Curious Observations- RP techniques and ideas

[bloodedIrishman]

Classic derailment. Well done to all.

[Mariana Xiechai]

I'm not sure if this is quite related, though according to the “thread” it's just role playing “techniques” (and it's already derailed, so, heck why not.)

I think one thing that can sometimes bother me about RP is the stereotypical “the good guys” and “the bad guys.” What, nobody wants to play a little with the shades of gray? There's a heck of a lot of character potential between flower-picking do-gooder and RAAAAAAAAGE KILL EVERYTHING. The most interesting role plays I've had have involved characters that can't really be pegged or painted into either category, but who fluctuate according to the situation at hand.

Thoughts? Comments?

[bloodedIrishman]

Most people aren't nuanced and can't do nuanced. I only know of a couple who can. That's a fact, and people can deny it if they like. Usually characters and people are quite simple. Often enough, those people can be succinctly categorized into "good" or "evil" because of that simplicity. In some cases characters are a more complicated mixture of good and evil, and this traces back to their motivations and memories.

In this modern time with the increasing popularity and knowledge of psychology, combined with extreme luxury of information, media and excess time, people are becoming more sophisticated. Thus we now tend to reject "good" and "evil" categories and call for shades of grey analyses'. 

I would say the only issue I can see with categorizing people as "good" and "evil" comes when they assume behavior to follow without evidence. So for example if Kull murdered someone it must be because he is (1) psychopathic and not (2) a Dakkruist on a mission. Although he is evil, nonetheless. Just don't assume he's doing it because of psychopathy. That is not based in evidence.

[Rigwyn]

Grays can be quite interesting. That and characters who transition either temporarily or permanently. Examples might include a recovering addict who remains quite capable of slipping up at the drop of a hat, a baddie who occasionally does the right thing, or a dumb character who on rare occasion, says something terribly insightful or intelligent despite their lack of intelligence.

As for technique, a few of the tricks I used are:

1. Using the buddy list to remember who's name you know.

I only add names of those characters that my character has learned. Sometimes, I'll click on a name on the buddy list, click "edit", and change the name to reflect an important detail such as a nickname.

2. Using in game books to record RP notes.

Its easy to forget what your character learned or heard, what they promised to who and so on. Keeping an IC journal is a great way to fix this and best of all, it can be lost or stolen - providing other characters with insight they might not have otherwise gleaned.


3. Coordinating movement with RP

Moving your character around to match what you say they are doing can have a huge impact on the other player's perception of your character. It can make the RP much more believable to them and is pretty easy to do.

4. Using other characters to deliver messages and accomplish goals.

This is huge in my book. If you can, give your groffel or wifi wristwatch a break and have another character deliver or convey your message for you. For one thing, its more believable, for another, it helps to include more players in the RP. Lastly, it opens up opportunities for gossip, accidental changes to the message, omissions, deliberate truth bending, and more.

As for accomplishing goals, if you delegate tasks, more people end up getting involved and you introduce room for things to *not* go as expected. You increase the chance that others will eavesdrop or follow the person who was given the task. Tasks can be made into quests with careful planning and intervention, quests can become epic if there are enough active players.

Lastly, I want to point out the difference between what I call "passive play" and "active play". There are those players who wait for things to happen and those who make things happen. Making things happen does not necessarily mean manipulating the game, but rather taking incentive. When everyone is being passive, nothing happens.. Doing something as simple as trying to achieve an in character goal can be all it takes to stir the pot a little. Whether that goal is finding a handsome wife who is sturdy and wise, or finding the lost treasure of Slkasdfd Hdfgkdfjs which is rumored to be cursed and guarded by rabid maulberlords and dark way emo freaks with a pathetic need for negative attention, the attempt to overcome the challenges that get in your way will add color and possibly some interest for fellow players.

Whisper Bless
o/

[Illysia]

I think one thing that can sometimes bother me about RP is the stereotypical “the good guys” and “the bad guys.” What, nobody wants to play a little with the shades of gray? There's a heck of a lot of character potential between flower-picking do-gooder and RAAAAAAAAGE KILL EVERYTHING. The most interesting role plays I've had have involved characters that can't really be pegged or painted into either category, but who fluctuate according to the situation at hand.

That is because it is easy to pick one or the other without going farther. It's a matter of learning to put more effort in and deliberately stretching out. Everyone starts simply but not everyone progresses past it eventually.

Lastly, I want to point out the difference between what I call "passive play" and "active play". There are those players who wait for things to happen and those who make things happen.

This is partially the reason why for the preceding. Playing passively will let you get in the habit of simple characters because your character isn't a mover or shaker of RP. They participate but they typically don't initiate/instigate RPs.

