The Training Nook is for those who maybe are uncertain as to their roleplaying abilities. They probably don't know if they are quite advanced enough, or want to give advanced rping a try before jumping into a full rp. You may also be completely new to roleplaying but think you may be ready for advanced roleplaying and want to test it out. Who knows. I just want to let anyone know who is in a moment of doubt that the act of joining this group means you are probably ready to jump into an advanced roleplay. However, this folder is still here if you are uncertain.
I'm going to explain what roleplaying is, what I consider to make an advanced roleplay, and what I consider to be an easy way to meet those requirements. If any other advanced roleplayers wish to add anything, please do so. Also, if people have any questions please ask. After reading this, head on over to the character section to create a character and jump into a roleplay. Advanced roleplayers are more than welcome to jump in there as well.
Roleplaying on GR is the act of taking a persona(your character) as your own(or multiple personas, if you wish to) and typing up their thoughts, actions, desires, their entire being. You do so in a setting where others can interact with your character. It's very much like writing a book with other people acting out the other characters. It's often unpredictable, enjoyable, and addicting.
Advanced roleplaying is what I wrote above about roleplaying, only more in detail. With plain old roleplaying many people drop their posts to only being the occasional thought, their speech, and some action. You don't get to deeply understand the person, and the roleplay is uninspired and a continuous loop of the same or similar plot over and over and over. Advanced roleplaying isn't like that. Advanced roleplaying is full of brilliant writers drafting up the lives of their character, the roleplay is full of plot and inspiration, twists and turns, and the text of the posts flow together as well as that of a well-written book. Each post is long and detailed and adds to the quality of the roleplay.
In order to become an advanced roleplayer, I find the easiest way to do that as a beginner is to stick closer to what you find natural. When you create a character, I suggest starting with what you think you can most easily work with. Whether it be a character like yourself, the opposite of yourself, similar to your favorite character in a book or movie, whatever the case may be, it's a good place to start. Another thing I find helpful is imagining the scene I'm trying to type up as a movie. When I do that, I ask myself questions like, what am I missing in this? I have action, I have thought, and I have speech. But what is missing? When I visualize it, I realize it needs the environment. One easy way to add length and quality to the overall post you are creating is to add in the environment. Make the reader feel like they are living in the shoes of your character. What is he/she hearing? What do they feel? What do they see? Asking yourself questions like that, and other questions, help when it comes to advanced roleplaying. When it comes to speech in an advanced roleplay, I often find it best to find a way to add to the plot. Add a twist. Add something. It doesn't need to be dramatic, but it's often good not to be completely a follower in the roleplay. I've come to notice that in roleplays there is often a follower and a leader. The leader is the one who drives the plot, with the follower just stumbling after them. It's not always a character thing either, it's usually with the people roleplaying the characters. In letting the other person lead the roleplay things often don't seem to click quite right in the roleplay. It seems lopsided and incomplete. It lacks a little extra something. For that reason you should try and find some way to contribute, even if it's only a little, to the plot. If you are uncertain about something, it doesn't hurt to ask the others! It usually ends up very well when you ask. Thoughts, emotions, and past are the final things needed in a good, advanced post. They usually go well together as well. Sure, good environment, the senses, dialogue, and plot contribution are all good.... But people want to know what makes others tick. Why did they react that way to that situation? What strange things happened in their past to make them have that emotion so much? Why is that girl always glaring at my character? How come he associates old with pumpkin pie and dolls? What happened to that character before things went crazy? If you hadn't noticed, many people seem to love heart-warming moments in movies, and emotion drives peoples reactions in things. It's not enough to only have action, good plot, dialogue, and a firm grasp of the surroundings. Without bringing them to life with a past, a future, emotions, and thoughts, it would be like reading a high-action book with puppets as characters. You don't feel a connection, and in that way a roleplay looses both value and interest. It's not too hard to throw in a brief past story, either through speech or a flashback. It's not hard to add a bit of thought. And it's easy to explain the feeling of an emotion swelling up inside of someone. When creating your character, you should ask yourself during the creating what the story of the character is. Some people find it easier to come up with the emotions of their character after roleplaying them, and that's fine. Always a good way to go, too. But coming up mentally with an image of the character, a description, their past, their future, and their goals and dreams makes it all the more easy to come up with their personality and bring them to life.
