Ordo
War
Roleplaying Guide
I admit that there's quite a lot here, but PLEASE if you read it remember that these are just suggestions from an old role-player.
There are several key points to good roleplaying. The most obvious of these is that you should never God Mode. Exactly what may be considered God Moding will be explained at greater length later on. The second key point I would have you consider is originality. If it's been done a lot of times before, think twice before doing it again. Finally, the last of the key points is to know your character. If he would rather die than fire a blaster in anger, stay with that, but also remember that he can develop.
Those are the key points, and Ill go through each in more detail below. Also there are some minor points that won't necessarily improve your roleplaying, but will improve your posts. I'll go through these first.
1. Spelling, Punctuation, Grammar - Not too important, but something you should think about. Let me ask you which of these two paragraphs is easier to read:
"i entered the bar and went up to the barkeeper ordring a drink when he put it down on the bar i payed him took the drink and went over to one of the tables what was overlooking the place where people were playeing sabacc i saw a table with an open seat and took my drink over to play a few hands"
OR
"I entered the bar and went up to the barkeeper to order a drink. When he put it down on the bar I paid him, took the drink and went over to one of the tables overlooking the Sabacc playing area. I saw a table with an open seat and took my drink over to play a few hands."
If you don't say the second one please turn off your computer, cancel your Skype account, go outside, and never come near the internet again.
Now I don't agree with the people who get picky about spelling (to the point of complaining about the presence/lack of us in colour, honour, etc) or grammar, but there's absolutely NO excuse for ignoring it.
Remember that it is not a sin to use a dictionary or to type it out in a program with a SPELL CHECKER and then copy it across.
If English isn't your first language, don't worry about it (hey, I took French and German in school and Ill bet 10 of your local currency that your English is better than my French or German!) and if you're unsure, ask someone.
2. Layout - I have a tendency to break paragraphs often and leave a space between them. It may not be the best way to do it, but it's clear and easy to read. Also remember that EVERY time a new person speaks (either a new person speaking or a person other than the one whose actions you have been describing) they get a NEW paragraph and SPEECH MARKS. And if you break paragraphs while the same person is speaking the new paragraph gets a new set of speech marks but you DON'T close them on the old paragraph.
I think that covers improving your posts, so we'll move onto the key roleplaying points.
3. Read What Has Gone Before - Yeah, I know I missed this one above, but it's really important. If you are making a reply then you must always, ALWAYS read what has gone on before thoroughly. If any discrepancies come up then you should clear them up with an OOC query and come to an agreement before continuing. I don't mean you should post OOC: Hey idiot, I wasn't anywhere near the door you say you just opened into my face, so don't Godmode! and then keep going with what you want. A post stating politely that you weren't near the door and asking for clarification of his point or a revision of his post would be better, then continue IC after, AND ONLY AFTER, the matter has been resolved. Ignoring other people's posts is bad RP AND bad manners.
4. Originality - I'm sure we all know the plot of the Matrix, Highlander, Blade Runner, etc, so don't make a post that starts one of these stories in your current Universe, don't use characters from another story and don't adapt some special ability that a character in another story has to your own. Some of the more experienced among you are probably laughing that I'd even mention this. The most experienced will be nodding in sad agreement because they've seen it done.
Also on originality it applies to your actions, ideas, weapons, dress, etc. If you're going to suggest a breakout from an Imperial detention centre through the sewer, the rest of your RPing party will be forming an orderly queue behind the nearest gunsights to shoot you, I'm sure...
The long black leather jacket and shades approach has been done to death (and I admit I'm guilty of it MYSELF, but Ive been doing for years and that's the excuse I'm sticking with) but some guy in a pinstripe suit with an umbrella is not something you see often. Carrying a DL 44 blaster just because Han Solo had one? Oh puh-lease!
Think for yourself, do something that's not been done before or, worst case scenario, do something from a reference that's OBSCURE.
5. Know Your Character - Your character is individual and only you know him (or her) and can predict how they will react. They could be the most evil individual to walk the planet since I left or they could be so sweet and kind they don't like swatting houseflies. It doesn't matter which they are, but YOU have to KNOW which it is. Decide what your character is like. They might be like you, they might not, and again it doesn't matter. Then make all of your characters actions true to this. I know it's a simple point, but if you master this one, you're more than half way to being a good roleplayer.
6. God Moding (also known as God Modeing, God Modeling, etc) - Last and definitely NOT least, we come to the main offence committed by most bad roleplayers. Let me just restate that God Moding is something you should NOT do. Ever. Under ANY circumstances. At all.
