Guys I’ve been sitting on this idea for literally over a year IRL. I practically never play Nevivi in public at this point, I don’t even bother using her as a medic, I have stopped bothering even advertising that fact, and a huge portion of that is because of other healers. Everyone’s gotta get in on it the moment someone has a papercut, and if that means elbowing each other out of the way, writing over someone else’s boundaries, and completely screwing a scene over to make it theirs, it’s evidently all fair game in the name of getting to be a Big Damn Hero for a moment.
It’s bullshit, is what it is. We can all be better than that nonsense.
I am tired of hearing about (and being) healers who got a role in a scene literally yanked from their hands by someone louder and pushier and less mannerly. I’m extra tired of healers who get downright snippy with you if you try to nicely nudge them back out of the way. I’m super extra tired of attempting to be a healer in public only to get trampled, or to have someone assume I want to entertain whatever their fetish is.
So here. The ten commandments of RPing a healer without being a dick to other healers. I follow these. I hope you’ll consider doing the same.
Injured characters are not stepping stones to making a scene all about you, unless it really is already your scene. Leave the spotlight where you found it.
Other writers always have bodily autonomy over their characters no matter how accomplished your character is. Your job is to facilitate what they will allow to have happen to their character, within your character’s abilities. Anything else is god-modding.
If someone’s character is injured and someone else is there first, tough shit. They got there first. You may ask to join, and you may be told no. Respect that.
It isn’t always your job to jump in and patch someone up. If you’re RPing on private property, in an open world event, in an open forum, or otherwise in a venue or group with a hierarchy that includes a healer, and you’re not that healer, you don’t do their job for them unless asked. It’s not your scene.
If you have subjects you don’t want to write about, be clear and firm. You aren’t a real doctor. Nobody actually dies if you pass on a scene that could harm you to participate in. You have the right to end any interaction that crosses a boundary, on the spot, and without explanation until and unless you’re calm and able to do so.
You aren’t a real doctor. You won’t know how to handle everything realistically and that’s okay. Do research as you need, but don’t stress about it. Anyone who gives you shit for doing it wrong needs to take a step back. You are within your rights to tell them so.
There is no shame in researching anything you don’t know. Try adding “for writing” to searches. You’d be surprised how much of the heavy lifting has been done already. Don’t be afraid to gloss over things, too.
You have the right to tell anyone else butting into a scene that you are already part of to butt right back on out. It’s your scene if someone approaches you for healing. It’s your scene if it’s pre-negotiated. It’s your scene if it’s your own character being injured. It’s your scene if you are the healer in attendance for your group.
Don’t be a douche. Don’t be a scene-stealer. Don’t be a spotlight hog. Don’t be more powerful than your patients want. Don’t forget to communicate. Don’t get swept up in being so important that you fail to be thoughtful.
Do have fun and be polite and respectful to each other. There’s enough RP to go around. If there’s not, we’re all capable of finding or making some. You’re only entitled to scenes you have a legitimate claim to.
romaincrisis
janainaart
origamiaround
gummygunk
areudirty
baratheonpilled
prguitarman
jbbartram-illu
andulkaphoto
