Everything you need to know (Or at least, how to get there)

[Joy_Everlasting]

So you want to know how to RPG better? Or do you know how to RPG well, and you just want to read up on everything, and make sure you know it all. Well, this is the thread for you then; it's a list of links, as you can probably see, and these links lead to some of the more important threads with imformation on RPGing here on Chirstian Forums. There will also be some quoted posts, because sometimes it's not worth reading the whole thread (or the thread has been peacefully at rest for years with no need to be awoken any time soon).

So here we go:
RPG Forum Stickied Information - Read this! Stickies are your friend, and this thread has the basics on CFRPG.

Christian RPG.com Help Center - I know this looks like nothing more than a place for older people to hang out and talk, but the people there definitely want to help you with your RPGing as much as they can.

Random Rant: RPG Uber-Cliches - This is a pretty good thread, in which people pretty much just rant about how much they don't like certain little things. Some of the things may not be important, but they're still annoying to other RPGers.

Random Rant: Paladin Dave on RPG Combat - A newer, and thus most definitely applicable to all members, even if you're new (most of the other rants I've found are over a year old).

Quick Note! - A rant on the overuse of plot lines, and topics. This may not be quite as needed as it was when it was first posted, but the people make some good points.

This is an exerpt from an article I didn't write. It didn't have the authors name, so that's his own fault. But it seemed good.
------------
Making your Character

Making your character is, without a doubt, the very essence of RPing. You get to make your character into anyone, anything, with as many powers as want. He can be as fast, as strong, as smart, as annoying, as gentle, as evil as you want. It's all in your hands. But, there are some very slight limitations to this. We'll go into those later. First, if you don't have a character consider these questions:
What is your character's name?
His age?
His height?
His weight?
What does he look like? What does he wear?
What kind of personality does he have?
Does he fight?
What's his profession?
His he good, evil, or neutral? Perhaps a little bit of both?
Where did he come from?
What's his story?
What kind of weapon, if any, does he use?
Does he use magic? If so, what kind?
What kind of special abilities does he have?
What are his specialities?
How strong, fast, smart, etc. is he?
What's his favorite food, his favorite color, etc.? (This adds realism)
What's his fighting style?
What element is he? Fire, lightning, water?
What are his weaknesses? His strengths?

- A note on the character post; it doesn't need to be a form like that, just try to include all of that information in your character's bio thread.

That's all I have so far. I'll be posting every so often with new stuff maybe, depending on how this thread goes. If you have a rant/thesis/guide-for-new-players or any thread that you think is important for new players/old players-who-want-to-learn-more and you want me to post either it or a link, please send me a PM. Thanks.

Have a great day.

Joy_Everlasting

Also, this thread is meant to be a resource, so please try to stay away from conversations in it. Thanks

 

[Joy_Everlasting]

Day 2, Post 2

Ok, I've found a few more threads/posts in the beginning of my second search through the archives, and since some people appear to be reading this thread, I'm going to post them. Most of the "wise words" today are single posts, so I'm posting the posts themselves. And I'm not including names with quotes, so if you see yourself quoted, and want me to delete it, tell me please. Have fun reading, or falling asleep if it's too long...

A little about the different subforums, with a few words on joining a thread -

Christia is the main one that people here at CF have made up, theres a background information thread with info about geography, map, races etc. Then there are a few different sub-forums which are regions in Christia. In those sub-forums are RPGs that are set in that area.

New Worlds where anyone can make up their own RPG world, about anything.

Movies & Books is pretty self-explanatory, it's where people can make RPGs based on movies & books, or tv shows or whatever.

So those are the RPG forums. Then there's the OOC and Character forums.

These forums are to help avoid all the non-RPG clutter that gets into RPG threads, like OOC posts and character profiles, which make the RPG much harder to read and disrupt the flow of the thread.

OOC: this is the place for OOC threads for specific RPGs for discussion about that RPG. Most will be helpfully titled OOC: (Insert Name of RPG Here) It doesn't matter what RPG forum it's in, the OOC thread for it goes here.

Characters: This is where you post your character profile. Once you've done that you just link to it from your first IC post in the RPG thread.

