PlaneShift

Gameplay => General Discussion => Topic started by: Keldrena on December 12, 2007, 12:42:41 am

Title: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Keldrena on December 12, 2007, 12:42:41 am
I am. You see, I've been hanging around planeshift since mb and I came for the roleplay, yet I rarely roleplay in game. Why? Because I don't want others to think I'm a bad role player. I've roleplayed before, for several years in fact, but it was forum based and I'm not used to real time roleplaying. Any tips on getting over this irrational fear?
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Jekkar on December 12, 2007, 12:54:51 am
Create a character with confidence issues or mental problems. Easy to blame it on your character if you mess up with roleplaying.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: SerqFeht on December 12, 2007, 01:10:23 am
Most people are't that good when they first give it a try. Find a patient group of people. If I ever see you we can do something  :)
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Phinehas on December 12, 2007, 01:18:04 am
I think understanding that in-game real-time roleplay just isn't going to be as good as forum RP is a big step. People make mistakes, or don't think through what they're saying, or one person types way faster than another and so says multiple things while the other's still trying to reply to the first...

You just have to accept it, find some people who know you and know you're a decent RPer and so will respect you and be merciful until you get better, and go to it!
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Keldrena on December 12, 2007, 01:21:07 am
Thank you all for the advice. I realize it's kind of a stupid thing to be nervous about, so I really want to get over it.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Raa on December 12, 2007, 01:39:07 am
It's not stupid... I get nervous sometimes, but only 'cause I'm intimidated by some people.  :sweatdrop: Lame, huh, but I would never consider quitting roleplay.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Under the moon on December 12, 2007, 02:44:16 am
My hands get all warm and sweaty sometimes when I go to post a new story or chapter. Nothing bad about being nervous. And nothing stupid either.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Waylander on December 12, 2007, 03:40:15 am
It's not stupid... I get nervous sometimes, but only 'cause I'm intimidated by some people.  :sweatdrop: Lame, huh, but I would never consider quitting roleplay.

That would be me that she's intimidated by.

I used to have a similar problem (Amazing!  I know) but, it was with one of my characters.  I would RP with all my others but this one seemed to be missing something and so, whenever he was dragged into an RP I'd "have to go do RL stuff".  Being nervous is nothing to be afraid of.  Even the best of the best of the best of the best get nervous... and this post is proof of that :P

(Note: Figured out it was the name and now he's back.  Rawr)

Oh, and I'm always nervous when I meet one of Moon's characters.  Am I intimidated?  Noooo, I just know that the second our characters become friends Moon is going to kill his off!  :@#\
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Rayken on December 12, 2007, 05:46:52 am
Keep it simple at first.  Not everything has to be crazy plots.  RP eating your lunch and having a drink, that kind of an thing.  Start developing an idea of who your character is (if you don't have that already), and work on basic social interaction.  Eventually, you will get dragged into crazy stuff, and you will know how to react to it when it happens.

[edit: typo]
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: LigH on December 12, 2007, 11:54:05 am
Is there any "bad roleplayer" among those who at least try to do it well? ;)
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Zan on December 12, 2007, 12:05:26 pm
My hands get all warm and sweaty sometimes when I go to post a new story or chapter. Nothing bad about being nervous. And nothing stupid either.

I get that too when I'm in an exciting roleplay situation, sometimes though now less than in the beginning. Either way, some nerves are quite normal yeah .. they keep us sharp and alive. As long as you're willing to try and improve though there is nothing to be afraid of. I have to use brackets relatively often to correct spelling mistakes or what not. Heck half of the time I still forget to mark (") the difference between what my character is saying or what he's doing. It's, like Phinehas said, a result of having to type faster and having no time for reviews.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Mordraugion on December 12, 2007, 12:18:25 pm
Keep it simple at first.  RP eating your lunch and having a drink, that kind of an thing.

