A good RP post

by **Coffinhunter** January 16th 2011, 9:27 pm

I write this not to harp, or herp-a- derp , but to inform those new players on what I/We expect from a Role-play post. That is, what all readers expect form each other when reading each others posts. I am not only a fiction writer but a fiction reader and my only hope is that this reaches those of you with questions that I can answer. I understand fully that RL (real-life) can interfere with what your ambitions are here in the fantasy text based world, but can also assure you that we would all rather wait until you have the time to write a proper post instead of something short, lacking, and unfounded because you wish to post simply for the the simple act of posting. Nobody likes 'one-liners' it is considered the bare minimum of posts and shows your lack of interest in our chosen venue of interest. What we expect is something more, a narrative flare, a fleshed out character that is real in it's own fiction. We want to believe that this imaginary person is someone more that the writer's fantasy. Instead they are some one on to themselves, someone we chose to identify with and continue spending our hard-earned time reading about. It is my intention here, to help those of you with questions on how to make such a detrimental figure in today's fictional heroic atmosphere. I only hope, that some of you find that much needed inspiration in this directory other than the easily pointed out flaws.

The Devil is in the Details::

Many experts say that the antithesis of good RPing is the ability to disassociate yourself with the character, and yet an equal amount of experienced players will tell you the exact opposite. This is because there are two schools on the subject. One school says that RPing is the very act of leaving one's self behind and embracing a new persona. It allows you total freedom in the fictional environment while allowing you to engage in behaviors that are faux-pa in normal society for the sake of good narrative. The other says that these other personalities already exist within you and that the only way to bring them to the surface is to be yourself in the truest form of the statement. Yes the difference is subtle but the outcome is the same, a character that is not only 'fleshed-out' but believable in that sense that readers can identify with them. And in that sense a character that other's make the time to READ about. Without this ability we lack the fictional fortitude to draw other's into our narrative and in the same sense essentially nullify our contribution.

As I have noticed, many new players seem to fall in to the 'Floating Head' syndrome. That is that they can muster no more than a quotation clad single sentence which infers no more than a disembodied voice that speaks without actually interacting in the fictional realm that others have created. They assume we know, or see them,as if it were a normal graphic enhanced video game, where everybody can see and understand the character's motives. This is not true, this is a text based game, where even the seemingly unimportant prose of time tense is important. We have only our words, and in here they are soooo important, keep this in mind at all times. REREAD WHAT YOU WROTE.....SELF EDIT! DON'T LET SILLY MISUNDERSTANDINGS COME BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER PLAYERS. READ, REREAD AND READ AGAIN, AND WHEN THAT FAILS 'PM' (THEM) AND ASK YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR POST BEFORE YOU, YOURSELF POST.

READING: This is one of the most insane and yet viable complaints I hear from RP forums. People actually say; that here on a strictly text based game; that too much reading of other's post's turns them off. I can only wonder why they joined in the first place, as writing and reading others fiction could be the only true reason for joining; and yet still I read this complaint. I ask myself why they would join a text based forum in the first place if not for their personal enjoyment of doing both aforementioned activities. But this is of course our biggest problem in the way of frustration. They are called 'Skimmers' and they fill our ranks like it is our fault for trying to create fulfilled narrative proses. They don't read, or try to take the time to understand what the writer is explaining, bu instead skim the black of words for their name or some special bit of information but notion else. You could spend the time crafting a beautiful narrative and in your peers next posts find it totally ignored because it didn't specifically mention their name. My only warning on this point is that your recuperations be as politically correct, otherwise you may find yourself in as much hot water as the fool that deserved it because of their lack-luster reading comprehension. . (I myself have found this exact activity hard to accommodate, and am looking to change that very fact). In this I can offer one suggestion: READ , REREAD, AND READ AGAIN. When you don't understand something you read that was written, PM the writer with your question, before you post yourself. If you can't manage this small accommodation then this may not be the application for you, other sites may offer a more laid back structure that you may find more applicable.

Writing:Many new players feel intimidated when they read some of the other narratives that have been put in place before they arrived. This should not intimidate you, but inspire you, you should read these other posts and find your own voice within them. It is not only your response to their words or actions but what you: think, feel and absorb when they post. The real object is to create what, as your own character feels, thinks, or reacts to that situation. You can fill that space with 'flash back', and inner monologue. Doing so will 'flesh-out' that character in ways that you and your reader's hadn't expected. It also shows other's what you expect from their posts.You can leave clues, indications, and foreshadowing for plat points that you choose to show later. A paragraph is the bare minimum that you should ever post and in most cases more to fulfill the expectations of others in every post. If you can't muser at least that, than you should question why you are here to post. Is it to fulfill some empty void in your life or to post a good narrative to those whom seek just that. We are all readers and writers of fiction and expect that from others or what is the point? Reread what you've just written and ask yourself, if it is up to par.

Here is my personal equation to posting a well written post:

Introductory post: This is your first post in a thread, make it memorable. Yes you've already written your description on the Character bio, but you can' t expect others to go and look it up while they are in the moment. Re describe your character and put heavy emphasis on what the appear to be. Also give great time to their personal feelings on the current matter and any memories that may come into play. All this isn't going to come into play immediately but in time it will fuel good narrative form others toward your character as you participate. Don't just assume that other know why you've entered their narrative, give a realistic explanation on to why you, your character sees fit to join. It is here, in your first post that you are expected most to set yourself apart from the others.Even if it is a purposeful mystery of what your character's intentions are, you need to take time and express that very fact.

Everyday post: 10% reactionary, 25% action, 10% flashback, 20% inner monologue, , 20%emotional feed back, 15% dialog. This should do the job of filling up the space you need to make a comprehensible post.

Logical thinking. Here in the fantasy realm this seems to be a forgotten subject, but I can assure you that it is one of the most important. Even in a world of super powers and extraordinarily abilities we must constantly look to what is possible and what is unrealistic in these pretenses. We must question what the true effects are of these otherwise unbelievable acts and then try to put some form of logic in them. This is more importantly for the the other players that for our own fictional narrative. We must remember that others have plans and ambitions that may contradict our own and no matter how poorly written out they are they must be honored as our own wishes are. They have just as much right to have fun as we do our selves. My best advice is to keep things liquid, as in, that they are applicable to change so that all may be accommodated.

(more to come if people like this information...if not...well hell...I guess I should shut up)