Hello folks,
One thing that has always hung with me in every environment I've RPed in is the way players IC speak to each other in regards to OOC situations. This goes in line with teaching each other mechanics that are hard to explain, being distracted IRL, being interrupted IRL, and other things of this manner. Now, some of this stuff is needed to be said, you don't just want to leave people guessing at what you're doing if you suddenly go standing there silently. A few things I'd like to mention though, and possibly offer alternative ways of doing. I'll admit too, the purpose I am making this post is a selfish one. I personally always get thrown off hearing people say 'Flex your E muscle' to do something, or similar things. It's a little pet peeve of mine. Also things like 'I need to go into my head' just sound strange in an RP environment. Thing is though, there really isn't a way to share stuff like that too.
Now, what I'm gonna be suggesting here isn't an excuse for ignoring RP and paying attention to your stream. I feel it's rude to be caught up in your stream when someone is talking to you and RPing with you right there, as that's a mutual moment. If someone subs/donates, I am sure they don't mind you thanking them when the RP slows down. But anyway, on to what I was wanting to suggest.
So, I'm going to offer common phrases that get thrown around in RP to explain something OOC to someone IC, in an attempt to not break immersion. I'm going to offer then an alternative instead, something that may sound a lot more fitting. These are examples, no you don't have to follow a single one of them either. This is just things I try to do, and thought I'd share them.
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This first one is the one I see the most. Typically it's to assist someone learning a mechanic. I'll use the most typical one. Now, it just sounds weird hearing that no matter which way you spin it. Instead, try this, and yes this only would work if the other person understands you're trying to use phonetics to get your point across. I've heard variations of this every which way, but this is to give a guideline or an idea to try something different than just the outright base idea.
- "Flex your E muscle." -> "You need to Exert yourself."
Other suggestions: R -> Reflex, F -> Focus/Fists/Force, I -> Insight/Intuition, G - Grit, U - Up
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This next one is to assist a bit in demonstrating to someone the use of /pvp. This can be either before a fight or simply telling them how to get on a horse/wagon without getting kicked off. I've heard it used many times in a way before, this is simply another alternative.
- "Be friendly/unfriendly" -> "Look him in the eye and be sure you like him or not."
----
Now, this final one for now is actually one that does catch me quite a bit when I hear it in RP. In some circumstances when you're dealing with timers/countdowns when doing an action, would you feel you know exactly how long it would take to do something? I personally wouldn't think you'd know exactly how long it would take, but you'd have a 'general feeling' due to how 'difficult' it would be. Put some spin on it, have some fun with it. Not only would this keep yourself immersed but anyone there either helping you or hindering you.
- "I have 30 seconds left to go!" -> "I think I'm almost done..."
- "We're gonna be here for 100 seconds." -> "This is really difficult, it's going to take me a while, watch my back."
----
Going AFK/BRB is always difficult to do, especially when the RP is hot. Now, this one is for people to translate on their own into what fits a scenario, but I don't feel just saying "I need to go into my head for a bit" feels good in an RP environment. Find an IC excuse, and ironically we have one of the better emotes to allow us to do that too. Actually, 3 of them.
If you're in a casual scenario, even if you're going to go grab something, the Pee emote is your friend. Bathroom breaks IC are the easiest excuse to go do something OOC. Now, let me show you 2 other emotes that give just as much leeway.
The Guard 1 and Guard 2 emotes are golden to 'go keep an eye out' or 'I need to go check something out.' Not only is the pose static and nice, but it keeps you involved in the RP while you go take care of something.
A final word on this, just simply tipping off your fellow RPers that you are gonna take a moment to enjoy your cigarette/cigar/pipe too work. Or that you forgot to write something down. All of these are great alternatives instead of saying "Sorry, I was in my head." You'd just wind up sounding crazy saying that all of the time in my opinion. Hell, even just saying "Sorry, I was daydreaming." sounds better.
----
Now sometimes, your model does have issues you can't see. Be it instancing, stuck items, etc. That's part of life in a pre-alpha mod. Some of these are easy, such as items stuck to your hand being removed by taking out your knife and putting it away. For clothing/model issues though, I like to tell people "Go find yourself some water and get yourself all freshened up." or simply "Refresh yourself with a swig of whiskey." I'm trying to tip them off to /loadskin or /loadclothing.
----
This is just some basic ones I see pop up often, and like I said this post itself is more me making observations and offering alternatives for a bit of a more fun spin on roleplay. I'm not here trying to tell you how to do your own thing, there are all different kinds of RPers online. These are just some suggestions, and it's up to you to give them a try if you like. If I see any other things I can add I will, and if there are any suggestions too or ways you'd like to know how to explain IC, hell, post it. I'll put a spin on it.
Bottom line is: Who says you have to say the exacts? Put a veil over it and make it RP rather than mechanic.
