TERMINOLOGY AND VOCABULARY
In-Character
When a typist or person pretends to be somebody other than themselves. The typist takes on the persona of that individual, using the information from their personally developed back-story or the information that they’ve discovered while portraying their character to make decisions that further develop their character. Emoting is the standard method used to signify that a person is in character.
Out-of-Character
When a typist or a person ceases to maintain the illusion that they are identical to the character they are portraying. If a typist must break character, it is required that the individual utilize double parenthesis (( )) to surround the information that is considered to be out-of-character or they must have a consensus that everyone is going to pause the in-character development and everyone will be speaking out-of-character to resolve an issue or clarify a situation.
Meta-gaming
A player(typist) who uses knowledge that is not available to their character to change the way they play their character, typically to give themselves an advantage. Examples of Meta-gaming include, but are not limited to:
- Adjusting actions based on foreknowledge of the long-term intentions of another player.
- Gaining knowledge from Out-Of Character.
- Using knowledge from a previously played or alternate character.
- Acting on any knowledge that the character is not aware of.
- Adjusting a character’s behavior towards other player characters based on real-life relationships.
- Using knowledge of the game’s mechanics to gain an advantage in the game by having the character do something incompatible with that character’s personality, such as using a map to determine another player’s location or alt-camming to view something that a character could not see from their present location.
- Assuming that something that appears to be wrong or unlikely in the game world is a mistake of the Estate Managers rather than something that could be investigated, such as a design flaw in the sim, or a physics issue with an object.
- Any action that is based upon the knowledge that one is playing a game, such as information obtained from titles or tags.
Power Gaming
A player(typist) who presumes or declares that their character’s action against another player’s character is successful without giving the freedom to act on one’s prerogative. This can include a player who tries to force others to participate in a role-play scene that they do not want to engage in, such as a fight or a sexual encounter.
Griefing / Griefer
An individual who deliberately irritates and angers other players, often using aspects of the sim or objects in unintended ways.
Emoting
A typist acts in character by emoting the actions, thoughts, and statements of their character. This is done by typing ‘/me’ and then followed by the character’s actions, thoughts, or statements.
Post
An emoted statement made by a typist that indicates the turn for their character.
Post Order
This is simply the order by which the typists take turns to allow their characters to speak and react. Determining post order is very simple and verified by looking to see who posted before you and then waiting to post until that person has posted again.
Away From Keyboard (AFK)
This means that the typist is no longer at their computer and their character will be unable to post until they return.
Non-Player Character (NPC)
Is typically a random character that is generated to temporarily exist to help move the scene along. An NPC can be created to complete a task that needs to be accomplished, but no other player’s characters are in a position to execute the task. Utilizing NPC’s to give your character an edge is considered to be a combination of Meta-gaming, power-gaming, and griefing if used improperly. So before you bring in an NPC, ensure that the effect of the NPC will not be detrimental to the outcome of a scene, or wildly affect another person’s character.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
Roleplay Styles
Getting Started in Cedar Creek
Roleplayer’s Code of Conduct
Getting Further Involved
When Problems Arise