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How to Roleplay in World of Warcraft at All Levels
来自 DaggersEdge
[Last Updated]:
2024/03/30
变更日志
补丁:10.2.6
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How to Be a Good and Smart Roleplayer: Your Daily Dose of Realism
"Rebelliously revealing the unspoken rules of roleplay."
Studious kaldorei
Elise Starseeker
by
Luke Mancini.
Introduction
Welcome! This up-to-date, comprehensive, and comprehensible guide provides an in-depth look at how roleplay works and features lesser-known details, etiquette, terms, fun facts, and topics that people are afraid to discuss. You will learn to interact, develop your strengths, hone and refine your skills, and tap into your individual flair with class, finesse, and polish. It can take you step-by-step as a primer, or for the advanced, be a refresher course and offer ideas that you may not have thought of or were not told about roleplay. I uncover many hidden secrets and present invaluable insight, prioritizing your safety, privacy, and well-being. With tips not found anywhere else, all skill levels will come away with discoveries. The entirety is from years of firsthand experience and observation—written by a roleplayer, for roleplayers. It is for retail World of Warcraft with the majority applicable for Classic. I teach how to navigate roleplay culture, set boundaries, avoid mistakes that I made, and take care of yourself in a community that is not always civil. Like the void elves, I advocate to "walk your own path", think critically and "question everything", and emphasize consent, respect, and transparency. I have a pro-lore viewpoint, fresh perspective, and a realistic, logical approach. If you want honesty and truth infused with humor, I do not sugarcoat or hold back in imparting common-sense wisdom. I understand that roleplay can be daunting. By sharing my findings, I hope to allay your fears, empower your confidence, and arm you with the breadth of knowledge needed to make roleplaying easier and happy. My goal is for you to flourish and be the best roleplayer that you can be. The volume of my expansive guide may seem intimidating; I suggest reading in sections. With a Wowhead account, please rate it if you like it or it helps you in any way!
Getting Started
Before embarking on your roleplaying journey, ask yourself if you are patient, creative, can sit for long periods and concentrate, have the time to invest and an imagination, enjoy writing, reading, storytelling, spontaneity, interacting with others, and being an actor and pretending—that is, playing as a character who is not yourself. This is what roleplay is all about. You will have an easier time if these things do not feel like work and come naturally to you. Think about it carefully and if something does not mesh, roleplay might not be for you. If you are new to the game, I recommend trying roleplay on a paid account (not a free trial) and when you have played for around 6 months to be familiarized, unless you have other roleplay experience.
What is Roleplay?
Roleplay is the bringing of a character to life by creating a story that immerses them in their environment. A cohesive history makes them become a part of Azeroth with the lore of their own that they deserve. Characters are not meant to stay stagnant. Their stories are kept ongoing by interactions and reacting to surroundings and current events. Like people gradually change, a character's personality is shaped to reflect their experiences. Personal developments are called "character progression" and nothing is more fulfilling and satisfying than having them mature, open up, learn a lesson or something new, or work through an issue. Roleplay is like a seesaw, a back-and-forth conversation between all involved parties; no character is better or should be the center of the universe. Good roleplayers are aware, considerate, know the delicate balance between focusing on themselves and others, and are dedicated to their own characters. Weaving stories with people can be exciting and unpredictable, not knowing where the twists and turns in the road will take you as plots unfold. Eagerly anticipating and awaiting what people have to say next can leave you on the edge of your seat. Roleplay is spontaneous, extemporaneous improvisation and ad-libbing, collaborative writing, winging the script on the fly, a living story in real time, a cooperative joint effort. It keeps you on your toes and reads like a play. You are your own advertiser, talent scout, writer, director, actor, and audience. Storylines intertwine, paths cross, characters ebb and flow. Enjoy the thrill of adventure and the unknown. The world of roleplay is waiting for you!
Before You Begin
You cannot roleplay properly if you do not know your character. They do not need to be entirely fleshed out and you do not need to know all of WoW's lore. You will grow as you go, but first, the most vital aspect is to have at least a basic idea of lore relevant to their race/class/age, current expansion and general historical lore, and their story and personality. Do research on your own. Do not use people for information or to write your biography for you, but ask questions or for help if you know someone knowledgeable and willing. The WoW books are extracurricular supplementals, but you can buy some when you acquire more experience. Some lore is meant only for players to know out-of-character such as minute details of lore characters' lives, enemy threats, or upcoming expansion events. Characters should have limited knowledge in-character; knowing more than they ought is called
meta-gaming
. For your character to know current lore happenings, it depends on their location (news can travel slowly) and what kind of job they have. The general rule to remember is to get inside your character's head, think of things from their perspective, and understand their scope of knowledge. Characters must not be perfect or invincible. Important character-building consists of giving them flaws—heroes are made, not born. Creating impossible lore event connections or implausible major lore character connections is frowned upon. They may have met or be a little acquainted, but they will not be your character's friend lest you risk being a
Mary Sue
. Learning and developing beforehand makes roleplaying less overwhelming; jumping into it without forethought often results in embarrassment. If you have not already, please devote some time to this. Browse the links below, search Google and YouTube if needed, then continue reading.
Official Battle.net Rules:
In-Game Code of ConductRP Naming Policy RP Realm Rule-Set
WoW's realm list does not say which are connected so check here:
Connected Realms
The official WoW website lists all realms:
Realm Status
It is also a great place to start for lore:
Playable Races Playable Classes Short Stories, Videos, & More
The official WoW forums are excellent if you have questions that you cannot find answers to or want player feedback:
(NA) Lore: World's End Tavern: Role-play and Fan Fiction (EU) Lore: Role-playing
Blizzard affiliate Wowpedia is a good resource for all things lore:
Wowpedia
Additional RP mechanics, character ideas, race guides (slightly outdated):
Guide to Roleplaying
IC
In-character (Acting as your character would.)
OOC
Out-of-character (Acting as yourself, the player.)
RP, RPs, RPing, RPed, RPer
Roleplay, roleplays, roleplaying, roleplayed, roleplayer
(Blizzard is inconsistent with the spelling of "roleplay". You may also see "role-play" or "role play". Any one is fine.)
墨黑药水
Changes skybox to a very dark, starry night.
语言药剂
Communicate through /say, /yell, and /emote with the other faction.
增长药剂
Use if your character is larger than average.
暗月跷跷板
Use if your character is smaller than average.
Configure the chatbox before you start RPing. Consider right-clicking the General tab and hitting "Edit Mode", then drag the bottom right triangle in that chat window to adjust the size. Either use the General tab or "Create New Window" specifically for RP. Now right-click the General tab and hit "Settings".
For your preferred chat tab, leave these chats on and turn the rest off during RP.
Make sure all chat channels are turned off during RP.
In "Other", the Creature Messages is chat from nearby NPCs which can get spammy. Leave these off.
If you used the General tab, add any chat that you turned off in a new tab if desired. You can also drag a tab out to "undock" it and make it a separate window, but this takes up more screen space. As well, the color of any chat can be changed. Do not be afraid to mess with the settings to get it to your liking!
The primary reliable source for add-ons is through CurseForge, an affiliate of Blizzard. Installing the
Curseforge desktop program
is the best way to download, manage, and update them. RP profile add-ons make finding RP easier; people without them are often ignored and treated like they are OOC or non-RPers. Add-ons are optional. Do not let others pressure you into getting them if you like the way you play. Recommended add-ons for all RPers:
Add-on
Use
Total RP 3 (TRP)
,
XRP
,
or
MyRolePlay (MRP)
*
*
RP profiles. Having more than one add-on downloaded causes conflictions, so only pick one. The add-ons communicate with each other so you can see every profile regardless of add-on, but you will miss out on extra information from TRP profiles if you have XRP or MRP. Most use TRP. If you decide on TRP, download its module
TRP3 Extended
as well which allows you to receive and create custom items.
Emote Splitter
*
Removes character limit in chat.
Listener
Tracks each player's posts so you never miss one.
Elephant
Automatically saves all chat in logs for future reference.
WoW Instant Messenger (WIM)
Whisper add-on, putting them in separate window.
Cross RP
Allows cross-faction Whispering, seeing cross-server and cross-faction RP profiles, and Elixir of Tongues reminders.
Please keep all content in your RP profile appropriate. Obscene writing/links or harassment violates the
Code of Conduct
and is logged and viewable by Blizzard. Profiles can be reported. More info:
Reporting RP Profiles That Infringe on Blizzard's Terms of Service
PROFILE ADD-ONS
TRP and MRP display personalized colors of character names, making them easy to identify.
TRP and XRP remove the pesky space between a name and a comma or " 's " in emotes.
TRP and XRP can begin emotes with a word other than your character's name. After typing /e, do not hit the space bar and type a vertical bar: |
Then you can hit the space bar and type your emote. If you do not have the add-on, typing | is still recommended to separate your character's name from the start of your sentence. This is good for emoting as an NPC or background character as well.
TRP can be programmed to detect OOC text, IC actions, or IC speech in emotes, marking them in gray, orange, and white respectively.
TRP's slash command
/trp3 roll
is a dice roll, used mainly in combat RP (see
Battle in Roleplay
). Everyone in your Party with TRP will see the rolls, or if you are ungrouped, only the person you have Targeted can see it if they have TRP. Examples:
/trp3 roll
lands a random number out of 100.
/trp3 roll d20
lands a random number out of 20.
/trp3 roll 1d6
TRP's dice rolls have support modifiers to apply to the total roll. For example, typing
/trp3 roll d20+10
would add 10 to the result of the roll. In this case, the result is 16 and it added 10.
/trp3 roll 2d20 1d12
EMOTE SPLITTER
Allows you to type continuously to elongate any type of chat without hitting WoW's limit, breaking these up into separate paragraphs at once for you. It is very useful if you have a lot to say, but if you are just getting the hang of RP, keep it short if you like.
Saves/remembers what you are typing. If you accidentally delete your entire message, you type somewhere else or hit the Escape/Esc key and the chat bar closes, you disconnect, or if WoW's tab closes altogether, (log back in if you must,) click in the chat bar and hold down the left Ctrl key, then hit the Z key, multiple times if necessary to cycle through previous text/edits. It will recover all or some of what you last typed.
What to Expect
When you create your first character on a roleplay server, you may anticipate—as I did—seeing people "roleplay walking" everywhere, meeting characters around every corner who have stories to tell in every zone on your levelling adventures. While there are certainly exceptions, things tend to be different.
