Hydaelyn Role-Players
Getting in the Mood for RP - Printable Version

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Getting in the Mood for RP - Sig - 12-29-2015

I'm curious to see if other roleplayers have any customs, quirks, or habits they do before or during RP sessions that help promote immersion, creativity, or enjoyment of RP. 

For example, I almost always try to minimize all RL distractions (especially cell phone and web browsing) and listen to albums during RP sessions (vinyl when possible).  I'm also a sucker for lighting scented candles and drinking (especially IPAs and red wine) during roleplay. I find that I RP better and enjoy it more when I observe these customs.

What sort of customs, quicks, or habits help your roleplay?


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - Roen - 12-29-2015

Music. If I can think up a soundtrack or a score that fits the scene, then I'll play that. I also have some playlists for specific moods, so they help too if I know what the scene will be about.

If not, just listening to music that I've compiled for specific character also helps.

Darker, quieter room helps too.

I find that alcohol however hampers me rather than help.


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - Sig - 12-29-2015

(12-29-2015, 07:28 PM)Roen Wrote: Darker, quieter room helps too.

Oh, interesting.  Lighting could really impact RP in ways.  If I think about it, I almost always open windows or turn lights on when I RP.  Weird.


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - Martiallais - 12-29-2015

Back when I originally started playing Martiallais, I would literally play/listen to this video before I RP'd him.

Show Content

Getting the 'feeling/tone' of his words right was a big deal for me (since before then I'd been playing Zarek, an Ul'dahn street tough basically) as it was my first steps into RP'ing as an Ishgardian and there were only the NPCs in Coerthas to go by.

Nowadays I like to go with music in general, a nice soundtrack to fit the scene typically (I love 8tracks.com for this) though I sort of default to something softer unless it's a heavy combat/hunting RP.


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - Erah'sae - 12-29-2015

(12-29-2015, 07:30 PM)Sig Wrote:
(12-29-2015, 07:28 PM)Roen Wrote: Darker, quieter room helps too.

Oh, interesting.  Lighting could really impact RP in ways.  If I think about it, I almost always open windows or turn lights on when I RP.  Weird.
It really does.  If you set your local ambiance to fit the sort of persona that matches the character, it helps immerse yourself better.

For me most of my perpetration is to make sure I've got a pitcher of water near by and I've shut down most other forms of social media.  Music I put on only sometimes, FFXIV's music isn't horrible for immersion on its own.


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - Virella - 12-29-2015

I have to admit the only requirement for me is making sure people cannot lurk onto my screen while roleplaying. And I cannot roleplay with someone who's in the same room as I am irl, unless it is at events or something, and preferable still not with one another.

That said, I have the odd tick I got to mute my sound when roleplay is getting too 'intense' and I need to focus. What... rarely happens I admit. And I bounce around a lot onto my chair in general. I rarely sit still. I hate it when people catch me doing that irl :<

But really, the only requirement is that I don't like people lurking onto my screen while roleplaying! And I can't do it with the same person in the same room irl. That's really about it.


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - McBeefâ„¢ - 12-29-2015

I just sit down in my chair and RP <_<.

Sometimes I drink booze? Not always though. I have to get in a particular mood to write IC posts and stuff, but for RP is just hammer away at the keys.


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - Sig - 12-29-2015

(12-29-2015, 09:02 PM)Virella Wrote: I have to admit the only requirement for me is making sure people cannot lurk onto my screen while roleplaying. And I cannot roleplay with someone who's in the same room as I am irl, unless it is at events or something, and preferable still not with one another.

That said, I have the odd tick I got to mute my sound when roleplay is getting too 'intense' and I need to focus. What... rarely happens I admit. And I bounce around a lot onto my chair in general. I rarely sit still. I hate it when people catch me doing that irl :<

But really, the only requirement is that I don't like people lurking onto my screen while roleplaying! And I can't do it with the same person in the same room irl. That's really about it.

Agreed.  Few things are worse than screen lurkers.


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - Aden Dellebecque - 12-29-2015

Music, it's always music, no matter the format (LARP, tabletop, MMO, etc.). It's easier to begin behaving in-character or switch between characters when I have them keyed to songs or types of music. So I've gotta have something other than the standard in-game music playing.


