How do you role play?

[Agent505 661]

First of all...BOOM - double interpretation title - away! 

Oh, and if this is in the wrong thread feel free to move it. I didn't want to post in the RP section because it's not about creating a roleplay or discussing you characters *as such* but if you feel it needs to be moved then I apologise. 

 

OK so, what im asking is when you actually role play (either on these forums, if you attend any live action Roleplays IRL or if you're one of the MMO gamers out there who gets really into their character) what do you do?

 

- Are you the kind of person to get really into your character during the role play, speaking and acting as you would perceive that character to? 

 

- Do you play yourself, simply in a different body with a few changes? (see my example) 

 

- Do you take on too many roleplays to get into your characters successfully between one and the other? 

 

Now I read those back, and they make no sense to me and rewording them is something that requires me to move the mouse back up the page, so here: 

- If you really get into your character, do you lose yourself in the fantasy world you are taking part in, do you no longer stand in the shoes of Mr. Generic of plain street, but take up the role of Count Spontaneous from Interestingville? Do you find it easy to reply to other characters or situations in the way that Count Spontaneous would? 

 

- Do you simply play as yourself, taking the physical form of someone/something else, giving yourself a few abilities to keep it interesting for you, but easy enough so that you dont have to engorge yourself in the fantasy world for too long to get the full enjoyment? 

 

- Or are you the kind of person who gets impatient in roleplays and moves on to the next without finishing the other, and then your first one becomes interesting again and all of a sudden you find yourself caught in the middle of 6 or 7 roleplays, not being able to fully fit into the position and situation of the multiple characters you are controlling? 

 

My example on this would be: 

I find it really easy to get into the shoes of another character, but I also like to play as myself from time to time. Look at my OCs. Creeping Dusk is basically me, just with a few adjustments so it's an interesting experience, but easy for me to play as him without too much change to how I would normally act in those kinds of situations. But if you take to Ardent Discharge, he's almost the complete opposite of me, he's arrogant and adventurous, but in my mind I still find it incredibly easy to settle into that kind of a role and enjoy it. 

 

I'm just interested to know how you guys participate in Roleplays, do they interest you enough for you to sit and take part in more than one at a time? Does it take you out of the moment when you have to wait between each reply? Let me know  

[xxcoolbreezexx 11]

Me I am in-between really into the character and myself in a different body. I think like my character and when a situation arises I think like myself.

[qqq 218]

I try to get into my characters shoes and act as they would at the time (that's the point surely.) I don't play as myself because it wouldn't be as fun or as challenging than playing as someone different. I only take on 1 roleplay at a time because, as you said, it makes it easier to get in character.

[The Mane-iac 1,648]

I can spend forever trying to just design my characters, I was kicked many times due to "inactivity" back when I played WoW. So needless to say I very much so get into my characters. I spend a lot of time coming up with a personality for them that fits the race then class I want to play, then I figure out a fitting name, and by then I have a general idea of how I want them to look. I've done this with every MMO I have played and even do it with games like Elder Scrolls because it makes things more enjoyable for me. Most of the time I play solo, so I want to run around and act as that character would for the depth. Currently I play GW2 and I would love to get a chance to RP with those characters if I could just find the right type of people, so far though the ones who have crossed paths with my necro had to be silenced... 

[Agent505 661]

I can spend forever trying to just design my characters, I was kicked many times due to "inactivity" back when I played WoW. So needless to say I very much so get into my characters. I spend a lot of time coming up with a personality for them that fits the race then class I want to play, then I figure out a fitting name, and by then I have a general idea of how I want them to look. I've done this with every MMO I have played and even do it with games like Elder Scrolls because it makes things more enjoyable for me. Most of the time I play solo, so I want to run around and act as that character would for the depth. Currently I play GW2 and I would love to get a chance to RP with those characters if I could just find the right type of people, so far though the ones who have crossed paths with my necro had to be silenced... 

 

You sound a lot like me, I like to get really into my characters when I play them. I find it quite hard sometimes though, it takes me a while to actually get into character. When I RP on these forums (I'm still new to it mind you) I find that most of the RPs take time to get going, and even then it's one post to another - with about a 3 hour wait between each one. To me I just can't get into that easily. I have to re-read almost everything, but once I do...

