Post by 𝐊𝐀𝐓 ᴀᴋᴀ 𝓡𝓮𝓭 𝓥𝓲𝓹𝓮𝓻 on Feb 23, 2023 14:08:50 GMT -4
Who doesn't love the opportunity for a juicy storyline for their character? Or creating one, for another.
Character Storylines can be something your character (or another) is trying to accomplish, with or without the help of others. Or they can be major events that will require the help of a large group.
They are a way to add a more unique and rich history to a character, giving them something that actually happened to them (Something that is role-played out), as opposed to something you just wrote in as part of a backstory to fluff them out a bit.
Whether you are the one who wrote the storyline for another, or the one playing in a personal storyline for your character, there is something very important to remember.
Patience and Perseverance.
Depending on the storyline, it could take days, weeks, or months (maybe a year or more?) to properly play out, and come to some sort of conclusion. You need the utmost patience to help your character see it through until the end, and in the case of the longer storylines, you need to remember, it's not just YOUR character invested anymore, but likely others who have been possibly helping them along the way.
Things usually start out fine. Everything is bright and shiny and new and ready to work smoothly. As time drags on, however, that's where one's true dedication is put to the test.
By either design or by circumstance, things may start running into trouble. Foreseen, or unforeseen troubles. Complications. Frustrations.
Remember, not all role-play is happy flowers, rainbows and sparklie unicorn farts. Sometimes, it can get dark, gritty, sad, heart-wrenching... It can make you want to quit. Close the book, stop the story, and walk away.
Sure, you could do that, it's your right as a player. However, as a true role-player, you know it wouldn't be fair to your character (or the other characters involved).
The BEST role-plays, in my experience, have been the harder hitting ones. Ones that have brought forth emotion, thought and struggle.
When things start getting tough, that is the time to buckle in, lean forward, and prepare to weather the storm. If you have questions OOC, and someone is running the storyline, talk to them. Communicate how you may be feeling so that the GM (game master) if there is one - can help get you back on course. If it is a more random, seat of your pants storyline, and others are involved, communicate with them OOC to help reground yourself. (Try to leave out spoilers!)
If it is a more personal storyline, you have written for your own character, take time to breathe. Have your character keep tabs in their diary, read what they have written. Sometimes it's possible to lose sight of how your character may be feeling, and mix up your own thoughts. This is Line blurring. It happens. Key is to recognize it, and take a step back, to find your - and your character's footing.
Or, maybe you just don't know where to take them anymore. Reach out to a friend either OOC or even have your character ask a friend ICly for direction.
Take a moment, would you, to consider how we, in Real Life, have our own storylines. We are likely on a couple right at this very moment.
Our personal, real life storylines could likely be tracked back more than just weeks or months, but even years. All back to the day when you were asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Perhaps you've been unhappy at your job, and want to find another.
Unhappy in a relationship?
Looking for someone special, or maybe a new pet?
The start of a new project?
So many, many possibilities. They are ALL a new storyline in our real, every day life. Something that will shape, and mold us, creating memories.
Perhaps things in your marriage are not going well. You get a divorce, move on. Always keeping a small flame in your heart for your ex. Years pass, that ex returns a new person. That storyline involving that person, that you may have thought was over, reopens, and continues.
I don't believe in 'ending' storylines in game, for this reason. Even when things don't seem to be working out at the time. There is ALWAYS something that can happen to turn the tides. Twist, morph and perhaps change and alter the original idea, but never end it.
It should never be said, "The storyline didn't work out.".
Imagine how different the movies would have played out, if Forrest gave up on Jenny the first time she left him? If Scarlett O'Hara hadn't decided to fight back and work the fields herself to feed her starving family. If Bambie just gave up and died of a broken heart when his mother was shot and killed.
Hang in there.
Character Storylines can be something your character (or another) is trying to accomplish, with or without the help of others. Or they can be major events that will require the help of a large group.
They are a way to add a more unique and rich history to a character, giving them something that actually happened to them (Something that is role-played out), as opposed to something you just wrote in as part of a backstory to fluff them out a bit.
Whether you are the one who wrote the storyline for another, or the one playing in a personal storyline for your character, there is something very important to remember.
Patience and Perseverance.
Depending on the storyline, it could take days, weeks, or months (maybe a year or more?) to properly play out, and come to some sort of conclusion. You need the utmost patience to help your character see it through until the end, and in the case of the longer storylines, you need to remember, it's not just YOUR character invested anymore, but likely others who have been possibly helping them along the way.
Things usually start out fine. Everything is bright and shiny and new and ready to work smoothly. As time drags on, however, that's where one's true dedication is put to the test.
By either design or by circumstance, things may start running into trouble. Foreseen, or unforeseen troubles. Complications. Frustrations.
Remember, not all role-play is happy flowers, rainbows and sparklie unicorn farts. Sometimes, it can get dark, gritty, sad, heart-wrenching... It can make you want to quit. Close the book, stop the story, and walk away.
Sure, you could do that, it's your right as a player. However, as a true role-player, you know it wouldn't be fair to your character (or the other characters involved).
The BEST role-plays, in my experience, have been the harder hitting ones. Ones that have brought forth emotion, thought and struggle.
When things start getting tough, that is the time to buckle in, lean forward, and prepare to weather the storm. If you have questions OOC, and someone is running the storyline, talk to them. Communicate how you may be feeling so that the GM (game master) if there is one - can help get you back on course. If it is a more random, seat of your pants storyline, and others are involved, communicate with them OOC to help reground yourself. (Try to leave out spoilers!)
If it is a more personal storyline, you have written for your own character, take time to breathe. Have your character keep tabs in their diary, read what they have written. Sometimes it's possible to lose sight of how your character may be feeling, and mix up your own thoughts. This is Line blurring. It happens. Key is to recognize it, and take a step back, to find your - and your character's footing.
Or, maybe you just don't know where to take them anymore. Reach out to a friend either OOC or even have your character ask a friend ICly for direction.
Take a moment, would you, to consider how we, in Real Life, have our own storylines. We are likely on a couple right at this very moment.
Our personal, real life storylines could likely be tracked back more than just weeks or months, but even years. All back to the day when you were asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Perhaps you've been unhappy at your job, and want to find another.
Unhappy in a relationship?
Looking for someone special, or maybe a new pet?
The start of a new project?
So many, many possibilities. They are ALL a new storyline in our real, every day life. Something that will shape, and mold us, creating memories.
Perhaps things in your marriage are not going well. You get a divorce, move on. Always keeping a small flame in your heart for your ex. Years pass, that ex returns a new person. That storyline involving that person, that you may have thought was over, reopens, and continues.
I don't believe in 'ending' storylines in game, for this reason. Even when things don't seem to be working out at the time. There is ALWAYS something that can happen to turn the tides. Twist, morph and perhaps change and alter the original idea, but never end it.
It should never be said, "The storyline didn't work out.".
Imagine how different the movies would have played out, if Forrest gave up on Jenny the first time she left him? If Scarlett O'Hara hadn't decided to fight back and work the fields herself to feed her starving family. If Bambie just gave up and died of a broken heart when his mother was shot and killed.
Hang in there.
Founded April 26, 2005