Welcome to Amimain's Role Play Guide!
--General--
What travesty is this?! Since when does my page have to be storage for your silly guides?
Oh hush. This will benefit all of Neopia! Besides, you're a retired character anyway.
I wouldn't be if *someone* hadn't decided that for me...
Do you see anyone offering to role play with you?
No...
Then be quiet and let me type.
Ami! This isn't fair! I object!
Quiet, or it's omelettes for dinner again tonight.
*grumble*
-Introduction-
There. Now that we've gotten through that, welcome one and all! Thanks for stopping by! If you're here, you probably want to learn more about how to role play, so I won't bother explaining what this site is about.
I have worked hard to bring this site to you, and I hope you find it useful. It is meant to be a learning tool for anyone, not just newbies to
the RP world. I have tried to break down the complexities of role play to be as friendly and easy to understand as possible.
Now, keep in mind that just reading this page from beginning to end will not automatically make you a 'good role player'. Practice is key too. You can't become a skilled role player
overnight. It is best to read a little here, practice some of the things I suggest, and come back when you feel you're ready to move on. I know it's irritating to have to wait, but it's worth it to do this right!
There isn't much more to say than that. I hope you enjoy the site.
-My Mission-
I cannot count the number of times people have neomailed me asking what role playing is, nor can I count
the numerous times I have been discouraged by role players not living up to expectations.
I believe that everyone has the potential to be a good writer. I am also tired of
endlessly searching for good role play partners. So, I created this page to help people both learn to role play better
and gain a thorough understanding of what makes a good role play. By expanding one's RP skills, one can learn to
truly appreciate the skill, patience, and humility that it takes.
My goal is to spread the love of good role play throughout Neopia, and hopefully even beyond.
You are helping me to do so just by coming here. Thank you for caring. I hope you will find everything you need on this page,
regardless of your RP skill level. Once again, thank you, and enjoy!
To infinity and beyond!
-----
-So, Why Role Play?-
You may be wondering what this role play rage is about. Maybe you've heard about it and have delayed trying it. Perhaps you
find the idea of it a little too intimidating. Maybe you've never heard of it at all! Whatever your reason, I'm here to help.
Role play is not only a Neopets thing. It has been going on for many, many years on the internet, in board games, and even in real life.
The basic idea is to cooperatively create a story with one or more people. It can be challenging, but it's worth the effort.
*cough* And WHO retired me the moment I got less popular?
Role play has several appeals. First and foremost, it allows you to become some one you are not. With the power of
the imagination, an ordinary boy or girl can become a desert thief or a medieval princess. It also adds mystery. Anyone can write a story, but when you write cooperatively with
some one else, you don't know what they're going to do. It adds unexpected twists and keeps the story
interesting. You also have some one to help you along the way. If you're stuck, chances are your partner(s) will have some ideas of their own.
Creating a work that takes your creative abilities, as well as that of your friends, is a wonderful and exciting thing.
So, that's all fine and dandy, but how
do you role play? The truth is, there isn't really one answer. To role play means what it sounds like:
to play a role; A role that is not your own. Acting is role playing, because you become some one other than yourself. So, when you role play one of your Neopets,
you are, in a sense, acting as them. It all involves seeing the world through some one else's eyes.
Generally, role playing on Neopets is the equivalent of writing a story, but with the help of another person. People always get intimidated when I tell
them this, but my suggestion is to think of a book. In a novel, you have characters that interact, do and say certain things. Now, imagine if two people wrote a novel together.
That would be role playing. Try to visualize writing a book while taking turns with a friend. Can you picture that? If yes, then you have just
grasped the fundamental principals of role playing!
Well spank me noodle and call me dandy!
Eynkido, hush.
-----
-Phrases and Abbreviations You Should Know-
It can be hard to jump right into the RPing world, so I have made a list of terms that you
may see. Hopefully it will ease the confusion that you might face.
Ooc: This stands for 'out of character'. People use it to indicate that what they are saying
is not related to the role play. 'Out of character' comments can also be indicated by parenthesis.
Bic: Ths stands for 'back in character'. This is used after a person has said something ooc
and is returning to the role play.
Sp?: This indicates that the person writing is unsure of how to spell the previous word.
Post: This is the name for the paragraph(s) of writing that you submit during your turn in an RP.
Posts vary in length depending on your skill level.
X last post: Sometimes people say this to indicate that they want you to
ignore the last thing they wrote.
Twist: This is short for plot twist. When you see this in an RP title, it usually means the author usually has some sort of
original or inventive plot in mind.
One-on-One: If you see a board like this, it means that person is looking for a person
to role play with privately, as opposed to on the boards in a large group.
