We all know that joining up to a new forum can be daunting… New rules, new members and new roleplays that you’re currently unaccustomed to. We have, and are proud of, our particularly large community, made up of some of the friendliest and best writers ever seen on the Internet. We love to have new members joining the ranks and, as such, we work to ensure that your ‘settling in’ is as easy as possible.
This Guide is here to provide a helping hand in your navigation of the site and understanding our regulations.
RPA has grown to become a rather large forum and taking your first step forward is usually the most difficult. Here are the first things, as a New Member, that you need to consider;
Covered in this Section; - New Member Restrictions
- Where to Begin
-- Rules
-- Introducing Yourself
-- Name Colours
-- Roleplaying Guides and FAQs
-- Avatars and Signatures
Spoiler: So you’ve signed up… Now What?
New Member Restrictions;
As a ‘New Member’ to the site, your name will appear as yellow and, with it, come some minor restrictions. This is a temporary stage used by the Administrators to identify spammers and the like. Restrictions include limited Private Message storage (Only two PMs at a time in your Inbox and/or your Sent Messages), the inability to receive/give reputation and the inability to view your own profile page or those of other members.
To advance to ‘Member’ status, it is recommended that you remain patient and participate around the board; stay active in a roleplay or two and get involved in the Community Chat Section for example.
Related Links;
For obvious reasons, it’s important that you understand the Rules and Regulations of the site. In most cases, ignorance is not an excuse for breaking them. After all, they’re there for everyone to read and they’re all pretty straightforward to understand.
We love to meet new members and have the chance to help you around the site – The easiest way for us to do this is if you post up an Introduction Thread. There’s no need to be shy or nervous; we’re all super friendly around these parts. Stuck on what to say? Just tell us what name you like to go by and about your roleplaying experience; whether you’ve done it previously, your favourite genres, etc. It doesn’t have to be fancy – We just want the chance to say ‘hello’.
If you were to glance at who was online, you would likely find a rainbow of colours staring back at you. Each colour is representative of something different – Those that’s names are not coloured (i.e. Match the default text colour of the skin you’re using) are normal, full-fledged members.
Staff;
There is a handful of people on RPA dedicated specifically to making this site the best it can possibly be.
Administrators; These guys are the ‘top dogs’ of RPA so to speak. They perform a whole variety of roles upon the site: Running the forum, getting rid of spammers and bots, upgrading ‘New Members’ to ‘Full Members’ as well as the general things such as keeping the peace. They are the individuals with Purple names.
Global Moderators; These guys are responsible for providing overall moderation for every section of the site and for making sure the site runs smoothly. They are the individuals with Blue names.
Moderators; These guys are dedicated to looking after specific sections. They can help you with things such as renaming threads, having threads moved or recycled and providing help where problems are being caused. If you require assistance in a certain area of the site, you need to identify which Moderators look after that section and contact them. They are always happy to help in any way they can. They are the individuals with Green names.
Other;
Site Advisor; Site Advisors are not members of Staff. Instead, they are experienced members hand-picked to help and guide members around the site. If you ever have questions or are confused over some of the rules, these guys will be able to answer your queries and point you in the right direction. They are the individuals with Red names.
New Members; As covered before, new members have restricted access to certain features of the site. They are the individuals with Yellow names.
Related Links;
RPA hosts a variety of ways to help new members who are not as experienced in roleplaying. If you are unsure, check through the Roleplaying Guides to find help on both participating in and creating a roleplay. If these guides cannot answer your questions or you’re looking for general advice on how to improve your skills, we have a Mentor Section that you can turn to where other members can help you to learn and sophisticate your roleplaying style.
Avatars and Signatures are a great way to show us a little more about you, whether you prefer a striking image or a meaningful quote. There are rules on the matter, however, that need to be followed. For example, the size of signatures can only be 500px by 220px maximum. The size of avatars can only by 130px by 130px maximum.
The maximum size of a signature includes the space taken up by all pictures and text. To hold more information in your signature, it is recommended that you make use of the ‘Spoiler’ function.
If you are not skilled in the department of art, we have plenty of members willing to help you out. In the Creative Section, there is a selection of Request Shops in which you can ask for custom-made signatures, tailored to your liking. This is done purely on the generosity on the members and that should always be remembered when handling your request – Politeness is key!
