Tell me about Roleplaying.

[slayer]

How does one "get into" their character? How does one act as their character? What are some tips to playing out your character that you've made? Feel free to add more questions to the thread.

[reci]

Eh, you talking about acting?

[slayer]

Eh, you talking about acting? Roleplaying.

[melanieb]

Connect to the role you are playing....find some way to connect feeings inside yourself to those of the character you are trying to portray. It might help to have a little context. Care to elaborate?

[Carrot]

Cosplay came into my mind when I see roleplaying. Somewhere along those lines?

[Warheit]

It is something losers do.

[slayer]

Connect to the role you are playing....find some way to connect feeings inside yourself to those of the character you are trying to portray. It might help to have a little context. Care to elaborate? How does one "connect" to the role they are playing? How do they get into character instead of just acting like themselves? Cosplay came into my mind when I see roleplaying. Somewhere along those lines? Something like that. Some people can cosplay and act as the character their cosplaying as instead of themselves. I want to know how they can get into this. It is something losers do. Stop posting.

[Carrot]

Something like that. Some people can cosplay and act as the character their cosplaying as instead of themselves. I want to know how they can get into this. I have some cosplay friends so I know a bit. First you need to get into the role appearances wise. Dressed as close to the character you're portraying as possible, with the necessary make-up, wig and equipment. Like perhaps a stick or weapon they carry around. Some of them even made/sew their own clothing. Next I guess you'll need to love that character a lot so you know exactly how the character acts and you do similar movements. The rest is all up to your imagination. But I've seen most of them just acting cool and posing with their weapons.

[Ilumirath]

When roleplaying I think you should pick a character whose personality is closely to your own. That way it'd be easier. I'm introverted so I can't imagine myself roleplaying an extraverted for example. Although it could work the otherway around

[slayer]

When roleplaying I think you should pick a character whose personality is closely to your own. That way it'd be easier. I'm introverted so I can't imagine myself roleplaying an extraverted for example. Although it could work the otherway around That's what I'd like to stay away from. What's the point of roleplaying if you're just going to play yourself?

[Ilumirath]

That's what I'd like to stay away from. What's the point of roleplaying if you're just going to play yourself? Did you never roleplayed as a child? It should be pretty much be the same.

[slayer]

Did you never roleplayed as a child? It should be pretty much be the same. No, no I have not.

[tsiouz]

I woulsn't worry so much. People that are unable to follow a role sometimes are lucky.

[JoeyBelgier]

It is something losers do. I don't know if you like Fallout 3, but that game isn't for losers at all. Now multiplayer roleplaying is just expanding and sharing that experience with other people, implementing some creativity. I don't see how creativity and Fallout are for losers

[Alric]

It just takes some practice is all. In this context the major difference between acting and roleplaying is roleplaying is for fun, while acting is more serious. You should keep that in mind, since the goal is to have fun. Don't stress over small issues, and just enjoy playing a different role than you usually do. If you are having fun you are going to get into the character a lot more.

[slayer]

I don't know if you like Fallout 3, but that game isn't for losers at all. Now multiplayer roleplaying is just expanding and sharing that experience with other people, implementing some creativity. I don't see how creativity and Fallout are for losers What does this thread have to do with Fallout 3?

[tsiouz]

What does this thread have to do with Fallout 3? Good question. (good game though).

[Carrot]

What does this thread have to do with Fallout 3? Because there are people who roleplayed characters in it?

[Alric]

Fallout 3 is an RPG, roleplaying game. Just like other RPGs you are taking the role of a character. Some games give a lot of choices and you can play as a good character or an evil character. You can make the same choices you would in real life, or always pick the most advantageous solution but a lot of people try to play as if they were that character. Murdering a bunch of child makes no real difference, it is a game, but it makes a big difference when you are trying to play a character that isn't evil. It is actually the same mindset when you roleplay in other things. The big difference is that you are usually not promoted for your choices, and so you got to decide on your own.

[slayer]

Because there are people who roleplayed characters in it? He made it sound as if the thread was about Fallout 3. And yes, I know what Fallout 3 is about. The same thing could be said about the Elder Scroll series. I'm looking for more multiplayer interaction and not singleplayer.

