Here's the next Section of the guide!! Make sure you read this so you can roleplay on par with our members....

Adding Detail

Ok, I’m sure I speak for a lot of people when I say this, but we all know how damn annoying it is when we see 1 – 3 lines per post as a reply to our awesome RP’s. It’s just damn well annoying. I mean, why make the effort of writing a good RP reply... when the one person you happen to be RPing against is the one who loves to use those 1 liners? I don’t know, so maybe you can tell me that answer.

But then again, why should those who are Good at RPing and make a good effort to post a good reply, stoop to the level of those that write 1 – 3 lines? The answer is, they shouldn’t have to.

So I am here to help you guys improve on detail.. this may not be a good guide, but then again, it Might be a brilliant guide. So let us continue towards the detail of a good post.

I don’t mean to be harsh when I say this, but even if you are a great RPer, you can still improve a lot. Yes, you can, everyone can.

Here’s what shall be included in this section:

1. List of Details
2. 5 Senses
3. Clothes/looks
4. General Location
5. Emotions/Thoughts
6. Actions.


1. List of Details.....

Here I am going to List every Basic detail that can be added to an RP. Not all of them may be added. These are just to give an idea and may not be needed in a reply to someone else’s post.

• What you see
  
• What you smell
  
• What you touch
  
• What you hear
  
• What you are wearing
  
• General Landscape
  
• Weather (like a forecast, sun, rain etc etc)
  
• What you are thinking
  
• What emotions you are feeling.
  
• What you are doing
  
• How you are doing it
  
• Movement
  

This is all shown here in first person, however this refers to your character, not you in general. There are a lot more things that could be added, however I shall allow you to think of that. This is just to get you thinking more.


2.The 5 Senses.....

If you don't include all five senses in your RP, then it isn't a good RP. You can do this on EVERY post if you really push yourself to do so. There are so many things in every environment that it would be nearly impossible to run out of things to include in your post. Just use your creativity and imagination.

SIGHT: This can range from many different things... most importantly, the general landscape around you. This gives the reader an idea of where you are at. If you don't include this, the RP is pointless, as it has no scenario. As the RP continues, you can add more sight into the RP. You could say a bird hopped on a branch, or a dry leaf fell off of a maple tree, or a frog leaped in the grass nearby. The possibilities are endless.

SMELL: Sometimes it is hard to use this sense, but it is a necessity. Is the air filled with smoke, is it fresh, is it salty? This can depend on your location. It makes the post seem more real.

HEARING: Very important, although few people include this in their posts. This can be the sound of your characters voice, to the sound of the birds chirping nearby. Just like sight, as the RP continues you can bring more noise into the scene.

TOUCH: This is another sense that not many people have in their RP's, but its easy to include. How does the wind feel on your skin? If you're sitting down, what does the ground feel like? This can range from many different things, you just have to get your creative juices flowing.

TASTE: Taste isn't always possible to incorporate into your posts, although if you are including food it is something that needs to be there. Food = include taste. Food = include taste. Food = include taste [For Emphasis].


3. Clothes/looks.....

OK. This may not be amazingly important for EVERY post you make or EVERY reply you do, but it is good to know. You never know, your character may be wearing something different from what was added in the character creation, and of course we wouldn’t know this unless you stated it.

Anyway, I suggest that at the beginning of every RP you do, you could describe the clothing and your characters looks, however it is not essential, after all the creation profile for that character describes this.. but what if we don’t read it? Not many people may read it, and therefore they may be unsure.

If there's wind blowing, a good way to tell the reader the colour of your hair is to say that your 'blond hair was blowing in the wind', etc... There are many other ways you can do something similar. Say that there was 'laughter dancing in your jade green eyes'. Now we know your hair is blond, and your eyes are green. Simple, but it does add to the picture you're trying to create.

Also, your clothing can change in every RP you do. This can be a fun part, if you enjoy clothing, or else it can be a bit of a hassle. If you don't like the thought, simply state you're wearing a cloak and what colour it is, etc... it doesn't have to be huge. For those who actually get into it, they can make it an interesting process. Although clothing and looks are only a paragraph long, in most cases, it can be an excellent way to increase your post's detail.


4. General Location.....

Ok, many of you may think that the location, in which your character is standing in, may not be all that important, so there’s no need to include it right? Well let me tell you, it IS important. People do wish to know where your character is, and it does help for replying to a post.

The general location of your character is usually included in the very first post of each RP thread. This helps others to determine the area in where your character is so that they know where to send their character.

You may also think that you don’t need to post more on your location once you have posted it once. I have something to tell you...

Landscapes change, locations change... throughout an RP everything may change in some way shape or form, whether it is a tree that has been demolished or an area that has been obliterated, it has changed, so why not continue to describe that? Describe the location as it changes.. it makes for a better post, and it also shows that you are considering everything within your RP, don’t be afraid to describe it.

Also, another thing to consider is that when posting your character’s general location, there is no need to post the WHOLE thing in one post. It helps to spread it out a bit. Every little detail may count, but your character may not see it yet, he may not see it till later on.


5. Emotions and Thoughts.....

Ok...personally I find this to be rather important when RPing. Your character’s emotions and thoughts are what make something seem more interesting. Your character may be fictional, but like us, most of them have emotions. I mean, you wouldn’t sit there staring at something hilariously funny and not laugh right? Well you might not laugh, but if you did, you wouldn’t just go... *ha ha that is funny* in a very dull face. It would be more like... *haha!! That’s hilarious!!!*

So yeah, emotions play an important part in a post.

Basically, to put it simple for you, add everything that your character feels and thinks. It helps the flow of an RP and defines your character. Your character will be portrayed through what you write about him/her, and it is emotions that will portray this.

Always and I MEAN ALWAYS add what your character thinks and feels. I cannot stress this enough. It helps, seriously.

A suggestion for when you talk about your emotions... don't just say "She is happy" or "She is angry"... compare it to things. She's as happy as what? As angry as what? It makes the RP a lot more interesting to read, not to mention it gives you a chance to show off your literary skills.


6. Actions.....

Oh yes, my favourite part. One of the most important parts of every RP I have ever known. The actions. Yes, IT IS the most important details needed in an RP.

There is always an action within an RP, whether your character is reading, writing, looking out a window, running, fighting or walking, it is an action and therefore it needs to be described.

When i say described, I MEAN described.

Bad Example:

Jinkai is walking along a road.

OK.. we have established that my character Jinkai... is walking along a road. He’s walking, pretty straight forward right? Notice how I put *Bad Example* above? Yes, that’s because it IS a bad example.

How is Jinkai walking? Is He swinging his arms? Is he moving slowly or quickly?

Nobody knows, because it is not included there. Ok so let’s Jazz it up and make it look a lot more descriptive.

Example:

Jinkai is steadily walking along the dusty road, swinging his arms from side to side, moving in what seems to be a rather slow pace.

See what I mean? His plain walking can be described in a mere line.

That small description alone, amounts to those dreadful 1 – 3 liner posts some people just happened to be married to. Word of advice to those people... get a divorce with those 1 – 3 liners and start to use a little more detail. It won’t kill you, your heart won’t be broken. I suggest you make a date with those wonderful descriptive paragraphs, fall in love and Marry them. It’s better, believe me!