The last thing we want is for you to feel lost around RPA. The information below provides an outline of all the sections of RPA - If you're looking for what genre of roleplay fits where, wondering what these 'Non-Traditional Roleplays' involve or you just want to know more about the different parts of the site, this part of the Guide is here to help you.
Covered in this Section; - Roleplaying Forums
-- Different Sections
-- General
-- Fantasy
-- Science-Fiction
-- Parody
-- Mature
-- Chat
-- Private
- Non-Traditional Roleplays
-- Clans and Guilds
-- Battle Arena Forum
-- Persistent Worlds and World Building Forum
- Member Central / Community Chat
-- Awards and Special Events
-- General Discussion Forum
-- Entertainment Forum
-- Downtown
-- Creative Corner
Spoiler: The Grand Tour of RPA
Spoiler: Roleplaying Forums
Roleplaying Forums;
All these Sections are composed of at least four Sub-Sections.
Out of Character (OOC); This is where all out-of-character talk is posted and where you sign up for roleplays. If you want to create your own roleplay, this is where you need to post the general idea and sign-up sheet for your game. In this section, you post as yourself, not your character i.e. ‘Out of Character’ chatter.
In Character (IC); This is where the roleplay story is actually written. You must ask to join a roleplay in the OOC area and be accepted before you can post in the IC area. You must have an OOC thread for your roleplay before you can create the IC thread for it. In this section, you post as your character, not as yourself i.e. ‘In Character’ writing.
Hall of Fame; This is where completed roleplays are placed. Both the OOC and IC are moved to this section upon finishing and the threads are locked.
Recycle Box; If both the OOC and the IC threads of a roleplay go inactive for extended periods of time, they are moved here and locked by a Moderator. If the GM wishes to reinstate the game, they simply need to contact a Moderator to get it revived.
The Private Roleplay Forum contains one extra Sub-Section.
1x1 Request/Recruitment; This is where you can post a thread looking for a partner for a one-on-one roleplay. It’s often best if you post what kind of roleplay you’re looking to play and any requirements you wish your partner to meet (for example, willing to play a female or able to write three paragraphs minimum for each post).
General;
This area is for roleplays that don’t fit into the other sections. Content must be at a PG-13 rating or below.
Fantasy;
This area is for roleplays taking place in their own unique land and world - They may include mystical creatures, magic and anything else that usually falls under the definition of Traditional Fantasy. Content must be at a PG-13 rating or below.
Fantasy Out Of Character Section.
Science-Fiction;
This area focuses on roleplays usually based in the future and deals with the consequential advancement of technology. This may include things such as space travel and the subsequent meeting of extra-terrestrial life or weapons such as plasma / laser guns. Content must be at a PG-13 rating or below.
Parody;
This area is for roleplays based off existing work. If the game’s universe, setting or characters are noticeably based off an existing movie, book or comic, it should be placed in this section. Content must be at a PG-13 rating or below.
Mature;
This area is for any roleplays that contain content above a PG-13 rating. It is vital that you read the rules for the Mature Roleplay Section before you join or create a roleplay here.
Chat;
This area is for faster-paced roleplays that have less of an emphasis on posting length. It is a lot more relaxed than the other sections and focuses more on having fun than producing quality writing. Content must be at a PG-13 rating of below.
Private;
This area is for roleplays involving only two players. If the roleplay contains more than two people, it must be placed in another section. It has its own separate rules on top of the normal ones. Content may be over a PG-13 rating but the roleplay must have a rating in compliance with the rules if this is the case.
This Section deals with all roleplays that do not follow the conventional game format.
Clans and Guilds Forum;
Clans and Guilds (Also referred to as C/G or C&G) takes place on a version of Earth in which you create and join organisations built into this world. Clans can have their own private missions or they interact with others. If one Clan affects something on Earth, it is affected in the same way for the others – The world is shared between all. There is a FAQ to better explain this concept and it’s also important that you read the rules concerning C&G.
Battle Arena Forum;
The Battle Arena allows for players to fight with their characters. There is no plot or story; the entire game is revolved around a single battle and its outcome. To join in, you must first create a thread to hold all your character sheets. You are then free to request battles from other players or issue an open challenge to all other fighters.
