Present:
Harumi OanomochiShawn DaysleeperZryonotralionxusBosie AlchemiLihan TaifunZenon Mistwalker
Summary:
No matter how “important” your character is, out of character always be courteous to your fellow roleplayers. (In character, of course, it depends on your character's personality.) This includes keeping people informed.
If someone IMs you at an inconvenient time during a roleplay session, you can tell them politely, rather than rudely, that this is a bad time.
Sometimes an Out Of Character clarification during the roleplay can smooth over potential hard feelings.
Give other people enough time to respond during the roleplay. Different computers and connections vary widely in their lag time. Some people type faster than others, and some people type longer replies than others. On the Phoenix Viewer, the Radar shows who is currently typing, but we don't know exactly how to set up that feature, and it only works on Channel 0 (open chat), not other channels used by Titlers or chat repeaters.
Let everyone have an influence on what direction the roleplay is going. Respect their actions.
Don't try to steal the spotlight during someone else's big scene.
Don't bring events that happen in one group's roleplay into an unrelated rp in another group.
Ask permission, in advance, before roleplaying on other people's land.
Clean up any prims you rezz. Be considerate of the sim's prim limits and script limits. When a sim is close to its limit, even a low-prim item or a low-lag script might push the sim over the edge.
Don't roleplay during an Out Of Character meeting.
While roleplaying, use /me rather than emoticons or texting abbreviations. Try to use complete proper sentences. But be tolerant of other people's spelling or grammar mistakes. Not everyone speaks English as their first language.
Using “dialect” or old-fashioned speech is a matter of local custom. Some groups like it, as adding flavor. So groups discourage it, as too difficult for those less fluent in English (and nearly impossible for a computerize translator). If you are going to use “thee” and “thou”, learn how to use them correctly.
Be respectful to your Roleplay coordinators. They are all volunteers.
It all boils down to cooperation and courtesy.
Harumi Oanomochi: Well, first off, welcome all. We'll probably have a few stragglers come by, so let me start by saying that Ael sends his apologies. He particularly wanted to be here for this, since he suggested the topic. RL duties have kept him mostly unable to log in for a few days. Tonight's topic is Roleplay Etiquette. Any discussion before I go through Ael's notes on the subject?
Harumi Oanomochi: Oh...I'm still Harumi Oanomochi...just changed display name to match my RP character. Call me Echuir or Rumi...either one works.
So, good manners in roleplay. We've all seen instances that make us cringe in the middle of a scenario. Ael would like to share a few points and encourage us to discuss them.
Just because a person is rping a king or a nobleman or any rp character with a title, that does
For example...just because a person may have a rp character who is a king or a queen...or of "importance," that does not give them the right to dispense with saying "please" or "thank you."
Lihan Taifun: is that not a matter of their character's personality? just because you are a king doesn't automatically make you a nice person, in character
Bosie Alchemi: could be evil, haughty, or rude character
Zryonotralionxus: Yes, I agree, I think what most problems arise is if the characters personality is taken OOC
Shawn Daysleeper: Ael may be referring to OOC situations
Harumi Oanomochi: I wondered about that, and questioned him about it. I mean, if your character is a "bad guy" you would expect him or her to be abusive, but...
Bosie Alchemi: yes ooc
Shawn Daysleeper: he is talking about someone who rp a King or nobleman, not IC
Harumi Oanomochi:
AelKennyr Rhiano: Being "King" Olwe does not entitle me to treat you or your rp character shabbily, for example. In fact, imho, those who have important titles in rp should be held to a greater standard of behavior.
Harumi Oanomochi: unless it's in character with a storyline such as you being nutz. ;-)
AelKennyr Rhiano: yes, But I have had people come to me about OOC behavior. So that is another thing I guess we need to discuss.
Shawn Daysleeper: so it is curtesy to have manners OOC
Harumi Oanomochi: exactly Shawn.
Zryonotralionxus: oh yes, as all should show respect to all they RP with
Harumi Oanomochi: IOW, there's a time and place for playing your part, but if someone IMs you in an inconvenient moment it's bad form to snap at them that you're busy...it can be done nicely without being impatient or nasty.
Zryonotralionxus nods, "It is good to be polite to even your worse enemies OOC
Bosie Alchemi: i am always aplogetic if in some way my words could be interpreted wrong and am very clear
Harumi Oanomochi: So most of this discussion is really about the OOC side of things,. It can and does have a bearing upon the course of events in the RP.
