Post by Edge on Dec 21, 2007 15:55:53 GMT -5
Some people have asked for tips on improving their roleplays and awhile ago I posted a column about how to do just that. For those of you who want the help, here it is. For those of you who need the help, please read on..... Keep in mind, these are things I like to follow when making my RP's. You can agree or disagree.
1. Keep swearing to a minimum. If your character spouts profanity all the time, how are we supposed to know when he is REALLY mad? There is a difference between swearing for a reason and swearing for the sake of it.
2. Check your spelling. With this RP board, it is easy to proofread your RP. Use the preview option, that's what it is for! It doesn't take that long to re-read your effort. You'll never catch every typo but it makes it easier to read when the words are actual words.
3. Turn off your 'Caps Lock'. Use capital letters ONLY when your character is trying to emphasize a point or raising his voice. Don't start every word with a capital. Use of capitals in your catchphrases helps to distinguish them from other things your character says.
4. Learn a little HTML. Most of you know this but it can make reading a lot easier when different colours are used for different people or moods. Italics, boldface and colours attract attention. And for crying out loud, divide your RP into paragraphs! Seeing a giant mass of words will only give your fellow RPers a freakin' headache!
5. Entertain your fellow Rpers!! We all watch wrestling! We know when you are COPYING someone! Be original! We know what todays superstars say. We want to know what your character says! Take the time to come up with something new. It's easier than you think, otherwise you wouldn't be here. You have the imagination. Otherwise, go to a fed that allows 'real' wrestlers.
6. The "I'm-Gonna-Kick-Your-Ass" Syndrome! Listen to this! BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!!! That's what I read when you use this line. This is the absolute WORST line to put into your RP. Plain and simple, IT SUCKS!! Say anything but that! It is so overused that it has lost all meaning. It has no effect anymore. One of Minds Eye' favourite quotes is, "I'm going to bite out your tongue." What sounds more menacing to you?
7. I am me. He is he. This is an E-fed. It is NOT real. Your characters are not real. BUT...in their world they are!! They would not talk about an e-fed during their interviews. They wouldn't talk about 'reading' an opponents interview. They wouldn't use the term 'roleplay' in their interviews. They are supposed to be the guys we love to watch on TV. We, the handlers, type what our characters say. For example, how stupid does this sound?
Joe Blow: "I came to this e-fed for gold!! I read that my opponent is gonna kick My ass! Well, he can f##k off, that f##king cocksucker! U R a slapnuts and U won't win 'cuz I'm that damn good!"
That stupid crap will make me skip right over your RP.
8. Quality, not Quantity. Some presidents want 40-50-60 lines in your roleplays. I am going on record right now, 'They are idiots!!' Some people can't come up with 30 lines, let alone 60! If you can get your point across and keep me entertained while I'm reading your RP, I'll probably want to get involved with your character. If, however, your RP is a freaking novel, most of us will simply pass over it or peruse it. Unless, it is aimed at our character. I want to read all the RP's but if it's going to take 15 minutes to read yours, I'll just move on. Besides, if an RP drags on it becomes repetitive.
9. Don't be repetitive.
10. Don't be repetitive.
11. Have Fun. This ain't life or death. You are NOT your character. He might be like you or have similar traits that you use for inspiration but he and you are DIFFERENT. If I call 'Joe Blow' a jack-off, it is NOT directed at his handler. You'd be surprised how many people have emailed me to tell me to go f##k myself. They're funny. There is a WIDE line that separates reality from fiction. I am Archie. I am NOT Minds Eye. You will know when I talk to you as either.
12. Post your name and e-mail. Some of you will scoff at this but if you're going to go on the OOC board and call me a prick or an asshole, have the balls to post these. The same goes with all criticisms. Too many people hide behind the fact that they won't get found out. Simply, that makes you a coward. Besides, when you post your email, your fellow RPers can contact you for help or storylines.
13. Write an original rebuttal to another guys Roleplay. Writing a tag line under another guys RP diminishes your effort and means that you are only responding on the spur of the moment. Take your time to write a good RP.
14. Internet Abbreviations. I hate this! Don't use these. This isn't a chatroom. Spell out the words that your character is saying. U, UR, LOL, C, etc. don't come out of your characters mouth. Words like 'cuz', 'cause', 'y'all', 'gonna', and the like are fine as they show that your character is talking 'streetwise'. Keep in mind that your character speaks words, not letters.
15. Pic Bases. These are the pictures that some handlers use in their RP's. I use 'Spawn' for the look of Minds Eye. Chico Noriega uses 'Scott Hall'. It gives you a tangible picture of how he appears. Some efeds use them, so don't. It is a personal preference. Other pictures can help make an Rp more readable or get your point across better.
