Some Tips on RP

[The Union of Tinis]

As things have slowed down here the last month or so for various reasons, I thought I'd take this moment to give some general tips on having a fun and enjoyable role playing experience here on the board. So here we go!

1. Have fun. Kind of obvious I know, but the board is here to help the lot of us enjoy ourselves. If you find yourself slogging togeather a lengthy post and not enjoying it, then what's the point? If you need to express information X anyway, try to find a new and interesting way to explain it. Present tense 3rd person is not always the best way to tell something. Sometimes a first person account, a diary, a news broadcast, newspaper story, or a memo are better methods. And of course don't be limited to these ideas. If you come up with something that works, go ahead and go with it.

2. Play fair. If someone or several someones are likely going to die in a thread or event, unless those who are rping with you tell you persons X, Y, and Z are expendible for the sake of dramatic action, do not kill off other player's characters. If someone is wipping out your army with out your permission let me know and we'll see what we can do about fixing the problem.

But feel free to kill off any of your own characters as you see fit.

3. Semblence of realisim and consistancy. We are playing with a variety of generes on here, but I think that makes this rule even more important. When you incorperate a certain technology or magic into a situation try to keep the rules for such consistant throughout the time its in use. A magic artifact that controls robots isn't likely to be albe to control a crowd of people, let alone something that requires a flesh and bone driver like a truck. A truck has no automatic functions and can't move its steering wheel or gear shifts without aid (unless its a robotic truck ). I use that as an example because though I enjoyed Maximum Overdrive in all its B movie glory, it really didn't make much sense.

Also going along with a semblance of realisim, try to avoid munchkin syndrom. Aka, setting it up so that your nation or persons in your nation are invincible and able to win over all. You make make striking your nation difficult but no system is 100% reliable. For example, in my country I have the PDS which basically creates a barrier around an area. And very out of character, my government has lied about its reliability. And ontop of that hint, it doesn't help protect Tinis from things already inside its boarders (like Sicarii). So though it might stop an armed invasion that was detected in time to throw up the barrier, that's just about all it can defend against. There are many ways around it.

For best results while using a neat idea, make it impressive in one or two respects but always leave the back door open for the smart fur.

4. Work with others. Sort of an obvious necessity really for any good RP action. But more than that, if you have an interesting idea, feel free to contact those you want to play with and put togeather a basic plan or flow for the RP. If you feel things should change in mid thread, message them again with the new ideas. Keep up the dialogue and keep the action going.

In addition to that, I think it would be best if everyone got togeather to put togeather a basic set of constraints to limit infinite power problems. Basically say, this is the most advanced a tech/magic can be. I will leave the push for this up to others. I'll of course put my $.0201 worth in, but will do my best to moderate things into the constraints. I'd also suggest we select experts to help with the reasonability of certain situations. Someone with medical knowledge to help with biological issues, someone with military experience to oversee the likely hood of various tactics and the like, and someone with scientific knowledge to help out there. Of course these are merely suggestions and I leave it up to the community to act on them or not.

5. Help out the newbies. If you see a new furson post and are not exceptionably busy, try and see if you can get invovled in their thread. If it be a thread that is open to all, then of course jump in and enjoy yourself. A new member is more likely to keep posting if they get responses to their posts. And also give them tips and ideas and the like to help them get acustomed to the way things work here.

6. Momentum. Do not let me be the last poster on 4 of the 5 forums. If nothing is happening, make some thing happen. If no one seems around, start something up and they will see and read it. Basically, do stuff. Not all RP has to be national action for your nation. Sometimes its the little stories that make the difference.

But basically, post! Oh, and have fun!

[Llewellynlland]

Great sugestions Ixis. Just so people know I am ex Airforce and specialize in NBC disposal (for thoes who dont know thats Chemical, Biological and Nuclear) I can help with most millitary or technical questions. I'm also pretty good at leagalese if you need someone to look over a bill you want to submit. Just message me on IM or here and I'll be happy to help out.

[The Union of Tinis]

That's most uber. Provided no one objects you can be one of our experts. Unless someone objects I can be one of the experts as well. Though my bio and chem areas of expertiese are a bit lacking, I can now officially call myself a physicist so I can be the go to person for those types of questions. Just remember though to state your quesitons clearly, else I might mess it up.

[The Union of Tinis]

The Art of Graceful Conflict

War is hell. But not all conflict is war. This section of tips will go over how to gracefully interact in a settings of conflict, if they be violent or non-violent.

I. War and Battle

Rule 1: Have some Red Shirts die
Character developement is a hard process. It takes a lot of thinking to properly develope realistic personalities and traits in a character, and often a lot of time. But it is very annoying when the character you've developed a long time faces off with a no-body and looses the fight and dies. Sometimes this is acceptable, such as when the character you develope really isn't up to facing down the barrel of a gun and has no training to survive in the situation. But when a deeper character who is capable of handling themselves in a battle is offed by guy with Megacannon number 15, that is really a disservice to the player who has spent alot of time putting togeather an interesting character.

