RP Tips for beginners (feel free to add on)

[Kohakuchan19]

NO SPAM ON THIS THREAD PLEASE OR THERE WILL BE TROUBLE

Having trouble making a post on an RP, well here are some tips that might help you get started. :3

1. Character Development.

Sure making the character's profile/bio is the first step to making the character itself. But there's a little more to it than just a back story and appearance. Weather you include it in the Profile or not, you should really think about what kind of person/personality you want your character to have.

What I like to do in this situation, especially with my lead characters, is to base the character around myself, and my own personality, and then add on to it to better fit the RP the character is a part of. :3 Does that make sense?


2. Staying in Character and Keeping track

When you have multiple characters in multiple RPs. It might become a bit difficult for beginners to keep track of every character, and may even get their personalities mixed up a little. It's not a hard thing to remedy, but the best way to remember who is who and what they were doing is to take notes from time to time. I know it sounds like homework, but believe me it helps, but remember you don't have to right a novel.

3. Taking a Break or Having Technical Difficulties?

These things are not always predictable, but if for any reason you have to stop RPing for a while, try to inform your RP buddies and host what is up, and see if someone can't keep tabs on the RP for you so you don't fall too far behind. Just because everyone else wants to move things along, doesn't mean you have to miss anything. unless you like to read a lot.

4. Giving others something to respond to

There aren't many people who like to read short posts. This is mostly because it's a tad boring, and doesn't always give them much to go on when they want to post. So don't be afraid to go into more detail. Try to write maybe a minimum of 6 lines worth of text. (not including blank lines). If you yourself don't have much to go on, and your character has not yet been in contact with others. Make up a scenario that your character might typically do on any other day.

[sonicrocket]

I have problem reading english .. help ..

[sonicrocket]

has also problem in writing

[Kohakuchan19]

If you have a hard time keeping up with the English speakers, or writers in this case, You don't have to RP here. I can't really help you be better at English. Otherwise all I can say is take your time and do your best.

[Popful]

5. There is no "hero" character. If you try to write your character as one, you will be sorely disappointed. If your characters are on the same team, you may have a leader, but no "hero". Let everyone have a chance to shine.

6. Never, EVER take control of someone else's character. This is the quickest way to piss someone off in an RP. This includes saying things like "the group then did *thing*". If someone says "Let's do *thing*", and everyone agrees, the next scene should be at the place where this thing will be done, with your character doing it.

[Popful]

7. Always write in the same tense and perspective as the rest of the thread. For example, switching to present-tense second-person in the middle of a third-person past-tense story is confusing.

8. Don't RP as yourself. It's fine to base your character partially on yourself, but keep in mind that the player and the character are two different people, try to keep the two apart!

[Popful]

9. It's a good idea to have your RP be run by a GM, someone who manages the plot, plays as the NPCs and bad guys, and decides what is and isn't possible, among other stuff like that.

10. It's a damn game, don't take it too seriously. The MST3K Mantra is the Golden Rule of RPing.

11. DON'T PANIC.

12. Breaking the Fourth Wall is only acceptable if the GM is cool with it, and the RP's tone is relaxed and light enough.

[Popful]

13. Don't make your characters overpowered or perfect, everyone hates Mary Sues. Your characters should be flawed, in believable ways.

14. Make characters that you'd want to see in a movie, book, or other work of fiction. Take a look at characters you particularly like, what makes them likeable? Now look at characters you can't stand, what makes them insufferable?

[Popful]

15. Figure out immediately what kind of setting you're working with. Is it fantasy, sci-fi, horror, steampunk, or something else entirely?

16. Make your character sheet easy to read.

[Kohakuchan19]

Most of those "rules" you've posted are more or less guidelines... but I'll let it slide, since they still make good points.

[AuraTwilight]

And also the thread is titled "Feel free to add on."

[Kohakuchan19]

Ah. So it does. ^^; Sorry. I'm spam hunting so I wasn't really paying attention.

[Popful]

17. Be sure to pay attention to what's going on, failure to do so can be really embarrassing, and make you/your character look ditzy.

[metalbyakko]

okay since everyone is allowed to add something on, as long as it isn't spam, I also want to add something.
These aren't rules, but just tips I think they could be helpful:

18. DESCRIBE:
This is the key to make long, understandable and also good posts, people can enjoy reading.
The posts should be more than just "Character reacted and then did something on his own."
There are a lot of things you can describe and sometimes these are neccessary things so that other people can at least see and understand why your character does certain things. Sometimes there are things you can describe that don't have to do with your character. Sometimes it's something about their surroundings. There is always a lot to write about than just what your character does and it makes writing really FUN if you try to put something together. It's not that hard.

Describing things are also important if your character takes a closer look at certain things or persons. People tend to take a closer look at other people or certain things. You don't have to say which eye color certain characters have or other obvious things, but your character will get a certain impression about some characters, try to explain what impression they have and why they have them. If you think you have to state obvious things then do it, but do more than just that.
Also there are is more than just visual things: how does certain things sound, feel or even smell?
I don't say you should go around and let your characters sniff on everything, except they happen to be a person who relies on smells.
Maybe they are some kind of dog.
Please try not to write one or two words, that's hardly an examination.
So examinations your characters are also a very helpfull tool for you.

ALSO YOU HAVE TO DESCRIBE THINGS OR YOU WON'T HAVE A POST.

19. Surroundings and Background:
It's not about the background story about your character, but really about the place where the characters are.
You don't have to describe everything, but everyone needs to know where their characters are and so they can react and interact with their surrounding much easier, because they know what it looks like. I said you shouldn't describe every detail, but you should bring in imporant things about the surrounding.
If your character enters a room and there is no description of it, make one.
The surrounding can say A LOT about the people who are living there.
Look at your own room/house/flat/whatever and then you'll see it's true.

