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101 Ways to Chuckle

GAME PLATFORMS: There are essentially three kinds of platforms for online gaming. Each ahs it's pros and cons, and each requires different levels of time commitments, and lends themselves to different styles of RP. Until you find out which style of RP you like, feel free to experiment with all of them. (This section assumes you have read and followed the guidelines in the Chapter One, and have familiarized yourself with the game & platform of your choice, its rules, commands, etc.)

The first is Chat/Real Time Gaming. This includes games that are run on various types of chat software, including IRC, Java chat, and web-based (i.e. yahoo) chats. Also included in this is MUDs, MOOs, MUCKs, and MUSHes. This platform is usually the easiest for newbies to begin with. Always try and familiarize yourself with chat software before trying to bite off a new RPG game at the same time.

Chat RPG's go something like this:

<Kaleb> Something is scaring her..maybe you remind her of someone..best let it go for now, sir
*** Aeremus is now known as Elron_AFK
<Velvet_Moon> ill go to my garden i think
* Kiri_Sovata shakes her head in slight confusion
* vampire_witchkitty reappears throws up by the window
* Vilnius nods and turns and walks by kaleb "Tell her I am sorry whatever it is"
<Kiri_Sovata> Dilo Shimulo.....
*** Elron_AFK () has left #vampirepub
* Velvet_Moon runs thought the frech doors to the garden
* Dominic` is a young man in his very early twenties. His face makes him look rather young. Long,almost shoulder length black hair that is usually greasy or wet. His eyes are deep brown. He doesn't look outstandingly strong, just solid. He wears a white short sleeved dress shirt, but worn loosely. (msg for character pic)
*** Velvet_Moon is now known as Vel_Garden
* Kaleb nods and follows Velvet moon
<Vilnius> thank you
*** Kaleb is now known as Kaleb_Garden

Some of things to keep in mind for chat RPG's are:

1. Pick a regular time to come online and play, whether its the same day each week or same hour each day. You are better able to get familiar with the players that are on those hours, and develop plots and intrigues for your character that way.

2. The recommended writing style is third person, present tense.

3. The speed of chat games is the quickest of all online game platforms, so don't be surprised if lots happens while you are offline. Just do your best to keep abreast of things, and stay to your committed time slot.

4. Modulate your "voice".. Don't want everyone to hear what you say? Whisper it. Want to shout? Easy enough. Once again, there's a format... here are some examples....
<q> =quietly
<w> =whisper
<vqw> =very quiet whisper
<ms> =mind speech, aka telepathy
<L> =loudly
<s> =softly
Ex.: <qw> Please dont tell anyone I was here....

5. Nick changes: You can change your nick to reflect where your character is... This keeps people entering the main "room" from trying to approach your character. Most channels are set up as Inn's or Pubs... and therefore usually have an outside, a patio, perhaps a nearby lake, beach or woods to afford some privacy and intrigue..... Changing your nick to Nick-outside or Nick-beach will help others keep track of where you are..and allow you a bit of freedom of "movement"

6. Keep your actions and your speech separate. Use quotations for your speech, or use brackets/colons to indicate actions (Ex: ::grins evilly::) Also make sure and keep OOC and IC separate. In a chatroom, double brackets are usually used to indicate [[OOC]].

The second type of online RPG platform is the PBeM. This platform uses a mailing list to send interactive emails to everyone involved. The set up for this is easy, as long as you know how to use an email program. In this type of email, you take turns, posting your actions to the list, waiting for a response, and then posting again. For example:

Bastet sends to the list:
Bastet looked over the desk to his partner, arching a brow, and looking at her with his slitted green eyes. "Do you really think that is a wise idea, Storm? I mean, of all the dancers we have here, do you really want to send her up to the Aerie?" He leaned back in the leatherette chair, ignoring its habitual squeak as he waited for her response..

Storm sends to the list:
"I know you have reservations, Bast, but I think this is the right decision. SHe knows what she's doing. Besides, do you really think those fools in the Aerie are going to hurt one of our employess?" She smiled wryly, and held up a hand, which crackled with sudden electrical energy, as if to emphasize her point. "It's not as if anyone up there wants to make us *both* their enemies."

A few things to keep in mind on PBeM's are:

1. Lists can vary from 5-200 emails a day, depending on the lists' size and activity. Make sure you know how active a list is, and whether or not you need to read ALL the posts that come thru. If you aren't prepared to deal with 150 emails a day, you might want to consider a different list.