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - Faye - 12-29-2015

(12-29-2015, 09:02 PM)Virella Wrote: I have to admit the only requirement for me is making sure people cannot lurk onto my screen while roleplaying. And I cannot roleplay with someone who's in the same room as I am irl, unless it is at events or something, and preferable still not with one another.

That said, I have the odd tick I got to mute my sound when roleplay is getting too 'intense' and I need to focus. What... rarely happens I admit. And I bounce around a lot onto my chair in general. I rarely sit still. I hate it when people catch me doing that irl :<

But really, the only requirement is that I don't like people lurking onto my screen while roleplaying! And I can't do it with the same person in the same room irl. That's really about it.

This. I cannot RP if someone is peeking at my screen, or if someone is talking to me, even on the phone (okay, I can write posts while on the phone, but it means I'm probably not responding/listening to the person on the phone, so...). Aside from that? I can always RP, no problem getting in the mood, even while watching a show or something on the other monitor. But if I really want to focus and write quality posts, I just make sure I'm not watching something else and that there's no sound but maybe some quiet, scene appropriate music.


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - Cailean Lockwood - 12-29-2015

I like to light up a few candles...
put on some smooth jazz or something with low bass tones...
then I spray a bit of my favourite perfume around in the room...
pour myself a glass of wine...
then I strip down...
put on my Spider-man costume...
lie in my bed...
and then I log on.


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - Melkire - 12-30-2015

Before? I don't need anything other than to log in and spend a few minutes picking an outfit, brainstorming where my character was, and brainstorming what he was doing prior to the scene.

During? I get up and pace while waiting for replies/emotes. I plan out a variety of character thoughts and reactions while doing so.


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - Simeon Sibaruse - 12-30-2015

Uh, kind of fun subject to think of. But no spider-man costume here, sadly. 
There is two possibility for me as preparations.

First one, to make things as erratics as possible. As much light as I can muster, loud music, completely out-of character, like russian nightcore, boosted to the max, when playing an noble. That's freaking disturbingly good. Most of the time, that when people try to piss me off with real needs when playing. Or talking to me. Or try to give advices... I may have nothing against people reading over my shoulder, but I have against people thinking they can comment on it. Or half-closed doors. That's dumb. Why to half-close it, seriously? Doors are meant to be open, or close. Not half and half.

Second one, is a polar opposite. Like sitting in the darkest and coldest corner of my house, in utter silence, only my computer as companion. Hopefully, there is a basement to do it. I feel that basement have a nice smell with roleplaying. To ask me why, i can't answer this. No, there is no basement in my house, so this option is kind of lacking. But hey, maybe the next one will do.


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - Cato - 12-30-2015

I usually listen to music during and before role-play to get me in the right mood. Sometimes that will be music from the game itself but it's just as likely that it'll be music from some other game. I don't generally listen to music with lyrics though - for whatever reason it just doesn't have the same effect for me as the standard background tracks in RPG's.

If I'm due to engage in a particularly intense or dramatic scene then I need the room to be empty. I don't like engaging in in-depth role-play if there's major distractions. So I do my best to ensure that there's nothing that'll force me to have to go AFK rather suddenly.


RE: Getting in the Mood for RP - Greybarren - 12-30-2015

Pretty much the same as the rest of you.
  • Music before/during, instrumental stuff mostly.  I do have varied general lists for specific characters, settings, and moods.  I can't listen to anything electronic/digital while RPing in FF for example, but did so for EvE and MXO.
  • Get that character dressed (5 minutes to 2 hours.)
  • Get off Skype/Mumble/Discord/Vent/whatever.  People chatting can completely break my chain of thought on the character.
  • Very serious RP = No one else about.  General or lighter RP doesn't bother me as much, but someone lurking over my shoulder can make me super conscious about what I am typing.
  • Beverages and snacks are a must!  Moogle
The only thing I haven't seen mentioned (unless I missed it) was actually doing a half/hour of reading before hand.  Kinda warms up the engine a bit as reading seems to turn the same gears in my head that are used for RP.  I only really do this for pretty heavy RP or having to pick up or continue from a major scene that needed to be split for meatspace stuff.  Or if I haven't RPed in a long time.