FFRP By Example

FFRP By Example
By Josh Catone - [Document reproduced with kind permission.]

This article will attempt to illustrate some of the common mistakes found in the QSG to FFRP with examples. I will try to lay out the mistake with a mock situation and then show a correct way to deal with that situtation. Please note that portions of this document are copyright of Rothron Torfindël.

• Entering a channel with a character and being greeted by another character you have never met in role-playing named MrX, and you say "Hello MrX".

Example:
Enter MrX
* MrY looks up from his reading at the newcomer to the inn, "Hello, may I get you anything? A room? A meal?"
MrX: No thank you MrY, I am just fine.

There is the problem. MrX has said "No thank you MrY...". How would MrX know that his name is MrY if he has never met him before and MrY has not told him his name? A better way to go about it would be something like this:

Enter MrX
* MrY looks up from his reading at the newcomer to the inn, "Hello, may I get you anything? A room? A meal?"
MrX: No thank you, I am fine. I did not catch your name, may I ask what it was?

This way, you will know the name for future use in conversation and you have not made the common mistake of putting a correct name to a person you don't know.

• Reading another persons thoughts, that is, someone thinks a question and you respond. That is an "FFRP No-No." When someone thinks something, they are only thinking it to themselves.

Example:
* MrY scratches his head, he murmurs something about not wasting time as he wonders when his companion will arrive.
MrX: I am sure your friend will be here shortly, MrY.

MrX has just replied to and unspoken question of MrY's. A better way to go about this is to ignore MrY completely since you wouldn't have known what he was thinking anyway, or if you feel you must comment on it, then bring up the subject in a roundabout manner. For instance, MrX might say to MrY that he looks as if he is waiting for something and then ask what.

• Replying to someone who is not in the room or who is whispering.

* MrY leans accross the table and put his ear close to MsY's ear. He whispers softly to her, "Will you marry me?"
* MsY's face turns crimson and she smiles slightly as she whispers back, nearly inaudible to any but MrY, "I will."
MrX: When will the wedding be?

MrX should not reply to their whispered conversation, they were whispering for a reason. Not only is this an invasion of privacy but it is also unrealistic to the role play.

• If you and a person suddenly become unfriendly with each other OOC (Out-Of-Character), do not take that into role play. For instance, if you have two characters who are best of friends, do not let an OOC fight spread into role play.

Example:
Day One:
MrX: I love you MsY.
MsY: I love you MrX.

Day Two:
MrX and MsY have a big fight OOC, they are no longer friends.

Day Three:
* MrX lunges for MsY's throat with a knife flashing in his hand, he lets out a snarl of joy as he envisions killing MsY...

A better thing to do is to plan an IC (In Character) fight or to drift apart in roleplay slowly. Doing something like MrX and MsY did above makes the roleplay unrealistic and confusing.
The previous examples do not use the most detailed role play, but I think that they are easy to follow and understand. Remember that when you role play, the decisions are yours. You do not have to use these examples in your role play, they are only meant to illustrate some common mistakes so that they are easier to understand. Have fun!

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