Battle Arena Request / Recruitment Battle Arena OOC. Rules; Battle Arena. Guide; Battle Arena. Guide; Character Creation.
Persistent Worlds and World Building Forum; Persistent Worlds; A Persistent World is a multi-forum, multi-thread roleplay in which members play as characters in one specific world/universe setting. You are allowed to create universes pulled from books or movies or you can design your own. Your world is not able to interact with the worlds of others – In this way, it differs from C&G. World Building; World Building is a collaborative effort in which a group of members create an original universe and conduct roleplays within the world they have created. Although the GM keeps the peace, the entire group makes decisions about the universe. Your world is not able to interact with the worlds of others – In this way, it differs from C&G.
The Community Chat Section is separate from the Roleplaying Sections. It is a place to relax and have a laugh after you’ve completed your posting for the day.
Awards and Special Events;
This is the area in which all competitions are posted. It is also where the annual RPA Awards are hosted.
General Discussion Forum;
This area is used for discussions about topics other than roleplaying. Threads may include articles on recent news and debates on more controversial subjects. It is important that you remember to remain polite and open-minded in this section. Everything you post should be respectful even if you happen to disagree with another person on a certain subject.
General Discussion Forum.
Entertainment Forum;
This is the area to discuss the best and worst in the world of entertainment media. There are sections for everything from movies and gaming to anime and sport.
Entertainment Forum.
Downtown;
This area is purely for you to have fun in! Games and randomness are found galore in this section. There is also an Ask a Member part in which you can ask other members questions about themselves.
Creative Corner;
This area is for, as the title suggest, everything creative! We always encourage new members to share their work with us and we do our best to provide feedback. There are places to post your art, photos, writing and even to share your singing talent with us should you choose. For artists, there is a special thread titled ‘The Practice Thread’ that is available for you to gain specific critique and advice on your work should you wish it. This is also the area where the Request Shops can be found. Be sure to check out the rules before posting!
Covered by this Section; - Finding a Roleplay
- Joining a Roleplay
-- Expressing Interest
-- A Guide to Designing Characters
Spoiler: Joining a Roleplay
Finding a Roleplay;
If you’re unsure where to start looking for roleplays, we have plenty of systems in place to advertise those games that are searching for members to join.
Roleplaying Games Directory; The Roleplaying Games Directory provides a short summation of some of our recent games. Those that have been posted recently are most likely looking for players to join. Roleplay of the Week; The Roleplay of the Week can be seen on the front page of the site and also in the ‘Site News and Announcements’ Section. Roleplays only apply for Roleplay of the Week if they are searching for new members to join so it is recommended that you check it out. Staff Signatures; If you take a peek at the majority of Staff signatures, you’ll find a spoiler with a list of roleplays. These are roleplays actively recruiting and there are a whole variety of games present on the list. RPA’s Twitter; RPA’s Twitter often tweets about up-and-coming roleplays that are looking for members, amongst other important threads.
Of course, if there’s a specific genre you enjoy, you are free to browse that Section and see if there’s anything there that takes your fancy.
Never post in the IC of a roleplay before you have submitted a character and have expressed permission from the GM to do so!
Even before you think about creating a character, you need to consider a few things first.
- How long has the roleplay been going on for? If the roleplay already has an IC and the players are pretty far along in the story, they might not be looking for new characters. The best thing to do is ask in the OOC or contact the GM and check before you bother to fill in a character sheet.
- Have you checked the rules? Some roleplays may have a post length minimum or may warn you that your characters can be killed off at a later date. Before you thinking about signing up, make sure you’re confident about being able to uphold to these rules in all your posts.
- If the roleplay is posted in the Mature Section, make sure you are comfortable with the content it may include. It’s unfair on the GM if you back out midway through the roleplay because you can’t stomach the gore.
After you’ve checked these few things, you can start thinking about joining. Next;
- You can start designing your character - Most roleplays with provide a sheet to be completed. Read any instructions relating to it and fill out all the information that the GM asks you to. Try not to fill out any of the sections, such as age or gender, with ‘Unknown’ unless you’ve asked the GM first.
- Browse through the other characters! Try to make yours as unique and different as possible from those already around. If there’s already three swordsmen, try to create an archer instead. If half the characters are mean and sarcastic, make a slightly more light-hearted character.
