Simple Guidelines and Rules for Everypony Role Play (RP) Chatrooms

[size=+1]Simple Guidelines and Rules for Everypony RP Chatrooms:[/size]​

(By Dragonbait, Eight Star and Tyro)

Here is the basis for this thread; if it has 'must' in bold, it's a rule we will be expecting you to follow. If not, it is a guideline we think will help your experience. Simple, right?

So, for good, effective Roleplaying, you need to be thinking about four cornerstones of a good RP post. This is about not only respecting those who are RPing around you but to make sure you get a better experience.

Eight Star's Personal Rules of a Good Role-Play:

"Participation"
It takes at least two to RP. Participate with your fellow pony. Don't be afraid to participate with new players - they may surprise you. If there is a player you would rather not play with, it is alright to politely state, "I'm sorry, this role-play is just for the current participants."

"Recognition"
Don't skim the posts others make, as anypony that's in your role-playing world may make an impact on it. By recognizing something that's happening left wing, your character's reaction could change the entire path of the game. With realistic reactions, the role-play will feel more engaging, and more fun for everypony.

"Comprehensiveness"
Try your best to ensure that your actions and words are sensible to your character, and able to be understood by the other players, and possibly anypony who's observing. Comprehensive and in-character words and actions will allow the RP to move a lot easier, with less stops to ensure understanding is had.

"Movement"
Try not to spend too much time on one part of the role-play. Talking your character into a corner, or moving the role-play into a dead end can be a killer for a game. Keeping the play moving and bringing new things to the table can keep a role-play fresh and enjoyable.

Now that we know what goes into a good post, here's how we expect one to be made.

In the Causal Roleplay Channel, we will be freer and looser with the following rules and guidelines. Afterall, the point is just to goof around a little and practice. While mods will step in if it's detrimental to the overall appeal of those involved, we will have a looser place to play in.

The Normal Roleplay Channel will have these rules and guidelines apply in the interests of making a more stable environment for RP. This is where you come for a more serious, focused RP outside of EPRP's.

• "A character's speech must be written in quotation marks."
• (Out of Character Text must be in brackets)
• For example, if you need to ask the Game Master a question: (GM, what stat do I need to add to my roll for this search check?)
• Any actions that do not directly affect one, singular character or text that serves to explain something happening in the world must be displayed as below.
• There are two methods for performing actions:

1. Text without anything around it denotes an action or an event.
2. Use the '/action' or '/me' command

• An action command works like so: “/action does something.” or "/me does something."
• If I were to do this it would appear in chat as: Dragonbait does something.
• The second method is the preferred way.
• /action and /me commands will be in italics.
• You can also mix actions and speech, for example: /action walks over to Tyro and says, “Hey, can you help me open this door?”
• This would appear from me as: Dragonbait walks over to Tyro and says, “Hey, can you help me open this door?”

These are essential to learn to improve your Comprehensiveness while RPing. If no one understands you, you can't RP all that well and cause frustration for everyone.

• Some Rps require you to roll dice, for this you will use the '/roll' command.
• For example: To roll two twelve sided dice you would type “/roll 2d12”
• Your roll results will be calculated by S.P.I.K.E. and displayed for everyone to see.

• If you need to send a whisper (private message) to the GM or to another player, use the '/msg' command.
• For example: If Tyro is the GM and I want to make sure only he sees a message, I would type something like “/msg Tyro I'm going to try to steal that vase while the rest of the party is busy fighting the diamond dogs!”
• Then only Tyro would see - I'm going to try to steal that vase while the rest of the party is busy fighting the diamond dogs!

Punctuation, spelling, and grammar are very important to role playing. The other players must be able to understand you.
You must not use “texting” ways of spelling words. Again, your Comprehensiveness will suffer.

Your Participation, Recognition, Movement are down to your writing skills. Practice makes perfect and take note of other RPers for tips. If in doubt about something, ask for help and someone will answer you.

Below are two screenshots with links highlighted that you can click that will place the command for you:

You will see the highlighted commands below under your name in chat on the right side of the screen.


You will see the highlighted commands below under other chat participants in chat on the right side of the screen. These are useful to make sure to are sending your message to the correct person!

~ The Rules ~​

In the name of clarity, let's put these here too.

1. "A character's speech must be written in quotation marks."
2. (Out of Character Text must be in brackets)
3. Any actions that do not directly affect one, singular character or text that serves to explain something happening in the world must be displayed like this.
   1. Text without anything around it denotes an action or an event.
   2. Use the '/action' or '/me' command
4. You must not use abbreviations or use “texting” ways of spelling words. Again, your Comprehensiveness will suffer.