Lurkers: You may be visiting a board where some one says 'lurkers welcome'. Lurkers are people who watch an RP as it progresses, but never join in.
They're just there to see what happens, not to participate in it.
God Moding: This is the term used for when a person makes a character that is invincible/perfect/all powerful.
They control the role play and completely take over, which can get frustrating for their players. It is often shortened as GM.
Power Playing: Similar to god moding, this term describes when one person role plays characters that don't belong to them.
Mary/Gary Sues: There are several variations for these terms, but they all describe
'perfect' characters. Ones like, 'She was a blonde, blue-eyed straight-A student who was
fluent in twelve languages and had a body most girls would kill for'. In other words, not good.
//: This is a clever way of indicating that a person is interested in doing role plays
with same-gender romance. If you don't like that sort of thing, it is best to avoid these boards.
Semi-Literate: This is a term used to describe a person who is relatively skilled with role play. They can
use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and can write a decent and interesting piece.
Semi-literate posts are usually not very long.
Literate: A literate is some one who can role play very well, which means they pay very close attention to grammar and mechanics,
and care a lot about developing interesting plots. Literate posts are usually much longer than semi-literate.
Advanced: Term used to describe a person who is extremely well versed in the way of role play, as well as
very talented with writing itself. Advanced role players go far beyond the average skill level and strive to
develop highly original characters and plots, as well as weave clever devices such as humor and ingenuity into their writing.
Advanced writers pay close attention to detail, setting, and atmosphere.
Anthro: This is short for 'anthropomorphic', which means
'described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes'. This is usually used to refer to
animals or Neopets who have human characteristics. (Wear clothing, walk upright, have hair, etc.) Anthro can be divided into furry anthro (Neopets
with human characteristics) or full anthro (Neopets played as actual humans).
Quad: Short for quadruped, or 'four legged'. This term refers to Neopets played in their
natural form.
Oww, my brain...
-----
-Role Playing Etiquette (Dos and Don'ts)-
Normally, you can't just march into a role play board and start posting randomly. There are certain
unwritten rules, expectations, and codes of conduct that you must acknowledge. I have included all the ideas I think are necessary to ease gently into
the RP world.
- Most every person who starts a role play board has a list of rules that they expect everyone to follow. They will
probably list these in their first few posts. Be extra sure to read through them all and understand what the author is looking for. If you don't
think you're up to their standards, it is best to move on and save you both the stress of an awkward refusal. However, if you decide to join,
ask first, unless the author specifically says you don't have to. Be friendly, courteous, and respectful, and chances are you'll receive a warm welcome.
- Lots of role players include a secret phrase in their rules. They do this to make sure you have read all the way through. Look for these and make sure you post them with your request to join. If you don't
you probably won't be accepted. However, this isn't an excuse to skip over the other rules. Make sure you understand everything before posting!
- It is always polite to wait until a person finishes their post to go ahead and start writing yourself. Because of the character limit on the Neopets RP boards,
it often takes several posts for a person to finish what they are writing. Watch out for a '(c)'. On the end of a post. This is short for continued and means that the author has more
writing coming. When the end of the post says something like '(d)', it means they are done and you can go ahead and post.
- It is often wise to establish a posting order. This means, figure out who is going to post when. Otherwise, with large groups it can get a little confusing, with
four people posting on top of each other. No one has time to respond to anyone else, and people end up having to change what they wrote to smooth over things.
- Never god mode or power play. Both of these are strongly frowned upon, and will make instant enemies of potential RP partners. Don't god mode. No one is perfect. Everyone has faults, even fictional people.
Making a perfect, all powerful, invincible character will get you nothing but cold shoulders and angry words. Don't power play. You can make your own character do anything you want (within reason), but
other people's characters belong to them, not you. Don't make decisions for them, as it is a breach of respect, and insulting to the person whose character you are controlling.
-----
-Useful Things to Know About Role Playing-
So it's easy to obey the rules of rp, there's more to it than that. It takes a good deal of practice and a lot of patience
to become RP-savvy. I have included a few basic things here that I think will give you a head start.
Snap to it, Kiddies!
Eynkido please. You're not helping.
- Never be afraid to try something new. If you see a type of RP that you've never
done before, it won't hurt to try it.
It's always good to broaden your horizons and open your eyes to another world.
- Don't join or start an RP unless your are both passionate about it and willing to commit to it. You may think you can stick with an RP
that you're only half crazy about, but believe me, it doesn't work. Down the line, you're
only going to stick with the topics that excite you. If you're only semi interested in
something, you'll most likely end up quitting, leaving a bunch of frustrated people
in your wake.
