planning Starter roleplaying guide

[Troblems 5,617]

This thread is a general guide for anyone who is just starting to roleplay on MLP Forums, or those who wish to improve their characters or roleplaying skills.

 

Creating an original character

Writing a compelling OOC

Tips for DMs

[Troblems 5,617]

Creating an original character

 

 
 
Whether you're a new member that wants to get into Roleplaying or you're an old hand wanting to create a new OC, this guide will start you in the right direction.
 
First of all: What is an OC? An OC is an 'Original Character' that you make to use for roleplay. You may also hear the term 'Ponysona', which is a 'ponified' version of yourself.
 
Backstory
Depending on who you ask, the backstory for your OC can either come first or last. If you already have an idea for what you want your character to do or be, that's wonderful. However, you may wish to wait until you've seen your character for the first time to figure out the details of your characters' life. Working in the Equestrian Empire roleplay section, I've seen a lot of OCs, both good and bad. However, there are some quick tips before you begin:

• Orphaned Characters: One of the most overused backstory cliches in all of fantasy is the orphan. The orphanages of Equestria must be overflowing, considering the vast number of abandoned fillies and colts. While everyone wants to be a hero in their own right, unless your character has a reason to have dead parents, don't do it. There are many other ways of making your character stand out.

• Overly dark backstories: Characters that not a single good thing has happened to. This will wear out your fellow roleplayers extremely quickly

• Cutiemark-less Adults: Adult OCs without their cutie marks are another thing that pops up frequently. While you don't have to follow show canon, we've not seen a grown pony without one, so if your character is an adult, they should probably have a cutie mark.

• Write What You Know: While it is possible to have you character do something that you know nothing about, if you're missing crucial details, the character will seem extremely flat, and you may end up looking silly. This isn't to say you can only write a character of your age and background; far from it! However, if you're writing well outside your knowledge base, you ought to recognize that and research what you are writing about.

• Don't Aim For Perfect: Of course, what OC recommendation list would be complete without the Mary Sue mention? Your character shouldn't be perfect. A character is defined by their flaws and shortcomings as much as, if not more so, than their talents! It's no fun to RP with a character who can do no wrong.

Keep in mind that these are merely suggestions; however, they're all common pitfalls which often result in poorly written characters. While you're free to write your character as you wish, avoiding these common tropes will give you a much better character in the end.
 
Personality
In the best written characters, their personality is woven in with their backstory. What is it which makes your character act the way they do?
 
Some things you may want to consider:

• Are they outgoing, or introverted?

• How caring or kind are they?

• What is their sense of humor like?

• Are they friendly, or grouchy?

• Are they jealous or generous?

• How well do they get on with the rest of society?

• What makes your character happy, angry or upset?

• What does your character likes to do for fun, and why?

• What are your character's motivations? Why?

This basically describes what makes your character tick, and will outline your characters' reactions to the situations they will be put into.
 
Small details also add a lot to a character:

• Their favorite color?

• Favorite food?

• Music preferences?

• Favorite time of day?

• A certain treasured item?

The more of these things you outline, the more interesting and in-depth your character will be.
 
Now, moving on to a list of what your characters' backstory may contain:

• The place where they came from.

• The place where they are now, if it is different.

• Education, if applicable.

• Those around them: Family, friends, pets, etc.

Type of OC
The first decision you should make is what kind of pony OC do you wish to make? This should be where you start, and you can build once you've made this decision. Each type has it's own positive and negative attributes.
You have four choices:

• Earth Pony

• Pegasus

• Unicorn

• Alicorn

Earth Ponies are a solid choice for anyone who hasn't seen all of the episodes, or if you are unsure of how powerful you want your character to be. While you won't be able to cast spells or fly with this type of character, Earth Ponies are extremely strong. They are also the closest to having human levels of power to effect the world around them. Additionally, because there are so few of them, Earth Ponies stand out to other players.
 
Pegasi are for those who wish to own the skies. Controllers of weather, these ponies have their own city in the clouds. They have the most mobility and freedom of all the pony races, and you can wings can be used to show emotion. Given how they tend to fly everywhere, they tend to be less powerful than their grounded counterparts. They also be injured easier due to flying at high speeds.
 
Unicorns can be quite tricky. You don't want them to come across as too powerful, for if your character is too powerful, other players won't want to RP with you. Unicorns are fantastic if you want your character to be able to manipulate items with their mind, since telekinesis is a natural ability for them. That said; Unicorn magic is not all-encompassing. There are limitations, and Unicorns as powerful as Twilight Sparkle are the exception, not the norm. While this doesn't always have to be the case, you should watch the episodes of MLP:FIM closely to gauge how Unicorns navigate Equestria, how magic works, and how it doesn't.
 
Alicorns cause the most amount of debate. Hugely powerful, Alicorns are able to both fly the skies and use magic. Considering that only Princesses have been Alicorns (aside from a few animation errors) it is generally recommended that players steer clear of using this type of character. It is possible to make an Alicorn OC without making it overpowered, but it is extremely hard. In addition to that, not many DM's like having Alicorns in their roleplays; if you decide you'd like to make an Alicorn OC, it may be difficult to find threads where you can play your character.
 
