Guide To Universes On RPG

partially-stars · **Tips:** 5.25 INK by **partially-stars** on Mon Jul 27, 2020 3:53 pm

One of the most exciting features of RPG is the concept of Universes. These are the player-created worlds where roleplay takes place on Roleplay Gateway — each Universe has its own list of "settings" (called "Places") to play in, with some even connected with their own map, equippable items, and quest systems! In this guide, we'll cover the basic concepts, like finding, joining, and creating Universes of our own.

The Basics of RPG Universes
Characters
Our story begins with the creation of your first character — the most important element in RPG's roleplaying system. Each character you create will be stored in the Character Management panel, where you can easily return to your character's story at any time by clicking the "Play" button.

In most Universes, you can find the "Submit a Character" button to the right-hand side of its listing, or the "Create a Character" button on its main page.

Finding Universes
Everything on RPG is designed to be intuitive — all the way down to our hyperlinks. Each part of a Universe can be accessed by modifying the address in your browser to navigate to the resource you're looking for. For convenience, we'll list the exact path for each resource so you can get used to the idea.

You can choose to roleplay anywhere you find through the list of latest scenes or the list of all roleplay settings, but take note of any rules the Game Master, or GM, has set — GMs and other Universe staff (like Builders) can both edit and remove anything you create.

We've organized this list in order, from most obvious to least. If you start at the top, you can quickly get a good sense of where to look when you want to roleplay.

1. The Universe Index: /universes
This infamous resource is a directory of places to roleplay, organized with tags, dates, statistics, and more. You can click tags to browse even more player-created worlds, or just pick one that seems interesting — like the Multiverse!

The Multiverse is a great place to start, as it has a robust community of active players in a massive, sprawling world where anything goes. While the Multiverse is the largest and most successful Universe on RPG, you can of course create your own — but don't forget to spend the time and energy necessary to promote it, maintain it, and ensure its longevity!

2. Tag Pages: /tags/whatever
Browsing Universes by tag is a great way to find new places to roleplay. Anywhere you see a tag on RPG, you can click it to find other Universes labeled with that term. You can try original, fanfic, or even fantasy.

All Universes must have at least 3 tags, such as the #whatever label. Take note just use use the tag name, and don't include the # when we get to the next part of this guide, creating our own universe.

3. Author Pages: /member/username
Anywhere you see a username on RPG, you can click it to browse that author's profile. Here you'll find the Characters they play and the Universes they play in. You can use The Multiverse to spawn a new character for exploration, or click "Create a Character" on any Universe's main page to join any other roleplay.

Creating Universes
On the Universe Index, you can find the Create a Universe button on the right hand side, above all other Universes. You'll be asked to set up an initial profile for your Universe, including choosing whether it is Open (anyone can join) or Closed (players must submit characters for approval). The best choice is always Open, since, as the creator, you can modify or delete content in your Universe at any time.

Once you've created your Universe, try creating a character and using a few commands:

/addBuilder <Username> — allows that user to create and modify places, including the map
/addGameMaster <Username> — makes that user a co-GM, granting them access to all Universe features

Universes have a number of features, including:

Characters
Places
Events
Quests
Market
Factions
Vehicles
Items
Quests
Mobs

If you're a Game Master (GM or co-GM) you can click each tab and explore on your own — just let us know in chat if you have questions!

Characters
[...]

Places
[...]

Events
[...]

Quests
[...]

Market
[...]

Factions
[...]

Vehicles
[...]

Items
[...]

Quests
[...]

Mobs
[...]

RPG Universes: A Deeper Dive by partially-stars
Hey there! So if you’re reading this, you’re either new to the site or considering starting a Universe of your own. So either way, welcome! This will be in two parts: joining an RP and setting up an RP!

Joining a RP
Setting up a RP

Introduction:

Non-multiverse Universes are often referred to as Indy-Verses or Indy Universes, and are found in the Universes tab. They’re smaller, more controlled universes that often (but not always) require character reservation and approval by the GM (Game-Master.) Don’t be intimidated by this! It’s usually just to ensure the universe is a little more controlled.

First: The Universe page. The first row on the Universes, aka Featured Universes, is a selection of established universes. At the time of writing, none of these are accepting new members, but you’re more than welcome to read and explore them to see how the Indy Verses work.

Spoiler: show

After that, all the roleplays are listed by order of creation, from most recent.

Spoiler: show

There are three types of universes you’ll commonly see on this page:

Open Roleplays: these are group roleplays, intended for multiple people. It’s important to read the description as it may say whether or not they’re accepting new characters. These will be the type I’ll be discussing for the most part.
1x1s/Private Roleplays: these are private roleplays- 1x1’s are between two people, while you may see some with small groups.
Storage Roleplays: these are just roleplays that people will use to work on characters and ideas and are generally only used by the person who set them up.

