How to better Role Play

[AvengersWraith]

I am not the best RPer around, but I do want to be better. Not everyone is required to RP, but in some situations it would be nice if we all had one standard we go by. These are not meant to be forced upon anyone, but in some situations if everyone knows what is and isn't expected could aleviate a lot of miscommunication problems.

Here's the start of the list:

Comments not made in character are to be preceeded by ooc: or ((, both are acceptable and the only RP required of everyone by the Rules of Fredian. In most places Tells are exempt and assumed to be OOC, will need Mak's imput here.

(Waiting for Mak's imput on all of these suggestions)

Capturing another character for a crime (whether picking pockets, slaughtering or rustling domestic animals or killing beggers), if the character choses to run and you want to pursue you can do what is often referred to as a knock-out, you must have either have a raise dead scroll or reserrection scroll on you at the time, but you can kill the person, inform them you are tieing them up to be taken to local authorities, then raise or reserrect them and lead them to the local authorities. If they run off they obviously are not RPing, kill them once and leave them for the crime, no further punishment for that incident. Screen shots incase of a trial (needs DM intervention) are recommended. If you don't have a scroll or can cast the spell at that time you just committed murder.

When around people who are RPing, be polite and do not use modern slang, swear words (arse instead of ass, even then I use it for strong issues, not light conversation) or abbreviations (I personally dislike this because of my wrists, but I do type almost everything out; common abbreviations I use are invis, raise and res; you can probably guess what they are abbreviated for).

*******Everyone who RPs add guidelines here, but expect Mak to have the final say since he is the master creator and moving force behind Fredian*************

The goal is to have one standard for everyone to refer to, Mak has already stated only PKing is prohibited, this is to help everyone hopefully RP together more smoothly.

I will go through all the posts in this thread and paste suggestions into this first post unless Mak says no on something in particular.

[Makzimia]

Refer to my other message I posted in ahhh Fredian. That is the bottom line, and I have already reminded my Castille Knights, that protection of the citizens at behest, is there only real job, it is an RP thing for courts etc. RP is valued at various levels by players, and as I stated before, just respect each other. Real people exist at the other end of that PC, with various backgrounds, ages, and experiences. If it doesn't seem like fun, don't do it. If you are a non-rper respect use the ooc, (( )), (), or just plain stay in party chat around rpers, since some of you have no idea how to RP chat, or don't want to, which is fine, as long as it does not pollute RP around you. And respect RP events... that covers it.

Addicted is going to be working on a jail, this will have visitation ability, and you won't be able to use Ke'Haar stones to get out

Makz.

[Phoenix]

As I understand have seen it there are SEVERAL types of RPers out there. These things are good examples of how to RP, but people shouldn't be considered bad RPers if they don't follow these. You knockout ex. that's a pretty good way to get around the mechanics of the game to describe a situation. I'd probably RP it out with you, but others might have a different spin on it. Do you have rope? Are you skilled enough to bind someone, are they skilled enough to get out? These are not things in the mechanics of the game and someone might just take the raise as a raise and go...

IMO no harm no foul. Any time I see people suggest thing about how to RP I just like to remind people of this. Heck one could go so far to RP out an escape (emote wand of opposing dex checks, or str. vs. dex.).

[AvengersWraith]

What I wanted for this thread is for experienced RPers to give examples of different ways to RP situations, and only those that are very aggregous (no spell checker) to be ruled out.

For example, when Fal and Nias (who is on a sabbatical right now) see people killing the chickens running around west styne, he doesn't see harmless acts, he sees people stealing food out of the children of west styne's mouths. Even if the other character RPs that he is eating it, he is still stealing from the children in my opinion. I am not lawful so I have no objection to killing a person for stealing food out of childrens mouths. I carry reserrection and reaise dead scrolls and am willing to talk to offenders as if they are only unconscious or restrained to request they stop. They usually say yes whether or not they intend to, but if they do it again then I just kill them and leave them unless they want to RP it more. 1 chicken needing to be respawned, 1 character needing to be respawned.

