Category Socializing & Roleplaying (10)
Topic RP'ing: Tips, Slips, & Near Misses (153)
Message Re: "Serious" RPing (1735)
By OBSESSION@PLAY.NET (Danay)
On Aug 1, 1999 at 03:33
I'm finding this difficult so far. There is this nagging feeling I'm acting like a stick in the mud, just because I'm nodding when everyone is giggling. How can I work with this "serious" type of character?
-Troy, Meragrin's player
I don't have any good advice since I'm having a hard time with that one myself. I find my character is a lot "chattier" than I want her to be. But so far, if I want to interract with people, I have to initiate it. The idea I started with of trying to make it obvious I want to RP and let other people draw her out just isn't working. Because they don't do that, they just ignore her, even if she has nodded at them in greeting. I've been trying to find a balance between allowing her to start conversations, while trying to stay true to her more stern nature. I haven't found it yet. Sorry I wasn't any help, just wanted to let you know you're not alone. I think the biggest key is to just keep plugging away and know that it will take more time to establish such a character. Hmmm....I think one thing that might help both of us is more use of the act command to portray things about our characters without having them be all giggly or talktative. I've just never been too creative with using act. Guess I have something to work on. ;)
Danay's player
Category Socializing & Roleplaying (10)
Topic RP'ing: Tips, Slips, & Near Misses (153)
Message Re: "Serious" RPing (1739)
By UBERWENCH@PLAY.NET (Lylia)
On Aug 1, 1999 at 11:22
Troy-----
The ACT command is your new best friend. If you're going to play a character who rarely smiles (if ever) and never laughs, you're going to need to come up with other behaviors for him. When other people might laugh or smile at a joke, your guy can simply:
(Soandso turns his face away, a grimace of distaste curling his upper lip.)
(Soandso purses his lips in disapproval.)
(Soandso raises an eyebrow and clucks his tongue in mild reproof.)
(Soandso clasps his hands piously before him and shakes his head slowly, a pitying expression suffusing his ascetic features.)
(Soandso stares coldly at Jokester and opens his mouth as if to speak, but closes it and instead stalks off without a word.)
I've often wanted to play a completely mute character simply so I could see how far I could legitimately push the ACT command; it's always a challenge to play a less talkative character, and really, the ACT command is the only way to do so without simply fading into the background. At the same time, it's limited by what is physically possible and by the assumptions no one should make about another character (for example, mind reading).
I'd love to see a few more serious (not necessarily evil, but of sober disposition) characters around. Everyone's all giggly; it'd be a nice contrast.
-----Lauren, Lylia's player who could probably play most kinds of characters, but would have real trouble with one who didn't talk constantly
Category Discussions with Simutronics (5)
Topic Suggestions, Comments and Concerns (2)
Message Re: If you can't beat them... (17219)
By GS3-AELSIDHE@PLAY.NET
On Jul 14, 2000 at 17:15
Those who wish to _roleplay_ introverted and quiet characters as a part of the public and shared story need to keep in mind that they still must make their presence known if people are going to KNOW that they are quiet and introverted.
Now, there's nothing wrong with playing a character that nobody notices, and doing your roleplaying in your own mind, if that's what gives you pleasure in playing. But a character that nobody notices is not quite the same as one who's quiet, introverted, mute, or whatever, and still wishes to be noticed and to be part of the story.
Think of it as writing a book, or a film script, as it is very much like that. A character who is _unnoticed_, which is not the same as introverted, is not going to be much of a part of anything in the story, unless the book is written as a dialogue of his inner thoughts, which is not the case here. A character who is quiet and introverted, but still meaningful in the outward story that is shared with the other characters, may not say much, but his presence will be known or pointed out through his actions that the writer or director [that's you] chooses to make known.
The introverted and quiet character may point out that he is sitting quietly in the corner, or studying something while others are gabbing, or scratching his nose and contemplating his own thoughts, or whatever - but for it to be a part of the story that he is introverted and quiet, it still must be shown. A character who does nothing is, to the audience, not there. If it's important that you are quiet, then act quiet :) Nothing wrong with roleplaying in your own mind, but you cannot expect the outside world to notice this. Being introverted and being unnoticable are not the same thing - fading into the background is not likely to get the attention of others, merchant or not :)
Remember you're the actor. even if you're playing the quiet role, if you're part of the story, then PLAY it...
=Aelsidhe