RolePlay Tips

Admin · Administrator Joined: 13 Aug 2014 Posts: 14

Oh, that touchy word - literacy! You've probably heard or wrote it so often that you're sick of it... and if you didn't, you will. But guess what? It is not a 'should', it is a 'must' for a good roleplay.
Now, I don't wanna offend any illiterate reading this, but it's time you hear it - and truth is truth... Although it might hurt sometimes.

Here's the legend:

Once upon a time, there was a planet called RolePlay. There were many countries and many breeds, but only one capital - Literacy. You see, the capital, was the heart of the RolePlay, what made the whole planet work. Even the three most powerful countries - Plot, Character Development, Description - would submit to Literacy. But then again, the capital itself was nothing without its citizens, the Literates, who would dearly build up new cities - which they named Stories - along with those three powerful countries. And thanks to their efforts, all the Roleplayers on the planet lived happily.

...But everything changed when the Illiterates attacked. No one knew where they came from or what they wanted, but they were a terrible threat. The Illiterates crushed the Description in the most infamous way and that was when the Literacy feared they were attempting to take down the Character Development next. Allies tried to stop them, but the God-Mode King shot Text-Talks at them, poisoning them with ur's, lolz's , omg's and many more. Apparently, the Chat Roleplayers took the hardest blow, most of them being turned into Illiterates with the promise of a faster Reply - a faster way to build up Stories. Unfortunately, it was all superficial for the Stories, despite being developed much quicker, were soulless, lacking the spirit, lacking everything that was making them real Stories. Oh, and how many more cities they destroyed!

As the war went on, the Literates were becoming a rare breed while the Illiterates were taking control over the RolePlay. It was a tough period for the Literates, really. They would sob over the ruined Stories that would have had so much potential, they would cry over lost friend who had fallen for those filthy promises. Eventually, the Grammar Lord could not bear it any longer! He put on the Spell Checker Armour that would protect him from the Text-Talk arrows; he grabbed the Dictionary Shield and the Punctuation Spear. And so the Literates started their counterattack.

The war has been going on ever since. The God-Mode King would keep gathering sloppy soldiers who were too lazy to properly swing the sword of words and symbols; the Grammar Lord would take under his wings the ones who were willing to learn the ways of a proud Literate warrior, regardless of their current level.

Now, both leaders are calling out for you. Whose side are you going to take? Would you go for a hard to disguise Reply that is going to give you a terrible headache, but a faster build up (although not a durable one) ? Or would you go for a fruitful, healthy Reply that is going to give you the satisfaction of a beautiful and detailed Story?

That's a little dramatic and theatrical, but true nonetheless. I tried to make it a little amusing, though... I tried to banter it. It's up to you to tell me if it brought a little smile on your face (because of the irony, of course).
Unfortunately there are less and less literate RPers and quality RPs. God-Modding doesn't mean you're being illiterate, but it is often (if not always) coming along with the illiteracy.

So, although you probably guessed it from the 'legend', it's about time to tell you what literacy is all about, right? Right!

Literacy - Basically, the ability of writing and reading in a comprehensible way by spelling correctly and properly using grammar and punctuation (yes, marking dialogue and paragraphs are included).

Literate - A person possessing reading and writing skills that remain acceptable by the standards of the English (or other) language. Specifically, a literate roleplayer does not use text-talk, spells words correctly, and has proper usage of grammar and punctuation.

Illiteracy - The opposite of literacy.

Illiterate - The opposite of literate.

Text talk - Uses: Mobile phones and MSN Messenger - and it should have stayed there. Widely not understandable, it abbreviates as much as possible leaving a code which only the author can decrypt. Though it does help the author to write it quickly, the recipient must undergo strenuous process of understanding the message.

And now you probably wonder why a literate doesn't want to put up with an illiterate. I'm not talking about those who didn't get the change or time to be literate or are trying to be literate - happens for a couple reasons, it's understandable -, no, I'm talking about those who don't even try to use the language correctly. So why do they - we - refuse to do that?

