A guide for realistic multi-player roleplaying
Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:43 am
I know roleplaying on WQ is not everyone's cup of tea, but there are many who love this aspect of it. I've seen several people say that a RPing guide would be great, and so, here we go! Because I'm not the expert, and the community is so great at stuff like this, I wanted this to be something compiled by users for users. I realize not everyone wants to RP as a realistic wolf or pack, but that's the focus of this thread. I want it to be a place where new players can come and see what a good realistic roleplay might look like, and where even seasoned players can get ideas. As ideas are posted, a mod or I will move obvious ones to this first post for easy reference. Some thoughts might need to have some discussion before they are added, so please feel free.
This is not meant in any way to substitute for the Multi-Player Rules. In fact, if you have not read them, it's an absolute MUST before posting your ideas or using this guide! Below is the link. We will not be just restating rules in this guide...the goal is to offer how to play a realistic wolf/pack within the current rules.
What are the rules for Multi-Player?
http://www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=44211
This guide also should not replace exploring the site and actually learning all you can about wolves. Taking time to explore General Wolf Discussion and Wolf Q&A is a great way to come up with ideas on realistic roleplay! We also don't want to flood the post with things already in the "Talk About Wolves" section. We don’t want this to become a relisting of specific wolf behaviors, but more of what a chat host might expect from players joining his or her realistic RP. You might offer ideas of general mannerisms, appearance, behavior, or activities wolves might engage in. Feel free to provide a link to support your idea.
General Wolf Discussion
http://www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=4
Wolf Q&A
http://www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=6
You can also refer to this thread, which provides a list of user ideas for what to call the leading pair of wolves in a pack rather than "mates."
How to appropriately play a wolf pack in MP games
http://www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=40392
I'm starting with four categories, so feel free to post ideas for any or all. I hesitated to include a "Not Realistic" category, but I think it's helpful to know what to avoid. Please don't use this topic to simply complain about behaviors.
To get us started, I've taken the liberty of placing some of the guidelines for user writings into the categories.
A guide for realistic multi-player roleplaying:
Realistic (These are things that are completely acceptable in a realistic wolf roleplay.):
1. Normal wolf appearance, including fur and eye color, with a minimum of unusual markings.
2. Human appearance from a wolf’s perspective, as a minimal background role (for example, a wolf notices a hiker and watches curiously from a distance before wandering off).
3. Realistic wolf behaviors, such as marking territory, caring for pups, howling before a hunt, defending itself/food/territory with dominant behaviors, etc.
4. Allowing your wolf to suffer realistic consequences (for example, a wolf attempting to hunt on it's own probably won't be successful and might get injured.)
5. Pretending the weather, time or season is different than the scenery shows, as long as everyone agrees.
6. An occasional fight with another wolf or animal, keeping in mind that wolves mainly avoid fighting and that it should be realistic (for example, a wolf’s claws are mostly useless in a fight).
Borderline (These are things that may not be realistic, but depending on your RP group, may be acceptable without disrupting the RP. Be sensitive to your chat host and player consensus on these.):
1. Talking wolves (Listed here because it technically it doesn't happen, but most RPs include this if it's kept in the context of what's happening in the RP.)
2. Fur and eye colors or markings that are unusual.
3. Using human emotion to define your wolf’s personality (besides those related to a wolf’s instinct to survive), as long as it’s kept appropriate and not taken to extremes (wolves probably don’t shed tears).
4. Using a ranking system or assigning "jobs" in a pack.
5. Using natural ways to aid in "healing," like plants and letting healing be a process.
6. Humans that play a major or negative role in the RP (for example, a hunter or scientist). Keep in mind that a wolf in Yellowstone won't be encountering hunters!
7. A lone wolf claiming and defending a territory or adult wolf using a den other than for pups.
8. Wolves in captivity, such as a zoo, or wearing radio collars.
9. Including stray or lost animals that normally wouldn't be present.
Not Realistic (These are things that should be avoided in realistic wolf RPs.):
1. Magic, healing powers/instant healing, invincibility, shapeshifting, super-strength or other super-power like qualities.
2. Unrealistic actions and behaviors (flying, ignoring it's pack or pups, one wolf killing a bull elk, bear or cougar, climbing trees and too steep areas, carrying large or too heavy objects, smelling other wolves clear across the map, completely ignoring another wolf's territory, etc.)
3. Wars, long pack fights, constant fighting between wolves, pupkillers, mass killing, etc.
4. Elemental wolves, werewolves, wolf spirits, good vs. evil, etc.
5. RPing as something other than a wolf or as a wolf that’s a hybrid with a non-canid, or giving other animal characteristics to your wolf (such as retractable claws).
6. A wolf caring for, birthing or befriending an animal besides another wolf.
7. A days or weeks old pup able to survive on its own without its parents or an adult wolf caring for it or pups doing things only adults could do.
8. Playing as if you’re in a different time or setting than the other players in the chat.
9. A wolf that does “human” things, like walking on two legs and wearing clothing or jewelry.
10. Wolves having major unrealistic features, like wings, horns, etc.
Roleplaying Tips (Some general tips for RPing that don’t fit in any other category):
1. Read the Multiplayer Rules (link above) and follow them!
2. Keep your chat posts short and to the point because the box can only hold so much text. Long posts are hard to keep up with in an active game.
