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, no 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?

There are many documents on How-To Roleplay, and what roleplay is, but 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.

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

Thanks for the great roleplay!

That is something you should be able to say when you get your ass kicked.

There is a mental line you need to cross, a realization, an epiphany.

It is the lack of the need for people to apologize for the terrible things they do in RP.

It is your ability to spend 6 hours on a romantic beach sharing your characters life story with someone, have them kick sand in your face, and walk away, and your only thought is "That was cool, I wonder how they are going to play this out."

It is your ability to say some of the meanest nastiest things you can thing of and laugh about it, knowing that the CHARACTER you just said it to is not the person behind it, and knowing that if they have the Tao, they are laughing too.

It is your ability to watch a character you are close to get dragged off to a dungeon and be tortured for days and your only thought is ((was the roleplay any good)) Are you ok?.

A lot of the Tao is the resistance to meta-game, or use information you know, but your character would have no way of knowing, to influence your roleplay. Sure, he was dragged off, you saw it, but unless you were there, and until he roleplays it, you really don't know what happened.

The Tao is your ability to have YOUR CHARACTER form a relationship with another CHARACTER, in the roleplay, and know that is does not go beyond that.

The Tao is most important if you are in an RL relationship, whether or not your partner plays. They need to embrace the Tao as much as you. If they play as well, it is exponentially more important. Failure in this area can lead to much discomfort in your life.

just remember, everyone you roleplay with is a 52 year old plumber, on disability, living with a relative, in the low rent part of town. They are not a rich lonely supermodel just waiting to take you away to a better life.

You must be able to lose. Losing can be fun, congratulate the winner on their excellent rolplay, and take your punishment.