#rp basics

You made a blog for your character, but don't know how to interact?

Welcome again, traveler! You've made your sideblog. You've built your character. And now you're standing at the edge of the city, wondering:

"Okay but like… how do I ACTUALLY roleplay with people???"

Let me help you with that.

→ WRITE A STARTER POST

You just post in-character. For example:

You can use these tags: #bsd rp#bsd#bsd rp blog#bsd roleplay#bsd oc blog#bsd rp starter#starter#rp starter#open rp#ask to join or you think about your own.

So, other people can reblog your post, add their character's reaction and BOOM... The scene begins! :D

→ SEND A ROLEPLAY ASK

If you see someone you'd love to interact with, go to their inbox and send something like:

⚠️ Always include your character's blog name at the end, so the other person knows who you're playing and can respond properly.

⚠️ Tumblr only allows main blogs to send asks, so if you're using a sideblog (like most do), you'll need to send it anonymously.

⚠️ You can't send images anonymously, so if your scene idea needs a visual (like a letter, a map, etc.), send it from your main blog – but don't forget to include your RP blog name!

→ YOUR CHARACTER IS PART OF THE PORT MAFIA

If your character is part of the Port Mafia, there's one extra step:

The mafia here has a hierarchy. Please message @join-the-pm and think about which department your character would fit in. It'll help others understand your role in the organization and make plotting way easier.

→ NOT SURE WHO TO PLAY WITH?

No problem, that is what the @bsd-rp-masterlist is for!

You can browse by affiliation and think:

"I have a character in the ADA and want to talk to a coworker."

or

"My OC is in the ADA and wants to stir up trouble with the Port Mafia."

→ HOW DO RP CONVERSATIONS WORK?

Once a scene starts, you write/play by reblogging and replying to the other person's post. It becomes a beautiful chain of interactions like:

You → Them → You → Them → You…

Like here with my @holya-the-tremere:

Each time, you add your reply under the last post, by clicking reblog.

⚠️If it's a group thread, always reblog from the most recent post, not the original! Multi-threading is fun, but it gets chaotic fast if people reply out of order.

⚠️Tip: Always double-check which blog you're posting from. It's easy to slip up when you have several blogs. Don't worry, we've all been there!

How to change the blog:

→ TALK OOC (OUT OF CHARACTER)

If you're unsure how to continue or want to plot something specific: just ask! You can write in your reblog/answer:

ooc: I must go to sleep soon!

like here:

Or you can write it in the tags, because they're not shown in the visible RP thread and only appear when someone checks the reblog details. It's a subtle way to add comments or thoughts without interrupting the flow of the scene.

→ ARE THERE RULES, HOW I WRITE?

There are no strict rules. Some people write short & fast, others write paragraphs. Some love angst, others prefer fluff. As long as you're kind and respectful, you're doing it right. ASK if you are not sure!

→ FIND YOUR STYLE!

When you write you can choose how to write it:

*what character does* What character says!

or

what character does "What character says!"

etc. It is totally up to you how to handle this. :)

→ AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PART?

You don't have to wait to be picked. You can be the one who starts the story. You belong here. Promise. 🖤

🔹 Step 1: Create your blog: How to make a sideblog and set things up properly

🔹 Step 2: Build your character: How to create an OC (or adapt a canon) and make them fit in

🔹 Step 3: You are here!

« back to Yokohama

Folks can’t find your event (or you!) if they can’t see what server you’re on!

Especially since we’ll be having world visit as a thing soon, this is even more important! 

Please don’t just leave it as, “Well, folks know me” (sorry, there’s a lot of RPers out there ; u ; ) or “It’s on the blog description/tags!” (Tags are lost with reblogs and don’t force people to click extra just to find out what server you are talking about)(Please.)

I suggest also putting the server in the body of the post for any text-to-speech applications people may be using.

Here is an example of what I use for event posts:

What: Drop-in, casual RP  Who: Everyone! When: Tuesday, June xxth, 7-10 pm EDT Where: Costa del Sol, Eastern La Noscea [Balmung]

For LFRP posts, put the server either in the Title or in with the character details.

Example:

NAME: Valia Rosa AGE: mid 20s RACE: Midlander GENDER: Female SEXUALITY: Opportunist ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Neutral MARITAL STATUS: none SERVER: Balmung

DARLING

18 He/They/Neos AroLesbian Was a dinosaur king and pokemon kid and not ashamed of it

YES so indie and 1x1 rp are very similar ( i used to struggle with the difference so bad ) , however there are some key differences that really make or break one of the other for most roleplayers

1x1

you create muses for one writing partner , specific to the plot you have decided on.

very intentional. when you choose to 1x1 with someone , you’ve likely committed to the plot / character etc because you know the other person pretty well.

these muses don’t cross over to other partners. they are yours and your partner’s.

usually more private and organized as well because muns will create sideblogs for each muse / mumu.

posts on your blog might include plot ideas , faceclaims you want to write / write against , as well as plotting calls.

usually closed starters only , if a 1x1 rper chooses to 1x1 on their main blog.