- Never role play when you're tired. I've tried to do this many, many times before, and it isn't fun. When your
brain is only running on a few hours of sleep, you can't think right. Trying to come up with a plot, interact with others, and maintain a
decent skill level is crazy. Wait until you're fully rested to do it.
- Learn to get comfortable with typing intros. Most people hate to start role plays, and are thrilled to find some one who is willing
to do so. You'll make them happy, and you'll get to establish the setting.
- Never be afraid to say no. It is awful to get dragged into a role play that doesn't interest you. Make sure you and the person you
are role playing with are compatible (i.e. have similar interests, similar role play style) before starting anything.
- Don't lay out everything in the first post. Take time to describe the setting, your character's appearance, and maybe a little bit about
their current thoughts, but don't stray beyond that. You shouldn't type out your character's life story in one post. Leave a little to be discovered through the role play. It's
more fun that way!
-----
--Getting Started--
-The Basics (What to Do First)-
My suggestion is that the first thing you do is watch other role players to see how it's done. The Neopet Role Playing Boards
are excellent for this. However, try to only drop into the ones that say semi-literate, literate, or advanced. There are many role players out
there who still do not RP very well, and it is better to watch those who do. Lurkers are usually quite welcome in most boards, so get comfy and see how the
pros do it.
My next advice would be to pay close attention to the world around you. The more you know about real life, the easier it will be to
create fictional worlds. Watch how people interact, listen to the sounds you hear, notice the different textures of objects around you. The more
in touch your are with the real world, the more in touch you will be with the imaginary one.
Next, start brainstorming ideas. What are your interests? Try to focus on creating characters, worlds, and plots based on something you like.
For example, I really love medieval culture, so most of my characters have a noble/peasant/royalty theme to them, and most of my stories involve knights and castles and such. Now, I'm not saying
sit down and write a book. Just get a sense of what sorts of things interest you. Maybe you prefer worlds with magic spells and fire-breathing dragons, or
maybe you really like just role playing plain old teenagers in everyday life. Get acquainted with what you like, and then expand from there.
Well, that's pretty much it for the real basics. Ready? Okay, let's move on!
Tally ho!
Are you mocking me?
Of course not. What gave you that idea?
-----
-Using Proper Punctuation and Grammar-
omg grammer how cool can I learn, two?!
...
One of the things you
must learn to do before attempting to RP is have good grammar.
This means being able to spell well and use proper punctuation and sentence structure. Most
role players will refuse to RP with you if you cannot do this, so I have included a few guidelines
(complete with examples) for improving your grammar skills.
Periods and capitalization: All sentences in the English language begin with a capitalized letter and end with a period,
question mark, exclamation point, colon, or semi-colon. There is no exception to this rule.
BAD: the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog
GOOD: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.
Also note that the letter I, when used on its own or in contractions such as I'm
or I'll, is always capitalized.
Abbreviation: Most every decent role player expects others to use complete words,
not 'chatspeak'. Typing out abbreviations can be easier, but it is not impressive to anyone
and makes you look silly. Take the time to type out the full words.
BAD: r u going 2 the party?
GOOD: Are you going to the party?
Spelling: Spelling is difficult for almost everyone. As a result, it is necessary to double check your
writing to see if you have made any errors. If you are unsure about how to spell a word, look it up or put (sp?)
directly after the word in question. However, try to avoid using difficult words. If you can't spell it
and aren't sure of the meaning, chances are others won't know it either. Using large, frilly words does not make you look smarter
and will most likely just lead to confusion.
Quotations: Quotation marks are used to indicate speech. It is a little known fact that
every time a character speaks, a new paragraph should be started. People often use single quotation marks ('') or **'s to
indicate thoughts.
BAD: I won the lottery! shouted Steve.
GOOD: "I won the lottery!" shouted Steve.
Also, take note that the beginning of a new sentence directly after a quotation (in this case the word 'shouted') is NOT capitalized unless it is a proper noun.
Commas: Commas can be tricky, and many people, even a lot of advanced role players, do not
know how to use them properly. Commas are used to break up a sentence and make it flow better, but they
do not justify eighty-word sentences. They also cannot be stuck at any random point in a sentence.
BAD: The warm wind, whipped across the man's face blowing locks of his golden hair into his eyes.
GOOD: The warm wind whipped across the man's face, blowing locks of his golden hair into his eyes.
A comma should be placed where there is a natural pause in a sentence. In this case, the natural pause is
after the word 'face'. If you are having trouble, read the sentence out loud and see if you can hear the pause.
Run-on Sentences: This is the name for when a sentence that needs punctuation has none. This is where
commas come in handy. Run-on sentences can easily confuse a reader.
BAD: There the dog went chasing his broken monkey toy.
