Post by Faith Webster on Nov 1, 2010 10:53:21 GMT -5
What on earth is Role Play?
Well, basically, Role Play is where you create a scene, choose characters (or "roles"), then act them (or "play" them) out. It's just that: Role - Play. And just for reference, if people ever talk about "RP" or "RPG", they're just talking about Role Playing, or Role Playing Games.
So what do I do in Role Play?
Well, not meaning to sound obvious here, but you role play! Create a unique character, develop them in the world they belong, and exercise your writing skills. There really isn't a purpose to Role Playing, unless the group you belong to has a mission or goal. Mostly it's just up to the writer/s to create scenes or scenarios for the characters to live in.
A huge part of role playing is interaction. It just isn't possible to join a group and not interact with anyone else in any way. There are PM's, instant messages, you name it. Of course, let's not forget the actual Role Playing! Your character will meet and interact with the other characters in your group or society, and will consequentially learn from those encounters. That is, if you're a good writer, and can realize that a lesson was (or should have been) learned, and can develop your character accordingly.
Creatinga character? How the hell do I do that?
Creating a character is possibly the most important thing you will ever be doing in your Role Play career. You can't rush this process, it requires thought and creativity. But don't be daunted - if you want to Role Play and are really into it, this will seem fun. Really! And after you've created a few characters, though you might not role play them all, you'll start noticing traits in the people you see every day - the disgruntled expression the woman always wears to work as you pass her, the crooked nose of a man who is in the same coffee shop. All of those things, and millions more, can be integrated into characters.
To begin with creating a character, you must first determine what kind of person they are in general - kind, considerate, mean, arrogant, cowardly, evil, stupid, etc. You could even pick two, for this example let's just say that our character will be kind, yet cowardly.
But get this - your character isn't supposed to be perfect. In fact, he/she can't be perfect. If you role play a perfect character, it will be incredibly boring, because there would be no development whatsoever, or any lessons to be learned with buckets of cold water. It just isn't any fun!
You'll notice that one of the main traits I picked gives our character a weakness right off - they're kind, but incredibly cowardly. Let's make our character a her. She'll be incredibly kind, but too scared to do anything. Through out her training as a white mage, she'll slowly overcome this with support of friends. She'll still be kind and thoughtful, but won't shy at a mean glance or haughty look. Then decide where she's from. Let's make it England. So you see, in the past few paragraphs, we have a character that is kind yet cowardly, and is from England.
Creating, an Art
Seriously, creating a character is an art. We have already accomplished the basic outline of character, now it's time to fill her in. Andorans are usually average to tall height, slender, and fair. We'll make her a blonde with blue eyes and a thin mouth. Her hair is a strong point, thick and silky. Her eyes are large and sorrowful.
You must take into consideration what kind of life they've had over the years. If she's a farm girl, chances are that she'll have muscle and a tan. If she's a pampered noble, she'll be weaker, but skinnier, with milky skin.
It's easy to continue from here, you just fill in the points of her life that give her character. She might be cowardly because everyone she's approached has been mean and squished her like an ant. Maybe her mother is a Wisdom. Maybe her brother joined the army. There are just so many possibilities, and each one will have a different outcome on how your character behaves.
Originality is Important!
Originality is promoted so much in the role playing world that it is in fact quite common. You must be careful to not have your character have too many "original" traits, because there are others out there who have already had those "original" traits. That isn't to say that no one can have them - just take a look at some of the biographies at the site, or read some posts. Another always-angry novice can be boring. Another super-quiet Accepted will also be boring. Its not the traits that you're making original, it's the mixture. Make her cowardly and evil. Give her short black hair instead of long blonde plaits, etc. Be original - but don't be predictably original.
Development
Even though Role Playing doesn't have a goal or mission, a major part of it is still character development. Just as characters in novels learn new lessons and take on different ideas and views, your character must too. They don't have to completely change, but usually slight alterations are expected, as they grow up, learn lessons, etc.
A point about physical appearances - be prepared for your writing to take many directions. Some days, a blonde might be a reddish-blonde, other days light brown, and even gold. Don't resist, because hair colour and eye colour do change sometimes, though you should try to be fairly consistent.
Other People
If you want other people to join in with your role play, give them the opportunity! Have a knock at the door just before you go to sleep, see a flash of white down the hall and follow it. Other people want to have fun as well, so let them join you! This, of course, doesn't apply if you are doing a mini-series... then it's all up to you.
Create a Mental Map
As you create your character, as you first have them enter their room, as you have them sit down in their favorite chair in the Library, create a mental image or map. Remember it. That way, the next time you role play that situation, you'll be seeing the image in your own mind, and will be better able to describe it to others in words.
