((I’m a huge fan of action in RPs, even if I don’t get the chance to do it much. But I thought it would be a good idea to add this to my rules section in the event I ever get Furia mixed up in a fight with anyone.
Let me preface this by saying that I’ve been RPing longer than I want to admit, even if tumblr is a new format for me, and when I did most of my RPing things like this were unwritten rules that everyone seemed to understand. I’ve been part of and seen some conflicts that break them wholeheartedly.
TL;DR: Don’t god mod my character. Try any attack you wish, but allow me the right to respond to the attack. Do not determine the outcome for me. Remember your character is not invincible, and I’ll remember the same. This is supposed to be a fun interaction for all combatants, not just a chance for any one participant to show off how badass their character is.
More, if you’re interested, under the cut.))
Resources:
Fight Roleplay: General overview, including etiquette. Light on examples.
RPing Combat: Examples. Nice suggestions and techniques.
Tiers of Roleplay: This one separates out different levels of engagement for lack of a better phrase. It also separates out the differences in the styles that are considered legal and not in RP. Quite interesting.
How to Fight: The RP Basics!: Pretty comprehensive little article which uses the same tiers as the previous link. Hits on most of the topics I touch on below. Though they do it better.
From the Standered Rules of RP Fighting *and I’m pulling these suggestions word for word despite the despicable grammar*
1. “The Try, Not Do Policy” THE MOST IMPORTANT SIMMING RULE! When fighting, you do NOT hit the opponent! Rather, you use your weapon on the opponent.
RIGHT WAY- *Notches an arrow on his bow and shoots the arrow toward John Doe*
WRONG WAY- *Thrusts his sword into John Doe’s belly*
WRONG WAY- *Knocks John Doe’s sword out of his hands with a thrust in Jack’s hand*
RIGHT WAY- *Taking his sword, John Doe swipes the blade toward Jack Deere’s head*
WRONG WAY- *When he casts the fire spell, he blasts it at John Doe and hits him at full force*
RIGHT WAY- *Finishing the chant, he casts the fire spell and fires it toward John Doe*
If you understand, you do NOT directly hit your opponent; always leave room for your opponent to block or counter the attack.
((This is my biggest pet peeve. And honestly, I was under the mistaken impression that people were aware of this, but I’ve seen so many examples of late where it is clearly not. And honestly, it distresses me because it is simple etiquette.
You don’t do anything to another character that’s not allowed--be it a punch or a kiss. You don’t God-Mod (which has two definitions); one of which is that you do not take control of another player’s character. Now, most people would argue that grabbing someone’s arm and diverting a gunshot while then landing a series of punches to the middle is not godmodding, except that one RPer overstepped from attempting a fighting action to manipulating another character.
Yes, in more complex fights it can be difficult to see or even remember the line. But the easiest way to remember this rule is that you only control one character in the fight, and you alone cannot determine the outcome. You can throw a punch, but you have to leave room for your opponent to react. Give them the chance to react fairly.))
From Urban Dictionary *question the source quality all you want, they had the most succinct definition around*
"God Modding" is in essence when someone’s character has the ability to do practically anything without limits or boundaries. And example is when they simply cannot be harmed by any and all means other RP-ers try.
-It can be killing or injuring a character without the player's express permission.
-It can be when they simply can’t be hit and dodge all attacks or anything for this matter aimed at them.
-It can also be using other characters that other people RP with. In other words, if you do not RP as Legolas, then you cannot have Legolas say anything, or do anything, without the player's express permission.
The absolute worst is when they make out another character to be what they’re not, just to make their own character seem superior. They make others seem weak, screaming for help, when they’ve made it quite clear about their advantages and strengths. This is called power-play. It’s a strain of God-Modding, but instead of just being irritating, it’s offensive to boot.This is a prime example of God Modding:
Player A: Punches Player B
Player B: Dodges attack, grabs Player A and throws him. Player A flies at Player B, who warps behind him and slashes Player A in the back.
((God modding can happen anywhere, not just fighting as mentioned in the previous section. Whether it’s making your character a completely invincible or tossing another RPers character around like a rag doll, god modding takes a lot of fun out of RPing (usually for the person whose character is getting modded).
I would just suggest that you remember that the point of RP is to have a fun interaction with someone else. The key word there is interaction. Don’t take over someone else’s character or make yours some invulnerable machine.))
From the Standered Rules of RP Fighting
Rule #8: After a long argument over this it has come to my attention this rule needs to be stated too. You cannot attack twice in the same post. You can cast a spell and weapon rush at someone and it's ok but you cannot launch one attack with a sword (axe, spear, whatever) then another in the same post! Same goes for magic spell.. you can't cast two at once! you need to prep them sepretly... don't forget rule #2.
((This is another one of those rules that I thought was understood and I’ve been reminded more than once that it’s not. Think of it like turn-based combat. You get a turn, your opponent gets a turn.