Who says it has to be a pony...? There are fantastic MLP:FiM characters who are not ponies at all! Characters such as Spike, Gilda, and Zecora, among others. You may decide you'd like your character to be a Griffon, or a Donkey, or something even further afield. As we don't know much about these races, the only limits here are your own imagination. Keep in mind the creatures we have seen such as:

• Breezies
• Cats
• Changelings
• Deer
• Dragons
• Birbs
• Cowfolk
• Griffons
• Humans
• Mermares/Hippogriffs

 
Gender: If your pony male, female, or something in between? While we haven't seen anything other than the two most common genders in MLP:FIM, this is your OC, and should be a reflection of you, as well as what you want them to be.
 
Age: Pretty self explanatory, how old is your character?

Sexual orientation: While this may never be explicitly stated within any of your characters roleplays, it will may affect how you play your character, and change how they interact with the word.
 
Designing your OC
You've got your race and gender picked out? Great! Let's move on to the design.
 
Pony Creator
A great place to start is with the Pony Creator. This nifty tool lets you play around with colors, mane and tail designs, height, shape, accessories, backgrounds and more. The Pony Creator is often criticized because the characters that use it are usually pretty generic. That doesn't mean you shouldn't use it. Think of it as a tool, a means to an end if you will. This version of the pony creator was once found on tumblr as a flash game, but is now an app for both Android and IOS.
 
Additionally, there is a 3D pony creator, which you can find here. It's a bit touchy, and doesn't support all browsers, but can give you a better idea of what you're looking for than the 2D version. 
 
Color
The colors you choose for your pony reflects both on the character and on yourself. This choice is up to you, but there are some things you want to avoid: Don't use the exact colors of one of the cast ponies. Using one is fine, but don't use them all. Making your OC's body jet black with neon accents is a tiny bit overdone. Using dark grey may be easier on the eye. Also, there are no ponies in the show with completely black bodies, aside from Chrysalis. Part of the draw of MLP is that it's a fantastical world with Easter colored horses. Just go with it.
 
Finally, if sunglasses are required to look at your OC, you should maybe consider toning down the color.
 
Height and Weight
For the most part, background ponies are all around the same size and shape. You generally want your OC to fall in this range. A bit taller, a bit shorter, that's fine. However keep in mind you don't want your adult OC to be the same size as a foal, nor do you want your pony to look like it is walking on stilts, either.
 
Mane and Tail Styles
For the most part you can do whatever you want with these, but it's inadvisable to choose the same hair style as one of the Mane 6. It's already been done. Part of the appeal in an OC is making it your own. If you OC has the exact same hair style as Fluttershy, it loses that originality.
 
Cutie Mark
A cutie mark can express SO many things about your character. Their favorite thing to do, what they are best at, where they came from, and so much more. They can be literal or abstract. If you are going to spend a lot of time on any aspect of your character, this should be it. A good cutie mark can tie together themes that you have striven to accomplish through the entire creation process of your character.
 
Clothing or accessories
Does your OC wear any clothing on a regular basis? A cloak or cape? Dress? Shoes? How about accessories? Maybe a family heirloom passed down for generations. Perhaps a gift from a paramour? A stolen piece of jewelry? A found token of some sort? Be sure and describe the item.
 
Artistic Expressions of your Pony
In a perfect world, everyone would have the time and ability to draw their own pony. However we don't live in a perfect world, and not everyone is a good artist. (Myself included.) Here on MLP Forums, you can commission someone to recreate your pony from your Pony Creator image. They can give your pony a more genuine and artistic look. Don't have the money to spend? That's okay too. You can check Octavia's Hall for people looking to practice their art in a Requests Shop.
 
Name
This is another one of those things that can come first or last, depending on whom you ask. A name for your pony can make or break a character. Good pony names are often:

• Alliterative. (Use the same sound to make it stand out more, such as the two P's in Pinkie Pie.)

• Describe what a pony is meant to do. (Applejack and her apple bucking.)

• Describe their color. (Pinkie Pie again.)

• Are related to their special talents. (Rarity being able to find rare gems, Octavia being a musical reference.)

• Are simple or shortenable. (Princess Mi Amore Cadanza to Princess Cadance.)

Do all names fit into that list? Absolutely not. It doesn't mean that your character's name is bad if it doesn't, but this may give you a springboard for ideas.
 
Ready to start your character? Add it to the character database!
 

This guide is by no means all inclusive, but should give you a good start when you decide to make a new character. The more detail you put in, the better outcome you will get.

 

 

[Eloquence 2,076]

Writing an OOC Thread

 

- What is an OOC? -

An OOC thread, also referred to as just “an OOC”, is a thread made to propose, discuss, and recruit players to a roleplay. OOC stands for "Out Of Character", and denotes discussion between roleplayers where the roleplayers are speaking as themselves and not their characters. The OOC thread is where players ask to join, discuss the details of, and generally plan an RP. Here on MLPForums, an OOC thread is required for every RP thread, even ones that only involve two members. The success of a roleplay, in attracting players, longevity, and player satisfaction, can be heavily influenced by the quality of its OOC thread; so if you want to create quality roleplays, understanding how to create a quality OOC thread is the best place to start.