I just want to let anyone know who is in a moment of doubt that the act of joining this group means you are probably ready to jump into an advanced roleplay. However, this folder is still here if you are uncertain.
I'm going to explain what roleplaying is, what I consider to make an advanced roleplay, and what I consider to be an easy way to meet those requirements. If any other advanced roleplayers wish to add anything, please do so. Also, if people have any questions please ask.
After reading this, head on over to the character section to create a character and jump into a roleplay. Advanced roleplayers are more than welcome to jump in there as well.
Roleplaying on GR is the act of taking a persona(your character) as your own(or multiple personas, if you wish to) and typing up their thoughts, actions, desires, their entire being. You do so in a setting where others can interact with your character. It's very much like writing a book with other people acting out the other characters. It's often unpredictable, enjoyable, and addicting.
Advanced roleplaying is what I wrote above about roleplaying, only more in detail. With plain old roleplaying many people drop their posts to only being the occasional thought, their speech, and some action. You don't get to deeply understand the person, and the roleplay is uninspired and a continuous loop of the same or similar plot over and over and over. Advanced roleplaying isn't like that. Advanced roleplaying is full of brilliant writers drafting up the lives of their character, the roleplay is full of plot and inspiration, twists and turns, and the text of the posts flow together as well as that of a well-written book. Each post is long and detailed and adds to the quality of the roleplay.
In order to become an advanced roleplayer, I find the easiest way to do that as a beginner is to stick closer to what you find natural. When you create a character, I suggest starting with what you think you can most easily work with. Whether it be a character like yourself, the opposite of yourself, similar to your favorite character in a book or movie, whatever the case may be, it's a good place to start.
Another thing I find helpful is imagining the scene I'm trying to type up as a movie. When I do that, I ask myself questions like, what am I missing in this? I have action, I have thought, and I have speech. But what is missing? When I visualize it, I realize it needs the environment. One easy way to add length and quality to the overall post you are creating is to add in the environment. Make the reader feel like they are living in the shoes of your character. What is he/she hearing? What do they feel? What do they see? Asking yourself questions like that, and other questions, help when it comes to advanced roleplaying.
When it comes to speech in an advanced roleplay, I often find it best to find a way to add to the plot. Add a twist. Add something. It doesn't need to be dramatic, but it's often good not to be completely a follower in the roleplay. I've come to notice that in roleplays there is often a follower and a leader. The leader is the one who drives the plot, with the follower just stumbling after them. It's not always a character thing either, it's usually with the people roleplaying the characters. In letting the other person lead the roleplay things often don't seem to click quite right in the roleplay. It seems lopsided and incomplete. It lacks a little extra something. For that reason you should try and find some way to contribute, even if it's only a little, to the plot. If you are uncertain about something, it doesn't hurt to ask the others! It usually ends up very well when you ask.
Thoughts, emotions, and past are the final things needed in a good, advanced post. They usually go well together as well. Sure, good environment, the senses, dialogue, and plot contribution are all good.... But people want to know what makes others tick. Why did they react that way to that situation? What strange things happened in their past to make them have that emotion so much? Why is that girl always glaring at my character? How come he associates old with pumpkin pie and dolls? What happened to that character before things went crazy? If you hadn't noticed, many people seem to love heart-warming moments in movies, and emotion drives peoples reactions in things. It's not enough to only have action, good plot, dialogue, and a firm grasp of the surroundings. Without bringing them to life with a past, a future, emotions, and thoughts, it would be like reading a high-action book with puppets as characters. You don't feel a connection, and in that way a roleplay looses both value and interest. It's not too hard to throw in a brief past story, either through speech or a flashback. It's not hard to add a bit of thought. And it's easy to explain the feeling of an emotion swelling up inside of someone. When creating your character, you should ask yourself during the creating what the story of the character is. Some people find it easier to come up with the emotions of their character after roleplaying them, and that's fine. Always a good way to go, too. But coming up mentally with an image of the character, a description, their past, their future, and their goals and dreams makes it all the more easy to come up with their personality and bring them to life.
So, that's the basics, I think. Any questions?