RolePlayGateway™

et's face it, there are one line role plays EVERYWHERE, that means other sites too. They shouldn't be looked down on, they shouldn't be subject to a bad name, and they shouldn't be unwelcome. Some people simply do not have the means to role play in chat rooms, or have the time to write long posts. So I'm here to teach you how to make your one line role play work out great!

My background from online role playing started off with chat rooms and one liners, over these past years I've gone from being disrespected and shunned upon to well respected and known to have good quality role plays. I've found out that this is because I don't focus on the detail as much as I focus on what information is being given to my fellow players. That is the most important key behind role playing with minimal amounts of time available.

Instead of me giving reasons and a lot of other information, let's just dive right into practice; as I have found that is the best way to learn. First, let us take a simple scenario and just maximize on that.

Scenario:

Player Vampire(Vasch): I go after you when I see you run down the alley.

Player Human(Jacob): I have my gun rdy when you come down and I shoot you.

Yes, I have seen role plays done that badly. I won't name, names, or link to other threads. I'm going to break this down and go problem by problem.

First, "I go after you..." is not quite right. Generally things are done in third person and past tense. This gives the reader the feeling that they are reading a story that has already taken place, or that they are watching over the events as they unfold. It's an easier way to do things, but by no means set in stone. I would change this to

Vasch went after Jacob after he saw him run down the alley.

This still isn't enough to me. As a reader, I want to know a little more about what is going on. As a player, I need more information to work with; props and what not. So I'll add a little more detail to this, not so much for flare, it is more for the reader and player to know what you intend.

Vasch spotted Jacob, he jumped off the rooftop he had perched. The moon was hidden, giving Vasch the advantage of darkness as he approached Jacob.

This is still pretty much a one liner, only two sentences, and we know MUCH more about what is going on. Vasch was keeping an eye out, he spotted his prey, and did his best to sneak up on him.

So let's switch over to Jacob.

"I have my gun rdy..." No, never, nu-uh, ain't allowed. Never EVER use text-talk when role playing. This will throw 70% of your readers and potential players off immediately. If you don't take the time to type correctly, it will be assumed that you don't take the time to role play correctly. Again we should change this to third person and past tense. I'll do that first.

Jacob had his gun ready when Vasch came down, he shot Vasch.

This post is still very wrong. You NEVER assume that you have hit another character. Role playing is a collaborative effort, unless you have permission to damage the other character it simply isn't going to happen. So instead, he shot AT Vasch would be correct. I still don't feel that we have enough for a decent post. Now that we have more information on Vasch's approach, we can enhance Jacob's reaction.

Jacob had his gun ready, he knew Vasch was here somewhere. He heard a scuff in the silence of the night. Jacob quickly turned and shot at the direction of the noise.

Once again, still considered a one-liner, this post gives the readers and players more information. Now we know why Jacob had his gun ready. We know that he heard Vasch, not just magically knew he was being attacked. And, we know that he might have gotten lucky and popped one off in the vampire. This gives Vasch enough room to have gotten away, and Jacob enough room to have possibly hit. That is a MUST when role playing with others. This way, in the follow up post a hit or miss would be completely believable.

Now, for your practice. I want you to react to the following scenario in a one-liner response. I will then look over it and provide you with how it should be fixed, or if it is good enough as is. We are not looking for perfection, we are looking for enough information to keep the role play going. Perfection isn't the objective of role playing like this. Having fun, and using your spare time to it's fullest is our objective. You shouldn't have to always spend hours typing one response, so hopefully this will be of assistance to you.

The Scenario:

• You and your hunting party have been ambushed while camping over night.
• The setting, medieval/fantasy.

My Post:
Drakin's scales rose as the evening's noise turned into chaos. The human-like dragon rose from his slumber quickly. He grabbed for his bow and quiver. His fears were turned into reality as he peered out of the tent. He fired one shot into the figures attacking the encampment.

You are to reply to this post, if someone has already replied, then reply to their post instead! Treat this as any other role play you are in or have been in. Remember, please do not worry about perfection. Just try to get that information in your post, that is all we need! A simple thing like information, drastically, improves any role play experience.

Here we are, my official report back to you.

Simon flinched as the arrow whistled past his head. Cursing his luck, he drew his sword and said a quick prayer. Of all the places he could have possibly stopped off at, he had to pick the one that was to be attacked. Behind him, a twig snapped. He spun around, dreading what he would see.

Good job here. You gave enough information for another person to make their entrance into the role play. With that you let everyone know that you were battle ready. I've no problem with how you've posted your entrance!

Venander's companion dropped to the floor, the moon's light showing an arrow in his eye. "Crap," whispered Venander to himself as he spun to glance at the sound of a twig some distance to the left. He drew his sword.

Taking a different approach is generally a good thing in a role play. I always find that it is better to have an enemy player, than an enemy non-player character. You give enough information to let us know you are ready to fight, and that you heard the sound behind Simon.

Bion cursed and slapped herself on the forehead. It wasn't just her stepping on a twig, it was her mutilating a glass twig. The twig snapped and made an echo that anyone who wanted to kill come running forth like a dog beckoning to his name.

Not a bad here, you took the position that was center of attention. Thus, giving everyone a real focus. Rather than someone just stepping on a twig, it became a player, a real character. You actually could have done without the extra flare here. I would have done this;
The twig snapped and made an echo through the encampment. Bion cursed under her breath, furious at her mistake.

It was a woman, as it turned out. Simon closed his eyes for a moment, relieved that it wasn't anything that was actively trying to kill him. Although, some of the women he remembered... He shuddered. He'd better ask, just in case.
"Please tell me you aren't going to stab me or anything," he said, almost pleadingly.

The intense situation at hand became less, intense. It went from serious, to non-chelant. In a role play, such mood changes can kill the story that is unfolding. It's good that you through a bit of comedy in here. But, remember, an arrow just went flying by your head. The post should have been more about trying to spot and take down your enemy, and perhaps asking the woman if she is alright, or if she is going to help you.

"Dude..Why would I stab you? I step on a twig and stay in the same damn place for chrissake! I'm a red target in archery class!" Bion heard other people coming and decided not to say and chance her luck.

Dude... That is one of the things that would have turned me away from the role play right from the start. Why? Because, it is a setting in a midieval/fantasy world. Remember that there is battle at hand, mistakes being made are the center of attention, however you must remember the over all mood of this situation is suspense.

Venander peered into the darkness, looking for signs of the person within the camp. He could see only two vague silhouettes, but their voices gave it away. Running with his sword raised, the orc roared with malicious intent.

You did great once again! You gave others a chance to post, this means you have the advantage of more information. With that, your character was able to remain in hiding, watching and waiting. You took the mood that was waning, and brought it back in full force with just one simple sentence, " Running with his sword raised, the orc roared with malicious intent." Well done. Just remember the tense of the situation, past. A quick fix would be, "He raised his sword and ran forward. Venander roared with malicious intent."

Simon started as he heard the orc's roar. He didn't like orcs, mainly because he'd never met one that didn't try to chop him into little pieces. Turning towards the sound, he tightened his grip on his sword.

Not bad with this post but I am confused at the opening of it. "Simon started as he heard the orc's roar." What did he start? Because, he ended by turning toward the sound and gripping his sword tightly.

With this, here is my next post.
The success of his shot was unknown. Drakin had no time to risk, he knocked another arrow to his bow. He heard the other two taking the time to converse in a rather dire situation. The call of rage blasted through the air. His arm plucked back on the string of his bow, and his fingers let the arrow fly toward the call of war.