OK, to join an RPG: What you should do is either post in the OOC thread (if there is one) or PM the creator of the thread to see if you can join. This is especially important if there appears to be a bigger plot or storyline going on. That way everyone can work out a way of inserting your character without confusion. Then to join all you do is start posting in the RPG thread

I would suggest having a look through the different forums and have a read of some different RPGs going on to find one you think might be interesting. See whether you like the style and writing of the other people involved, and whether they have a similar level of RPG-writing ability. While this isn't necessary, it can save a lot of frustration on both sides. But if you see one you want to join, talk to the creator don't hold back because you think you're not good enough!

Something about character depth -

with the mindset that this is in fact better called a roleplaying story rather than roleplaying game, and we're all constructing the best story possible together, being really strong and killing every villian the second they pop up isn't always the goal. For a character to add more depth to the story, it should be given certain weaknesses and other characterizations besides just all powerfulness.

Take Spiderman for example. He's a great superhero and all, but he also struggles keeping his personal life running smoothly since he has to spend so much time saving the world. Money also becomes a big problem. As can be expected, these problems cross over to his superhero side so he's not as effective there. Peter Parker/Spiderman is a wonderfully deep character! If you want to work on characterization, then just try to pick out superheros or characters that you like and figure out how their creator made them such a great character.

Soo.. I guess my best recommendation is to read alot or watch alot of movies and make note on the characters and what happens in the story event wise to make it a good story. Hardly ever will you find just a bunch of choppy fight scenes that lead up to nothing. Well, actually, a lot of movies seem that way lately, but... well... they're not that great. And I also think the scenes generally lead up to something. That's a big thing in writing... don't put in useless scenes. Then again that's kind of hard to predict in roleplaying games...

Everybody don't try to be the hero! How many stories do you see that everybody is the hero? None! Try something else, like the comical relief, or a sidekick, or a villian, etc. I promise that side characters can be tons more fun.

More stuff on good character-making-

Basically, a good character must have three essential qualities: personality, a goal, and motivation. Personality(both good and bad traits), because everyone has one and it defines the character's behavior. A goal(which can and likely will change as time progresses), because it give the character a way to advance his motivation. Motivation(which is generally the same throughout), because it answers why the character does what he does. There are other finer details, but these I'd say are the essential basics.

That's all for now folks.

 

[dramaking]

Requesting for stickification

 

[The Princess Bride]

This is good stuff for newbies or those who desire to sharpen their writing skills

I'm going to sticky it.

 

[Joy_Everlasting]

The beginning of a timeline of the RPG section, for all the people who want to know when something happened. Yes, it is kind of random, and the reasoning behind it is slightly warped, but it might be useful. If something that you want to know (and that you think should be added) is not on here, please PM me, and I'll look it up if possible (some threads have been deleted).


CF RPG Timeline

2003

June – CF RPG is formed
July 5 – Blessed-One posts “RPG Stickied Information”
July – Christia is created

2004

February 13 – Erwin adds code that splits threads, to every RPGer’s annoyance
October – Megachihuahua begins posting RPG tutorials in character-making, and fighting.
December 10 – Megachihuahua creates the Role Player of the Year awards, which don’t really succeed, but do cause spin-offs to be made
Sometime in 2004, the Organization for the Defense of Evil Characters (ODEC) and the Society for the Protection of All Good, Neutral, and Innocent Characters (SPAGNIC) are formed.

2005

March – Megachihuahua introduces The Faction Wars between ODEC and SPAGNIC
March 29 – Ninjitsu creates the Good and Evil Peace Society (GEPS) against the war.
March 31 – Paladin Dave creates the Chivalric Alliance (CA) to basically add chivalry to the faction wars.
Megachihuahua forms the United Zealots of Mega to “keep the quality of the Faction Wars threads high.”

The Faction Wars do not happen. Megachihuahua leaves CF. ODEC, SPAGNIC, GEPS, and UZoM die and their threads are deleted.

June – RPG Empire is formed by Texmex’s Friend
June 22 – CF RPG Help Center is created by the Chivalric Alliance
July – RPG Empire becomes the RPG Republic
Early August – the 1st of the CA/RPG Republic Battles, none of which actually work well.
Sometime after the CA/RPG Republic Battles, the RPG Republic disintegrates, and all the threads related to it are closed and deleted.

More will be added in the future, hopefully.

 

[The Princess Bride]

Ah, yes....the days of the Republic... THOSE were the days to be an RPGer...

 

[Azureknight 773]

Hi there, I am quite a newbie to the RPG system here but I have joined some RPGs from another board already, which adds to my experience. Like I wanna know how do I exactly start an RPG with the CF engine?