[Roleplay Guide] Getting started with roleplay
Role Playing is very similar to improvised acting, where you pretend to speak and act as your in game character.
Role Playing (RP) is not complex or secret. You do not need to be an expert.
Most people have played a childhood game like cops and robbers, or doctors and nurses; some may have played pen and paper or tabletop roleplay games. Roleplay, while similar, is in general a mature form of acting.
Not every player pretends to be a hero, many are "ordinary" people caught up in the world. This character can be as similar or distant to your real personality as you wish.
When you first start roleplaying it can be a good idea to find what style suits you with the least stress and most enjoyment, some like the challenge of playing a character vastly different to themselves, whilst others opt for similarities.
Remember, your in game actions and the way you interact with other players may or may not be appreciated. There are all kinds of people in the world, so think before you say or do something that you may regret later.
Above all, remember to have fun without ruining the enjoyment for others. You may make mistakes along the way, and that's okay, that is how we learn and grow.
Try to have some flexibility in your roleplay and give other people a chance. Remember to respect other people's roleplaying.
Remember, making an attempt to roleplay with everyone you meet will increase the amount of roleplay in the world, even if not everyone responds in kind.
Role Playing Myths
You may have heard strange tales about roleplayers. Some may be true, others are stereotypes or false.
Here are some common myths about roleplaying and roleplayers:
Roleplayers use "thee" and "thou" when they talk in /say.
They don't all do that; although some do and some borrow from the idea. They do use complete sentences without abbreviations (thanks instead of thx).
Some more experienced roleplayers may even choose to write in a style that invokes an accent. For example, when you think of a Dwarf that says, A'right lad? instead of How are you?.
Reading the quest text of NPC's and listening to their accents can give you a good idea of what the text should sound like.
Roleplayers do not raid or participate in PvP.
Roleplayers can and do frequently raid and PvP. For some they may go OOC (Out of Character), for many they will simply be quiet in /say.
For some roleplayers it is not considered a high priority to reach the end game, and yet others take it very seriously and make time to roleplay too.
Roleplay is not all about sniffing roses and telling tales in taverns; some of it can involve deadly assassination attempts and world PvP.
Roleplayers are elitist and exclude newbies.
Most roleplayers are happy to interact with other roleplayers of all experience levels. Roleplay, just like raiding and PvP has a mix of different styles, mindsets and attitudes.
Whilst there are some "perfectionists" (just like with raiding and PvP), most do (and should) treat everyone equally.
Some roleplayers are shy, believe it or not, which may sometimes gets seen as being elitist. Remember we are all humans behind the screen.
It can be fun to harass and make fun of roleplayers...
For some reason (either for spite, mental health issues, or just bad form), a small number of childish people set out with no better goal than to harass or hurt others.
This includes making fun of, or trying to ruin roleplaying. Similar behaviour can be found in battlegrounds (AFKers), and PvE (ninja looters).
Sadly, all behavior like this does is form a defensive wall and that wall is what some people encounter when they first meet roleplayers; it is a defensive reaction.
Roleplayers walk, everywhere!
Some do! Most do not. In real life, do you run everywhere? No.
There are times and places where running makes sense to do. If you hear an alarm in town and want to see all the fuss, you run.
Walking, running, mounting up, and using transport, should all be situational rather than fixed in stone.
All female characters are role-played by guys.
Roleplaying can be quite liberating. Some women do pick male characters, and some men pick female characters.
Men picking female characters can be for many different reasons. It may not have anything to do with sexuality, so do not be foolish and judgemental.
Some people like the challenge of roleplaying the opposite gender. Some roleplay the opposite gender better than their own, even when they're happily married to the opposite.
You have to be in character from the moment you play to logging out.
There is alot of different types of roleplaying. From the very casual roleplayer to the full-time.
Staying in character in /say, /yell and /emote is important, but you have to remember that being understood takes the higher priority, especially in /party and /guild.
If you are not up to roleplaying that evening – it's okay. Let your roleplaying group of friends know that you are burned out. Friends should understand.
