Marric Warkan
"Mmmhhhhmmmm."
Community Lead
Administrator
Bounty Hunter
Whitelisted
Silver Supporter
INTRODUCTION:
This guide is intended to help introduce players to the world and setting of WWRP, and offer guidance to roleplayers of varying experience levels to make the most of their time here.
WWRP is a community dedicated to inclusion, creativity, respect and player-to-player interaction. We expect all players to treat each other with courtesy and collaborate in shared storytelling, to bring enjoyment and positive experiences to all. Please ensure you are familiar with server rules.
Toxicity, overt negativity, and demonstrations of bias (sexism, homophobia, racism, etc) will not be tolerated; the staff team reserves the right to mute, de-whitelist, or take disciplinary action against players violating this in accordance with server rules and values. Our players are here to have fun and partake in engaging stories.
REMEMBER: This server is "historical fiction," not a perfectly exact representation of 1899 Wild West. Though we recommend an adherence to realism in technology and research, things will not be exactly as they were back then in relation to societal norms.
This overview and guide will be broken down into the following sections:
Section One: Basics (Server expectations, etiquette, players interactions)
Section Two: WWRP Background, History, Politics and Current Affairs
Section Three: Character Creation Tips and Acting 'In-Character'
Section Four: Taking Roleplay "Outside the Box" and Event Information
Section Five: Advanced and Whitelisted Roles
Commonly used keybinds, text commands, and general connection information may be found on our FAQs page.
SECTION ONE - THE BASICS:
GENERAL
STAFF TEAM: WWRP Staff is comprised of multiple levels, all of which are dedicated to helping you and keeping the server running. The various roles within staff are as follows:
- Staff: Primarily reviews whitelist applications, support tickets (including technical support), and Discord moderation.
- Administrator: Further moderation, compensation requests, rule based reviews, player reports, and sensitive ticket topics.
- Community Leads: Supports fellow administrators and helps with management level discussions. Checks in with staff to offer support. Keeps an open line of communication between staff, the community, and management.
- Managers: Maintain server forums, structural changes, oversight of all server departments.
Never go "Out of Character" (OOC)
- If someone else goes OOC, act confused and try to steer the conversation back to an "In Character" (IC) interaction.
- If the other player continues to break character, remove yourself from the situation and file a report via the forums, or contact Staff via support ticket.
- This does not mean one cannot use /ooc to seek consent for various forms of roleplay, or advise other parties of a temporary technical issue, etc.
No single player is to be the center of every storyline - please do your best to make sure your roleplay (RP), and others, is enjoyable all around and conducive to those you interact with. Not every exchange will be a win, nor does every exchange need to end in violence. Get creative, and explore options!
- Be conscious of how your characters' actions may affect others. Sometimes you are advancing your own story, other times you are along for the ride and assisting others to progress.
- Win or lose, as long as server rules are being followed, roll with it! Just because a single encounter may have been "lost," a story does not have to end there. It can lead to more opportunities and inspire new aspirations to pursue, unlocking even more story to come. Just be respectful of pacing and allow other players to recuperate and give respect to other roleplay, such as injuries, emotional trauma, etc.
Take it slow when appropriate. Little details help to shape an authentic and enjoyable experience - furthering the immersion for yourself and others.
Example:
Instead of sprinting through a busy city or town, bring your horse to a trot or lead it by the reins as you seek a hitching post.
Do not be afraid to use emotes! Allow your characters to express themselves! (Check the X-Menu and Tab Wheel)
You are allowed to have multiple characters on the server, however there are guidelines on what is acceptable to avoid cross-alt meta information. Information on alt characters can be found here.
Players found to be in violation of server rules, or exhibit excessively toxic behavior, may be subject to some sort of action resulting in warning points or a ban. An overview of the warning point and ban system may be found here.SLOW BURN V. ACTION ORIENTED ROLEPLAY
Roleplay can be generally categorized as "slow burn" or "action oriented." A balance of both is optimal for the best experience.
Slow Burn:
Be aware that actions have consequences. Strive to slowly build drama over time, leading to an eventual climax.
Example:
Your character is an outlaw and has undergone a murder spree. After several weeks on the run, eventually, your character is caught by Law and now faces the courts. You might consider the death penalty for the havoc you caused, or; you might accept a prolonged sentence in Sisika and come into contact with rival gang members inside. You find common ground, and realizing your former gang has turned their backs on you or not stayed in contact, you connect with your old rivals to rebuild your lives, or pursue a new alliance upon your release. A storyline of this nature would be considered "slow burn."
Action Oriented:
Interactions such as bank robberies, shootouts, and horse theft would be considered "action oriented."
