World of Warcraft®

((From my article, located at the SoE WordPress Community Site: http://soe4rp.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/what-works-rp-lessons-and-maxims/))


Just like in other areas of life and in the world, working with others within a role-playing community takes effort. There are key ingredients that go into making things function well, and sometimes we learn these best through trial and error. While most of us don’t know everything about everything (I could fill volumes with what is unknown to me, for example), often, you do pick up nuggets of wisdom through experience. Here are a few things I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) about how to make a role-playing atmosphere conducive to fun and open interaction.


You Are Not Always a Rock Star
Even though you can create characters that might leverage a bit of power in the grand scheme of things, run a role-playing guild, or be someone with great sway in life, you should understand that working with others in a role-playing situation doesn’t always mean you are in charge or that your character should be the center of attention. While there is nothing wrong with starting storylines, arcs, or even offering role-playing to others, do it with openness and not command. As an analogy, it is one thing to offer someone dinner, and yet another to force feed them. Share the spotlight, offer your storylines as a catalyst and release control. Not only does this create bonds of trust between you and others, but it fosters an open, healthy role-playing atmosphere.

You Are Not Always a Victim
Sometimes, things do not go the way we plan. If you do something such as offer role-play to others or create an event, do not be upset if people decline to participate; after all, you made an offer (going on the assumption that you’re not Rock Starring and that you did not demand interaction). Consider that other people’s schedules, their character’s storylines, and other extenuating circumstances might prevent them from participating. Rather than flame them or claim you are being treated poorly, actually ask them for a bit of time and chat with them about their reasons and what happened. Sometimes, assumptions can be the opposite of truths, and discussing things openly can save a good deal of strife.

Play Nice
When you interact with other characters, always give them options with your actions. Not only is this a must for role-played fights, but it also applies to other things as well. For example, if you work closely with another author and they have a long-running arc and are close to the finish, it might throw things way out of line if you come in and make a significant change. While some authors welcome such a challenge, others may not. Use discretion when taking actions that impact someone else’s character on a grand scale, be it leaving them no options for blocking a strike, moving their character, or working to an end in a storyline.

Geek Like Me
Consider others to be your equals. Even if your writing skills may be a bit more polished, your never misspell or err in punctuation, your character is clothed in the latest tier of epics, or you have a vocabulary that would stand to impress a legion of word-smiths, never forget that other people who sit at their keyboards and stare at their screens are doing exactly what you are doing at the very same moment. They are people behind the polygons and words on a screen, and they are not your tools for writing out only what you consider fit and proper. Never seek to use others simply as a means to your own story’s end. There are folks behind those characters, and they have feelings, too. Respect that they have a right to be here just as much as you, and be realistic in your expectations of them.

Square Pegs and Round Holes
If someone declines to take part in your role-play, do not take offense. While some people do blend IC and OOC (a big and basic no-no!), most tend to keep them separated. Thus, on most occasions (and sadly with a few exceptions), most of the time that someone may decline to role-play with you, it is for a valid reason. As an example, let us say that Role-player A’s rogue hates Blood Knights and Role-player B’s Blood Knight hates rogues. This could be a good source for tension and some dynamic writing. However, even if Role-player A wants to pursue that kind of thing, it could be that it would not make sense in Role-player B’s storyline at the moment. If you walk away with the understanding that it’s just how things are and it’s nothing to get upset about, then you might be able to revisit the opportunity at a later date if both parties are willing. If you implode, your chances of revisiting things are lowered. Above all else, if someone declines and it’s more on a permanent level, respect them enough to take the decision as their right. You will find someone else, and there is no sense in forcing someone to interact if they do not want to do so.


There Is Only So Much Space
It will not be any surprise that I announce here we do not have player housing in WoW. Given this, folks can get a bit inventive and even protective of the space they claim as their character’s own. While servers available twenty-four hours and the nature of online interaction give us a nice window for multiple folks claiming “the little house right outside the city gate” as home, nothing gives any player the right to demand others leave if another player uses the same site in their role-play. Share the space we have, and do so willingly. The time you waste arguing over who “owns” a piece of server (and Blizzard) property can be spent role-playing elsewhere, such as just far enough away from your original destination so you get the setting but not the other party’s role-playing /says and emotes.

Too Err is Human
Brace yourselves for a hard truth: people make mistakes. We all do. People can get moody, feel irritated, be sad, misread things, joke about something that is sensitive to you without knowing that fact, and generally not always be on their best behavior. We are, after all, human. Understanding that others may falter, hurt your feelings, forget something you think is very important, make grievous errors, and generally mess things up from time to time will help cushion the blow when it happens. Work through things with people by openly communicating when mishaps occur. Extending forgiveness to others and attempting to work through situations will go far when you make mistakes… and you will. It’s to be expected, since we are all just regular people.