This is good advice and it may sound silly but try and practice when not many or no one is about, go into Kada's or The Broken Door when they are empty order a drink have a chat with the barstaff you never know someone may come in and strike up a conversation, Brado may even answer back ;)
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Liadan on December 12, 2007, 06:06:56 pm
Is there any "bad roleplayer" among those who at least try to do it well? ;)


only if the person starts mixing up IC reaction/actions with OOC action/reactions....as in taking what one character is saying personally to the player level.  But yes you're right....there isn't a 'bad roleplayer' among those who try.

Confidence my friend! We're all nervous. It's like wondering if your dance partner knows the steps to the music (ballroom, not club), and thinking that you're totally ruin it by stepping on their feet or tripping. But once you get teh hang of it, it become easier and you can start to tango! (keeping with the dance analogy).

Just remember that what the other character is doing may not be what the player is.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Xordan on December 12, 2007, 06:59:26 pm
You manage in RL well enough, just change your mindset and wooosh, you're away. That works for me anyway...
"I am the rock, I -AM- the rock" etc. Except hopefully you won't be trying to RP a rock, that might get a little boring.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Phinehas on December 12, 2007, 08:09:39 pm
Ok, I'm sick of this...

You're all a bunch of pansies and should be nervous, 'cause your RP is similar to the RP performed by a child in a halloween costume.

(That may not be true, but it needed to be said. This thread was getting too nice.)
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Liadan on December 12, 2007, 08:31:02 pm
Ok, I'm sick of this...

You're all a bunch of pansies and should be nervous, 'cause your RP is similar to the RP performed by a child in a halloween costume.

(That may not be true, but it needed to be said. This thread was getting too nice.)

then don't be nice and give her some real advice from a master of RP.  Stop whining and giving your opinion on what others do, and give some advice.  At least we try to help.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Phinehas on December 12, 2007, 08:36:48 pm
Read the fourth post in the thread. That's my advice.

I have to be honest, the advice you people are giving is all good and nice, and I'm sure it's supportive to admit that you get nervous when you RP, but in my opinion you just have to decide whether RPing in-game is something you really want to do, or not. If it's not, problem solved. If it is, suck it up and get to it. You'll make mistakes, people might laugh at you for a little while. Oh well, it's a game, get over it. I'm sure we all felt intimidated by "better RPers" to an extent at some point in our existences. It's life as an RPer. Again, if it's worth it, do it. If not, then don't bother.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Kerol on December 13, 2007, 01:52:04 pm
Keldrena:
I suggest you go with Jekkars advise (the second post of the thread), as well as looking for patient people. Just leave people who you don't feel comfortable with when you look for RP.
And I also completely agree with Rayken and his advise to try simple things first. Try to RP all-day situations from your characters viewpoint.
When I want to get back into RP with one of my main character I just walk or sit about and do a lot of /me actions as a starter. Eventually someone gets curious and joins in. That may be the beginning of an epic story or just a one-night stand (figuratively).

I also admit that I'm extremely nervous when I'm expecting myself to make no mistakes - which just asks for making mistakes. But the trick there is to just continue and not to give up. You may have a red head, sweaty fingers or even yell and swear behind your screen. Noone will know as long as you don't do it ingame. Keep going, make a witty comment (don't forget the brackets when it's OOC) and you'll be forgiven. But remember that the worst thing you can do when you are in RP is to just leave for OOC reasons - which include you thinking that you screwed up. Most things can be fixed.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Izzabella on December 13, 2007, 05:28:34 pm
Keldrena, you are more than welcome to contact me in game, just send me a tell, (Izzabella) and we can get together and do some role play, just about whatever, we will strike up a conversation and go from there, you would be surprised what role play can come out of standing near a semi crowded place such as Kada's or Harns and just saying hello and asking a few basic questions. The best way to get over your fear is to just do it, and the more you do it, the easier it becomes. But again if you just want to practice some with me, I don't mind, I don't consider myself  a great role player or anything but I've been around a while and I can certainly give you a few pointers as we go.