Zryonotralionxus: True Bosie as often just plain words can seem crude if not meant to be
Zenon Mistwalker: it seems like general kindness like in rl to be shared with others
Harumi Oanomochi: nods at Bosie. Yes...clarifying, even if you must use an OOC mode to do it, can clear up a ton of bad feelings. ((sorry folks...I really meant to say...)) that sort of thing.
Shawn Daysleeper: nod
Harumi Oanomochi:
AelKennyr Rhiano: Whether a person is rping a king or a fisherman, whether that person has a recurring character or an NPC, they should be regarded with upmost respect. For example...if I want to do a rp, and you volunteer, it is should be encumbent on me to keep you in the loop regarding all things involving that rp. If the time changes, I should let you know. I should inform you what the rp is about. I should provide you with whatever you need, as you are really doing me a favor, in a timely manner.
We all understand rl, power outtages...the unexpected. And when you build a reputation for being courteous, all those things are easily forgiven, because other people know it is not from lack of respect you did not do something.
Bosie Alchemi: couldn't bad manners also mean bullying the role play a certain direction with no input or give and take, too
Harumi Oanomochi: oh yes...absolutely.
Zenon Mistwalker: nods
Lihan Taifun: oh yes, that too
Harumi Oanomochi: RP is above all a cooperative effort, and if one person takes the reins and causes a stampede or whatever, that can build up a lot of resentment. It really does boil down to common courtesy.
Bosie Alchemi: which is not easily taught...giggles
Zryonotralionxus: That seems more prevalent in free form RP more so than storyline I thought? Being storyline usually has a set path of some sort
Harumi Oanomochi: no it's not, and let's face it, where new or unexperienced players are involved they will occasionally need a nudge here and there to guide them.
Harumi Oanomochi:
AelKennyr Rhiano: Also, if we rp, and for whatever reason, there is a change and that rp is not to be posted, or is planned to be redone...particularly, if you are not to be in the redo, then I (as in our example) should contact you and explain why. In a tactful manner.
Harumi Oanomochi: which leads us to the basics of RP...and courtesy comes in by not talking over people or appearing to ignore what they are saying, and waiting for people to type their input. Some of us are paragraph players, and some go one line at a time...but patience is involved because we all type at different speeds.
Lihan Taifun: and our computers post the chats at different speeds, too
Harumi Oanomochi: so true...lag monsters abound. *sighs*
Bosie Alchemi: if i am a little slow on the uptake or don't understand something I often explain my rp level to the other player, apologize , and or ask questions
Zryonotralionxus: Being new to SL, is in turn RP used? or does this vary one the others participating?
Harumi Oanomochi: Excellent Bosie! While it's not good to make a constant habit of going OOC in the middle of rp...there are times when you must explain something that affects your rp.
Zryonotralionxus: I myself tend to Para post allot but I do so because I am use to Rping with ones who do the same
{editor's note: “para post” = writing entire paragraphs at a time}
Harumi Oanomochi:
AelKennyr Rhiano: Don't "horn" in on other's when the spotlight is on them. We had a rp where someone was telling a delightful story, and another rper kept trying to derail the story to prove how much he knew about Tolkien.
Lihan Taifun: what about Boise's question? he didn't get to explain what "in turn" rp means
Bosie Alchemi: if a scripted role play is going on... i almost never interupt
Lihan Taifun: no, that was Zryon's question ... :P
Harumi Oanomochi: right.
Zryonotralionxus: oh, I meant as in everyone takes a turn
Shawn Daysleeper: In turn rp means that everyone should be able to respond to your rp line before you type another. if you don't it's a form of gamemodding
Zenon Mistwalker: thanks for clarifying :)
Lihan Taifun: I would think it depends on the group, and the size of the rp, how strict people are about that?
Harumi Oanomochi: well, there's no set rule...and no telling when SL is going to send up your comment or response, so it would be impossible to use a "talking stick" kind of roulette. Everyone chimes in, but you do get a feel for where the convo is going just like in RL, and you know you should wait before adding something. Exactly so Lihan.
Zryonotralionxus: Though I think this can vary, us who tend to para post will use much more in defining our actions in detail, in turn giving those involved much to respond to.
Bosie Alchemi: i take cues from others... if people are putting little reactions to story in, i might add a little reaction ...
Lihan Taifun: I love the fact that Phoenix viewer's av radar tells who is currently typing, even if you have typing animation turned off. it gives some hint that you should wait for someone
Harumi Oanomochi: oh wow...didn't know that...what a neat rp tool!
