Godmodding isn’t always a clear concept. The vast majority of roleplayers you’ll find will have something about not godmodding in their rules. But for new or inexperienced players, picking up the nuance of what is and isn’t godmodding can be confusing.
And if you’re not careful, godmodding can lead to dropped threads, partners, and even being blocked.
So in the interest of helping our my fellow roleplayers...
What Constitutes as Godmodding?
By definition, godmodding is taking control of another person’s character. That definition, however, isn’t adequate in describing the entire umbrella of godmod actions. Obviously, writing for another character in a roleplay constitutes as godmodding. For people, however, fall into that particular type of godmodding.
At it’s core, godmodding is when you don’t play fair. It happens when you break logic, physics, and fairness in order to get the upper hand.
Assuming that your action hits.
Whether it’s a punch, gunshot, or toss. Don’t ever assume your action goes through, even if it’s something small. For instance, instead of writing: “Steve and Bucky high-fived,” one would write, “Steve offered Bucky a high-five.”
This way, Bucky has a choice to accept or deny the high-five. This is important for small actions and crucial in fight scenes.
Assuming their actions don’t hit.
Godmodding can be very close to godmode. If your character is engaged in a fight and your partner is respectfully not god modding, don’t reject every single one of their attacks. You’re not going to block and counter everything.
Even with all-powerful characters or where there are power imbalances, actions should still land somehow. To have a balanced, fair writing experience, you can’t avoid every single attack. Your character probably can’t dodge bullets, regardless of whether those bullets can hurt them or not.
Again, the same goes for small actions. Don’t ignore another writer’s efforts. Make concessions.
Not leaving room for a reaction.
Similar to making assumptions, closing off room for a reaction can be a form of godmodding. At the very least, it can forcibly end an RP or force your partner into another action to sustain it. For example, your character storming out of a scene will naturally end a thread. For it to not end, your partner is then obligated to have their character go after yours.
Beware of closing off options or glossing over choices or ‘leading’ your partner into making certain choices that may or may not be in-character for them.
Not leaving room for reaction can be a form of godmodding, but even when it isn’t, it can end threads very quickly. So be prepared for that. Remember, always give your partner something to work with and react to on their terms. Don’t box them in.
Now that we’ve covered some of the things that constitute godmodding, how can you make sure to avoid it in the future?
Pay attention to your wording. Value being open-ended, especially in combat. Throw punches instead of hitting them in the face. A simple tweak in your wording can be the difference between playing fair and godmodding.
Value your partners and their characters. Do you care that your partner is having a good RP experience with you, or are you using them to further what you want out of a roleplay? Roleplaying is a team effort. Respect your partners. Try to understand their characters. The last thing your partner wants to feel is used. Your character and your stories aren’t the only ones that matter.
When you godmod, you’re telling your partner that they are inconsequential and ineffectual. You’re telling them their effort doesn’t matter. It’s not good and it’s not fun to be around.
Communicate well. Not sure where your partners wants a thread to go? Ask. Talk about it. Not everything has to be plotted, but a general understanding of thread progression can go a long way towards making sure everyone is happy and satisfied.
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