Dealing With Bad Roleplayers?

[TwinDeath]

I realize that this post will be controversial. I only hope that it incites civil discussion and debate and would ask that any who reply keep it clean and polite.

So there’s an RP you want to join. It looks fun, you have a character already in mind, and you’re getting a little excited about it. Then you scroll down to look at the other characters already posted and your heart sinks.

hey guyz this looks fun can i join i want to play a haf elf dwagin <3!

“Sure,” says the GM. “Sounds great!” The character sheet posted contains emoticons, three anime pictures, and not a single capital letter. It is accepted.

While I realize that this is a worst case scenario and that the vast majority of players on the site are far better, I have no interest in playing with this person. I know that given time, guidance, and perhaps a good hour of being beaten with a grammar manual they might become a good roleplayer. I just don’t want to deal with them until then.

So the question I posit is this: What do I do? What do you do when you want to participate in an RP and someone shows up with the worst MarySue you’ve ever seen and the GM accepts it? Is walking away really the only mature response?

[Chip the 3rd]

Wow, this is kind of improbable... Then again, I don't consider myself a good roleplayer anyway. I believe that if you have a problem, you should voice it.

I remember once joining a Minecraft roleplay somewhere, and one person's character had the "ability to tame creepers". It was accepted anyway. I don't like it when people let their characters do things that wouldn't be possible in the context of the RP. It shows nothing, except the fact that someone didn't do enough research. It reminds me of school playground games.

"Dude, that knocks ya down."
"Nuh-uh! I'm a bulletproof zombie unicorn that can fly and shoot lasers!"

And it all goes downhill from there.

[Auki]

"I believe that if you have a problem, you should voice it."

I politely disagree with this statement. If it were your roleplay, then sure, I find it acceptable that you might ask them to alter their character. But entering into another roleplay and arguing with the GM's decision is impolite. Offering courteous advice I can understand, but not everyone wishes to roleplay at an 'advanced level' or keep 'strictly to the lore'. It's the GM's choice.

If you don't feel you can roleplay in the group without being unfair or mean towards this other player, I would suggest walking away. Alternatively, you could contact the GM and ask if there is a possiblity to minimilize your interaction with that particular character. For me, I'm fine with reading poorly-written posts and Mary Sue character as long as I am not expected to always be responding to them directly and they don't heavily influence the plot line. Speaking openly with the GM could clear up what they are expecting of players, and whether this Mary Sue might ruin the entire game for you or just add a few unpleasant posts to the mix.

[Chip the 3rd]

Indeed.

[Enfilon]

I get where you're coming from, but some people are in weird situations. Like me or Extraordinaire. Ex does all her posting Via I phone, I don't know if you know, but that things auto correct is very messed up. I also have to post from my I phone and its challenging. My job is extremely demanding and I'm on call almost the whole day. So sometimes I'll be typing a post, and get a call and have to drive 30 miles to some town, now I'm either typing a post on my I phone at red lights, or with one hand on my laptop in my car. So my grammar and spelling it atrocious, and I hate it if I make a post like that but it happens. Another thing that is terrible is when you are playing with great role players who pump out these great masterpieces of a post. 12 paragraphs long that are just incredible to read; and you want to contribute to that. Typing 12 paragraph post on an I phone is far from easy let me tell you.

Sorry for my rant.

[Mysteria]

I get where you're coming from, but some people are in weird situations. Like me or Extraordinaire. Ex does all her posting Via I phone, I don't know if you know, but that things auto correct is very messed up. I also have to post from my I phone and its challenging. My job is extremely demanding and I'm on call almost the whole day. So sometimes I'll be typing a post, and get a call and have to drive 30 miles to some town, now I'm either typing a post on my I phone at red lights, or with one hand on my laptop in my car. So my grammar and spelling it atrocious, and I hate it if I make a post like that but it happens. Another thing that is terrible is when you are playing with great role players who pump out these great masterpieces of a post. 12 paragraphs long that are just incredible to read; and you want to contribute to that. Typing 12 paragraph post on an I phone is far from easy let me tell you.

Sorry for my rant.

And there will always be circumstances that can prevent one from making super long stellar posts but thats okay, not all posts need to be long. Length has never been a determining factor for me, quality is much more important.

When dealing with newer rp'ers I think you have to keep in mind that we all, at one time or another were new and it's just as easy to step up and try to help a newbie as it is to go through the entire oh what am I going to do if I have to rp with a newbie. I can remember how grateful I was when I first started rp'ing when others offered to help nicely and be constructive about it and I try to remember that now if I feel any amount of frustration in a rp'er.

I am grateful for diversity in the groups of rp'ers that I work with, it keeps things fresh and moving whether the rp'er is a rp veteran or an rp newb.

Also, Auki makes some very good points. Not all gm's are looking for technical or historical accuracy and there is nothing worse than joining a game that is meant to be light hearted and fun and having someone go all ballistic because a historical fact is wrong, a word is spelled wrong, grammar or etc.

When it comes down to it, talk to the gm and if you don't feel you can fit into the rp, then you probably shouldn't join in on it. I have had to go to gm's already and ask that my char has limited interaction with a certain other char, for various reasons. And its okay to have reasons for not wishing your char to have interactions with certain others but if you are going to do that then you should be able to present your case as to why. Just saying I don't like the char isnt really a good reason. If you give a gm a good reason, usually they can and will work with you to find a way to fit you into their plans but the key is to remember, its the gm's game and they have the final say as to what is and is not acceptable.

[Enfilon]

Going of what Mysteria said

When dealing with newer rp'ers I think you have to keep in mind that we all, at one time or another were new and it's just as easy to step up and try to help a newbie as it is to go through the entire oh what am I going to do if I have to rp with a newbie

The join date on my profile marks the very first time I had even thought about Rping. This first and only site that I used for RPing, and all the RPs I have been in on here, are the only ones to my name. Being older I have a little writing experience under my belt, but English has and always will be my worst subject. Starting out, it was all the support that I got from all the wonderful people that made the writer I am today. So, if I were in your shoes, I would support them, maybe even some constructive criticism to help them out. Show them the ropes and help them be a good RPer.

[Stiltzkin]

Yhe best way to deal with a bad role-player is to fuck with their character in the IC

[Heir of Void]

Avoid their character for as long as you possibly can, and hope they don't decide to go on a 'posting-hunt' for yours.

Maybe in the time you've given them they've improved to the point of being able to digest their posts, without hatred forming a bitter scowl on your face that is.

[G]

Yhe best way to deal with a bad role-player is to fuck with their character in the IC

I don't know about that... All stories are made more interesting when there's different relationships between the characters, and everyone isn't necessarily friends, but if you're going out of your way to mess with someone's character in-game, you're could risk the integrity of the plot and the enjoyment of everyone involved! The last thing you want to do is become as frustrating to others as someone else might be to you.

I'm gonna agree with what most others have said here - it's the GMs decision how stringent they want to be about grammar, spelling, description or anything else. Yes, you could ask for minimal interaction, but you still need to be prepared to cooperate and interact with that character if the plot demands it. If you feel like it's irritating you too much to do that, you probably shouldn't join in with that game.