Writing a good RP Post
Aug 13, 2017 21:08:18 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2017 21:08:18 GMT -7
When Writing a Roleplaying Post...
Give Action
Take note of your character’s qualities, movements, body language, gestures, their habits, and so forth. Do not overload your posts with a lot of action. Make sure to remember that if your post is all thought and speech, there is little for the other writer to respond to back with. If you throw in a little bit of action into each role-playing post, it makes the thread that more interesting!
Respond to Action
If the other character made a move, action, or betrayed something in their body language (and your character was likely to become aware of, do respond! If their character stepped forward in their roleplaying post, maybe your character steps backwards. Alternatively, maybe not, it depends on the interaction. Make sure you are not skipping over anyone else's action that demands response, either -- such as a handshake, high five, etc.
Don't Forget the Scenery!
Especially in long threads, the scenery is sometimes neglected. If the characters are standing outside in a forest talking for hours, maybe the sun starts to set and they have to begin making their way home. This can change the flavor of the thread from simple relaxing, discussion to a real adventure -- and a great way for two characters to bond. If the characters are sitting in the main camp tent late at night, maybe a few NPCs join them for drinks, and they all dance drunk?
Mistake? PM the Player!
PM the other player if they made a mistake in their roleplaying post. If your character extended their hand in your last roleplaying post, but the other roleplayer doesn't mention talk about it or have their character react, they may have missed something. It is polite to PM the roleplayer and let request they edit their post if it's an important part of thread progression development. Forging ahead with your post under the idea that their character on purpose dismissed your character's handshake may not be what should have happened.
Show, Don't Tell
This is important in roleplaying and writing both--rather than telling your audience flat out how your character feels, you should show them instead.
WRONG: "Azazel felt awful for what he had done."
RIGHT: "Azazel's ears drooped and his eyes fell to the ground, unable to look at the other dog. The corners of his lips drooped in the beginnings of a frown, and when he opened his mouth to speak, he found shame had taken the words out of him."
Roleplaying Post Don'ts
-Don't respond to every bit of speech.
Don't be afraid to give non-verbal responses such as nods, stares, shakes of the heads, funny looks, waves of the hand, thumbs up, smiles, grins, shrugs crossing of the arms, and etc. This simplifies the thread and can help prevent awkward speech patterns between the roleplaying characters.
-Don't over think.
Don't immerse yourself completely in the character's head. It is great that she is thinking of her dead parents in this sad moment, but it gives the other roleplayer very little to reply to. Make sure your post does not consist of only thought. It is hard to reply to.
-Don't overdo the action, either.
Don't over-stuff with action, changes, and changes. A small change of scenery, like the sun beginning to set, is great. A big change, such as a cliffside cave beginning to flood. It may not be so appreciated by the other roleplayer(s).
-Don't be over-controlling.
It's important not to completely direct the course and flow of a thread. Let the other player to make some decisions, even if it's an unplotted thread. This is done by leaving open-ended replies. For example, if two wolves are hunting a moose, the first character's reply could detail their approach, the second could detail the selection of suitable prey, and the third could detail the actual attack, etc. Each roleplayer gets to control a different part of the interaction and advance the storyline a little; it is more fun for everyone this way.
Give Action
Take note of your character’s qualities, movements, body language, gestures, their habits, and so forth. Do not overload your posts with a lot of action. Make sure to remember that if your post is all thought and speech, there is little for the other writer to respond to back with. If you throw in a little bit of action into each role-playing post, it makes the thread that more interesting!
Respond to Action
If the other character made a move, action, or betrayed something in their body language (and your character was likely to become aware of, do respond! If their character stepped forward in their roleplaying post, maybe your character steps backwards. Alternatively, maybe not, it depends on the interaction. Make sure you are not skipping over anyone else's action that demands response, either -- such as a handshake, high five, etc.
Don't Forget the Scenery!
Especially in long threads, the scenery is sometimes neglected. If the characters are standing outside in a forest talking for hours, maybe the sun starts to set and they have to begin making their way home. This can change the flavor of the thread from simple relaxing, discussion to a real adventure -- and a great way for two characters to bond. If the characters are sitting in the main camp tent late at night, maybe a few NPCs join them for drinks, and they all dance drunk?
Mistake? PM the Player!
PM the other player if they made a mistake in their roleplaying post. If your character extended their hand in your last roleplaying post, but the other roleplayer doesn't mention talk about it or have their character react, they may have missed something. It is polite to PM the roleplayer and let request they edit their post if it's an important part of thread progression development. Forging ahead with your post under the idea that their character on purpose dismissed your character's handshake may not be what should have happened.
Show, Don't Tell
This is important in roleplaying and writing both--rather than telling your audience flat out how your character feels, you should show them instead.
WRONG: "Azazel felt awful for what he had done."
RIGHT: "Azazel's ears drooped and his eyes fell to the ground, unable to look at the other dog. The corners of his lips drooped in the beginnings of a frown, and when he opened his mouth to speak, he found shame had taken the words out of him."
Roleplaying Post Don'ts
-Don't respond to every bit of speech.
Don't be afraid to give non-verbal responses such as nods, stares, shakes of the heads, funny looks, waves of the hand, thumbs up, smiles, grins, shrugs crossing of the arms, and etc. This simplifies the thread and can help prevent awkward speech patterns between the roleplaying characters.
-Don't over think.
Don't immerse yourself completely in the character's head. It is great that she is thinking of her dead parents in this sad moment, but it gives the other roleplayer very little to reply to. Make sure your post does not consist of only thought. It is hard to reply to.
-Don't overdo the action, either.
Don't over-stuff with action, changes, and changes. A small change of scenery, like the sun beginning to set, is great. A big change, such as a cliffside cave beginning to flood. It may not be so appreciated by the other roleplayer(s).
-Don't be over-controlling.
It's important not to completely direct the course and flow of a thread. Let the other player to make some decisions, even if it's an unplotted thread. This is done by leaving open-ended replies. For example, if two wolves are hunting a moose, the first character's reply could detail their approach, the second could detail the selection of suitable prey, and the third could detail the actual attack, etc. Each roleplayer gets to control a different part of the interaction and advance the storyline a little; it is more fun for everyone this way.