How to Write a Role Play

[Que_Arres]

How to Write a Role Play

After being a DM for several years and running not only real-life campaigns, but also several successful online stories, I consider myself at least moderately well-versed in the creation and maintenance of role playing games. To my despair, however, I have notice that not everyone seems to have mastered this skill, which often leaves me in the sad position of "always a DM, never a player." In this thread, I will offer some tips and key elements to creating a good, literate role play for online gaming.

Before I begin, here are some terms to know:

• DM: Short for "Dungeon Master." This is basically the person who writes and runs a role play (in this case, you). Other names include GM ("Game Master") or storyteller. I’ll be using DM in this guide.
  
• PC: Short for "Player Character." This is the character that a player plays, and is also the main focus of any role play.
  
• NPC: Short for "Non-Player Character." This is a background character played by a DM.

Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Now, I know that you think that you have the greatest idea in the world for your role play, but sit back for a minute a think about a few things:

1. Does your story center around one main character (played by you or someone else) and/or does it require a cast of pre-made characters (played by others)?
   
2. Does your story require certain roles to be filled (i.e. must have a healer type, a heroic type, and a damsel in distress, or must have three male characters and two female characters, etc.)?
   
3. Do you have a set plan for the major events of the story and/or how it will end, which must be adhered to for a successful game?
   
4. Do you have minimal requirements for your players' character descriptions (name, age, and physical description, with maybe one or two elements more)?
   

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, your role play may be in serious trouble. Let's look at each of these points one by one:

Point 1: Centering a role play around one main character and/or requiring players to select from a cast of pre-made characters.

This is a HUGE mistake. Not only are you limiting your players' options and creativity by forcing them to select from a cast of pre-made characters, but you're also making them into mere supporting characters by having one role be the star of the story. This should absolutely be avoided.

There is one small exception to this rule: fan-fiction based role plays. Obviously, someone needs to play the canon characters.

Solution:

Just don't do it. Never, ever force your players to take on supporting roles. If you want to write a story where only one person is the star, then write a story, not a role play. It is your job as the DM to play the supporting cast and make the players into the heroes. Note the use of the plural.

In the case of a fan-fiction role play, the DM should offer the roles as the canon characters as optional, and then play any parts that aren't taken by players.

Point 2: Requiring certain roles to be filled.

This is an iffy area. On one hand, having set character roles can make the game more stable, since everyone won't play the clever thief or wandering knight (leaving no enchanting sorcerers or expert healers), or the game won't be filled with all girls and no guys. On the other hand, this is nothing more than a slightly toned down version of point one, and it still requires players to choose from a list of what they can and cannot play.

Solution:

Personally, I find it best to avoid requiring specific roles to be filled. If you must use them, make them broad, such as "need at least one character from three of the eight classes before game play can start." This will encourage players to choose different roles than what is already being played without the role seeming forced on them. Remember, you can always play the missing roles as NPCs.

Note, this is not to be confused with offering character classes, or requiring characters of a certain race. If your role play is about demons and angels fighting each other and humans caught in the middle of the war, then by all mean limit the players to making demons, angels, and humans, maybe allowing for a couple of half-demons and half-angels on the side, but disallowing elves, dwarves, orcs, gods, vampires, and other races that would be inappropriate for the game. If your game is about an all-girls school, then require players playing students to play female characters and only allow professors to be either male or female.

Point 3: Planning an exact flow of events.

Every good role play requires planning, but sometimes those plans can be the very thing that hinders the game. Having a storyline already thought out and railroading your players to follow it makes the game less enjoyable for everyone: you get upset because players keep deviating from your plans, and players get upset because you're forcing their characters to do things they don't want their characters to do. In the end, no one is happy.

Solution:

Have a general idea of what you want to happen, not an event-by-event plan, and leave the ending open. For example, I'm running a Dungeons & Dragons game for my friends at school. The general plan is that they are solving a series of riddles in order to locate the brother of an NPC who has enlisted their aid to help retrieve an item that the brother stole. Right now, the NPC has been arrested and the players must rescue him. I'm not going to force my players to come up with a plan to save him. They could choose to go rescue him, or abandon him entirely. Depending on what they choose, I will alter how later parts of the game will occur.

