Post by 🌿 ~ Spottedleaf ~ 🌿 on Jun 24, 2017 20:16:49 GMT -5
HOW TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL ROLEPLAY
Have you ever created a roleplay that became inactive shortly after creating it? Have you never created a roleplay before, and would like to, but have no idea on where to start? Maybe you are just searching for tips on how to improve your roleplays. If you answered “yes” to one or more of these, then you have come to the right place!
Here is a guide with step-by-step instructions and other tips that you may follow to create your roleplays. I am going to provide examples using Warriors roleplaying, but you could use this guide for any type of roleplay.
I. Where Do Your Characters Live?
• When I create roleplays, I always start out by deciding on where I want it to take place. The reason why I start here is because, in my opinion, it is really difficult to write a detailed introduction or decide on a suitable name without having a general idea of where the characters live. This is especially if you are wanting to create a more traditional kind of roleplay.
• Be descriptive when describing the territory. Give specific details and use strong adjectives so that your participants can picture it in their minds as they post.
-This is optional, but when I write territory descriptions, I often look up the type of territory I want to have and find factual details about it. For example, if I want my Warriors roleplay to take place in a tropical rainforest, then I would look up information about a tropical rainforest. In the descriptions, I normally list a few types of trees/plants that could be found in the area, the climate for both winter and summer, prey and predators that may live there, etc.
• Come up with names for the different locations in your territory. Doing this makes it easier for you and your participants to be able to identify a certain place. Give a good description of the locations, and try to include a detail that will make that spot stand out and easily identifiable.
- For example, if there is a pond within a forest that receives a large amount of sunlight, despite all the trees, then a good name might be the “Sun Pond.”
II. Writing the Introduction
• When writing the introduction, use what you wrote for the territory to assist you.
• There are different ways to write an introduction. For example, in Warriors, you may choose to write it from a loner’s prospective, or you may prefer to write it through the eyes of a kit or another clan member.
• No matter from whose prospective you choose to write in, a nice way to begin is by describing the setting of the introduction. State the time of day, give a brief description of the surroundings, illustrate how the character is feeling and what they are doing.
-If you are writing from a loner’s point of view, include details about where they came from, and how long they have gone astray from there. Write what happens to them when they get caught trespassing. When you do this, include descriptive information about the appearance of the other character, how that character responds to the trespasser, etc. This type of introduction normally ends with the non-trespasser inviting the trespasser into the clan and threatening a consequence to them if they return to their land after refusing to join.
-If you prefer to write from inside the clan, a kit from example, describe what is going on around them. What sounds can they hear? What can they see? How do they feel?
III. What Else Do I Include?
After you finish with the territory and the introduction, your roleplay is almost ready. However, there are a few more things too add that every roleplay should have. These things would be a list of rules, a signup form, and an allegiance page.
• It is important to remember that all forum rules are to be followed within a roleplay. Although this should already be an understood rule, I always put that as rule number one of any roleplay of mine. Any other rule I add goes along with my preferences.
-I always come up with some kind of code in the rules. This way, I know whether someone has read them or not. I’ve also found it more beneficial to not put it as the last rule. By doing this, it isn’t as easy for someone to skim.
• The signup form is pretty simple, but it should at least ask for the following:
- The person’s username (the name they registered with, not their display name).
-The name of the person’s character.
-A detailed description of the character’s physical appearance and their personality.
-The role of the character.
-The password, if you include one in your rules.
-A space for miscellaneous information the person signing up might want to include.
• -Lastly, the allegiance page. Like the signup form, this should be self-explanatory. It is important to have this page so you can keep up with everyone’s characters in the roleplay.
IV. Posting Layout
An organized layout is more likely to draw people in, as compared to a more scattered one. Here is a typical layout for you to follow:
1.Introduction
2.Territory
-I usually divide this one up into different sections. I prefer to put the overall description first, then post the list of named locations and the camp. After this information, I list the types of prey and predators that can be found in the area.
3.Rules
4.Allegiances
5.Signup
-I normally put the Allegiance page and the signup form together in a separate post from the rest. This makes them easier to find.
V. Other Tips
• Format the layout to make it easier to read. Changing the font sizes of the headings and subheadings, putting them in bold, and changing the colors makes them stand out. By doing this, it is easy to find them and refer to them later on in the roleplay.
• Make your posts longer. Try to avoid one-liners as much as you can because they are hard to respond to. As for tips for longer posts, add more details. Be descriptive about the character’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. Adding adjectives, similes, personification, and etc. can really increase the length of your posts.
• Get creative with the plot. An interesting plot is important to having a successful roleplay. Have fun with playing through battles, natural disasters, illnesses, and tragedies. Events like these make the roleplay more enjoyable to be a part of.
• Create a group PM with everyone in your roleplay. This makes it really simple to keep up with plot ideas, absent notices from participants, etc. By doing this, it is easier for everyone to feel like they are part of the roleplay.
• If you get indecisive about what you want to happen in the roleplay, set up a poll. Have everyone vote on the event that sounds more interesting to them. Using polls to decide on when an event should take place is a good idea, as well.
• Have fun. This one may be obvious, but if you take the time to create a roleplay, you should enjoy it and keep it active.
This is about all I have for this guide for now. If you have any questions, then please feel free to post them below. I may not roleplay as much these days, but I was an avid roleplayer on this forum for at least three years, so I am sure I will have answers for anything you want to ask.
In addition to questions, comments about this guide would be much appreciated. Thanks to anyone who took the time to read this, in advance.