- Types of OOC Threads -

• Closed - Signifies a roleplay between a pre-determined group of people. All of the players have already been chosen, and the OOC thread is now just for planning and discussion.

• Open or Searching - Both terms signify a roleplay that others may ask to join. A limit can be placed in terms of how long new players will be accepted for or how many players will be accepted, but that is entirely up to the person creating the roleplay.

• Planning - If you know you want to start a roleplay, but don’t have concrete ideas that you wish to flesh out with other members, this may be the prefix for you.

• Advanced - For experienced roleplayers, these threads will accompany RPs that are 800+ characters per post.

- Components of an OOC Thread -

• The Title - This is what people will see first, so you really want to make sure that it stands out, looks good, and says enough about the roleplay you’re putting together to attract people to it. This space can be used to signify whether or not you are looking for other people to join and to tell people the genre of the roleplay.

• The Concept - The idea behind your roleplay. This should be specific enough that new players feel like they can know what kind of roleplay to expect, but general enough that players still feel like they can have some influence over the story. Some portion of the concept can be created with the people who join your roleplay, and this is in fact a good way to get the other players involved and hold their interest, but keep in mind that if too much is left to be decided by the group, you might have a hard time attracting a group in the first place.

• The Rules - If you are putting any limitations on what people can do in your roleplay, write them out clearly. This includes what characters you are willing or unwilling to accept, whether you have specific rules on how you want people to write their posts, anything you don’t want to have happen in the roleplay, etc. As the person putting together the roleplay, you are in charge of what happens in it, but if you aren’t upfront about what is and isn’t allowed you might find yourself in trouble down the road.

• List of Characters - In roleplays with more than two or three players, people often find it useful to have a list of approved characters that will be used in the roleplay. This list can include links to the pages for each character, can show which user is playing each character, and can include what role each character will play, depending on what information will be useful to you for the roleplay in question.

- General Tips -

• Use proper grammar and spelling. It’s important to put your best foot forward if you want to encourage people to roleplay with you.

• Use appropriate spacing. If all of your text is jumbled together into a giant block, many other members won’t read it, and thus won’t join your RP.

• Consider your tone. When writing your OOC thread, think about the type of RP you are looking to create, and word it appropriately. If you are looking to make a slice of life RP, you’ll want a lighter atmosphere, where you may joke and banter. However, for a darker, combat-based RP, you’ll want to avoid doing exactly that.

• Are you basing your RP off a piece of media? If you are, think of ways you can change the concept to make it your own, as well as appeal to a wider audience who may or may not have seen the tv show, played the game or read the book you are referring to. If you do decide to go this route, do your best to avoid spoilers.

• Is your roleplay starting to drag? If people are dropping out and the replies are getting slower, think of how you can make changes to your RP to mix it up and renew interest.

• Keep the OOC thread on topic and report those who break rules within it. If a thread gets too out of hand with off topic and/or inappropriate behavior, that often indicates that people are losing interest in the roleplay itself or are more interested in a general chat, and other people who you might want to take part in your roleplay might be put off by such behavior.

• Always link to your RP in the first post of your OOC thread and vice-versa. This makes it easier to find the RP or the OOC from each other. This is a rule within the forum’s roleplay world and in general will help prevent confusion among you and the other players.

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Tips for DMs

So, you've got an idea that you would like to share and see played out with others, but you would like to take charge and keep it on track. Or, you don't have a clear idea just yet and plan something out, yet still be in charge of how the story progresses? That's fine either way, as that would make you the DM!

But what is a DM, and what do they do? To start, DM stands for "Dungeon Master”, or occasionally GM (Game Master). They are ones who are in charge of a roleplay and are tasked with keeping it on track and keeping it going, as it their roleplay. This article will provide tips and advice on what to do when you take charge of a roleplay!
 

• Be as clear as you can with your idea, and use good grammar to the best of your ability. This will improve your chances of attracting others and getting them to sign up!
• Try to think of a title that relates to your roleplay idea, and will be sure to grab other roleplayers' attention. A good way to do this is to base the title off of a major plot point in your idea.
• We all should be at least aware of the Roleplay World rules by now, but are there any additional rules that you'd like to add to your roleplay? If there are, list them under your story idea!
• You have the right to say no. If someone doesn't have what you're quite looking for, let them know by telling them why they wouldn't be a good fit. It may be difficult, but it'll spare the both of you undue misery down the road. If things begin to get out of hand, you can always contact the roleplay staff by clicking the report button at the bottom of each post.
• The OOC is the perfect place for ideas to flesh out with others, but is not meant to be a chat room. To keep idle chatter down to a minimum, consider starting a chat group over Skype, Discord, or Email.
• DMs can always ask another roleplayer or two to help them run the roleplay, thus making themselves and the new DM "co-DMs". If you do this, please add this information to the first post of your OOC thread, so that others will be aware of their authority.