Online text based role playing game

An Online Text Based Role Playing Game, or (OTBRPG), is a role playing activity in which online Role Players in groups of two or more engage in writing a co-operative story, each restricting themselves to the character they themselves introduced to the story. In other words, they create characters, and Role Play as those characters through a story that can either be improvised or pre-outlined. The exercise is very similar to playing Dungeons and Dragons, but without complicated rules and systems, or the need of having all the players in the same room playing at the same time.

By using the OTBRPG method of Role Playing, like minded players from all over the world can gather together, usually in an online forum or other type of Bulletin board system, but sometimes in real time environments such as instant messaging, IRC, MU*s , or chatrooms, without needing much prior knowledge or time. This is a great asset to role players with very little time on their hands, who can't spend hours reading manuals or roleplaying in a more traditional fashion.

Common/Basic Rules and Etiquette

Part of the reason OTBRPGs have become so popular over the past few years is because there are few rules, calculations and numbers to memorize. However, no system can exist without rules. Most OTBRPGs authors (The equivalent of a Dungeons and Dragons "dungeon master") will write a list of rules that their players must follow throughout the course of the game. As such, the rules differ from game to game, and it's always important to check the rules for anything out of the ordinary before starting the game, even for a seasoned veteran. However, there are a few basic rules and regulations that all players are always expected to follow in almost all OTBRPGS, indeed unless it is specifically stated that you do not have to follow these rules, it is probably a good idea to assume they are in effect. These basic rules are as follows;

1) No Powerplay. (sometimes termed "godmoding") This is probably the most important of all rules. It means that you cannot control another person's character without their explicit consent. Even insofar as making another person's character blink is considered a serious breach of this rule. This rule is often broken by well meaning amateurs, especially when enacting a battle, as it is considered powerplay to claim that a blow made against any character but your own hit its mark.

Exceptions:

A) This rule sometimes does not apply to the people running the game, who may on occasion control one of the player's characters in order to bring them more in tune with what is going on in the game.

B) In rare cases, two roleplayers will become comfortable enough with each other that they may allow a limited amount of powerplay between themselves. One should never assume that they have this kind of relationship with another player without first speaking to them about it.

2) Keep it Clean. This is a pretty basic rule, most RPGs have a limit on just how far they are willing to go in terms of content that may be deemed unacceptable. The usual limit is a moderate amount of language, no sexual content or nudity, and unregulated violence. However, each OTBRPG is different. Some wish to be accessible to all ages, and disallow language, sexual content, nudity, and almost all violence. Other OTBRPGs (though very few) are for the over 18 crowd, and are completely unregulated in terms of content. Make sure to check the rules on the particular OTBRPG you are joining.

3) Do not deviate from the main storyline. All OTBRPGs have some kind of storyline, whether the Author is making it up as he goes along, or if it has been written out and distributed for all to see. OTBRPGs have to retain an element of focus. If the game is about saving the princess, it is not okay for you to decide that your character wants to go on a treasure hunt instead, and run a private adventure on the side while everyone else works on saving the princess. If you want to follow your own storyline, make your own game.

Exceptions:

A) Short one or two post tangents that you use to develop your character away from the main story are acceptable, so long as you don't take so much time away from the main story that you disrupt the flow.

B) When first introducing a character, it is sometimes necessary to take several posts to bring your character up to speed with the rest of the characters, especially if the character is introduced long after the game has started.

4) Make good characters. This one is more of an unwritten rule than anything else, but that just makes it more important that everyone follow it. Volumes could be written on what it takes to make a good character, but to put it simply, a good character is realistic. That is to say, no character is omnipotent. Every character must have flaws and weaknesses. Good characters must also be original; all too often well meaning amateurs will use characters from a video game, or a Japanese anime. This is, for all intents and purposes, unacceptable in most cases.

5) Stay active. A common problem with OTBRPGs is players that sign up, post once or twice, then never return. This is absolutely unacceptable. When you sign up for a game, you must at ALL times do your best to keep up with what is going on. If you are going to be gone for a length of time it is imperative that you inform the moderators of the game.

6) Adapt to the style of the game. There are many different writing styles: first-person and third-person point of view and present, past and future tense, as well as the use of asterisks to denote action. If everyone in a game you are entering is using first-person, present tense as their writing style, you should not begin using asterisks to denote action, as it disrupts the flow of the story. The most common writing style used in OTBRPGs is third-person, past tense.

7) No matter the style, write well This is probably the most difficult of all OTBRPG rules, and is often overlooked by amateurs. The fact is that the core of the OTBRPG veteran community is made up of players who love to write, or are even aspiring authors. Because of this, spelling, grammar and description become things that will be nitpicked. Make sure to do your best, and not to just slop out something less than worthy of the game.

8) The final rule, but far from the least, is BE AWARE. Do not get so caught up in yourself that you don't pay attention to the other characters around you and what's happening in the story. Make sure to thoroughly read the game's recap before joining. If it does not have a recap, at least skim over the last few pages until you know where the characters are and what's going on. Once you have joined, make sure to thoroughly read every single post. If you do not, you may soon find yourself lost, and that will soon earn you the scorn of your fellow gamers.

These 8 laws of common rules and etiquette are almost universal in the OTBRPG community, but this is by no means a comprehensive guide to learning the complicated art of participating in an OTBRPG. In truth, such skill can only be learned through experience, however there are more thorough guides on how to begin role playing to be found on the internet, if you search.

Online text based role playing game

Common/Basic Rules and Etiquette

External links