Role-Play FAQ

[Amy (In America - Busy atm)]

Don't forget to read the Role-Play Rules!

Getting Started

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What is role-play?

Forum role-play is a game in which members take on the role of a character in order to act out a narrative, in this case done through writing and storytelling. Other members will take on the roles of other characters, and thusly the members of a single role-playing group will have to work together to create a forward-moving plot.


Do I have to be a writer to take part in role-play?

No, you do not have to be a writer to get involved. If you want to participate but are not all that confident in your writing skills, don't be discouraged. There are probably many other members in the same boat as you. Role-play is a fun and friendly way to learn and develop your skills. This is a low-pressure role-play board, and it's open to anyone who wishes to give it a go.


I've seen the role-play board. What makes it so special? It just looks average to me.

If you're thinking this, then you're right. The city created for our RP purposes is nothing special, nor does it have to be. In the RP board, we have given you and your characters a basic setting (in some cases there are descriptions to help anyone who is stuck for ideas, or a bit of history to keep everyone on the same page), but ultimately the challenge is to see what participants can do with the city. There are places for your characters to go, to work, and to live, but it's not the setting that makes the story interesting: it's the characters that you create.


What do I get out of it?

Role-playing, though great fun, can also be good for honing skills. It teaches you how to give a character real depth and longevity; it aids in on-the-spot thinking and plot development, and on top of that, grammar and spelling will improve through frequently writing and reading. If you're new to the forum, it is also an enjoyable way to become actively involved and meet other members.


Where do I begin?

Once you have read through the role-play rules and the FAQ, you can try looking through old or on-going role-plays (or the archive) to get an idea of what role-play entails. If you think that you are ready to try it for yourself, you can fill out and submit a character application. A staff member will review your application and, if approved, give you the go-ahead to get started.

Next, you'll need to find a partner or a group. You can look to see if anybody else is also searching under the Partner/Group Search sub-board, or you can post your own thread. Once you have a partner or group, and once you have collectively decided on a location, you can begin role-playing! The person going first can post the thread under the Lake Owensway board.

Filling Out the Character Application

Should my role-play character be from The Sims 2 or The Sims 3?

You can use whichever game you prefer to represent your role-play character. Of course this means that we will have some characters from TS2 and some from TS3, but that's okay. There's really no reason why they should be separated.


Are there any limitations as to what my character can be (such as falling in an age range or having supernatural powers)?

This is our first role-play board, and for this board there should be no powers or supernatural on-goings. If, down the line, people would like supernatural element, then we could certainly look into its inclusion in Lake Owensway. But for now, we are keeping it simple.

There are no limits on anything else. Characters can be of whatever age that you wish to make them, etc.


Where can my character live?

Your character may live in any of the places listed under the "Residential Housing" section of the locations thread. If all of the spots are currently taken in the residence of your choice, you have to ask another member if your character can be his or her character's roommate.

Don't forget to specify a house/room number!


Where can my character work?

If you'd like your character to have a job, he or she can work at any of the Lake Owensway locations. Be creative! You can be waitress at Antonio's, a lifeguard at Shingle Shore, a lake or mountain tour guide, a deejay at Ascension—the possibilities are endless! However, we don't want twenty-seven maids at the Gregory Manor Hotel. That'd be boring.

If you'd like your character to have a job that is not possible to hold in any of the available locations, you can give him or her a custom job; however, please bear in mind that you will never be able to role-play with your character while he or she is at work, since the location is not available.

The only places that your character cannot work are in any of the residential housing locations, with the exception of the Gregory Manor Hotel and the Rivercross Farm.


Why do you need a picture of my character?

There is a code that allows you to change your avatar (from your regular, everyday avatar used on the boards to a picture of your character) when on the role-play board. The picture will be displayed when you post in this board, so that everybody knows which character you are writing as.


What is "Activity"?

The "Activity" section of your character application is the place for you to keep track of all of the threads, in chronological order, that your character has been apart of. Anytime your character jumps from one thread to another, you should make note of it in this section. This will also help any readers who are following along with your character's story, so that they can navigate the threads more easily.

