Apologies for the double post but this felt a bit chunky to try and infodump into an edit. I basically have the PbPRP guide skeleton done. At this point it's just editing, editing, editing, so I may as well show you what I mean by KISS and the Five Minute Rule since the PbPRP guide should be the epitome of that more than the other two. Everything below is in what I've done thus far for the PbPRP guide. The doc version is 0.7 but it's probably closer to call it 0.8 since the base concepts are there, they just need butchering and redoing until it flows neatly and the concepts come out cleanly. --- [b]Before you read:[/b] Keep in mind that this guide is made to explain what, precisely, PbPRP is, and how it works on Roleplayer Guild. This guide may not apply in its entirety to other websites or formats. This is the first of what is planned to be three guides. This explains the basic fundamentals of role playing. The other two will focus on more advanced concepts for GM's and Players. --- [b]What is PbPRP?[/b] PbPRP is an acronym meaning “Play by Post Role Play”. Compare it to turn-based video games: Everyone takes a “turn” posting, it’s not live action like tabletop sessions (such as D&D around a physical table) or LARPing. PbPRP is often compared to collaborative writing and this is a fair and succinct description, so if you want to write stories with other people, you’ve come to the right place. As for role playing, to role play is merely to play a role. In the case of PbPRP, this usually means either being the GM or a Player. The GM is the person who runs the show: All the non-player characters, the world, and so on, are usually on the shoulders of this guy or gal alone to create for you to interact with. If you’re new to role playing, it’s best to stray away from this role until you see it in action to learn the intricacies of it through play. GM’s are nearly always the person who created the thread, and henceforth will be referred to as “Thread Owners”. The Player is a person who usually creates one (or more) character(s) in a world created by a GM. [Too short, needs more.] [b]How do I play?[/b] First, pick a category. Second, pick a role play or interest check that sounds neat to you. Third, fill out the character sheet. Fourth, start role playing! [b]Pick a category[/b] On Roleplayer Guild we have the following categories to choose from: Free, Casual, Advanced, Arena, 1x1, Nation, and Tabletop. Keep in mind that if you’re new to role playing but have a solid grasp of the English language, you should probably try your luck in Casual. If you struggle with English, Free will be a better starting choice. You can find the descriptions to the categories on the front page of Roleplayer Guild, beneath each category. [b]Pick a role play or interest check[/b] [i]Role Play:[/i] Browse through role plays by looking through a subforum, such as Casual. Role plays which don’t have many posts yet are usually still accepting players, but not always. You’ll notice when you click on a role play, that there are two tabs: OOC and IC. OOC is “Out Of Character”, this is where you talk with the other players and the Thread Owner, discuss potential characters, events going on in the role play, and so on. IC is “In Character”, this is where the story is collaboratively written by everyone involved in the role play. In general, to join a role play, you read the plot. If the plot interests you, there is nearly always a character sheet to fill out in the first or second post of the OOC. Fill out all the required fields and post it in the OOC tab. When the Thread Owner approves you, you’re good to go to start role playing! [i]Interest Check:[/i] The Interest Checks subforum is a place where people post up threads seeing if anyone would be interested in role playing their story. This is a great place to window shop and pick a couple role plays out which interest you by simply posting your interest and asking when the main thread will go up. Keep an eye on it and when the Role Play thread goes up, submit a character sheet in the OOC and wait for the Thread Owner to approve you. [b]Fill out a character sheet[/b] Most often, character sheets are structured in this format, though many variations exist. Never be afraid to ask the Thread Owner a question if something doesn’t make sense to you. [b]Name:[/b] Your character’s name. [b]Age:[/b] Your character’s age. [b]Gender:[/b] Your character’s gender. May or may not include sexuality. [b]Appearance:[/b] Your character’s appearance. Often people use pictures, some use text descriptions, some use a hybrid of both. It is up to you to figure out what you’re most comfortable with, but if you do use pictures from the Internet, be kind to the artist and leave a link to the web page you found it on. [b]History:[/b] Your character’s history. This is arguable the most important part of your character sheet, as it will often determine who your character is, why they are interested in resolving the conflict of the plot, and what skills they bring to the table. For instance, in a high school RP, it would be logical to write a character whose motivation in his history is to pass high school. In a high fantasy RP, where a dragon is terrorizing the land, it would be logical to write that your character wants revenge against the dragon for past sins committed against them. [hider=Basic CS Advice][b]Name:[/b] Pick something appropriate for the world you are in. Regular names usually suffice. [b]Age:[/b] Pick an age appropriate to what is going on. A sixteen year old isn’t likely ready to go take on the duties of being a ship captain, but they would be the perfect age to deal with the trials and tribulations of high school! [b]Gender:[/b] No advice necessary beyond the words “play what makes you most comfortable.” [b]Appearance:[/b] [i]Picture:[/i] Go to DeviantART (or similar?) and use key words. Use the [img] code to make the picture appear in your appearance, and use the [url] code to leave a link to the artist. [i]Text:[/i] Here’s a grocery shopping list of things to mention: Eye colour, hair colour, hair texture, hair length, clothing (pants, shirts, dresses, etc), jewelery, footwear, glasses, hair pins, bows, colour schemes, body build, height, weight... [b]History:[/b] Answer three questions and your history will successfully guide you into the plot. [i]Why am I here:[/i] Why is your character there? What do they serve to gain by accomplishing the plot set forth by the Thread Owner? If the purpose of the plot is to defeat something, give your character a reason why they want to defeat it! [i]How did I get here:[/i] A short and sweet biography of your character’s life, and any skills or talents they picked up along the way. If you want your character to be an excellent lockpicker, now is the time to mention it. [i]Who am I:[/i] Mention your character’s personality. Are they brazen or cautious? Fiery or submissive? Note, that the more antisocial you make your character, the harder it will be for you to interact and collaborate with other role players and vice versa. This is important because interaction is what drives the story forward![/hider] --- Now you know what role playing on a forum is: PbPRP, and you know how to join a role play. Have fun! (Needs more?)