UESP Forums

WHAT IS ROLEPLAYING?
Roleplaying is a term that is not too different from acting. Just like an actor takes on a role in a play or a movie, a roleplayer takes on the role of a character in a story. You may have heard this before in the game subforums, when people talk about “roleplaying a character.” This means that, aside from just enjoying the video game, they like to get inside their character’s head and try to make the experience more real to them, though how they do this varies from gamer to gamer.

In the roleplaying subforum, members join together under a DM/GM (dungeon master or game master, terms from the old tabletop game days) and create a character to tell a story. That is really the whole point of roleplaying: to make a story together as a group and take turns writing different parts as your character.

Everyone is welcome to read the roleplays in this subforum if they would like to see what happens or how this process works. For some tips on creating a believable character or how roleplaying is done, read the roleplaying tips thread! While we ask that you please refrain from discussing roleplays in their threads, you are welcome to join the roleplay general discussion thread and ask any questions you have there.

Please note that roleplays are fictional, and posted material does not reflect the opinions and values of the people writing it. By taking part in this roleplay subforum you hereby acknowledge that you will not take anything done or said to your character by another character personally, realizing that your interaction as an author is between yourself and another author portraying fictional characters who live in a fictional world. This is an important concept to grasp, as sometimes a person’s character will act contrary to the actual person’s personality and/or mannerisms. Any actions taken by a player’s character should not be associated with the player who is authoring said actions.


CONTENT AND POSTING
The roleplay subforum, like all subforums, is still part of the UESP site and are subject to forum rules. By participating anywhere on the forums you agree to all the rules and thus accept that moderators may act appropriately if you act out of line, so please make sure you are always familiar and up to date with them.


In addition, each roleplay may have its own set of rules posted by the DM, so please make sure you are familiar with the opening post (OP) of any roleplay, where all information about the story will take place.

There are also additional rules and guidelines that apply to the roleplaying subforum and to the roleplays, roleplayers and DMs that participate in it.

• Avoid inappropriate content - Sometimes, just like with our real selves, our fictional characters will go through adventures and stories that mirror real life. This includes hundreds of situations, including relationships. Fictional relationships, just like real ones, take many shapes and forms and are different from person to person, character to character. They happen. Sometimes relationships lead to romance (and usually we hope they will, because loving someone else is fun!). But when writing about romance it is important to remember your audience and the rules of the UESP forums and site. If your character finds they are in a romantic scene with another, please avoid inappropriate content. If things lead to something further that is inappropriate, evoke a fade to black.
  
• The fade to black - A fade to black is a time skip that takes place without discussing the details of the scenes that it covers followed by a brief summary. This summary may include a description of the repercussions of a romantic or physical encounter, or the result of a battle for which the authors have decided the outcome without carrying on the fight. The description of the situation after the fade to black is usually called an ‘aftermath post’ by roleplayers. The aftermath is usually created after mutual agreement via PMs.
  If you are having trouble determining when to switch to fade to black, consider this: if your posts start to sound worse than The Real Barenziah - pre-Temple censoring - then you should tone it down. Remember that neither explicit sexual activity nor extreme and graphic violence is necessary to tell a story successfully. Furthermore, remember that UESP is not the place for such content.
  If anyone, moderator or member, asks you to stop, you must stop. Failure to do so may mean your exclusion from current and future roleplays. If something offends you or seems inappropriate, please contact a moderator immediately.
  
• Do not control another player’s character - This is called “god modding,” and this is a big no-no, as explained in the roleplay tips thread. This includes trying to coerce other players into writing their characters acting a certain way. This may be done by making the other player feel uncomfortable or guilty for not complying. Please remember to be respectful to your fellow roleplayers and let them control the destiny of their character however they see fit.
  
• Keep ‘out of character’ (OOC) roleplaying posts inside the subforum - It is more considerate to the users who are not RPers to keep clutter out of these threads. Remember, there is a general discussion thread and a favourite quotes thread specifically for the RP subforum.

Please note: We understand that people come from a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds, and societies. Sometimes what some people find perfectly comfortable can cause others to be uncomfortable. Please take this into mind when writing; likewise, keep this in mind when reading stories written here as well, the same as when you read threads with people’s opinions in other subforums.


CREATING A ROLEPLAY
Anyone who feels up to it is welcome to DM, or start and host, a roleplay! It is a great exercise in creativity and no small feat, which is why we have a Moderator dedicated to helping you with your artistic endeavours.

If you are relatively new to DMing, you might want to consider recruiting a co-DM: a more experienced DM who can help you find your footing.

Remember - a roleplay is a story. Keep this in mind when you are creating and planning your own, particularly when you feel the temptation to make complicated systems for players to follow, as this will also create more work for you. While we do not discourage long stories or roleplays that go on for several months (as they are often the ones that are the most fun!), please make sure that you have a clear cut goal for a definite beginning, middle, and end to your story. DMs have a responsibility to their players to conduct their roleplay as smoothly as possible and to make it as enjoyable as possible for all players. Players have a responsibility both to the DM and the other players to follow through on their commitment to the roleplay. Please do not create or join a roleplay just because it seems like it could be cool. Take the time to consider whether you are able to dedicate the time and energy joining/managing would necessitate devoting to your fellow roleplayers.


If you have any questions about creating a roleplay of your own, visit the future roleplay idea thread or the special DM discussion thread.



If at any time you, as a DM or player, have questions about what may or may not be appropriate, please PM BetaB17, or another RP-savvy moderator with whom you feel comfortable. We love helping you figure out a creative way to tell your character's story!


Final words from the authors:
Eltee: Have much fun, yes yes!
Musicman: Everything is permissable, but not everything is beneficial
Avron: I like sweetrolls.