Equally, be ready to own up to the errors you make. The only people who would expect perfection from you are those who are not realistic. Real folks? They will not only understand that you are capable of error, but they will admit their own faults and mistakes, too.

Note that this does not give anyone a "Be A Jerk Free" card. Behaving offensively and expecting forgiveness by tossing out an apology might work a few times, but you can bet on wearing your welcome thin rather fast.

You Know What They Say About Assuming
The only safe assumption you can possibly make is that you should never assume. Thinking that all people will love your character, forgive you automatically without you owning your mistakes, play by your rules, attend all the events you create, force their characters to get along with yours even though it makes no sense ICly, or change their plans for you might lead to a good deal of frustration, tears, and heartache you can avoid. Try a bit of planning and communicating, and always go into a situation looking to work with others to achieve a desired outcome beneficial to everyone, not just one party. People have their own agenda, just like you have yours. Share things rather than try to own them and push your own wants above others, and never believe that someone understands your intent if you have not discussed things with them prior.

Give and Get
If you find yourself looking for role-play more often than not, instead of blaming an entire community for the lack of interaction your character has, check and see what you are giving to the community and how often you are striving to interact with others. For example, if you prefer to hang out in Desolace and wonder why you do not get a good deal of RP interaction, it may behoove you to change location. As well, if the character you play never loses a fight, takes an injury, or can ever be caught when they break the law, you may find that people begin to avoid your character. This isn’t because he or she is so wicked awesome; rather, it is more than likely that the outcome is going to be the same, and the character has no depth because it is written to have no flaw or fault (i.e., “a Mary Sue”). Furthermore, when you take the time to create a “why are you not role-playing with me!?” or a “where is all the RP!?” post in community forums or on message boards, and the post is wedged firmly between other notices of role-playing activities, invites to events, people looking for role-playing partners and contacts, and open role-playing post-by-post threads, you might want to stop and ask yourself why you invested the time to do so instead of reaching out and actually taking a role-playing opportunity that exists. If the ones that exist do not work for you, ask why you did not create your own instead of simply complaining.

To use a real-life and even in-game analogy, take a look at fishing. The more often you cast your hook and bait, the greater your chance will be at catching a fish (given you are in the right location, of course). If you go out to the middle of the desert and cast the line, you may not get a good deal of return for your actions. Equally, if you stand on the bank of a river and never cast, you have a fair chance at having an empty tummy come supper time. Use your energy to reach out, make contact, and give your role-play to others. You might not always see returns on every cast you make, but it will get you further along than standing land-locked with nothing but air in your net.

My Opinion… and Yours,Too, Please?
In short, life is what you make it, just as is role-play. Go in with the right frame of mind, proper tools, and see it as a collaborative creative process, and you might just be pleasantly surprised with the results.

Now that I’ve shared my thoughts, I would sincerely like to hear your take on things. Regardless of if you are "old hat" or freshly started into RP, what do you feel has been a valuable lesson you have learned in your role-playing journey? Reply below and share your wisdom with others! :)

Respect people's time
We've all been there, the person that nags you and nags you for RP. When you finally give in, the person either tabs out to Minecraft or Facebook or simply just leaves. Individuals like these? I completely avoid. If you demand time from me but you're not willing to do the same, why interact with your characters?

*Granted when life happens, it happens. RL >>> wow and you owe no one explanations. But that's a different scenario ;)

The more complex the interaction, the more communication before/during/after is helpful for me. That said, I still find myself second guessing. (Was that too much? Did this work as planned? Did I do my part?)

It's still a learning process for me. For more complex interactions, it helps me to discuss parameters and see what develops - as long as it remains true to the characters. I find the trick for me is to reach a balance between scripting everything from start to finish (no surprises), and letting things develop in the moment (the risk being some "what was that all about" moments unintentionally coming into play).

Some spontaneous bits have been quite "magical" to experience - even if I just had the opportunity to witness them and not be an immediate part of the action (theatre geek alert).

I am still trying to stick to the Kindergarten rules:
- Play nice
- Share toys
- Don't take the ball and leave

04/29/2011 08:19 AMPosted by Bellamuerte

There Is Only So Much Space

OMG, this one time... I was making kissyface with this cute brunette in a random house in a random location and then in walks some lady...

[Lady]: Hun... there's two girls on our bed making out.
[Lady's husband]: (shout) What else is new?! Just get your spellbook and let's go!
<The Lady retrieves said book and departs with an uncomfortable feeling.>
<Moments later...>
[Lady's husband]: (distant) I forgot my hunting knife.
<In walks husband, retrieving said knife, and stopping with a look of apparent disgust.>
[Lady]: (shout) Hun, what's taking so long?
[Lady's husband]: Nothing... *sighs, grumbles, kicks doorframe, leaves*