 

When I RP elsewhere though, live action RP for example, I can get right into my character almost instantly, and it's a great experience. 

[Dev 251]

Firstly, I study every single detail of any roleplaying which has occurred before my RP, so I can get an idea of how my character is going to start and fit in. Then, I slowly plan out every intricate detail of my character for maximum awesomeness. This may not look like it when I RP, but everything I RP is well thought-out and every last letter plotted to perfection. I make sure everything about my character is 100% me and I will not stop until I am satisfied with it. Because of this, I tend to get obsessive over my character, to the point where it becomes my alter-ego when I'm RPing.

 

Heh, for tl:dr people, I RP obsessively.

[PlunderSteed 1,252]

About 10 years ago, I had the ability to conjure up and step into a character of my design.  They were vibrant, passionate, jaded or bitter...whatever was required of the story.  If I somehow became inspired to roleplay today, I suppose it would only be fair if I challenged myself to somehow recapture a spark of wonder and uncertainty that only a character more youthful or imaginative than myself could portray.  If not, it would probably be a wasted gesture.  These days I simply spend my time on other things.

[Rivet Canterlot Mechanic 63]

I tend to go for a narrative approach with the role-plays on the forum but when I'm with friends i'll play as my OC. It can be a little hard seeing as my mane OC is a mare and I'm male so whenever somepony flirts on my OC it feel weird.

[RoseDust 20]

I am never good at making up my own character. So for all my rp set ups I do have ((which are nothing but horror or mystery related, sense that is really the only thing I'm good at)) have some of the r/l me in them. I only make like tiny little differences but they are mainly based around me. Yeah I know, sucky right.

 

 

RD

[Agent505 661]

I am never good at making up my own character. So for all my rp set ups I do have ((which are nothing but horror or mystery related, sense that is really the only thing I'm good at)) have some of the r/l me in them. I only make like tiny little differences but they are mainly based around me. Yeah I know, sucky right.

 

 

RD

Not really. I like to think i'm fairly good at creating my own characters, i'm quite creative when I want to be. But Creeping Dusk was based off of me almost trait for trait, of course I changed some things about him to make him interesting, but some of them are traits from myself that I have made to sound a little more fitting. There's nothing wrong with using yourself as a basis for your characters, it's simply down to your preference. 

 

I tend to go for a narrative approach with the role-plays on the forum but when I'm with friends i'll play as my OC. It can be a little hard seeing as my mane OC is a mare and I'm male so whenever somepony flirts on my OC it feel weird.

 

I dont find it strange really, my Ponysona is as I said based off of me, but I have a few OCs, one of which is female. She's not yet been flirted with, but I have RP'd as a female before on several occasions, and I think I actually settle into the role a little too well...

[RoseDust 20]

Thanks Creeping Dusk ^^ Others I have rped with in the past didn't say much about the fact I had based them off myself. What really don't like are chacater sheets. To me, it gives way too much away. I like to keep my chacater and everything else a bit of a mysterty, thus letting the rp as it goes along revile more and more. If that makes any sense XD

 

RD

[Agent505 661]

Thanks Creeping Dusk ^^ Others I have rped with in the past didn't say much about the fact I had based them off myself. What really don't like are chacater sheets. To me, it gives way too much away. I like to keep my chacater and everything else a bit of a mysterty, thus letting the rp as it goes along revile more and more. If that makes any sense XD

 

RD

 

Yeah that makes total sense. 

I have a basic character design for all of my characters, but it just helps me pick which character I would rather use for the RP i'm taking part in. Their personalities normally evolve during the play, and dependent on how the RP turns out they can end up in different ways. It's good to give them a basic structure, but give yourself a tent of wiggle room, as someone told me. 

 

But again, each to their own, and everyone has their own preferences right?  

[Harmonic Revelations 8,836]

I go for a third person approach, like a narration, when roleplaying on the forums here. That's my usual style of writing as well, so there's that.

