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How To Roleplay...; The Basics
Topic Started: Sep 27 2008, 02:56 PM (48 Views)
Soulstorm
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These are the basics of RPing, how to build your RP post. These are the very basics. Over time, with practice, you can probably grow and advance in your RPing skills. But if you don't know how to RP, here is a small guide.

Getting Started

Before we begin making an RP post, we must go over the very basics. Here, you are supposed to use proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. If you consistently RP without it, it is likely you will be sent for RP tutoring with one of our tutors so you can learn. If you do get sent to tutoring, don't feel offended. It just means we see room for improvement and want to help you.

The basic things, as said above, are correct grammar, capitalization, spelling, and punctuation.

Capitalization

Capitalization is important. It makes a sentence correct and neat. All sentences start with a capital letter.

Examples -

Incorrect:

marshall the cat ran across the road.

That doesn't look right, does it?

Correct:

Marshall the cat ran across the road.

It does look nicer, does it not?

Then, after that, there are other things that start with capital letters. Names and Places begin with capital letters.

Examples -

Incorrect:

The cat named marshall ran across the road.

That doesn't look very nice, and it's not correct. There's nothing to show marshall is a name (even though we know it is).

Correct -

The cat named Marshall ran across the road.

That would be correct. All names and important places (For example, Four Trees starts with capitals because it's important)

Spelling

Spelling is important. A terribly misspelled sentence can be hard to understand. Spelling is important for ease of reading. If you seem to have trouble with spelling, I advise finding an online spellchecker (there is one built into Firefox browsers, though.) and bookmarking it and running your posts through it. It will help.

To show the difference spelling makes, I'll show you examples.

Incorrect:

The kat rann thru the boshes to get the mowse.

Correct:

The cat ran through the bushes to get the mouse.

Punctuation

Correct punctuation can correct run on sentences, shows expression, ends an sentence, and makes sentences altogether look nice.

Commas are used in a sentence to split it up.

Ex - Marshall the cat was running, but then decided to slow down to a walk because he was tired of running.

Instead of making it a run on.

Punctuation ends a sentence.

A period (.) ends a sentence. It is one of three endings. It is the most commonly used. It doesn't show too much expression, but is basic and useful. An exclamation mark (!) is used to exclaim something, for example, shouting, yelling, or something exciting. Punctuation is great! It is used to show great emotion.

A question mark (?) ends a sentence that's a question. Do you understand? Yes, I'm sure you do. :D

Speaking Characters

Most characters you play will likely talk. But if you do not show that they are speaking, or give no indication that they are speaking, it is likely the person roleplaying with you will not know what is happening. There is a correct way to show your character is speaking.

To show your character is speaking, you must use marks like these marks. " and " One goes at the beginning of where your character is speaking, and one goes at the end. After the end, you may wish to say how he said it. In this example, Marshall, our example cat, mewed what he said. Like this:

Quote:
 
Marshall broke into a wide grin. "Why thank you!" he mewed.


These funny little marks are a necessary part of roleplaying, and are very important. They let us know what is said.

Grammar

You should know the basics of grammar if you're roleplaying on this site. The above is a reminder to people who get lazy. If a sentence sounds correct, it probably is. If it sounds funny, it probably needs rephrased.



Building An RP Post


There are some steps to building an RP post. You don't have to do it like this, but this is showing how it could be built from the ground up, making a good reply. ;)

Step one is action. Here, for example, we're going to come up with something the character is going to do.

RP Sample
 
Marshall walked towards the river.


Very simple, correct?


Step two is describing the character some. You might say he's a handsome young tom, or a ragged old cat. Describe him a little. Doesn't have to be much. We'll get to that later.

RP Sample
 
The handsome young tom, Marshall, walked towards the river.



Step three is expanding the sentence to make it more interesting. Instead of walk, you might say he trotted jauntily, or he walked sullenly, head down. Elaborate. Maybe he walked briskly, looking all around. Maybe he walked forward, eyes fixed on the river.

RP Sample
 
The handsome young tom, Marshall, trotted jauntily towards the river.



Step four would be to expand on where he's going, or his surroundings. You can add sentences with any of these steps, as I've done here.

RP Sample
 
The handsome young tom, Marshall, trotted jauntily towards the sparkling river. The river was quiet, flowing slowly over the riverbed. The trees above provided ample shade from the sun.



As for step five, expand and work with your post. Make it better, more detailed, more interesting.

RP Sample
 
The handsome young tom, Marshall, trotted jauntily towards the sparkling river. The river was quiet, flowing slowly over the riverbed. The trees above provided ample shade from the sun. His brown tabby pelt showed nicely in the dappled sunlight that filtered from the tree canopy above. Marshall's head was held high, green eyes looking out at the world, muscles rippling under his pelt. Tail carried high in a friendly, non threatening manner.


Ta-da!



If you want any tips, help, ect, with RPing, feel free to PM me. This is just a basic guide. I'd be glad to help.
Edited by Soulstorm, Dec 26 2008, 04:41 PM.
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