Traveler: Again, as the name implies, someone who travels.
    
  • Warrior: A general fighter.

 

Character Design Resources

Sometimes it can be really difficult to find the right attributes for your character. The resources listed below should put you in the right direction!

• Character Names
  
  Random Names
  
  Fantasy Name Generator
  
  Meaning-Based Names
  
  You may want to browse through some name lists looking for some names that would mean something with regards to your character. The links below should help you do this:
  
  Behind The Name
  Greek/Roman Names from Mythology
  
  
• Personality Design
  
  Score-based Generator (use a dice roller!
  Character Questionnaires
  365-Question Character Questionnaire!
  D&D Character Alignment guide
  Psychological personality types

 

Character Development Prompt

When you have a basic profile ready for your character, you can develop them further by responding to a prompt that puts your character in a tight spot. You can write these prompts yourself or use my examples.

• Situational Exercises
  
  One way to elicit a response from your character it to stick them in an uncomfortable situation, or else a situation that would make most people uncomfortable, then figure out how your character would respond. The most common ways to respond to any difficult situation are:
  
  A.Solve the problem
  B.Resign self to the problem
  C.Hide from the problem
  
  Some basic situations you may want to try are:
  
  A.Being physically trapped
  B.Being emotionally trapped
  C.Being injured or threatened
  D.Having loved ones inujured or threatened
  
  Here is an example prompt for C
  
  
  What you do is read the bit I wrote and respond with how your character would respond (not in this thread, though-- in notepad or something). Don't just tell the reader, but actually write it out like you're writing part of a story.
  
  
• Reaction to Stereo-type Characters
  
  One way to force a response of your character is to have them face a stereo-type character. Stereo-type characters are simple and unbendable in their oppinions, often producing a humorous response from more complex character. Some stereo-types you might recognize are:
  
  A. Hero/Knight in shining armor
  B. Defenseless maiden in distress
  C. Super-bad guy
  D. Super bad guy's frightened minion
  
  Here is an example of a prompt for B
  
  
  Here is an example of a prompt for C
  
  

 

Magical Definitions and Terminology

Magic is a common feature of roleplays, and this list provides a quick-reference of some of the terminology and definitions that are used.

• The List
  • Abjuration: Defensive magics. (Example: Magic Shield)
    
  • Alteration: Magic which distorts a person's physical structure.(Example: Burning Hands)
    
  • Alchemy: Magic with the use of metals. (Example: Defense +5 *On armor*)
    
  • Casting: The transfer of magical energy to induce an effect (Example: 'Casting' a spell that sets something on fire)
    
  • Channelling: Manipulating a 'current' of magic to run through something or someone (Example: a mage channelling magic through his body in order to cast a spell)
    
  • Components: Ingredients that can be used to create a magical effect, usually in alchemical magic systems.
    
  • Compounding: Magic by use of herbs. (Example: Potion of Life)
    
  • Conjuring: Summoning. (Example: Summon Lesser Water Elemental.)
    
  • Divinity: Holy magic. (Example: Bless)
    
  • Elements: Magic of the elements. (Example: Fire Ball)
    
  • Enchantment: Magical charms and binding spells. (Example: Dispel Magic)
    
  • Evocation: The same as "Elements" (Example: Fire Bolt)
    
  • Exhaustion: A state that can befall a magic-user if they push their limits, depending on the system of magic used.
    
  • Hedge Magic: Cantrips, Self taught. (Example: Cast Shadow)
    
  • Heraldry: Magic with the use of crests or symbols. (Example: Protection)
    
  • Illusion: Illusionary magics. (Example: Watery Double)
    
  • Invocation: Ritual Magic, Candle Magic. (Example: Create Pentacle)
    
  • Invoking: Calling forth a spell - usually associated with word-based magic systems.
    
  • Nature: Druid magic, magic based on nature. (Example: Vine Wall)
    
  • Restoration and Healing: Magic that recovers ailments of a character, like curses, damage, poison, or disease. (Example: Cure Moderate Wounds)
    
  • Spellsongs/Dance: Magic that is based on dances and songs.
    
  • Necromancy: Magical study of death.

 

Battle Advice

For some reason or another, roleplay battles are one thing that people often find to be quite hard. They take a little bit of getting used to, but once you've roleplayed a fight a couple of times and you've gotten used to the way that they work, you'll learn that roleplay battles are often the most fun part of roleplay that there is!