If your character joins an RP thread late in the game--that is, after two or more characters have been role-playing together for a while--you can link to a specific post in the thread by clicking the "Link to Post" option at the bottom of his or her first entry post.

When you first submit your character application, this section should be left blank. Once your character begins to join role-play threads, you can update this section numerically: 1 | 2 | 3, etc.


Can I have more than one character?

Sure. You can have as many characters as you'd like, although you cannot role-play with just yourself (that is, two of your characters cannot begin or continue a role-play on their own). If you want to have more than one character, just make sure that you have the time to dedicate to each of them, if more than one is involved in an active role-play (remember the two-week posting requirement).

Searching for a Partner/Group

Why do I need a partner? Would you suggest finding a group or starting on my own?

Having a partner or a group is a good way to be assured that you will have someone replying to you, and that your role-play won't be sitting there unreplied and unused. It is probably better, if you are just starting out, to join up with someone else.

However, if you feel up to the challenge, you can certainly begin without a partner and hope that someone jumps in with you. It would be helpful if you knew, however, that there were free characters—ones that are not already participating in a role-play. You wouldn't want to start only to realize later that everybody already has a partner or group.


How many members can participate in a single role-play at once?

There is no maximum limit. However, it may get complicated if you have too many characters actively participating in a single role-play. Also, it might be a while before it gets back around to your turn. I'd say that three or four is probably a good maximum, although you can certainly have more than that if you think that your group can handle it.


Am I allowed to converse and plan with the players that I am role-playing with?

Yes, of course! You can converse in the original partner-search thread or through PMs.

Posting in & Replying to a Role-Play Thread

What if another group is also in the location where my group wants to role-play?

That's okay. Since we've moved to a new style of role-play, more than one group can be in one location at the same time. If you plan it out between your two groups, perhaps you could even meet up! Or not. It's up to you.


How do I change my avatar when posting as my character?

It's quite simple:

1. In your role-play thread, click the reply button.

2. Look for the "Character Name" option underneath "Title Image" and write in your character's name.

3. Look for the "Character Image" option and choose your character's avatar from those listed in the drop-down menu.

4. Write your part of the RP.

5. Press "Post Reply." You are all done!


Will this mess my usual avatar up?

Your normal avatar will be fine. It will show up as usual on all other boards of the forum.


Can I post as someone else's character?

No. This is forbidden. Members take the time to draw up and create their own characters, and it's only fair that they should be the sole controller of them. You may only post as your own character/characters.


This player's character just got into a disagreement/fight with my character! That must mean that the player hates me in real life, right?

No. That's not the case. Remember that role-playing should be fiction, and if something bad happens to your character, or if another character treats him or her badly, it does not represent the real-life feelings of the writer. If people do have issues with each other in real life, it would be best that they don't RP together. This would prevent situations like these from arising.


But I do dislike so-and-so in real life. Can I take it out on his or her character?

No. If you dislike someone, do not RP with him or her. If he or she is in your group, remain civil. You are taking on another persona. It would be the height of immaturity to take out your own personal feelings on a fictional character. It is not behavior that will be condoned.

Other

What if there's a location that's not available that I'd like added to the role-play board?

The staff is open to any suggestions that you may have for locations, especially if it's one that many members want. If you'd like to have a location added to the general list of locations, you can suggest it right here in this thread. The staff will discuss it to make sure that it is useful and beneficial to the role-play board, and if approved, it will be added to the list.


What if I have another question that isn't addressed here or in the rules?

Ask away! We hope that we've covered everything, but if you have any additional questions, you can ask them right here in this thread.[/color][/blockquote]

Updates:
01/07/13 - TS2 v. TS3 characters added.
01/07/13 - Suggest a location added.
01/21/13 - Signing up for a housing number added to "Where can my character live?"
03/21/13 - "Activity" explained.
03/21/13 - Categories assigned and questions reordered.