That's right: I said alter my plan. Flexibility is vital to good planning. So, get your general idea in mind and be ready for your players to do the things you least expect. It'll be more fun for everyone in the long run.

Point 4: Minimal PC Requirements.

Some people think that less is best, and only requiring a name, age, gender, and basic physical description of a character is enough for any role play.

This notion is wrong.

Now, I don't mean to be harsh, but when it comes to character bios, details are vital. The more detail, the better. When you require players to submit a bio for their characters, it should include at least the following:

• Player name
  
• Character name (including nicknames, if any)
  
• Gender
  
• Age
  
• Race
  
• Physical description (including eye color, hair color and style, height, build, how the character dresses, walks, and generally carries himself, and any other details that can make the character come alive)
  
• Personality
  
• Strengths
  
• Weaknesses
  
• Likes
  
• Dislikes
  
• Basic history (NOTE: This should at least answer why the character dresses the way he does, why he acts the way he does, how he got his strengths and weaknesses, and why he likes what he likes and dislikes what he dislikes.)

I highly encourage elaborating on these basics. Some areas can be combined (such as personality, likes, and dislikes), but all of these points should be covered in one way or another. Many times, the only way to get players to give this information is to demand it from them.

 

[Que_Arres]

The Basics: Setting Up Your Game

Now that you have your storyline revised for role play, you can start setting up your game. In general, you should provide the following information:

1. A novel-style teaser
   
2. An introduction to the game
   
3. The rules
   
4. Character options
   
5. Format for character bios
   
6. Character index

The examples I'll be using are from a sci-fi role play I am running on another site.

Point 1: The Teaser

Teaser

Earth. 3415 AD. A hub of interstellar activity and commerce. Humans and alien races mingle and network with one another, bringing them all to the peak of civilization and culture. This peace has lasted for over one thousand years.

But it couldn't last forever.

A novel-style teaser is just that: a tantalizing little blurb meant to pique the interest of prospective players. It doesn't have to be long, but it should just barely scratch the surface of the plot you have in mind.

Point 2: The Introduction

Introduction

Several days ago, a residential community on Earth was destroyed by a never-before-seen alien weapon. No one quite remembers what it looked like, nor does anyone know where it came from. All that is known is that hundreds died, both human and alien. Now accusations are being made and the first intergalactic war since 2119 AD appears to be on the horizon...

This is where you introduce the beginning storyline. Here, you explain what the setting is, what has been going on, and where the PCs will be coming into the action.

Point 3: The Rules

This is pretty self-explanatory, but you should remember to include the following:

• God-mod policy (whether or not you will allow it. I generally say no.)
  
• Mary Sue policy (again, whether or not they are allowed. I hate them.)
  
• A reminder to follow the site's Terms of Service
  
• How character bios should be submitted (via PM, in the first post, etc.)
  
• Genre, and the limitations of the genre.
  
  Example

  Genre: Science Fiction. There isn't any magic per se, but some races (or exceptional humans) may have "scientifically explained" powers such as telekinesis, telepathy, etc.
  
  
• Post style
  
  
  
  • Novel style: This is how most literate role plays are written. It is the third person limited retrospective style, also known as third person past-tense.
    
    Example

    Que crept down the barren corridor carefully, her finger ready on the trigger in case anyone... or anything came around the corner.
    
    Rarely, novel style can be done in the first person present-tense.
    
  • Asterisk style: This is how most casual, or so-called "illiterate" role plays are written. Action is typically indicated with asterisks (*), and it is usually written in the present-tense.
    
    Example

    *Creeps down the barren corridor carefully, finger ready on the trigger in case anyone... or anything comes around the corner.*
  
  
• Any other rules you feel necessary

Point 4: Character Options

This will probably be the most detailed section of your set-up. In this section, you should include details on the following:

