The 10 Commandments of Roleplaying
Rule 1: Thou shalt Follow the Rules.
Always follow the rules, both those that are unspoken and those designed by the creator of the roleplay. Should you not be in a forum stlye roleplay and are instead in a single-page RP community like Facebook, always remember to respect the common-held rules and the rules set by the actual site.
Rule 2: Thou shalt be Original.
NEVER COPY. Copying roleplay ideas and characters is a common newbie mistake. Also, never base an original character, (meaning a character that is 100% your creation), off of a fandom character, (meaning a character from any source of media, like a book or anime.) Roleplaying is about expressing yourself, and copying is unoriginal and annoying, and people will notice if you do it, no matter what. The only time using a fandom or commercial character is if the roleplay is about those characters or takes place as a part of that fandom.
Exception to the Rule, courtesy of Silvereye:
Remaking a Thread/Remaking a Roleplay:
This is the one and only time you can copy an idea. Remaking a thread on a forum-site or remaking an RP is only done, by unspoken agreement, by asking the creator first, and waiting as long as you have to to get an answer. if you wait a month, and you get no response, what I would do is remake it, but with enough edits that it's relatively similar, but different enough to be yours. Remake the original only when given permission. If you feel bad about doing this, then just wait. Usually, they check back. Remaking is copying, so you must get permission if you care about your online integrity.
Exception to the Rule, courtesy of Silvereye:
Remaking a Thread/Remaking a Roleplay:
This is the one and only time you can copy an idea. Remaking a thread on a forum-site or remaking an RP is only done, by unspoken agreement, by asking the creator first, and waiting as long as you have to to get an answer. if you wait a month, and you get no response, what I would do is remake it, but with enough edits that it's relatively similar, but different enough to be yours. Remake the original only when given permission. If you feel bad about doing this, then just wait. Usually, they check back. Remaking is copying, so you must get permission if you care about your online integrity.
Rule 3: Thou shalt not be Obnoxious.
Don't be overly emotional. Don't blow up if someone doesn't like your character, and in turn don't set out on any missions to make enemies. Nothing ruins a good roleplay like starting silly fights and making people upset in real life. It may not feel like it, but the other players are real life people just like you. Follow the Golden Rule always.
Rule 4: Thou shalt be Active.
Try to keep up. it's ok if you're busy and fall behind, but bothering everyone to recap every little move is not the way to go. Also, never join a roleplay/ make a page and then be inactive. It makes a block get stuck inthe roleplay's gears.
Should you ever need to take a break from a roleplay, let your friends/ RP buddies know. They'll appreciate the heads up and you won't get deleted from the game.
At the same time, know when to give up. If the roleplay has lost it's luster and your posts become one-liners, drop out. There's no point in beating a dead horse.
When encountering an inactive player, remember to be understanding and courteous. Understand that real life interferes with roleplay at times or that the player may have good reasons for being inactive. Learn to recognize the differences between irresponsibility and inability to participate, and act accordingly.
Should you ever need to take a break from a roleplay, let your friends/ RP buddies know. They'll appreciate the heads up and you won't get deleted from the game.
At the same time, know when to give up. If the roleplay has lost it's luster and your posts become one-liners, drop out. There's no point in beating a dead horse.
When encountering an inactive player, remember to be understanding and courteous. Understand that real life interferes with roleplay at times or that the player may have good reasons for being inactive. Learn to recognize the differences between irresponsibility and inability to participate, and act accordingly.
Rule 5: Thou shalt Stay within the Universe.
Respect creative liberty. If a roleplay starter wants to, say, have a roleplay about angels, don't make yourself a demon unless the roleplay is about both angels and demons. Sometimes, being the odd one out isn't welcome, and it is a very important lesson to learn.
The same can be said about fandom based roleplay: if the universe is set as a Doctor Who roleplay, do not make your character from a different series/ apply to rules and physics not presented in Doctor Who unless it is specifically stated that this is allowed.
The same can be said about fandom based roleplay: if the universe is set as a Doctor Who roleplay, do not make your character from a different series/ apply to rules and physics not presented in Doctor Who unless it is specifically stated that this is allowed.
Rule 6: Thou shalt not Kill.
DO. NOT. KILL. You cannot kill other people's characters, ever, except if the person you are killing says it is alright and has a very distinct plan for what happens afterwards. However, having too many ghost or reincarnated characters gets confusing. Avoid death as much as you can, and go for mortal injuries instead.
Rule 7: Thou shalt not Fornicate Constantly.
I know you want to have your characters be involved in romance and sex. It can be very fun, and it's good for plots, but if the roleplay becomes one giant orgy, then the whole thing is ruined. All things in moderation, and remember to take it to the private messages if it begins to bother other players.
Rule 8: Thou shalt be Considerate of Others.
Respect age differences. Most roleplayers are ages 13-27. But there are younger roleplayers as well, from ages 8-12, usually. If a 20 year old and a 13 year old are roleplaying, they need to meet in a middle ground. There is no reason to have R rated romance and violence around younger roleplayers. I know they will learn all about both of those someday, but it isn't your job to teach them. And even if they say they don't mind, take the high road and be an adult: just say no.
Rule 9: Thou shalt have Flaws.
Mary Sues and Godmods. Perfect characters and game-controllers. They ruin the fun. Make sure your character has flaws, and always allow the other player to react to a situation you set up before moving on. Never write for another person's character unless they have given you permission.
Rule 10: Thou shalt Fit In.
Match the style of the roleplay. if everyone is writing in prose format, don't write in conversation format, and vice versa. Also, always write more than one line unless there is no material to work with.