I've read through all of the thread and seen just a few lists of rules/guidelines, probably because those contain most of the possibly required points.
However, to make it simplier and easy for the new players to read (as I'm assuming these basic guidelines are mostly for them) I've taken the 9 ones I consider most relevant and added a 10th. So credits go to Duraza, Marqsaynt and Mythryndel.
- 1. All OOC chat must be enclosed within a type of brackets.
You've learned the difference in the tutorial. Make use of your knowledge.
- 2. No 1337 speak, no other languages other than english.
If it is another language, put it in brackets. The only acceptable languages are those created by the settings for the races.
- 3. Do not take things said In-Character personally.
Unless someone is specifically harassing you, the player, which is an offense that should be /reported to a GM, just relax and have fun. Characters are allowed to be boisterous, rude, friendly, comical, etc. Just go with it and have fun.
- 4. Follow the settings.
Self explanatory. You read them. What they say is what you can do. If you have a question about them ask a settings team member. Some things will obviously be questionable but there are other things that obviously aren't allowed.
- 5. Just because you can do something does not mean you should do something.
Two examples. Just because you can max doesn't mean you should. Just because you can roleplay the ability to infict perma-death doesn't mean you should. Now of course, there are people who do both things. In that case just because you have something, doesn't mean you should use them.
- 6. Don’t try to grab the spotlight; you’ll burn yourself.
An excellent way to turn-off fellow players to your roleplay is to constantly insist on being the most tragic, most loud, most dramatic character in the room. Not only is it obnoxious, it leaves zero room for anyone else to talk to you about their own character’s events or story.
- 7. In general, do not exceed your character’s race traits.
This includes extremes like attempting to RP a 7-foot tall dwarf or a Kran made entirely of vanilla ice cream, to less obvious faux pas like playing a character much older than any other of his species to ever walk the realm.
- 8. Every great roleplayed strength should have an equally great weakness.
No weakness means no conflict. It also ensures more thoughtful RPers will largely avoid you since it is no fun playing a game with someone that can never lose.
- 9. Give your character a description.
Character descriptions are only for what another person's character would see. Books are for autobiographies, character descriptions are not.
- 10. All the roleplay should be done in the Main tab.
Do not use the Tells, Group, or any other tab for roleplaying unless you are whispering or roleplaying in a secluded stance. Don't deprive others of your roleplay: people around you would notice what is your character doing or saying unless he/she/kra is making sure they don't.
10th point is something I've noticed plenty, the most around the smithie or the mines. The "ty" "np" kind of RP that one'd say could never happen without a previous chat. There's been a trade there, IC one I assume since they thanked each other in the Main tab. But my char, even being right next to those guys was unable to tell what the hell was going on. Why doesn't people RP the trades (meanwhile mechanics don't give other players a chance to see them)? Makes us others blind.
These are
objective guidelines most should agree with and that don't really provide much room for discussion.
Now, point 4 takes me to look at one of the points I didn't bring up from Marqsaynt.
9. Stick with what is known about the PS world.
A person must know the rules before they bend/break/add to them. All back stories and character abilities should still be firmly aligned with what is known about the settings.
More or less the same point but put in another way, he hits the spot with "what is known about the PS world". And what is known? Not much yet, and we players aren't aware of how much is left to come (probably neither setting devs at this point of development). And here is where I often see OOC conflicts arise within roleplayers for the simple reason that the boundaries aren't defined yet. We can't ask the devs to work quicker than they do, so I think here is where an agreement is more needed than with the simple rules/guidelines I listed above.
Are players allowed to roleplay a
bow before mechanics allow it? Are they allowed to roleplay a cloak even though their characters look uncloaked? Are they allowed to roleplay a shuriken? Are they allowed to RP spells that are not yet working mechanics-wise or that perhaps will never be implemented at all? Are they allowed to roleplay necromancy? Are they allowed to roleplay a jeweler before gem cutting is implemented?
All of these I've seen in-game, and another thousand questions would arise. Really, everybody can agree that using brackets for OOC chat is good for the flow of the RP in the Main tab, but I would like to see what does have people to say about those many other things that creativity takes us to play about but there are no official statements about. After all, having a dev tell you that your four legged kran is legit doesn't mean other players will give it any credit, and in the end they are the ones you're playing the game with.
Players need to set certain boundaries for OOC conflicts to end, at the same time making IC conflicts much more enjoyable for all.
And here is when I (again :p) steal from Marqsaynt, since I think more of his points are pretty valid, but not as main guidelines. They'd probably fit better in this list of
subjective suggestions on how to deal with the lacks the current status of PS's develompent has and what is and what is not acceptable roleplay. These are:
- 1. A person’s name is not known until it is heard in character.
Just as there are no floating nametags over our heads in real life, there are no floating tags in Planeshift from an in-character perspective.
- 2. Using /me or /my to indicate what your character is thinking is poor form.
Your thoughts are your own in RL. Your character’s thoughts are their own in PS.
- 3. Bald exposition is lazy roleplay.
Don’t cheat yourself with exposition you don’t need. It is unrealistic and removes a lot of the mystery from your character. (See example at bottom)
- 4. Leave the official guarding to the government (and GMs).
There is no RP badge you can invent that will ever mean you are officially affiliated with the Hydlaa Guards, Sunshine Squadron, etc. If you strive to protect the citizens of Yliakum, do it under your own banner not the government’s.
I'm unsure as to if this secondary -but in my mind more important- list should be included in this thread, if it deserves a new one, or none of both, but I'm sure you people can come up with decent suggestions to bring up an agreement within players that most would abide to.
