RPG Forum Advice
RPG Forum Advice
This first part is a slightly more advanced guide than in the rules.
1. Building an RPG
The first thing you'll want for your RPG is a good plot. Originality, Detail and Interest is the key.
Originality: You'll want to draw people to your RPG, so make the story original. Don't make a plot about a group of trainers off to win the league, as it's been over done to death. Put in alternative motives, large twists that make it differ from the norm. It doesn't have to be a trainer RPG, or even a pokemon RPG, but it needs to be original, so it's not just a cheap clone of another RPG that someone else has.
Thinking of an original plot isn't always easy, especially if you want to do a pokemon RPG. So consider a cross-over, between pokemon and something else you are interested in. The results are often very original, and good fun. If you're still a bt stuck, then find something you have an interest in. Read up about it, and try to base an RPG around events pertaining to your interest.
Detail: Like fanfic, you can't write a story in a paragraph, a plot for an RPG has to be long enough for the audience you're aiming for to get an idea what it's about. It doesn't have to be an epic 500 word chapter, but it needs to be more than a few lines strung together in a few minutes.
Make sure you run a spell check over the plot. Minor spelling errors aren't noticed by those of us who aren't eagle eyed, but speaking in the ever common txt speak (u instead of you) is just tacky and looks bad. Don't use lots of big words, not everybody will know what they mean. If you're basing your RPG on something other than pokemon, including information on the subject is very important. Don't assume that everyone will know what's happening in the fifth series of your favourite anime.
Interest: You'll want people to join so make sure you're plot is interesting. Expand on small ideas, so you can appeal to everyone's tastes. Listen to other people's advice and criticism. Be sure to look at other RPGs, just to see what they're doing, compare how you're plot is against theirs so you can get a better feel for what you're writing.
When you're writing your plot, make it in a Word Processing Document such as Microsoft Word, or even as a simple text file in Notepad. Anything to let you save it and go back to it later. Don't make up a plot in the reply box of the forum. It'll look rushed and amaturish. When you come up with a plot think about more than just the story idea. Think ahead to the middle, even as far as the end. Think about the characters you want to see, think about the characters that will just appear as non participants. Build up a file of minor and major details. Maps for new worlds, names of cities and organisations, important people and non-important people.
Now that the Plot is done, you have Sign Up Forums. You'll need people to create the characters to star in the RPG, so you'll need details. These are the basic fields that are seen in practically all RPGs:
Name:
Picking a characters name shouldn't be too hard. Many people use their own names, or that of a friend. Be sure to pick the right sort of name depending on what type of RPG it is. If it's one set predominantly in Japan, the last name you'll have is Bibby Bob. If it's set in the medievil times, use a more old fashioned name, or pick one from literature.
Try not to use well known names, or names that are in the public eye. If it's a fantasy RPG with elves, don't pick Legolas as your characters name, as people will only think of Lord of The Rings when they see the name.
Age:
Make sure when you pick the characters age, you are capable of role playing it correctly. A 14 year old generally isn't greatly mature and wouldn't be able to deal with heavy issues. While a 30 year old tends not to be as jokey and easy to mix with.
Gender:
As with age, be sure you can roleplay a gender properly. Roleplaying your own gender is usually the best, and that's what most people do. Some people are capable of doing the opposite gender too, but if you intend to, be sure to get their mannerisms right. Girls tend to be more caring and softer, while boys more tough. While this is very stereotypical, it's a good guideline to follow.
Description:
Not only does your character have clothes, but they have a body and a presence beneath those clothes. Match clothing to the RPG, just like your name. A Medievil RPG, or one set in a fantasy realm will not feature Jeans and a Tshirt. Be as detailed as necessary with clothing. Don't go into the exact pattern and logos on shirts, or the treads on shoes, but be sure to gie a good description of what your character is wearing.
Beneath that, what about how they look aside from clothes. I don't mean nakedness, but their hair colour, eye colour, facial hair, glasses, peircings, skin complextion and physical build. With that done too, how about their presence? If you saw your character in the street, would you feel intimidated by them or would you think 'there's someone who looks kind and caring'?
Personality:
Like many things I've mentioned so far, keeping the personality in line with the rest of the fields is paramount. Don't make a young female character who wears pink dresses, a hard nut into fighting. Be sure you can handle the personality you intend to role play under. Sometimes, basing it partially on your own is useful.
History:
History is one of those things you're either good at or very good at. Anyone can write a brief history, but writing one that explains more into the description and personality of the character is a great help. By writing a good background, other PRGers can base their own posts around those events and build up a better relationship between characters.
Other:
Many people use this as cannon fodder, but it should be put to a proper use. Use it to mention things that you wouldn't have put into any other sections, or to explain the reasoning or events behind something else you've mentioned.
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More to come as I feel like it
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All people feel free to add you're own advice.
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Originally Posted by Butchimatic