3. It’s ok to call things that are familiar to wolves by the human word (elk, tree, bear, etc), instead of using a roundabout description, so it’s easier to keep up with the RP in that tiny chat box.
4. When you enter a chat, take time to get a feel for what's going on and ask questions if you're not sure.
5. Keep off-topic chatter to a minimum while actively RPing.
This is not meant in any way to substitute for the Multi-Player Rules. In fact, if you have not read them, it's an absolute MUST before posting your ideas or using this guide! Below is the link. We will not be just restating rules in this guide...the goal is to offer how to play a realistic wolf/pack within the current rules.
What are the rules for Multi-Player?
http://www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=44211
This guide also should not replace exploring the site and actually learning all you can about wolves. Taking time to explore General Wolf Discussion and Wolf Q&A is a great way to come up with ideas on realistic roleplay! We also don't want to flood the post with things already in the "Talk About Wolves" section. We don’t want this to become a relisting of specific wolf behaviors, but more of what a chat host might expect from players joining his or her realistic RP. You might offer ideas of general mannerisms, appearance, behavior, or activities wolves might engage in. Feel free to provide a link to support your idea.
General Wolf Discussion
http://www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=4
Wolf Q&A
http://www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=6
You can also refer to this thread, which provides a list of user ideas for what to call the leading pair of wolves in a pack rather than "mates."
How to appropriately play a wolf pack in MP games
http://www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=40392
I'm starting with four categories, so feel free to post ideas for any or all. I hesitated to include a "Not Realistic" category, but I think it's helpful to know what to avoid. Please don't use this topic to simply complain about behaviors.
To get us started, I've taken the liberty of placing some of the guidelines for user writings into the categories.
A guide for realistic multi-player roleplaying:
Realistic (These are things that are completely acceptable in a realistic wolf roleplay.):
1. Normal wolf appearance, including fur and eye color, with a minimum of unusual markings.
2. Human appearance from a wolf’s perspective, as a minimal background role (for example, a wolf notices a hiker and watches curiously from a distance before wandering off).
3. Realistic wolf behaviors, such as marking territory, caring for pups, howling before a hunt, defending itself/food/territory with dominant behaviors, etc.
4. Allowing your wolf to suffer realistic consequences (for example, a wolf attempting to hunt on it's own probably won't be successful and might get injured.)
5. Pretending the weather, time or season is different than the scenery shows, as long as everyone agrees.
6. An occasional fight with another wolf or animal, keeping in mind that wolves mainly avoid fighting and that it should be realistic (for example, a wolf’s claws are mostly useless in a fight).
Borderline (These are things that may not be realistic, but depending on your RP group, may be acceptable without disrupting the RP. Be sensitive to your chat host and player consensus on these.):
1. Talking wolves (Listed here because it technically it doesn't happen, but most RPs include this if it's kept in the context of what's happening in the RP.)
2. Fur and eye colors or markings that are unusual.
3. Using human emotion to define your wolf’s personality (besides those related to a wolf’s instinct to survive), as long as it’s kept appropriate and not taken to extremes (wolves probably don’t shed tears).
4. Using a ranking system or assigning "jobs" in a pack.
5. Using natural ways to aid in "healing," like plants and letting healing be a process.
6. Humans that play a major or negative role in the RP (for example, a hunter or scientist). Keep in mind that a wolf in Yellowstone won't be encountering hunters!
7. A lone wolf claiming and defending a territory or adult wolf using a den other than for pups.
8. Wolves in captivity, such as a zoo, or wearing radio collars.
9. Including stray or lost animals that normally wouldn't be present.
Not Realistic (These are things that should be avoided in realistic wolf RPs.):
1. Magic, healing powers/instant healing, invincibility, shapeshifting, super-strength or other super-power like qualities.
2. Unrealistic actions and behaviors (flying, ignoring it's pack or pups, one wolf killing a bull elk, bear or cougar, climbing trees and too steep areas, carrying large or too heavy objects, smelling other wolves clear across the map, completely ignoring another wolf's territory, etc.)
3. Wars, long pack fights, constant fighting between wolves, pupkillers, mass killing, etc.
4. Elemental wolves, werewolves, wolf spirits, good vs. evil, etc.
5. RPing as something other than a wolf or as a wolf that’s a hybrid with a non-canid, or giving other animal characteristics to your wolf (such as retractable claws).
6. A wolf caring for, birthing or befriending an animal besides another wolf.
7. A days or weeks old pup able to survive on its own without its parents or an adult wolf caring for it or pups doing things only adults could do.
8. Playing as if you’re in a different time or setting than the other players in the chat.
9. A wolf that does “human” things, like walking on two legs and wearing clothing or jewelry.
10. Wolves having major unrealistic features, like wings, horns, etc.
Roleplaying Tips (Some general tips for RPing that don’t fit in any other category):
1. Read the Multiplayer Rules (link above) and follow them!
2. Keep your chat posts short and to the point because the box can only hold so much text. Long posts are hard to keep up with in an active game.
3. It’s ok to call things that are familiar to wolves by the human word (elk, tree, bear, etc), instead of using a roundabout description, so it’s easier to keep up with the RP in that tiny chat box.
4. When you enter a chat, take time to get a feel for what's going on and ask questions if you're not sure.
5. Keep off-topic chatter to a minimum while actively RPing.