Getting Started

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How to Play Role playing is like acting. In an internet role playing game, members play characters in a world which is either realistic, fictional or somewhere in between.

The two most common phrases you will see in the world of role play are OOC and IC. These simple terms represent two vastly different worlds: the world we physically live in (OOC; “Out of Character”) and the world that we role play in (IC; “In Character”).

Use the term OOC before saying something Out of Character in an In Character forum to indicate a change of speaker from character to player. Use the term IC after saying something Out of Character in an In Character forum to indicate a change of speaker from the player to the character.

It is very important to remember that these two worlds are separate from each other. What happens in one world should have no effect on the other. For example, the fact that your character passionately hates another character is not grounds for you to passionately hate the player of that character. It is also very important to remember that any information your character has about another character must be gathered in character.

Some other words that you will come across frequently are Power Play and God-mode. They are both prohibited, and shunned on most all forums.

Power Play is posting a move that involves another’s character and not giving the player of that character a chance to respond before deciding the outcome. Here is an example of powerplay:

EXAMPLE: (Powerplay) Joe stabs Rick for a direct hit killing him.

God-mode is posting a character that will not die or be injured in any possible way. Here is an example of God-mode:

EXAMPLE: (God-mode) Rick isn't affected by Joe's attack; instead Joe's sword is broken from his own attack.

Also note sometimes God-mode is considered taking control of a player that does not belong to you. For instance making someone else’s character speak or perform an action without their permission.

Brainstorm! Now take a few minutes to think about just what kind of character you want to have. Your not limited to any race, you can be anything from a Vampire to a dog. Also think of a good name for your character, names like Nick and Steve work well, but they won't really gain you much fame in the RP world.

Signup Your Character! The last step is posting your characters Bio, in the Character Signup section. Then you’re all set and ready to start playing! Good luck, and enjoy the game! Also you should note you cannot be in two places at once, its physically impossible.

Being a Good RPer

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Use proper punctuation and grammar. Make sure what you write is understandable. Don’t half ass it! Open up a program like Microsoft Word, or a similar application with a spell checker and type out your post. Proof read then post.

Be descriptive. Try to use nouns and adjectives to paint a picture of what’s happening in your character’s mind and surroundings. Don’t just reply with a simple dialogue!

Match the Post Above You. People tend to get annoyed when they write a 200 word post, and you reply with 50. However if you try to match length with them it will not only make you a better role player but make the story a better read.

When Fighting… Always make sure you use the word attempt, try, effort, strive, and seek during your attacks. The key to fighting is setting up a stipulation and having you opponent decide the outcome. Remember you have to give the player a chance to respond to the situation. That doesn’t mean your letting them get away! Eventually they will have to give in to an attack, otherwise refusing to take any damage will result in a power play.

The basics on Role Playing have now been covered. You should now be able to venture into a Role Play and be able to handle yourself well. Also remember the Scary Tales community may be tyrants and demons in the RPG world, but on the outside were a community that only wants the best for our members. We do not discriminate against rookie players; our staff is dedicated on educating members on how to bring out the best in the RPG world.

For other related articles please see our Rules & Frequently Asked Questions section.