- Once you’ve filled in the character sheet, you need to find out how to submit it. Some GMs will ask that it is posted in the OOC, some will want it to be PMed to them.
The following spoiler contains a guide aimed towards those not experienced in roleplaying. The advice provided is based on personal roleplaying experience. If you are strongly against the information then you are in no way inclined to follow it.
Spoiler: A Guide to Designing Characters
- Before anything else is said, a few words need to be said on the topic of Mary-Sues and Gary-Sues. A Mary-Sue is considered to be a cliché character lacking any note-worthy flaws. They are the kinds of characters that ruin the fun in roleplaying and should be avoided at all costs. Sure, they can be great to play if you’re their creator but they stop anyone else enjoying the game!
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Name;
- Names should be related to the setting of the roleplay.
-- If your character is born and raised in America, it is highly unlikely that he will be given a Japanese name. For the same reason, a modern-day American parent is highly unlikely to call their child Anubis, Zeus or Thanatos.
-- If you’re joining a modern roleplay and are stuck, I recommend searching Google for ‘Baby Names’ – There are plenty of sites out there with lists of normal names, categorised by nationality and gender, ready to inspire you. For Fantasy Names, a Fantasy Name Generator can be found in ‘Related Links’ below if ever you get stuck.
Age;
- The age needs to fit in with both the setting of the roleplay and the design of the character. If you plan for him to be a master swordsman or a university lecturer, you should be aiming for the later side of his prime rather than the earlier. If the roleplay is about high-school students, their age should be younger instead.
- Sometimes the GM will set age limits for characters so always double-check the rules.
- Try not to be ridiculous when creating a non-human character – 4000 years old but looks 17? Unless there is a good reason to make them so old, it is often best to avoid it.
Appearance;
- Always check whether the GM is looking for a description, a picture or a photograph.
- You need to make sure the character fits in the setting – A cartoon cat-girl in 18th Century Britain is a rather far-fetched concept; the same as a child with two biological Asian parents is not going to have naturally blonde hair.
- For realistic roleplays, anime pictures usually provide less detail on a character’s appearance than a photograph could. On the other hand, for fantasy and sci-fi roleplays, drawn images are often necessary to convey strange or non-human characters.
- Appearance is a great way of creating a memorable character – Characters of a different nationality or build to the rest of the group, for example, will make them easier to remember and identify from the other party members.
Personality;
- This is the core to any and all characters because it is what will come out the most during your IC writing. Every post will draw upon this information and, as such, it is vital that you find this character interesting and easy to write. I’ve never been one who says you have to stick religiously to what you write on your character sheet but your character in the IC should be at least based upon what you’ve written here and must remain consistent!
- Try to make your character pop from the others. Try to make him unique in his own right. Words like ‘orphan’ or ‘homosexual’ are not personality traits so do not treat them as such; they may affect the life of a person but do not define what they are like.
Spoiler: Constructing a Personality
(For New Roleplayers)
The best way to start is to identify one major ‘good’ character trait and one major ‘bad’ character trait. They, of course, shouldn’t contradict each other.
- For example; Rebecca is an enthusiastic yet rude girl.
Always try to think of reasons why they are like this even if you don’t mention them yet. Expand on these traits; think of how certain aspects of her personality might affect her hobbies, her appearance and her other characteristics.
- For example; Rebecca is an enthusiastic girl, always trying out new hobbies and sports. However, she is also pampered - Her parents never disciplined her well, causing her to develop a rather rude demeanour.
Simple so far, yes? By this point, you should be shaping the overall character in your mind, thinking of even more traits that might spiral from those he / she already has. Remember, no human is all good but neither are they all bad.
- For example; Rebecca is an enthusiastic girl, always trying out new hobbies and sports. Her motivation dies quickly however and she is always switching between then causing her to have no real talents. She is often described as a Jack of all Trades but Master of None. Even in school, she will have bursts of inspiration that often fade to apathy after a few days, giving her average grades at best. She is pampered thoroughly anyway – Her parents never disciplined her well, causing her to develop a rather rude demeanour that she is more than aware of. Although she always wants to have her way, she tries to compensate by being overly generous in an attempt to keep the few friends she has. She is surprisingly modest and confident even in large groups.
