The Tao Of RolePlay

The Tao Of RolePlay

What is RP

There are many different STYLES or roleplay, Short, para, semi-para, mixed. But in each case, it is all RP. IN RP, you operate your avatar as a puppet, it is NOT an extension of yourself, and the reason for this is the TAO.

You operate your avatar just like you would operate a puppet in a puppet story. It does not matter how much of yourself you put in to the puppet, or the story, the puppet will never be you, and you will never be the puppet.

Much in the same way a writer, or other story teller, can and will put their characters in danger, with no danger to themselves, you will do the same.

But its not the same, is it?

While there are many documents on How-To Roleplay, and what roleplay is, there is more, something hidden, something that will jump up and bite you right in the tender spot.

What is OOC

OOC is out of character, or putting your Real Life self in to your avatar, except for the most important of things, ((Fire, Phone, etc)) OOC chatter of any kind is to be avoided at all costs.

Inserting OOC chatter in to a roleplay is basically the same as yelling CUT, on a movie set or ending a chapter in a book. If you want to completely derail a roleplay, OOC chat will usually do it.

People who don't RolePlay, or have never been exposed to it, are OOC, or even worse, Mixed Role, all the time. They will discuss how they shot you with their laser in one sentence and the specs of their computer in the next. They usually don't emote or use other scene descriptive text.

People who try to RolePlay in IM. IM's are for OOC chatter, and some very specific RP scenarios, otherwise all roleplay is in local chat. What is the point of writing a book no one else can read.

What is the TAO

There is something that usually causes mental distress to new roleplayers, separation. The ability to separate the IC from the OOC, the RL from the SL. This is especially evident when they are involved in romantic or erotic roleplay. These players, while thier roleplay is fine, let it seep in to their RL or OOC.

It really can't be helped, until they develop the Tao. They will let the roleplay effect them emotionally, it will work its way in to their RL. Then, when the RP ends, they are hurt. This is not good, but it is normal.

If you let it, the emotional stress from immersing yourself in an addictive roleplay will tear you up inside.

If you are in an RL relationship, you should not need to hide your roleplay from your partner, or feel guilty about it in any way. Ideally your partner would play here too, but that is not always practical.

If you have the Tao, you realize, in more than just an intellectual way, that:

• My RP CHARACTER is attacking your RP CHARACTER, I am not attacking you.
• My RP CHARACTER is 25 and lives in California, I am not, and do not.
• My RP CHARACTER thinks your RP CHARACTER is cute, nice, whatever. I don't know you, and probably never will.
• My RP CHARACTER just rode you like a rental. I don't know you, and probably wouldn't.
• My RP CHARACTER will do and say things that your RP CHARACTER may find offensive. I probably won't, and am generally nice.
• I will not be upset at the things you CHARACTER does, my CHARACTER might, but only if it finds out.

And finally, until you develop the Tao, I wish to apologize to everyone past present and future, for any emotional stress that I have or will cause, because of your belief that in some small way any of this might be real.

If you wish to visit me personally I am at:

• 200, quai Charles de Gaulle
• 69006 Lyon
• France
• Fax: +33 4 72 44 71 63

Just ask for my avatar by name.