Post by Destination Darkness on Jan 22, 2007 16:00:16 GMT -5
What the hell is role-playing?
Role-playing, often simply called 'rp', refers to acting as if you were something you are not and living a life that is not your own, but of your own mind. It's pretty much like those games of pretend from when you were young. Back when you and the kid next door would play "Cops and Robbers". Neither of you were a cop and neither of you were an actual robber, but you pretended to be, role-played as cops and robbers. That's all this really is. A big game of make-believe...
Well, if it's a game then how do you win?
You don't win, that's the beauty of it. The same way no one wins in real life, no one wins in role-playing either. The fun is in the experience, in watching your character live through hardships, fights and traumas, as well as joy, happiness and relationships. Having the 'strongest' character does not mean you win. It only hints toward powerplaying, which is against the rules.
What's Powerplaying?
Powerplaying is evil. Don't do it. If you ever suspect you might be, ask for help. But what it is... Powerplaying is when you don't give the other player a chance to change the outcome of events. This usually happens in a fight. One player says their character killed the other, never giving the other player the chance to have their character counter. let me give you an example: "Bob attacked Bill, aiming a bite at the bigger wolf's throat." This is good because Bill's player can then have Bill either dodge or get hit depending on what they want. "Bob attacked Bill, crushing his windpipe and killing him instantly." This is terrible. That is powerplaying because Bill's player never got the chance to defend themselves, Bob's player declared them dead. This is wrong and unfair...
So, what's keeping people from dodging every attack?
This is actually also powerplaying. To dodge every attack is never giving your opponent the chance to win and, as I said, that's unfair. So, it is standard rp regulation that you may only dodge three times in row. On the fourth attack, your character must be hit regardless. If you see somebody who is dodging too many times over and over again, be sure to alert a staff member and they will take immediate action.
Can my character die?
Of course. If it can happen in real life, it can happen in role-play. But, be aware, everything is always on your terms. It is against the rules for anyone but you or me to declare your character dead, and I almost never declare someone else's character dead. Only when you repeatedly break the dodging rule mentioned above will I let someone else kill your character and even then a bit of begging will probably get me to lift the declaration. But, yes, ultimately your character will die at some point. Not even Garou are immortal and old age will eventually catch up... but death is not something to worry about when creating or even playing your characters. Like I said, only you can kill your own character.
So then what's the point?
What do you mean what's the point? The point is not to have the strongest character at the end. It's not to have the most offspring or have a mate. These may be goals along the way, but the along the way part is all you really care about. Role-playing isn't about getting the highest score or being the most important. It's about developing your character as they attempt to get to those things, throwing them in awkward situations and giving yourself a good laugh at their antics. Some people use their characters as a vent for real life things, putting them in terrible situations and seeing how they cope. All the fun is in the trip, not the destination.
Oh, Okay. Where do I start?
You can start wherever really. I usually start by making a character either based on myself or compiled from all the things I like. Maybe I'll make a wolf (fav animal) character with black and orange fur (fav colors) and bright blue eyes (another fav color) with a very arrogant personality (fav type of anime characters) but a social, outgoing nature (something I myself have). Some people start with the plot instead, inventing the characters to participate later. Maybe I'll have a Garou character that looses his memory and latches onto a Black Spiral Dancer in a terrible attempt to get his memory back, resulting in huge fighting over his loyalties. This will mean the main character should be inquisitive and trusting so he'd be more likely to trust the BSD. That's just what some people do. You can start wherever you're most comfortable but remember, you have to make your character before you can rp at all.
Will role-playing here be the same as in the real W:tA?
Not exactly. This is obviously not a table top rp so some things will have to be changed. Plus, I have never played a table-top rp so I do not know every last little aspect of that style of rp. However, much of the W:tA game has indeed been integrated into this site, including ranks, willpower, gnosis, gifts and so on. More importantly, it does in fact follow the plot line and setting of the original Werewolf: the Apocalypse. The rules and character creation guide will explain how everything might carry over but I assure you that it won't be the same rp experience for you here. Who knows, it might be better.
