This text is a condensed and adapted version of a great page on roleplay that we suggest to read:
http://asphyxiationpoint.weebly.com/roleplay-basics.html
1. Consent and Limits
Roleplay is all about consent. No one can force you to roleplay something you don't want to.By roleplaying out your reactions, you are guiding the other roleplayer in a certain direction.
Your character becomes a part of not just your story but someone else's as well.
Just because consent is implied, this does not mean you have to accept every kind of roleplay that comes your way. If you find the roleplay going in a direction you are not comfortable with, IM the other person and inform them immediately. Once they are aware, the two of you can negotiate some way to steer the roleplay onto more neutral grounds.
Roratonga sets a certain frame for roleplay that can be expected to happen here.
Being a capture and roleplay site, Roratonga isn't the right place for you, if you have a general problem with any of the themes here.
We do expect you to play the roleplay to the end, even if the combat went not how you had hoped or the captor is not who you hoped. In RL you would not have an option to "log out" either.
Having said so, our rules contain a limited set of exceptions, things that needn't be everybodys cup of coffee and therefore must not be enforced.
Also note that the implied consent is restricted to roleplay alone. No matter what role you play in this fictional world YOU, the player, have the absolute right to say NO when someone asks you for anything in the real world. Online safety happens to be a very real concern in Second Life as well and you would be well advised to protect your privacy aggressively. If a simple NO doesn't work, there is always the MUTE button to help you out.
2. Out of Character (OOC) vs. In Character (IC
Roratonga is a fantasy role play archipelago where you are role-playing a fictional character in a fictional world.
Just because you happen to run into a murderer here doesn't mean the person who is playing that character is interested in doing harm to others in the real world. A good roleplayer is always mindful of that line between what their character says and feels with what they say and feel. The first is called In Character (IC) and the other Out of Character (OOC). Care must be taken never to cross between the two.
It is a typical practice to mark OOC comments by putting them between double brackets, for example (( I will be back in a minute ))
Some feel that IM is bad roleplay style. IM indeed should be used as little as possible in a roleplay. You don't have a "telepatic" communication in RL either, don't you?
Don't use IM to "direct" the roleplay! Stay in public chat.
However, people who used to play in Gor must realize that not necessarily everybody is aware of their complex set of roleplay rules. A bit of common sense and flexibility helps a lot.
IM can serve to communicate roleplay limits, what is an OOC communication.
3. Punctuation as clarification
It may be helpful to use punctuation to mark the meaning of the different sections of a message.THOUGHS can be a means for emoting (see below).
For example:
Use "..." to mark what you say
Use *...* to mark what you think
Example:
"Oh god, no, please don't", she begs, but in the same time thinks *oh god, how hot*!
4. Emoting
The importance of emoting cannot be emphasized enough! So many men fail in this department and wonder why the (real) women think that their roleplay sucks!Emoting is "the expression of your emotions / sensations / thoughts etc" and greatly adds to the roleplay entertainment value.
Roleplay without emoting is lame and boring!
There is an own article on that:
Emoting Basics
5. Respect the Sim theme
Imagine you are watching Pirates of the Caribbean and Little Pony suddenly pops up on screen. Can I explain the presence of Little Pony on a pirate ship? Well.. Not really!While this is a rather extreme example, the character you create should at least loosely fit in with the Roratonga Backstory.
People always appreciate someone who has taken the time to create, dress and play a credible character. Failure to do so may cause you to be shunned...
A similar danger exists in playing the exception vs. the norm. New role-players have a tendency to gravitate towards roles which sort of break the rules. Who are either Governors or Tribe Leaders, impossibly strong or impossibly rich or have access to immeasurable, drugs, money and whores. But imagine if every person in the sim were Governors what fun would it be?
6. Respect other roleplayers
Since role-playing is such a social activity, you have to keep in mind that it's not all about your character when you're interacting with other people. No one is in here to entertain you. These are real people you are dealing with much like you. They all have stories and reasons for being around, and playing with those assorted stories can be just as interesting as (and sometimes, even more than) your own. Thus you must be careful to ensure you :Do not hog the limelight : Roleplay arises from interactions. If you focus too much on your own story, it turns into story-writing and not roleplay. What makes roleplay really interesting is that the storyline you are trying to develop may be supported or opposed by the other characters you run into. As long as all this happens In Character, this is all part of the roleplay.
Open yourself up to consequences : We are all here to write a story together. There is no winning or losing. No one likes someone who avoids consequences of their actions or insists on "winning" all the time. People do enjoy roleplaying with someone who brings in depth and diversity into their roleplay and makes roleplay a fun experience for all.
Wait your turn to allow others to post : Most roleplay venues, especially ones with paragraph RP, subscribe to turn based role-playing. Be patient and wait your turn and do not try to dictate the direction of the roleplay by posting multiple things while others are composing their posts.
Do not walk off from roleplay in progress : If you need to leave your keyboard for some reason, excuse yourself from the roleplay in progress before stepping away. If it really happens to be in a hurry, apologize to the involved parties the next time you log in. You wouldn't run out of someone's house without saying goodbye. Its much the same here.
Be respectful in IMs and other OOC interactions : We are all adults here. Roleplay will not always go your way. Not all roleplay will meet your perfect standards. There is no reason to get insulting or abusive over it. Same holds for interactions in public forums, group chat and the like.
7. Common mistakes
There are some common roleplay courtesies which should be obvious but unfortunately aren't. So I am just providing a brief listing for your reference below :- Whizz.kid: Roleplay is about interaction. If your character can do everything, knows everything, there is no reason for your character to interact with other characters.
- Power-gaming: No character is perfect, no character is all-powerful, no character is invincible, and no character is above consequences.
- God-modding: You may only emote your own actions not the actions of the person you are role-playing with. If you are roleplaying with PlayerX, let PlayerX roleplay his/her character's reactions to your roleplay.
- Metagaming: Information gained through OOC means like talking to your friends about this amazing new RP they are part of in IM has no part in roleplay. Only information gained via roleplay by your character can be used in roleplay.
- Extensive RP limits: Roleplay is all about consent. But an extensive list of limits that does not fit the venue may put off other roleplayers from interacting with you. You always reserve the right to Fade-To-Black.
Roratonga is not for everyone. It is a extreme sim with controversial themes that not everyone is comfortable with. If you happen to be such a person, there are other RP venues in SL to explore. Similarly, if you find yourself invoking roleplay limits or fade to black repeatedly, you should consider trying a RP venue that better accommodates your tastes. At the end of the day you are playing a virtual character in a virtual world. If the experience turns into anything but fun and exciting it is time to look for a change.