RPG MANUAL: READ

[Ciryaher]

Greetings all role-players! This manual is a general collection of some advice and rules regarding RP's in the RPG Forum.

First off, let me tell you what a Role Play actually is. An RP is a sort of turn based story. The person who starts an RP sets the basic foundation of the RP, but players are allowed a bit of freedom, as long as the rules are followed. It is suggested that you only control one character, though the RP starter may ask you to control other characters in the story as well.

Secondly, I would like to instruct you to add your character's description to the RP Profile (http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1699) thread before participating in the RP's. This allows others to see what your character is like and gives you a bit of background as well. Follow the general format shown in most of the profiles seen there; and if you wish to change your information, by all means do so (just no drastic changes).

There are a few rules to roleplaying that should be observed:

1) If the RP is written in a serious manner, do not litter it with jest or other OOC (out of character) chatter.

2) Try and stay IC (in character) as much as possible. Don't wear Adidas shorts to a battle and talk about your new Yugo, for instance.

3) Don't use a ridiculous number of forces or use a weapon which is not in any way connected with the storyline.

4) You may not kill, resurrect, or otherwise affect the actions of, another player without that persons permission (in a PM, of course)

5) Restrict questions, comments, or ideas to the discussion threads for particular RP's, or (in the case of the shorter RP's) PM the RP's starter for information. This keeps the RP's nice, clean, and easy to read.

6) Keep IC conflicts strictly IC, do not take those arguments/feuds/wars to the other boards (except the Prancing Pony, and only then in limited quantities)

7) Respect the Moderators and their input (if any). If you feel a moderator is getting out of line, inform one of the other moderators and seek their advice.


Questions or Comments?

[Snaga]

Cir, these Rules sound so Very fine, but miserable apes posting here hardly listen do they?

Originally posted by Ciryaher
3) Don't use a ridiculous number of forces or use a weapon which is not in any way connected with the storyline.

PAh! The noisome creatures magicking dwarf-silver out of the air, and foul dragons at a wave of their twisted claws! Killing us orcs like we count for nothing. O so very wise. Could their brains work if their wands didn't? When the day of orcs comes, they'll all catch it!!!!

(ooc - the rpgs are all sfx and no character development IMO! :( )

[Ciryaher]

Yes, I realize that a LOT of the participants in RP's do not describe their battles particularly well. I'd make it a requirement to describe battles a bit more thoroughly (rather than saying "Character X killed Y number of creature Z with a single attack with weapon A")...but unfortunately, some people would just make battles a garbled jumble of repetition.

SOME of the RPG's are little more than back and forth posting...the better ones attempt to be actual stories (at least most of the people posting, anyways). Try sorting the RPG Forum by rank, and reading the threads with higher ratings.

Good points!

[¤-Elessar-¤]

It also needs to be made clear that all official RPs take place deep within the fourth age. No references of "Going to see Elrond" or "off to the lady of the white wood" should be made. The fourth age is the beginning of the dominion of men, there is only one true blooded Nolorian elf left who wished not to go to Aman, and very few of the others. Aragorn II, king of the re-united realms is dead, and the land is divided amongst kings, none of it is open for newbies or others to rule.- €

oh, and it should be noted that the one elf is a Noldorian prince who came from Valinor, if you do not know who he is dont ask.

[Ciryaher]

Alright, due to the large number of new RP's I am instating the rule that you must first submit your RP idea to a moderator (me, in particular) for approval before proceeding. This will reduce the number of redundant or utterly pointless RP's in progress and will aim towards improving the quality of the RP material.

Objections/Questions/Comments welcome as always.

[Valar]

Thanks Cir, i'm glad my idea (well not all my idea) has got of the ground, i hope will lead to better quality Rps

[Ciryaher]

Yes, you may be in more than one at the same time, but don't try to cross the storylines.

[Kit Baggins]

To the best of my knowledge, there's one RPG that's not set in the fourth age- "The hunt for the misplaced cousin" is set at about the same time as LOTR: it's about going off in an attempt to find Pippin.

~Kit :)

[Ciryaher]

Contrary to Elessar, not all of the stories have to take place in the fourth age, but being set after the Lord of the Rings allows for more flexibility in the storyline.

[Ciryaher]

Please DO NOT put a number on your RP. Ideas must first be approved and we will assign the numbers as seen fit.

[Eomer Dinmention]

**Cir is it alloud to say what other people do. Like just say i typed Eomer went to Rohan, Valar went back home too.
In that i said the Valar did something. Is that alloud. Because kinda unfair. (I'm not picking on you Ellesar, my friend)
he said Not even Mithrandir could force it down is that alloud

Because thats like me typing And Valar killed himself
So thats unfair.

We should be the only ones that are alloud to type what we do.
If its imaginary people thats ok

[UngattTrunn475]

Are you allowed to be able to have 2 RPGs?

[Ciryaher]

You may only create any number of RP's with my permission, and I am making it a policy that a person can have no more than one RP at a given time.

You may be in more than one RP at a time as long as you don't try and interweave the storylines.

[Ciryaher]

ATTENTION

DO NOT POST ANY RP WITHOUT FIRST SUBMITTING YOUR IDEA TO ME. ANYONE WHO FAILS TO DO SO SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE THEIR RP MISSING. This rule is NOT subject to question and it WILL be enforced.

