Tips
The "boss" of the roleplay is the creator,usually called a moderator. They have created the rules, forum, and (possibly) the scenario. If you don't like their rules, then you may have to leave.
# Basic roleplaying keywords are:
* RP: Roleplay
* OOC: Out of Character (You may also use parenthesis to show that it is you who are speaking, not your character.)
* IC: In Character
* bic: Back in Character
* Powerplaying: Which refers to trying to control other people's characters.
* Godmodding: Changing in game rules or controlling other charters actions or reactions.
* MarySue: Creating a "Perfect character" with little or no weakness, overly dramatic or perfect past, and excellent at everything.
* Literate: A very good roleplayer who shows that they are able to properly use grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, ect. A literate roleplayer knows when long introductions are appropriate, understands the place for short one or two sentence posts and keeps in character emotions separate from their own.
* Semi-Lit: A decent roleplayer who has an "OK" grasp of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, ect. A Semi-Lit roleplayer typically writes (sometimes excessively) long introductions several paragraphs in length and posts of up to a paragraph and longer.
* Illiterate: A terrible roleplayer who disregards all grammar, punctuation, capitalization, etc. Their spelling is usually equal to chatspeak. An illiterate roleplayer typically writes one paragraph for their intro, and around one or two sentences per post.
# There are many different types of roleplays. If you do not like one, you may find another you like better. Make sure what you write goes along with the type of roleplay you're doing.
# In order to maintain a more enjoyable atmosphere, remember to treat others with respect. You will be treated with respect in return. Ex. Never curse someone out; it gets you nowhere.
# Remember that you can only control your character (not those of others), unless you have the other person's permission. People are apt to be annoyed if you control their characters without warning.
# In roleplaying, many people enjoy the "skirt" rule. "Long enough to cover the essentials, short enough to be interesting." This will mean what it does, but it usually means three or four sentences that give your fellow roleplayers what they need to know to respond while keeping it short and sweet.
* In respect to the skirt rule you do not need to have a huge block of text if your character is doing something that can be described in two or three sentences(EX:Your character is in a fight, or in a relatively fast past conversion)
# In literate to semi-lit roleplays, length can be an issue. Many advanced roleplayers expect several paragraphs. If they are the moderator, the person who made or is in charge of the roleplay, then, again, discuss it politely or leave if you can't write that much.
# Have a way that you can contact with your other roleplayer(s) on a regular basis. This varies for different people, so discuss it before you begin the roleplay if you think it might become an issue.
# It is considered good taste to notify the GM of the roleplay when you won't be able or willing to contribute to their roleplay for a while.
Warnings
* Always follow ALL of tess's rules.
* Never God-Mod. God-modding can refer to many things, for example: being immortal (never gets hurt or killed, dodges every blow), or taking control of another person's character.
# Never powerplay. No one likes to roleplay with someone who is in one place, then is mystically in another without moving, or has actions completed that they have not included in their post. Powerplaying is also used to describe the action of controlling, injuring, killing, or otherwise manipulating another character without the player's consent, such as shooting or tripping a character. It assumes that the character's fate is yours to control, and is one of the most impolite things you can do in roleplay.
# A lot of roleplayers prefer you to have a certain standard for how much you write, and it always varies. You might aim to write three good sentences while someone else wants three good paragraphs, or vice versa.
# Whatever you do, do not ramble! Nobody wants to read three paragraphs about minute details like the color of a dinner plate, the past of a character from birth to present day or the tone of their voice! Little details about a 'fragile ivory dinner plate' or a 'low, raspy hum' are great, but be careful; write too much and people will skim or even skip over your posts!
# No one likes someone who makes two or three posts and doesn't post forever. If you have to go on a trip, have a job or something, then inform your fellow roleplayers so they don't sit on their butts waiting for you all day. Also, if you don't like how a roleplay is going, work it out with the people you're roleplaying with, instead of just leaving.
# Another thing to avoid is creating a Mary Sue/Marty Stu. You do not want your character to be 'cliche' or unoriginal. A character who is too perfect, too powerful, without weaknesses or overburdened by a tragic past may be seen as a Mary Sue if these elements are not very well thought through or considered. http://www.onlyfiction.net/marysue2.html is a good source for consideration- this website provides a test to help one determine how original and creative a character is, compared to common Mary Sue traits.