One thing that has always hung with me in every environment I've RPed in is the way players IC speak to each other in regards to OOC situations. This goes in line with teaching each other mechanics that are hard to explain, being distracted IRL, being interrupted IRL, and other things of this manner. Now, some of this stuff is needed to be said, you don't just want to leave people guessing at what you're doing if you suddenly go standing there silently. A few things I'd like to mention though, and possibly offer alternative ways of doing. I'll admit too, the purpose I am making this post is a selfish one. I personally always get thrown off hearing people say 'Flex your E muscle' to do something, or similar things. It's a little pet peeve of mine. Also things like 'I need to go into my head' just sound strange in an RP environment. Thing is though, there really isn't a way to share stuff like that too.
Now, what I'm gonna be suggesting here isn't an excuse for ignoring RP and paying attention to your stream. I feel it's rude to be caught up in your stream when someone is talking to you and RPing with you right there, as that's a mutual moment. If someone subs/donates, I am sure they don't mind you thanking them when the RP slows down. But anyway, on to what I was wanting to suggest.
So, I'm going to offer common phrases that get thrown around in RP to explain something OOC to someone IC, in an attempt to not break immersion. I'm going to offer then an alternative instead, something that may sound a lot more fitting. These are examples, no you don't have to follow a single one of them either. This is just things I try to do, and thought I'd share them.
----
This first one is the one I see the most. Typically it's to assist someone learning a mechanic. I'll use the most typical one. Now, it just sounds weird hearing that no matter which way you spin it. Instead, try this, and yes this only would work if the other person understands you're trying to use phonetics to get your point across. I've heard variations of this every which way, but this is to give a guideline or an idea to try something different than just the outright base idea.
- "Flex your E muscle." -> "You need to Exert yourself."
Other suggestions: R -> Reflex, F -> Focus/Fists/Force, I -> Insight/Intuition, G - Grit, U - Up
----
This next one is to assist a bit in demonstrating to someone the use of /pvp. This can be either before a fight or simply telling them how to get on a horse/wagon without getting kicked off. I've heard it used many times in a way before, this is simply another alternative.
- "Be friendly/unfriendly" -> "Look him in the eye and be sure you like him or not."
----
Now, this final one for now is actually one that does catch me quite a bit when I hear it in RP. In some circumstances when you're dealing with timers/countdowns when doing an action, would you feel you know exactly how long it would take to do something? I personally wouldn't think you'd know exactly how long it would take, but you'd have a 'general feeling' due to how 'difficult' it would be. Put some spin on it, have some fun with it. Not only would this keep yourself immersed but anyone there either helping you or hindering you.
- "I have 30 seconds left to go!" -> "I think I'm almost done..."
- "We're gonna be here for 100 seconds." -> "This is really difficult, it's going to take me a while, watch my back."
----
Going AFK/BRB is always difficult to do, especially when the RP is hot. Now, this one is for people to translate on their own into what fits a scenario, but I don't feel just saying "I need to go into my head for a bit" feels good in an RP environment. Find an IC excuse, and ironically we have one of the better emotes to allow us to do that too. Actually, 3 of them.
If you're in a casual scenario, even if you're going to go grab something, the Pee emote is your friend. Bathroom breaks IC are the easiest excuse to go do something OOC. Now, let me show you 2 other emotes that give just as much leeway.
The Guard 1 and Guard 2 emotes are golden to 'go keep an eye out' or 'I need to go check something out.' Not only is the pose static and nice, but it keeps you involved in the RP while you go take care of something.
A final word on this, just simply tipping off your fellow RPers that you are gonna take a moment to enjoy your cigarette/cigar/pipe too work. Or that you forgot to write something down. All of these are great alternatives instead of saying "Sorry, I was in my head." You'd just wind up sounding crazy saying that all of the time in my opinion. Hell, even just saying "Sorry, I was daydreaming." sounds better.
----
Now sometimes, your model does have issues you can't see. Be it instancing, stuck items, etc. That's part of life in a pre-alpha mod. Some of these are easy, such as items stuck to your hand being removed by taking out your knife and putting it away. For clothing/model issues though, I like to tell people "Go find yourself some water and get yourself all freshened up." or simply "Refresh yourself with a swig of whiskey." I'm trying to tip them off to /loadskin or /loadclothing.
----
This is just some basic ones I see pop up often, and like I said this post itself is more me making observations and offering alternatives for a bit of a more fun spin on roleplay. I'm not here trying to tell you how to do your own thing, there are all different kinds of RPers online. These are just some suggestions, and it's up to you to give them a try if you like. If I see any other things I can add I will, and if there are any suggestions too or ways you'd like to know how to explain IC, hell, post it. I'll put a spin on it.
Bottom line is: Who says you have to say the exacts? Put a veil over it and make it RP rather than mechanic.
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