There; a basic character. She’s not an incredible one but she’s good enough. She has flaws but she also has strengths.
You should always try to go for something you haven’t seen before or one that defies stereotypes. If you are looking to develop as a writer and a roleplayer, then it is good to challenge yourself. Avoiding clichés, such as those below, is usually a good idea unless you plan to put an original twist on them;
- The Classic Hero (Brave, Strong, Great Leadership Skills. Warrior type. Often used to be a farm boy.)
- The Classic Female (Beautiful and submissive to the Classic Hero.)
- The Loner (Rugged, Silent, Bad Past, etc.)
- The Orphan.
Those are the most common personalities seen and they are barely ever played in a way that captivates and interests the reader. Try to give them a fault that is both genuine in nature and interesting to write – Melodramatic, compulsive liar, hypochondriac, narcissistic, etc.
In addition, if you plan to give them a Mental Disorder, research first and stick to it. They are one of the things most commonly done incorrectly.
Weapons;
- First things first, they need to be able to carry this all round. Giving a petite woman a sniper rifle, three handguns, two assault rifles and a shotgun means she’s not going to be going very far any time soon.
- Always take the time to do some research on whatever you choose – You don’t have to be an expert but its always good to know a little bit about what you’re holding.
- Age doesn’t necessarily mean experience but teenagers aren’t going to be ‘master’ swordsmen. Only an idiot thinks he can take on twelve swordsmen with a blade and come out alive, with all their limbs.
- Dual-wielding a weapon can be as much a disadvantage as an advantage, if not more so.
History;
- Whilst a background of tragedy can be acceptable if done well, there is a line in which it becomes too much. Our mentality can only take so much before it becomes affected in permanent ways. Severe traumas often alter the chemistry and physiology of the brain itself.
- If you must insist on having your man watch his entire village burned to death (and I still advise against it unless it’s necessary), don’t make it to be just some casual story they mention to their love before they enter the final battle. Panic attacks, flashback triggers, alcoholism, drug-abuse, insomnia, repressed memory, emotional detachment and depression are all possible, and common, side effects of those who have suffered unfortunate lives.
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The information above would provide you with a simple roleplaying character, intended for those who have not yet gained a deal of experience in the roleplaying world. When players go on to creating advanced characters, there is a bundle more that you need to consider. A few parts include;
Spoiler:
Goals & Motives;
Every human being wants to achieve something. These goals are not necessarily challenging or moral but they are there. The reason? No human is ever perfectly content with his or her life; we tend to strive towards getting the best of things (although some are more proactive in doing so than others) and to want what is currently not within our grasp. This in itself inspires the need for something to change. Bringing about this change becomes a character’s goal. The character's goal represents the urge for improvement over their current circumstances or a return to when things were better than they are now.
Most character goals are fuelled by an underlying emotional reason and this is their motive. It might be the urge to escape, the wish to prove themselves better, for love, for hate or for reasons far simpler. This isn’t necessarily about what you think is better or worth fighting for; it’s about what the character wants and is willing to sacrifice it. The characters do not always know the motive themselves but it should be known by you. This section, the character background and their personality work hand-in-hand. They cause the details of each other and are, in turn, affected by each other. The relationship between them is as extensive as you wish to make it but the more effort you put into working the sections off each other, the more natural the character will feel. You’ll have a deeper understanding of why they acts the way they do, what inspires them and why they’ve made the life choices they have so far.
It is foolish to assume everyone has only one goal they wish to achieve. Create a short list, ordered by priority, of dreams they have. Make note of how important these goals are to the character, how far they would go to achieve them and the motives that inspire them. This list is by no means static and should be altered as necessary throughout the course of the roleplay and as their personality develops, even adding new goals if it is needed.
Moods;
Your character is not a box of the same emotions; their personalities are fluid to their setting and their general predicament. A character may be defined as ‘care-free’ but this does not mean that they do not care about anything. They are merely less held down by concerns than the average person is.
In the same way that you might describe your character as ‘a loner’ or ‘happy’, they will not always be this way. Trying to play them as such creates an insincere persona. After all, most roleplays are set in the midst of drama, romance and adventure. They stretch characters to their limits and the words you write in the ‘Personality’ section become rather redundant for describing these scenes unless you tailor them specifically towards each individual scenario.
