The information below came from 3088 :: Roleplay :: Alpha 47-122 (all credits attributed to them) and it introduces new players to Roleplaying in Second Life!

Roleplay 101

Introduction

Roleplaying is, simply put, acting on a virtual stage. A roleplayer builds a character, gives them a history and personality, and acts out the part of their character. Along with other roleplayers, dramatic scenes, epic battles, and timeless romances can be played out.

Basic Skills

Emote

Like actors, roleplayers do more than just stand about speaking dialogs. They move their characters, adjust their body language and use nonverbal communication to help tell their stories. In Second Life, roleplayers act out these events through emotes. Emotes are texts written that are displayed as actions taken by a character. Typing /me <text> in the chat box will show actions you perform in character rather than words spoken.

Example:

• /me draws his sword

will be displayed:

• Johnny McNormalGuy draws his sword

Actions and dialog can be used in the same emote by placing dialog in quotations:

Example:

• /me raises his eyebrows and speaks in a low voice, “Hello, madam.”

will be displayed:

• Johnny McNormalGuy raises his eyebrows and speaks in a low voice, “Hello, madam.”

Out of Character Dialog

Typical of most roleplay environments, the use of double parentheses ((Example)) or brackets [Example] will denote when you are speaking as yourself rather than as your character. This is known as being “Out of Character” (or abbreviated OOC). Anything without the brackets is generally interpreted as roleplay. Whenever making comments, or speaking to other roleplayers as yourself, rather than as your character, it is important to place your comments in these markers so that the comments will not be mistakenly attributed as roleplay dialog.

Roleplay Conventions

Along with basic skills, there are a number of important factors to consider when roleplaying.

Realism

In Second Life you can see the name of the person you bump into above their head and a title. In Second Life, you can detach the camera from following your avatar to search a wide radius. These are useful for the majority of Second Life and even in roleplaying, but it’s important to remember that when roleplaying you adobt the role of a real character. No persons in real life can know names or personal histories without asking. We can not see through opaque objects without special equipment. Infinite knowledge is unachievable. It’s important to remember that roleplaying is grounded in these simple realities. Achieving realism in your characters means stepping back from the abilities afforded in Second Life and allowing your character to have reasonable limitations to thier abilities.

Consensual

Roleplay should remain as consensual as possible. Despite being In Character some actions you perform may annoy and frustrate others. It is important to be mindful of this. Conflicts and fights are natural and engaging roleplays, but it is important to never attempt to force any roleplay actions on other players. Forcing nonconsensual actions on other players is both rude and detrimental to roleplay in general.

Imposing

Coinciding with the idea of nonconsensual actions, imposing roleplaying is roleplay that forces other characters to act on certain actions. Good roleplay requires that all players contribute to the direction and actions taken by their characters.

Set as a simple written text fight between two people in a ‘Wild West Saloon’.

Good Example:

• Player1: John approaches Bill at the bar and with a sudden swift motion grabs him by the shoulder, “I told you not to come in here…”
• Player2: Bill quickly realises he is in danger and picks up the whiskey bottle on the bar spinning around with the motion of John’s grip on his shoulder.
• Player1: John draws back his other arm into readiness to punch Bill in the face as he spins to face him,”…and now you will wish you hadn’t”
• Player2: Bill looks in alar,m seeing the intent in John’s face, and swings the whiskey bottle towards his head.
• Player1: John continues with the punch and begins to strike Bill in the face suddenly at the same time feeling a blow to his head.
• Player2: Bill feels the instant pain in his cheekbone and nose as he connects the bottle with John’s head but starts to slump to the floor as it all goes dark.
• Player1: John feels a rush of fluid over his face and sharp pain before falling unconscious

In the example, the players both perform actions, but allow the other player to respond to the actions. Imposing actions are actions that do not allow a player to react in the way their character would, or force a player to adopt certain actions despite objections.

Bad Example:

• Player1: John approaches Bill at the bar and suddenly grabs his shoulder striking his square in the face with a punch, “hah didnt see that coming did you!”
• Player2: Bill falls to the ground.

Bill has really no choice but John has imposed himself. John has forced Bill to follow actions that Bill may or may not have wanted to follow. Either way, Bill has not been allowed to contribute to the roleplay effectively. Imposing actions, then, are actions that do not allow other players to add to the roleplay. Instead, they force other players into the personal story of one person’s imagination.

Remember, you are not the only character in the roleplay. Roleplay is best when the characters involved allow other characters to add their own actions to the scene.

Making a Character

Building a character is as simple or as complicated as you wish it to be. Your character can simply be yourself transplanted into the story of the roleplay, or a favorite fictional character, or any other idea that may come to your mind.

Having a character background is an excellent way to enhance your roleplay. Not only does it give your character a history, it also helps establish *why* your character wants to acheive certain goals or acts a particular way. Effective character generation is acheived by answering one or more of the following questions:

Who am I?

Rich or Poor? Young or Old? Possibly the most vague question one can ask, it is an excellent starting point for building your character. Develop a history of your character. Age, race, and social class all contribute to a person’s personality and characters in roleplay are no different.

Why am I in this place?

Are you looking for the love of your life a wandering soul? Are you seeking employment and fortune far from home or looking for a new place to settle down? Are you on a mission, looking for someone for any number of reasons? Are you seeking to swindle, lie, and cheat your way through another place in the world? Answering this question can help your character have greater depth and history.

What do I do for a living?

What are your characters skills? Do they have a trade that requires vast knowledge or deft control of their hands? The trade skills your character has should compliment your character’s background, but it also gives you a chance to further modify your character. When your character travelled the world, did they acquire a special skill or craft that has become an important hobby? Did a bad childhood leave you with a natural ability to handle firearms? All these questions, like the others before them, are small steps towards acheiving a fully developed and engaging character.

Above all else, have fun with your character and your roleplay!