Words to know:
RPG: Stands for Role Playing Game. These are either table top- where you use dice- or post-by-play, also called free-verse. Where you play by posting. No dice.
NPC: Non-Player Character. A character not played by any player in the game. These characters are filler, they aid or inhibit a player character based on the GM's discrimination.
GM, or GameMaster: The game master, storyteller, or Dungeon Master is the ultimate leader in an RPG. Usually, Game Masters do not participate in games as a conflict of interest. Instead, they design the scene, tell you the rules of the game, control NPC characters, make sure everyone follows the rules, relay the plot line, determine if a player's actions are successful or not, and make scenerios.
Host(s): Pretty much the same a Game Master, only Hosts are not fully lording over the game. They are taking an active part too, usually playing the lead hero or villain in order to influence the plot. Hosts still control the rules, but they are more inclined towards making sure everyone has fun and moving the plot along than with calculating stats and deciding the success or failure of each and every action.
Argo: To agro is 1. to pretty much go on an insane killing spree; 2. to kill or attack. This term is usually said by a host, (example,
Host1: It's been two weeks since these players posted anything so I went agro on their group. Host2: They all dead?
Host1: Not even twitching. Think that'll hurt the plot?
Host2: Nah, we'll work it out.)
Mary-Sue: A character that is too 'ultimate.' Called a Mary-Sue or a Larry-Sue, or just a Sue character. These are... well, read all about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary-sue. To sum it up, a sue character is one who fills out the fantasy of the creator, not the plot. Someone who never loses, laughs in the face of peril, super pumped, "LOOK AT MEEEE!!!" character who everyone wants to Agro sooner or later.
OOC or OCC: Means out of character, or out of character conversation. Players post ((ooc: Dude... that was messed up. lol.)) To say something to another character out of game.
Rules:
ALWAYS listen to the GM or Hosts(s)! No arguing.
Be polite. Everyone wants to have fun here, not just you.
No killing unless it's an NPC- though if you're not supposed to kill that NPC then the GM or Host(s) will make that NPC escape.
No showboating. This is a group effort, cooperate with your teammates and understand that they want their time in the sun too.
No posting for other characters. This means, if you throw a punch at someone, you cannot say that it landed and blew them across the arena. You merely say you threw a punch, aiming for their mid-section, just above the belt.
Keep up. If you can't post very often and slow your team down, then a GM or Host will move your character for you and you have to deal with it. This usually means you haven't posted a single word in- depending how fast the RPG is going- anywhere from three days to a week.
(More to come...)
The basics
Okay, to RP is basically to help write a story. There are no main characters. Good Game Masters and Hosts will give moments in which every player can shine, but over all the idea of an RPG is not to stroke your character's ego, it is to play a game.
Characters who have weaknesses are much more fun to play as if they win or lose is fun to see. There is no GAME OVER so if your character loses you don't re-start, you just adapt. Maybe your character is hurt and so you have to sit out the next mission- but a good GM or host(s) will find something for you to do, perhaps even let you play an NPC while your character recovers.
I'll just show you an example from an RPG site of mine:
Player1. Nikolai had one arm cradling the arcane book of black magic so that it was open, and his other arm was flung out, palm facing his opponent. He stood sideway, like a fencer. It was a stance he had never taken before. Always he was smart enough to be cautious as he had no shield, but the book's power had hold of him.
His eyes, usually half-lidded and bored, were alive and shimmered with some unseen light.
"Poena of nex," he casts, the words of the spell glistening in a brilliant, poisonous green as he said them. Black light shot from the center of his hand and each finger, striking a handful of the gang members before they could even fire their weapons. The remaining thugs looked on in amazement as their friends drop to the ground, writhing in agony and some coughing blood.
Player 2: ((OOC: Hey, he finally attacked someone.))
Player 1: (OCC: Yeah, well, you were beating up all the other NPCs, it was my turn.))
Player 2. ((ooc: Agreed. That book rocks... but I'm gonna have to agro you if you make Nik evil. I like him!))
Jack yanked a pistol out of its holster on his hip as the thugs watched their companions. He snatched for the book.
"Ok, either that's going to scare them all into leaving, or we're gonna get jumped..." he sighed.
Player 1: Nikolai wasn't paying attention as the book was snatched out of his grip, and the evil glow radiating from it ebbed off of him and was silenced. He didn't feel different though, so the part of his mind that wasn't concentrating on the battle was mocking the 'evil, cursed book that claimed its user's soul.' Bah, how stupid. All it was... was power!
Player 2: Jack handed the book to Sara and shook his head. The gangbangers were coming out of their stupor and aimed their weapons. Not one of them had the immediate guts to fire though, afraid of being the first to anger this group.
"Crud," growled Jack, facing off the barrels of four guns.
Player 1. Nikolai smiled.
"Poena of nex!" Though nothing happened this time, beyond a fizzle of black light and purple lightning in his palm. His smile faded. "What?"
Though the lack of death and blood was all the inspiration the thugs need in order to attack.
--
Okay, see? You play off other Players. When Jack reaches for the book, it is up to Player 1 to decide if it's taken or not, but because of the scene, to resist making the character either too evil or too powerful, and because the other character is on the same team, Player 1 lets him have the book. His moment in the spotlight is over, it's Player 2's turn.
It's all balance. For this scene, Jack goes on to agro all the gang members using his skill. So he shone, Nik shone, then it was back to level ground. Another thing to note is the NPC gang members. They're shared. Player 1 kills only a few and doesn't say a number. Player 2 gets the rest, both players play the NPCs.
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