As such, you need to be aware of their basic personality but you need to have some idea of how different settings and moods can affect these basic traits. Do they act the same way under pressure? When surrounded by a group of strangers? When they’re heart-broken or in love? A character is not one-dimensional and you should have a strong enough idea of them in your head that you can adapt their basic characteristics towards how it would be in any situation.
Most importantly, know the exceptions. We do not act the same way around our teachers, our friends, our bosses and our partners. Some traits become more prominent around certain people, others we work to erase completely. Even a shy boy can have some friends that he is confident around. A happy-go-lucky girl may allow herself to be honest and vulnerable about her grief and insecurities when she’s around her boyfriend. You need to know what triggers can turn your character’s personality on its head on the basis that you keep this constant through the entire roleplay.
Dialogue;
It is pretty common sense to understand that we all speak differently pertaining to our backgrounds and personalities. Incorporating this into a character brings forth more depth and consistency. Dialects and accents obviously come under this section (and I would suggest researching a particular dialect if you intent to use it) but dialogue is more than just that.
Characters with no educational background are unlikely to have a more advanced vocabulary than those who have a University degree. You may be aware of long or uncommon words and use them in the description parts of your posts. This is perfectly fine. However, if your character isn’t particularly bright, you shouldn’t be extending this vocabulary to when he or she thinks or speaks. In the same way, a shy character might stutter and forget words that they previously knew when under pressure. When a proud character finds himself trying to impress, he may use longer words in an attempt to convey intelligence (although whether he is clever enough to use these words correctly would be at the writer’s discretion). The dialogue of a person is one of the best tools available for conveying their personalities.
Beyond the actual vocabulary they are using, the manner in which they convey them explains a lot about their characteristics as well. It is easy to cue a reader into how they should picture a character talking but words such as ‘shouted’, ‘mumbled’ and ‘blubbered’ can only do so much.
“Oi, you!”
“Ex-... Excuse me…”
“Pardon my interruption.”
There are plenty of ways to get a person’s attention but you need to choose the right phrases to fit your character. Without the use for written cues, we can tell it is suggested that the first person is speaking more loudly than the others and that he is more extrovert and rude in comparison. The second stutters which conveys a shyness whilst the third uses overly formal yet polite language. If the only way you can show a character’s personality and way of speaking is through words such as ‘cried’ and ‘growled’, along with the associated adverbs, then it may be that you need to think through the dialogue of your character more thoroughly.
Covered by this Section; - Getting Started
- Your OOC
-- Mature Roleplays
- Gathering Interest
- GMing Basics
Spoiler: Creating a Roleplay
Getting Started;
First of all, anyone can be a Game Master (GM).
It is the GM’s duty to create the roleplay, maintain and direct it. You will need to make sure rules are being followed, peace is being kept and the game is moving forward.
If you are planning to create and maintain a game, you need to have an idea for a roleplay. This includes thinking about the setting, the plot and the characters you plan to have in your game. The level at which you do this is a personal choice; some GMs work better when they have little information officially set in stone whereas some prefer to create extremely detailed worlds to work within.
One you’ve planned out the cores of your game, the best step forward is to post a thread in the ‘RPG Requests and Recruitment’ Section. People post ‘Interest Checks’ here to see if anyone would be up for joining the game they plan to create. You need to provide details on the setting and the basics of the plot; sell your idea to the members of RPA. People may wish to ask questions so it’s important you keep on top of any replies you receive to your thread.
The first thing to think about is where your OOC is going to go. Using the flowchart below, moving from top to bottom, you can identify which section you should be posting your roleplay in.
Your OOC should include;
- A description of the setting and plot
This part is pretty simple. Where is the roleplay taking place and where in this place are the characters starting at? What kind of plot can they expect – Are they escaping something? Searching for something? Simply living through everyday life? Withholding information can lead to surprises and plot twists later on but the players need some details to start with; otherwise, it would be impossible for them to know if they want to join!
- Any relevant background information a player needs to know
In a Fantasy or Sci-fi roleplay, this often includes information about different cultures/races. It can also include what kind of characters you are looking for, information about any NPCs (Non-Player Characters), etc.