• Available races
  
  Sample Race

  Cyborg: Cyborgs are humans (or rarely aliens) who have enhanced themselves with robotic parts. There are two types of cyborgs: cosmetic (enhanced humans) and prosthetic (repaired humans). Cosmetic cyborgs have had robotic parts added to their bodies for the sole purpose of enhancing themselves: an extra limb, permanent robotic armor, etc. Prosthetic cyborgs have had robotic parts added to replace lost or damaged limbs and body parts, and actually require the robotics to function like a normal humans. Some prosthetic cyborgs have had such extreme replacements (say, a whole torso or skeleton, for example) that they couldn't survive without the robotics. Not everyone can become a cyborg, however, and some humans are even allergic to the biotechnology required to make the mechanics work; their bodies see the technology as a disease and reject it. Robotic additions may be left uncovered or disguised as natural limbs. A cyborg can have no more than half of his body enhanced/replaced by robotics.
  Boon: Whether cosmetic or prosthetic, cyborgs have been physically enhanced. Any physical attribute - be it strength, speed, flexibility, or durability - can be greatly improved, up to triple the maximum human capacity, and even extra limbs may be created.
  Bane: Being partially robotic requires a lot of upkeep. Fortunately, since the mechanisms that make the limbs function are connected with the nervous system, the robotics never need to be recharged or refueled. Unfortunately, they do break, and unlike the human body, they cannot heal on their own. Should part of a cyborg's robotics malfunction or get damaged, he must get it repaired. Sometimes, personal first-aid is easy, but other times damage is too severe for an amateur to handle. Most cyborgs can perform minor repairs on themselves, unless the damage done prevents them from doings so (if both arms were robotic and stopped working, for example).
  
  
• Available classes
  
  Sample Class

  Agent: Agents are the specially trained members of the Agency, an organization dedicated to maintaining Earthly and intergalactic peace.
  Benefits: Access to advanced technology not available to average civilians, allowed to carry weapons (particularly firearms).
  Drawbacks: Must obey law, restoring the peace is their main priority.
  
  
• Any other character options you can think of

How you format your races and classes is entirely up to you. Obviously, if plain old humans are your only race, then you don't need to include the race details. If the characters will only be one general class (such as chosen of a particular deity, as in my one role play), then class details aren't needed. All in all, if you have the options, detail them for your players.

Point 5: Character Bios

Always always include a format for PC bios. This keeps everyone's character descriptions consistent and easy to read. Also be sure to mention the maximum number of characters a player may play.

Example

Please PM me with your character description for approval. You may play as many characters as you can handle, but try to keep it less than four (4). If you are playing more than two, you must designate at least one as "killable" (see below). Please PM me your character description in the following format:

[b]Character Name:[/b]
[b]Class:[/b]
[b]Agent/Shade Number:[/b]
[b]Area of Expertise:[/b]
[b]Race:[/b]
[b]Gender:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Appearance:[/b]
[b]Personality:[/b]
[b]Strengths:[/b]
[b]Weaknesses:[/b]
[b]Brief Background:[/b]

NOTE: Only Agents and Shades need to fill in the Agent/Shade Number and Area of Expertise fields. The lower the Agent/Shade Number, the longer the character has been a member. No player may have an Agent/Shade Number lower than 200 or higher than 900.

"Killables:"
Killables are PCs and NPCs that anyone can kill without asking the permission of the player. They are a tool I use in my games, since killing PCs is not allowed without their permission or the DM's. I sometimes use this status to warn out-of-line players, making their characters vulnerable.

Point 6: The Character Index

The character index is where you list all the NPC and PC bios, for everyone's easy access. It's usually best to put this in its own separate post.

 

[Que_Arres]

Formatting Tips

Once you have all of your preparations made and you're ready to share your role play with the world, consider these formatting tips to attract more players:

• Use spell check: Type your entire role play in a word processor and proof-read it. There is no bigger turn-off than a poorly written role play. Also, avoid common errors in grammar:
  
  • it's/its: it's = "it is." its = possessive form of it, as in "its ball."
    
  • you're/your: you're = "you are." your = possessive form of you, as in "your ball."
    
  • they're/their/there: they're = "they are." their = possessive form of they, as in "their ball." there = a location, as in "the ball is there."
  
  
• Format and organize your sections: See how nice and pretty my thread looks? Learn to use the PHP coding and make your posts look nice. Break up your sections into separate posts for easier reading.
  
• Don't use too many bright and flashy pictures: You can make picture headings, if you want to, but don't over do it. You may think it looks cool, but it's only an eyesore.

And one final note: this is just a personal preference, but don't allow pictures for characters' physical descriptions. Any good role player should be able to describe what his character looks like. Also, pictures clutter the thread and look out of place. If anything, link to them.

I hope you found this guide informative and helpful. Happy role playing ^_^.