One of the skills RPers should make a goal of always working on is learning to fill different niches in RPs. You may be part of the mob for one RP, but in another maybe you are leading it, in another the mob is after you, or in yet another you may be giving the mob passing information as you head on to the RP you are more intrinsically a part of. However, to do this a character has to be more fleshed out than "good/bad with a history". Their motivations, thought processes, preferences, and special circumstance that present exceptions need to be thought about. Unfortunately though, for most characters, they will pick one place/niche and that is where you will always find them.

However, that is easy to overcome, one simply must take the time and do it. Sit down and work out different scenarios, in your head or on paper, and flesh out the character bit by bit. Such is thing is what I created the Character Context Check for years ago. Yes it looks long and scary, but it is a way to force people to stop glazing over details and think about specifics. People with characters that fit too neatly into good or bad categories need to use such a list or make their own and sit down and deliberately work on expanding the depth of their characters. Even my most good character, Illysia, would have gladly tossed someone off the edge of the Keep for acting up in the Stonehead and Malco would have just had to suck it up.







For those who may want to try it. Here is the updated CCC:

Character Context Check

Use this checklist to look for places where your character would be unable do more than just stand there. When you find a place, work on a response that would be unique to your character or at the very least would reflect the characters personality or motivations. Admittedly, some of these situations may never happen in RP but they might be referenced, so it is a good idea to think about them just the same. Obviously, this is no a comprehensive list but it does cover a lot of things

How does your character react...

(Il)Legalities:
[  ] When being robbed
[  ] When being asked to participate in illegal activities
[  ] When being asked by the guards to assist in an investigation
[  ] When actually doing something illegal (willing/unwilling/aware of wrongness/not aware)
[  ] When being caught (by civilian/by guard)
[  ] When cornered by a vigilante mob
[  ] When cornered by a thug mob
[  ] When knowingly trespassing in various places (seedy places/official places/privately owned places)
[  ] When standing trial in the courthouse
[  ] When forced to choose between saving someone dear to the character or following the law
[  ] When a friend is arrested (wrongly arrested/justifiably arrested)
[  ] When a child does something illegal
[  ] When a forced to assist in an arrest when they know the other party is innocent but they lack proof
[  ] When a law is one your character feels is wrongful even if it is lawful.

In and Around Town:
[  ] When they find themselves in a library or place of learning
[  ] When they find themselves in a temple or place of worship
[  ] When they find themselves in a legal building
[  ] When they find themselves in a social gathering spot
[  ] When they find themselves in a quiet place
[  ] When they find themselves in a field or in nature
[  ] When they find themselves alone
[  ] When they find themselves in a market or place of business
[  ] When they find themselves in a hospital(like place) or place of healing
[  ] When they find themselves in an arena or place of combat
[  ] When they find themselves in a secret place
[  ] When they find themselves in a large city
[  ] When they find themselves in a small town
[  ] When they find themselves in a place with mostly one race (opposite of their own/ same as their own)
[  ] When they find themselves in a place with many races
[  ] When they find themselves in a place where they are easily ignored
[  ] When they find themselves in a place where they are noticed by everyone (positive attention/negative attention)

Character to Character Interactions
[  ] When your character meets a former friend or enemy
[  ] When your character meets a former or current lover
[  ] When your character meets a passing acquaintance
[  ] When your character meets a person of unclear relationship status (are you or aren't you on good terms)
[  ] When your character meets somone that tried to kill them
[  ] When your character meets somone that they are attracted too
[  ] When your character meets somone that they are repulsed by
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be very honest(ICly)
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be very dishonest(ICly)
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be a criminal(ICly)
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be connected with the legal system(ICly)
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be a vigilante
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be a victim
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be a merchant
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be a craftsmen
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be a vagrant
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be a drunk
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be high strung
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be very relaxed
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be "weird"
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to be from another part of Yliakum
[  ] When your character meets somone that is known to talk about OOC things ICly
[  ] When your character meets somone that claims to be very powerful (fighter/mage/misc)
[  ] When your character meets somone that claims to be very rich
[  ] When your character meets somone that claims to be from outside of Yliakum

Character Expression
note: A situation may call for a certain response but that doesn't mean that your character has to follow the script

[  ] When your character is expected to be sad at someone's death
[  ] When your character is expected to be happy about an event in another character's life
[  ] When your character is expected to disapprove of illegal or dark matters
[  ] When your character is expected to approves of legal matters or moral
[  ] When your character is expected to take the lead
[  ] When your character is expected to follow willingly
[  ] When your character is expected to back off
[  ] When your character is expected to do something that the character can't actually do
[  ] When your character is expected to do a favor
[  ] When your character is expected to drop everything
[  ] When your character is expected to be surprised
[  ] When your character is expected to be shocked
[  ] When your character is expected to be gentle
[  ] When your character is expected to be understanding
[  ] When your character is expected to be tender
[  ] When your character is expected to be affectionate
[  ] When your character is expected to be stern
[  ] When your character is expected to be mean
[  ] When your character is expected to be dishonest
[  ] When your character is expected to be honest
[  ] When your character is expected to be thoughtful
[  ] When your character is expected to leap without looking
[  ] When your character is expected to be dumb
[  ] When your character is expected to be intelligent
[  ] When your character is expected to be happy
[  ] When your character is expected to conform

