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Nov 20, 2009, 7:36pm

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Ayipuyi
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Guide to Writing/Roleplay
« Thread Started on Dec 18, 2006, 5:33pm »

So you wanna learn how to roleplay, eh? Or, do you want to learn how to get better? Then, you're at the right spot. I'm going to give you the basics of roleplay, some helpful tips, and some other junk like that.

1. What Is Roleplay?

Roleplay is when people create a character, and act them out online. Or, well, there are other forms of roleplay in real life, where you're in a play and you've created your own character, but that's irrelevant to DD, now isn't it? On here, you make a character following the rules, and you write a post of them doing something. Another person joins, and posts with their character reacting or talking to yours. It's like writing a book with others, except, generally, you don't know the outcome of the roleplay.

2. How Do You Start?

How do you start roleplay? Simple. Make a character. Once you've got one of those made, you can start roleplaying. Generally, you write out them doing something, or thinking about something. Longer posts make more people want to RP with you. Interesting characters also gain the attention of others. 'Cause, face it, no one likes the usual insane character, or EMO character. You've got to find a way to like your character, but make them stand out. Once you've done this, you're ready to start your posts, and start roleplaying. If you need help figuring out what to post, look off of other roleplays (but don't copy!) and see what other people do. Sometimes, that helps get ideas.

3. How Can I Make Big Posts?

The average person has basic senses. Sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch are all things that can help you make large posts. Also, thoughts, and their feelings should be added.

- Sight

What does your character see? In a serene area, they might notice the flowers, the sun, the moon, the stars, or the wind in the trees. In a more gory, bloody area, they might see corpses, fatally wounded soldiers, friends slain in battle. How do they react to this? Do they like it? Or no? Sight is a major part of roleplay. Who is talking to them? What do they look like? What are they doing?

-Sound

Sound. It's something not mentioned much in roleplay, sadly. But, it's everywhere, whether it be someone walking in their heavy boots, or the wind blowing through the grass. Sound is everywhere. If a character is in battle, now's a good time to add what they hear. Bullets being shot, swords clashing together, insults, cries of pain- anything! Sound is a key part to roleplay.

-Smell

Again, a not-so included sense. Smell- it's a fairly important thing, but you can't do much with it. Your character can smell flowers, describe the odor, or something. The smell of water, or moisture in the air can be described in roleplay as well. Or, if someone farted, well... That might be an unpleasant smell. It's hard to put smell into roleplay, but it is possible.

-Taste

Another hard one! If you are either getting beaten up, smell something terribly strong, or you're eating, then this is going to be a helpful section. Blood has a nasty taste, doesn't it? Well, if you're character's lip is bleeding, or they've been punched in the face, and they're bleeding from the nose into the mouth, then there's an option for taste. Another tip is if someone throws up, and the aroma is so strong that you can 'taste' it.

-Touch

Touch is rather easy. Does it feel rough, jagged, smooth, soft, fluffy, or hard? Is a good feel or a bad feel? Can you bend it? Generally, touch is something that can be easily mentioned in roleplay.

Thoughts and Feelings

Thoughts and feelings are the best part of roleplay. Say someone says something to your character, and your character doesn't like it. What will they feel? Hatred? Rage? Then, tell why they don't like it! What do they think of the person talking to them? Do they like them, or do they not like them? At first glance, what does your character think about others? Describe!

4. Commonly Confused Words

There are three forms of 'there'. There, they're, and their. All are pronounced the same way, but they are for different things (like but and butt. rofl)

There- It's referring to a place. "Why are you going over there?"
They're- It means 'they are'. "They're going to California."
Their- It's possessive for 'they'. "It's their cat."

Also, there are three forms of 'to'.

To- Commonly used for expressing a motion, or direction toward some point of location. "Go to the store."

Two- A number. One more of something than one. "There are two bunnies in the yard."

Too- Generally used for 'as well'. "I miss Jenny, too."

And, what about It's and Its? Have you ever been confused as to which means what?

Its- Possessive form of 'it'. "Its eyes glared at us angrily."

It's- A conjuction of 'it' and 'is'. "It's raining!"

