The Good Rper’s Etiquette
Aka an easy and simple list of rules everyone should follow to make the RP experience enjoyable for everyone involved
1) Read people’s rules before following & interacting, and try your best to respect them. This is the first and vital step to follow every time you take interest in a new blog and wish to interact with it. Not only it’s the very base of respect among RPers, but it will also spare both you and the other mun some really awkward, annoying misunderstandings and faux pas.
2) Check out people’s muses and any eventual important note they might have made about their characters. This applies to both OCs and canon characters. To OCs, for obvious reasons. As for canon characters, remember that every person has their own, unique portrayal of their muse and it’s very common for RPers to choose to make their muses canon divergent or to change something vital in their backstory. This should be known and acknowledged, if you choose to interact with that person and with that particular character. Also, it’s important to check out whether or not a character is open to things like shipping and having OC relatives. Respecting the other mun’s choices on these matters is, once again, common decency. As it is being aware of said choices if they are made clear on their muses page.
3) If a blog has an interest checker / tracker / sheet, take a moment to fill it. Not only this will be very appreciated by the other mun, but it will also make starting to write together much easier. This is especially important for multi-muse blogs, because it’s an easy and simple way to let the mun know which of their characters you are interested in. However, it’s also good practice when it comes to single-muse blogs, because the mun might want to know which specific verses or AUs have drawn your interest the most. Moreover, they are also the best space to share your boundaries (such as triggers and things you don’t wish to write) and also to start pitching any plot ideas you might have.
4) Try to show equal engagement when it comes to plotting. This is especially important if you are discussing an idea you pitched first or if you openly said that you want to plot, but it’s good etiquette to try and do it anyway. Building a plot line should be a shared task, so try and add your input whenever discussing one. Don’t make your partner do all the work. An idea built together is also a plot that will keep both people more engaged, so you have only to benefit from your effort.
5) Engage your writing partners. Sending a meme takes literally a second. Of course, this rule doesn’t apply to interaction memes, because no one should ever feel pressured into starting new threads if they don’t wish to. However, if your mutuals reblog headcanon memes or munday memes or opinions on portrayal or anything of the sort, consider taking the time to send something in. Also, consider sending in any question or curiosity you might have about your partners’s muses. Moreover, remember to show some love to their headcanon posts, edits, graphics & so on! And this include reblogging your partners’ promo. Nowadays one of the best ways to find new people to write with is relaying on your mutuals’ other writing partners, so reblogging promos is important! All this will definitely be greatly appreciated and, as an added bonus, it will prompt the other person to show the same regard towards you!
6) Give your partner something to work with when writing a reply. Writing a thread is a cooperation. This means that every person involved should add their own contribution to the plot with every answer. Reacting to your partner’s answer is important, but never forget to add something they can react to and to push the scene forward when answering a thread. Making one person carrying on the thread will resort in them quickly losing interest in it out of frustration.
If you have more to add to this post, feel free to do so when reblogging! Let’s try and make RPing a fun experience to look forward for everyone!