[AvengersWraith]

Let's discuss METAGAMING.

A year ago I had no idea what metagaming was, and there are lots of ways to do it in NWN. It is obtaining and using information you would not be privvy to if in a real world encounter or playing a PnP game.

The first, and easiest to forget, is people names. When you are chatting with someone their name pops up with everything they say. If you use their name without them telling you or you getting it from another character who knows them then you just metagamed information about that character.

If you EXAMINE a character to see how tough they are or what protections or immunities they have you are metagaming if you use this information to decide whether or not to try and pick their pocket or attack them.

Try not to use all the information NWN is giving you that you shouldn't know.

[AvengersWraith]

Bravo to whoever suggested the Soup Kitchen in the West Styne Inn and thank you Mak for putting it in. Now when I see people killing chickens I insist they replace the meat by getting some out of the forest and donating it to the kitchen.

It is a real good way to RP that the domestic chickens in Styne are not for adventurers, they are for the owners/npcs.

Now that I have shown how my good character uses the soup kitchen for RP I am off to the suggestion thread to add some that occured to me after using the soup kitchen.

[Vugor]

Something I just have to add here. As of late, I have been getting ALOT of requests in 'tell' asking where to find ores (as well as other things). I have a few things to say about this:

1. Why ask? My main question here is if it is in character to ask. If it is, go ahead, but please dont be upset if the PLAYER on the other end opts not to tell you. I can tell you though that any character I play is unlikely to tell you as I know (and agree with) Makz wanting everyone to spend some time exploring the world he has created for us. (Please dont argue that it is too deadly to do so - I've made numerous characters none of who've had REALLY serious problems staying alive.)

2. Dont ask in tell. I WILL NOT tell you there under any circumstance, and encourage other to follow that as well. Tell is completely outside of the characters timeframe and information attained there by nature is info your character could not know. From an RP perspective, tell makes no sence unless maybe being contacted by a high level wizard or something of that nature.

3. Give hints. Even in face to face RP, I still do not like to give direct world information, again to adhere to Makz wishes. My main character, Vugor, however is a very giving sort and would be likely to share informatino freely. In this case I frequently try to give a hint as to where the requested item is. Something as simple as saying it is in a forest, immediatly rules out over 3/4 or more of the island, but still requires alot of exploration on the requestes part.

[Phoenix]

Vugor, very good points about, esp. about resource locations. You shouldn't really ask people for help if you don't know them, at best ask for a meeting place or their location so you can RP out the discussion.

Tells should be 99% OOC. If you want to make it IC, there are ways for all characters, such as druids and rangers, or even fighters.

Ex. of a IC tell: The leaves rustle and a hear magical whisper "blah blah... blah blah blah" for a mage type, or you see a small fox run up to you, attached to a collar on it's neck is a note that reads: "blah blah... blah blah blah" for a nature friend.

Other classes could RP it as a errand boy, or carrier pidgeon, be creative if you want the tell IC, and keep it simple, it's not like you can have a 10 min. conversation via small woodland creatures...

[Thara]

Well I always wondered about the tell.... I have often used tell as a way to communicate. I now see that as just wrong...

[Preedy1978]

Good point with the tells Vugor...i only ever use it as OOC...and i am getting a rather large number of them at the moment...*headache*

As for giving away locations for ore deposits *holds up hands in admission* ok, ok, i'm a softy and do usually tell ppl were to look...now however, after seeing your point i think i will make them look for a while first before helping. (Although if someone asks IC i think my Characters RP would be to tell them.)

To the point of Meta-gaming. I think a limit has to be involved here...I know straight up i am NOT going to wander around aimlessly for 2 hours looking for something i already know the location of!! Sorry!!
I have already taken the time to find the location....however, i will try to RP how that char. got the information....fair enough? ;D

I do agree with characters names as far as this goes...a new character wouldnt know everyone like your last character would he/she? but thats just up to ppl who RP.