Blog Tags and RP Info {OoC}

{IC} means it is In Character information, as in, something truthful about my roleplay. Be careful, though, as using some information could be considered metagaming. Consider how your character may have come across the info and if they would honestly remember it or even care to recall it.

{OoC} means Out of Character. This information does not actively pertain to the roleplay environment, and the information should not be used in game unless otherwise specified. Sometimes, it will be completely random.

RP is shorthand for roleplay. Some people liken it to Dungeons and Dragons... but not everyone knows what D&D is or have a contorted idea. The best way to describe it is improve theater, with actors in a grand play with an imaginary stage. The characters are IC while the players are OoC.

Option of Response (OoR) is roleplaying in such a way that it gives the other player a chance to decide how they are going to react, rather than 'deciding' for them. A great example is in a fight scene: a.) Player 1 throws a punch at Player 2's face, or b.) Player 1 punches Player 2 in the face. Case A allows for Player 2 to dodge or to be punched, while Case B does not. This is a difficult skill to learn, but very worthwhile.

Metagaming is the act of taking OoC information and using it IC or using IC information inappropriately. Think about when you take tests in school- you (usually) cannot bring the text book in and copy down answers from it (OoC), and you cannot look over someone else's shoulder during the test for the answers (IC in appropriately).

Godmoding (also misspelled godmodding) is the act of being a.) unreasonably powerful and/or invulnerable, or b.) manipulating others' characters inappropriately. Very much the "Heads, I win; tails, you loose" scenario. In the first situation, when a character has little to no weakness, or those weaknesses are very obscure, it leads for the character to be difficult to fully interact with, as they're almost always 'on top'. In the second, this is where the Option of Response is either unobserved or abused in an extreme sense. Often, the godmoder will never allow for the OoR and perform such actions that permanently change the other character, mostly with physical characteristics but sometimes the others' RP abilities, background, or future play. On the other hand, they may always use the OoR to their advantage, constantly dodging or otherwise not feeling a consequence. (For those curious about the misspelling, my friend says, "'godmoding' refers to "god mode" and shouldn't be "godmodding", which implies that god is modifiable.")

FtB or Fade to Black is the act of "fading" a scene due to some sort of limitation on one or both roleplaying parties. It's like a curtain coming down in between acts. It is not ending the scene or eliminating the consequences. Sometimes in plays, before the curtain goes back up, a narrator will announce what happened in between acts; the characters are affected by this information as they continue. In roleplay, when an FtB occurs, the players do not act out what happens, but they do discuss what does happen before carrying on. All characters involved are affected by what happened, despite it not being played out.

RP Limits are limitations decided by each player on what they are willing or not willing to act-out in roleplay. Consider on most driver's licenses, a person can designate whether or not they are willing to be organ donors. Players must use these reasonably, for excessive RP limits make a character difficult to play with and will lead to the player and character being alienated.