Servers
The priority when choosing a server should be the population and type of community that you want. Avoid letting other factors restrict you, such as:
realm populations being "high" and "full". (There is room for your characters and log-in queues only sometimes happen at an expansion's launch.)
realm reputations like
ERP
in Goldshire. (Avoid partaking in the stigma if you want and you will be fine.)
only joining a server because you like its name.
joining a server because it is the only one where you can get your desired name spelling.
Do not spend time levelling or money on a transfer/boost sight unseen. Doing any of these could land you on dead or disagreeable realm. Make a new or Class Trial test character to check out different servers and areas, get a feel for the community, and try at different times of the day. Once you have decided, you may have to change your RP character's name spelling or use letter alt codes. You can input your desired spelling in RP profile add-ons. It can be disappointing, but there may need to be a trade-off if you want to maximize your RP chances.
The population statuses can be misleading and may not accurately represent what they are in actuality. For realms connected with other realms, the status does not reflect the population of each individually but combined across its connected realms. Low and medium RP servers often share merged servers, have fewer people available, and may require you to join a guild or in-game Community to find RP. Full and often high population RP servers can stand alone, have the most RP that is easier to find, and the most players who utilize RP add-ons. The overall population of some realms may not actively partake in RP. Most servers have one faction that is more populous.
Warmode? Chromie Time? That is the question.
Warmode allows you to kill and be killed by the opposite faction. Chromie Time scales all pre-Dragonflight quests to allow level 10-59 players to quest in a chosen expansion. Turning either on phases or "shards" you to only see others with PvP or Timewalking enabled everywhere, including capital cities,
except Stormwind and Orgrimmar
. Upon joining a party for RP, you may need to turn WM or Chromie Time off as it can interfere with the ability to see other members. WM can be turned off in any Rest area. Visit Chromie at the Stormwind or Orgrimmar Embassy to turn off Chromie Time. Most RP occurs with WM and Chromie Time off, so unless you plan on RP-PvPing in WM as a part of your RP or event, leave them off during RP.
Behavior
Very few are IC full-time and doing so is
not
recommended. Only go IC when you are in the mood for RP. Most people run around OOC most of the time, mandatory during random groups and instances which are OOC territory. Bosses are considered defeated by lore; you cannot "re-kill" them. Unless in a specified RP group, it does not make sense to RP in LFGs and comes off as odd, especially to non-roleplayers, where you may be ridiculed. Contribute to the server's fantasy immersion. Reserve /say (/s), /yell (/y), and /emote (/e) strictly for IC dialogue and narration. Surround OOC commentary in double parentheses (see
Symbols & Keyboard Tips
), especially if you absolutely must respond in these chat types, but keep it to Whispers or Party chat. Anything technical we experience as players must be excluded from IC talk such as "questing", "levels", "achievements", "chat channels", and "raiding". In RP, these things do not exist.
Finding Roleplay
Most RP happens in capital cities, mainly Stormwind and Orgrimmar, often concentrated in pockets known as "roleplay hubs" or "roleplay hotspots". Peak RP generally occurs evenings (server time) and on weekends. Unplanned RP with strangers is called "random roleplay", "walk-ups", and "one-offs". RPing with a group of people is called "group roleplay". It is great for meeting new people, sharing stories, and less silence; minuses are being left out, side conversations, and confusion. Gathering in zones outside capital cities or outside Stormwind and Orgrimmar is called "open world roleplay" or "world roleplay". Some welcome being approached when out questing, but such occurrences are somewhat rare. If you wish to approach someone who appears busy or you cannot tell if they are IC at that moment, Whisper and ask. If they are not IC, do not bug them and find other RP. Just because you are IC or OOC does not mean everyone else around you is the same. RP profile add-ons are handy for this as a person can mark themselves as "in-character" or "out-of-character" at a given time and also indicate whether they are open to things such as world RP.
Total RP 3
has a scan feature on your map to see where others with the add-on are congregated.
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General Roleplaying Hints
"Proverbs of a Roleplayer"
YOUR CHARACTER
Do not be unnecessarily cruel to your character by often creating issues for them for laughs. If overdone, this can be annoying and draining for RPers around you, especially those involved. Hardships can be healthy and make interesting plotlines, but be sure to resolve or overcome them. If you do not like or treat your character well, no one else will, either.
Be aware that if you RP a mean character, you may not get much RP and if you dish it out, you must be able to take it. People may avoid your character or start an IC altercation. Not many enjoy subjecting their characters to insults and arguments; having to defend oneself is tiring. People typically RP to have fun and de-stress. You do not have to make your character mean and force everyone else to put up with it. You never know who you are talking to. The person may be brand new to RP and making hurtful IC comments for no reason might discourage them from RPing again. Also, people sometimes use the guise of "being in-character" to be an OOC bully or
troll
. This is not a bulletproof excuse. Griefing RP can get you
banned
.
If your character is not social, you will have to invent IC reasons why they are in the city/around people so that you can RP. If you RP as a non-verbal animal, please be considerate. It may get awkward or boring for others as there is only so much they can do and say to something that cannot respond. If you RP an amnesiac or orphan, do not use it as a crutch to avoid learning lore or developing backstory.
PREPARATION
Per the
Code of Conduct
, public chat is to be kept generally appropriate. If an RP is to get squeamishly gory or obscene beyond a PG-13 rating, even in a private setting, you need to keep it to party chat/Whispers. You risk a ban otherwise from people nearby seeing such and reporting it. The rule of thumb to go by is that if it is mentioned or present in-game or in the lore (or a PG-13 movie), you are safe to talk about it and similar invented IC scenarios in any context. Backstories and storylines with graphic themes going beyond this are fine, but leave details vague or allusive in your RP add-on and IC until you determine someone is comfortable with it. If you are unsure, ask first OOC instead of springing it on them.
If you address a player OOC, use their character name.
Respect people's boundaries and privacy. Do not ask nosy OOC questions.
RP as little or as frequently as you want, whenever you feel like it. It is on your timetable. Everyone should RP willingly, freely, and without condition.
People come and go; such is the nature of RP. Be prepared mentally and have a slightly detached approach towards the game. Things may not last forever and that is okay.
Avoid doing anything else if you can help it while RPing if you want to be taken seriously. This includes zealous participation in in-game chat channels, voice chatting, tabbing out, browsing your phone, RPing with another person through these methods, or watching TV. It is rude, displaying boredom and lack of interest. You might be convinced that you are good at concentrating and multitasking, but there is always a slight slow in response time, mistakes, missing details, or a misunderstanding of things in emotes which you may not pick up on but the other person does.
Try not to RP if you are in a bad mood, even if you have an obligation. You may think that you can power through, keeping your emotions in check IC and OOC, but people always notice. This puts people in a position of walking on eggshells and feeling like your mood is directed at them, even if you tell them otherwise. You want others to be at ease and focus on the RP, not on why something feels off or if they caused it. Instead, be honest and excuse yourself until you feel better.
Etiquette and fair grammar is important. Good communication makes up half of a good RP; the rest is dedication, story, and skill.
Perfection is never required for RPing and mistakes are okay to make! We are human.
ON THE SCENE
You can learn about RP from a distance in a public setting such as a tavern, but "people watch" or "roleplay watch" sparingly. Do not get too close, hang around, bother, or spy on people in a more private setting or conversation, even if they are guild mates. This makes people uneasy. Avoid making long emotes of comments and observation on others' conversations if you do not intend to join.
If you see a group of people when looking for RP, observe them first to see what they are doing and saying and if they seem open to others joining. Do not interrupt if they seem closed or the topic seems personal. It is best to always take cues from the crowd.
Do not rely solely on others to walk up to you and waste time waiting around. Be brave and take the initiative with those you find interesting! RP should be a give-and-take experience where everyone is equal. It is not a place for power and control or playing defiant head games by refusing to make a move.
RPers, like pedestrians, have the right of way to RP wherever they want on their servers. Do not feel like you are bothering and have to apologize to people for RPing in or through an OOC high traffic area.
If you are too far away from others, they may be out of range to see what your character is saying. Being stealthed may also interfere with the ability to see posts. If you are unsure about either, Whisper them for confirmation.
Be careful of accidentally blocking someone whilst RPing by right-clicking their name in the chat window and hitting "Ignore" in the drop-down, or by clicking the "Ignore Player" button in your Ignore List if you have them Targeted. This prevents you from seeing any of their chat (but they can see yours). If you Ignore someone, all of their alts account-wide will be Ignored on your one character only. If you cannot see what somebody is saying, it may mean that you have one of their other characters Ignored.
TECHNIQUE
Some like quick, bare-minimum posts and others like long, detailed paragraphs. The same can be said about walk-ups or pre-planned RP. Not everyone likes or meshes with all playstyles, characters, and players. Keep company with those who appreciate you; they are worthy of your time.
People may try to "teach" you their way of RPing, persuade you to write more if you have little to say, or tell you how to write your character's bio. Take their advice with a grain of salt. You must find out what works for you through personal creativity and experience, not by conforming to others' ideals.
Do not get discouraged if you are typing short sentences or less than others. Longer writing comes with time, but it is not a requirement. Stick with your comfort level and what inspires you!
A consise emote is worth more than a bunch of confusing fluff and filler words with no substance. Less is more!
Give people time to respond and do not feel rushed to reply yourself. If you are RPing about something detailed, taking ten minutes or more is perfectly acceptable. If a player tells you to hurry or is getting impatient or bored, end the encounter. Most are understanding, even if you are a slow typist. It is worth noting that some are not slow but thorough; they absorb all that is written, avoid speed reading where they can miss elements, then think about what they are to say and ensure good spelling.
If you are engaged in a paragraph RP (explained in How to Roleplay) and someone consistently takes over three minutes to emote, consider starting writing your next response. Type out an action or something that your character wants to say that can stand alone, does not depend on the content of their next post, and will hold true no matter what the other person says. When they do post, fill in the rest of your message with responses to their specific details. This helps with pacing and responding in a more timely manner.
If you mistype something in RP, playing it off IC can come across as insincere or arrogant. It is better to post the correction OOC using an asterisk and double parentheses (explained in
Symbols & Keyboard Tips
). Also, let people know if you accidentally send your post before it is complete.