[RoseDust 20]

*nods* Yep ^^ the world would be a very very borning place if everyone was all the same XD

 

*Lightly lightly lightly sings*

 

"Be your self and stand out from the crowd. Don't forget the golden rule, be your self and you'll be cool"

 

Yeah I have a 8 and 5 year old who love Wow Wow Wubbzy.

 

RD

[Starflower 323]

When I roleplay in forums, I really get into character. I tell the character's story (in third person) while I put myself in their shoes. Typing up a post in a word document makes me lose myself in my own imaginative world, and with music makes things even smoother (especially music in relation to my character).

 

Usually it depends on the roleplay on how I feel towards finishing one. It's pretty much the GM's discretion on how he/she wants to speed up things. I really don't have the rush, since I have a life xD

 

My most favorite part of roleplaying is actually making the characters myself. I could spend at least three days thinking of what to name the character, as well as writing their history, personality, and even some characteristics about them. Once I think of the name, I immediately choose the personality, but of course...depending on the roleplay I join.

[Agent505 661]

 

Usually it depends on the roleplay on how I feel towards finishing one. It's pretty much the GM's discretion on how he/she wants to speed up things. I really don't have the rush, since I have a life xD

 

 

I don't have many friends that I see too often these days, just dropped out of contact after school. I still see them every now and again, and my best friend most weekends, but just because I like to get into a RP and have a nice smooth flow, doesn't mean I don't have a life. 

 

I'm not expecting 50-60 posts in 2 minutes, but when you have to wait (time zones) 8 hours before someone else posts, it's hard to get into the character properly. For me, at least.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

I need to RP more here, but still feeling my way... plus, I have a ton of RPs that I'd like to bring over here but none of them are pony based so I'm hesitant about doing so in case no-one joins up.

 

I tend to RP in third person and try to get into my characters when I do. I have a lot of male characters, with a few female characters and one who's transgender. I'd like to use her more, but it's difficult; for example, I hate it when people react badly towards her. For example, on a forum I no longer visit, someone told me I couldn't call my transgender character female cuz she was born male. -.- That sort of ignorance depresses me.

 

Anyway, getting back on topic; I like to make up characters who are nothing like me. Probably cuz I'm a very flawed and not very interesting person, so I guess I don't want to turn people off from RPing with me. XD

[Agent505 661]

I need to RP more here, but still feeling my way... plus, I have a ton of RPs that I'd like to bring over here but none of them are pony based so I'm hesitant about doing so in case no-one joins up.

 

I tend to RP in third person and try to get into my characters when I do. I have a lot of male characters, with a few female characters and one who's transgender. I'd like to use her more, but it's difficult; for example, I hate it when people react badly towards her. For example, on a forum I no longer visit, someone told me I couldn't call my transgender character female cuz she was born male. -.- That sort of ignorance depresses me.

 

Anyway, getting back on topic; I like to make up characters who are nothing like me. Probably cuz I'm a very flawed and not very interesting person, so I guess I don't want to turn people off from RPing with me. XD

 

Well i've said it before, there's nothing wrong with making a character based off of yourself. 

Creeping Dusk is based largely off me, and he's shy and awkward, and feels nopony likes him. I'm not that bad, but i'm shy and awkward I just tried to make him a little more interesting, both for me to RP as him, and for others to RP with him. I don't know if you've read his overly complex character page or not, but he has a tendency to hide himself away when he gets frightened or nervous - much like myself. I just tried to make it more "interesting" to play out here. 

 

And it's rather strange, because despite him being based off me, Arctic Combustion is my complete and total opposite. She's confident to the point of arrogance, she's outgoing and outspoken although easily scared, and she practices Ice magic (...duh). Whereas myself I would use fire, given the chance, and as I have said i'm completely backwards to that. 

 

Then there's Ardent Discharge, he's a loyal adventurer type, who's really curious and anxious to discover new places, he's not afraid to stand up for his friends either. Again, that takes parts of my personality and also a lot of personalty traits I would like to have.