- The rules of the game
Even though it’s your game, the rules of RPA still apply. You can enforce additional rules however. For example, a time limit in which people have to reply each round, a minimum length you want players to write for each post and unique rules that might be needed for your particular game.
- A blank character sheet for players to fill in
Character sheets are used by players to apply to the roleplay in question and to provide you, the GM, with details about the character they want to play. It is the GM’s choice as to how much information they ask for and it varies drastically across roleplays. Commonly asked information, however, includes; name, age, gender, appearance, race, weapons, personality or background.
- In the case of Mature Roleplays (see below for more details), you need an explanation of the game’s rating.
Mature Roleplays;
Before you create a Mature Roleplay, you must have a good grasp on the relevant rules.
1. You must have a rating for your roleplay, for example, [R] or [M] that is relevant to the potential extent of mature content in your game. Because it is impossible to predict the exact amount of gore or swearing in your roleplay, you should put this at the highest level you wish the content to be. This rating is not a goal to achieve but a restriction from things getting more violent or steamy than you wish.
- This rating must be placed within the title of the roleplay, OOC and IC.
- This rating must be placed somewhere within the first OOC post along with an explanation of what types of mature content you will allow. For Example; Title; Murder in the Attic [M] Somewhere in the first OOC post; This game is rated [M] for potential gore and violence.
2. It is your responsibility as much as the player to ensure content is kept to this rating and that the rules of RPA are being abided.
3. There is some content that is not allowed even in Mature Roleplays;
- Language that directly insults a race, religion, sexuality, etc. is not permitted.
- 'Mature Roleplay' does not translate to 'Erotic Fiction'. Roleplays and their plots are not to be made to revolve around sex and the act should only be used as an off-hand plot device or for character development.
- If there is the possibility of characters having sexual encounters, consensual or otherwise, they must be over the age of 18. If your character does not reach this age minimum, they cannot have any form of sexual action, written or implied, within the roleplay's timeline.
- In the event of a non-consensual sexual encounter, the events leading up to and subsequent to the trauma can be written about. The actual act can only be implied, however, and should not be described at all within the roleplay.
- If your character is overage and the sex is consensual, description of the act is allowed as long as it is done so tastefully. In the same way that movies display sex scenes without showing any intimate body parts, sex scenes in roleplays should be written without the use of vulgar or explicit description.
Remember that our members do have lives and do need to sleep; not everyone will see your roleplay the instant you put it up. Patience and proactively recruiting are an essential part of being a GM. RPA provides outlets in which you can find players;
Roleplaying Games Directory; All you need to do is fill out a form and post it in the designated thread. Being one of the last to post in the Directory shows that your game is new and looking for players.
Roleplay of the Week; The Roleplay of the Week can be seen on the front page of the site and also in the ‘Site News and Announcements’ Section. To apply, you need to send a Private Message to Shepherd or another Moderator with an advertisement summarising your game in two or three brief paragraphs as well as a link to your OOC. You will also need a banner (385px x 170px) that represents your roleplay. There is a Roleplay of the Week Banner Shop available to help you if you don’t have the skills needed to create your own.
Staff Signatures; All you need to do is post the name of your roleplay along with a link to the OOC in the ‘Staff Signatures’ thread given below in ‘Related Links’. By doing this, Staff Members will add your roleplay to the list in their signatures of those games that are recruiting.
Your Signature; This is a wonderful way to advertise your latest roleplay, whether it be through a clickable banner or a simple link.
VMs/PMs; If you are a full-fledged member, you have the option of messaging other peoples to ask if they would be interested in your particular roleplay, either through the Private Messaging System or by posting on their profile. Whilst this is often a good way to draw the attention of people to your thread, please be polite and respectful. If a person declines your offer, thank them for their time and do not try and pressure them to join.
- Enforce the rules. Remember that it’s your job to keep people in check. You need to try and keep the peace as much as you are able and resolve issues before they become full-blown conflicts. If players do start fighting OOC, it is your responsibility to contact a member of Staff about the matter. Try not to advertise your fights in public and always keep them civil – A GM that dramatises a situation or acts like a jerk is going to repel players, not gain them. If players are consistently argumentative or refuse to follow the rules of your game, you reserve the right to ask them to leave.