OOC INTERACTIONS
If you get stumped on a lore matter or confused about something pertaining to an RP or character, it is okay to admit this OOC and ask. Lore knowledge should not be a competition. Do not chastise someone for not knowing something or tactlessly shoot down reasonable, earnest ideas. Also, do not draw attention to someone's typo unless you need to ask for clarification. No one should be discouraged or scared, especially to ask questions. There is no such thing as a "dumb" question.
Whether a character is villainous, rude, uneducated, flirty, friendly, male, or female, do not transfer that onto the player and assume that they are the same unless proven otherwise. Players often give their characters some similar traits, but most are not
self-inserts
.
Keep IC and OOC separate as much as possible (especially when it comes to crossing the line with IC romance). However, you should not RP things that you dislike for the sake of remaining IC. If anything is not fun, end it. It is every player's right to be justly upset or to disagree with, speak up, and back out of an RP. Using OOC judgment in IC matters is okay to do. Always using strictly IC judgment for IC matters is risky. (See
Troubleshooting
.)
You have the right to ask OOC questions and get answers about storylines, relationships, and the other player's (or character's) vision involving your character. Doing this is encouraged. If the player is reticent, gives a dissatisfactory answer, or withholds information, leave.
Few are good at taking hints or reading minds OOC, so do not expect it of people. To get your needs met, speak plainly and do not feel forced to respond just to be polite.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Tell those with whom you are RPing if you need to leave or when you need go AFK for a short while. If you will be long, do not make them wait. It need not be specific, but letting them know OOC through a Whisper is the courteous thing to do. If you are preoccupied but can still type, saying so is also recommended.
Feel free to give yourself a cut-off time when RPing or attending an event and let people know if necessary. Setting your in-game alarm clock is helpful. Do not feel pressured to wait for someone who went AFK or RP a long time where you neglect your needs or commitments. Likewise, never pressure someone into staying to RP.
When ending an RP IC, make sure to wait a few minutes before walking off in case they post a final emote. If you enjoyed RPing with them, add them to your character friends list, thank them for the RP, and possibly schedule another time or let them know when you will be online next. Consider asking to BattleTag them as well, though some decide to wait a bit first.
If you RP one-on-one with someone, refrain from OOC giving a detailed account of your IC interactions behind their back to in-game friends or gossiping about their character's secrets/personal history, especially if this character tells yours something in confidence. The player may not appreciate this being spread around. It could also constitute
meta-gaming
; your friends' characters could now "know" this information that they otherwise would not and use it to their advantage, potentially getting back to the player. This can cause distrust and loss. If you are unsure whether or not to share, ask for their permission.
If you RP more than once with someone, take turns walking up (or setting the scene for specific plans), initiating asking to RP, and choosing locations and storylines. Making everyone else do most of the work and trying to justify it results in unfairness and enmity. There is no excuse for apathy.
RP can occur through Whispers while some take it out of the game to other websites. Most agree that in-person in-game is best, more serious, dedicated, and immersive. Some consider other forms to be inauthentic or distracted RP. Stand your ground if you prefer face-to-face.
Do not bombard people with Whispers the second they log on for any reason. It is rude and irritating. You may be excited or have an inquiry, but give them time to settle in and let the game load! Also, do not pester someone with messages/mail over time without response. If they were interested, they would have answered the first time.
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How to Roleplay
Every roleplayer has a unique style. As you interact with people, you will adapt to yours without even realizing it and shape your character's personality and quirks in the process. Delphine the mage will demonstrate the most common and accepted writing styles. Practice until you find the perfect fit. With any style, pepper in premade emotes such as /shrug.
Paragraph RP
= Using /e (custom emotes) in the chat bar to indicate your character's actions and words through one or more paragraphs. These appear in light orange in the chat window and the range reaches farther to nearby players than regular chat does in /s.
Dialogue RP
= Using mainly /s (speech) in the chat bar to speak as your character. This appears in white in the chat window as well as a chat bubble briefly above your character's head. The range of this speech appearing to others does not travel as far as /e. This style is less detailed. Including quotation marks is up to you.
Dialogue and emotes RP
= Using /s as described above, mixing in /e to describe your character's actions with little to no speech included in the emotes. The two are posted separately and are not combined in the chat bar.
Dialogue combining emotes RP
= Using /s in the chat bar with the dialogue enclosed between quotation marks
or
with asterisks or "less than, greater than" signs denoting your character's actions. This style is informal and can be difficult to read.
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Tenses
Tenses are very important, especially in paragraphs. Past and present tense are both acceptable; it is personal preference. Narration should always be consistent, so use only one.
Past tense example:
Present tense example:
Perspectives
When describing your character's actions (not dialogue), it should always be in the third person. This means that you use "him", "her", and similar pronouns to describe your character and others.
Do not use first and second person. Referring to your character as "I" and others as "you" makes it sound personal and awkward. It is also confusing in public where people might mistake "you" in narration as addressing their character instead of the intended person.
Roleplay should play out like the unfolding of a story. Remember that you, the player, are not your character; you are the narrator coming from an "outside" point of view. Like tenses, do not mix up perspectives.
Content
Your range of words can make a roleplay colorful. Our characters' smarts are limited to our own, but do not let that hold you back! If you wish to make it interesting for yourself or those around you, try to expand your vocabulary and use it once in a while. You can also type out an accent if your character has one and use higher- or lower-class speech to reflect his upbringing, education, or station. If you are writing descriptive paragraphs, including some of the five senses—taste, touch, sight, smell, sound—helps to paint a picture of what others or your character is experiencing. Describing body language also offers vital unspoken cues, like in real life. Never use emoticons or real-world acronyms and abbreviations IC. Please use proper punctuation, capitalization, and spelling if possible; this goes a long way. Proudly showcase your skills!
The occasional comment or joke in your narration is fine, but otherwise avoid pop culture or real-world references, especially in your character's dialogue. Also, in dialogue and narration, do not acknowledge or address the players behind their screens. This is called "breaking the
fourth wall
".
Avoid describing your character's thoughts or intent of future actions, or at least try not to do it in great detail. Most characters do not have telepathic powers, so doing this does not add much to the roleplay. Offer something substantial with which the other player can work. On a similar note, if you want to know something about a character, you can ask directly OOC or indirectly IC.
Avoid saying things like this:
Preferred methods:
Doing something outright to another does not give them a chance to refuse or move away. Writing others' reactions also takes the power of choice away from the player. These are forms of
powerplaying
. It is okay to perform relatively harmless actions if you know someone well, so just gauge your "open" emotes where consent is assumed.
This can be considered misuse of the word "would":
Ways to express an attempted action that offer pending acceptance for the other character:
Do not write others' reactions for them, such as:
Beauty is subjective to each character's taste as well.
You can make open-ended or hypothetical suggestions/
prompts
in your narration for the other character to react as they please with conditional sentences.
Mail
To send IC mail, give a brief OOC description in the subject line and in the mail's body if needed such as what the parcel, note, or letter looks like, the postmark, the state of it (rushed, damaged, messy, clean, scented stationary, etc.), what it contains, how/where it was delivered, and how the writing, spelling, or grammar is. Use the "less than" and "greater than" symbols before and after it (explained in
Symbols & Keyboard Tips
).
You can also just write how the letter/package is addressed in the title.
To differentiate sending OOC mail, enclose the title with double parentheses (see
Symbols & Keyboard Tips
).
Symbols & Keyboard Tips
Symbols are frequently used in roleplay to draw attention to certain words for various reasons. You will be cracking the codes, slashing, and dashing your way in no time!
Symbol(s)
*
Used to denote character actions (before and after a sentence), emphasis (before and after one word), and correcting a typo (before or after new wording).
If you mistype something or want to change it, Whisper or send another emote to those with whom you are RPing with an asterisk before or after the corrected word or phrase. If you accidentally send your emote before it is ready, let them know as well.
Examples:
]
Symbol(s)
-
Used for emphasis (before and after a word). If you want to exaggerate something your character says, dashes are a good substitute for the lack of italics in-game.
Example:
Symbol(s)
/
Used for emphasis (before and after a word). If you want to exaggerate something your character says, slashes are a good substitute for the lack of italics in-game.
Example:
Symbol(s)
| ||
Used at the start of an emote to begin with another word instead of character name.
Example:
Symbol(s)
< ... >
Used to denote character actions/narration (before and after a sentence).
Examples:
Symbol(s)
( ... ) (( ... )) ]
Used to mark OOC speech before and/or after the sentence. This lets others know that you are speaking as yourself, not your toon.
Examples:
Symbol(s)
(c), (d)
Stands for "continued" and "done", occasionally used at the end of an emote to indicate that one is not or is finished writing if they do not have an add-on like
Emote Splitter
. (c) is used when a lot more writing is to come and (d) is typically used after three or more posts. Doing one or either is not necessary but can prevent others' confusion.
Examples:
Below are easy and useful tricks to save you a lot of time if you use a standard keyboard.
To find previous chat that you have sent during your play session, hit Enter or click inside the chat bar, then press and hold the left Alt key and hit the up arrow, multiple times if you want to cycle through them. This is perfect for reposts if others disconnect. If
you
disconnect or log out, you will not be able to retrieve your messages unless you have
Emote Splitter
(see
Add-on Tips
) or
Elephant
.
If you are writing a long message and wish to return to the beginning of it, hit the Home key. Drag your cursor to the right in the chat bar to review your post. To go back to the end of your message, hit the End key.
The Delete key acts just like Backspace except it will delete letters to the right of your cursor instead of the left. Drop your cursor where needed and hit the Delete key multiple times or press and hold. This is good for deleting a portion of your message, especially in the middle.
These combinations copy and paste text. Highlight a portion of your text with your cursor, then press the left Ctrl key + letter C simultaneously to copy it. Click where you want it to go and press Ctrl + letter V to paste it. This is great for shuffling around or reordering text in a paragraph emote.
Press the Print Screen key to take a screenshot. This is helpful to capture emotes, especially if you want to continue an RP at a later time. Find them in your File Explorer/Photos to refresh your memory or type an emote back in in-game.
Pressing the left Alt key + letter Z simultaneously will clear your screen of the interface and add-ons, showing just your character in the world. Zoom in to the first-person camera view to take landscape shots!
Pressing an Alt key + F4 key simultaneously will exit you out of the game entirely (and usually quickly), closing the whole window.
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Maintaining Immersion
Now that you are familiar with the basics, here is important, everyday lore that is often overlooked as well as real-world terms to use and avoid IC. You do not need to memorize everything. This serves as a quick reference to fine-tune your RP experience, help you understand the workings of Azeroth, inspire character concepts, and add an extra layer of immersion.