Well, that's about it. I hope you find some of these helpful.
1. Keep swearing to a minimum. If your character spouts profanity all the time, how are we supposed to know when he is REALLY mad? There is a difference between swearing for a reason and swearing for the sake of it.
2. Check your spelling. With this RP board, it is easy to proofread your RP. Use the preview option, that's what it is for! It doesn't take that long to re-read your effort. You'll never catch every typo but it makes it easier to read when the words are actual words.
3. Turn off your 'Caps Lock'. Use capital letters ONLY when your character is trying to emphasize a point or raising his voice. Don't start every word with a capital. Use of capitals in your catchphrases helps to distinguish them from other things your character says.
4. Learn a little HTML. Most of you know this but it can make reading a lot easier when different colours are used for different people or moods. Italics, boldface and colours attract attention. And for crying out loud, divide your RP into paragraphs! Seeing a giant mass of words will only give your fellow RPers a freakin' headache!
5. Entertain your fellow Rpers!! We all watch wrestling! We know when you are COPYING someone! Be original! We know what todays superstars say. We want to know what your character says! Take the time to come up with something new. It's easier than you think, otherwise you wouldn't be here. You have the imagination. Otherwise, go to a fed that allows 'real' wrestlers.
6. The "I'm-Gonna-Kick-Your-Ass" Syndrome! Listen to this! BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!!! That's what I read when you use this line. This is the absolute WORST line to put into your RP. Plain and simple, IT SUCKS!! Say anything but that! It is so overused that it has lost all meaning. It has no effect anymore. One of Minds Eye' favourite quotes is, "I'm going to bite out your tongue." What sounds more menacing to you?
7. I am me. He is he. This is an E-fed. It is NOT real. Your characters are not real. BUT...in their world they are!! They would not talk about an e-fed during their interviews. They wouldn't talk about 'reading' an opponents interview. They wouldn't use the term 'roleplay' in their interviews. They are supposed to be the guys we love to watch on TV. We, the handlers, type what our characters say. For example, how stupid does this sound?
Joe Blow: "I came to this e-fed for gold!! I read that my opponent is gonna kick My ass! Well, he can f##k off, that f##king cocksucker! U R a slapnuts and U won't win 'cuz I'm that damn good!"
That stupid crap will make me skip right over your RP.
8. Quality, not Quantity. Some presidents want 40-50-60 lines in your roleplays. I am going on record right now, 'They are idiots!!' Some people can't come up with 30 lines, let alone 60! If you can get your point across and keep me entertained while I'm reading your RP, I'll probably want to get involved with your character. If, however, your RP is a freaking novel, most of us will simply pass over it or peruse it. Unless, it is aimed at our character. I want to read all the RP's but if it's going to take 15 minutes to read yours, I'll just move on. Besides, if an RP drags on it becomes repetitive.
9. Don't be repetitive.
10. Don't be repetitive.
11. Have Fun. This ain't life or death. You are NOT your character. He might be like you or have similar traits that you use for inspiration but he and you are DIFFERENT. If I call 'Joe Blow' a jack-off, it is NOT directed at his handler. You'd be surprised how many people have emailed me to tell me to go f##k myself. They're funny. There is a WIDE line that separates reality from fiction. I am Archie. I am NOT Minds Eye. You will know when I talk to you as either.
12. Post your name and e-mail. Some of you will scoff at this but if you're going to go on the OOC board and call me a prick or an asshole, have the balls to post these. The same goes with all criticisms. Too many people hide behind the fact that they won't get found out. Simply, that makes you a coward. Besides, when you post your email, your fellow RPers can contact you for help or storylines.
13. Write an original rebuttal to another guys Roleplay. Writing a tag line under another guys RP diminishes your effort and means that you are only responding on the spur of the moment. Take your time to write a good RP.
14. Internet Abbreviations. I hate this! Don't use these. This isn't a chatroom. Spell out the words that your character is saying. U, UR, LOL, C, etc. don't come out of your characters mouth. Words like 'cuz', 'cause', 'y'all', 'gonna', and the like are fine as they show that your character is talking 'streetwise'. Keep in mind that your character speaks words, not letters.
15. Pic Bases. These are the pictures that some handlers use in their RP's. I use 'Spawn' for the look of Minds Eye. Chico Noriega uses 'Scott Hall'. It gives you a tangible picture of how he appears. Some efeds use them, so don't. It is a personal preference. Other pictures can help make an Rp more readable or get your point across better.
Well, that's about it. I hope you find some of these helpful.