- Be helpful. A GM does not have the right to reject a player from his or her roleplay without a justifiable reason. You do have the right to ask people to change details on their characters however. If you don’t believe a particular character will fit in your game or if you feel it is to similar to others already present, offer advice on ways they could improve it. Try to stay positive and explain what needs to be altered as clearly as you can. Do not be rude or conceited – The community of RPA is all about helping one another to become better and elitist behaviour is not tolerated.
- Be committed. If you don’t have the time to run a roleplay then wait until you do. In addition, don’t go around creating dozens at a time if you don’t have the resources to dedicate your maximum effort to each and every one of them. Why? First, it ruins your reputation as a good GM if you’re prone to forgetting about your games halfway through or at the first sign of trouble. People like a GM who will try their absolute hardest to keep the game in motion. Secondly, you need to respect the fact that it takes time and effort for players to create characters for your roleplay – To ask this of them when you’re not 100% committed is unfair on all of them.
- Communicate. Worried that a person is straying too far away from the group? Haven’t seen a post from a player in over a week? Don’t just leave their character to die! We have Visitor and Private messaging systems for a reason and it’s so you can talk to the member on the site; in this case, the players of your roleplay. Be polite and understanding. If a player won’t be able to post for while for legitimate reasons, offer to puppet their character along in the background so they’ll be able to jump back in when things clear up. Think of ways for players struggling for inspiration to get move involved. Offer to co-op with a character if they’re finding themselves without much to do. There’s a dozen ways to help players but you’ll never know how unless you take action and ask them what’s up. Try to keep players up-to-date in the OOC as well and keep them informed with what you expect of them.
- Listen to the ideas of your players. This isn’t to say that you have to accept everyone’s ideas but consider them and talk them over with the player. Don’t just outright reject people’s suggestions – You may be the GM but that doesn’t mean another player can’t have an incredible idea. Be appreciative that they are taking such an interest in your game and encourage advice.
- Always try to move the plot forward. Each round of posting should contribute either towards the plot or in furthering character development. If people are just posting for the sake of posting and not actually doing anything with their characters, you need to be the one to move things on. There needs to be things for characters to react to each time; be it a person, event or conversation. Otherwise, you’ll find a lull in posting; people won’t know what they’re supposed to be writing about or they’ll find the posts boring to write.
- Allow for players to be creative. Although you need to have a vague idea for a plot, try to keep the less important points flexible. You should always be able to adapt if a character does something unexpected - If you don’t want a particular thing to happen, you should have warned players in the OOC or made it obvious in the IC; they’re not psychic after all. By giving players some leeway over what happens, it allows for them to develop characters as they wish and to express their creativity freely. Overall, this makes for happier players, which makes for more successful roleplays!
- Try to keep all the players included. All characters should have equal purpose within the roleplay, even your own. They should all be able to contribute something towards the plot at some point during the roleplay and none should be significantly more important than the rest. Why? Because no one enjoys writing endless posts about how a certain character saves the day yet again. Make sure that players aren’t left with nothing to react to, especially repeatedly, as this is what can contribute towards a lull in their activity. If a character needs to wander off by themselves, keep open communications with their player to make sure they know what they’re doing and they feel valued with the roleplay.
- Don’t split up the group without a way of getting them back together. Sometimes it is necessary to split up your large group of adventurers to go down different paths to a dungeon, for example, but you need to prepare for the unexpected. Sending off a pair of characters can be especially dangerous because if one player goes inactive for unknown reason, the other player is left isolated from the rest of the group. You need to always have a back up, for how to lead each separate group and reunite them, just in case all your plans are sent up in smoke.
When you create a new post, you will find a toolbar at the top of the box you are writing in and, on it, a variety of buttons. These buttons are shortcuts for the various BBCodes our site supports. The guide below shows the various codes for formatting your posts on RPA.
Covered by this Section; - Bold
- Italicised
- Underlined
- Strikethrough
- ‘Sparkle’
- Text Size
The normal text size is a size 2. Whilst ‘Big’ and ‘Small’ codes can be used to create generically large and small texts, the ‘Size’ code gives you control over the extent of the increase or decrease in size.
Code:
[big]Insert Text[/big]
[small]Insert Text[/small]
[size=Insert Number here]Insert Text[/size]
Example:
[big]This text is big[/big]
[small]This text is small[/small]
[size=3]This text is a size three[/size]
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