Zryonotralionxus: What tool is this?
Zenon Mistwalker: yes
Lihan Taifun: "Radar"
Harumi Oanomochi: The avatar list in the RADAR button on the viewer in Phoenix viewer.
Zryonotralionxus: Ok?, what does that do?
Lihan Taifun: the green button turns to a "talk" balloon when someone is typing
Zryonotralionxus: Sorry, new to this stuff
Bosie Alchemi: not on viewer 2 though?
Lihan Taifun: no idea
Harumi Oanomochi: well I'm still discovering things as we speak, Zyr. *grins*
Zryonotralionxus: Hmm, I am not seeing it
Lihan Taifun: unfortunately, Phoenix's can only detect typing on the ordinary chat channel, channel 0, so it doesn't help if people are using chat repeaters
Zryonotralionxus: I see the radar button?
Lihan Taifun: did you push the radar button?
Harumi Oanomochi: right...but if you are IMing with someone you will see them typing.
Zryonotralionxus: Oh, and forgot about the chat relay I have on, just took that off, sorry
Harumi Oanomochi: I thought dragons never forgot anything. (smirks)
Lihan Taifun: I don't know how dragon chat relays work, do you type in ordinary chat channel?
Bosie Alchemi: i dont have rp hud
Zryonotralionxus: Yes, the relay just broadcasts what I type to others wearing the relay in the sim
Harumi Oanomochi: cool.
Lihan Taifun: ok, that would show up on the radar, then
Zryonotralionxus: And even us old drakes can forget some things =P
Harumi Oanomochi: hehehe
Lihan Taifun: but if I am wearing my titler that says Nienna, and typing to it on channel 99, then that will not show up on people's radar that I am typing
Harumi Oanomochi: ah...nods. see? We all learn as we go...the SL learning curve never ends...just gets easier with time.
Zryonotralionxus: ok, so I click on the radar button and I see a list of names?
Lihan Taifun: yes
Harumi Oanomochi: Yes.
Zryonotralionxus: How can I tell when one is typing?
Lihan Taifun: and toward the right of the list, each name has a green dot?
Harumi Oanomochi: the little green dot turns to a white balloon
Lihan Taifun: (now no one is typing, so he can't see) hee hee
Harumi Oanomochi: giggles
Zryonotralionxus: hmm, I only see two names with green dots? Bosie and Shawn
Bosie Alchemi: hmm
Zryonotralionxus: but they are not changing?
Lihan Taifun: hmmm
Bosie Alchemi: (this is all going above my head)
Harumi Oanomochi: *watches as lines of text zip past Bosie*
Lihan Taifun: I see all of you with green dots
Shawn Daysleeper: hehe
Lihan Taifun: I think your viewer is being weird, or something I don't understand
Zenon Mistwalker: and what about the lag factor ?
Zryonotralionxus: Yeah, maybe make this a topic for another time as it is much confusing lol
Bosie Alchemi: do you have to have a hud?
Zryonotralionxus: I am going to click the little x and pretend I did not see that
Bosie Alchemi: meter? never mind hee
Harumi Oanomochi: well...any more about chat manners? Back to Ael then:
AelKennyr Rhiano: Don't mention other sims or rpers you know are not in the 4th Age rp in the middle of a 4th Age. We don't force people or metagame them that way. If you don't know, ask or don't mention them.
Harumi Oanomochi: If it's not germane to the RP at hand, leave other RP out of the current RP...seems obvious but it does happen.
Harumi Oanomochi: also:
AelKennyr Rhiano: Do not rp on another's sim, parcel, home, whatever without their prior express approval.
Harumi Oanomochi: nods in agreement
AelKennyr Rhiano: Don't rezz things for a rp and then leave them out without permission.
Harumi Oanomochi: that's a real sticky topic. Rezzing a hundred prim item during RP on a homestead sim can cause a ripple effect with the prim allowance.
Lihan Taifun: or a highly scripted item
Bosie Alchemi: but also don't be rude to the person that left the item ... they could have forgot to take it with them
Harumi Oanomochi: Homestead sims have very limited prim allowances, where estate sims have up to 3 times as many prims. yes...scripts can cause huge amounts of lag. and yes, Bosie...yelling at someone isn't cool. Again, it's all manners and how an issue is handled.
Zryonotralionxus: I have yet to see why one can not just make use with what is there and use imagination for things not?
