|S t a n d a r d r p r u l e s |
Powergaming - What is it?
This is the biggest killer of great roleplay known to the vast majority of players. In short it means over inflation, gifting yourself with excessive amounts of 'power', which depending on your character may be defined in several ways, and creating flawless characters without fault. Most commonly seen are unfeasible levels of strength or speed, ability to dodge any and all 'hits' in combat, magical skills that can conjure something from nothing and surrounding yourself with phantom NPC's that are amazing at everything.
Few people like to admit defeat. Even deciding who should be victorious in combat can be tricky. There are ways to achieve this fairly and there is great benefit to not being 'winner' at every turn. Realism aside, much more interesting RP is available to those who can take a 'hit' for a number of reasons. Firstly, gaining a reputation for powerplay will cause some roleplayers to avoid getting into scenes with you. As much as we want to be open to play with anyone we come across on the client, it simply is not fun to play with someone whose ego restricts the potential of the scene.
How to avoid it.
- Remember that even fantastical characters have limits to their abilities and endurance, and leave your own ego behind. Consider the strengths that your character has and decide on some realistic weaknesses to balance them.
God-moding - What is it?
This is essentially where a character is roleplayed in 'God' mode, playing a character that cannot be killed or destroyed no matter what and also determining the outcome of actions on behalf of other players.
How to avoid it.
How to avoid it.
- Make attempts! When roleplaying use words that give the other player time to decide on which course of action to take, and Limit them one at a time to give other plays chance to respond. Some words one could use are "Attempts to hit", Aims for, Etc.
- Remember when creating a character that you have to add realism to them - this means sadly not being afraid to die or lose something you created. Even though this is the hardest thing for every roleplayer - remember that characters still can be playable even after death in some realms - just not with their full abilities.
Metagaming - What is it?
Possibly the worst of the three, metagaming involves taking information that you know as a player, but that your character doesn't or couldn't know IC and using it in roleplay, often to your benefit. Some prime examples of this are:
- Posting in group chat about something you're doing to lure people into roleplay, or acting out scenes in chat that give other players information that should only have been available to those actually in the scene at the time.
- Playing out roleplay in chats, thus publicizing information outside of the players involved.
- Using information gained outside of roleplay and using it in RP without ICly learning it. This also applies to any information gained through reading profiles and picks, particularly race information.
- Similarly, using the internet or client or sim/website to learn information that your character wouldn't know, for example racial weaknesses.
- Assuming that you can hear everything in chat range. Consider the impact of physical barriers such as thick undergrowth, stone walls, multiple doors. Be sensible about what you might realistically overhear.
- Using alts (alternate accounts) to gain or share information, which is not allowed in any rp.
Whilst you may not post excerpts of your RP, or posts that seek to draw players to you, in any chats as this is considered metagaming, and remember that when you are roleplaying your character should have a plausible reason for being in the location that they are in.
Keep in mind that Just because you know something, doesn't mean your character does.
Put "In Character Only" on your profile and do not talk in ooc in rp area's.
Do not talk about your character to others unless you are roleplaying.