~Cir

[Morwen]

*grins*

Cir, I just want to bring up the idea of having several rpg characters. Should there be a limit on how many characters one person can be? I find it a little painstaking to keep up with all the personas one person has.

[¤-Elessar-¤]

well, due to the fact that I have a few, I beleive that there should be a limit to how many characters a person uses in one RP, or a group of related RPs. Like two or three. But otherwise that is what the RP profile thread is for, to help you keep up with the personas of the characters.

[Ciryaher]

Keep it around 2 main characters, but you can throw in as many static characters as you need.

[DarkLegolas]

HEy cir im gonna start an RPG called the search for the nazgul ok?

[Ciryaher]

Yes, yes. Alright. PM me when you want to start an RP from now on, ok? :D

That goes for all of you, to beat the idea firmly into your minds.

[mistymoon]

hi, errrr, cir. i like this rpg thingy. but i have a few questions.

*if i join a thread of rpg, do i have to stay in it? and if i wish to stop posting on it.... i should make a clear exit out of the story? is that how it works?

*and the rp profile, if i add myself in it, does it mean that my character(in the rp profile) is the one i'm going to use to ANY rpg thread? AND can i participate iin more than 2 rpg at the same time?

and in case i would want to open my own thread..... does all rpg have to be serious? are crankie, and funny rpg versions not allowed?

tnx...... oh, and i don't even know how to put my sig, or edit my profile, can i do that? edit my profile?

[Beorn]

You may join by PMing the thread starter of the thread. You can PM the thread starter by:

a) Clicking their name at the list of threads, then clicking "Click here to send a PM to XYZ now"

b) Go to the first post in the thread, and click the button near the bottom of the post that says PM.

Fill in the subject and body, then click send.



I suggest you make a clear, clean exit if you no longer wish to participate.


*and the rp profile, if i add myself in it, does it mean that my character(in the rp profile) is the one i'm going to use to ANY rpg thread? AND can i participate iin more than 2 rpg at the same time?

Post a profile if you haven't already. One or two characters are OK. Yes, if you go to any RP thread, you are to use the character you've created. Yes, you can participate in more than two RPs at a time...if you can manage it!



and in case i would want to open my own thread..... does all rpg have to be serious? are crankie, and funny rpg versions not allowed?

PM Ciryaher (Check here how to (http://www.thetolkienforum.com/misc.php?s=&action=faq&page=2#pm)) with the basic outline of the RP.


Click the FAQ button at the top. Read each topic thoroughly, and you'll be fine with the entire forum.




Ok. I've been trying to clean this forum up a bit. I've changed all the thread titles to the same format:
RP XX: Whatever.

I've also made all the icons the -> so that the RPs are easier to sort out from other threads. These other threads, I may move to the PP.

[Ice Man]

How do I make myself take part in one Rp? Do I simply post: Arcanjo is going to do this at that place?

[Ciryaher]

I must emphasize to all participants: Read other RP's before you post!

See what other people do, especially in those threads with a high rating (the starts beside it) and follow the general idea.

[Ice Man]

OK, I'll do some reading...

[Ice Man]

I have an idea. Why don't we, in our RP topics, always write the names of our charcters in the title of our reply?

What do you guys think?

[Ice Man]

Originally posted by Arcanjo
I have an idea. Why don't we, in our RP topics, always write the names of our charcters in the title of our reply?

What do you guys think?

Nobody has any comment?

[Snaga]

Arcanjo... I'll reply!

Nice idea! That would work in some RPs where they posts tend to be short, with single actions or lines of dialogue posted by a single participant.

Other RPs tend to have longer more involved posts where this wouldn't work as well. These posts tend to be more descriptive, use fuller sentences etc. So the scope for confusion is less and therefore so is the need for this suggestion.

[Ciryaher]

To join an RP, send a PM the RP's originator (the person who started it) and ask them if you can join after seeing what the RP is about.

This is not the thread for dicussing your RP's or what you think about RP's. This is for *rules* and questions about the *rules*.

Thank you.

[Sarah]

Originally posted by ¤-Elessar-¤
It also needs to be made clear that all official RPs take place deep within the fourth age. No references of "Going to see Elrond" or "off to the lady of the white wood" should be made. The fourth age is the beginning of the dominion of men, there is only one true blooded Nolorian elf left who wished not to go to Aman, and very few of the others. Aragorn II, king of the re-united realms is dead, and the land is divided amongst kings, none of it is open for newbies or others to rule.- €

oh, and it should be noted that the one elf is a Noldorian prince who came from Valinor, if you do not know who he is dont ask.

So I guess that means being Gollum is out, huh?

[CloakedShadow]

Okay, this is just to clarify, before I haul off and break some sort of rule...we are allowed to have 2-3 main rpg characters? Just as long as we post all 2-3 profiles on the RP Profile thread...right?

[Kaelyn]

Hi - I'm new to the Forum, and I have some (but little) experience with RPs - I use this thing called NEOPETS.com that has a message board for rping, so I get the idea of it.
But I think I'm gonna need to know more about it; can someone tell me what kind of stuff I'm allowed to put in? And how do I join a rp?

[Ciryaher]

CloakedShadow: You can have more than one character, but use them reasonably, alright?

Kaelyn: My advice is to read through the RP's that have high ratings (although some have undeserved ratings...) There are fine RP's in the Forum Archives, as well as some very good ones in progress! Just look around, and you'll get the hang of it :) Just remember: these are stories, not chats.