Post by ~{KiaOfTheSand}~ on May 5, 2009 16:20:31 GMT -5
Hey there! New to role-playing? Come here and we'll help you out. We'll look over making characters, templates, and role-playing in general. Experienced role-player? Hang around and dole out advice! Remember the days when you were a fledgling poster and feel sympathetic and wise.
Templates:
Templates are guidelines for Character creation. They're there to inform other people of your character's basic (And sometimes not-so-basic) information! Lets look at a basic template and what it looks like filled in.
Online Name: The name you go by on the board. Mine is Kiariana, so I'd put that there.
Character Name: The name of your character.
Character Appearance: Give a picture (by link or actual picture) or a description, or both.
Character history: What has happened in your characters past? What was their childhood like? Any significant events relating to the way they are today? Remember, try to give a few sentences at least. Practice, even. Flesh out their backround. Describe things. characters with lots going on are interesting. Don't be afraid to get carried away.
Role-play example: give an example of your role-playing skills. People want skilled role-players that add to their world. It probably doesn't even have to be about your character- drag up something old and paste it in, as long as it's your own work. You want it to be well-described and rich as possible. This will leave a good impression on people. On WFA, we'll likely accept you even if your skills are crap (You've gotta start somewhere, eh?), but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try your best.
Here's a few example applications.
Mizuki Ryoko
Nickname: Mizu or Kiki
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Sexuality: straight
Power/weapon: Weapon: A long staff; Power: can use any black and white magick
Personality: Calm and collected, but never misses the chance to crack a good joke
Bio: Mizuki doesn't remember anything about her family. When she was 9 a great sorcerer found her and took her in. he taught her all sorts of magick. when she was 13 the sorcerer took Ill and died suddenly. so now she travels all over the place. And she is currently residing at the inn
Appearance: i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/Demonslaya45/animefighter.jpg
OR
i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/Demonslaya45/6c55ac00-1.jpg
Other: Tries to avoid violence
--
Kangen Yori OikoshiKakyoku (Music From PassingTune)
Nickname: Kan, Music, Melody
Year(Grade): 2(9)
Gender: Female
Age: 15
Appearance:
Click
Wing: East
Sect: She plays violin and piano, and she is a fair artist, good at drawing anime. She is also a good writer, and writes very nice stories.
Rich or scholarship: Rich
Personality: She is kind and can be quiet, but she can be a little mood swingy at times. She is very calm, and has a high, sweet voice, and can be very motherly.
History: (Optional) Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo... >.> <.< *whistles*
--
Name:bliss drake
Year(Grade):5
Gender:female
Age:18
Appearance: i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/Demonslaya45/1135794181_GirlsNummy.jpg
Wing:south
Rich or scholarship:scholarship
Personality:a lil crazy in a good way dose anything she sets her mind 2. she will do anything for a friend
History:dosent really know 2 much bout herself she kind of woke up and forgot who she was (sorry cant spell the name for that)
--
Here's a fancy one- all trussed up with pretty codes and pictures
---<My Creation>---
<Name> Kyoushu, Yoko
<Age>18
<I am a...>Vampire (an Aristocrat)
<My class>Night Class, 2nd year.
<I look like...> My hair is a silvery blue that's down to my knees and my eyes are a light-ish blue. When I don't have classes I normally wear a black 'n grey Lolita Dress with knee-high socks, a headband, and buckle shoes.
<My life> I never really liked the Aristocrat life, it bored me to death. I lived a normal life [as normal as a vampire's life can be] 'till my parents decided to ship me off to Cross Academy. My first year there was quite fun, I made some friends, enimies... you know, school stuff. Now I'm here for my second year, and NONE of my friends from last year are here... I heard they all went berserk and killed some humans. Funny... ha ha.
<I like...> silence, darkness, candy, my ipod 'n music, writing, and my pocket watch.
<I dislike...> noisy places, light, critics, and my parents.
< My sexuality is...> Who knows?
<I act like...> I don't care what people think about me. If I don't like you, I'll tell you. I'm aloof and my old friends called me emotionless... I don't believe them. I can crack a joke or two!! I just...hate smiling.
<This is my picture>
--
These are fairly short and simple ones- I got them from another site I go on, in a few of the one-board role-plays. They can be much more complex and descriptive. Be creative with your characters. Think about them. Make them yours. get a feel for what they are like and for what they would do. The urge may be strong to make them do what you would do, but you can't make them all like that- separate yourself from them, if you can. Of course, if that isn't what works for you, don't let me order you around- everyone's different. Do what makes you role-play the best, what makes you enjoy it the most and have the most fun.
Now, moving on to actual role-playing. You probably want to have an idea of what should be happening. Well, first off, check the rules. Rules will let you know what you can and can't do, and some things are just not acceptable no matter where you are role-playing. Like:
God-Modding. This is when you control another players character(s). Example:
Ashton walked into the clearing, twigs cracking underfoot. Anna's eyes turned to his and she looked angry.
Now, unless Anna has already stated that her eyes turned to his and she looked angry, you can't do that. You can't control her. you can only control your own character- in this case, Ashton, as I used in the example. Let's try that again.
Ashton walked into the clearing, branches cracking underfoot. He looked at Anna, willing her to look back at him, hoping she wouldn't be angry. Knowing that she probably would.
Much better. I wasn't controlling Anna- I was controlling Ashton. I suggested that Anna look at him and still had in there the anger, but I was only suggesting it. She could have run up and hugged him. and not be angry in the least.
Lots of people like good spelling. Lots of role-players like good spelling. I sure do. Grammar is just as awesome, too. That's why WFA has the Anti-Chatspeak Facility.