20. Emotions:
Yeah believe it or not, your characters will have emotions.
You wanna try and say to me that your character is without any emotions?
Is he a robot? No?
Then here is my answer:
YOU LAZY BUM!
No really your character won't look special because he doesn't have any emotion.
It's just let your as a writer look really lazy.
I admit it's a difference if your character doesn't show emotions or if he really doesn't have any, but emotions are one of the things that will spice up your character. No one will act rational all the time, at a certain point they will give in to their emotions and I'm not just talking about bad ones, also talk about the good ones.
Don't forget there is a great variety of emotions so don't be afraid and use them.
Instead of just saying, that your character feels certain things let them act this feelings out. Someone doesn't like a certain person, then the character won't be as polite to him as to others or even ignore him. If one character ignores a certain another character because there is a good reason, please write it in your post or otherwise it just looks like you forgot about certain characters.
Back to emotions.
If someone is in love with another person, then let your character act different torwards his love interest.
By that I don't (I repeat: I DO NOT!) mean: The character is protective torwards his love interest.
I don't want to forbid anyone having a character, who protects his love interest.
Surprise surprise it is the opposite. They SHOULD worry for each other and try to protect each other.
The thing is many think that's enough, but it isn't. The characters should show their affection torwards their love in many ways.
Try to let them show their affection in many ways, which also fits their personality.
They can't talk directly to their love interest, but have a way to show it in other ways? Go for it! It's never wrong giving your character more personality.
Also a well rounded character also has a wide variety of emotions. Don't let them just switch between aggressive and loving, there should be much more.
If your character happens to be someone who doesn't show his emotions that open, it's okay. Just try to be creative and describe how they try to surpress them, also if others characters a able to spot it.

I WANT TO ADDRESS OTHER PLAYERS HERE!!!
Please don't let your characters be people who somehow happen to know what the other characters truly feel.
It depends what kind of relationship your character has to the one, who tries not to show or surpress his feelings.
I don't say that can't happen, but I want to say don't pull that off the whole time. It's annoying and also not anyone is so good/experinced/whatever that they have a 100% accuracy of telling other peoples true feelings.

okay folks that's all, but I want to edit here at least two more points:
quirks and manners
relationships.
I won't write a new post, but instead edit this one so that all the tips are easier to find.

[Deleted]

I think I will add on to this thread.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

A great tip to remember when creating a character, is this - no one cares about your character initially. They need a REASON to care. This is where strengths and weaknesses play a very big role in character creation. WEAKNESSES should always take more priority than STRENGTHS. Why? Because readers care more about what is wrong with your character than what is right with them. Making a flawless character just makes them boring and even annoying to read about, unless it is written in satire. A good character has a lot of flaws to overcome, and that is what we want to read about. Someones struggles - not a person's perfect life.

A good character has a balance of good and bad traits. Not all flaws have to be a serious injury, or emotional trauma. It could be something as simple as being too jumpy, or afraid of the dark. And remember to not try to turn the flaw into a hidden strengths - a good reader will pick that out immediately. You have to also remember to give a reason WHY they have those fears, and how would this affect a person's personality - which I will now get into.

PERSONALITY

A lot of beginning writers have a problem with creating a personality. That's not shocking as this can be complicated. Every person is different and handle situations differently - but there still needs to be a realm of belief. A child who grew up on the streets is not likely to think highly of spending his money on expensive candy. Why would he need too? That won't ensure his survival. But a kid who comes from rich parents would think nothing of buying a whole candy store if he could. Why? Because he has the comfort and ability to do so.

Depending on what and how they are, can affect someones personality. But here is the tidbit no one pays attention; everyone has TWO personalities that merge into one. One is the characteristics you are BORN with; and the other are the characteristics you LEARN as you live.

The reason writing a personality is so difficult, is because we as people change in the blink of an eye. Just tripping on a rock can change our mood to sour in an instant and can affect what you do the rest of the day.

Going back to the example of a poor and rich kid. A poor kid would try to buy as much candy as he can - because he wants to FEEL rich and in control of his life. A rich kid would not buy a candy store, because he already so much - why does he need more?

If a character is serious, they would react the same way a silly character would? Of course not! Remember to treat each character as a separate entity - NOT CLONES OF EACH OTHER!!!! That is a horrible thing you can do! It is never wrong for your own characters to disagree or even fight each other. They don't all have to be friends, even if they are on the same side.

BACKGROUND

This one is a doozy. A solid background can be both simple, yet difficult to write. It is usually best to write a simple backstory, then build up from there. Trying to create a complex background can be a straight up disaster. Remember - creating a character is not an on-the-spot thing. It takes time, and details and ideas can change over night.

A background should tell us why a character acts the way they do - NOT to sit there and sound pretty. A misconception with novice writers, is that they try to be too flowery, or too dramatic. Shocking the audience, or gaining their pity is NOT what you are striving to do. You are SUPPOSED to be putting flesh on the bones of your character. If a character is well written, then people will like them and sympathize with them in their own way.

NEVER give a character a background story to try to one-up everyone else. A character should be able to hold their own. But if you try to make your character more 'special' than everyone else, it only makes them and yourself look bad. Avoid a backstory that gives your character everything they could ever want, but never learn what true loss is.
Also avoid giving your character TOO GOOD a backstory. Why? It might not fit them as well as you think, and could work better for another character. If the story fits their personality and theme - go for it! If its good, but just shoehorned in to make your character sound cool - change it! 

ALSO - remember the golden rule: Your fancharacter is a guest in this universe. They need to know when to come and when to leave. Your character should mold around the canon characters - the canon characters should not mold around YOUR characters.

That's from me for now. I think a lot of points have already been touched upon, but I want to put my two cents in as well.