Okay, lets define God Moding. To put it most simply, God Moding is to perform any action that is beyond your characters normal abilities. Sounds easy, doesn't it? As a normal human you can't fly or punch holes in steel walls. If you have no medical skills you can't suddenly perform CPR. You also cannot act for another person unless that person is a Non Player Character that either YOU created or that has been placed under your control, such as the barkeeper in the above example. Now someone might come in later and order a drink from the same barkeeper. That's fine, they don't need my permission to do so. The barkeeper is a NPC that performs a function that anyone can have performing that function. If someone creates a sidekick character, that NPC is theirs only unless you split up and they give the sidekick to someone. Again, nice and easy.
A lot of people seem to think that God Moding JUST means not controlling another persons character. But lets take it a little further. Not only can you not control another persons character, you also cannot do anything to them without their permission. So I could fire at (for example) Hume's character in a battle, but I can't say I shoot Hume's character. In Hume's next post, he can then say whether or not he gets hit. If I'm shooting from 30 metres away, he'll probably say I miss, which is fair enough. If I sneak up right behind him and fire, he better get hit or come up with a damn good excuse. If my blaster barrel is all-but buried in his back and he says he doesn't get hit, he's God Moding, because there's no way his character could dodge the shot.
So, to do anything that your character should NOT be able to do is God Moding. A slow freighter can't outrun a group of fighter craft without going to hyperspace. You can't hack the Imperial News Grid with a sheet of flimsi and a stylus. You can't fire 10 shots at NPC stormtroopers in cover from the far end of a long corridor and expect to hit with every shot. You can't carry 3 rifles, 6 blasters and a dozen thermal detonators and still run a 10 minute mile. You can't fall off a 30 story building and not get hurt without some way to break your fall.
You don't have to be useless, clumsy, slow and weak (unless you want to be!), because that's not the point of playing a character on Chaos. We're all supposed to be exceptional individuals, but that's not a license to defy the laws of probability. It's a good rule to say "If in doubt, don't".
Afterword On GamesMasters:
The God Moding rule does NOT apply to the GamesMaster in any scenario with one. Typically the GamesMaster will NOT be playing a character but will be control all of the NPCs and will direct the overall plot/storyline.
The GamesMaster can do WHATEVER HE WANTS with your character or any other for the purpose of the storyline. The GamesMaster should also be totally IMPARTIAL and act only as the winds of luck and fate.
If the GamesMaster IS playing their own character within the scenario as well, the character itself is subject to the God Moding rule, but the GamesMaster is not.
7. Force Sensitivity - Always remember that force sensitive is not synonymous with infallibility. There are a score of examples of true Masters being defeated by Non-force users. With great power comes great responsibility not great excuses for selfishness.
This is an old guide from a past forum that I have edited over the years and I wanted to share it.
I admit that there's quite a lot here, but PLEASE if you read it remember that these are just suggestions from an old role-player.
There are several key points to good roleplaying. The most obvious of these is that you should never God Mode. Exactly what may be considered God Moding will be explained at greater length later on. The second key point I would have you consider is originality. If it's been done a lot of times before, think twice before doing it again. Finally, the last of the key points is to know your character. If he would rather die than fire a blaster in anger, stay with that, but also remember that he can develop.
Those are the key points, and Ill go through each in more detail below. Also there are some minor points that won't necessarily improve your roleplaying, but will improve your posts. I'll go through these first.
1. Spelling, Punctuation, Grammar - Not too important, but something you should think about. Let me ask you which of these two paragraphs is easier to read:
"i entered the bar and went up to the barkeeper ordring a drink when he put it down on the bar i payed him took the drink and went over to one of the tables what was overlooking the place where people were playeing sabacc i saw a table with an open seat and took my drink over to play a few hands"
OR
"I entered the bar and went up to the barkeeper to order a drink. When he put it down on the bar I paid him, took the drink and went over to one of the tables overlooking the Sabacc playing area. I saw a table with an open seat and took my drink over to play a few hands."
If you don't say the second one please turn off your computer, cancel your Skype account, go outside, and never come near the internet again.
Now I don't agree with the people who get picky about spelling (to the point of complaining about the presence/lack of us in colour, honour, etc) or grammar, but there's absolutely NO excuse for ignoring it.
Remember that it is not a sin to use a dictionary or to type it out in a program with a SPELL CHECKER and then copy it across.
If English isn't your first language, don't worry about it (hey, I took French and German in school and Ill bet 10 of your local currency that your English is better than my French or German!) and if you're unsure, ask someone.
2. Layout - I have a tendency to break paragraphs often and leave a space between them. It may not be the best way to do it, but it's clear and easy to read. Also remember that EVERY time a new person speaks (either a new person speaking or a person other than the one whose actions you have been describing) they get a NEW paragraph and SPEECH MARKS. And if you break paragraphs while the same person is speaking the new paragraph gets a new set of speech marks but you DON'T close them on the old paragraph.
I think that covers improving your posts, so we'll move onto the key roleplaying points.