[reci]

When roleplaying I think you should pick a character whose personality is closely to your own. That way it'd be easier. I'm introverted so I can't imagine myself roleplaying an extraverted for example. Although it could work the otherway around That's what I'd like to stay away from. What's the point of roleplaying if you're just going to play yourself? He's got a point. You have to start from somewhere, and a character similar to yourself would be the best way to start. After that, you can slowly branch off to characters that differ more from your own character. I wrote these attributes originally for acting, but they should suffice just as well for roleplaying: Physical attire stature gestures (and speed of which) Voice accent speed, timing vocabulary Mental ideals motives I recommend reading a book or two on acting from your local public library (or wherever else). One I'd recommend is Sanford Meisner on Acting. It takes time to become adept at impersonating others, but there is no better time to start than now. Good luck

[Original Poster]

Most people I roleplay with have no taste or understanding of depth. Also whenever I create an NPC to be used by whoever, they have no comprehension of the character and twist them into some 2 dimensional object on a order-chaos good-evil scale. I prefer to just write stories so I don't have to deal with people's bullshit.

[JoeyBelgier]

Fallout 3 is an RPG, roleplaying game. Just like other RPGs you are taking the role of a character. Some games give a lot of choices and you can play as a good character or an evil character. You can make the same choices you would in real life, or always pick the most advantageous solution but a lot of people try to play as if they were that character. Murdering a bunch of child makes no real difference, it is a game, but it makes a big difference when you are trying to play a character that isn't evil. It is actually the same mindset when you roleplay in other things. The big difference is that you are usually not promoted for your choices, and so you got to decide on your own. At least someone that has enought neurons to make the link.

[ThePreserver]

A shame that you didn't roleplay as a child... I spent the first decade (and more) of my life playing pretend, being a wizard, a Jedi, a military commander, a secret agent... it's not hard to get into character if you really love the role that you're playing (I can't think of a reason to roleplay if you don't love playing a role!) I'm not sure if you're talking about live-action role playing (which is a lot like makebelieve, but there are usually some basic rules governing everything established by the LARP group itself) or online role-play, but once you "get into" character and really start enjoying playing that character, it'll come naturally.

[melanieb]

As a kid, or as an adult, have you ever wanted to be a fireman, a teacher, an archaeologist or perhaps an astronaut? Think about something you wanted to be in life that you are not. Get a picture of them in your mind. What do they look like? What do they wear? What tools do they need? How do they perform their job? Are they friendly? Do they interact with people? What kinds of groups, if any? For example, when I was a kid I read the book Frosty, A Raccoon To Remember. I loved it, and because I had been camping so many times and actually had raccoons in my back yard on a nightly basis I really wanted to be a park ranger. The idea of working in the park and teaching people about bears and the environment really appealed to me. In some ways it still does, though now that I'm older I doubt I would do it. However I can still connect to those feelings and thoughts quite easily and my love for the outdoors will never diminish. This is the basic start to connecting to a role, feeling something that helps you understand the person you would play. But suppose I was going to play an angry park ranger...or a deranged one that killed campers. I know what angry feels like. I understand hate. I understand pain. Any of these elements could help me portray an angry or deranged park ranger, though actually behaving that way in real life is completely opposite my personality. All I have to do is think about being the park ranger, and then think about what could make that park ranger be angry or lose his sanity. Perhaps his wife left him because he wasn't making any money, or his brother needed surgery that he couldn't afford. Perhaps he witnessed his girlfriend die because of the negligence of some careless park visitor attempting to take a picture and knocking her over the nearby cliff. Whatever the motivation is for their emotional state I have to come up with a reason for it to exist in the first place, and use that 'backstory' to create my character. From that all other actions will flow naturally. Give it a try. Come up with a character...perhaps look around you at the people you see daily (ones you don't know) like the shopkeeper down the street, or the flower lady downtown...even the postman. Pick someone you don't know and use them as a base image for your character. Now, give them a story. Are they having a good day, or a bad one? Are they capable of doing something bad? Why? Are they a hero? Why? What did they do? Do they have a nervous tic? Do they have scars? Are they talented? Roleplaying comes directly from our ability to create story for an imaginary character, a life that we must take over as ours. Once we have some of the details down the rest of their actions will flow naturally based on what you know about the character. From this you can be anyone; A pirate, an astronaut, perhaps a sexually dominant chauvinist. The role doesn't matter...you merely need to find an element that makes it yours, even if it is completely opposite of your everyday personality.