So basically, if you're having generic troops go up against a master of war, death, and destruction, its quite prudent to have at least a few of your generic troops get killed in the process. A good example of this is when Tinis sent 10 helicopters off to strike the rebels in Ciata, yet most were shot down before they could even turn around. The rebel force, and its leader, were an important force in the scope of that conflict and had background, while the helicopters and there crew just sort of showed up.

Rule 2: Its okay to loose
Sometimes the better story occurs when the good guys loose. A noble death can result in the hero becoming a symbol back home. And sometimes a symbol is more powerful than a person. And besides, no one is invincible. Its okay for them to think they are invincible in character, but when sky captain Roberto Montgomry is crashed in a swamp, an arrow from a jungle native can end his life.

Rule 3: Epic battles-when to participate and when not to
When a player sets a face off between two of their own characters, tis best to remain on the sidelines until the battle is all but settled. If you wish to intervene, its best to ask permission of the player before hand to see if it would be prudent or not.

The other type of epic battle is the one between important characters controlled by different characters. In that case it is best to determine who may die and who may not die in the conflict. Sometimes these battles are a draw in some fashion (see the fight between Izixs and Sicarii), weather by conicidence or tactics. But simply dominating the situation with your ultimate fighter no matter what is not fair to the player who controls the opposition.

Rule 4: No 'Bang Bang Your Dead'
If there is to be a mighty battle between two near equally powered characters, never ever end the battle in a single post. Doing so kills off the other side's character to quickly (a no-no if the other player doesn't what their character to die, or die before a certain event occurs) and it makes the battle boring. Part of a good RP is dramatic action. Keeping the players and readers wanting more as they are enjoying it so much. So its okay to have a battle last ten posts or more.

Rule 5: Fatigue
As mentioned before, war is hell. No one no matter how perfect or able is able to remain on the battle field indefinitly. They need a rest or else they will fail in their attempts to defeat the enemy. If they do not leave the battle before they reach that critical point, they are doomed. Use this rule wisely. If you wish your characters to escape, have them flee before this point. If you wish them to die, go a head and fight until either a logical death occurs, or they just can't fight any more.

II. General Conflict

Rule 1: Don't be afraid
Don't be afriad to have two characters get in a verbal fight if they truely disagree with each other. This is the key to character driven drama in an international arena. Despite what my government wants in character, out of character I like to see some conflict between nations either on practical matters or ideology. Is not a moderate or right wing nation willing to challenge the socialisim of Tinis? Is there an issue you want the federation to address that some may not agree with? Will anyone turn their back on those in need to help their own people first? Don't be afraid to take bold and unpopular positions if they are the positions your characters and nation would take.

Rule 2: Intelligence can only do so much
It is impossible to know everything about everything that's going on everywhere. Sometimes the little things are the things that create huge movements, but one can know about the kid who plants a pipe bomb in the car of an important general because the general sent his dad off to die in the current war. These kinds of events are to sporadic and random to know about, but can result in huge changes in a situation. An intelligence agency will not ever know about these things unless they are the ones perpetuating them or get really really really lucky. And getting that lucky happens maybe once a decade. So don't see the butterfly before it has its effect.

Rule 3: Real politicians plot against their enemies AND friends
In the world of international politics, and politics in general, any friend is a potential future enemy. Being prepaired to fight that future battle is sometimes more important than fighting the current battle. And some will go to extreme measures to do this. Using a real world example, during the second world war, as the allies began to make gains both the Russians and the western allies realized the next battle for global dominance would be between them and not Germany or Japan, so they began taking steps to make sure certian technologies and the like didn't fall into the hands of their current allies, while trying to grab what the other side had when they could.

In the federation, we might all be allied to defend against outside threats and officially work togeather to prevent internal conflicts between members, but, every leader should have in the back of their heads the question, 'if the federation were to collapse or to fail in its duty to promote international tranquility, who would my country need to defeate to keep safe?' So yeah, back room action is not only expected, but required of a solid government.

Rule 4: Debate is good
If you're nation can't stand a resolution don't be afraid to shout it to the world. And if someone tries to disagre with you, give them your answers and be confident in them. And make sure to answer their counter arguements. Because debate in the council hall is a great way to build national and personal character, to setup dramatic events, and to get others on your side of an important issue.

Rule 5: Talk to each other when you do agree
Sometimes characters or nations will agree on something. But why? If no one is debating the other side, it is then a good idea to still affirm why one picks the position they do. Gives us insight about how your nation works, which then makes your nation interesting.


Good luck and good role playing!