Inner Mechanics
[  ] What is your character's dominate personality trait(s)?
[  ] what are secondary but still important traits?
[  ] What personalities rub your character entirely the wrong way?
[  ] what personalities really bring out your character's own personality or that they favor?
[  ] Are they extroverted or introverted?
[  ] Do they have a thick skin or do small slights get to them?
[  ] What scares your character or what makes your character better able to take on the hurdles in front of them?
[  ] Do they feel should abide by duty or law at cost or do they feel people should always come first?
[  ] Do they stubbornly refuse to be told what to think and what to do?
[  ] Do they prefer to put things off or handle them immediately?
[  ] What do they think of various other races? (you can have varying opinions without outright bigottry)
[  ] What strong preferences do they hold?
[  ] What are their hobbies?
[  ] What do they secretly hope others never find out about?

Life Happening at You
[  ] What are some of your character's life goals? (long term/short term)
[  ] Are they happy with the course they are on now?
[  ] Are they in the process of changing course? (ending or starting relationships/changing careers/changing allegiances)
[  ] What are their affiliations? (guild, organization, Octarchy Loyalist, Outlaw, etc)
[  ] Do the long to change the social order or government?
[  ] What do they think of current events across the Dome?

The Miscellaneous
[  ] What is their room like? (a person's environment is very telling)
[  ] what do they normally like to wear and why?
[  ] Do they have pets?
[  ] what is their most prized posession?
[  ] what is their guilty pleasure?
[  ] What is the most significant moment from their past? (from before the time in their life that you start RPing them)
[  ] Who are their idols?
[  ] Who are the most significant people in their lives, why?
[  ] What is the defining moment behind the key aspects of your character?
[  ] Where does your character see themselves at later points in their lives?

[bloodedIrishman]

Great posts you two. I personally feel derailment has turned to a positive note. 

[Rigwyn]

There was something I wanted to add to this but forgot what it was...

....

* Rigwyn taps his fingers on the table and a blank expression fills his face.

...


Oh!

BRAINFREEZE!

Have you ever found that while roleplaying, you suddenly get brain freeze and can't think of what to post next? You sit there and scratch your head but really don't know what to say. Meanwhile others are waiting and you feel pressured to come up with something but your brain just isn't producing?

Yes? No?

What do YOU do in this situation?

[Illysia]

I have a problem with needing something awesome or funny to happen next then running out of ideas. The best I can manage is to fake it and blow smoke until I think of something or give up and let it go... I am currently having the problem in an RP elsewhere and all I've got so far is what *could* end up being a half awesome idea. :/

[Rigwyn]

For me, I used to worry quite a bit about saying "the right thing"... as if this was a single player rpg and I need to say the right thing in order to progress. I still get brainfreeze but not as bad as I used to. When I do get it, I may just make my character do something like emote an action or introduce something new. ( For example, comment on another character or a potted plant o.o )

When I find that the rp has gone dead ( both players have nothing to say ), I'll have my character leave or find an excuse to move on. I find this situation to be rather awkward for the most part. Its something that I do poorly.

[Illysia]

When the conversation goes dead I will try to revive it but if it keeps going dead then I will let it go. Sometimes the conversation runs out but there is still stuff to explore so I find something. Typically something that has a lot of talking potential sometimes its down a completely different path though.

[Rigwyn]

Quite frankly, I'm piss poor at small talk in real life. If there's a conversational topic that is intriguing or requires some thought, I'm all over it. If its something shallow or the environment is not conducive to thoughtful conversation (ie. noisy environment where you miss half of what is said ), I just get lost. I think the same weak social skills tend to show up in the game for me.

I have this irrational conviction that I'll be judged and torn apart if I say something shallow or that the conversation will come to an awkward, silent halt, so for me, that makes bar-rp and more social rp styles a lot more challenging.

[bloodedIrishman]

Small talk is the foreplay of heavier interaction. Bow chika wow wow.

[Illysia]

I'm really good at Bar RP but it often difficult to move it along if you don't have people who are good at small talk because they miss the cues to move on to the serious stuff and the conversation tends to languish in pointlessness. But even when that happens there is no reason to rip anyone apart. XD

With social RPs, you have to learn the cues to move past the idle chatter to slipping in more important stuff which will lay the groundwork for deeper RPs later.

[BoevenF]

 I have brainfreeze every time, due to my poor English. There's nothing I can do about it, unless I can move back in time. Or a brain transplant.

[LigH]

I have some brain freezes even in my native language sometimes, when I try to express a situation with the optimal term. The bad kind of perfectionism, a.k.a. pedantry.