GOOD: There the dog went, chasing his broken monkey toy.
Run-on sentences can also occur when the writer is trying to fit too much information into one sentence. Sometimes it is
wiser to break up a single sentence into two or more.
BAD: He stood quietly in the threshold of his room for a minute, blinking into
the darkness because he was not at all ready to sleep yet.
GOOD: He stood quietly in the threshold of his room for a minute, blinking into the darkness.
He was not at all ready to sleep yet.
Determining when and where to break up a sentence can be tricky and simply requires practice.
The Zero Tolerance Policy: You may be familiar with this term already, as it is a
favorite of grade school English teachers. It addresses the confusion caused by words that sound the same,
but are spelled differently and have different meanings (homophones). Here are words that you should
never get confused.
Are: V., conjugation of "to be" (Are there any potatos left?)
Our: Possessive pronoun. (Our house is green.)
To: Preposition. (I went to the fair.)
Two: Number. (One, two, three)
Too: Expresses extremes. (Too much, too many, etc.)
There: Indicates location. (There they are, over there, etc.)
Their: Possessive pronoun. (Their car, their money.)
They're: Contraction of 'they are'. (They're going on vacation.)
Then: Expresses order of events. (And then she ran away crying.)
Than: Expresses comparison. (I have more cookies than he does.)
Farther: Used when referring to physical distance (farther down the road, father away than me)
Further: Used when referring to extent/time (furthermore, to further my point)
Who and whom are also difficult for a lot of people. What it boils down to is that 'who' is a subject and 'whom' is an object. That means that 'who' is used when a person is the main point of focus in a sentence, and whom is used when the person is not. Whom is always accompanied by some sort of preposition. Think of to whom, for whom, with whom, etc.
There is a trick to remembering which to use, and that is to replace who with
he and whom with
him. Remember the m in hi
m and the m in who
m to help match them.
Did he go to the book talk?
Who went to the book talk?
Shall I give this letter to him?
To whom shall I give this letter?
That's probably everything you'll need to know as far as grammar goes. If you still have unanswered questions, there are plenty of grammar tutorials online and in public libraries that can answer all of them for you and more.
Grammar nut.
Pretty boy.
Why, thank you.
*sigh*
-----
-Amimain's Six Golden Rules-
Have others do unto you, er...do unto others like...um...have you do to others as...oh wait...
Through my years of role playing, I have become familiar with a lot of literary elements and styles, and
look for many things to identify a really good role play. I have boiled down all
the things I look for into six rules. Think of these as my version of role playing 'commandments'.
I have included the basics of what I think is everything you need to know to be a successful role player. If you only had time to read one thing on the entire page, I would hope it would be this section.
You may want to read through these now and skip the rest of this page, or you may want to come back
and use these rules as a refresher. The choice is yours.
-
Pay attention to detail.
A lot about role playing, and writing in general, means leaving things up to the imagination
of the reader. However, it is always good to establish a basis from which the reader
can work. Taking time to note specifics in a role play can help to establish a genuine
atmosphere that the reader can then use.
For example, if your character is walking down the street, elaborate on that. Describe
the texture of the ground beneath them or the sounds they hear nearby. The more
specifics you include, the more real your posts will seem.
-
Be subtle when describing your character.
We all love to describe our characters, but a block of text entirely about what
a person is wearing is boring to read, and often not easy to comprehend. Space
things out. In one sentence, mention the character's hair color. Later on, say
something about that pair of old gloves they always wear. Including physical
appearance in with the actions of the role play is easier to read, and easier to
understand.
-
Pay attention to atmosphere.
Many times, we all tend to get so caught up in describing our characters that we forget
about the world in which they live. As important as it is to develop and focus upon
your character, it is equally necessary to establish time and setting. Don't just role
play your character. Role play the world around them.
The world doesn't belong to any one player. It's not god-moding if you manipulate it.
Use it to your advantage. Make us see what your character sees and feel as if we're
standing next to them in their world.
-
Don't make your character predictable.
The more unusual, unique, and involved you can make your character, the better. The
run-of-the-mill 'Hi, how are you?' role plays aren't any fun. Make your rp buddies
work to get to know you. Surprise them by being refreshingly unique. It's more fun for
everyone that way.
-
Don't fall for clichés.
Everyone is different. No one is all good or all bad. Don't settle for basic character
archetypes; go beyond them. Little quirks, secrets, or unexpected twists in a personality
are what make it interesting. Make sure your character isn't perfect, too. We all have
faults. We are not gods. Remember to show your character's vulnerable side too.
-
Be flexible.