Update: Private roleplays and storage roleplays will now appear less on the Universes page as roleplays with the tags #private and #storage will no longer appear on this page, however you may still see them from time to time.

partially-stars · **Tips:** 0.25 INK by **partially-stars** on Mon Jul 27, 2020 3:55 pm

Joining an RP:

If you see an RP that catches your attention, and it doesn’t seem to be private or storage, great! This is what you’ll see when you click into it.

Spoiler: show

There are three very important things you need to look at when you’re checking out a new RP.

The plot. Self explanatory, really! This is the main body of the RP as you see above.
The rules. Is there anything you need to know? Is there a certain type of character the GM wants? Any restrictions on characters?
The Out Of Character Forum.

(It might also be worth reading the tags. If you see the tags "adult" or "mature", this usually means that, while the roleplay will conform to RPG's rules on sexual content and violence, it may contain themes unsuitable for younger users, such as drugs and non-graphic violence. Member discretion is advised.)

The rules can be in a number of places depending on the GM’s preference. They may be in the main body of the RP or they may be under the dedicated Rules tab. The Rules tab may be closed by default, so make sure to click “Toggle” just to make sure there’s nothing there.

Spoiler: show

The Out of Character Forum is found in the OOC tab. Some roleplays may have several forums, and it’s important to read them all to understand any additional information that may be required for the roleplay. If you find the information is too overwhelming or you’re not sure what’s essential, I’d recommend Private Messaging the GM for advice!

Spoiler: show

On the OOC tab, you’ll also see a chat window! This is integrated with the RPG Chat, allowing messages to be seen both from the RP itself and the RPG chat client.

Spoiler: show

So, you like the look of this roleplay and you’ve decided to join. What next? Well, first, refer back to the rules to see if and how the GM wants you to reserve a character. Some GMs are happy to accept any character that is submitted, others will request that you reserve it first and give some details in the OOC forum. This can be a password, to show you did actually read the rules, or just details about your character! If there isn’t a dedicated “Reservations” Forum, then reservations generally go into the forum that has the same name as the roleplay. It’s generally best to wait until the GM has confirmed that they are currently accepting reservations and that they’re happy to accept your reservation before starting work on a character.

You may see mentions of “face claims”. Again, not every GM uses these, but they are pretty common. There are two main classes: anime and real life. Anime face claims use characters from Anime and similar cartoons, while “real life” face claims use celebrities and well known people. These are basically people or characters who your character will look like. It allows for more aesthetically pleasing character sheets, as well as some fun with using reaction gifs and memes! If you don’t know how to find a face claim, I’d always recommending contacting the GM as they should be more than happy to help! Alternatively, googling “face claims” with the age range you’re looking for may give some suggestions. I’ve also included some of my favourite resources for face claims in the spoiler below, but musicians and actors are popular choices for "real life" face claims as there’s usually lots of images of them around!

Spoiler: show

And here’s an example of a character sheet that uses a real life face claim! (with bonus reaction image!)

Spoiler: show

Some Indy Verse GMs will provide a character sheet for you to use, while others will allow you to use whatever you like. Don’t be overwhelmed by big sheets with lots of coding- they’re often relatively easy to fill in and again, the GM should be more than happy to help if you need advice. If you are using a face claim, you might need to do some image editing to make sure the pictures you find work for the sheet. Fear not, there are lots of free tools available for that!

Spoiler: show

So. You like the roleplay, you’ve reserved your spot, and you’ve submitted the character. The GM has looked over them and has approved them, and it’s time for posting to begin! Posting in Indy-Verses is similar to the multiverses, and etiquette remains the same. Independent universes are a great way to find your feet and even make friends. You’ll find some people will use fancy layouts and so on in their posts. They’re a fun aesthetic component but aren’t a requirement by any means, and if you see one you like, don’t be afraid to ask if you can use it. (If you do have multiple characters, colour coding dialogue might be an idea just to keep things a little clearer!)

Tips for GMs:

Make your rules easy to find.
Make joining as easy as possible. A player shouldn’t be required to know intricate details about the setting or the source material- theoretically, someone totally unfamiliar with the setting should be able to join, even if it’s unlikely that they would.
If a player seems a little unsure about how things work, reach out to them and offer to help. Every established roleplayer I know has a roleplay that really helped them settle in and learn the ropes. Be that roleplay!
If you use face claims and a member uses someone that’s not right - too old, too young, “overused”, etc., don’t just tell them to change their FC- either offer to help them find a new one or suggest some that might work.
Be approachable. Small talk and off-topic conversations can be a great way of helping new players settle in and feel welcome. I know that not everyone wants the social end of things, and that’s fine! But making jokes and discussing what’s going down IC can make things a little more enjoyable and can help newcomers make friends. The OOC chat is a great tool for this if you want to keep the forums clear!

Tips for Existing Members:

You were a newbie once too- remember that!
If someone’s character is on their own or doesn’t seem to be interacting much in a scene, make an effort to include them if you can.