Lihan Taifun: yes, very often true, Zryon
Zryonotralionxus: But maybe that is because I am use to not even seeing myself or character
Harumi Oanomochi: Good point, Zry..while it might be more dramatic to pull out the big guns for visual drama, it can always be emoted instead.
Lihan Taifun: about the lag -- when a sim is getting close to its limit, things that might normal cause a small amount of lag can become the last straw
Harumi Oanomochi shouts: nods I really didn't mean to shout that. LOL...sorry
Zryonotralionxus: lol, I have that happen, random shouts or whispers
Lihan Taifun: lol, when I hit the wrong button, it is usually "whisper"
Harumi Oanomochi: the joys of life in a virtual world
Zenon Mistwalker: :)
Harumi Oanomochi: here's an interesting comment from Ael:
Do not RP at an OOC meeting or gathering.
Harumi Oanomochi: It's tempting...you tend to stay in character even when you're not RPing, and sometimes it just slips out...there's this nebulous veil between IC and OOC sometimes, especially in an OOC setting such as this.
Lihan Taifun: oh yes, that can get out of hand
Bosie Alchemi: make it very clear that it is ooc
Zryonotralionxus: Yes, till pointed out I never thought of it causing confusion to ones who might not no the difference
Lihan Taifun: and also easily distracts from the meeting
Zryonotralionxus: I am at guilt as I love RP and tend to forget to leave my character behind
Harumi Oanomochi: As I recall, I'm guilty of that...went to my first Tolkien discussion group and stayed totally IC the whole time...it just didn't occur to me to introduce myself any other way...and after the meeting I did some forehead thwacking...sheesh...it was freaking OOC!!!
Bosie Alchemi laughs heartily and slaps his knee
Lihan Taifun: oh, I do it too, but it is a bad habit
Bosie Alchemi: oh sorry
Harumi Oanomochi: smiles at Bosie.
Zryonotralionxus: Well I think using the /me thing is fine in an OOC way, like nodding and such
Harumi Oanomochi: yes.
Zryonotralionxus: kinda no different than using emotion things such as =P but see, I often blame my talons for my typing errors lol, not sure if that is good or not!
Harumi Oanomochi: yes, but of course emoticons are a RP no-no in most RP.
Harumi Oanomochi: hahaha
Zenon Mistwalker: lol
Bosie Alchemi: of course many gestures may not be appropriate for rp
Harumi Oanomochi: OOC laughter can be LOL or hahahaha...or whatever, but in RP it's usually,
Harumi Oanomochi laughs
Harumi Oanomochi: subtle difference.
Lihan Taifun: yes
Zryonotralionxus: I always believe net speak and all that should not be in an RP, ones text should be as book grade or close to it as they can
Harumi Oanomochi: exactly so
Lihan Taifun: those multi-line gestures, with lots of decorations, are excessive in RP, too, especially if there are a lot of people talking
Harumi Oanomochi: even though we live in the social network age, we don't usually pepper our RL talk with LOLZ instead of a chuckle.
Zryonotralionxus: cause true not many are fluent in english and do the best they could and some translators do a poor job
Lihan Taifun: that is a good point, about not everyone being fluent in English
Harumi Oanomochi: yes, that's another good point...not everyone uses English as their primary language and we need to respect that, and not be critical of errors in grammar or spelling.
Lihan Taifun: and be careful using old-fashioned words, or dialect
Zryonotralionxus: I always believe that if I do not quiet understand something IC, I ask the person in IM, keeping the RP clear and not drawing attention to it
Lihan Taifun: or writing out foreign accents
Harumi Oanomochi: yes, sometimes going overboard in the "speaking forsoothly department" can be distracting.
Zenon Mistwalker: hehe
Bosie Alchemi: (even though the teacher in me may be cringing if someone misspells the wrong word multiple times
Lihan Taifun: distracting, and makes it very hard for people whose native language is not english
Harumi Oanomochi: and if you don't know how to use thee and thou, please don't. I see it misused all the time and being a grammarian and copy editor by trade I can't help inwardly cringing. LOL
Bosie Alchemi: well, if its in character
Lihan Taifun: lol, me too. but I was taught, here, not to use thee and thou, even if you do know how to use it correctly, out of respect for non-native speakers, because the translators don't handle it
Harumi Oanomochi: archiac talk definitely adds to the ambiance of your character and the rp, but if we all spoke in Chaucerian English we would not understand each other.