Work with the people with whom you role play. If something isn't going well, or you
disagree on something, talk about it and work it out. Role playing is not just about
you. Role playing is made on the foundation of cooperative storytelling. This, of
course, requires that you listen to the suggestions of others. Never be afraid to
try something new. It's good for you.
-----
-What Every Good Role Play Needs-
A role play is a multi-part process, and including all of these parts is
essential to role playing well.
A dash of plot, a hint of setting, and viola! Role play a la Eynkido.
The Plot: Yes, can't have an RP without a plot. Technically, yes, you can just have
a few characters standing around talking, but even that is a plot of sorts. Besides,
that's never much fun is it, anyway? Some people groan when they hear the word, because frankly
a plot can be hard to create. It isn't easy to come up with an interesting and unique storyline for your
characters to play out. I can't really help you create an actual plot. You're going to have to work on it.
The most useful thing to do is draw inspiration from real life. There are plots going on around you
all the time! You just have to take notice of them and use them to your advantage.
Setting: All role plays have to take place somewhere. It is best to choose a setting
appropriate for your character. However, if you are starting the RP, make sure that the place you picked is
realistic for your role play partners as well. A ghost who's been dead for two hundred years isn't going to show up on
a crowded city street. It's also very important to pay attention to detail. The goal is to get your setting
to seem real. This is done by paying attention to what that setting would really be like. Again, draw inspiration from
real life. Take note of how gravel feels under your bare feet or what sort of sound a dripping faucet makes. Observing the
world around you helps you breathe life into the worlds you create.
Atmosphere: Often confused with setting, atmosphere is not a physical attribute. It has to
do more with the feelings your role play gives the reader. This has a lot to do with diction, or word choice. Different
synonyms have different connotations. You can make a setting seem friendly or fierce simply by
the words you choose to describe it. Experiment a bit and see what you can do. Change ordinary words around to fit
the mood you want your RP to convey. Just be careful not to get too carried away with fancy words!
-----
-Avoiding Clichés (What Not to Do)-
Because so many people have been role playing for so long, and because all of us have a natural desire
to stick to certain plot elements, a few ideas have become horribly cliché, and you should
avoid them altogether. I have listed the main ones I encounter often. Steer clear of these.
I used to be vain, but now I'm perfect.
- Thinking of giving your character an evil/dark alter ego, twin, or half? Don't do it. With the
exception of a few players who came up with their ideas years ago, the mere aspect of a dark half
is completely ridiculous. Everyone does it, no one likes it, and it doesn't leave much room for originality. Beside, you have to role play
two characters instead of one. Giving your character an adversary is another matter. Plots aren't much fun without antagonists. However, remember that the 'bad guy' doesn't have to be a long lost evil twin with dark magic. An antagonist is anything that prevents the protagonist from accomplishing their main goal.
- Avoid making your character have a dark and depressing past. Yes, we all have our trials
and troubles, but every single person on the face of the Earth does not have multiple
addictions, abusive parents, and violent histories. If you absolutely must do it, do it well. No
one has the motivation or patience to read another sob-story unless it's different and really, really good. Happiness is cool too once in a while. Remember
that.
- Not everyone is a prince or a princess. People have a tendency to have their characters come
from noble backgrounds and be of royal families. While there is nothing wrong with this, it is
very unrealistic. We can't all be kings. Be modest. Be normal. It's fun too.
- Typical social classes don't really exist. The term jocks, prep, goth, and nerd were all developed for a reason, but not because every person alive falls into one of those categories. If you want to play around with archetypal groups, make sure your character spans more than just one of them.
-----
--The Next Steps--
-Expanding Your Descriptive Skills-
It is best to use a method called 'thick description' when role playing. This is the use of many adjectives and lots of imagery to
make what you are writing really pop off the page. Most likely, you have a vivid idea for what you want your RP to be like. Others aren't just going to
automatically know what you're thinking. You have to convey what you see through words. Make the role play as real for them as it is for you.
Never be afraid to get too descriptive. Too much detail is better than too little. For example, don't jut say that there were trees swaying in the wind, say that there were
twisted, silvery-barked trees swaying in the cold, icy wind. Adjectives are your friends. Learn to develop a very tight relationship with them.
Then why don't you marry them? -snerk-
*slaps forehead*
-----
-Plot Depth-
Plots have varying levels of depth or complication. Depending on how much work you want an RP to be, decide on how complicated your plot will be.
Some people are happy to have two characters stand and talk. This is fine, as long as you add variety to it. Some people like to have some sort of guidelines, like 'Two friends
have known each other all their life, but grow apart when they both fall for the same girl.'
If you want to go all-out and create a complex 'epic' plot, it is best to sit down with the other people involved and map things out. That way, you'll have
a basic guideline to follow when you start to role play. A lot of people like to do long RPs with a few close friends that they can later turn into a history for their Neopets.