Cosmology
Planes/dimensions/realms of existence
are cosmic regions of the universe. The Great Dark Beyond is the mortal, physical, infinite living realm composed of innumerable stars, planets, and moons, where Azeroth is.
Planets/worlds
contain continents.
"Earth"
is not a planet, but the word refers to Azeroth as a whole, dirt, or the ground, and in phrases such as "to the ends of the earth". The afterlife can be called
Heaven
,
Hell
, or Hades.
"The heavens"
refers to the sky. MOREThe fundamental cosmic forces of existence are always aligned and working together. Without death, there is no circle of life. There are six primordial opposing forces: Light and Shadow, Life and Death, Order and Disorder. These break down into powers: Holy, Void, Nature, Necromancy, Arcane, Fel. All of these comprise elemental powers Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Spirit, and Decay. At the center of everything is Reality, the Great Dark Beyond, made up of pieces from every force. The forces are constantly vying for power over each other. If one fell, all worlds would fall into chaos.
Time
As seen with in-game
holidays
, Azeroth seems to use a standardized 12-month calendar following our real-world Northern Hemisphere's seasons. It is assumed that there is a solar cycle and orbital period similarly-lengthed to ours in real life with at least one of Azeroth's two moons, the
White Lady and the Blue Child
. Years are measured in B.D.P. ("Before Dark Portal") and A.D.P. ("After Dark Portal") with year 0 being the opening of the Dark Portal/The First War, a major historical event. MORE
Stormwind humans have been said to follow the
King's Calendar
(K.C.). There is also the
Lotharian Calendar
(L.C.).
Expansion years A.D.P.:
— Warcraft 1 (The First War: 0-6)
— Warcraft 2 (The Second War, Antebellum era: 6-20)
— Warcraft 3 (The Third War, Rise of the Lich King: 20-25)
— World of Warcraft (The Gathering Storm: 25-26)
— The Burning Crusade (The Outlands Campaign, the Sunwell Incident: 26-27)
— Wrath of the Lich King (The War Against the Scourge: 27-28)
— Cataclysm (The Shattering: 28-30)
— Mists of Pandaria (The Pandaria Campaign, the Siege of Orgrimmar: 30-31)
— Warlords of Draenor (The Draenor Expedition: 31-32)
— Legion (The Third Invasion of the Burning Legion, Argus Campaign: 32-33)
— Battle for Azeroth (The Fourth War, Visions of N'zoth: 33-35)
— Shadowlands (Maw Campaign, Chains of Domination: 35-37)
— Dragonflight (40)
Thorough list detailing the events throughout Warcraft:
Timeline - Wowpedia
Shorter history:
Timeline (Ultimate Visual Guide) - Wowpedia
Legal System and Government
There is a
judicial system
,
海事法
, and
building ordinances
, at least for the Alliance. The
Dwarven District
bank used to be a courthouse before Cataclysm. Most cities operate under similar laws as we do in real life and most races have their own government. MORE
"Arrest", "law", "legal", "illegal", "court", and so on are fine. Avoid nouns like "police" and replace them with "guards".
Jailers
, a race of demons, mention wanting to be one's
"judge, jury, and executioner"
. The trial of
Garrosh Hellscream
was held according to
Pandaren
law with
Baine Bloodhoof
as the role of Defender,
Kairoz
as his advisor,
Tyrande Whisperwind
as the Accuser,
Chromie
as her advisor,
Taran Zhu
as the judge, and the
August Celestials
as the jury.
Related items:
狱卒条例手册
,
法律文件
,
假文件
,
萨多尔大桥地契
,
违禁狩猎毒素
,
裁决之槌
.
List of racial governments:
—
Stormwind
(Stormwind/Eastern Kingdom humans): Hereditary monarchy
—
Gilneas
(Gilnean humans/worgen): Hereditary monarchy
—
Boralus
(Kul Tiran humans): Monarchy
—
Ironforge
(dwarves): Hereditary monarchy
—
Shadowforge City
(Dark Iron dwarves): Hereditary monarchy
—
Gnomeregan
(gnomes): Democratic republic
—
Mechagon City
(mechagnomes): Monarchy
—
Darnassus
(night elves): Theocracy
—
Exodar
(draenei): Theocracy
—
Orgrimmar
(orcs): Tribal chiefdom
—
Thunder Bluff
(tauren): Chiefdom; Spiritual hierarchy
—
Thunder Totem
(Highmountain tauren): Complex chiefdom
—
Undercity
(undead): Monarchy; Autocracy
—
Silvermoon City
(blood elves): Regency (de facto Monarchy)
—
Bilgewater Harbor
(goblins): Plutocracy
—
Suramar City
(nightborne): de facto Monarchy
—
Dazar'alor
(Zandalari trolls): Hereditary monarchy
Learn more about the factions:
Alliance
,
Horde
Currency
Many types of currencies exist. Gold, silver, and copper can be referred to as "coin" or
"money"
. Avoid using words like "dollars", "cents", "bucks", and so on. MORE
Conversion rates:
100 copper = 1 silver
100 silver = 1 gold
10,000 copper = 1 gold
Avoid phrases like "I gave him my two cents" or "you look like a million bucks".
"Pennies"
or
"penny"
refers to copper pieces. Stormwind's coinage has copper pennies, the silver groat, and the gold sovereign. Goblins call their currency
"macaroons"
and refer to money as
"moolah"
. There is conflicting lore on monetary value. One hundred gold may be considered a large sum for instance, so discuss salary and wealth practically in RP. More info, examples
here
.
Units of Measurement
Feet
,
yards
, meters, and leagues are used to measure distance. "Feet" can likely describe height as well.
Measuring sticks
exist. Weight is measured in
pounds
. Time is measured in minutes. Temperature can be measured in
degrees Kraklenheit
by a thermometer. MORE
Gnomes use units based on their small stature such as WW = Whisker Widths, IBGs = Itty-Bitty Grams, and TC = Toe Curls (Power). More info on physics
here
.
Canonically
, the scale of the world is much grander than what we see in-game with larger zones and more homes and buildings, such as Goldshire being a day's horse ride from Stormwind. There is conflicting lore on distance. Discuss it practically in RP.
Languages
Characters do not speak English or have our Latin alphabet. There are two main, dominant languages—Common spoken by members of the Alliance and Orcish for the Horde. Each race also has their own racial tongue; most have an associated alphabet for writing and some share lettering between languages. Some use runic scripts, glyphs, and pictograms. MORE
It is assumed that the Alliance and Horde use Common when communicating with each other as a sort of universal language. A variant of Elder Futhark, a runic alphabet from ancient Scandinavia, has most often represented Common in-game. More info and list of languages
here
.
Exclamations and Phrases
Exclamations are used in the lore like "what the fel", "by the gods",
"oh my god",
"oh god",
"by the Titans". MOREThese can also be race- or class-oriented such as "good Lord Illidan" or "by the Light of the Naaru".
A draenei NPC
says "By the foul teat of Kil'jaeden's rotted torso" and a goblin says
"By Gazlowe's horrific halitosis"
. Get creative and make it relevant to your character. Words such as
medieval
,
en garde
,
hors d'oeuvres
, and
致命一击
are also acceptable. If you want to say a phrase like "French braid", substitute the word "French" for "elvish" or whatever you find suitable and then explain OOC what you mean.
Illnesses
Common sicknesses and symptoms can affect all races. MORE
People can get the contagious cold and
flu
,
hallucinations
and
heat stroke
, poisoned by
Harpies
and
Satyrs
, and just regular poisoned. Diseases can also spread such as the plague or fel affliction. People can be born lame and have deformities or mental ailments.
Minerals and Plant Life
WoW shares many common real-life minerals, gems, plants, flowers, herbs, and trees. Some great resources (official and fan concepts):
—
Minerals
—
Plants
—
A Roleplaying Resource to the Herbs of Warcraft
—
A Medicinal Guide to Azerothian Herbs
—
An Alchemical and Herbal Guide to Azeroth and Beyond
Electronics and Entertainment
Devices such as TVs and phones do not exist, but
microphones
, numerous walkie-talkies,
radios (sometimes in mounts with music stations)
, and
全息放映机
s do. MORE
There are plenty of
motorized machines
. Jukeboxes,
gramophones
, magic
便携式播放器
s,
music boxes
,
自动跳舞信号发射器
s, and
跳舞球
balls exist. Movie cinemas do not exist, but
theatrical groups and plays
do.
Photographs
are
canon
and
existed before
the
MkII型自拍神器
. Paintings are probably still
more common
. "Photo", "photograph", "camera", and "S.E.L.F.I.E." are acceptable. "Selfie" alone is debatable.
Music and Instruments
There are different styles of cultural dance such as waltz/traditional,
ballet
, river dance, hip-hop, and the Venthyr's
dance macabre
which features the
boogie, prance, sashay, and shimmy
. There is a variety of music genres like classical, folk, metal, rock,
jazz
,
sea shanties
,
arias
,
ballads
,
dirges
,
marches
,
sonatas
, and
overtures
. Some musical instruments can be used in battle, to charm animals, or to summon spirits.
Sheet music/musical score
with music notes that you can read
exists
. MORE
More written music:
不堪卒读的海上船歌
,
破烂的乐谱
,
撕裂的乐谱
,
手铃乐谱
.
Examples of existing instruments in their many forms:
十二弦吉他
,
奈克罗曼德,死亡共鸣者
,
奥金利斧
,
凤凰王的金曦琴
,
晋升者之笛
,
克罗库长笛
,
烈焰短笛
,
勒布兰克的竖笛
,
库雷木排箫
,
法夜排箫
,
唤雾者的陶笛
,
战斗号角
,
黑洛的好运手鼓
,
战斗之鼓
,
仪式用鼓
,
一对签名鼓槌
,
天界之鼓
,
枯木之锣
,
和蔼之锣
,
超然谐钟
,
卡多雷风铃
,
谐律风铃
,
野牛人风铃
,
斡耳朵死亡之钟
,
净化之钟
,
永恒之钟
,
雕花瑰木琴
,
损坏的竖琴
,
法夜竖琴
,
神圣天命竖琴
,
奥罗菲亚的竖琴
,
仪式手摇铃
,
贝希的铃铛
,
格里恩之铃
,
格里恩音乐盒
,
harmonicas
. There are no pianos, but there is an
organ in the Karazhan Opera House
and lots in
Waycrest Manor
. A seven-stringed lute is referenced in the
Illidan
book, page 230.
