Role Playing 101

WHAT IS….?

• A “mun”?
   
  A mun is a character’s creator/player.
   
• Powergaming? (taken from the Rules page)Powergaming usually involves where you believe your character(s) are better than anybody else’s and said character isn’t toned down when asked by the other players.
   
  Also, it means taking over the plot as a whole. In other words, the player wants the plot to come out the way s/he wants it to, and demanding the rest of the cast do exactly what s/he wants, whether or not it involves his/her character getting hurt. This also includes anybody who becomes their character’s own enemy/nemesis.
   
  The rest of the players are not your audience. We are your cast members. We participate in the same scene and have more skills than just standing around and watching in utter amazement. In other words, try not to be a scene hog.

• …with all this “dying” business?When a person “dies” or is “dead” in a plot a number of times, it means that their mun is laughing so hard that is feels like they’re one foot in the grave. Read below to know more about in character and out of character jokes.

<Hans_Lynx> ((<Map> Oh no! Trina and the others have lost their way in Lochollow and can't get out! But I know how they can get out, or at least stop those meanie zombies from zombifying! They need to go to the Castle! Here's how they go, say it with me! Bloody village, scary forest, evil zombie castle! :;repeats five times:: If you run into zombies, just say "zombie no biting!" okay?))
<Map> :: other locations listed are the blacksmith shot where they were, along with the police station. Also shows what's listed as a Sanitarium at the other end of the village, along with the Mayor's office ::
<Trina_Korat> ((::SOOOOOOOOOODEAD!!!:: XD)))
<Map> ((::DIES::))
<Gracie_Pat> (( ::Dying omg you crazy peeps:: ))
<Trina_Korat> ((<Gracie> ... ::sets the map on fire.:: -_-; <Others> GRACIE! <Gracie> He was annoying me! ><))
<Joseph_Forge> ((:DEAAAAAD!::))

Do’s and Don’ts

Don’t…

• Automatically assume everybody will follow your character’s lead, nor demand that they do. Those interested in your character’s current situation will eventually join.
• Kill or seriously harm another character without their mun’s permission.
• Play another person’s character without their mun’s permission.
• Play God.
• Try to be McGuyver or Einstein. Try to make this as believeable as possible when getting out of a sticky situation. As much as everybody would want to, no one can “make a nuclear warhead from a toothpick and a piece of cheese.”*
• Throw a hissy fit if you believe that you’re not getting anywhere in the plot. It upsets the other players and eventually ends up ending the game for the night.
• Challenge others based on their knowledge on their characters nor on the show itself. This is a role-playing game, not a debate.

Do…

• Make your character as believable as possible. They should be written just like you’d see a real person – they should “have emotions, habits, weaknesses, and a past. All people make mistakes, your character should be no different.”*
• Make your posts fun. Add humor to them. A little humor in a serious situation never hurt anybody. Let the players know that you’re having fun yourself.
• “Keep to your bio, but don’t be a slave to it.”* Changes will occur over time as you role-play your character. It’s never too late to update your bio.

When you’re on trial…

• Don’t be shy. None of us bite. We’re the people you’re going to be role-playing with and we want to be anything but hostile. However, don’t push our buttons either. You applied to the RPG in order to bring your character into our world. Respect us as much as you want us to respect you.
• Remember what’s IC (In Character) and OOC (Out of Character). At most times, we will insert jokes that may be associated with the current plot, but they aren’t meant to offend nor are they written to be taken as part of the plot.

For example:

IC RolePlaying

<Sypher> ::sits on the counter munching his donut::
<Your Character> ::walks into the kitchen and waves at Sypher::
<Sypher> ::waves back::
<Trina> ::walks in some minutes later, doesn't notice (your character here) yet::

Notice all this was played as a minor plot. No jokes were tossed in. For jokes and any other comments we wish to make, we use brackets – ((comment/joke here))’s.

OOC RolePlaying (Tossing in Jokes)

<Trina_Korat> ::stands up and goes to stand behind Joe:: Tell me the sun melted them all?
<Lochollow> <Rooster> :: crows somewhere nearby ::
<Joseph_Forge> I haven't seen 'em yet, but to be honest I doubt the sun melted any.
<Trina_Korat> ::is tying up her hair and has her gun in her back pocket::
<Gracie_Pat> (( <Zombies>::are doing the 'Thriller' dance:: <Joe> =___= No. ))
<Trina_Korat> ((::DIESDEAD!!::))
<Joseph_Forge> ::did you guys ever find me a gun or did I have to go primitive and find a knife or something? XD::
<Hans_Lynx> ((::busts up!::))
<Trina_Korat> ((<Head Zombie> ::dressed in PJ's:: <Joe> And, that makes even LESS sense! ><))

(Tossing in Comments)

<Protocol> Now? ::what say the other muns?::
<SypherSK> ::chuckles:: That only works for CyberBeings..
<MatrixSK> It's rather hard for us to do that from here...
<SypherSK> ((Uh... I dunno... I'm about to bow out... It's 3:00 am... Be tired.))
<Protocol> ((LOL ::is what I figured so is why I ask::))
<MatrixSK> ((::noddles:: Sagey's gonna follow... I'm beat myself... ^_^::))
<Globulous> ((That's not a good habit ;) ))
<MatrixSK> ((hooosh! ;) ))
<SypherSK> ((You know it's time to go to bed when half of what's on TV is infomercials.))

*Reference from a SeaQuest RPG at http://www.geocities.com/seaquestrpgs/dosanddonts.html – Sadly, the link no longer works.