1. Because most of the time it's hard to understand. The illiterate who wrote the message may find it easily comprehensible, but trust me, it seems like that to him/her because he/she wrote it. It's quite annoying to try your best to disguise the words every single time to get a reply, ya know?

2. Even if we do understand what the illiterate is writing, it still isn't very pleasant. I know for a fact how much I dislike it and I believe I can speak in the name of those literates out there: it's lack of respect. And this is directly addressed to illiterates: if we are doing our best to write correctly, we expect the same from you. And no, not grammar nazzi - I doubt anyone is expecting a angelic reply. We all do mistakes. But trying to spell correctly, to use punctuation, to mark the dialogue, to use capital letter when needed, to use grammar (mostly) correctly... Is it so hard to try? No. Not trying it's just being lazy. So, if we take the time to write it properly, don't you think you kinda step on our efforts by being constantly illiterate? Don't you think you're throwing it all in the trash? I hope you do realize that. Now, tell me, isn't that being disrespectful? Both to us and to you. Why to you? Simple - because you don't put any effort in what you write, hence you don't give a damn about it and not respecting what you write means not respecting yourself. Remember that the way you write (simply the way you put it on paper, not how you design the characters) represents you.

Being literate doesn't mean being an advanced RPer, being an expect - it simply means having some respect for you and the person you RP with. Anyone can do it (or try to) !

Grammar
Grammar is a vast subject, really. It involves pretty much all that literacy is about, but I'm gonna take its components one by one just to make myself clear. And them give you example of right and wrong.
At this point, I'm gonna focus on what we all used to hate at some point or maybe still do - structure and tense.
Structure - I think it's obvious what it is about: words order in the phrase, capital letters and paragraphs. The 'image' of the written page. I don't think it's needed to elaborate it any further, but if it is, then let me know and I will.
On second thought, I feel the need to mention this: subject! Not *walks out* , but *he/she/it walks out*.
Tenses - yes, I know how despised they are, especially by non-natives. They are a pain in the ass... But here are the basis (chronologically):

1. Past Tenses:

2. Present Tenses:

3. Future Tenses:

* Shall is a more formal version of will.
* When you use past tenses and you want to say something that takes place into the past, but after the moment of speaking, remember that will turns into would. I.e: She said she would go shopping after the match.

Be careful at the tense of the RP. Don't switch when it's not the case.

Spelling words

There is a simple solution - checking spell tools. There are a bunch of such tools or apps around the internet. Plus, as far as I know, Windows & Android have a spell checker pre-installed - it works well. I don't know about Mac, Apple, iOS and so on, but, as I said, you can find tools/apps on the internet too.

Punctuation
No need to say what the punctuation marks are, right? We all know them. Also, I doubt you don't know where to place a dot or a comma and so on.
So let's stick to the dialogue marking!
In books and fanfictions you will find the dialogue between " (quotation marks), but in RP - or * are accepted too.

Also, you should mark thoughts somehow. With ' for example. Or you could write them on a new row and mention that the character thought them. Or simply write them there and mention they were thought by the character.

For the examples, I'll use " because it feels more natural to me.

Wrong:

A: She nodded, taking in the new information. "How feisty is he?"

B: yes he is :the seller said

A: "How much?"

B: much bad he created a lot of problem it was not easy to bring it here

and i ll not buy it cheap too

the seller said

Right:

A: She nodded, taking in the new information. "How feisty is he?"

B: "Oh, feisty!" the seller said.

A: "How much?"

B: "Very much. He created a lot of problems; it was not easy to bring him here. And I'll not sell him cheap." the seller said.

I tried to stick as close to the original as possible when correcting the B RPer (not gonna give names).

Often confused words

He's / His
He's - short form from He is. I.e: "He's a doctor." The blond said, pointing at the man next to her.
His - pronoun showing possession or who something belongs to. I.e: This is his hat. This hat is his.

Sigh / Sight
To sigh - verb; to exhale depressed or relieved (or sometimes tired/bored).
Sigh - noun; the sound of the verb to sigh.
Sight - noun; the vision; how a mind sees the world; understood/comprehend (in this case: Watch the kids while I'm gone. Ya sight?)