These actions can certainly be fun, but focusing daily efforts on a "cops vs. robbers" mentality will likely result in a lack of overall story development and burnout for those involved. These action scenes should not be used as a crutch for roleplay, though they will certainly have their moments.
An example to consider:
Following a successful bank robbery, one you had planned for several days, you and your gang know the heat will be high for a while. Perhaps you cross state, and find yourselves some new clothes. You settle a temporary camp, and act as a group of traders to blend into the local populace. You might just find a fresh opportunity for crime in this new area, gathering information and interacting with a new set of faces. Or, you replenish your stocks for daily life - finding food, ammunition, and a new contact for purchasing horses.
Law and Order Interactions
- Act according to the crimes you have done.
- Do not get upset OOC if you get caught - understand that actions have consequences, and players with "lawful" or "government" roles are expected to apprehend your character.
- Serious crimes should be handled with serious premeditation and planning. Do not rob a bank simply because you are bored - have a story and motive behind it!
- If your character is the victim of a crime, understand this is the Wild West and outlaw types are going to exist. We must also respect players who wish to pursue this avenue of roleplay, and establish a "give and take" relationship in our interactions. If your character has been victimized several times in recent history, allow them to express that in their communications. Perhaps they will start to cry from frustration, or simply just say, "Really!? This is the third time this week one of you has pulled a gun on me!" Criminal characters should be understanding and respect that circumstance, and explore an alternative resolution to that exchange.
- Characters acting as deputies must also understand the criminal is not going to get caught every time. Sometimes, letting someone escape can even lead to more fun! It opens a door to investigatory roleplay, and/or deepens a relationship between a deputy and an outlaw. Crimes and investigations are perfect opportunities to utilize our "scenes" system as well, be sure to check the guide!
CONSENT
It is okay to say "no" to roleplay that makes you uncomfortable. While it is expected that players will treat each other with respect and help to provide a satisfying experience all around, if something crosses a line you should not be forced to participate. There are several ways to navigate situations like this, defined in this guide.
Some key takeaways:
- Perma deaths can never be forced on you. The only person that can kill your character is you.
- If your character is involved in a serious event, if you choose not to perma, give yourself a cooldown period to honor the roleplay and consider how your character will move forward.
- It is up to you to decide and describe the degree of injury that your character has sustained in any particular event. However, while it is up to you to decide the degree of injury, you should not ignore injury causing events. For example: A gunshot can be treated as a simple graze, but you should not ignore the fact you were shot straight up.
- Torture RP, of any kind, always requires explicit consent. If you are someone that would not consent to certain things being done to you, then you should also not do these things to others. Consent may be communicated through DMs or via the /ooc command.
- Conflict RP is a tango, not a solo show. Never force someone to constantly be at odds, and do not bring multiple characters of your own into the same conflict.
- You are under no obligation to entertain romance RP, and erotic roleplay (ERP) is not allowed on this server.
SECTION TWO - WWRP BACKGROUND, HISTORY, AND SETTING/CURRENT AFFAIRS:
The following is a brief overview of the setting and historical information of New Alexandria, as applied to our server:
Time Period
- New Alexandria's calendar progresses each year, but we are timelocked to the year 1899 in terms of technology and world events.
- New Alexandria is considered to be within the continental United States.
Technology
- Various technologies available include steam engines, telegraphs, mail couriers, the Industrial Revolution, AC Electrical Power (1888), Trolleys, 'Movie' Projection, Black and White Cameras
Terminology
- Most frontiersmen would use common dialect similar to what we consider 'the American South,' however there are many dialects depending on heritage and the frontier was a mixing pot of many cultures (French, German, English, Irish, Chinese, etc)
- While political correctness has changed a lot in 120 years, remember that it is never acceptable to use derogatory or racist terms that may have been common in the late 1800s when playing on our server;
- Many Terms of Service (TOS) agreements strictly forbid this, such as:
- Twitch / Mixer
- Rockstar / Take Two
- Wild West RP Rules
- An example of 'clean' insults one might use can be found here.
Historical Politics
- Civil War
- 600,000 American Casualties
- Many tensions still present among the older generation following the Civil War's conclusion in 1865.
- Homestead Act of 1862
- Though it had differing degrees of implementation, the Homestead Act essentially guaranteed free / very cheap land (160 Acres) to anyone who settled and improved it.
- Became a point of contention and conflict when the higher priced areas were saturated.
- Gold Rush (1840s - 1900)
- Many folks ventured into the Frontier to make quick, easy cash with "rivers that flowed with gold." By the late 1800s, many mines were claimed and much of the abundant gold had already been discovered.