2. The recommended writing style for a PBeM, is usually past tense, third person.

The final platform we'll be covering for online gaming is the forum board. Essentially you will be monitoring a message board. In the standard set up, each forum represents an area or place in the game setting, and each thread in a forum represents a plotline or character interaction going on. Like the PBeM, there are turns involved, usually consisting of a player/s, followed by the GM's reactions to the player's actions, and furthering the plotline.

Example

Some things to keep in mind on forum posting:

1. Before joining in the middle of a thread, read all the previous posts to catch up on who is where and doing what.

2. The typical writing style is third person, past tense.

3. There are two types of interaction: Player vs. player, and GM vs. Player. Be sure to learn the benefits of both. While GM/PLayer interaction can get you skill advances, and info, player/player interaction can buy you social contacts and relationships.

GAME GENRES: There are three main game genres, and several offshoots. A genre essentially tells you what the theme of the game is, and is a very broad, generalized term that helps to categorize a game. Never assume that two games of the same genre are at all alike. They might just share some common elements or a common theme. Genres are a good way of helping to narrow down your broad search for a game, however.

Horror: Dark & Gothic, these games are usually set in the dark seedy underworld of a place. They are chock full of intrigue, mystery, violence and desperation. Typical character types/races include vampires, werewolves, and mages. Most horror games I have seen are set in a modern time frame, with an "the end of the world is coming" feeling to them. There are a few notable exceptions. Think Anne Rice, Laura Blake & yes, White Wolf Games.

Sci-Fi: Science Fiction games are futuristic, technological and extremely fanciful. This genre covers a wide gauntlet of games. It covers the hypothetical "what-if" scenario, or are full of cybernetic marvels. This is a wide, and much beloved (and abused) genre. Archetypes include aliens, scientists, explorers, etc. Think Star Wars, & Star Trek.

Fantasy: Another genre that covers a very wide range is the fantasy genre. Used to cover everything NOT covered by the other two, Fantasy covers games that are magical, medieval, unusual, mythical or historical. Traditionally it referred to a Tolkein-like world with magical races and beasts. A common theme for the fantasy genre game seems to be the presence of magic, or 'mythical' races. Think Dungeons & Dragons, Might & Magic, or Ultima Online.

There are some other "sub-genres" that I thought would be helpful to point out.

Furre/Furry: These type of games are home to characters that are usually some degree of an anthromorph. An anthromorph is part human, part animal. These games can draw their setting from any of the above genre's but their player types are typically 100 % "furry". These games were of course created by and for the wide furry fanbase.

Homebrew: A homebrew game can combine any or all of the above genres, and then throw in some aspects of it own. Homebrew games tend to be hard to classify under just one genre. A game with cybernetic elves might be a sci-fi fantasy. Medieval vampire mages might be considered a horror fantasy. Careful attention should be paid to homebrew game settings, as often times, their races, culture & magic will have customized aspects you wouldn't normally see.

GENERAL TIPS & TRICKS:

1. No matter what platform you choose, make your posts clear and concise. Complete sentences and good grammar make it easier for other players to read and respond too.

2. Always clearly separate OOC & IC. Follow each game's rules on appropriate OOC usage.

3. Writing style IS important. It makes your posts easier to read, and makes the overall storyline a better read. Check each game for their preferred writing styles.

4. Keep in mind, that online, your words are your only means of communication. You have no tone of voice, no facial expression, and no body language to help communicate your meaning to others. You must all convey that through your writing. Details help with this.

5.You can never put too much detail into a post, as long as it concerns YOUR character, and doesn't assume anything of others.

6. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the platform, and its commands, bells & whistles.

7. When you make your time commitment, stick to it. Others will be depending on you to further their plots.

8. Don't be afraid to ask questions or make suggestions. Every game should have a forum, email addy or chatroom where players can air their concerns and questions. Also, don't be discouraged if no one jumps on your suggestion. It could be it's been suggested before numerous times.

9. Always check your real life problems at the door. DON'T sign on drunk or angry or upset. Real life problems deserve real life friends, not RP.

10. It's ONLY A GAME, if you can't remember that, WALK AWAY. Whether its for an hour, a week or forever, once it stops becoming fun, and starts being a problem, you may be too involved, and need to take some time off.

101 WAYS TO CHUCKLE: Ok ok, it sounds weird, but when you are role playing you have to come up with different ways to express your character's emotions. You need to use different words or it gets boring; synonyms are a GOOD thing, people. Anyways, my characters have a habit of smiling or chuckling to express these deeper emotions, like smiling mysteriously, or chuckling darkly. You get the idea? Well one day, one of my RP pals and I made a joke of 101 ways to chuckle. I swore Id write it one day, so here it is: co-written by and dedicated to ...My Playah.... ;)