'What on earth is Role Play?' written by Jay Serge of RPG-Directory
Well, basically, Role Play is where you create a scene, choose characters (or "roles"), then act them (or "play" them) out. It's just that: Role - Play. And just for reference, if people ever talk about "RP" or "RPG", they're just talking about Role Playing, or Role Playing Games.
So what do I do in Role Play?
Well, not meaning to sound obvious here, but you role play! Create a unique character, develop them in the world they belong, and exercise your writing skills. There really isn't a purpose to Role Playing, unless the group you belong to has a mission or goal. Mostly it's just up to the writer/s to create scenes or scenarios for the characters to live in.
A huge part of role playing is interaction. It just isn't possible to join a group and not interact with anyone else in any way. There are PM's, instant messages, you name it. Of course, let's not forget the actual Role Playing! Your character will meet and interact with the other characters in your group or society, and will consequentially learn from those encounters. That is, if you're a good writer, and can realize that a lesson was (or should have been) learned, and can develop your character accordingly.
Creatinga character? How the hell do I do that?
Creating a character is possibly the most important thing you will ever be doing in your Role Play career. You can't rush this process, it requires thought and creativity. But don't be daunted - if you want to Role Play and are really into it, this will seem fun. Really! And after you've created a few characters, though you might not role play them all, you'll start noticing traits in the people you see every day - the disgruntled expression the woman always wears to work as you pass her, the crooked nose of a man who is in the same coffee shop. All of those things, and millions more, can be integrated into characters.
To begin with creating a character, you must first determine what kind of person they are in general - kind, considerate, mean, arrogant, cowardly, evil, stupid, etc. You could even pick two, for this example let's just say that our character will be kind, yet cowardly.
But get this - your character isn't supposed to be perfect. In fact, he/she can't be perfect. If you role play a perfect character, it will be incredibly boring, because there would be no development whatsoever, or any lessons to be learned with buckets of cold water. It just isn't any fun!
You'll notice that one of the main traits I picked gives our character a weakness right off - they're kind, but incredibly cowardly. Let's make our character a her. She'll be incredibly kind, but too scared to do anything. Through out her training as a white mage, she'll slowly overcome this with support of friends. She'll still be kind and thoughtful, but won't shy at a mean glance or haughty look. Then decide where she's from. Let's make it England. So you see, in the past few paragraphs, we have a character that is kind yet cowardly, and is from England.
Creating, an Art
Seriously, creating a character is an art. We have already accomplished the basic outline of character, now it's time to fill her in. Andorans are usually average to tall height, slender, and fair. We'll make her a blonde with blue eyes and a thin mouth. Her hair is a strong point, thick and silky. Her eyes are large and sorrowful.
You must take into consideration what kind of life they've had over the years. If she's a farm girl, chances are that she'll have muscle and a tan. If she's a pampered noble, she'll be weaker, but skinnier, with milky skin.
It's easy to continue from here, you just fill in the points of her life that give her character. She might be cowardly because everyone she's approached has been mean and squished her like an ant. Maybe her mother is a Wisdom. Maybe her brother joined the army. There are just so many possibilities, and each one will have a different outcome on how your character behaves.
Originality is Important!
Originality is promoted so much in the role playing world that it is in fact quite common. You must be careful to not have your character have too many "original" traits, because there are others out there who have already had those "original" traits. That isn't to say that no one can have them - just take a look at some of the biographies at the site, or read some posts. Another always-angry novice can be boring. Another super-quiet Accepted will also be boring. Its not the traits that you're making original, it's the mixture. Make her cowardly and evil. Give her short black hair instead of long blonde plaits, etc. Be original - but don't be predictably original.
Development
Even though Role Playing doesn't have a goal or mission, a major part of it is still character development. Just as characters in novels learn new lessons and take on different ideas and views, your character must too. They don't have to completely change, but usually slight alterations are expected, as they grow up, learn lessons, etc.
A point about physical appearances - be prepared for your writing to take many directions. Some days, a blonde might be a reddish-blonde, other days light brown, and even gold. Don't resist, because hair colour and eye colour do change sometimes, though you should try to be fairly consistent.
Other People
If you want other people to join in with your role play, give them the opportunity! Have a knock at the door just before you go to sleep, see a flash of white down the hall and follow it. Other people want to have fun as well, so let them join you! This, of course, doesn't apply if you are doing a mini-series... then it's all up to you.
Create a Mental Map
As you create your character, as you first have them enter their room, as you have them sit down in their favorite chair in the Library, create a mental image or map. Remember it. That way, the next time you role play that situation, you'll be seeing the image in your own mind, and will be better able to describe it to others in words.
'What on earth is Role Play?' written by Jay Serge of RPG-Directory