5. "Said"

Said. It's a nasty word. Sometimes, I'm forced to use it though. But, it's so... blunt. Why not make it colorful and descriptive? There are plenty of words to take the place of other words' (said isn't the only word that annoys me. Went is another one) places. Why not use inquired, or asked? Replied is another good one, as is stated. Here's a list:

Replied, Stated, Inquired, Asked, Snapped, Spat, Sneered, Snarled, Growled, Demanded, Hissed, Grumbled, Moaned, Groaned, Mumbled, Muttered, Whispered

There are a lot more than this. Try to avoid using little dinky words twenty times in a roleplay post, and people will start begging for you to join their sites, or to RP with them.

6. Da 'PERSONS!'

Okay, so, I've been RPing for awhile now (two years, baby!), and I've been on twenty-billion sites, thus, I've seen many RP styles. There are types of 'persons', if you will, that you can write it. Third person, Second Person, and First Person are these categories. Here is some info on each.

Third Person

Most books are written in this manner. Generally, everything is past tense (which I'll get onto in a minute), and the writing is being read from some invisible person who isn't in the story/post. Here's an example,

"Ayipuyi cautiously stalked through the street, her eyes sharp as a hawk's for any sign of movement."

Stalked. It's PAST TENSE. She's already done it. She's not doing it, she's done it. And, there isn't an "I stalked' its "Ayipuyi stalked". The main character isn't telling the story from their point of view, and, YOU certainly aren't doing it. It's third person, if it isn't the main character, or you.

Second Person

This is an uncommon type of writing, and really, it isn't used in roleplay. Actually, that'd be godmodding, but it's fun for scary stories. There is no 'I' like in first person, or someone else like in Third Person. It's 'you'. Confused? I thought you might be. Here's an example,

"You turn the knob on the door slowly, wincing at the loud creaking noise it makes. Grimacing, you push the large door open, unaware of what lay beyond."

It's present tense, and YOU are currently doing it. It's not heard of really, but it's a fun style to take up during scary stories.

First Person

You probably all know this one, if you've written diaries. First person is from the main character's point of view. Rather than so-and-so did this, it's 'I did this'. Example:

"I walked into the room and sat in my chair."

Most of the time, it's past tense, but I can be present tense.

"I walk over into the room and I sit in my chair."

The only thoughts the reader gets is thoughts from the narrator, or person the book/roleplay post is following around. You get their thoughts and no one elses while you read this. Very few RPers use this, but I think it's sort of fun.

7. Tenses

I'm gonna cut to the chase. There's two tenses- present and past. Make sure you don't skip between the two in mid-paragraph, 'cause that is confusing.

Present

As in second person, this is when the person is actually doing it. They haven't done it yet, but there are doing it. Understand? If not, here's an example: "Ayipuyi walks to the door and leaves without a simply goodbye."

Past

Past tense is most commonly use. Rather than 'walks', there is 'walked'. The person has already done this action. Here's an example: "Ayipuyi walked to the door and left without a simple goodbye."

8. Good Luck!

Now that I've completed this, my hands are as sore as heck. ^^ But, oh well, now, you can hopefully come up with something better than you used to. Or else my efforts shall be in vain. Oh well. It was good at least trying to help. More might be added as the time goes on!

« Last Edit: Dec 18, 2006, 6:03pm by Ayipuyi »

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- Ayipuyi-

The mountain is calling
The sky is calling
Something is waiting in
The far-off distance
So vividly, my blood is burning
Now I understand the
Reason I was born

Shades
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Re: Guide to Roleplay
« Reply #1 on Dec 18, 2006, 5:58pm »

SOGRATE

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Ayipuyi
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Re: Guide to Roleplay
« Reply #2 on Dec 18, 2006, 6:00pm »

Oh, just wait. Things are about to get even better. xD

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- Ayipuyi-

The mountain is calling
The sky is calling
Something is waiting in
The far-off distance
So vividly, my blood is burning
Now I understand the
Reason I was born

Shades
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member is offline

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Joined: Dec 2006
Gender: Female

Posts: 204
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Re: Guide to Writing/Roleplay
« Reply #3 on Dec 18, 2006, 6:26pm »

THISISLIEKWHOAAWESOME
=D

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Ayipuyi
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Da Tactician!
member is offline

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Run with the sound of the wind

Joined: Dec 2006
Gender: Female

Posts: 72
Location: Under yer bed. =O
Karma: 2

Re: Guide to Writing/Roleplay
« Reply #4 on Dec 18, 2006, 6:26pm »

Thank you. ^^

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- Ayipuyi-

The mountain is calling
The sky is calling
Something is waiting in
The far-off distance
So vividly, my blood is burning
Now I understand the
Reason I was born

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