uses tags like “1x1 rp” , “1x1 plot”.

indie

you have a batch of muses showcased on your blog

other indie rpers will follow you / attempt to interact with your muses with their own batch

very chill. you post open starters and anyone in the tags , mutuals and non-mutuals , can and do reply to them. threads are dropped OFTEN and there’s not much commitment right off the bat.

posts include open starters , muse headcanons , starter calls / reverse starter calls.

uses tags like “indie rp” , “open rp".

both

roleplaying with you and one other person

main blog that you primarily interact / message from

said main blog will have rules / banned / about pages

people follow each other if they’re interested in writing with them

there used to be a distinction between types of urls these blogs used , but there isn’t anymore. aesthetic words and phrases make it kind of impossible to distinguish them jkdsjkfs

this is actually true for a lot of aspects , the line between 1x1 and indie rp has become really blurry over the years

that being said , indie and 1x1 rp are NOT mutually exclusive , these are just common trends.

not to make this more confusing but , i personally have my muses on my indie blog , while also hosting sideblogs with mumus / 1x1′s. i also have private muses on my blog reserved for one partner only.

Having seen a few issues lately of folks copying others’ concepts wholesale, I thought I’d post an offer of assistance with developing character backstories, plots, concepts, etc. I’ve helped other people before who felt a bit adrift with barebones character ideas either from it being a new character or just a bit of plot desert.

If you’re interested, lmk! :D

(To add... whatever you create with my assistance is yours, not mine.)

First and foremost - I have a fairly hectic and erratic ‘real life’.  I can’t promise my replies will be quick, but I promise that the speed with which I reply DOES NOT IN ANY WAY dictate my amount of enjoyment over our RP.

I am 100% okay with OCs and multi-muse blogs.  (My other blog is an OC, and one of my oldest RP friends runs a multi-muse blog.  You’re all in good hands with me, I promise. <3)

This blog is accepting of ALL Dream Daddy Endings including the Cult ending.  You don’t have to like it, and I won’t force you to RP it if that’s not your thing, but be aware that it will show up here from time to time.

If you want to continue an ask PLEASE remember to @tag  and/or  #tag  me in it so I can see it.  Seriously - I don’t spend enough time on here to catch everyone’s posts.  I also don’t have the time to go scrolling through someone’s blog looking for things I might or might not owe.

With that said, if I don’t hit the ‘Like’ button on an answered ask, a starter, a thread, or something you’ve tagged me in then you can pretty much bet I DID NOT SEE IT!  If it’s important to you that I do, it’s 100% okay to send me an IM and let me know.  :)

While I don’t mind if real blogs send Robert asks, I’m uncomfortable doing any serious RPing with ‘real people.’  This includes RP blogs for anyone currently living, self-inserts, and blogs for people who’ve been dead less than 30 years (give or take).  However, I will happily RP with historical blogs. Give me a reason to put Robert into a historical AU…please?

I’m over the age of 21 and Robert has a fully grown, adult daughter who’s in her mid 20′s, so smut can (and probably will) happen on this blog.  I don’t do ‘READ MOREs’ but I will do my best to tag everything ‘nsfw.’  If I miss something, tell me and I’ll fix it.

More about smut - if you’re not at least 18, it’s not going to happen.  I’m sorry.  I’m not a prude, and I don’t think you’re a child.  However, if your parent or guardian discovered what we were doing, they could literally send me to jail.  Even if you lied and told me you were ‘of age’, I’m still at fault in the eyes of the law.  (Just like it is in statutory rape cases.)  In addition to jail time, I would wind up on a list of sex offenders for the rest of my life.  Please have some respect for me and your other partners by not lying about your age in order to write smut (or for any other reason).  Thank you.  

Other topics ‘not safe for work’ - I’m okay with almost anything, if done the right way.  All I ask is that you don’t just do it.  Let’s talk first and plan something out that works for both of us.

I am okay with MINOR god-modding.  If you need my muse to step through a door or follow your muse somewhere or something along those lines, and you don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t, then go ahead and do it.  It will save us some time.  However, for anything major, please ask me first.  The same goes for meta-gaming.  Minor things I might let slide, but unless your character has a reason to know things about mine, don’t do it.  The first time it happens, I’ll message you to talk about it.  The second time I’ll probably drop the RP.

Grammar, etc. - I have nothing but respect for those of you who are writing with English as a second language.  The same goes for those of you who’re learning-impaired.  You are welcome on my blog, and as my writing partners.  However, please be aware - if I can’t understand you well enough to create a reply, then we’re probably not going to work.

I’m 100% okay with crossovers.  I  know a lot of fandoms.  But there are plenty more I don’t know.  However, just because I’m clueless doesn’t mean we can’t RP, it just means I might not have as many ideas when it comes to plotting and interacting.

I like AUs. SO VERY MUCH.  ^_^  Want something?  Just ask.

