The Guide To Roleplaying
For Those Who Already Know How To Write!
By Tluthal P. Eilsrahel

So, you know how to write, and you want to learn the super awesome skill of roleplaying? You're already halfway there my friend! You already know how to create or use characters, and you know at least the basics of plotting.

Well, after that the similarities get a little sparse. But for the most part there's one very special thing about roleplaying:

YOU GET TO MESS WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S CHARACTERS!

That's where things get a little complicated though - you can't do some of the things you can do when you're just writing. You see, other people put their time, and effort into making their characters. That means they tend to get a little touchy and defensive about what you do to them! Which brings us to the first main point:

ROLEPLAYING HAS RULES!

Let's go over the three things people tend to get very, very, VERY touchy about:

Twinking
Godmoding
Powerplaying

What the heck, you say? Let's define those terms!

Twinking is manipulating circumstances to your benefit or to your fellow roleplayer's detriment. That could mean that the sun just happens to be in your opponent's eyes when you're in a jungle, or you happen to find a sword in an abandoned warehouse where they used to store fish, or you happen to find a crack just barely big enough for your character to slip through in an inescapable prison, and your character is average-sized. This is cheating. And rude. And shows that you have no respect for your fellow roleplayer. And that, my friend, means that nobody is going to want to play with you after a while!

Godmoding is often confused with Powerplaying because the two sound kind of similar, but they are different. Godmoding is when you control your fellow roleplayer's character as though they were yours. This is perfectly okay in writing, but in roleplaying it's considered extremely rude and many sites and roleplays will kick you out if you do it at all! Now, there are exceptions, but that's ONLY when the other person or people agree to it, and even then it's a good idea (and required on some sites) to add an Out Of Character (OOC) blurb about having permission. Now, some sites are more forgiving of this, and may place a limit or say that it's okay to do it - you might notice that the ones that say it's okay tend to be populated by pPl WhO tYpE lIeK tHiS. Or type in blinding colors like this! Get the idea? It's not a good idea.

Powerplaying is often confused with Godmoding. Powerplaying is when your character is, say, an American Ninja who can also summon down the Wrath of God! For no good reason! Basically, this is the roleplaying equivalent of a Mary Sue or Marty Stue... except it gets worse. This also applies to weapons, armor, and anything else your character uses! It's like having your sword's only weakness be, oh, cottage cheese! On rice! It's idiotic and not something anyone in their right mind would keep on their person at all times. Powerplaying is, like Twinking and Godmoding, rude and bound to ruin your roleplaying fun as much as it ruins the other person or people involved's fun. Get my drift? Now, just because your character is powerful doesn't mean they're overpowered - just be sure to give them a realistic foible and weaknesses!

Actually, on that note, it's generally more fun to give your character some kind of god-awful handicap they constantly have to overcome! Whether it be emotional baggage or physical deformity or insanity, or a combination of any or even all of them, it makes it a bigger challenge and much more fun because of that. You know why? Because it generates sympathy for your character, and makes other people want to roleplay with you so that they can interact with this character they feel for.

Right, back on track. Those are just the three big things. Always, always, always check your roleplay's rules or terms of service! They're there for a reason. Also keep in mind that unless they're a stuck-up group of prigs, people will be willing and even thrilled to help you! So if you're confused or not sure if something will spark a chain reaction, ASK!

On a different tangent, there are exceptions to some of these rules - but that's ONLY when the other person or people agree to it, and even then it's a good idea (and required on some sites) to add an Out Of Character (OOC) blurb about having permission. This is used, for example, when a character is being kidnapped, or tied down, or in a fight where the outcome's clear but you want to make absolutely sure that the other person is okay with it. And always, ALWAYS ask before you kill someone else's character!

Okay, I'm moving on now! Really!

Well, other than that there's not much to explain. If you know the basics of plotting - ooooh, plotting! Remember where I mentioned you get to mess with OTHER people's characters? This is the FUN part! Because you have absolutely no idea what the other person will do! Well, usually, unless you've already decided together. But that's the crucial difference between writing and roleplaying - you're no longer running the show, you're in a partnership!

The Technical Stuff

There is more roleplaying jargon for you to learn! First of all, there's IC and OOC, for In Character and Out Of Character respectively. Information you learn OOC should not be used IC unless the other person gives permission for it to be known to your character without learning it the long way! That means, if you know there's a sniper but your character doesn't, your character had better not react to that sniper unless they have some special way of knowing about it! Got that?! Then there's RP which is short for, you guessed it, roleplaying.

Oh, and roleplaying isn't JUST about getting to screw everything that moves, it just isn't. Sure, that happens a lot, but it's not the only thing it's about. The storylines can get longer and more complex than in a novel, since there's no obligation to end it!

One last work of advice, and then you should be on your way to roleplaying writers' block away - make sure your character suits the environment! Sometimes not fitting works, but most of the time you should adapt your character to the surroundings. A peasant from the 13th Century doesn't belong in year 3008 onboard a spaceship and such. Make it reasonable, you'll have more fun!

I personally suggest finding a site with a plot you like and finding yourself a mentor on there to help you. Again, don't be afraid to ask for help!