Basic Roleplay Terms and Definitions
Roleplaying - defined as pretending to be someone else or pretending to be in a specific situation that you are not actually in at the time. The goal of role-playing is to provide an enjoyable experience not only to one's self, but also to the others participating in a scene.
Roleplayer-The person at the keyboard playing the roleplay character.
Player Character- The fictional character created by the roleplayer.
In Character - Acting as the character and its place in the game world. To be IC means to act the role of the character at all times, without adding any information about real world issues or matters that are unknown to the character. It means the things that relate to you when you are playing the role you have chosen.
Out of Character - the person sitting behind the computer, someone who can be completely different from the character he/she is playing. It means the things that relate to the person at the keyboard. If you didn't see it, hear it, or experience it IC, it's OOC and should not be used to further your game.
Canon - the original source material for a game - in Gor, that would be the novels written by John Norman.
Bad Roleplay - Do your best not to engage in any of the bad examples of roleplay including, God-Modding, Meta-Gaming, Twinking, Cheesing or the mod might be forced to engage in Retconning.
Meta-gaming - the use of external factors to affect the game. Example, using OOC information to effect the IC state. Any knowledge not gained through RP is not knowledge you know ICly and should not be brought in world. For example--rushing to gain back a captive taken off sim.
God-modding - (aka god-mode/powergaming) a style of roleplay in which the character is limitless in their abilities, and sets no boundaries for their actions. It includes invincibility, dictating another players response, impossibility, silliness, and forcing a plot.
Retconning - is the act of rescinding or otherwise acting as if an occurrence never happened. Note that this is different from roleplayers who promise a plot and do not follow through; that’s “reneging”. Retconning specifically deals with occurrences that already happened in-game.
Twinky, Twinking - Characters that act nonsensically from an IC perspective; a gross violation of realism and believability.
Cheesing, Cheesy - Forcing the plotted or expected outcome of roleplay by invoking an unmentioned fact.
Munchkin (derogatory) - A roleplayer who plays a non-competitive game in an aggressively competitive manner.
Snowplowing- stepping into someone's active Role Play conversation and overwhelming it with YOUR Role Play. You plow right through with what YOU want to talk about without regard to what is already going on.
Good RP Etiquette
1. Be Courteous - Always treat other RPers the way you would like them to treat you. If you see something going on IC that bugs you, then go somewhere else. There is enough RP out there that you don't need to take part in every scene you pass. Be polite. Be helpful. If you see something you really can't stand then don't participate. There is never a justification to harass, belittle, publicly shame or otherwise show disrespect to another player.
2. You are NOT your character. Your characters are your extensions, your creations, but you MUST learn to separate ic from ooc. Just because someone doesn't like your character doesn't mean they don't like /you/. You cannot take attacks upon your character as attacks upon yourself, and you haaave to be able to keep your ooc feelings/drama out of ic things.
3. Stay In Character at all times. Do not drop IC unless it is absolutely necessary, for example, you have to step away from the keyboard. If you MUST go OOC, do so using parenthesis.
4. It's OK for people NOT to like your character - they don't HAVE to like your character! Just as it is in reality, your character is gonna have friends, and they're gonna have enemies. They're gonna have people who disagree with them, people who just don't care for them, and people who insult them. If you are being out of character, crude, cruel, or even disruptive to a game, do not expect to be liked, or have folks take your side. It's important to remember that people generally have social norms, and breaking them can get you trouble. This also applies to rule number 2- you can't take rp insults to your character personally. IC=/= OOC.
5. This is not the place for OOC drama, or for dragging OOC drama IC. People you don't like oocly? Great. But until your character is exposed to them and is GIVEN a reason to dislike them, there's no reason for your character to go up to a stranger randomly and insult and attack them. It's rude, it's tacky, and it will not be tolerated in Teehra. It's a big sim, lots of options for roleplay without the drama. This also applies to rule number 2- you can't take rp insults to your character personally. IC=/= OOC.
6. Not everyone wants to RP with you! You shouldn't be afraid to approach anyone IC-ly. However, do not be offended if you walk up to a couple RPing out something, and they tell you to leave, and that it's a private matter. Not everyone is obligated to RP with you, not everyone should drop whatever plot they're working on and include you. This also applies to rule #5.