 

And I suppose I should drop a mention here, i'm not entirely sure how I RP...I tend to narrate in third person past tense, but speak in first person present tense. It's weird o.O 

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Some of column A and some of column B.

 

Steel is me. Or I am Steel Accord. Sometimes it's hard to tell where I end and he begins . . . .  That came out wrong.  (How's THAT for a double entendre? ) There is a reason my ponysona name and username are the same. I use it for everything online, to the point that it's become an online alias of sorts.

 

That said, Steel may be me as a pony, but he's not me if I became a pony. Steel is me if I was born in Equestria. Which makes roleplaying him easy as well as fun. Because of Equestria's semi-modern standards and society, I can accurately portray my history and personality. However, also because it's in a fantasy setting, me being raised with swordplay as a taught skill (as opposed to me JUST learning it now) is also viable.

 

Other role plays are harder to do because even the one's most similar to me or what I want, require a much greater amount of detachment. Ironic, that a cartoon pony is more similar to me than any human paladin huh?

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

I generally try to get really into my characters, but I role play so much, and as so many different characters that I often experiment with different styles of role playing. I do put a lot of thought into how I design my characters, though, and I tend to get attached to them.

[Rainbow Dash 1,472]

I try to be a good rp'er when on the threads and outside the threads i over analyze situations and wind up doing nothing to help the group. It plagues me so, but  i am working on it. I usually try to initiate the group into moving forward if the threads at a stand still. I always get into character but no too much. I don't get caught up in the fantasy worlds i play in due to the fact im already stuck inside my own mind. I usually try to make my characters boring so it doesnt look like im trying to make myself the center of attention.

[Agent505 661]

I try to be a good rp'er when on the threads and outside the threads i over analyze situations and wind up doing nothing to help the group. It plagues me so, but  i am working on it. I usually try to initiate the group into moving forward if the threads at a stand still. I always get into character but no too much. I don't get caught up in the fantasy worlds i play in due to the fact im already stuck inside my own mind. I usually try to make my characters boring so it doesnt look like im trying to make myself the center of attention.

 

Well a thing I seem to have found out during my experience with RPing, is that it's good to make your character stand out, but not to the point where they are taking over the RP. I think I might actually post too much in some of the RPs I take part in, due to me normally never being off the forums, as soon as someone replies to me I reply back, or if im not doing anything in particular, I like to try and engage something with someone. 

 

I like the way you made your style sound...i'll have to consider you for any future RPs I might do, if you dont mind? 

[JeanHover 326]

I'm not actually very good at portraying a different personality, however I do try my best to put myself into a character's shoes and feel what it would be like to be in their position. If my OC trips over a rock, I try to feel like I tripped over a rock and put that into my writing. When I roleplay most of what I put effort into doing is being a good writer. I make sure to put in several details, including ones that give characters motive for their actions. For example, here is something that I would not write:

 

"Whirl Wake turned around and saw three ponies chatting."

 

Instead, I would write this:

 

"As Whirl Wake trotted down the street, he heard an uncomfortably audible group of voices behind him. He stopped moving and turned around to see three happy ponies chatting and laughing."

 

This can inevitably lead to an overload on details, which I try to avoid. 

 

One last thing: This is my 300th post, so I think I'll put something here to celebrate.

Edited February 2, 2013 by Jverne

[Twiliscael 3,960]

I've never been one for roleplaying on the internet ot in real life, but I do love my RPG games. You see, a good RPG allows a bit of both of what you mentioned. It allows you to both become engrossed in the game and it's lore and everything, but still allows you to be yourself within it. A prime example would be the Mass Effect series. I personally got very, very into the backstory and the game's universe, however the main character is who you make him. He has both a defined role and one that the player himself must fill in whatever way he sees fit.

[Agent505 661]

The only thing I dont really like about games like that is that no matter what, you're never really truly that character. 

Your path is set path in some way - someone had to program your characters responses into the game, so basically you're just playing out someone elses writing. 

 

Still though, it is easy to get into a game like that, I find myself being very engrossed in the Dragon Age games, while I don't feel like I have created a character in any regard, I do feel like my actions are actually affecting the outcome of the scenario.