- There were many conflicts called "claim jumping" where a group of bandits might take over a productive mine, and the legal owners would request the Government to step in and settle the dispute.
- Government (As it applies to New Alexandria)
- Federal Level - OOC: Upper Staff / Management
- State Level - IC Player Held Positions (Governor, State Representatives, Cabinet)
Manners
- Honorable vs. Dishonorable
- Words were a person's reputation; a person was expected to always do what they said they would do.
- Shooting someone in the back or from an ambush was considered extremely dishonorable, however; mutual fights where both parties had the opportunity to pull a weapon, defend themselves, and be shot in the front were generally treated and seen as a fair fight.
- Strangers
- People were expected to be hospitable to strangers and show them respect. Taking a stranger off the road and feeding them a meal was an expected courtesy.
Fashion
- People were very much judged on what they wore, as clothes in the past were expensive and how you presented yourself to the world could affect your reputation - dress how you want to be treated! If you dress as a vagrant, do not be surprised if your character is treated as such.
- Masks
- Masks were considered rude, and anyone wearing masks would be looked upon with distrust.
Survival and Other Related Aspects
- Weather
- It is expected players will respect the weather presented on server, and how it may affect their situation. People would rarely want to roam around outside during a thunderstorm, if at all during any pouring rain. It is recommended one seeks shelter or attempts to "stay warm" when nature is throwing a tantrum.
- Clothing
- Always wear clothing appropriate to the perceived temperatures that you are, or will be, facing. For example: One would not strive to go out to the Grizzlies without a coat and a pair of gloves, nor would one go to Tumbleweed wearing a full get-up of animal furs. Heatstrokes and frostbite could be very lethal.
- Wildlife
- Depending on your location, you will encounter a large amount of wildlife roaming about - some more deadly than others. Consider your character's stance on bringing along an extra hand for protection while hunting in a predator infested area, or do not stray from the road if transporting valuable goods.
- Be sure to carry the necessities when traveling, working or planning to stay out awhile - in terms of nutrition. Oftentimes you will not have access to anything of nutritional value in an emergency in the wilderness, so think about how your character would react in those situations.
- Environment
- Acknowledge the environment that your character stays in and how it might affect their lifestyle.
SECTION THREE - TIPS FOR CREATING AND ACTING "IN-CHARACTER" (IC):
A good starting point to creating a character is establishing a backstory; roleplay flourishes when acting out things that relate to the story created for them. Think to yourself, "how would this character act in their situation, given their background?" It may be very different from what your own personal reaction would be. Adhering to these thoughts drives appropriate reactions to the world around the character, and opens the door to building new stories with other characters they meet. We have a more in-depth guide to creating characters here.
Other generic tips to character creation:
- Pick a unique name that aligns with the times, and is neither offensive nor a meme. Afterall, you will be sticking with it for awhile.
Note: Your character's name may not be associated with any well known character or person, whether that be known historical figures, famous people, or comic/movie/TV Show/video game characters. This includes the Red Dead universe. Your character must be unique, and your own creation. Ex: You cannot be Angelina Jolie, Bruce Wayne, Johnny Cash, Peter Pan, Arthur Morgan, etc.
What you can do is take inspiration from characters of the Wild West era, or a video game, movie, etc, and customize their look and feel to make them your own unique presentation. Generally, combining two or more inspirations can make a strongly unique character that fits the server.
- Characteristics:
Characteristics can shift over time, and are a great way to introduce development and growth to your characters' stories. Some general advice:
- Have positive and negative traits for each character. Negative traits can give a sense of individualism and realistic limitations that adds to each character's uniqueness.
- Example of a Positive Trait: Loyalty - Giving or showing a firm and constant support/allegiance to a person or institution.
- Example of a Negative Trait: Braggart - Someone who boasts excessively of their own achievement, which may spark a rivalry with someone else or a challenge to "knock them down a peg."
- Have things your character is confident in, and other things they are unsure of, such as:
- A gunslinger may act tough in front of their friends, but when they see someone they are interested in, they have no idea how to approach them.
- A doctor may be a great general practitioner, but insecure when it comes to in-depth surgeries and always tries to refer their patients to others more capable.
- Have hopes and fears.
- A civilian might hope to someday be a state representative, but must overcome their fear of public speaking.
- A deputy might hope to become Sheriff, but has a crippling fear of making the wrong decision which causes them to not step up when it comes time for promotions.
- Set rules for your characters, and stick to them.