Bosie Alchemi: good to know
Harumi Oanomochi: that's a great point, Lihan. I hadn't considered that.
Lihan Taifun: so, is "speaking forsoothly" allowed in Fourth Age?
Zryonotralionxus: lol, my wife often hates when I speak weird, being one who loves using new languages, even if fantasy, you tend to speak or type your english a bit backwards
Lihan Taifun: I would do more, if I thought it was acceptable here
Harumi Oanomochi: you others would know that better than I, because I have yet to participate in more than a few limited rp's here.
Bosie Alchemi: i have seen some really good british and scottish old slang used very well
Harumi Oanomochi: however, common sense tells me that you are not going to be called on the carpet for using "Ye" instead of "you" and speaking in a way that is more formal than OOC speech. after all, even if different people use different levels of archiac speech, as long as the point gets across, it's all part of the ambiance of the fantasy we are creating.
Zryonotralionxus: Also, even common english has a wide variety of slang in it depending on where one grew up and learned it
Harumi Oanomochi: yes, Zry...so true.
Bosie Alchemi: me ol' cow is a'havin a time there with the mare up'n the meadow
Lihan Taifun: Boise, that kind of dialect is just what my teachers were trying to discourage, so, this confuses me
Bosie Alchemi: i enjoy it... im not good at it myself, but i can see why it would be a problem with non-native speakers
Harumi Oanomochi: Lihan, I think it is really up to the individual RP groups...One place I played, everyone talked like Irish fishwives. It got old, but they enjoyed the heck out of it.
Lihan Taifun: I enjoy it too, so it was hard to give it up, so then it is confusing seeing it being encouraged again
Zryonotralionxus: the big problem is more because they use translators which do not recognize anything other than proper english for the most part
Bosie Alchemi: so if the sim allows it ... i say go for it
Harumi Oanomochi: nods...groups develop their own culture...as in all things, places and groups evolve.
Zenon Mistwalker: i guess different styles of rp
Zryonotralionxus: I myself like the variety of individual characters and groups
Lihan Taifun: local culture, that makes sense
Zenon Mistwalker: yes
Zryonotralionxus: and RP is like an art, there are many forms of it
Harumi Oanomochi: exactly...I think that's part of the fun of RPing in SL...you get to immerse yourself in a wide variety of RP styles.
Bosie Alchemi: even in the descriptions of action , i have seen it done very well
Zryonotralionxus: everyone developes a style to themselves
Harumi Oanomochi: and Ael also wanted to address this issue:
AelKennyr Rhiano: Show respect for RP leaders. It is so frustrating when I im someone and they instantly argue with me...nine times out of ten, what I am contacting them about is not a situation that calls for arguments or attitudes
Zryonotralionxus: arguing never gets any good results. discussion with open minds does, and I think the worse thing is taking something somone says as personal when it is just informative
Harumi Oanomochi: The RP leaders and coordinators work hard, on a volunteer basis, to make sure the rp runs smoothly, and just because a person's particular storyline goes awry, does not mean you should blame the RP coordinator.
Bosie Alchemi: yes, in rp as in life "we can't always get what we want."
Zryonotralionxus: And the fun part about RP is sometimes the unexpected, a good RPer can recover or work with what is given to the good
Harumi Oanomochi: And on that note, I think we've gone through all of Ael's notes...any final additions or comments?
Zryonotralionxus: I seen very poetic RP, word play RP, and simple RP, I can only imagine the wide range more out in SL
Harumi Oanomochi: it's amazing really...cultures within cultures...SL truly is a world unto itself.
Bosie Alchemi: i have seen a wide range of levels and styles in one role play ... different people
Zryonotralionxus: Yes it is, I am amazed at least once every day I am here lol
Harumi Oanomochi: And don't get me started on vampire lingo. LOL...I got so tired of being undead. *wink*
Zryonotralionxus: Hmm, did not know there was such lingo! I just recently found merfolk lingo lol
Harumi Oanomochi: depends upon the vamps...I was playing with a group that used Vampire the Masquerade as their basis and that was loaded with references to the rp game from which it was drawn. In addition to RL languages, I find myself picking up how to say hello in Mer, Gorean, Vampire, Dragon...and so forth. It's really kind of fun.
Zryonotralionxus: LOL, I do to, I have many Lexicons
Harumi Oanomochi: Yes, thank you all. Another illuminating session, and you all add the magic that lets us continue to refine our RP techniques.
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