If you want to do this, talk with a few friends and decide what will happen, what the main dilemma will be, where each character will come in, and so on and so forth.
-----
-Expanding Your Characters (Making Them Real)-
The most important part of a role play is, of course, your character. Making a believable and interesting character is crucial to
a successful role play. However, just creating a character out of thin air is difficult and can take time. Some people have the ability
to design a character instantly, with looks, personality, clothing, and everything. However, most of us work a little more slowly.
Below is a form to help you develop your character. It is good to have a basic idea of who you want your character to be before you get started,
but filling out this form will help you with details.
(Note that this is a form for a typical medieval/fantasy type character. Add and subtract things from this form to flesh out the character that's right for you)
Character Name:
Race:
Gender:
Height:
Weight:
Hair:
Eyes:
Age:
Distinguishing Marks/Features (if any):
Personality:
Profession:
Favored Weapons (if any):
Favored powers/spells (if any):
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Character Flaws:
Special Talents:
History:
Other Comments:
This is just the basics. There are several things you may discover you want to add along the way. That's fine. Write as much as you can.
The more there is to say about your character, the more developed they will eventually become.
If you're still stuck, a good idea is to base your character off some one you like. It could be a role model in life, a family member or friend, or fictional
movie or cartoon character. This is a good place to start. However, don't make your character a carbon copy of them. You need to 'customize' them and make
them a being of their own.
Hey, how come I don't have special weapons and magic powers?
-----
-Realism (Making Your RP Believable)-
This is probably the most important thing about a role play. This doesn't mean fantasy isn't allowed and you all have to stick to teen role plays. It just means
you have to be reasonable. Even fantasy worlds have rules. You can't have all-powerful characters or worlds that just don't make sense. There is a difference
between 'fantasy' and 'just plain impossible'.
If you make something happen, make sure you think it over first. Develop reasons for why and how this thing happened. If something in a plot just doesn't seem right, wouldn't really work, or
ignores ideas laid out earlier in the plot, the story will not hold together. This is called a plot hole. Make sure everything in your role play ties together. You may want to run it by your most critical
friend to see if they can find anything wrong with it. If they can, change it. If you can defend your reasoning, make sure you do so in the actual RP as well.
Basically, try to think of your role play as a container. You wouldn't want a container that had holes in it because it wouldn't be any good for holding things. For that same reason, you wouldn't want an rp with holes in it because it isn't able to hold interest.
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-Finding a Good Role Play Partner-
So, now that you're a master role player, it's time to find others like you! A good place to look is in those one-on-one topics on the Neopets RP boards.
The people who make them usually state who they're looking for, what they want to do, what their skill level is, and what sorts of role plays they do. If
they seem like your type of person, you can pick and choose and hopefully start up a nice rp!
If you have trouble finding some one, start a one-on-one RP of your own. That way you have the opportunity to let everyone know what you like. It's a good way to meet up
with at least a handful of other role players with similar tastes.
You can also browse through topics of interest. Say you're really into Harry Potter. Go to a board that says 'Harry Potter Present (Trio Needed)' or something of the sort. You can lurk and pick out certain role players you like and neomail them, or you can join
and see how it works. There are tons of good role players out there just dying to meet others like them. If you work at it, you'll find them!
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--Examples--
-Various Examples Sorted By Skill Level-
Hey! It's me! *Finally* something useful and interesting.
Semi Literate
A young anthro Acara lay on a grassy hill, letting the cool breeze blow through his fiery red hair. The stars in the sky were beginning to come out,
and the Acara stared at the brightest one for a long time as he made a wish.
Rolling over, he brushed some dead grass off his red long-sleeve shirt and stared out across the valley. It was quiet, with only the chirping of crickets to
fill the air. Smiling, the Acara closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of the night.
Nothing too special about this, but it gets the point across. One is able to tell that a young Acara is lying on a hill alone at night. It isn't
stellar, but is sufficiently descriptive and interesting. This level is good for people who are just getting into role playing.
Literate
A cool summer breeze rushed over the hills and valleys, tugging at the long grass that shone silver in the moonlight. The steady hum of crickets hovered in the thick air, carrying out
over the landscape. Above the land, tiny stars were beginning to appear in the cool blue sky.
A young Acara fixed his crystal blue eyes upon the brightest star that hung just above the horizon. Silently, he made a wish before rolling over onto his side. He lay quietly as the grass tickled his pink nose,
and pushed away his fiery bangs out of his face when the wind blew them across his eyes. Sighing heavily, he looked out over the darkening landscape, frowning as he brushed away the dried blades of grass that clung to the
fabric of his long-sleeve red shirt.
