If you're a returning member, no, your account has not been deleted, we've actually changed board since you were last here. just go ahead and register, PM one of the staff, let us know you're here, and we'll get right to work converting your information and post count from the old board. Keep in mind that any RPs running on the old site are probably still there, so if you don't see them here, just check the 'Home' Page, and follow the link back to the old board. |
| RE Orientation; Advice and orientation for newbies! | |
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| Topic Started: Dec 25 2007, 04:20 PM (3,320 Views) | |
| +Aiko+ | Dec 25 2007, 04:20 PM Post #1 |
Roffel House!
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ATTENTION: NEW MEMBERS MUST POST IN INTRODUCTIONS! Don't be shy! Say hi! Welcome newbies! This section is designed to orient those who are confused by our site. Here is everything you need to do in order to become a role player on Reality’s Exile. To become a member here, you must: 1.Read the Rules 2.Browse the Archives or Current Active RPs 3.Introduce Yourself 4.Apply *NOTE* You don't need to apply anymore! Just say hello in Intros and then join in any story you choose! 1. Read the Rules: Rules can be found in the Rules and Etiquette section. 2. Browse the Archives: To get a better idea of what goes on around here, check out the archives section. We've pinned a few good ones at the top of the Archives page. This should help you determine if RE is the right place for you as a writer, and it will give you an idea of how we write that will help you with part 3 of your application. 3. Introduce Yourself: If you’re serious about joining, create a thread in the Introductions section. You can use this to break the ice and chat with members. Also, feel free to ask questions if you’re confused about anything, just PLEASE DON’T DOUBLE POST! 4. Apply: NO LONGER NEEDED! You need to fill out and submit a three-part application to role-play on this site. This can be found (with complete instructions) in the RP Application Protocol pinned topic. The application may seem daunting at first, but it actually helps us help you create your first character and assess your writing ability. It’s not as scary as it looks, so don’t be intimidated by it. If you need help please just ask! Below are some important links to help you out. Note that these links mainly refer to the science fiction section. We now have a fantasy and a random RP section, so please check out the respective links there! These are to help you brainstorm. I realize there's a lot of information here, but this is a free style RP forum. Feel free to invent what you want! These are just what our creative minds have thought of thus far, feel free to add to the mix!  RE Online Reference Archives: An easily navigated website containing all pertinent information on the science fiction world of RE, including ship profiles, character profiles, planetary information, and other nifty stuff. Character Bios: We suggest reading the profiles of one of the mods or admins for examples of good profiles. Some of these may be on page 2 or later. Application Review Thread: Post a draft of your profile here for help and advice from role-players before you officially submit it to the admins. The Audition thread: A role-play for newbies where you can RP with seasoned members for practice and possibly speed up your acceptance as a full RPer. Jobs and Races: See what species our characters are and how they’re employed to inspire your character development. RE Reference Index: Contains links to all important species, ships, stations, and other information you may like to read. _____________________________________ Some Friendly Advice: We at Reality’s Exile pride ourselves on writing lengthy, well-described stories. As such, we don't accept applications with cliché characters (bounty hunters whose parents were killed by Space Pirates, etc.), or ripoffs of Samus (arm cannon, Chozo properties of any kind, fusion suits, etc.). We don't really care how powerful your character is, how useful he/she would be in some fight scenario, or what random weapon or armor they may have. We're more likely to accept a totally ordinary human being with no armor and no knowledge of how to fire a gun who is interesting to interact with than a bounty hunter with x-ray vision who is boring and poorly described. Not everyone is accepted to this forum. You might even call us excessively picky. You have to demonstrate at least a solid high school reading level AND the ability to come up with an original character that is moderately interesting and not cliché. You have to be able to write posts that are paragraphs long (we like to see people take up the better part of a page describing details) with good spelling, grammar, and overall writing style with lots of description. You have to demonstrate a level of maturity that tells us you can deal with difficult situations or characters in an RP and interact with others on the forum. As a final note, mediocre applications of potential members who take criticism with good attitudes and a desire to improve will tend to be accepted. Applications of potential members who are whiny and who talk back to the staff (=bad attitudes) will be rejected and/or the member will be banned after acceptance, even if they're the best role player we've ever seen. Good luck! |
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| +Aiko+ | Dec 25 2007, 04:21 PM Post #2 |
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Roffel House!
