Post by Admin Deryn on Jul 11, 2013 9:28:48 GMT -6
UNITE RP GUIDE
SECTION 1: POINT OF VIEW AND PRONOUNS
Point of view is the viewpoint from which you write your post.
First Person means that the character is narrating the post.
Example: I ran into the bar and punched Bob.
Second Person means that the narrator is speaking to the reader.
Example: You ran into the bar and punched Bob.
Third person means that the narrator is not connected to any person.
Example: Sue ran into the bar and punched Bob.
At Unite, all in-character posts should be in third person. This means that the pronouns he, she, they should be used when describing any character action. First- and second-person may only be used in dialogue. Dialogue is when one character is speaking to another. All dialogue should be offset with quotation marks (").
Example of proper POV usage:
Sue ran into the bar and punched Bob. "I saw you with him!" She yelled at his pained face.
SECTION TWO: GRAMMAR
On Unite, we expect everyone to use proper grammar. Now, that doesn't mean that we're going to ban you for every misplaced comma, because commas are dumb and no one understands them anyways. But basic grammar is a must. This means to capitalize where you know you should, have proper sentence structure, and have a basic understanding of what a paragraph is. Proper spelling is important. If you don't know how to spell a certain word, Google it. Also, know the difference between commonly mistaken words. Just a few:
You're: You are. Your: Belonging to you.
There: a place. They're: They are.
No: negative. Know: to be aware of something.
Chat/text speak (U, ur, r, etc. etc. etc.) is also not allowed, in posts or in the cBox. If staff finds that there is a continued problem with your grammar, we may contact you and try to fix the situation.
SECTION THREE: REALISM
Characters are people. Over-dramatic, controllable, and predictable, but still people. This means that no Bobby John or Bobby Sue characters are allowed. A Bobby John is a character who is perfect. They do no wrong, are friends with everyone, and fear nothing. These people don't exist in the real world, and thus don't exist in a semi-realistic RP world. Characters will get frustrated, they will get angry, they will get depressed, the whole shabang.
Another part of having realistic characters is that relationships don't just happen. This means that if your character meets the person that will become their mate in one thread, there should be at least a few threads in between before they fall in love, get married, have babies, etc. Yes, one night stands and rebounds are a part of life, but people do not fall madly in love with each other at first site. (If it was, this site would be called Twilight. Or Romeo and Juliet.)
That having been said, I know that vampires and witches and werewolves don't actually exist, meaning that this site is only semi-realistic. I also understand that characters who are a little too human are boring and generally contribute nothing to a good plot. So I'm not saying that your characters have to be incredibly realistic. Murderous vampires are okay, as are clueless shifters and introverted werewolves. It's okay to have a character with a dramatic personality, in fact, I encourage you to. That's what makes roleplaying interesting.
SECTION FOUR: PLOTTING
Plotting is the bread and butter of roleplaying. Threading with others is fun and fine, but everything has a plot in the end. And coming up with them can be a great way to boost creativity by collaborating with other writers. If you ever have writer's block, just head over to the plots board. Someone's character will strike your muse.
It is important to note, however, that sometimes, a plot just can't be forced. if you have two completely uncompatible characters, don't force them into a love plot. Instead, try some other options. Make them enemies. Or make another character more compatible for the plot (just make sure to keep their activity up!).
If you're having trouble coming up with a plot, brainstorm. This can be done alone, or in collaboration with another roleplayer.
Alone: Think about your character. Their traits, their mannerisms, their wants, their needs. Write down every plot idea you can think of. Unexpected pregnancy? Becoming an evil overlord? Chaining themselves to a tree in an Earth Day protest? Go crazy with it. Then, narrow it down to your favorite two or three, and put up a plot request for them. Someone will be like-minded and offer a character.
With another author: Talk about your characters. Again, traits, wants, needs, etc. How would your characters interact with one another? Would two be friends, while two others be mortal enemies? Could they be enemies but have to unite in a common cause? Anything you can imagine. When you and your partner decide on a plot, decide how to act on it. Threading out the plot and learning more about how your characters interact can do wonders for plot development.
SECTION FIVE: WORD COUNT.
Word count is important, but not as important as some people make it out to be. On Unite, in-character posts must be at least 150 words. If you have a load of muse and can pull off a 900 word post, by all means, go ahead! But if all you can do is 160 words, don't fret too much. As long as a post gets the main point across and has some sort of character interaction, it will work. This is especially true for new roleplayers. Don't be intimidated by older members who can do posts close to 1000 words. Do what you can, and strive to improve over time.
If you are new or have writer's block (I understand, we all get it, sometimes more often than we'd like to admit,) sometimes it can be hard to reach the word count. There are some ways to help boost your count:
Be wordy. This means use adjectives and adverbs way more than you normally would. Not only does it let the other person have a clearer picture of what's going on, but it can help to stimulate your muse.
Use dialogue. Characters can be very chatty. If your character is the type that rambles, then by all means, ramble on. If your character is the intellectual think-ey type, then have a whole paragraph dedicated to thoughts. Knowing your character can help to have better posts, in the short and long run.
Ramble. If your character is going to the gym, imagine the gym. It is large, and there are tons of sweaty people. There's one guy on a machine that looks like he could bench John Cena with his big toe. The tile floor is blue and white, but you can tell that there are spots that have been replaced over the years. Simple, mundane facts can seem useless, but do a lot to help word count and overall writing ability.
SECTION SIX: HAVE FUN!
Plot deadlines and character maitinence can sometimes be stressful. But under no circumstances should roleplaying get in the way of your real life, and it most certainly should not affect your overall mood. Roleplaying should be a fun, interactive experience. If you find that you no longer have muse for a character and that they are causing you more stress than you feel they're worth, then put them in their box and move on. Now, this isn't to say that everytime you lose muse that you should delete your character. But if you have three consecutive weeks with no muse, it might be time to give the character up.
Also under no circumstances should you let another roleplayer bully you into a plot. You know your characters better than anyone. If someone tries to pressure you into a plot that you're not interested in, just say no, and try to come up with a different one. If the member continues to harass you or talk publicly about you, don't be afraid to contact the staff. This site is just a fun escape, a creative outlet, and a spot to meet others who roleplay. No one, including a character, should stop you from having fun with it.