He yawned, closing his eyes and spreading out in the cool grass as the sounds of the night continued to rise up around him.
If you'll notice, this isn't so dissimilar from the last example. What it does is take the basic ideas of the semi-literate passage and take them just a bit farther,
adding a little more imagery, a few more adjectives, and making the scene seem a bit more real. It is clear that this passage invokes a sharper image
than the first. All this, of course, take longer to write, so literate passages will naturally be longer than semi-literate.
Advanced
Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight...
A cool breeze danced across the landscape, its gentle puffs sliding through the slender grasses that shone silver in the milky moonlight.
The steady hum of crickets rose up as they sang from the depths of the meadow, their scratchy voices merging in the darkness. Tiny stars were beginning to twinkle into view as they
glittered down from the vast twilit sky.
I wish I may, I wish I might-
Oh, this is rubbish." declared a young yellow Acara as he tore his crystal blue eyes from the evening star.
Just who invented such a stupid game anyway? It never worked. His wishes never came true.
Frowning, he glared across the nearest valley as the waving blades of grass tickled his pink nose. He brushed them angrily away,
as well as his incorrigible fiery bangs that kept slipping mischievously down into his eyes. Sitting up a little, he hastily brushed away the blades of dried
grass that clung persistently to the fabric of his long-sleeved red shirt.
Slumping down in the grass once more, he yawned widely, sleep getting the better of him despite his frustration. Stretching out into the cool bed of grass beneath him, he shut his tired eyes and let sleep
close in around him as the sounds of the night slowly drifted out of his consciousness.
Again, this passage expands upon the descriptions in the last, but it also lets us see into the mind of the character. This makes him seem more real,
as well as the world around him. You'll notice he has emotion too. Instead of 'looking' out across the valley, he 'glares' out across the valley.
Describing how he is feeling makes him seem more familiar. Adding a little variety, for example, the dialogue, also keeps the passage interesting. Here you can also put literaty techniques such as alliteration and paralellism, but make sure you are familiar with them first.
Remember that this is only my view of what these terms mean. RP skill levels are left largely up to individual interpretation. As you role play more, you will develop your own understanding of the terms and come to find a level comfortable for you. If at all possible, try to avoid labeling yourself or anyone else. Labels are convenient for establishing a ballpark skill level in role plays, but try to think of yourself simply as a role player who is always looking to improve!
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-The Role Playing 'Taste Test'-
Wolf Speak
A large brute o' ebon hue padded 'cross the meadow, his silver optics fixed 'pon the terra. Large wings o' a gold hue perched 'pon his back,
broken and bloody from battle. Duo ivory-tipped tassles swinging, the brute swung his mighty head, torn pinnae swiveling 'gainst his crania to detect the sounds o' the night.
Spotting a lavender-hued fae in the distance, the brute moved quicker, his bloody pads pressing into the terra firma. He approached the fae and
dipped his maw Hellwards in greeting, those enchanting silver orbs fixed 'pon the lavender fae.
Lo, M'Lady.
Though recently the fad has dwindled, you will, more likely than not, come across a role play or two done in this 'wolf speak' style. It is a very limited and specialized form of
role play that is called such because it usually only works for canine-like species. However, some people have begun to carry over some of these terms into
other role plays. Using fancy words will not make you look smarter. Using 'orbs' instead of 'eyes' and 'tassle' instead of 'tail' makes
the writing seem pretentious, and can often confuse other role players. There's no need to get frilly. Writing eyes and ears is fine.
Too Limited
A young Aisha skated along the street, grinning widely. He stopped the board and picked it up, looking around at the people walking by.
Deciding he was thirsty, he left his skateboard outside and went into the cafe to get a drink.
This is a good solid RP sample. There are no spelling errors, and it has proper punctuation and capitalization. However, a lot is missing too.
Can you picture this Aisha? Can you see where he is in your mind? What color is he? What are his distinguishing features? What are the other people doing?
What is the cafe called? You have to ask yourself these questions. You may be able to picture everything perfectly in your mind, but no one else can. Make sure
that you are accurately conveying your world. Everything you think is important should be clearly described for everyone else.
Too Pedantic
It was a hot, muggy day. The city streets were teeming with activity and life.
But what is life? What is it about these animated figures marching down the cement sidewalks that expresses 'life'? This quality, this essence of vibrancy, that had so long eluded
the thinking of centuries of scholars, still hovered in the minds of many. What is life? Is it feeling, emotion, the ability to think and reason?
What is it that separates us from the inanimate, that makes us more than rocks or paper clips? Is it a soul? That fabled legend of something more to us than physical. The
ethereal possession of ours that allows us to soar into the realms of the imagination. Yes, we are alive because we possess a soul.
