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 Freeform
Roleplay differs from traditional RPGs in that
there is no gamemaster and dice and stats are not
required, only used for vague reference if they
even exist. This is a game of writing and acting
skill, not chance. To FFRP successfully you will
need to create a believable and interesting
character, get that
character involved in interaction
with other characters, and follow a few general
principles of free form
courtesy. Once you have those down, your
imagination is the limit as to where you can go and
what adventures await you.
There
are many ways to build a character, but there are a
few things you should have down before you throw
this new person into a situation where they are
going to have to talk to other characters. One
thing would be a name, and a description is a must
as well, so others know what their character is
looking at when yours walks in. Other things that
will give you an edge in knowing just how your
character will react are their background and their
personality or motivations.
A
name can tell a lot about a character. Try to be
original unless you are actually playing an
established character from a novel or other source,
since it is confusing when you come into a channel
as, say, Tanis, but have to keep telling everyone
that you are actually not a half-elf ranger, you're
a dwarf sailor. Original characters are always
preferred to established characters, so I recommend
you start off with something of your own design
until you really have the hang of it.
Your
character's description should be used when you are
first meeting people. Don't make it three or four
paragraphs, you don't want to spam people. I'd
recommend adding it to your macro or shortcut list
or putting it on notepad so you can cut and paste
it since you will use it often. It should include
only those things that would be seen by normal
people when you walk into a room. Start it out with
an action command and then add in the details such
as race, gender, height, size, dress, and visible
weapons and distinguishing features. An example of
the text for a description might be "/me walks into
the inn, shaking the signs of travel from his
boots. The middle-aged human casts a weary gaze
about the room with hazel eyes that have seen too
much life and far too much death, his long brown
hair straggling free of the hood of his forest
green cloak. With a sigh he makes his way to the
bar and settles his hardened 6 foot frame onto a
stool, laying his bow across his legs and signaling
the tender." The /me will be replaced by your nick
in channel.
The
background of your character will tell you how he
would react to situations, as well as his
motivations and his personality. This is for your
information, not the channels, so you can jot it
down somewhere or simply keep it in your head if
you prefer. Where was your character born? What was
his childhood like? Does she love someone? What
does he hold valuable? Who are her enemies? How
does he feel about people and life in general? What
deep tragedies have scarred her?
Now
you have this wonderful character, but nobody is
talking to her and you're getting bored. Well, just
like any situation where you are the newcomer to a
room, it may take a while to break the ice. You may
have to be the first one to talk. Remember that
this is a story and battles and action are not
always instantaneous. If you want that sort of
thing, traditional RPGs or MUDs may be more your
style. In FFRP things happen for a reason, and part
of the fun is developing the background that leads
to the climactic action. Just like in real life,
some characters may react hostily to your character
butting into a fight or trauma that is happening,
but that doesn't mean that you aren't allowed to
try if it is in keeping with your character. Don't
confuse the character's response of "Who the Abyss
are you?!" with the mun (short for mundane, the
player of the character) being a jerk when this
happens, just respond as your character would. If
there is no action going on that your character
would jump into blind, try building relationships.
Buy a drink for the girl at the other end of the
bar staring off into space, ask someone who looks
like they might be a bit more established if there
are any jobs, compliment the paladin at the
fireside on the shine of his armor. That way when
action happens, your character will have friends
that will draw him into it. Remember to keep
seperate IC (in character) reactions and OOC (out
of character, ie the mun's) reactions. The burly
old man you're talking to is just as likely to be
played by a thirteen year old girl as by someone
closer to the character's description in real life.
Keep this particularly in mind when characters are
flirting. It does -not- mean the mun's are
flirting!
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Some
like to think of FFRP as no-rules
roleplay, but this is hardly the case. If
you are not a courteous rper you will find
your character sitting there talking to
himself as everyone else who is there to
enjoy themselves ignores the hell out of
you.
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- Don't be a munchkin.
Munchkins are people who play
characters with godlike abilities,
capable of accomplishing anything and
everything. In many channels you will
actually be banned for playing too
powerful a character after the ops have
warned you about it. Try to match your
character to the general ability levels
of the other characters in the channel,
or if you are new, just a bit below and
let them grow into a higher level.
- Keep out-of-character separate
from in-character. What a character
does to yours IC doesn't mean the mun
is a jerk OOC, so try to keep things in
perspective and message the mun
politely to find out the reasons. Never
use OOC knowledge to IC advantage if
your character does not have a
legitimate reason to know the
information. Keep OOC comments in
channel to a minimum and separate them
from IC by using brackets [ ]
or parenthesis (( )) around them. If
you need to talk to an op or another
mun take it to message or a separate
channel.
- Don't randomly attack
people. Have a reason for what you
do. The story is the key to FFRP, there
are MUDs for just running around
bashing stuff. PKing (player-character
killing) is a no-no without prior
agreement by the other mun. Some of
these characters have been worked on
for years and are quite important to
their muns.
- Take damage when it is
appropriate. Nobody can dodge
everything, and you can guarantee there
are plenty of healers around to clean
up when the dust clears, so if your
goblin gets whacked on the shoulder
with a holy avenger, at least bleed a
bit.
- If you run a side plot, make
sure that everyone involved has a part
to play. People are not going to be
impressed sitting by and watching your
character accomplish every vital task
and you will find they drop out of it
and never get their characters involved
with yours again.
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