Your / You're
Your - pronoun showing possession. I.e: Your ice cream has melted.
You're - short form from 'You are'. I.e: Gotta say it, you're the best football player I've seen so far.

Than / Then
Than - comparison term. I.e: Alice is taller than Grace.
Then - explanation by mimi9:
then1
1. at a particular time in the past or future
2. used to say what happens next or what you do next
3a) used when saying what the result of a situation or action will be
b) spoken used when you think that something is probably true because of what you know about the situation
4 but then (again)used to say that although something is true, something else is also true which makes the first thing seem less important
5 spoken
a) used at the beginning of a conversation or activity
b) used at the end of a conversation, especially to show that something has been agreed
c) used to show that you are saying something because of what someone has just said
6 used to add something to what you have just mentioned
7 used to refer back to what you have just been talking about
8 then and there also there and then immediately

then2
only before noun
used when mentioning the person who had a particular job, title, or position at a time in the past

(@ Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)
then1:

1:
I wish I had known then what I know now.
It was then that I realised she'd tricked me.
He started his career in St Petersburg - or Leningrad as it then was.

by/until/since then

They're sending out the results next week, so we won't know anything until then.
It was late evening when the doctor arrived, and by then it was too late.
That was in 1970. Since then the place has changed a lot.
They met in 1942 and from then on (=starting at that time) they were firm friends.
Silently she closed the door. Just then she heard a noise.
I was paid Â£1000, which was a lot of money back then (=a long time ago when things were different) in the 1950s.

2:
Mix the flour and butter, then add the eggs.
Byron travelled to Italy and then to Greece.

3:
a)
If you won't tell him, then I will.
Start off early, then you won't have to rush.

b)
Still in your pyjamas? Have you just got out of bed then?

4:
William didn't succeed first time, but then very few people do.
Elaine's father might lend them the money, but then again he might not.
5
a)
Now then, what would you like to do today?
Right then, shall we start?
b)
Good, that's settled then. We'll all meet here next Wednesday.
Okay then, I'll see you at work.
c)
'We're late.' 'We'd better hurry, then.'
'Friday's no good.' 'Then how about Saturday?'

6:
We have to invite your parents and my parents, and then there's your brother.

7:
This then was the situation facing the government at the end of the war.

8:
He wasn't prepared to wait - he wanted the money then and there.

(now and then)

then2:
a visit to China by the then US President, Richard Nixon

To / Too / Two
To - part of the infinitive of a verb (to go, to eat, to drink, to have, to draw etc) or preposition showing direction (in this case, it can be synonym with towards sometimes).
I'm walking to school. Then, I'll go to the bakery and buy bread.
Attention! When using the verb to go, some sentences may have different meanings. I.e. I'm going to buy something to drink.
1. I will buy something to drink. (Future, something are about to do)
2. I'm leaving to buy something to eat. (Intention, you're going somewhere with the intention of doing something)
I know, it can be tricky sometimes.

Too - also, as well
I.e. Wait for me! I'm coming too!
Two = 2

Tough / Though / Thought
Tough - resistant, hard, rough...
I.e. Army is tough.
Katness is a tough girl - she's been through so much and managed to survive the Games. (Hunger Games)
Though - contrast term; although, despite the fact that
I.e. Though he's young, he has travelled a lot.
Thought - past simple (2nd form) of the verb to think.

We're / Were / Where
We're - short form from we are. We're always going shopping together.
Were - past simple of the verb to be for 2nd person & plural. You/We/They were the funniest among all the classmates.
Where - relative pronoun showing the place. Where are you living? / I'm living in a small town near Chicago. It's more common in interrogative phrases, but you can easily find it in the others too.

It's / Its
It's - short form from it is.
Its - pronoun showing that something belong to it (not him/her, but it!).
I.e. It is easy to see the color of it.
It's easy to see its color.

That's it for now. Feel free to complete, correct or ask if there's something you want to know.