Post by Aphrodite on Aug 26, 2012 18:02:36 GMT -5
This is a helpful guide on some roleplay terms. Good for new players and helpful for any seasoned players needing a refresher.
Roleplay, also RP, Roleplay, Roleplaying Game, RPG, - Any collaborative writing project in which the participant typically control a specific character and works together with others to establish interaction and a coherent storyline. Any game where the players take on the role of a characters in a separate reality from their own lives. May refer to the concept in general, the community of people who participate in such games, a specific game, or a very specific collection of participants and the story they are creating.
Freeform - A type of roleplay where there are no explicit guidelines on length or format of posts, usage of player characters, plot, or determining the success of various actions including combat.
Canon - The official or generally accepted storyline or turn of events. A character or storyline originally created by a published author or which already exists in another fandom.
Character, also Charrie, Char - A fictitious persona or entity, typically personified with human emotions and sentience, created by a writer or roleplayer. Typical examples may include: an anthropomorphic wolf named Appomattox,, a vampire named Fletcher Godeaux or a sorceress named Sylvire.
In Character (also In-Character, or IC) - A post or piece of writing made from the point of view of a characters that adds to a storyline, or roleplay. Behavior consistent with that of a roleplay character, as opposed to a player’s own personality.
Out of Character, also OOC, or Out-of-Character - A post or piece of writing made from the point of view of the player, not related to a roleplay, typically made to comment on one’s own or another player’s in character post(s), or to discuss furthering the plot or creating overlapping character backstories or future character interaction. Behavior consistent with that of the player’s own personality, as opposed to a roleplay character.
Player Character, also PC - Any character which may be created or controlled primarily by one roleplayer, and which is typically a major character in a roleplay.
Non-Player Characters, also NPC, NPCs, or Non Player Characters - Any character controlled by the GM, or whose posts are written exclusively or semi-exclusively by the GM. Typically, such characters play supporting roles, or background roles, or may be considered too powerful for players. For example, canon characters are often NPCs, as are minor characters.
GM, also Game Master - The player enforcing the rules of the roleplay or acting as referee.
Godmodding, also God-mode, or Godmode, or Godmoding - Controlling another player character’s actions, dialogue, or thoughts without that player’s permission to do so, typically by writing a post in which you direct the actions, dialogue, or thoughts of that player’s character. May also refer to autohitting. Sometimes used as an umbrella term for any unfair tactics in a fight.
Autohit, also Autohitting - During a roleplay, your post includes mention of actions that affect the other character with certainty. (For example, "Peter swung his fist in Jake’s direction" is NOT autohitting, but "Peter hit Jake in the face, breaking his nose", is autohitting. The first allows the other player to dodge, or to take the hit, whereas the latter does not.) Autohitting is also considered a form of godmodding.
Metagaming, also Metagame, or just Meta - Information or knowledge in an In Character post which does not reflect the character’s range of information or knowledge, but information or knowledge gained by the player in an Out of Character setting, discussion, or research.
Fade to Black, FtB, also Handwaving, Handwave or Hand wave - Skipping a scene either because it violates site rules (such as on romantic or sexual content), an individual roleplay’s rules, or because the players involved agree not to write out the details of the scene (i.e. the uninteresting parts of a criminal trial, a speech, or a romantic scene with which one or both roleplayers are not comfortable). The content of the omitted scene is assumed to have happened, and the players whose characters are involved reach a mutual agreement before the Fade to Black as to what occurs.
Void – Complete elimination of a scene. Mainly due to players not agreeing upon the out come of the scene and therefore wish to void, wipe clean, the entire section of roleplay. This is not to be confused with Fade to Black.
((note: Only two references to this term was found as it seems to be rarely used.))
Tabletop Roleplay, also Pen and Paper roleplay - A roleplay where the participants physically meet together, where the scenario is guided by a GM, where the roleplay is focused around the use of character sheets (physical pieces of paper), spoken actions and dialogue, and where the success of actions is often determined by throwing of die. Example is Dungeons and Dragons.
Other Useful Info:
((...)) or {...} - OOC bubbles. Used in the middle of a role play session to keep ooc discussion from being mixed with ic writing.