Celebrities and Careers
Famous personalities exist such as
哈莉丝·西尔顿
,
纳特·帕格
, and the bands
The Tauren Chieftains
and
Blight Boar
. MORE
Remember to not mention or allude to any real well-known figures. Example careers:
Bard
,
butler
,
chef
,
dancer
,
dockmaster
,
farmer
,
field medic
,
field photographer
,
headmaster/mistress
,
lumberjack
,
model
,
postmaster
,
professor
,
prospector
,
stylist
,
trainer
.
Sports
银色锦标赛
has jousting and competitive brawls and
诺文顿节
is about hunting and equestrianism. There are many gladiatorial arenas such as
试炼竞技场
, the
Theater of Pain
, and
Bizmo's Brawlpub
. Various races occur like
飞行竞技赛
and at the
暗月马戏团
. MORE
There is
fencing
with
rapiers
. Toys like
榄球
and
足球
are popular with children. Adult teams gather for ball games (such as
Battle Ball
and
leather ball
) for fun but probably not professionally.
Wear what is appropriate for the setting. Avoid wearing heavy/ornate armor unnecessarily where it does not make sense and put together a cloth or leather set for your RP clothes.
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Battle in Roleplay
From brawls to battles, combat in RP can foster knowing your character better by crafting their skills. OOC teamwork is required. First, how the fight will be settled must be discussed privately in advance with the involved parties and, optionally, grade of injuries, death, healing, resurrection, or extra NPC background characters and who will RP them. Do not be forced into a combat style you dislike; figure out a compromise to the resolution. People may not be experienced so always explain systems, terminology, and abbreviations or ask for clarification. Never
god-mode
during fights. Make sure all participants are in the same group to see their rolls if you are using them. Not everyone likes battle RP, and that is okay. It takes time, thought, and can involve numbers. If you plan to include any type of combat in an event, forewarn people so that they can opt out; many do not appreciate being taken by surprise by battles and must be in the right mindset. Combat RP should not be about one person in the spotlight but everyone equally. You can use a combination of the types listed below.
Predetermined Outcome Roll Battle
Typing /roll, by default, will land you a random number out of 100. This acts like rolling the dice. Have every participant do a /roll; whoever lands the number closest to 100 (or the predetermined number) will be the ultimate victor. The number can be changed by typing it after /roll, such as /roll 3000. Afterwards, you can all emote out the battle in accordance with the outcome, or
time skip
and have the victor emote his win. The add-on
Total RP 3
has its own slash command for dice rolls; see
Add-on Tips
.
Simple Roll Battle
For two parties, let's say that Delphine posts the starting emote describing an attempted strike against Sjarnir. Then they both /roll. Whoever lands the number closest to 100 wins that round. Now it is Sjarnir's turn to emote. If Delphine won, her hit was successful; Sjarnir emotes the damage done to him and an attempted counterattack. If Sjarnir won, Delphine's hit failed; he emotes dodging the hit and an attempted counterattack. Then /roll again, this time Delphine emotes. Keep taking turns until you decide to end.
d20 System
This is a dice/roll-based style of fighting from the game Dungeons and Dragons. There is typically a leader (often called a Dungeon Master/DM) to set rules, direct rolls, and emote as enemies if necessary. There are different phases or rounds. Generally, only attack and defense rounds are used, alternated as many times as needed until the "boss" is dead. Freestyle emotes unattached to rolls can be interspersed as well if the leader deems it. After each round, no matter what type, all participants (including the DM) emote short descriptions of their attacks, dodges, heals, or injuries reflected by their personal rolled number. Below are just examples to give you ideas or a taste of what to expect. The numbers are subjective; you can configure them any way you like. Use Google to learn more.
DETAILS
Health Points
HP can be applied to all players and adjusted for enemies. Participants start with the same number, 50 for example. To keep track, they should write 50/50 in their bios or notepad, as the left numeral will decrease if wounded. If one gets to 0/50, it usually deems them unconscious. Using HP is not mandatory and most of the below can be done without.
Attack Rounds
All players /roll 20. Rolling 1 is a critical fail (an entire miss) and deals no damage. Landing a 2-10 deals weaker damage, 11-19 deals stronger. Rolling 20 is a critical success (a grave wound) and deals 20 HP. This can apply to healers/healing spells on yourself or others as well.
Defense Rounds
All players /roll 20. Rolling 1 is a critical failure (a failed evasion) and the player takes -20 HP. Landing a 2-10 is damage taken due to a weak defensive maneuver, 11-19 is less damage taken due to a strong dodge. Rolling 20 is a critical success (a full evasion) and the player takes no damage and can warrant a counterattack.
If HPs are uninvolved entirely, everyone can simply /roll 100 and whoever rolls below 20 is wounded.
Variants/Additional Rounds
d20 Alternative: Attack Phase
Allies get 5 HP, enemies get 10 HP. All players /roll 20. Landing a 1-10 is a miss, 10-19 is a hit worth 1 point. 20 is a critical strike worth 2 points.
d20 Alternative: Enemy Phase
All players /roll 20 to represent the boss's attacks on each person. Rolling 1 is a critical wound and the player takes -2 HP. Landing a 2-10 is damage dealt to the player for 1 point, 11-19 is a miss. Rolling 20 is a critical fail; take no damage and counterattack for 2 points.
Roll for Initiative
An "initiative" roll determines the order of turns, usually before combat. Whoever gets the highest number by doing a /roll 20 emotes first.
One-on-One Sparring Style
Two players get 3 HP. Delphine emotes the first attempted strike at Sjarnir, then both /roll 20. Whoever lands the highest number wins that round, the other player takes 1 HP. Then it is Sjarnir's turn to emote. If Delphine won, her hit was successful; Sjarnir emotes the damage done to him and an attempted counterattack. If Sjarnir won, Delphine's hit failed; he emotes dodging the hit and an attempted counterattack. Then /roll again, this time Delphine emotes. Take turns until one player reaches 0/3 HP.
Representing Numbers Style
With 10 HP, all players /roll 20. Each number rolled does something different:
1: Take 2 damage.
2-6: Take 1 damage.
7-9: Nothing (emote a neutral result).
10-17: Do 1 damage or 1 heal.
18-19: Do 2 damage on trash, 2 damage on boss, or 2 heal.
20: Do 4 damage on trash, 3 damage on boss, or 3 heal.
Extra
All players /roll 5, for example, and their collective number is damage to be subtracted from the boss's total HP. If there is an onslaught of enemies, all can /roll 5; each rolled number is how many kills each character got individually, or add up all the numbers for how many kills the group got as a whole.
Environmental Rolls
For environmental or generalized enemy attacks, all players /roll 40, for example. Get 15 or lose 3 HP.
Killing Blows
All players /roll 100 and whoever receives the highest number gets to emote the killing blow of a boss.
Here is a good system:
Conquest D20 System Simplified
Emote Battle/Honor RP
You can RP out the fight in full. Using the aforementioned predetermined roll battle or just agreeing upon the winner and loser OOC is still recommended so that it does not seem like everyone is god-moding and dodging every hit, preventing OOC conflict, and ensuring that it drags on no longer than necessary. Always attempt your strikes at a character so that you give them a chance to move out of the way. Not using "attempts" with your assault is considered unfair play, as is not letting the winner of the /roll win. Remember that your character is not invincible, so he should come away with injuries, depending on how severe you want them to be.
Duel
Right-clicking a character's portrait and challenging them to a PvP duel is one way to solve things in RP, but it is almost always unfair due to differences in level, gear, class and PvP skills, representing a character's true IC power, etc.
Impromptu incidents like bar fights can unfold quickly in walk-up RP. If you do not wish to be embroiled in such altercations, back out OOC. If the person uses "attempts" and you are open to an attack without warning, go with the flow and wing it. If it is small-scale, OOC communication might not be needed, but if you think that it will escalate to serious injuries, Whisper them to be on the safe side. If more people get involved and it turns into a larger scuffle, consider creating a Party to discuss the rules or results so that everyone is on the same page.
Just because you do not see any city guard NPCs or players nearby does not mean that your character can get away with doing anything illegal or rowdy and ignore the consequences. Make your situation believable by emoting adventitiously as a guard and incorporating a trip to prison, an interrogation, or by intervening and separating fighters. Similarly, do not forget that most public establishments are owned and staffed by NPCs who would not tolerate people doing whatever they want.
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Terminology
A glossary of OOC terms, phrases, slang, and acronyms that will likely come up in relation to WoW, roleplay, or player character stories.
Canon
In fiction, canon is the material accepted as officially part of the story.
Headcanon/Fanon
Elements and interpretations of a fictional universe accepted by an individual fan but not found within or supported by the official canon.
Retcon
"Retroactive continuity". A subsequent revision of an established story.
Fade to black/FTB
A term meaning to end an RP at a certain point where any further IC activity during that particular session is implied but unwritten. This comes from scenes in TV and films that literally fade to black to imply but not depict.
Time skip/jump, time travel
Time skipping means to OOC jump forwards in an RP to an agreed-upon point in time, often skipping over IC happenings that are understood to have occurred between this time. Time travelling is OOC moving backwards in an RP to a certain timeframe. For instance, two players do not finish their RP session on Friday. On Saturday they attend a guild meeting but afterwards "time travel" and resume their private RP from Friday as if the meeting had not taken place yet.
Proxy
Typically an in-game location such as a designated shop or house that is occupied or used for another purpose by players. It acts as a substitute and is usually given another name.
Anchor, anchor group
A specific person or group designated to "anchor" people over who are in a different phase/shard or server. Once invited to the party, they will be able to see others at a location.
Arc/Story arc/Storyline/Plotline
An ongoing offshoot of a main story or a newly created plot, typically with a beginning and end.
Prompt/RP prompt
A scenario or topic for you to RP out or write about typically suggested by another.
RP hook
History or a scenario that would "hook" a character in or give them a reason to know, seek out, or interact with a particular character or guild or to partake in an event.
RP burnout
Fatigue due to RPing too frequently or about the same topic excessively.
Face/body/voice claim, FC, VC
An optional way of describing your character by "claiming" a celebrity's appearance or voice.
Ghost, ghosted
A verb meaning to delete/block someone without any explanation.