Just remember: :) and =)  or LOL and other such things are NOT okay in main during role play. and if you want to talk ooc in main thats okay too, just remember to use [these handy little things] so long as you remember that alone, you will be way ahead of many in game already and will do great. I look forward to meeting you in game...and don't worry..I promise not to rob you.

Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: LigH on December 13, 2007, 05:46:29 pm
Ay ay ay... roleplaying together with Izzy? That could mean to learn how to play being the victim and enjoying it... ;)

Take your time to listen. A little crowd is likely busy talking together, and you might catch some hints about a plot being played there.

And don't be afraid of "royalty", even a queen can be a nice surprise!  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Izzabella on December 13, 2007, 07:45:23 pm
hey I promised to be nice! and I am nice ooc...and honestly Izzy can be very nice too..just don't double cross her...;)
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Maulus Octir on December 13, 2007, 08:38:49 pm
I can see why you're nervous, most of us started out RPing as nervous wrecks as well! But the fact is, you can't just sit by and watch, you've got to GET IN THERE! You have to converse with characters, get involved in Gm events, and sometimes you'll be yelled at and called a n00b, or a GodModder, but BAH! What are the other players going to do? Smack you via chat bubble? I think not. If you don't throw your character into the world, you're not going to be able to mold them. Get involved, be an ass, be a wuss, be whatever! It's YOUR character, and only yours! Like Phineas said, you have to decide whether or not you're an RPer, or sit on the fence until the game bores you to death.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: zorbels on December 13, 2007, 09:50:50 pm
Quote from: Kerol
I also admit that I'm extremely nervous when I'm expecting myself to make no mistakes - which just asks for making mistakes.
/me chuckles

You see even if you are branded a great roleplayer it doesn't get any easier. I can relate to Kerol on this one, people tend to have high expectations of how my roleplay will be and I fear that I just can't meet those unrealistic standards at times. This makes me nervous and I feel like I must do good or people will be disappionted, and I will be letting down my character and my fellow roleplayers. This in a way gives me a drive to do better and work harder. I make this work to my advantage, rather than let it scare me away.

The best advice when it comes to Rping in this thread has been given, take it slow. I found what helped me learn was to picture myself in the situation in real life and how I would react. Then I would put those reactions into words. For example, if you enter the Kada's tavern in Hydlaa. What would you do first? Would you greet the bar keep? Would you ignore her and head down stairs and sit by the fire, waiting for someone to approach you? Would you greet those in the tavern or play the strong silent type? As you answer these questions and roleplay them out you begin to create your character through those actions. You start to learn what your characters limits are, and what type of personallity your character is. Also discribing what you are doing in words also helps those take an interest in who you are. A simple action like *Zorbels sighs in frustration and throws her bag into the fire. This may prompt people to ask what is wrong and can they be of assistance?

I think it is ridiculous that people expect you to create your character before entering game. The character creation happens while you play. You may have the option at the begining to pick certain skills, the way you look, and background, but we all start out as babies in a sense. Babies grow into their personalities. That is essentially what you will be doing as you slowly learn to roleplay. Don't be afraid to try new things. It will only stunt the growth of your character if you don't take risks. Take up the offers in this thread and in game to join up with roleplayers and learn from them but get involved and don't ever worry about what other people think. If you do that, you may not grow as much as you can as a character. Most of my experience came from other roleplayers. I would involve myself in big roleplays but take small parts in those roleplays. Eventually I learned my place in the world and when I felt comfortable enough I began to take on bigger roles in roleplays and even started some myself. Good luck! 
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: veinslayer on December 24, 2007, 01:50:33 am
i think most of the ppl who are good at rp'ing get a good chuckle when someone who is not walks up to them and puts there foot in their mouth...heh heh...i know i do...i include "is frequently lost and occasionally says bizarre and outlandish things, but that's because my dudes family was killed en -masse when he was younger...and he cut his brother in half....heh heh... ;D
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: emeraldfool on December 28, 2007, 02:17:18 pm
I'm never nervous. I'm a genius - an artistic savant - what do I have to be nervous about?
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Amiraa on December 31, 2007, 08:30:26 pm
Yea, all the above is great advice.  Just do stuff in game and if it fails miserably it is something to laugh about over a drink in Kada-El's.  I have had some stupid mistakes in RP, talking to someone who I thought was something else, giving them a hard time about it.  Opps.  You can look me up in game (Amiraa) I'm happy to RP and my character is looking for others to talk to.  I'm stuck in Kada-El's for now due to computer issues (stupid bad graphics card on this loaner) so feel free to look me up sometime there.