A young Aisha pondered this as he skated up to a nearby cafe. His brows were furrowed in thought as he mulled over the meaning of life in his mind. Pushing open the glass door to the cafe,
he lingered for a moment on his last idea, that the soul is what determines our life. Picking up a coffee mug on the table beside him, he regarded it critically. If he gave this mug a soul,
would it be alive? No, it would still be a coffee mug. So what, then, separated Aisha and Cup? What, the young Neopet wondered as he sat down, was life?
Obviously, don't do this. It's good to get a bit of philosophy and deep thought in there, but don't go haywire. Rambling on about ultimately pointless
subjects gets long, takes up space and time, and will no doubt be very boring for your fellow role players. It's always safe to keep to describing the
landscape and atmosphere, not the inner workings of the universe. Some people do this to add length to a post, but in the long run it's not helping anyone. Remember that other characters can't see what yours is thinking. Writing paragraphs of complex thought but leaving little or no physical action basically makes it impossible for characters to interact.
Just Right
It was a hot, muggy day. The bright sun beat down on the baking city streets, showering the area with golden light. Eager to get out of the sun,
hordes of people hurried quickly from building to building, breathing heavily and wiping their sweaty brows. This was the hottest string of summer days recorded
in Neopia for decades.
One young Neopet, however, seemed unaffected by the heat. A lithe fire Aisha grinned broadly as he skimmed down the street on a hot pink skate board.
The wind pulled through his wild yellow hair as he veered around a corner, grinding to a halt in front of a small cafe. He leaned his skateboad up against the
pale blue siding and wiped his hands off on the side of his tan shorts.
Pushing open the glass door, the Aisha smiled as he felt a blast of cool air conditioning hit is hot face. Looking around for a moment, he shoved his hands into his deep pockets
and sat down, fiddling idly with the handle of a porcelain mug that a previous customer had left upon the table.
It's descriptive, well written, and has a good balance of description and action. You can feel and see the world around the Aisha, as well as get a
sense of his character. This is all done efficiently enough so as not to ramble, but it takes enough time to say everything necessary. This is the way to go.
Holy Kau, that's a lot to remember.
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-Amimain's RP Critique Service-
Now, I understand that all this information can be a bit daunting, and that's why I'm here to help.
Maybe, after reading this, you're brimming with ideas, but not confident enough yet to enter
the RP world. Maybe you're a seasoned vet looking for a few additional tips. Whatever the reason, if you think you need critique,
I will always be here to lend a hand.
If you have a role play sample that you would like to show me, send it to my main account,
premise, with the topic 'RP Sample Help'. I will read it and try to send back an evaluation ASAP.
Don't expect me to be flattering. I'm here to give you constructive criticism, not boost your ego. However, I will make sure to point out the things I think you are doing right, so don't think I'll roast you. I want to encourage fellow role players, not put them down.
Okay, ready to send in that sample? Neomail me here!
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-Need More Help?-
If I seem to be to busy, or you just want additional advice, below is a list of users
who have kindly volunteered to offer their time as well. Click on their name to neomail them with the
subject 'RP Sample Help'. Keep in mind that they are doing this out of pure generosity, so
please
be very polite.
Reissue
Emili
Ruan
Frosty
Kai
Annabel
Sara
If you would like to be a volunteer listed here, pleased send me a neomail
here
including your name and the name of the account on which you would like to be contacted. Many thanks to all of you!
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--Extras--
-Overview (Wrapping it Up)-
Well, that's it! I hope you have both enjoyed this site, and that it has helped you on your way to becoming a better role player. Remember to practice. It's essential to truly thrive in writing.
If you ever have anything you'd like to ask or tell me, don't hesitate to neomail me. I love feedback, and I'd be more than happy to hear what you think!
Oh good, does that mean you're leaving?
Eynkido!
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--Link Back--
If you ever need this guide again, or wish to share it with others, here are some links that you may take for your own petpages.
--Affiliates and Other Helpful Places--
Back to Top
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-Farewell!-
So long, and good luck! A wonderful new world awaits you. Have fun, and come back anytime!
Can you *get* anymore Pollyanna than that?
Okay, that's it. Omelettes for dinner.
Ack! No!
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Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Neomail me here!
Eynkido and Co get along pretty well. Cocapori, being a gentle, patient sort, is able to put up with Eynkido's shenanigans. However, sometimes the Peophin can get a bit irked, and his temper is something even Eynkido doesn't like to mess with. On particularly good days, Co lets Eynkido onto his ship, which is one of Eynkido's favorite pasttimes.