*...* - Used for actions. Asterisks work well in RP to show action. Simple concept, I hope... *cough*
Roleplay, also RP, Roleplay, Roleplaying Game, RPG, - Any collaborative writing project in which the participant typically control a specific character and works together with others to establish interaction and a coherent storyline. Any game where the players take on the role of a characters in a separate reality from their own lives. May refer to the concept in general, the community of people who participate in such games, a specific game, or a very specific collection of participants and the story they are creating.
Freeform - A type of roleplay where there are no explicit guidelines on length or format of posts, usage of player characters, plot, or determining the success of various actions including combat.
Canon - The official or generally accepted storyline or turn of events. A character or storyline originally created by a published author or which already exists in another fandom.
Character, also Charrie, Char - A fictitious persona or entity, typically personified with human emotions and sentience, created by a writer or roleplayer. Typical examples may include: an anthropomorphic wolf named Appomattox,, a vampire named Fletcher Godeaux or a sorceress named Sylvire.
In Character (also In-Character, or IC) - A post or piece of writing made from the point of view of a characters that adds to a storyline, or roleplay. Behavior consistent with that of a roleplay character, as opposed to a player’s own personality.
Out of Character, also OOC, or Out-of-Character - A post or piece of writing made from the point of view of the player, not related to a roleplay, typically made to comment on one’s own or another player’s in character post(s), or to discuss furthering the plot or creating overlapping character backstories or future character interaction. Behavior consistent with that of the player’s own personality, as opposed to a roleplay character.
Player Character, also PC - Any character which may be created or controlled primarily by one roleplayer, and which is typically a major character in a roleplay.
Non-Player Characters, also NPC, NPCs, or Non Player Characters - Any character controlled by the GM, or whose posts are written exclusively or semi-exclusively by the GM. Typically, such characters play supporting roles, or background roles, or may be considered too powerful for players. For example, canon characters are often NPCs, as are minor characters.
GM, also Game Master - The player enforcing the rules of the roleplay or acting as referee.
Godmodding, also God-mode, or Godmode, or Godmoding - Controlling another player character’s actions, dialogue, or thoughts without that player’s permission to do so, typically by writing a post in which you direct the actions, dialogue, or thoughts of that player’s character. May also refer to autohitting. Sometimes used as an umbrella term for any unfair tactics in a fight.
Autohit, also Autohitting - During a roleplay, your post includes mention of actions that affect the other character with certainty. (For example, "Peter swung his fist in Jake’s direction" is NOT autohitting, but "Peter hit Jake in the face, breaking his nose", is autohitting. The first allows the other player to dodge, or to take the hit, whereas the latter does not.) Autohitting is also considered a form of godmodding.
Metagaming, also Metagame, or just Meta - Information or knowledge in an In Character post which does not reflect the character’s range of information or knowledge, but information or knowledge gained by the player in an Out of Character setting, discussion, or research.
Fade to Black, FtB, also Handwaving, Handwave or Hand wave - Skipping a scene either because it violates site rules (such as on romantic or sexual content), an individual roleplay’s rules, or because the players involved agree not to write out the details of the scene (i.e. the uninteresting parts of a criminal trial, a speech, or a romantic scene with which one or both roleplayers are not comfortable). The content of the omitted scene is assumed to have happened, and the players whose characters are involved reach a mutual agreement before the Fade to Black as to what occurs.
Void – Complete elimination of a scene. Mainly due to players not agreeing upon the out come of the scene and therefore wish to void, wipe clean, the entire section of roleplay. This is not to be confused with Fade to Black.
((note: Only two references to this term was found as it seems to be rarely used.))
Tabletop Roleplay, also Pen and Paper roleplay - A roleplay where the participants physically meet together, where the scenario is guided by a GM, where the roleplay is focused around the use of character sheets (physical pieces of paper), spoken actions and dialogue, and where the success of actions is often determined by throwing of die. Example is Dungeons and Dragons.
Other Useful Info:
((...)) or {...} - OOC bubbles. Used in the middle of a role play session to keep ooc discussion from being mixed with ic writing.
*...* - Used for actions. Asterisks work well in RP to show action. Simple concept, I hope... *cough*