The best way to get good RPing in is to go and do stuff.  Find something you like and go with it.  The more you do it the better you will get.  Practice makes Perfect, right?
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: bilbous on December 31, 2007, 09:54:52 pm
Just accept that you will never measure up to some peoples expectations but that it is their problem not yours. If you want to play with the "Cool Kids" you will need to twist yourself into a pretzel to fit into any given situation you come across. Conform Mightily! and you might get accepted but you will live on the razor's edge the while. One mistake and you will be shunned more surely than a Duras  at a Klingon convention, at least until your puppet is back in power.

People will always misunderstand part of what you try and do. You can try to explain it if you want but it is better after the fact rather than during. Do not worry too much about typos they come with the territory and I find it most annoying to have people repeating themselves with corrections all the time. What are we supposed to think your character has a speech impediment and stutters or something? I mean, really, if I type "he wad not nice to me" it is pretty obvious I meant "was" not "wad." Corrections just interrupt the flow. Some people will insist on them, though, but if I don't understand your meaning I'll ask; and preferably in character.

The view from someone not likely known for great role play and known for incomprehensible behavior at times.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Cyl on January 01, 2008, 12:40:55 am
I'm sure we all felt intimidated by "better RPers" to an extent at some point in our existences. It's life as an RPer. Again, if it's worth it, do it. If not, then don't bother.

Well that's not quite true. I was too obnoxious to be intimidated by "better RPers" when I was new, and when I stopped being obnoxious I already was an elitist. :P

Okay. Now for my piece of advice: Realize that this is just a game, and games are supposed to be fun. You'll most likely mess up sooner or later, you'll make craploads of mistakes and there's no way to around it anyways, so just relax and take it easy. After all we are on teh intraweb and everyone's anonymous, so should you really ever screw things over so that nothing can be fixed anymore, well you can still delete your character and start anew.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Kaerli on January 02, 2008, 02:19:40 pm
Just remember, everyone has an RP bloopers bin, even me :P
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Phinehas on January 08, 2008, 12:35:31 am
I'm sure we all felt intimidated by "better RPers" to an extent at some point in our existences. It's life as an RPer. Again, if it's worth it, do it. If not, then don't bother.

Well that's not quite true. I was too obnoxious to be intimidated by "better RPers" when I was new, and when I stopped being obnoxious I already was an elitist. :P
Oh don't make me go dig up logs from when you wanted to join Ashes...

For the rest, I find it highly amusing about all the people who are saying "Even I get nervous." As though they're a big somebody...
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Jekkar on January 08, 2008, 11:22:24 am

Oh don't make me go dig up logs from when you wanted to join Ashes...

For the rest, I find it highly amusing about all the people who are saying "Even I get nervous." As though they're a big somebody...

Even I get nervous.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Phinehas on January 08, 2008, 12:16:54 pm

Oh don't make me go dig up logs from when you wanted to join Ashes...

For the rest, I find it highly amusing about all the people who are saying "Even I get nervous." As though they're a big somebody...