Troll/Griefer/Anti-roleplayer
Generally, a player who disrupts an RP or who says and does things to provoke you to act hostile for laughs or to be mean. Explained more in Q&A and FAQs.
Mun
Short for "mundane", used as a noun to refer to the player of a character. It is called this because we are mundane compared to our characters.
OC
"Original character". Every player's character is one.
ST/RT
"Server time"/"realm time".
WIP
"Work in progress".
WU
"Walk-ups".
MU, AU
"Main universe", "alternate universe". Usually before or after a character name, it indicates whether they are from the universe's normal/main timeline or an alternate timeline/version of it.
ICA = ICC
"In-character actions equal in-character consequences". This means, for example, do not have your character insult someone if you are not fine with RPing an altercation.
WNI, DNE, some variant
"Will not interact," "does/do not engage". Usually a note in someone's RP bio, these acronyms are put before or after the name of a guild or character to signal that they will not engage with anyone in the guild or a specific character. It can also be used to warn others not to interact with them for whatever reason. This is typically done with guilds notorious for inappropriate behavior.
CW, TW
Stands for "content warning" and "trigger warning", usually followed by one's activities or interests that may be sensitive or upsetting to some.
ERP
"Erotic roleplay".
NSFW, SFW
"Not safe/suitable for work", "safe/suitable for work". NSFW is inappropriate content that would hypothetically be unacceptable for viewing "at work". This includes strong language, nudity/ERP, and blood/gore. SFW means appropriate content, not going beyond a PG-13 rating. This means mild cussing, no explicit scenes, and minimal blood/gore. Both expressions are rarely used to mean literally at the workplace.
Dark, mature
RP styles, usually listed in an RP add-on, that signify that the person is okay with them. "Dark" can mean graphic gore/gruesomeness, extreme mental, verbal, or physical violence, and somber/disturbing themes. "Mature" can mean these as well as strong language and/or suggestive material.
Slice of life
A writing style that depicts realistic, everyday, or ordinary situations, such as doing house chores or making dinner in RP.
Purple prose/Purple
Writing that is showy, elaborate, overemotional, or describes your character's thoughts in detail. It uses excessive adjectives, adverbs, and analogies. What actually constitutes this pejorative term is subjective. "Prose" means any writing other than poetry.
Alignment
Borrowed from the game Dungeons and Dragons, the alignment system gives your character more identity beyond simply good or evil. This is optional, not at all necessary. Here is an excellent summary and test:
The Alignment System
MBTI
"Myers-Briggs Type Indicator", an assessment with scale preferences to learn more about your personality. Players can provide answers from their character's perspective to have a better understanding of them. This is optional, not at all necessary. The list of personality types and the test:
16Personalities
Self-insert
A character fashioned to be like its creator, intentionally or unintentionally. This is usually frowned upon.
Mary Sue/Gary Stu
A character who has no significant flaws, assumes the role of or is played as a lore character, has implausible connections to major lore figures, has implausible abilities or bloodlines, is good at or knows everything, plays the victim and wallows in self-pity about their over-emphasized tragic past, and/or is invincible.
The Fourth Wall
The conceptual barrier between any fictional work and its viewers or readers. "Breaking the fourth wall" typically means that a character becomes aware of their fictional nature or speaks to the audience. It can also refer to the overuse of real-world references through narration by the player or dialogue by the character.
Meta-gaming
This term refers to giving your character knowledge that you as a player know in the real world but your character would not, or using OOC knowledge to influence gameplay. Examples are calling an unknown character by name just because it is over their head, mentioning details that you read from a character's bio which were not personally told to your character, talking about new lore from the next expansion that has not happened in-game yet, or recounting events in detail where your character was not present. Your character having learned of past events through books or word of mouth and having vague foreknowledge is perfectly acceptable though.
God-moding/Overpowered/OP
This term refers to a specific character's abilities where they seem to enter "god mode", such as:
attacking/killing a character without asking the player's permission (unless they state otherwise in their bio).
making your character extremely powerful, gain unfair advantages, or immune to attacks or restraint without any consequences.
Powerplaying/Powergaming
This term encompasses controlling others, such as:
doing things to characters without giving them the option to refuse, move away, etc.
describing/controlling/writing out other characters' physical or verbal reactions, injuries, spells, thoughts, or the outcome of battle; this is not your place.
using attraction charms/auras/scents, truth spells, mind control, etc. to force characters to respond, act, or feel a certain way without OOC consent. (This can be done right if you ask or let others choose whether they want it to affect their character or not.)
The big three—meta-gaming, god-moding, and powerplaying—are domineering, manipulative intimidation tactics and are frowned upon in RP. If someone does any of these, do not continue or respond.
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Troubleshooting
Working so much with others means that there are bound to be mishaps! I offer warnings about common scenarios that you might encounter over the course of your roleplaying time and candid advice, support, and solutions if you find yourself in a sticky situation.
Guild/Group Issues
RP operates as first come, first served. You do not own any public place and cannot stake a claim that it is yours so that no one else can occupy it. You may use an empty space as a
proxy
for your base, shop, home, etc., but once you leave, anyone is allowed to RP there. If people are already there where you want to RP, do not IC or OOC act as if they are in "your place". Do not tell them to leave—you need to find somewhere else. "We have had an important event planned for months" or "we RP here every day" does not give you a pass. They do not need to get permission or give you an explanation or notice to be there as they do not answer to you. Consider switching Warmodes where you will be in a different phase from them. If you run into them more than once and absolutely must RP there after extinguishing all possibilities, you can politely inquire about their schedule and share yours to work out events not coinciding. It can be inconvenient, but RP is about working together, fairness, and not getting in people's hair.
You may hear an elitist say that you must be IC from the moment you log in to be a good RPer. This is false. "Full immersion" guilds and characters are a small population; some try to enforce this rule on others, but the majority of the RP community does not believe in being IC all the time.
A common misconception is that you must be in a guild to RP properly. While it can offer unique experiences like
story arcs
, it is nothing that one cannot live without. Many also espouse the belief that there is something wrong with you if you are guild-less by choice. Nothing is further from the truth! Being on your own is wise. It lets find your way and offers freedom without being tied down with responsibilities. Ignore those who may look down upon you and do not let anyone pressure you into joining a guild.
When wanting to join a guild, investigate what it is about, what type of people are in it, and how many. What the leader is like is crucial to knowing if you will like it. The leader
is
the guild, they make it. If you do not like them, you will not like their set-up, even if you like the members. Be wary of a lot of restrictions for joining or ones such as dictating where you can and cannot RP. Many guilds require messaging/voice service Discord or an IC interview. Do not join if rules seem unreasonable to you. No one can know exactly what to expect, but it helps to have a bit of knowledge ahead of time instead of going in blindly. Try not to have extremely niche or narrow criteria. You do not have to settle, but it is unlikely that you will find one that meets all of your wishes unless you make your own. Make sure your main interests match. Some guilds do not focus on RP.
If you are a heavy RPer, you may be enticed by a guild or person's RP but discover that they RP infrequently and their priority is other content. You may get coerced or roped into doing activities that you do not care about, leaving you pulled, conflicted, excluded, and frustrated, especially if the RP is interrupted for another agenda. They may use it as leverage, playing mind games to get their way where you end up feeling like you have to do certain things or jump through hoops to RP with them. The RP may be quality, impressive, or compelling, but it is not as much as you want. Do not be ashamed; this is a
roleplay
server! If you wanted a PvE experience, you would be on a PvE server. RP cannot be earned, it is not a conditional reward for doing something else. Do not prolong the inevitable or forsake your values. This goes for any experience with another player—you may enjoy superficial qualities such as their character's story and personality or their OOC lore knowledge, literacy, or writing/RP style, but do not push aside and look past any hindering flaw.
Some established and/or large guilds may have scandals or reputations surrounding them as a whole or certain members. Pay attention to these, especially if the accusations involve OOC harassment or drama, and decide for yourself whom you trust. Even a Google search can prove useful. If a member of such a guild speaks out against a guild mate for harassment, the leader might twist the story and kick the victim out instead if they dislike the victim or like the harasser. Corrupt leaders cover for their corrupt officers and view their members as puppets that they can control. The leader can put on a good outward face but give disinformation and play members against one another or get the whole guild to turn on a member and harass them every time they log on. The horror stories of others making their gameplay a living hell are sadly not a myth. All of this is not meant to scare you away from guilds; listen to your gut and you will not err.
All types are in guilds. The bigger the active guild, the louder the guild chat will be—the same goes for in-game Communities. Some are nonsense-laden or rife with lewd talk while others have bullies. Take action if you are uncomfortable. Call them out, bring it up with the leader (unless they are the bully), or leave. Chances are, the situation will not get better on its own and the longer you wait, the worse you will feel.
Some guilds, once joined, may require you to attend a certain number of events or do tasks, especially if you are high-ranking or wish to be promoted. This is fine if you are willing, but over time, people may get bossy or things may get demanding, becoming a drag and a dread. Make a list of pros and cons to see if your unhappiness outweighs the fun. Remember that you dictate your time and you do not pay to be miserable.
Some guild members and/or the leader may write storylines involving your character or make decisions without your consent or in your absence. They may then push the ideas OOC, or even worse, just start foisting it on you in RP as it happens. If this is not fine with you, do not go along with it, whatever the threats or risk may be. Try talking to them first about how you feel. If the leader is uninvolved, go to them to tell the others to stop. If they balk or do not listen, resentment will build. Better to leave sooner rather than later. Your character is your property, under your direction, and it is your right to determine his or her outcome. You have full control over every facet, be it injuries or living or dying. He or she is your creation into which you have put hours of hard work. Some guilds have rules that would have you give up these rights in order to join as well. Do not put your character's fate in the hands of leadership.
If you enter an RP romance and at least one character is in a tight-knit guild, it often becomes a social and public affair with the whole guild spectating IC and OOC. Members may be possessive of that character and grill their date. If you are both in the same guild, there is very little privacy which can feel like you are under a microscope. Members often weigh in on or act like they have a stake in the relationship. Breaking up may result in members knowing all of your business and taking sides or loss of guild or friends. If you are the guild leader or a member, do not get involved if you can help it and let people do what they will in peace.
Respect the leader of a group and others in an RP event. Take turns and be civil in OOC and IC chat, for it affects the whole group. If you are in charge, reign in those being disruptive before they take over. You can also ask for help or appoint someone as a bouncer.