Tips for Newbies:

There’s no such thing as a dumb question. Ask any questions you need to, and if you’re self conscious asking in a public space, don’t be afraid to private message the GM!
Trying new things is the key to growth. Even if something seems a little out of your depth, why not give it a try?
Striking up interesting relationships between your characters can really help integrate your character into a setting and get them involved in some activity. Why not message another roleplayer whose character you like the look of and see if you can’t get something arranged between your characters? Romance, best friends, or worst enemies can all work (and sometimes a combination of the above!)

partially-stars · **Tips:** 7.00 INK by **partially-stars** on Mon Jul 27, 2020 3:55 pm

Setting Up Your Own RP:

So, you’ve ventured into a few Indy Verse roleplays and have decided to set up your own, or maybe you just don’t see any that you like the look of and want to dive in the deep end by setting up your own! Great!

So this is what you’ll see when you click “Create new universe.”

Spoiler: show

Title: Self explanatory, really. It is important to note, however, that you can only change the title for the first 24 hours after you post the RP. Do not put (open) or (accepting members) or anything similar in the title for that reason.
Description: a brief synopsis of the RP and its plot. If you’ve decided to set up a private RP or a storage RP, you should also put it here.
Tags: at least three key words as to what the RP is about. You don’t need to add hashtags, and the words are just separated by commas. (A side note: here you may see tags such as “adult” and “mature”. This typically means that while the RP still conforms to the RPG rules on sexual and violent content, it may still not be suitable for a younger audience and may contain themes such as mental illness, drugs, and violence. User discretion is advised if you see these tags.)
Thumbnail: just a small image to make your universe identifiable! It should be 100x100px. You might be able to find a certain amount of images this size on your search engine of choice, but if not, there are lots of image resizing tools available!
Setting: This is the primary locations or your default location, where your characters will be unless you add more settings and a player specifically chooses to post in one of them. (You can add more settings later.)
Character approval: Do you want to allow people to join and immediately be able to post? If so, select Allow All Characters. If you’d prefer to review their characters first, select Require Character Approval.
Private Universe: This is a relatively new feature. It allows you to ensure that only you and whoever you add to the private universe will be able to add characters to the universe. In order to add to a private universe, use the chat on the OOC page, and use the command /addGameMaster username. It is a case sensitive command. The recipient must be online and viewing the universe at the time of the command.
Is this universe original?: Basically, is the concept entirely your own? Or is it based on a piece of media/another RP? If it’s based off of something else (for example, anything taking part in the Harry Potter universe, even if it doesn’t take place in Hogwarts or use any of the characters), select the “No, this universe is someone else’s” and give details of what it’s from. You should link to some of the source material- a wiki page is a popular choice. But if it’s all your work, select the first option!
Rules: anything you put in here will be in the rules tab, at the bottom of the page. You don’t have to put the rules in here, you can also choose to put them in the main body of the RP, but this is a nice clear dedicated spot for them.
Introduction: The title may be a little misleading as this is the main body of the RP! Details about the plot should go here. Some players also choose to include details about the characters that have already been reserved and/or accepted. This is usually just to give a rough idea about the characters and to make sure nobody uses the same face claim if you decide to use face claims!

That’s what you’ll need in order to post a RP. For a lot of GMs, that’s all they often choose to go with as it keeps things simple and easy to manage. However, if you decide that you want to add more settings, go to the Places tab on your universe. Click into View All, then Add New.

Spoiler: show

Here, the information is similar to the information you put in when you’re setting up an RP. If you want the location to be inside the original location established when you set up the RP, you can do so in the “Inside Of” option, otherwise it’ll be a seperate place. The description is more so a description of the place itself, so it can be as brief or as descriptive as you like.

So you've got your introduction, your rules, and your settings! There's only one thing missing now- writers! Most members will join as a result of seeing your roleplay on the Universes tab, but if you're finding that you're still not drawing enough people, you can always post in the Roleplayers Wanted forum. Here, you can explain what your RP is about and elaborate on the type of characters you're looking for.

Tips for New Members:

An interesting synopsis will encourage people to have a better look at your RP! Use something interesting enough to catch their attention, but don't let it give away too much of the plot either!
Don't be discouraged if you don't get any new members. It happens sometimes, and doesn't mean your idea was a bad idea! It can just mean the right people aren't around right now or are too busy.
Ask current members for advice! The Academy is the perfect place to ask for help in developing an RP, and if you're in an existing RP, ask others if they have any advice for getting set up! (But don't just promo your RP unless you have explicit permission to do so from the GM, and in that case, only do it once.)
Again, the best way of learning is to give it a try. Don't be afraid of stepping outside your comfort zone!

Tips for Existing Members:

Your experience is invaluable in helping new members get established and settle in. If they ask for help, consider giving it!
Bring the things you like from previous universes you've been in (and the multiverse, if you're active there!) and use them to help develop your universe.

Announcements: Finding Universes to Join (and making yours more visible!) » Guide To Universes On RPG » Member Shoutout Thread » Starter Locations & Prompts for Newcomers » RPG Chat — the official app » USERNAME CHANGES » Suggestions & Requests: THE MASTER THREAD »

Guide To Universes On RPG

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Guide To Universes On RPG

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