3. Read What Has Gone Before - Yeah, I know I missed this one above, but it's really important. If you are making a reply then you must always, ALWAYS read what has gone on before thoroughly. If any discrepancies come up then you should clear them up with an OOC query and come to an agreement before continuing. I don't mean you should post OOC: Hey idiot, I wasn't anywhere near the door you say you just opened into my face, so don't Godmode! and then keep going with what you want. A post stating politely that you weren't near the door and asking for clarification of his point or a revision of his post would be better, then continue IC after, AND ONLY AFTER, the matter has been resolved. Ignoring other people's posts is bad RP AND bad manners.
4. Originality - I'm sure we all know the plot of the Matrix, Highlander, Blade Runner, etc, so don't make a post that starts one of these stories in your current Universe, don't use characters from another story and don't adapt some special ability that a character in another story has to your own. Some of the more experienced among you are probably laughing that I'd even mention this. The most experienced will be nodding in sad agreement because they've seen it done.
Also on originality it applies to your actions, ideas, weapons, dress, etc. If you're going to suggest a breakout from an Imperial detention centre through the sewer, the rest of your RPing party will be forming an orderly queue behind the nearest gunsights to shoot you, I'm sure...
The long black leather jacket and shades approach has been done to death (and I admit I'm guilty of it MYSELF, but Ive been doing for years and that's the excuse I'm sticking with) but some guy in a pinstripe suit with an umbrella is not something you see often. Carrying a DL 44 blaster just because Han Solo had one? Oh puh-lease!
Think for yourself, do something that's not been done before or, worst case scenario, do something from a reference that's OBSCURE.
5. Know Your Character - Your character is individual and only you know him (or her) and can predict how they will react. They could be the most evil individual to walk the planet since I left or they could be so sweet and kind they don't like swatting houseflies. It doesn't matter which they are, but YOU have to KNOW which it is. Decide what your character is like. They might be like you, they might not, and again it doesn't matter. Then make all of your characters actions true to this. I know it's a simple point, but if you master this one, you're more than half way to being a good roleplayer.
6. God Moding (also known as God Modeing, God Modeling, etc) - Last and definitely NOT least, we come to the main offence committed by most bad roleplayers. Let me just restate that God Moding is something you should NOT do. Ever. Under ANY circumstances. At all.
Okay, lets define God Moding. To put it most simply, God Moding is to perform any action that is beyond your characters normal abilities. Sounds easy, doesn't it? As a normal human you can't fly or punch holes in steel walls. If you have no medical skills you can't suddenly perform CPR. You also cannot act for another person unless that person is a Non Player Character that either YOU created or that has been placed under your control, such as the barkeeper in the above example. Now someone might come in later and order a drink from the same barkeeper. That's fine, they don't need my permission to do so. The barkeeper is a NPC that performs a function that anyone can have performing that function. If someone creates a sidekick character, that NPC is theirs only unless you split up and they give the sidekick to someone. Again, nice and easy.
A lot of people seem to think that God Moding JUST means not controlling another persons character. But lets take it a little further. Not only can you not control another persons character, you also cannot do anything to them without their permission. So I could fire at (for example) Hume's character in a battle, but I can't say I shoot Hume's character. In Hume's next post, he can then say whether or not he gets hit. If I'm shooting from 30 metres away, he'll probably say I miss, which is fair enough. If I sneak up right behind him and fire, he better get hit or come up with a damn good excuse. If my blaster barrel is all-but buried in his back and he says he doesn't get hit, he's God Moding, because there's no way his character could dodge the shot.
So, to do anything that your character should NOT be able to do is God Moding. A slow freighter can't outrun a group of fighter craft without going to hyperspace. You can't hack the Imperial News Grid with a sheet of flimsi and a stylus. You can't fire 10 shots at NPC stormtroopers in cover from the far end of a long corridor and expect to hit with every shot. You can't carry 3 rifles, 6 blasters and a dozen thermal detonators and still run a 10 minute mile. You can't fall off a 30 story building and not get hurt without some way to break your fall.
You don't have to be useless, clumsy, slow and weak (unless you want to be!), because that's not the point of playing a character on Chaos. We're all supposed to be exceptional individuals, but that's not a license to defy the laws of probability. It's a good rule to say "If in doubt, don't".
Afterword On GamesMasters:
The God Moding rule does NOT apply to the GamesMaster in any scenario with one. Typically the GamesMaster will NOT be playing a character but will be control all of the NPCs and will direct the overall plot/storyline.
The GamesMaster can do WHATEVER HE WANTS with your character or any other for the purpose of the storyline. The GamesMaster should also be totally IMPARTIAL and act only as the winds of luck and fate.
If the GamesMaster IS playing their own character within the scenario as well, the character itself is subject to the God Moding rule, but the GamesMaster is not.
7. Force Sensitivity - Always remember that force sensitive is not synonymous with infallibility. There are a score of examples of true Masters being defeated by Non-force users. With great power comes great responsibility not great excuses for selfishness.
This is an old guide from a past forum that I have edited over the years and I wanted to share it.
