Sheridanne Kelley on Role Play

HERE SOME IDEAS TO MAKE FIRST VISITS EASIER   

DEFINITION:  Role-play is a little like pretending.  Remember when you were a child?  Well we still role-play almost every day in one form or another).   Most of all, in role-play, you remain true to who you are within a set time in history & story line; & simply interact spontaneously with those you meet.

There are several types of RP realms, including:  “forced” and non-forced RP realms, no role play, some have “light” RP and some are full combat lands (such as you would find in World of Warcraft, for instance). 

• Obviously if you are in a land with no role play you can just wander around and enjoy the sights and never be concerned with language, dress, conduct.
• A “forced RP” realm means you must know, agree to and adhere to all the rules of the lands BEFORE you enter.  If you don’t you can be captured, killed, ignored or ejected from the lands, such as you may find in Gorean lands.  Where forgetting something as basic as forget to use proper language can get you in trouble.  (Although foul, aggressive and inappropriate language will get you a free trip home in almost all realms in Second Life.)
• In many of the medieval, Elizabethan, Renaissance, etc., RP realms there is an emphasis on old-fashioned courtesy & good manners (for example:  “please” & “thank you” are still magic words!)
• When you visit and until you are familiar with the lay of the land, the people, scenarios, the language, the dress, just relax & take time to watch & listen to those around you who “live here” 
• Listen.
• Dress the part.  This helps you feel part of a new land and most places offer free outfits at their entrance for you if you do not have anything appropriate, so you can fit in and not worry about making an investment in clothing until you are sure you will enjoy the land enough to come back.
• Observe.
• Endeavour to use clear and simple language (many countries are represented in Second Life), this includes listening carefully before speaking, eliminating contractions (don’t, can’t, won’t, etc.) & such words as: thee, thous, shalt (medieval sounding words), special languages (Elven, Drow, etc.)
• Listen and observe.
• In many RP lands there are special words or titles that are used.  Listen carefully and learn the ways people address each other, for instance: m’lady/ milady, m’lord/ milord.
• Make friends with someone who has been in the lands for awhile and think of them as your guide.  Ask them questions about what you are observing in IM (internal messaging, which is private between you and another person or persons).  Whatever you learn add to your knowledge base for use later.
• Avoid using words that do not fit the time in history the RP realm is set (so in a medieval of Tolkienest land, you would not talk in “open chat” (where everyone can hear you) about our computer crashes (you can faint), or that you are speaking with several people in IM (internal messages, but you can be in prayer or meditation or lost in thought), or lag (consider heavy winds or weather, some use a term “lag imps”, again listen to how others address these issues) or what we had lunch at Taco Bell or, well you get my meaning here, hopefully.
• Listen.
• If there is any type of combat or sparring with weapons, find out what is allowed.  Be sure if you wish to engage in combat or simply practice that you have the designated Combat System
• Observe.
• A Combat System is an attachment to your AV (avatar) that allows you to have a limit to the number of hits against your body that you can take, before you are either unconscious or dead)
• Listen and observe.
• Know the weapons allowed.  So for a medieval land, swords, daggers, bow, spear are all appropriate.  If there is more than one area (or SIM – meaning a simulated virtual land), know if you can wear your weapons through all the realm or whether in some parts of the lands, you must remove or “peace tie” (meaning you do not wear your Combat Meter in those areas).  Sometimes you might even wear armour for specific occasions.
• Make friends and enjoy!

Also in medieval, Tolkienest, etc., realms  guns, bombs, cages or push weapons of any kind are not allowed (& is grounds to send you home). 

Namaarie (Elven for farewell),

Sheridanne Kelley