What if you don't know anything about this W:tA stuff?
That's fine. If you know what a werewolf is, and you're willing to ask questions along the way, then you can certainly figure all this other stuff out. The staff are there to help people who are unaware of the W:tA universe and we will be sure to explain anything you don't understand. More importantly, there are lots of helpful threads all over the site that give you all the info you could ever need to function here. Werewolf: the Apocalypse doesn't dictate the site, though it does give us a basis for the setting and most of the details about the creatures, tribes and behaviors. So, you will probably need to have a little knowledge about the universe to play here but don't fret, there are plenty of threads to explain everything to you and, if you don't feel like reading that much, ask a staff member to summarize some stuff for you. Don't worry about it. ;3
But I'm kind of scared of bothering the staff...
Don't be. Though we're called staff members, you'll notice that we have separate accounts just like you, accounts with small post counts and a small number of stars and so on. Behind the passwords and admin powers, we are no different than you. We go to school, we take days off, we have finals and homework, we have chores and jobs and, more importantly, we have an overwhelming desire to help people to feel welcome here. So, don't be afraid to come to us for absolutely anything. If you have any questions about W:tA, if you want someone to critique your artwork, if you're having problems at home with an annoying sibling, if you're having trouble with your math homework, if you want to rp with someone, or if you just want to talk. Whatever it is, don't be scared to bring it to us. It's rather depressing, knowing that people are afraid of you... ;.;
But I still have questions. Should I just pm you?
Well, if it's a very specific or personal question, you can pm me or any one of my trusted staff members, but if it's just something general like if a certain name is taken by another character or something about the plot or whatever, I'd prefer you post it in the Inquiries board. That way, if another member knows the answer, they can help you while I tend to important site matters. Don't worry. The other members are nice too and it's a great way to make friends and start talking to people, asking questions. It just works out better that way.
Role-playing, often simply called 'rp', refers to acting as if you were something you are not and living a life that is not your own, but of your own mind. It's pretty much like those games of pretend from when you were young. Back when you and the kid next door would play "Cops and Robbers". Neither of you were a cop and neither of you were an actual robber, but you pretended to be, role-played as cops and robbers. That's all this really is. A big game of make-believe...
Well, if it's a game then how do you win?
You don't win, that's the beauty of it. The same way no one wins in real life, no one wins in role-playing either. The fun is in the experience, in watching your character live through hardships, fights and traumas, as well as joy, happiness and relationships. Having the 'strongest' character does not mean you win. It only hints toward powerplaying, which is against the rules.
What's Powerplaying?
Powerplaying is evil. Don't do it. If you ever suspect you might be, ask for help. But what it is... Powerplaying is when you don't give the other player a chance to change the outcome of events. This usually happens in a fight. One player says their character killed the other, never giving the other player the chance to have their character counter. let me give you an example: "Bob attacked Bill, aiming a bite at the bigger wolf's throat." This is good because Bill's player can then have Bill either dodge or get hit depending on what they want. "Bob attacked Bill, crushing his windpipe and killing him instantly." This is terrible. That is powerplaying because Bill's player never got the chance to defend themselves, Bob's player declared them dead. This is wrong and unfair...
So, what's keeping people from dodging every attack?
This is actually also powerplaying. To dodge every attack is never giving your opponent the chance to win and, as I said, that's unfair. So, it is standard rp regulation that you may only dodge three times in row. On the fourth attack, your character must be hit regardless. If you see somebody who is dodging too many times over and over again, be sure to alert a staff member and they will take immediate action.
Can my character die?