Do not be pressured by any player or your guild into entering a voice chat or joining a messaging server. They may have nefarious purposes for doing so, but in any case, say no if you do not want to. You do not have to give them a reason, either. Stick to your principles if they put you down, ostracize you, or make you feel guilty. Any person or guild that does this is not worth your time.
Other OOC Issues
If a player permanently leaves an RP or plans to, respect their decision. Never be afraid to back out or say that you are not having fun in any situation. No one can invalidate your feelings or experiences. Dangerous players may say that you are not a good RPer by not sticking it out or accuse you of
meta-gaming
, thereby knowingly trying to force you to RP something that you do not want. There is a difference between using OOC knowledge for an IC advantage (meta-gaming) and using OOC knowledge to end an undesirable RP, which is fine.
Virtual store items/game time can now be gifted directly to Battle.net friends. Some may have ulterior motives with strings attached, such as bribing you for continued RP. If you are uncomfortable with someone spending real money on you, refuse them if they ask first; otherwise, either you or they will have to send in a
ticket
as soon as possible for a potential refund.
Some have the faulty belief that being max level equates being a better RPer. It can give the impression that the player is invested in their character because they took the time to level, but there are many variables. A low-level character could be the alt of an experienced player or they just do not want to level. A high-level character could be boosted and the player is inexperienced. Do not automatically associate lower levels with noobs or higher levels with experience. It is fine to wait to RP until you are max level to give you a feel for your character and time to create their story and personality, but it is not mandatory to RP.
Beware if someone with whom you RP tells you that they got into an accident, had to be suddenly hospitalized, or some such calamity. Of course, this could be completely valid, but if their claim seems suspicious, outrageous, or does not make sense to you, listen to that. Typically the reason is that they want to get out of an obligation such as an RP relationship or are looking for sympathy. Being drunk or high (sometimes off of "cold medicine") is also an excuse used to not remember what was last RPed.
If you want to
retcon
another character or situation involving another out of your character's story, you do not need OOC permission or a mutual agreement with them to do so.
Some RP to get away from the real world and have fun in the fantasy setting with a happy ending to each chapter, preferring lighthearted or comical themes. Others do not mind more realism such as cheating, triangles, abuse, lying, and conflict. Ask those with whom you are RPing before introducing such gritty themes. Do not ridicule someone if their style differs from yours. Also, do not feel pressured into straying from your limits and RP preferences.
If you have a spouse or date in real life, please get their input on RP romance and respect their wishes. They may not appreciate you doing that.
If your character enters into a relationship, be sure that you OOC get along with your RP partner (as they are called). There is no sense in starting something if you dislike the player. Two different personalities with different experiences are coming together to collaborate. Also, ensure that you both have compatible playing schedules and share similar views on the direction and future of your characters. Discuss how many days per week and hours a day you prefer to RP. Serious relationships take commitment. I strongly advise against engaging in an IC relationship unless you can be depended upon to be available often. Good RP romance means taking each other into consideration—this is a two-way street. Adhering to all of this is important as it will make things go smoothly and prevent hiccups.
If an RP relationship does not work out, do not delete your character out of disappointment. Relationships should not define your character. Rather, invest in, establish, and enjoy your character first. Their story should stand alone and not be dependent on who they are with. That way, the outcome will not alter your feelings for your character.
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Types of RP Partners
People all read out of the same playbook. Here are common OOC personality types that you may deal with after making IC romantic or platonic connections. Others can fall into more than one category with traits often overlapping. There is only one good personality; the rest are problematic faults to watch out for or avoid doing yourself. If your RP partner matches a classification or you dread them coming online or Whispering you, it is time to go.
大坏蛋
is not what you want.
The Rare Gem
No one is perfect, but the ideal RP partner that we strive to be is calm, confident, dependable, kind, loyal, respectful, stable, thoughtful, upbeat, truthful, on time, open to learning and asking questions, not a game-player, communicates frequently, never leaves you hanging, and is as dedicated to your character as they are to their own. They are neither overbearing nor apathetic. This jewel is elusive.
The Worgen
This hot-and-cold type is prone to non-provoked, explosive outbursts. Their mood is directed at you, but you are not the root cause. You never know what to expect from day to day and they subconsciously train you for eggshell-walking to assuage sending them into a rage. They rarely Whisper you first, so you worry that messaging them or even your mere online presence is enough to aggravate them. Do not allow this worgen to hold you hostage.
The Venthyr
This haughty, manipulative type has no empathy and loves being the center of attention, gaslighting, creating triangles, and taking advantage. They often have a toady or posse following them to seem popular and like to rescue everyone. Storylines and conversations revolve around them to make them out to be the hero to stroke their ego. All must dance to their tune. They may falsely accuse you of acting in a certain way or apologize for an offense only to repeat it. They can continuously hound you or contact you months later out of the blue after no communication, typically due to it being their slow season or to sucker you back in just for fun. Narcissists always have to stir the pot. In their eyes, they own you. Every part of you is theirs; your energy is their lifeblood. They are out for it and will not have their fill until they have drained you dry—every last drop.
The Rain Cloud
Speaking of drops, this party-pooper is a sad
溺亡者德比
doom-and-gloomer with a perpetually negative attitude. They complain and poo-poo everything due to their insecurity and low self-esteem, following along with the masses of sheeple, formulating few opinions to call their own. They often use you and/or the RP as therapy and may dump on you all of their problems OOC. They might guilt-trip you into continuing RPing with them because "nobody likes me and I have no one else". Better bring your
时髦的黑色遮阳伞
.
The Angler
This misleading type has an angle all right. They treat the game like real life, living vicariously through and hiding behind their character consciously or subconsciously. They use RP to find OOC romance. Usually, IC relationships occur naturally with little to no pre-planning, but slyly they might Whisper to set up a random, contrived date between your characters and/or seem friendly, helpful, or even a dream RP partner until they try to shift your focus away from RP. You might discover that they are just playing an "
ERP
character", have an underdeveloped backstory, or that their bio addon indicates that they are looking for an OOC relationship. Otherwise, they start slowly, fishing around to test the waters, moving on to other in-game activities to spend time with you as a player. Early on, they may suggestively share that they are home alone and lonely because their spouse is "on a business trip" or that they are about to "take a shower". Not regarding boundaries, they can be very open, doing this with the expectation of eliciting information in return. Personal questions increase, they ask you to join them in games outside of Battle.net, or want to add you on social media. It only progresses from there. At some point, the bomb drops that they are in love with you OOC. Hook, line, and sinker, they wait for a bite . . . just like
纳特·帕格
.
The False-Future Flake
These lazy, fake RPers pose as being serious by often initiating a connection, excitedly RPing a lot at first by "just letting it happen", but in reality, they rarely do it or like it. Once the realization hits that a relationship requires work, they quickly get cold feet and lose interest. The RP gets interrupted or cut short and the time in between sessions becomes longer, weeks and then months. When they message, they mention wanting to go on other characters and talk less and less about RP or WoW—a telltale sign that their mind is not on those things. They do not want to answer when they will be on next as they do not know or care. They use the same excuses: A friend came over, they are sick/injured/in pain, had a bad (work) day, have to do housework, babysit, pick someone up, their PC/accessories broke, Internet went down, or other technical difficulties. They may say that they do not have the drive and need "inspiration" or "motivation" to RP. "I will be on for sure if all goes well" means no and "I will likely be on in two hours" means on in five. They are late and make you wait, sometimes because they "got wrapped up watching a show". They can tell on themselves, admitting that they are flaky, it happened before, or that they do not RP often. Over-promising and under-delivering is their specialty. If you have character art, they may lie about having some too because they feel inadequate but conveniently are "unable to find it". They share their interests and want feedback but barely acknowledge yours and will not respond to in-game mail. They string you along, knowing from the start that they should not be in the relationship, having no intentions of fulfilling it. They do not have the spine to take responsibility and break it off, so this forces you to do it. They may even resent you for "luring them in" in the first place or put the blame on you for the neglect of their other characters. However, they still want to pacify you and keep your character so that no one else can have them, so they resort to breadcrumbing, tossing you a few IC or OOC crumbs of hope for plans which turn out to be unfruitful, reducing you to the meager crumb diet. If anyone is unenthused about RPing with you, time to break their
棍子上的胡萝卜
and switch diets.
The Archaeologist
These know-it-alls excel at digs and are immature, self-proclaimed "experts" in lore and/or grammar with endless lessons to teach and shovel onto you. They are quick to dismiss your ideas, disbelieve things you say, and point out or make fun of mistakes and typos. Their insults go beyond constructive criticism, but they will not listen to or take criticism themselves. If you rebut their point, they are masters at pretending to miss your post, redirecting the conversation to another topic entirely. They do the same if you talk about something or use a word that they do not know, or they fish for the answer that they feel entitled to by you because they are too good to look it up or ask outright. Tell
布莱恩·铜须
to stop digging his own grave with his rather
小型探险锹
.
The Cave Troll
This needy type is on 24/7 with time on their hands, clingy, annoying, and impatient with a scarce understanding of the real world and schedules. They act controlling over your time, want everything their way, and can be desperately seeking OOC romance. They are incapable of taking a hint. They may also act
trollish
in IC situations or OOC conversations which can be a red flag for insincerity and toxicity. These basement-dwellers need to go outside and see the light of day.
The Cake Hoarder
This inconsiderate type takes the cake—they have come down with an unfortunate case of "cakeism". Wanting to have their cake and eat it too, they bite off more than they can chew and juggle multiple relationships or potential flames on the same or different characters. One is never enough to sate their sweet tooth. One inevitably gets more neglected and with their omissions and poor communication, decision-making, and time management skills, it spells a recipe for disaster. Frequently changing race, faction, server, and/or main, or having multiple versions of the same character is a piece of cake for them. They sometimes RP characters from the same family or conscript others to RP as family members. A relationship with this type is no cakewalk. Instability, fluctuation, disorder, and deception is icing on their cake, ever on the search for new additives to spice up their RP. Their sugared words leave a sour taste. When they get bored, they offer a lackluster reason or do not have the decency to tell you and abandon the RP to spend time elsewhere. The cake is a lie, and like
崔利艾克斯
, all they have to offer is a
毒性薄片
. Let them eat it!