Shipping in general - Chemistry.  Not just between the characters, but between the writers, too.  It NEEDS to be there.  I’m choosing to RP Robert as being a 4 on the Kinsey scale.  It means he prefers men, but love and sex with a woman can happen when the right circumstances are met.  If you’re a guy, he’ll sleep with you.  But be forewarned - just like in the game - he will lose ALL respect for you afterwards.  There are exceptions, but talk to me about the situation first, because if you want an ever-after romantic ship, it will need planning.

If Robert hits on your muse I AM NOT TRYING TO FORCE-SHIP!  It’s canon.  That’s what he does.  Brush him off/turn him down and he’ll have a bit more respect for you - just like in the game.  Accept his advances and deal with the consequences - just like in the game.

I am 100% okay RPing with duplicates.  I’m actually really wary of being exclusive due to past RP experiences, so please don’t be afraid to hit me up if you see I’m already RPing with another version of the muse you have.  Everyone RPs their characters differently and we can always come up with unique plots to keep things interesting.  :)

Communication - Contact me however suits you best.  Ask, IM, Fanmail, Submission, etc. But please don’t ever expect instant replies - even when it looks like I’m online.  I promise not to ignore you.  If you haven’t heard from me in three days or so, give me another nudge.  I might’ve read it and forgotten to reply (or read it and thought I replied.)  Or Tumblr might’ve eaten it.  I’ve had this happen with EVERY communication system Tumblr has, so I promise it’s a valid reason and not a brush off.

Formatting - You do you and I’ll do me and we’ll all be good. :) 

First and foremost - I have a fairly hectic and erratic ‘real life’.  I can’t promise my replies will be quick, but I promise that the speed with which I reply DOES NOT IN ANY WAY dictate my amount of enjoyment over our RP.

I’m over the age of 21 and Arthur is older than dirt, so smut can (and probably will) happen on this blog.  I don’t do ‘READ MOREs’ but I will do my best to tag everything ‘nsfw.’  If I miss something, tell me and I’ll fix it.

More about smut - if you’re not at least 18, it’s not going to happen.  I’m sorry.  I’m not a prude, and I don’t think you’re a child.  However, if your parent or guardian discovered what we were doing, they could send me to jail.  Even if you lied and told me you were ‘of age’, I’m still at fault in the eyes of the law.  (Just like it is in statutory rape cases.)  In addition to jail time, I would wind up on a list of sex offenders for the rest of my life.  Please have some respect for me and your other partners by not lying about your age.  Thank you.  

Other topics ‘not safe for work’ - I’m okay with almost anything, if done the right way.  All I ask is that you don’t just do it.  Let’s talk first and plan something out that works for both of us.

I am okay with MINOR god-modding.  If you need my muse to step through a door or follow your muse somewhere or something along those lines, and you don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t, then go ahead and do it.  It will save us some time.  However, for anything major, please ask me first.  The same goes for meta-gaming.  Minor things I might let slide, but unless your character has a reason to know things about mine, don’t do it.  The first time it happens, I’ll message you to talk about it.  The second time I’ll probably drop the RP.

Grammar, etc. - I have nothing but respect for those of you who are writing with English as a second language.  The same goes for those of you who’re learning-impaired.  You are welcome on my blog, and as my writing partners.  However, please be aware - if I can’t understand you well enough to create a reply, then we’re probably not going to work.

I’m 100% okay with crossovers.  I  know a lot of fandoms.  But there are plenty more I don’t know.  However, just because I’m clueless doesn’t mean we can’t RP, it just means I might not have as many ideas when it comes to plotting and interacting.

I like AUs. SO VERY MUCH.  ^_^  Want something?  Just ask.

Shipping in general - Chemistry.  Not just between the characters, but between the writers, too.  It NEEDS to be there.  Aside from that, Arthur is a 5 on the Kinsey scale, which means he’s mostly homosexual with very, VERY rare bouts of heterosexuality.  For him that means only under VERY special circumstances.  See my 'bio’ post about him, and my post about Circe for a little more information.

Another shipping-related thing:  Just because Arthur is homosexual doesn’t mean I won’t RP with female muses.  There are other dynamics we can explore.  So if you’ve got a female muse, I am perfectly willing to plot out something platonic between our muses.  Come to me with ideas and I’m sure we can write something fun together. :)

About Memes - I don’t send them often, so please don’t be offended, or think I’m not interested in your muse if you’re not getting meme stuff from me.  In addition, the chances of me sending any relationship-related memes is slim to none unless our muses are already in an established (or planned) relationship.  Please don’t take this to mean I don’t want a ship. Chances are, I do.  But I prefer for it to happen in a plotted RP, not because of a meme.  

Communication - Contact me however suits you best.  Ask, IM, Fanmail, Submission, etc. But please don’t ever expect instant replies - even when it looks like I’m online.  I promise not to ignore you.  If you haven’t heard from me in three days or so, give me another nudge.  I might’ve read it and forgotten to reply (or read it and thought I replied.)  Or Tumblr might’ve eaten it.  I’ve had this happen with EVERY communication system Tumblr has, so I promise it’s a valid reason and not a brush off.