Of course. If it can happen in real life, it can happen in role-play. But, be aware, everything is always on your terms. It is against the rules for anyone but you or me to declare your character dead, and I almost never declare someone else's character dead. Only when you repeatedly break the dodging rule mentioned above will I let someone else kill your character and even then a bit of begging will probably get me to lift the declaration. But, yes, ultimately your character will die at some point. Not even Garou are immortal and old age will eventually catch up... but death is not something to worry about when creating or even playing your characters. Like I said, only you can kill your own character.
So then what's the point?
What do you mean what's the point? The point is not to have the strongest character at the end. It's not to have the most offspring or have a mate. These may be goals along the way, but the along the way part is all you really care about. Role-playing isn't about getting the highest score or being the most important. It's about developing your character as they attempt to get to those things, throwing them in awkward situations and giving yourself a good laugh at their antics. Some people use their characters as a vent for real life things, putting them in terrible situations and seeing how they cope. All the fun is in the trip, not the destination.
Oh, Okay. Where do I start?
You can start wherever really. I usually start by making a character either based on myself or compiled from all the things I like. Maybe I'll make a wolf (fav animal) character with black and orange fur (fav colors) and bright blue eyes (another fav color) with a very arrogant personality (fav type of anime characters) but a social, outgoing nature (something I myself have). Some people start with the plot instead, inventing the characters to participate later. Maybe I'll have a Garou character that looses his memory and latches onto a Black Spiral Dancer in a terrible attempt to get his memory back, resulting in huge fighting over his loyalties. This will mean the main character should be inquisitive and trusting so he'd be more likely to trust the BSD. That's just what some people do. You can start wherever you're most comfortable but remember, you have to make your character before you can rp at all.
Will role-playing here be the same as in the real W:tA?
Not exactly. This is obviously not a table top rp so some things will have to be changed. Plus, I have never played a table-top rp so I do not know every last little aspect of that style of rp. However, much of the W:tA game has indeed been integrated into this site, including ranks, willpower, gnosis, gifts and so on. More importantly, it does in fact follow the plot line and setting of the original Werewolf: the Apocalypse. The rules and character creation guide will explain how everything might carry over but I assure you that it won't be the same rp experience for you here. Who knows, it might be better.
What if you don't know anything about this W:tA stuff?
That's fine. If you know what a werewolf is, and you're willing to ask questions along the way, then you can certainly figure all this other stuff out. The staff are there to help people who are unaware of the W:tA universe and we will be sure to explain anything you don't understand. More importantly, there are lots of helpful threads all over the site that give you all the info you could ever need to function here. Werewolf: the Apocalypse doesn't dictate the site, though it does give us a basis for the setting and most of the details about the creatures, tribes and behaviors. So, you will probably need to have a little knowledge about the universe to play here but don't fret, there are plenty of threads to explain everything to you and, if you don't feel like reading that much, ask a staff member to summarize some stuff for you. Don't worry about it. ;3
But I'm kind of scared of bothering the staff...
Don't be. Though we're called staff members, you'll notice that we have separate accounts just like you, accounts with small post counts and a small number of stars and so on. Behind the passwords and admin powers, we are no different than you. We go to school, we take days off, we have finals and homework, we have chores and jobs and, more importantly, we have an overwhelming desire to help people to feel welcome here. So, don't be afraid to come to us for absolutely anything. If you have any questions about W:tA, if you want someone to critique your artwork, if you're having problems at home with an annoying sibling, if you're having trouble with your math homework, if you want to rp with someone, or if you just want to talk. Whatever it is, don't be scared to bring it to us. It's rather depressing, knowing that people are afraid of you... ;.;
But I still have questions. Should I just pm you?
Well, if it's a very specific or personal question, you can pm me or any one of my trusted staff members, but if it's just something general like if a certain name is taken by another character or something about the plot or whatever, I'd prefer you post it in the Inquiries board. That way, if another member knows the answer, they can help you while I tend to important site matters. Don't worry. The other members are nice too and it's a great way to make friends and start talking to people, asking questions. It just works out better that way.