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The following was contributed by El Jefe and Lt. Jessie. Some tips for how NOT to Write a Character Profile 1) Please do not write specialty characters without consent from the admins There are some species and races that we put limits on, such as the Chozo, due to continuity issues and because there are, logically, a limited number of these individuals in the universe. Humans are a natural default and are a great start for many new members. Many members have also created their own race or have used races that have already been created. If you wish to use a specialty character from the Metroid universe, make sure you run the idea by an admin before you submit it and give a good reason why this character exists as well as explanations for how it will fit into the continuity of the Metroid universe. 2) Cliches are bad This applies especially to bounty hunter characters. We all like Samus and want our character to be like her, but where’s the fun in that? Yes, a lot of characters have a cool exterior, a hot interior, and a tragic childhood to explain their personality, but what about those who don’t fall into this category, like the obviously mentally insane or just the plain calm types? It just makes the characters look bland when put against each other if they all have the same, tragic past and bounty hunter profession. Try making a very creative character with a different personality that isn’t found in any other, or if you’re having trouble, trying modeling a character after your own personality. 3) Do not be over-creative or over-descriptive in your profile It’s good to be descriptive, but you also want to be vague enough so that you have room to work with your character. You want to be flexible. Also, we don’t really care about weapons, but they are good for a start, so we know that your character isn’t a pushover, save for those whom you want to purposely be pushovers. Just make sure that you aren’t over-descriptive. We want to keep it simple enough that we know what we’re dealing with, yet we also want it vague enough so that you can build on it. Once you get a good handle of your character (even though you’ve probably used the same character in tons of other RPs), you can add more to the biography, making it detailed. Just keep in mind the continuity. 4) Do not create a ‘super character’ or ‘super weapons’ to go with your character These characters are those ‘god-mod’ characters, which we look down upon greatly. We want the stories to be as real as possible (Except in certain instances). Let’s put it this way… If you were in the situation and you were injured badly (Like a bullet to the shoulder blade), would you just shrug it off and keep moving? Probably not… You’d most likely be in tons of pain while trying to get away… And make sure that the weapons you create are within reason. Anything remotely close to the Tlezer Cannon will probably be given the boot. Swords seem to be very common, either steel or light, but try to be more realistic on their efficiency. Guns… What type are they? What do they take as ammunition? Bullets? Plasma? There is a topic on the boards that goes into different types of armaments that are available (Most are customized to the person creating it which are marked as so, but there are also those that are of general use) 5) Do not create a character that cannot/will not interact with others Whether it be a Kerichoan, an Ubi, or a human, you want to have some interaction with people. This is very important as this will help with your character development. If your character cannot interact with others, then don’t expect for us to accept it. We want interaction so that we can get to know your character more. Think of it as real life. Do you learn the truth and more through watching from a distance, or when you actually talk to the person? So get your characters to be a bit more social. |
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| +Aiko+ | Dec 25 2007, 04:22 PM Post #3 |
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Roffel House!
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This was submitted by Kabri and Aiko and was written by their good friend, Hasu Negauni. New To Role Playing? Start Here 1. A good role player wants to be his character(s)... he forgets where he is and lives in the story. The character(s) need not be a human being... a robot, an alien from another world, a supernatural being, an animal or even a plant... but in each case, no matter what he/she/it looks like or is made of - it must behave like a human being. 2. The character(s) must be admirable, or at least likable, but he should have at least one glaring weakness that forms the underlying tension that drives the character(s)’s behavior. Capture those conflicting traits in a simple emotion vs. emotion equation. 3. The character(s) must struggle to solve his problem(s). There is always a price to be paid. The character cannot win unless he surrenders something of inestimable value to himself. 4. Avoid stereotypes! The unruffled, supercool, utterly capable hero is one of the most widespread stereotypes of poor role playing. Stereotype character(s) are prefabricated parts. Somebody else created these types long ago, and the new role player is merely borrowing them. They are old, shopworn, and generally made of cardboard. 5. Study the people around you; draw your character(s) from life. If you begin to study these people, you will find that every one is an individual. Each has a unique personality, a distinct set of problems, habits, joys and fears. These are the character(s) you should write about. Watch them carefully. Study their strengths and weaknesses. Stress the points that make them different from everyone else... the traits that are uniquely theirs. 6. Write from the character(s) point of view. You might be tempted to write in the first person: "I’m six feet tall and very solidly built. My hair is blond and wavy; women like to run their fingers through it". In the third-person viewpoint: "Jack was six feet tall and very solidly built. His hair was blond and wavy; women liked to run their fingers through it." - It’s the same description but does not sound obnoxious. Also, when you write in the third person, you can step away from your character(s) if it is absolutely necessary to relate something that the character(s) does not know. But think long and hard before you step away from your character... it can be a very dangerous step, more confusing than helpful. The best rule is to stay with your character at all times, unless it is absolutely impossible to say what needs to be said. 7. Use all five senses: Describe what your character(s) see, hear, touch, taste and smell. Every character you create will contain more than a little of yourself. That is what makes role playing such an emotional pursuit; you are revealing yourself, putting your heart and guts out on public display... it is as if you yourself are being kicked, folded, stapled and mutilated. Each character is a part of you... everything you write is written in your own blood. 8. Create a background that is convincing without being overpowering. Without an explanation of background - the who, what, where, when and how of your character(s) - the other role players will be at a loss as to how to interact with your character(s). Make every background detail work. That is, everything about the background should be important to your character(s)’s story line. Do not try to explain HOW the machinery works; just show what it does. Learn the basics of science... a little research is the sign of a good role player. 9. Use care in naming people, places and things. Too often, a role player tries to use an unpronounceable collection of letters, such as Bzfkpt. Maps are a good place to find strange names, provided you are careful to use names that are unfamiliar, yet have an interesting ring to them. One important rule of thumb about names: if it makes you giggle... get rid of it. 10. A role player must be internally consistent. This is much more than a matter of keeping track of what time it is and which way the wind was blowing in the last post. A role player cannot change winter to summer overnight because he wants a scene set on a sweltering day. Nor can he in anyway interfere with another role player’s character(s) without permission. If the other person’s character just flew out the window, the next role player’s post cannot have him lying in a pool of blood in the basement of an abandoned building. |
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6:20 PM Dec 1
