My personal definition of Roleplay is;
'Making a conscious, consistent and considered effort to maintain a particular assumed character, through language and/or behaviour.'
Being in-character is when you are doing this.
By this logic, spontaneous 'just-for-fun' emotes (ie, /e slaps , /e purrs at ., etc) do not count as roleplay unless they are in keeping with the performance of a character/personality that is not inherent to the performer.
What differentiates the 'grade' of roleplay is just how considered this role is.
A 'casual' Roleplayer (majority of first-time/inexperienced RPers):
'Making a conscious, consistent and considered effort to maintain a particular assumed character, through language and/or behaviour.'
Being in-character is when you are doing this.
By this logic, spontaneous 'just-for-fun' emotes (ie, /e slaps , /e purrs at ., etc) do not count as roleplay unless they are in keeping with the performance of a character/personality that is not inherent to the performer.
What differentiates the 'grade' of roleplay is just how considered this role is.
A 'casual' Roleplayer (majority of first-time/inexperienced RPers):
- May assume a spontaneous role/persona with little planning.
- May have a vague character outline, but not necessarily a motivation for that character's behaviour/goals.
- May generaly roleplay for fun, and have little investment in their character's relations with others.[/list:u]
A 'hardcore/dedicated' Roleplayer:- May have one or several long-term characters with set personalities, backgrounds and goals.
- Will typically have a solid understanding of their character's traits and lifeline, and will typically pay more attention to smaller details about their characters, such as their quirks and habits.
- Will typically have considered the motivation behind their character's goals and behaviour.
- May tend to take to roleplay as a long-term creative outlet more than the casual roleplayer.
- Will have an intimate understanding of the way their character reacts to social stimuli, and how they relate to/form bonds with the characters they interact with.
- May adapt their characters in response to events which have occurred in roleplay with others.[/list:u]
This is all just my opinion, of course, and I hope this isn't taken as deriding casual roleplayers in any way.
And to me, there are definately no-RP times/areas - I personally only roleplay when I know I am in a roleplay-friendly environment. Parties/missions with pick up groups are not suitable instances in which to be in-character.
- May have one or several long-term characters with set personalities, backgrounds and goals.
'The secret to life without fear is e'er being ready to die.'
- Jakih, Highguard of the Order of the Stormguard.
Previously Bexb of Phoenix/Leviathan.
- Jakih, Highguard of the Order of the Stormguard.
Previously Bexb of Phoenix/Leviathan.