7. Never assume someone will react in a certain way just because you think they should. Always give others the chance to react in their own way, and don’t get upset if the reaction isn’t what you expected.
8. Communicate with your group. Do not let problems fester, conversely give compliments to those doing exceptional jobs. Don't break up a game or a group of friends, because of the inability to express how you're upset so-and-so stepped on your pet frog.
9. Give others time to react to you. Don't walk up, say something, wait about two seconds and run off. Give the person you have engaged up to five minutes to respond. There’s no need to hurry so much, just relax and enjoy the interaction.
Bad RP Etiquette
1. Chat Boxing, Machine Gunning, Speaking out of order
Chat boxing is talking in local chat without using any sort of emotion Example: [17:38] Mariah (Dubhessa Resident): What are you up to today?
Better Roleplay Option: [17:38] Mariah (Dubhessa Resident): /me waves as she sees her friends "Hey! What are you up to today?"
Machine gunning - talking over and over again without giving anyone a chance to respond. Respect post order. Once you have posted --do not tack on additional cumulative posts until it is your turn again.
2. Do not hide behind limits - aim for reality in the game despite your limits. Yes, it sucks to die, but if your actions warrant it, expect it. This is a Gorean Sim, you will be treated according to those limits that Norman placed in the books--slaves--expect to be punished, FW, you can be collared if you engage in those behaviors that Norman described as collar-able offenses. Men, if you want to be an outlaw, you can expect to be impaled if it is discovered. Remember - you can always fade to black. Refer to Rule #2.
3. Thought Emotes - Keep the “thought emotes” and “thought insults” out of your roleplay. Long winded posts on what you are thinking are considered superfluous, and sometimes inappropriate. Posting your thoughts opens up the potential for others to meta-game by accident. In recollection, it can be difficult for those around to separate what was done, between what was thought. Instead, convey your thoughts through body language and facial cues. Players cannot react to your characters’ thoughts, however they can react to a narrowed gaze, a sneer, or a defensive stance.
4. Don't be a Mary Sue/Gary Stus - Mary Sue/Gary Stus characters are all about perfection--they will not be allowed to lose by their players. Mary Sue/Gary Stus characters tend to figure out everything immediately (meta-gaming), be the most accomplish characters in the game (power playing), and make sure that every other character is beaten or awed by their power (godmoding)
5. Don't forget that ICA=ICC (In-character actions result in in-character consequences) - When people roleplay, they, of course, try to make their character act consistently. They also consider the logical consequences of actions and events. A bad roleplayer, however, may ignore this principle, and get upset when a character suffers from the logical consequences of their actions. If your character is rude and mean, expect other characters to dislike them, even if your character does have a angst filled past as an excuse (the other characters either don't know about it or don't care). If your character is a soldier who disobeys orders, expect to be scolded or punished by superiors, if not kicked out. If your frail little cub confronts a vicious monster, expect for them to get injured (unreasonably refusing to take damage is powerplaying).
6. Romance Obsession/Instant Romance/ Illogical Events and Behavior - Romance obsession is ignoring all other aspects of a roleplay in order to fulfill romantic fantasies. While focusing on mostly romance in a romance-focused roleplay makes sense, doing so in a more general roleplay can be detrimental. With instant romance the player is so eager for romance, they have their own character fall in love with another character for no other reason than that the player finds the object of their character's affection to be attractive. While this can make sense if the character falling in instant love is portrayed as shallow, often the player wants this to be true love. Instant Romance ruins a chance for interesting and realistic development between characters. Illogical Events and Behavior covers just about anything in a roleplay that makes no or little sense.
7. Don’t walk off/teleport/ leave on a roleplay, or stay "Away" in the open for extended periods of time. If you need to leave your keyboard for some reason, excuse yourself from the roleplay in progress before stepping away. If it really happens to be in a hurry, apologize to the involved parties the next time you log in. You wouldn't run out of someone's house without saying goodbye. Its much the same here. We have all been to those sims where you approach someone who is not present at their keyboard and attempt an awkward conversation, or, the one and only person on the sim is "Away" and is standing in the open. It's rude and it looks bad to visitors. If you need to go away for more then five minutes...log off.
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