Fantasy Cads & Credibility (an Austenian regency ball)

[Julian Spooner]

Welcome, friends!

Now, this isn't exactly fantasy- but it felt wrong to advertise it only in realistic/modern, so I thought I'd hedge my bets.

Setting

The roleplay I am envisaging is a lively romp set in the late regency, middle/class gentry world as depicted by Jane Austen, and is inspired by her novels. The roleplay will take place over the course of a ball, hosted at a wealthy family's house. The implied objective of a ball, of course, is for young people to perhaps find a suitable marriage partner...

Characters

You DON'T have to attempt Austen's style, but I have a wee twist in mind that I hope will make things interesting. Once you have posted an expression of interest here, PM me to discuss a set of Austenian character-types... your challenge will be to write your character and their interactions in keeping with a certain type (you won't openly announce your type, but leave it for people to guess...)

A character chart (which you can post on OOC board once you've been accepted) will look something like this:

Name:
Rank:
Age:
Gender:
Family fortunes: (eg. whether they are rich or poor, going up or coming down in the world, live mainly in town or in the country, are fashionable or quaint)
Person: (brief description of appearance)
Character: (brief description of personality)
Talents:
Profession: (if any. Women, first-born sons and high ranking people aren't likely to have one, but younger sons and lower rank people might be clergymen, lawyers, doctors or so forth)
[Character-type: this you discuss via PM with me and don't include on character-chart!]

Character-types (there might be multiples of each, and more types can be added)

Spoiler: Character types

• The Ingenue: A young, pretty, moral woman- perhaps a little naive but ready to learn
  
  
• The wit: male or female, an unconventional person who is keenly aware of everyone's flaws and foibles
  
  
• The Very Sensible young lady: she might not be dazzling, but she's prudent and wise
  
  
• The hopeless romantic: Male or female, this person is full of poetry and fiery principles
  
  
• The Very Respectable gentleman: Look at him, he's irreproachable
  
  
• The idler: This idle young man seems reluctant to make himself useful, but will his pleasures remain harmless, or will the devil find work for idle hands?
  
  
• The cruel patriarch/matriarch: Obsessed with wealth and rank, controlling of everyone's behaviour
  
  
• The mad mama: Is a bit ridiculous and just wants to get everyone married
  
  
• The "harmless" rake: A merry young gentleman who loves to flirt, and may be careless of other people's feelings
  
  
• The sinister cad: A scheming young gentleman out to seduce, either for money or just to break hearts
  
  
• The "harmless" flirt: a flighty young woman who loves to flirt, but may get herself or others in trouble
  
  
• The mercenary flirt: A scheming young woman out to flirt, either for money or just to break hearts
  
  
• The gentleman who is not so unpleasant as he seems: this person has unappealing manners- he might be grave, reserved, proud, awkward, shy or stupid seeming, but underneath has an excellent character
  
  
• The gentleman who is exactly as unpleasant as he seems: omg, get this guy away from me
  
  
• The pleasant young man with controlling relatives: This guy is lovely, but he'd better do what his terrible relatives say if he wants to get his fortune...
  
  
• The absurdity: These people, male or female, have some utterly ridiculous character-traits and are basically a joke (you get lots of creative license here)
  
  
• The SECRETLY ENGAGED: Two people might choose to be SECRETLY ENGAGED!
  
  
• The wealthy heir/heiress: Might overlap with some of the other character types

The Franks

I'd like to begin with a central family, so please let me know if anyone would be interested in playing a member of the Frank family (a gentleman's family of middling rank and unimpressive fortune). We will need a Mr and/or Mrs Frank, and some Frank daughters and sons and maybe a poor frank cousin staying for the summer.

To join

Post an expression of interest here, I'll PM you to discuss possible character-types. Once you've been accepted you can post a character-sheet in the OOC section.

I'd like some detailed, active roleplayers who have a bit of time on their hands to get the ball rolling, and who are familiar enough with the setting and concept to make a good go of it.

 

[Julian Spooner]

Roleplay board: https://www.rpnation.com/threads/cads-credibility.342678/
OOC/Characters: https://www.rpnation.com/threads/cads-credibility-ooc-characters.342680/

 

[Julian Spooner]

Also, let me know if this is confusing and I will clarify!

To be clear, you don't need to be an Austen expert to play. If you've seen some film adaptions and think you get the gist, welcome aboard!

 

[Julian Spooner]

Bumping with Mr Darcy in a wet shirt

 

[Julian Spooner]

Bumping with the fact that I went to a regency ball in real life last night! It was the nerdiest and most fun thing in the world. I even got to tell my friend off for sitting in the corner eating jelly while there were LADIES WHO DID NOT HAVE PARTNERS.

 

[Pauly51]

Hey, I am new to RPNation, but I would like to participate in your role play. I have an idea for a character who is a neighbor of the Franks, who has recently returned from the Pennisular War with France.

Pauly51