There has to be some give and take. Your character can’t just pummel an opponent in the opening RP (unless that’s how you and the other mun set it up to go OOC). Each combatant should get a shot both to attack and defend.))
Rule #7: NPCs. Non player characters can be killed by autos as long as no one is in direct control of them. Direct control of npcs is limited to about 3-5 at a time (this can include pets, monsters, dragons, soldiers, etc). I've controlled 3 at a time pluss my own char in a fight once (though my char was standing outside and no one saw that it was him doing this) and that was pushing it. 5 is probably the max of npc control. if you bring more then that into a battle they CAN be auto killed.
((Hey, kill all the NPCs you want. But don’t kill my character without asking. I would go so far as to say don’t gravely injure my character.
Want to shoot at her--go for it. Want to throw a right hook to the jaw--go for it. Aim to plunge a knife in her gut--go for it. Just realize that I reserve the same right I would allow you in that fight--the right to block or for your shot to miss.
This kind of goes hand in hand with Rule #8 above. Everyone gets a turn.))
3. “Never think you are the best and no one can defeat you.” No one can be undefeated. Everyone will find someone who is better than them.
((Last one, I swear. Just remember this. You character is not invincible. Neither is mine.
Allow them to be hit. They can’t dodge everything.
And if it takes a moment of research--say looking up the fact that the reaction time between deciding to shoot someone and pulling the trigger is 1/4 of a second--then do it. In that kind of case, also make your reaction appropriate. What can your character do in 1/4 of a second? I assure you they cannot dash a car length and wrestle someone to the ground in that amount of time, but they could dive behind cover which would take them out of the line of fire.))
Rules for Roleplaying Combat Suggestion Post has a nice little option about how to handle fights in more egalitarian and fated terms. The coin flipping idea is a nice touch. But the reminder that characters aren’t all powerful is also nice.
So after participating in the Grindstone as Daire on Saturday and deciding to let Brinn knock some dust off as a fighter at last night’s Fight Club, I’ve realized that I get the fun task of figuring out what everyone’s fighting style is.
Daire’s was pretty easy... completely untrained in use of the sword, it shows in his wild swings. But he does know how to fight dirty at least and it works to his advantage sometimes. Viewers would say he has “spunk” and is a “scrappy” fighter. xD
Brinn on the other hand is more of a veteran fighter who had to learn much of how to fight during his years as a fugitive. He’s definitely will fight dirty when pushed to it (which doesn’t take much) and has to watch out for anger getting the best of him. On the fly last night, I decided that his way of fighting was a very wuxia, dim mak, jabbing at his opponent’s pressure points type of thing. So of course now I have to research it. XD I realized too that this is the style of (imo) the most terrifying fighter in Avatar, Ty Lee. It fits.
Side note: I DID NOT KNOW THAT STRIKING AT THE BASE OF THE THROAT STIMULATED THE GAG REFLEX.
Is there always a way to counter an autohit in rp? Example
An “autohit” in RP (for people who don’t know) is when someone says to your character “punches you in the face”… or “stabs you with a dagger”…
I see these mentions a lot and I don’t hate them per se…in fact there is no way around them. It’s just part of rp. However I do always try to respond to them in character. You always have the option to dodge, correct? For example, if Saruhiko had tossed a dagger at Yata, he could realistically use his skateboard to shield the attack. Or if Byakuya jabbed at Renji with a kendo stick while training, he could realistically dodge with shunpo.
Doing lots of countering when you’re RP fighting can be fun but if you constantly dodge hits it turns into ‘god-modding’. It’s fighting. No one is perfect. You’re going to take a hit. You should get beat up…that’s the point. Take the hit and the person you’re fighting should take the hit’s while you’re fighting as you go back and forth.
Part of what’s fun about rp’ing with other people is not knowing what they’ll say and the organic nature of that interchange. It’s always different.
Okay, I’m kinda rambling and I think I basically answered your question. Hah. So…yes, if you’re creative there is always a way to counter anything in RP. I hope that made sense.
Why yes, I am brushing up on fighting styles at 1 am
JUST FOR RP
just to write a thing about rp
So far, my fighting characters have their styles chosen... (except the two I'm picking for now)
I'll be looking at this post later for reference...to be edited once I choose for Camui and Kevin, and resources to be added, for when I have to do tricky fight scenes...
Leo- Capoeria (he's only just now learning it in earnest, but his B-Boying background means the moves come kind of naturally to him)
Zico- Savate (Kick based. He puts those long legs to use. I might change his to a closer contact style...maybe Krav Maga.)
It does help that I already have a passion for knowing about a bunch of fighting styles my fat self will never practice. No seriously, I love to just read up on fighting styles from all around the world. This is super fun research i'm doing RN.