Example:
Pursuant to your character's background, your character refuses to steal horses from anyone (even NPCs.) He then gets robbed of his horse by a thief, and now has to run on foot to the nearest town. Along the way you encounter another player hunting, who offers your character a ride to town and furthermore, offers help to hunt down the bandit.
Because of your rule to not steal horses, your character was able to meet someone else and have an expanded experience. They may even have just made a new friend!
- Have a 'fresh slate' mindset:
- You, as a player, may know every detail and landmark on the map, however a character that has just moved to New Alexandria would not. Allow them to act that way.
- Consider a specialization, or skill in a particular category:
- It is not always good to be a 'jack-of-all-trades,' but characters can evolve over time.
- Have a moral outline for your character.
- Are they chaotic good? Lawful evil? Setting the foundation of your character's moral compass will allow you to direct their actions and feelings appropriately and consistently.
- Set goals, short term and long. They will help give you something to work towards every time you log on.
SECTION FOUR - TAKING YOUR ROLEPLAY "OUTSIDE THE BOX"
Roleplay does not require mechanics to initiate activities and interactions. Use your imagination, and consider publicly broadcasting activities you host or services your character can offer; people will take you up on it. Many staff members and players have offered considerable insight on how they create roleplay, which can be found in our "roleplay guides" forum section here.
- Roleplay does not have to constantly be "Lawmen vs. Outlaw vs. Civilian." Some examples of other activities include:
- Opening a saloon or joining one as a bartender / server
- Loan Shark / Debt Collector
- Transport Security
- Horse Auctioneer / Trader
- Hunter / Trapper
- Medical Professional
- Lawyer
- Snake Oil Salesman
- Events!
- Keep an eye out for events hosted by other players, or feel free to host one yourself! Unable to make it? Consider donating a prize to get your character's name out there, or help find sponsors to support it. Players are free to host events without the presence of staff members.
- Examples of events a player can host:
- Horse Race
- Boxing Competition
- Scavenger Hunt
- Rodeo
- Improv Comedy Club
- Singing / Talent Show
- Social Party of Gathering
Event Server:- WWRP offers an event server to help with the coordination of an anticipated large-scale event. To request the event server, contact staff via the support channel on our Discord and they will help set you up.
- Scenes!
- Our server as an intriguing scene placement system, which also allows for the placement of various props that can be used to leave details behind in the world and enhance your roleplay even further. A full guide on how to utilize this system can be found here.
SECTION FIVE - ADVANCED AND WHITELISTED ROLES
After spending some time on server, you and your character may find yourself having interest in taking up a specialization or government job that requires a higher-level of knowledge and skill, which is expected to be accompanied with a higher standard of roleplay. Some roles have an in-character application process, while others can be pursued by contacting staff via the support channel on our Discord. Current whitelisted roles are:
Deputy
- Can join by applying via the forums and following in-character procedure; seek a deputy in server for more information.
Department of Prisons
- Can join by applying via the forums and following in-character procedure; seek a Department of Prisons employee in server for more information.
Bounty Hunter
- Can join by applying via the forums and following in-character procedure; seek a Bounty Hunter or deputy in server for more information.
Government Role
- Roles include Governor, State Representative, Governor's Cabinet - elections are held in server and staff will help to facilitate joining the position if chosen.
Judiciary
- Roles include judicial clerk and judge, handled in-character and staff will help to facilitate joining if chosen. Ask a judge or clerk for more information in server.
Lawyers
- While not a whitelisted role, one can take a BAR exam in-server and receive forum/Discord permissions upon successful completion. Staff will help to facilitate.
Livestock Commission
- Overseen ultimately by the Governor, the Commission is led by a Livestock Commissioner who has discretion to hire additional agents. This is a whitelisted role, handled entirely via an in-character procedure and staff will help facilitate if obtained.
Doctors
- There are multiple levels to medical personnel in-server; a character can receive training from another in-server, but ultimately must apply to staff when they feel comfortable with their knowledge base to receive an appropriate level of permission.
Gunsmiths
- Gunsmiths can be trained by other characters like medical personnel in-server, but must also apply to staff to receive permissions.
Railway
- Players can work with trains on server; employees of the railway company are whitelisted roles but the application is handled IC. Speak to someone from the railway to learn more.
NOTE: A player also has the option to play a mute individual, depending on story circumstances, or real life considerations. The player must submit a support ticket to request approval on a character-by-character basis. Further information can be found here.
Credit to former contributors:
Jaena Shaw, Fiona Swift, Frank Devine, Kate Lennox, Jeremiah Jackson, Johnboy Cavanagh, Shemsedin Coselli, Piper Sloan, William Hayes, Hunter Hayes
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