• Main Pointers
  
  As with roleplay of any kind, users take it in turns to described their action and speech. The only difference with battles, really, is that users are describing their attacks. The more that you can elaborate upon your attacks, the easier it is for people to roleplay with you; if you say that you shoot them, it's hard for them to respond. If you said that you shot them but indicated what gun you used, where you were aiming the gun and gave a brief idea of what might happen if the bullet hit them (in case the user is not familiar with guns), then obviously it becomes easier for the user to reply properly.
  
  Never assume that your attacks hit the target. If everybody assumed that all of their attacks went through, then roleplay would be incredibly boring and a lot of characters would die. A good roleplayer will always leave some way for their opponent to counter the attack, or at least give them a chance to do so; unstoppable attacks are seen as 'godmoding' and people will not want to roleplay with you if you never let them do anything.
  
  Take a few punches. This is exactly the same as assuming that all of your attacks hit the target, really; if you avoid all of a user's attacks then they're not going to want to roleplay with you. Just because you think that your character should be able to do a backflip or dodge bullets, or that you think that they would be good ways to get out of attacks, bear your character in mind, again trying to remember to be realistic. Just because dodging bullets would get you out of a sticky situation doesn't mean that you should do it. Rather than trying to avoid everything, accept the fact that once or twice your character might get their ass kicked.
  
  Accept defeat. If your character gets shot in the head at point blank range, or gets a knife through their heart, accept that your character is dead. Depending on the type of roleplay it may be possible for your character to be revived later on, but you shouldn't count on it. Coming back from the dead can be done well in certain situations, say in a roleplay centering around the use of magic, but just because you know that your character would be revived eventually is no need to do it too quickly. What I mean by this is that if your character dies, don't bring them back to life instantly if at all. If your character dies, then you've officially lost the fight, too.

 

Preparing for Battle

This guide illustrates a few key considerations when preparing for a roleplay battle, and the main strategies your character will probably take.

• Battle Strategies
  
  Defence
  
  Heavy Armor > Light Armor
  
  Though the heavy armored warrior (let's just say they're swordsmen for the sake of my sanity) may be slow in speed, getting hit by his opponent's blade would be safer...than, lets say, viceversa. With little protection, the light armored warrior could get his ass kicked if the slower one is a powerhouse. Sacrifice one element of battle for another one.
  
  Speed
  
  Light Armor > Heavy Armor
  
  Armor made of light metals or cloth padding. Maybe none at all. Could be the fine fabric of a hakama or just a normal pair of pants and shirt.
  
  Now on the other hand, a heavy armored person. Too much metal, whether it be a samurai warsuit or your average medieval knight. Hey, our character here could be one of those looney coocoos out there in modern times who has stolen some old armor from a museum.
  
  Speed could be a key element in a battle of uneven strengths. I say 'could' because there are always people out there who dont plays fights right.
  
  Power and Intelligence
  
  You can be a total weakling trapped in any kind of clothing and you'd most likely end up dead, right? It's always the steriod pumping ultramuscular heroes, with their nifty armor and weapons, that always win, eh?
  
  If you answered 'yes/right!' to any of those questions, you'll have to really work hard to be acknowledged by others.
  
  If you're weak, you can be smart. Use your brain and terrian to your advantage.
  
  If you're strong, yet dumb as a brick, pray that your opponent has the same mentallity that you possess. 'cause you're going down, sucka!
  
  Even things out. Well, dont try to play the perfectly lean and booksmart male/female. If you lack in strength, hit yourself up with brains to make up for your loss. If you are slow physically, slam them with your strong swings. Sure, you'll be taking damage, but think about the other guy. How the hell do you think he's gonna feel with a smashed jaw in the morning?
  
  
• A Note about Balance
  
  Quite a few people think that balance = occasionally taking a hit in fights. Whilst this is a good way of preventing godmoding, people find a way. For example: I once RPed with a guy, whose character could cast insanely powerful magic. I thought this was a bit iffy, but tried to RP with the guy anyway. Generic battle, he cast spells, I got injured, blahblah. But when I attack him, sure he takes the hit, and his character is supposedly injured...yet he still continued to fight as if he was unscathed, as if he was pretending to be injured.
  
  There are many variations of this. The ones who get injured, but your attacking builds up their 'rage' and makes them explode and become super powerful, are one such variation. This slightly ticks me off, since when you mention it to the person, they normally get very VERY defensive.
  
  And as for power problems...my characters are always very underpowered. Usually get attacked and disabled in some way during fights, or they are knocked out very quickly. But they're normally clumsy idiots anyway. Just like me.