Even I get nervous.
You? No... not really! You could never be nervous, surely! Not the great hander-out-of-diamonds-to-people-he-ends-up-disliking!
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: poql on January 10, 2008, 01:51:30 am
honestly, i have no idea what you mean by roleplaying, unless you mean like teams with everyone doing what they are created to do like healers heal fights fight.  I came from runescape. I will blame my disability to use teamwork on them,  In runescape you would not belive unless you saw the players, if you knew someone for 2 years and are friends and never fight, if you let them borrow a semivaluable item in rs, you will never see them again,  If you go pking (in rs u lose items when u die)  your team will probly 70% of the time , backstab you. bs means backstab in rs, it happens that often. Rs players are the worst of the worst, and they dont start out like that, but they turn into it. dont get me wrong, i loved the game untill they went about a month ago and destroyed pvp, merchanting, and dueling. the 3 things anyone did. so i quit. and i plan to try this

GL 2 ME
 i blame my untrust and unwant (might be a word) to be a team player
over 3 years of being bsed, attempt scammed, hacked, it gets sick
i have higher hopes for this
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Phinehas on January 10, 2008, 02:20:23 am
Teamplay is not roleplay. Find out what roleplay is, then post your opinion.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: poql on January 10, 2008, 02:29:37 am
i didnt post an opinion to begin with,  It would of been easier for you to sum it up in a sentence, but i guess you wont.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Leama on January 10, 2008, 02:32:15 am
poql,

This is a great game where your character can be anything you want it to be but not a god. I have been told PS is like no other game. It might be hard but try not to compare. I welcome you to best community a game has to offer. Enjoy your stay.

Leama curtsies

Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: ThomPhoenix on January 10, 2008, 02:33:54 am
poql, read this Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role-playing) and then you will understand this thread and Phinehas' comment.

In short: Roleplaying isn't just creating a character and fighting all the time, it is developing a true character with emotions, strengths, weaknesses and a life. In other words: a soul. A character can be unique and special, or a character can be a very normal person, depending on your liking. See your character as yourself, but then in a fantasy world. What would you do? But of course, the most fun is to roleplay a character who has a different personality than yourself.

Roleplaying rule number one is to keep things somewhat realistic, or you will be frowned upon. For example, you cannot ever claim that your character is a God, the relative of a God, or has God-like powers.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: neko kyouran on January 10, 2008, 06:27:18 am
Roleplaying rule number one is to keep things somewhat realistic, or you will be frowned upon. For example, you cannot ever claim that your character is a God, the relative of a God, or has God-like powers.

you can.  just don't get all bent out of shape when the consequences of those actions catch up with you.  :)
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: ThomPhoenix on January 10, 2008, 02:35:36 pm
What consequences? You're a god, you can do everything.
So please, don't make a God character.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: LigH on January 10, 2008, 03:09:11 pm
Even gods can die ... when people don't believe in them, and forget them! :P
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: ThomPhoenix on January 10, 2008, 03:20:11 pm
No one ever said a God needs worship to exist. Of course we're not talking about real-life Gods here, but Yliakum Gods.

Anyway, offtopic alert ;)
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: Rayken on January 10, 2008, 07:39:20 pm
I think Neko's point is that you can feel free to make a character who thinks that he's a god.  But don't be surprised when an angry mob with pitchforks shows up.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: LigH on January 10, 2008, 08:43:38 pm
With claymores.

We don't have pitchforks yet... :(
__

Uuhm...

You could roleplay a fanatic claymore swinger being outraged about missing pitchforks. Is that a challenge to you? :P
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: neko kyouran on January 10, 2008, 11:40:02 pm
I think Neko's point is that you can feel free to make a character who thinks that he's a god.  But don't be surprised when an angry mob with pitchforks shows up.

winner!

for you:

(http://www.nexternal.com/vegane/images/BostonCookiesLg.jpg)
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: ThomPhoenix on January 12, 2008, 07:15:34 pm
What if your character is a god to himself?
/me steals the cookie and eats it.
Title: Re: Nervous about roleplaying?
Post by: bilbous on January 12, 2008, 09:32:53 pm
Just turn them around and they'll be dogs.