[@QueenOfWands] Let's see if I can answer some of this for you.

1) Basically you respond to everything in your characters area. Say your pc is speaking with 2 other pc's but there are 4 more outside. You wouldn't respond to what the 4 others are talking to, just to the ones around you. This usually goes in a semi rotation where you post, wait for those around you to respond and then formulate your post to respond to theirs, and then it keeps moving. 

It can be a bit much to deal with if you are not used to it. Start out with a smaller group is usually best, then work up to larger groups. Always re-read the previous posts as you are responding or take notes as you read. This tends to help.

2) As far as not seeing a lot of talkomg, chances are it is happening in Discord. Many use it instead of an ooc. Or they just don't talk about it. Why ask what will happen if you do that? That can be a form of metagaming, big no no. Just stick to your charavter, do or say what they would and let other react naturally when you do it. (Its hilarious and really revealing when you get a reaction you never expected.)

Now if you are talking larger plot points, sometimes you want to talk it out but mostly many don't. Takes away from the organic growth of a character and an rp.

3) Collabs are when 2 or more people are writing together. Each taking a turn. One will write a line or two, pm it to the other, they will respond with a few lines, then pm it back. You keep going until the scene is done or it covers what you want,then one person posts it. People usually a rent bunnying, both people are writing it, so it just appears that way since only 1 person can post it. Think of it as condensing 40 posts of a free rp into 1 post. When done right or can really open a lot of doors and cover a lot more ground than waiting a week between posts. You both quickly respond to get it done without spamming a topic.


Hope that helps, welcome to the forum. ^^