Mama Vevier's Guide to Roleplaying

[Vevier]

So this is more of an explanation for how I roleplay rather than a hard and fast type of guide like some of my others are. I invite anyone with alternate styles to post on the thread and share so that we might all become awesome.

Step 1: Start off with a shtick or a concept.

It doesn't have to be something really original or super complicated, that will come later. Bulimic Giant, reserved and respectful, klepto, illiterate, can't speak anything except his name. What this does is gives you a basis for the rest of your roleplay. This should be decided during character creation so that you can pick a race/class based on it. A klepo should be a thief, a pathological liar might want to be an illusionist etc. Keep your race in mind too, a giant is more likely to be ignorant than an elf, but being an illiterate elf can have a lot of interesting roleplay opportunities as well.


Step 2: Start roleplaying at level 1

This is important because most of the people you meet before level 10 are going to delete/not be around when you are a bigger badder player. So if your roleplay doesn't work out, you can change it without anyone calling you out on inconsistencies. Secondly, it gets you into the habit and mindset of the character, so you don't have to suddenly think different once you reach the level where you want to roleplay. It also makes the newbie area more interesting. Go ahead and test out your roleplay responding to the Adepts in there, see how it feels.

Remember, if its not working out, you can tweak the roleplay to fit yourself, it doesn't have to be a do or delete sort of thing. Make sure you're enjoying the character. Once you get to that point, write a background so that you can keep everything straight. If you have a great roleplay, people may look that up.

Step 3: Keep your own feelings out of it!

As you are working your way through the ranks, you'll get silent pk'ed, and you'll get ditched for better groupmates. You'll have people with autosplit off and all sorts of other annoying things. STAY IN CHARACTER WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN! If your roleplay is a very Zen sort of person, they aren't going to verbally abuse someone. Maybe they'll feel like they need to keep the balance by killing the one who killed them, but they certainly won't bad mouth back.

I know, its not easy, and I'm guilty of breaking this step as well, but it is one of the most important. Stay in character.

***IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER*** There are certain things that are against the rules, such as sexual harassment. Please break character and report anyone trying to twist you into a situation where you are uncomfortable.


Step four: Let the character grow

So you start with a shtick, and thats a great start, but how do you go from being a one dimensional character to a memorable one? You let the character grow up. You'll find problems for him, the theft, the shyness, the illiteracy. People will try to help you with them, so let him get better, even if its not the whole way. Maybe the klepo steals less, maybe it only happens in the mornings, maybe your dumb giant can count to 10.


Step five: Remember other characters

If you flirt with someone, make friends with someone, make enemies with someone, remember them next time. Don't propose to someone then flirt with someone else because they're not online. (You know, unless that's your shtick). We're all selfish. We all think our characters are the main players in the AR story, and if you remember us, we'll remember you remembering us. Its an easy way to be memorable.


Step six: Spell correctly!

You could have the most complex and interesting rp ever, but if you spell very poorly all the time, you won't ever stick out as great. A typo here and there is quite understandable. We all try to type as quickly as we can, but you have to have some skill in it for us to take you seriously.


I may add more later on, but this is a good start.