(In Progress. Still perfectly readable, though. go ahead and start replying and all now, if you want.)
Templates:
Templates are guidelines for Character creation. They're there to inform other people of your character's basic (And sometimes not-so-basic) information! Lets look at a basic template and what it looks like filled in.
Online Name: The name you go by on the board. Mine is Kiariana, so I'd put that there.
Character Name: The name of your character.
Character Appearance: Give a picture (by link or actual picture) or a description, or both.
Character history: What has happened in your characters past? What was their childhood like? Any significant events relating to the way they are today? Remember, try to give a few sentences at least. Practice, even. Flesh out their backround. Describe things. characters with lots going on are interesting. Don't be afraid to get carried away.
Role-play example: give an example of your role-playing skills. People want skilled role-players that add to their world. It probably doesn't even have to be about your character- drag up something old and paste it in, as long as it's your own work. You want it to be well-described and rich as possible. This will leave a good impression on people. On WFA, we'll likely accept you even if your skills are crap (You've gotta start somewhere, eh?), but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try your best.
Here's a few example applications.
Mizuki Ryoko
Nickname: Mizu or Kiki
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Sexuality: straight
Power/weapon: Weapon: A long staff; Power: can use any black and white magick
Personality: Calm and collected, but never misses the chance to crack a good joke
Bio: Mizuki doesn't remember anything about her family. When she was 9 a great sorcerer found her and took her in. he taught her all sorts of magick. when she was 13 the sorcerer took Ill and died suddenly. so now she travels all over the place. And she is currently residing at the inn
Appearance: i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/Demonslaya45/animefighter.jpg
OR
i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/Demonslaya45/6c55ac00-1.jpg
Other: Tries to avoid violence
--
Kangen Yori OikoshiKakyoku (Music From PassingTune)
Nickname: Kan, Music, Melody
Year(Grade): 2(9)
Gender: Female
Age: 15
Appearance:
Click
Wing: East
Sect: She plays violin and piano, and she is a fair artist, good at drawing anime. She is also a good writer, and writes very nice stories.
Rich or scholarship: Rich
Personality: She is kind and can be quiet, but she can be a little mood swingy at times. She is very calm, and has a high, sweet voice, and can be very motherly.
History: (Optional) Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo... >.> <.< *whistles*
--
Name:bliss drake
Year(Grade):5
Gender:female
Age:18
Appearance: i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/Demonslaya45/1135794181_GirlsNummy.jpg
Wing:south
Rich or scholarship:scholarship
Personality:a lil crazy in a good way dose anything she sets her mind 2. she will do anything for a friend
History:dosent really know 2 much bout herself she kind of woke up and forgot who she was (sorry cant spell the name for that)
--
Here's a fancy one- all trussed up with pretty codes and pictures
---<My Creation>---
<Name> Kyoushu, Yoko
<Age>18
<I am a...>Vampire (an Aristocrat)
<My class>Night Class, 2nd year.
<I look like...> My hair is a silvery blue that's down to my knees and my eyes are a light-ish blue. When I don't have classes I normally wear a black 'n grey Lolita Dress with knee-high socks, a headband, and buckle shoes.
<My life> I never really liked the Aristocrat life, it bored me to death. I lived a normal life [as normal as a vampire's life can be] 'till my parents decided to ship me off to Cross Academy. My first year there was quite fun, I made some friends, enimies... you know, school stuff. Now I'm here for my second year, and NONE of my friends from last year are here... I heard they all went berserk and killed some humans. Funny... ha ha.
<I like...> silence, darkness, candy, my ipod 'n music, writing, and my pocket watch.
<I dislike...> noisy places, light, critics, and my parents.
< My sexuality is...> Who knows?
<I act like...> I don't care what people think about me. If I don't like you, I'll tell you. I'm aloof and my old friends called me emotionless... I don't believe them. I can crack a joke or two!! I just...hate smiling.
<This is my picture>
--
These are fairly short and simple ones- I got them from another site I go on, in a few of the one-board role-plays. They can be much more complex and descriptive. Be creative with your characters. Think about them. Make them yours. get a feel for what they are like and for what they would do. The urge may be strong to make them do what you would do, but you can't make them all like that- separate yourself from them, if you can. Of course, if that isn't what works for you, don't let me order you around- everyone's different. Do what makes you role-play the best, what makes you enjoy it the most and have the most fun.
Now, moving on to actual role-playing. You probably want to have an idea of what should be happening. Well, first off, check the rules. Rules will let you know what you can and can't do, and some things are just not acceptable no matter where you are role-playing. Like:
God-Modding. This is when you control another players character(s). Example:
Ashton walked into the clearing, twigs cracking underfoot. Anna's eyes turned to his and she looked angry.
Now, unless Anna has already stated that her eyes turned to his and she looked angry, you can't do that. You can't control her. you can only control your own character- in this case, Ashton, as I used in the example. Let's try that again.
Ashton walked into the clearing, branches cracking underfoot. He looked at Anna, willing her to look back at him, hoping she wouldn't be angry. Knowing that she probably would.
Much better. I wasn't controlling Anna- I was controlling Ashton. I suggested that Anna look at him and still had in there the anger, but I was only suggesting it. She could have run up and hugged him. and not be angry in the least.
Lots of people like good spelling. Lots of role-players like good spelling. I sure do. Grammar is just as awesome, too. That's why WFA has the Anti-Chatspeak Facility.
(In Progress. Still perfectly readable, though. go ahead and start replying and all now, if you want.)