Roleplaying: More than an Exercise in Imagination
by Arreouw in Dark Ages
Some Forethoughts
Have you ever wished you had lived in medieval times? Roamed with Native Americans on prehistoric plains? Ridden camels with the bedouins in ancient deserts? Perhaps you’ve imagined being able to soar through space and visit other galaxies. Children have an outlet for their imagination in their play, but they are not the only ones who have imaginations, nor are they the only ones who deserve the opportunity to utilize them. That’s where role-playing games (RPGs) come in. It’s an opportunity to try things you wouldn’t dream of, or possibly could never have a chance to try otherwise. You can bash heads, skewer monsters, romance a special partner, and yes, even die, with no real-life consequences. But you shouldn’t just jump in and play by ear.
Playing in a roleplaying game, whether it be on paper or on a computer, particularly when it’s a multiplayer situation, can be a lot of fun, or it can create a lot of hard feelings and confusion. Particularly confusion! In order to make sure you have considered whom you want your character to be, where he’s from, and what his personality is like before entering the new realm. Think of his history. What happened in his past life that makes him who and what he is? It’s not enough simply to have a name, but you could begin there. Perhaps coming up with a particular type of name will give you an idea of the language your character has spoken all his life, and what it must sound like. Language is said to determine how concepts are understood in a given language, so you may wish to expand your insights into your character to include those.
Imagine your character’s appearance. Is he typical of your species? If not, has that difference caused him to be resentful? Proud? Insecure? All these things will color the speech you use when your character meets others and forms relationships inside the game. It’s important to develop your character fully, though you may modify it slightly, or "remember" life experiences as you play. Just be sure they make sense in the context of the character’s life. If your character is a warrior who grunts and snorts, and is more likely to fight than talk, it would seem unlikely that he had ever taken up needlepoint as a hobby, for instance. And the hobbies of your character, like the other small but interesting details, are a large part of what make him come to life.
Communicating
Communicating is not just talking. There are many ways to express one’s thoughts. Keep in mind that using your imagination in this area is your best opportunity to add to your own enjoyment, as well as that of others who meet you in the game. Consider speech – does your character have an accent? A speech impediment of some sort? Poor grammar? Is she so young that her speech is childlike? Are there concepts in her society that have no words? Perhaps her species has no ability to feel anger. Such words as "hate", "fear", "fight", may be completely incomprehensible to her. It allows for great opportunities to roleplay situations, when you react to hearing a word your character does not understand, and gives you a chance to tell a bit about yourself, as well.
Use your body! When I speak, I often make gestures with my hands to illustrate a point. Your character can also. The tiniest gesture – the lifting of an eyebrow, looking down at one’s folded hands, a faraway glance – can portray volumes. Use whatever means is at your disposal to emote. It is a simple matter to use asterisks (*emote text*) or brackets (<emote text>) around your actions, and others will immediately understand your meaning.
Be sensitive to others’ feelings. There is no need to use profanity in a game any more than in real life. It is much more effective to berate someone who has offended you in colorful terms such as "slime-sucking worm eater" than to use words which may offend other and often, much younger, players. It’s a lot more fun, too! Also, remember that your character should only get angry when SHE is angry, not when YOU are.
Staying in Character
One of the most common problems that crop up in roleplaying games is the tendency to confuse OOC with IC. That is... Out of Character, and In Character. If your character has all his items stolen, it’s not reasonable for you to send an email to the game sponsors or staff and complain that the game is not fair. In RPGs, as in real life, things happen of which you would not approve and which you could not have anticipated. What interesting story have you ever read or watched at the theater that had no villain or conflict? If it hurts your character, remember it’s your character, and not you. The true talent of the roleplayer is to take it in stride and go with it. Let the events around you dictate your reactions. Just remember that it should stay within the parameters you have set up for your character. And don’t get angry with the controller of another character because of actions that character has taken. Remember... it’s all a game.
The best way to stay in character is to strictly separate OOC and IC comments. All OOC comments should be in whispers if only one player needs to hear them, and even then, within brackets so as not to confuse the other person about which sentiment is yours and which is that of your character. The most important time to consider this is if your character suddenly falls in love with another.
Romance in the RPG
If your character has met a handsome young man and the two of them seem compatible, they may fall in love, get married, and possibly even have children. What you should keep uppermost in your mind is that here, especially, you must keep OOC and IC separate. While it’s true that many couples have met in RPGs and have gone on to develop happy relationships, many more couples have ended up hurting each other due to misunderstandings. Do not encourage another player to have a relationship with you OOC without the normal precautions you would consider in any real life situation. Make sure both of you know exactly what you can expect of one another. Talk, OOC, about what you are doing before you begin to relate in character. Make sure you both understand exactly what is happening.
While some may feel it’s acceptable to share roleplayed intimacy at one level or another, two other things are also essential to remember: 1) You may find yourself in trouble if you are not a minor, and your "partner" is, and 2) the communication within any online multiplayer roleplaying game is never totally private, not even in whispers. So, behave circumspectly. Have respect for yourself, and for others. That simple rule can prevent a lot of embarrassment and misunderstanding.
Encourage by Example
Another word on staying in character is in order. If you enter a game and all the players are standing around talking about OOC issues like bugs and problems, or what’s happening in the real world, it’s not a game, it’s a pretty chat room. In order to foster the true feeling of roleplaying, each player has to lead by example. If someone makes a comment that is not in character, a confused look or question should be enough of a gentle reminder that they have strayed from their character’s role. Asking someone to wait while you meditate briefly, for example, is perhaps longer than "afk" but is certainly more in character. When someone speaks to you OOC, answering them by using brackets can remind them to do the same.
It’s not going to be very helpful if you jump on someone for accidentally making an OOC comment, but steering the conversation away from that, or taking it to whispers will keep it from becoming a prolonged and distracting conversation. The entire game will benefit from your examples if you do this, and the aura of the roleplaying world you have entered will become much richer for it.
Last of all – Have Fun!
Finally, remember that it’s a game. You’re here to have fun. Remember to respect that in others as well. Make it interesting for yourself, and it will be for others as well. Expect that things will sometimes not go your way, and be prepared for anything. The true adventurer must be ready to battle whatever comes his or her way. So, keep your shield up, your sword sharp, and your wits keen. Enjoy the world of roleplaying!
Lynn Carrick, aka Arreouw