Beginner's Guide to Roleplaying

[Riku]

#1 Moderation is the key:
Having an uber-powerful character that can, with one withering look, decimate everything, does not get you any friends. It is unfair and annoying to those who wish to play properly; it also ruins the game for everyone else. Having a well-balanced character is what people want.

#2 Grammar is as important as Granddad.
Typing without basic punctuation, grammar or spelling it can be very difficult to decipher exactly what is being said. If you're not sure of the spelling, type it out in a word-processing program with a spellchecker so you dont have to worry or get out the dictionary.

#3 Leet must die
Avoid the use of leet or other internet speak which includes the use of y, u etc. Use full sentences and proper sentence structure. Colloquial accents are fine so long as you stick to them and they are easy to understand. If you wish to use silly accents then for continuity you need to stick with them really. Also avoid the use of asterisk to signify actions. Use full sentences to display your actions instead.

#4 Use the door not the wall to enter a roleplay.
Time your entrance as best you can. It is no good for those already playing being engaged in a fearful battle for their lives when along you come and start chatting to them. It is best to enter while they're walking along a road or the like.

#5 Whats in a name?
Remember to include your name often instead of he or I as it can be difficult for latecomers to know who you are without referring constantly back to the character bios.

#6 A break from the norm.
You dont always have to be the generic human. Branch out, be wacky (within reason) create your own races (but be sure to say what they are!). As long as the cap fits wear it.

#7 SPAM
Dont spam, that includes making lots of single line posts rather than editing your original post.

#8 Bunnying
Bunnying is where you control other characters without their permission. This is frowned upon for obvious reasons as it is annoying and unsporting. People favor those who dont touch this with a ten-foot barge pole.

#9 Autohitting
Continuously attacking another character without giving them a chance to defend themselves. This again is unsporting and more than a little annoying. Avoid like the plague.

#10 Be interesting in your bio.
Just like in real-life with a resume; short, vague and not very detailed (much like a dwarf really) is not the way to go. A two-line bio makes for a very boring read. Be creative and interesting, delve deep into your imagination and create something worthwhile to read (though dont be too long)

©2008, Riku of Shinobi Generations, All Rights Reserved.

[Shadowyshinobi]

I thought it'd be a good idea to come up with some tips that ibelieve will make the rp's on here be more dynamic and just better in general.

• The first tip lies in your characters. Try and make your characters more memorable and better characters, not by what they can do but because who they are. In other words, make your characters stand out because of their personalities and maneurisms, not by how they fight. Though the jutsu and their methods of fighting are important, a character is most remembered because of who they are.
  
  
• The next tip pertains to the stories that are told. Missions and in character posts are meant to tell a story and a story being told by several different people looks best if the story makes sense. Discuss what each character is going to do and how the story is going to go. By organizing your thoughts and filling all the people involved in on what's going to happen outside of the story, makes the whole thing flow better and adds a little suspense and just makes for a better story. Don't try to make your character stand out and look super cool all the d**ned time. Let everyone shine equally by having everyone shine in a thread.
  
  
• If you want to make your character look cool then start a new thread that's just between you and the other person involved like a fight between you and an NPC should be it's own thread not part of one massive thread where everyone is doing something different because that just looks tacky.
  
  
• Try to give interesting titles to your threads. This well give a little clue as to whats going to happen in the thread and it might help you organize and decide what is going to happen in the thread.
  
  
• Don't just post if your character or your allies are on a mission. Make side threads that allow for character growth and insight into the character's person. Maybe your characters are all meeting up to throw a party or doing a training excercise. During these times your character's personality is most likely to be the most prominent thing someone will notice. You can have funny "filler threads" that are in between missions just like they do on the show.
  
  
• Don't try to make your character cooler than he really is by throwing out new jutsu and the like in the middle of a thread. Work with what they've got to get through a tough spot. The more intimate you are with your jutsu, the better you will be at using them. Look at Naruto and those d**n Shadow clones or even Orochimaru and snakes and jiraiya and toads.
  
  
• Starting a character at the level of genin or even academy student will give you a chance for tons of character development and give you time to think up some killer jutsu to go with ones they already know. They get better over time, look at everyone in Shippuden.
  
  
• Think before you do things. It's not always the best plan to rush in kunai drawn and firing off jutsu. Sometimes talking can be a good plan of action. and running in is a very good way to get killed. One of the key skills of a ninja is deception. That means being discreet and making things look different than what they are. At the same time keep emotions in mind because sometimes your angry or depressed which is a good factor as to what you're going to do.
  
  
• Keep in mind that stupid actions and unoriginal actions or unintelligent ones may result in the death of your character. Think smart not cool. Intelligence is one of your most powerful tools.
  
  
• Not every mission is about fighting, keep the objective in mind and try and remain hidden make things run as smoothly as possible without confrontation.
  
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