The key to being a good roleplayer is to create a truly interactive experience. If you are roleplaying with someone and there is only a limited amount of choices they can make for the plot to go the way you want it to, then you're missing the fundamental point of a roleplay. Never keep a plot too narrow, and always allow your partner to change the course of events if their character pushes for that path. However you also must consider practicality of both the characters you use, and the plot you spin. If either are too extravagant or leave no room for growth and change beyond what you decide, then again you are fundamentally missing the idea of roleplaying. If you want to do something such as that, then what you're looking for is writing a story, not roleplaying.
{names aren't real} Hi may i have your advice, i am admin of a roleplay but one character Jeremy he comes only online when his roleplay girlfriend Anna get's online and only reply to her starters even when they para he reply to her starters aswell and dop his plots with other people. Anna got in active for a 2 days and Jeremy aswell but due his inactivity of 3 days he got reopened and when Anna got active again he asked for a refollow again this happend twice already what to do ?
To me this sounds like he is bubble roleplaying. My advice would be to tell the person politely is say I have seen your activity, you have bubbled rp, tell them this means just rping with 1 person if they don’t understand what bubble rping is. My advice or opinion is say “If I refollow you, I need you to also interact with the other players and if this doesn’t happen, then I’m afraid that I will have to remove you from the rp.
How To: do oneliners and carry on conversations (especially with a shy/reserved character)
As requested by Anonymous
I'm sure that almost everyone has had this difficulty before: At some point during your roleplaying career, you must have found it hard to continue a conversation with at least one other RPer/character. This is especially true for people who roleplay shy and reserved characters as well as for other RPers who roleplay with them.
This how-to is a tutorial on how to overcome this difficulty. I've had a ton of shy characters in the past. One of them even stammered a lot and was definitely the most socially awkward kid I had ever seen. However, I soon overcame that problem and soon, my character could almost hold a decent conversation after almost two months (character development does take time, you know).
I hope this how-to turns out to be helpful for you!
Opening a conversation/oneliner:
When you want to start a oneliner, you have two options: the first one is to direct the oneliner directly at some like:
Chris, we need to talk.
Or, you can start with something more general like:
Ugh, I hate the rain...
If you have a shy character like my anon does, try something like this:
Sorry, but can someone tell me where the library is...?
Trailing off in a question is a great way to show when someone is shy, uncertain, or hesitant, so don't be afraid to use it too much if you have a shy character (however, don't overuse it- there's a fine line there, so watch out).
Continuing the conversation
After initial small talk and you can't seem to find anything to say, try asking the following things:
What's your name? (If the characters are meeting for the first time)
Sorry, but I forgot your name.... (When the character gives you their name again, suddenly remember and be all, 'Oh right- you're that girl/guy from the (wherever they met previously).'
So how old are you...?
Are you new around here? (Again, if they haven't met before)
(Relating to the one above (If they're new, say:)) So what brings you here?
(Relating to the one above the one above (If they're not new, say something like:)) Sorry- I guess I never saw you around. How long have you lived here for?
And so on. Ask things, present facts about your character (if they're not the mysterious, quiet but not necessarily shy type) and say anything that the person you're talking to can definitely reply to. Something like, 'Hah.' isn't easy to reply to unless your characters know each other very well and you're very familiar with the person you're RPing.
It is possible to be inquisitive like above but still seem shy. Remember- just add the '...?' at the end and try to make your character seem extremely polite or at least a bit scared to be talking to the person they're talking to.
Actions:
Depending on your RP, your mods may or may not approve of action words (for example: "Ohmygod it's a freaking unicorn! *squeals*" Here, the action word would be *squeal*. If your RP does approve of such things, don't be afraid to use them. However, use them too much and people will start to think that you might as well start a para. Actions are also a great way to show a person's personality, and gives the other RPer an opportunity to react in their own way. If your character's shy, have them smile or laugh uncertainly or something.
More:
If you have a friend or someone that you're friendly with in the RP, ask them privately if they would be interested in character conversation. If you want to, just go ahead and plot with them in the long term to make your character evolve as a person, though do make sure to ask if they'd be up for the long-term commitment. If you do an open sentence starter, remember to put in the tag that since your character is a shy person, he/she won't be able to carry on a very animated conversation though you would still love to RP with them. This will remind other RPers that while your character may not be as approachable, you are and therefore may try to carry on the oneliner with you anyways.
However, I know that this doesn't work in some cases, as there are RPers out there who only want to talk to the more 'outgoing' characters. However, if your character has a curious mind like mine used to have, have them struggle to overcome their shyness and reservedness and ask more questions about the topic. Also, keep in mind your character's surroundings; if the character is in an environment he or she feels safe and comfortable in, chances are, they're going to warm up to it and the people around them quicker than if they were in some place where they don't feel welcome or felt isolated.
Also, if the topic of the conversation is one that your character can't emphasize with, attempt to change the topic. Relate the topic to anything else, and I'm sure that you'll be able to flow from one topic to the next. Take this conversation where A is a dedicated musician whereas B knows nothing about music at all, for example:
A: "This singer sucks- she can't hit the high notes, sounds like she's coughing up hairballs, and doesn't have any emotion in her voice at all."
B: "Well, I wouldn't know, since I've never heard her before... I mostly listen to bands and groups, like Maroon 5."
A: "Maroon 5 is pretty awesome. I loved Lucky Strike, you know?"
B: "Yeah, haha. I love dancing to it."
A: "Oh- you dance?"
B: "Yep. Have been for ten years, actually."
And just like that, you've moved from one topic (the singer that B doesn't know) to dance (something B is passionate about). Hopefully, something you say will provoke a question or topic that even your shy character will not be able to resist blabbering about because of their passion/interest in the subject.
That's all I can think of as of this moment. I hope this helped!
SLOW DOWN. Many roleplayers tend to go at much too fast a pace. It's got to be a realistic scenario, so if your character is going around and basically doing a bunch of sudden time skips, asking questions and not allowing the other character to respond, etc, then the other roleplayer isn't going to have much fun! ( Also, please keep in mind that this a casual RP example )
Bad:
Steve smiled and playfully punched John in the arm. "That's pretty cool! How did that happen?" He asked. Steve then went into the car and told John to buckle up. They drove for a few hours, and then they stopped. "What do you want?" Steve asked before going inside and getting some drinks. "Here you go!" He chirped, before buckling up again. They drove another few hours and then stopped at a hotel to rest, and Steve got two separate rooms for them. "G'night!" Steve said, walking into his room and sleeping for eight hours.
Good:
Steve smiled and playfully punched John in the arm. "That's pretty cool! How did that happen?" He asked.
See how the first is so rushed and doesn't allow for any interaction? And see how the second example actually allows the other character to put something in and respond to the first question?