The Hedger
These hog hedgers toy with the idea of long-term RP but never fully commit. They are indecisive and have reservations, leading you on and then telling you that they are "not sure" or are "just trying" out a new character or server. They may RP like your characters are together in public for status and/or to tag along at events, reaping the benefits. They may have a busy or precarious real-life schedule with little time to play, take long breaks from WoW, get bored easily, want to freely play the field or do things on a whim, or prefer more casual interactions to allot time for other content. Early on they are unable to say no and put on the brakes. They are not realistic about their situation, honest, reliable, or accountable. This dull tool is clearly on the fence and rusting. Gardens need to be cultivated; prune this noxious weed out of your life before it becomes destructive.
Q&A and FAQs
What is a griefer and what should I do if I see one?
A griefer, troll, or anti-roleplayer in an RP context is a player who disrupts RP to be mean or out of boredom, sometimes with the goal of provoking you to react or leave. This includes spamming toys or any type of chat, running/jumping around, pretending to RP but not following RP protocol, leaving dead, unreleased bodies—any purposeful annoyances in your area that break immersion. This is against the
RP Realm Rule-Set
and
Code of Conduct
. Continuing RPing and acting like they are not there may make them give up and go away on their own, and if it is not that serious, /ignore might just do. You can Whisper them once to tell them to stop and warn them of the rules along with those two links, but otherwise do not respond to/acknowledge trolls at all. This not only could make their behavior worse but also could invalidate your ticket as Blizzard typically considers this situation arguing where you are both accountable. If the mischief to you or others persists for a prolonged period, /ignore them and report for harassment from the "Support" section in-game or online
ticket
. If you can, try moving to a location where they cannot follow (Garrison, an instance) in the meantime.
What should I do if I see a roleplayer making a mistake (lore, talking about "questing" IC, etc.)?
If you are RPing with them or see such a person near you in RP struggling/making a mistake that would cause ridicule, kindly and privately mention the inaccuracy if you sense that they are receptive and, if applicable, suggest how they could improve. If they are flippant or disregard it, do not spend your valuable time explaining things and move on to another RP if necessary. If pointers are wanted though, then share as you will! Be sure that you are not telling them what to do or giving misinformation. In terms of critiquing spelling, grammar, their bio set-up, RP style, name, appearance, or clothes, it is highly recommended that you do not! These things are personal to each player and best left alone; they might take great offense. Do not go around criticizing random people on anything, such as blunders in a stranger's RP bio. Keep in mind that people can RP however they want as long as it adheres to the
Code of Conduct
.
What should I do if someone IC asks about something in which my character should be knowledgeable, but I as a player am not?
If you cannot IC fudge a generic answer, reply with a question, or steer the topic in another direction (cutting yourself off mid-sentence to suddenly remember something works), it is easiest to just be honest and privately tell the person/people that you do not know about it OOC. It happens, especially with older-aged characters who should know a lot. Most are understanding.
How should I respond to a critical, presumptive OOC Whisper about my character?
Judgment and assumptions just based on a character’s RP bio or appearance should be withheld. Bios can be vague and a character’s demeanor can be complex; they are not always what they appear. If you receive a condescending comment where someone acts like they know what your character is like, tell them something along these lines: “Looks can be deceiving. There is a method to her madness and more her than meets the eye. To get to know her, feel free to walk up to find out more that way.” I bet you that they will not.
Someone logged out on me mid-roleplay! What should I do?
Do not be disheartened or embarrassed. This happens to everyone. They might have been disconnected due to PC or Wi-Fi malfunctions or had an emergency. Life happens, so it may not have had to do with you. If people are around, casually and briefly play it off IC like they left suddenly or were not even there. Wait ten minutes or so, but then move on to other RP or whatever you want to do. If they liked RPing and have manners, they will contact you by Whisper or mail when they come back. If not, let it go and do not bug for an answer. Find others who appreciate you!
I tried to approach someone and got ignored!
The person is either rude, not IC, tabbed out, AFK, they missed your emote (especially in crowded areas), or in rare cases, they have you blocked or vice-versa. If you attempted to approach two or more people, sometimes barging in is unwanted. Whisper the person if you think that they missed your emote, but if you get a feeling that they ignored you on purpose, move away quietly and find other RP.
Walk-up RP/talking to people paralyzes me, or I am scared of what they might think of my skills/lore knowledge/character!
Minor anxiety is natural, but if RP is seriously debilitating, you may want to reevaluate the hobby and choose a more relaxing one to do in your free time. Never force yourself to RP—your mental and physical health takes priority. Otherwise, do the best that you can and let go of your concern for what others think. After all, RP
is
meeting strangers and talking. RP should not feel like a chore; do it to please yourself.
I have not heard from my RP partner in weeks/months!
If they have not communicated or logged in for a significant amount of time, this means that you will likely have to move on, unfortunately. They may have become busy/disinterested. Whatever the case, they were not polite and invested enough to do the proper thing and let you know, or at the very least not in a position to do so, so you are completely justified in not waiting around for them anymore.
What should I do if someone deletes/blocks me or if I block them and they take it poorly?
Do nothing but move on if someone deletes/blocks you. Circumventing the /ignore system or a blocked BattleTag by sending letters, finding and following the person, Whispering people they know, getting others to Whisper/mail/stalk them for you, or doing any of this harassment on your alts or to their alts is a
bannable offense
. If this is happening to you, however, take screenshots, note dates and times, do not respond, and report for harassment from the "Support" section in-game or
online
.
Do people ever roleplay through voice chat as their characters?
It is uncommon, mostly done between friends or people who have RPed together for years. Proceed with caution if you do this with online players, even if you think you know them well. Creeps use it to hit on you OOC and inquire about age or location. They count on the fact that it is easier to put people on the spot and harder to decline answering by voice than by messaging.
What is the most important thing to remember in roleplay?
Above all, listen to your gut and trust yourself if anything feels wrong. Do not have your character agree to something if you are uncomfortable with it. Do not feel pressured into answering personal questions OOC; most act under a "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Recognize the warning signs, take heed, and be prudent with the information you share—safety comes first. If someone bothers you, makes a request, tells you what to do, tries to talk you into something, or starts RPing something displeasing, do not be afraid to /ignore and cease communication. Always submit a
ticket
for serious harassment of any kind. Right-click the player's portrait or name in chat to report lesser violations (which may put them on a temporary /ignore). Do not hesitate to excuse yourself whether IC or OOC or log off without a word. You do not owe anyone an explanation and in the end, you will feel relieved. WoW is supposed to be enjoyable and stress-free, RP just about RP and entertainment in a game, not dramatic unless you consent. You pay to play and have fun, so remember that you are in control of your characters, not anyone else. Your characters do not rule you; we are not slaves to them. You, the player, take precedence over your characters or anything that could happen IC. Your roleplay experience is what you want it to be.
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Cartographer
by
Steve Prescott.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You are now a smart, seasoned, savvy, well-informed roleplayer. Not a spectator, I actively engage in roleplay and have hosted public events and been a guild leader. When I was new to RP, the resources sorely lacked real, important, and unavoidable scenarios, leaving me unequipped to handle them. This was the reason for my guide—to help you be prepared. I wish it had been available then; I learned the hard way! I originally wrote its foundations in 2016 on my guild website, but in 2018, I wanted to bring to light and extend the reach of witnessed intricacies from my standpoint for others to get the most out of RP. As the vulpera say: "Watch your back—no one else will." I knew no one to ask queries to, but you do because
I
have your back! I hope that you enjoyed my thorough guide. How can I make it better? I am always looking for constructive feedback; I would love to hear from you and would be delighted to help. With a Wowhead account, please vote in the Table of Contents tab if you found my guide useful and click the star in the title at the top to add it to Favorites. Comment if you have any questions about it, RP, or a situation you have, no matter how small, and help me improve by leaving suggestions or a topic I could cover. Save the link, share it anywhere, and recommend it to your friends or new RPers! I appreciate referrals and amplification to new audiences. Thank you so much for reading and for the favorable ratings and comments! They make a big difference and I am happy to know when I have helped someone. I update frequently, whenever I reflect on or gain even more experiences. I run into issues and continue to grow, just like you. Good luck and have fun!
Email for RP assistance, circumstance/story/lore advice, inquiries: DaggersEdge@outlook.com
Disclaimer: This is my copyrighted work. Do not republish this guide, in full or in part, on any medium without my permission.
2024 DaggersEdge
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评论
评论来自
Trang0ul
NSFW, SFW
Could you expand this section, please? I'd like to know how to safely play World of Warcraft at work.
=)
评论来自
LexaraTalionis
There is a weird dichotomy here. The guide states that long term cooperative roleplay requires that you like another player enough to be dedicated and committed to spending time with them online. It then implies that any conversation outside of the scope of discussing World of Warcraft Roleplay (particularly real life) is off limits or even just plain skeevy.
Though there is private information that you shouldn't share online willy-nilly, talking about common interests or playing other games together is a natural extension of forming friendships more meaningful than, "I slot X hours on Y days to write a story with this person." I've personally found those friendships can be quite rewarding. I met my husband on World of Warcraft over a decade ago, a few months before Burning Crusade launched. ;)
评论来自
PrincessCloelia
I discovered Roleplay on an other mmorpg out of curiosity and kept at it for a couple years but my contacts stopped playing one after another. I ended up stoping it myself too but sometimes I remember those times of fun I had and the beautiful stories that we wrote... and I miss it.
Reading your guide was a true pleasure. Your explanations are clear and simple and I really want to experience this hobby once more. Especially with the new knowledged I've gained thanks to you and how good the chatbox looks with those add-ons you mentioned.
With the Shadowlands expansion, I have picked an interest on WoW once again (I've only played briefly during Legion : enjoyed the story but hated the artifact power farm). Sadly, I don't know the game nor the lore very well and during my time on Legion, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of story. Despite that, I fell in love with the Draenei race and I think I can make it work with some help. I've read a lot about them online and I have an idea on a character. Therefore, I was wondering if you knew a place where a newbie like me could ask for advices or get some sort of approval from people that knows the lore much better than me ?
Thank you for your guide that lit up my shy roleplay spark.
评论来自
Stephanyx13
Hello! Thank you for the guide! Question for you, if you'd be willing to answer: the sense that i got from the guide is that RP should generally stay in the PG-13 area. I am roleplaying a nightborne, and some of the storylines/the Legion's actions especially are really dark and horrific. Is there anyway to find a line of sorts to not cross in regards to talking about them? I just want to make sure that my character's backstory doesn't go too far or really upset people, if that makes sense. Thank you!
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