RPG Tips Topic. (MUST READ for new players!)

[Abyss]

RPGs are a complicated thing. Role playing games require work and understanding from everyone involved for them to be great. Especially if one is just starting to get into RPGs, it can be very difficult to have an enthralling game, so this topic is to help get things going.

Your Character:

1. Original Personality.
Try to stay away from cliche archetypes. The braindead warrior, the villain with nothing but a thirst for blood, etc. Not everyone can be an Emo or a Leader either. Be an average person in some aspects.

2. Realistic power.
It seems common for many beginners to want to use this amazingly powerful character who knows no flaw. Flaws make things interesting, realistic flaws. Try to limit a character to a known mask, a known element, and no more than 3 weapons. Over powered characters like these and their attributes are often called "Godmods" and others will quickly dislike you.
Exceptions: Some RPGs are fighting based, so you can have a more powerful character, but still throw in some flaws. You can't be a master of everything.

3. Background.
Make it relevant to the RPG and try to be original. It's very tiresome when everyone has a mysterious past. It's okay to leave a few things unexplained for plot hook reasons, but be detailed.

4. Stay in character.
Know your motivation before you do something, and know if that motivation fits your character's goals. If your character is kind, he won't be kicking puppies for barking at him, or yelling at other characters.

5. Character limit.
Try not to use more than 3 characters. Playing one skillfully is challenging enough, but in the more convoluted RPGs, multiple is nearly impossible to pull off eloquently.

Playing the RPG

1. Grammar Hammer.
Don't use shorthand in posts. Clear communication is of the utmost importance. Break posts into paragraphs or people will think: "Wall of text! tl;dr." Always start a new paragraph for dialogue.

2. Notation.
Use "IC" for In character, or actually role playing.
Use "OOC" for out of character, to explain unclear things or communicate with others in a way unrelated to the plot.

3. Understand the plot.
The RPG most likely introduced an overall objective. 'To find a cure, stop the villain, etc.' Always keep in mind that the plot needs to be driven toward this goal.

Keep up with sub-plots too. Try to remember what other characters are doing and what their objectives are too.

4. Working Together
You aren't the only player, and your character can't always be the star. Read other Characters' profiles and become acquainted with their personalities and goals. Don't go off by yourself to accomplish your goal, try to make it work with someone else.
*editing in progress*

5. Fights
Especially with other player characters, these too, are an exercise in compromise. These are incredibly tricky and require lots of understanding with the person you are fighting.

Don't simply say 'you hit them' or 'you dodge their attack.' Don't EVER control another person's character either. such as 'he threw a punch, but I grabbed his arm and threw him.'

It is best to communicate with the other player (outside the RPG) while or before playing so that there is no confusion. Work out who should win, how severely, or if the fight finishes at all. Speaking of communication...

6. Communication.
Many times, a plot is somewhat set in an RPG. This helps actually get things done and keeps it interesting. Sometimes, this plot is thought about along the way by the players within it. It helps a lot to be able to speak with other players regularly outside an RPG. Be it through PM or a messenger, whichever is most convenient.

This post will be updated as new suggestions and ideas come in

[LORD INTERNET DOT COM]

abyss said:

Try to stay away from cliche archetypes.

Says Abyss over here XD

[Abyss]

>.> quiet you.

[kopakalady]

Cliche is actually pretty ok, or actually even awesome when it's played correctly. I know for certain some of you guys have had cliche characters but you have such a nice writing style and you know how to do RPGs, one cannot notice.

[LORD INTERNET DOT COM]

Also everyone who reads these should know that there's almost never an RPG where all these rules apply. But they're ok to use as guidance if you're new.

[Vahiki Reborn]

Mind if I add some tips?

Character tips:

1. Although you may have gleaned some plans for an RPG event beforehand, that doesn't mean that your character knows the event will happen. I, eh, learned this the hard way.

2. When writing prose, don't use slang words or phrases. It's alright for your charcter's dialogue though.

3. Work out your character's backstory out fully before you start an RPG. Make sure that everything fits with his personality and so on and so on.

Villain tips:

1. Original goal:

World domination, world destruction, galactic domination, glactic destruction, etc etc. We've all heard these tired supervillain goals a hundred times. That's why you really need to have a creative goal for your villain.

2. Villainous dialogue. Aye, this can either turn out to the worst dialogue of a story, or the absolute best. Mke sure your villain's dialogue fits with his/her personality.

More later.

-\/-

[Masterweaver]

Post every other day, even if the guy who started the RP disappears. I've seen RPs that run to more then a hundred and fifty pages--and are still going strong---just because of this.

Also, keep it simple. Don't just keep talking in one incredibly long unbroken sentence moving from topic to topic so that nobody can interrupt. Be short and to the point. "The wind whistled past his face as he leapt with the power of all his might onto the sharp precipice above." "He jumped to the ledge overhead." See my point?