Advice/Help Questions from a complete and total newbie

beacardan203

New Member
Roleplay Availability
I am looking for roleplays.
Roleplay Type(s)
  1. Group
  2. Dice
Hi! I'm Bea, and I have no idea how to do anything on this site. I tend to be socially awkward and too shy for my own good, and it's a new year's resolution of mine to cut that out, I figured I might as well just ask for help right away (literal hours after joining) and hope for the best.

Starting off strong, I have no idea how to enter a role-play. I've tried to read the guide rpn supplies, but it makes no sense to me for a reason I do not understand. How do you approach and ask to join? How do you make a character sheet and all that jazz?

Is there someone I should be private messaging, or not? I'm just really confused and trying not to mess up before I even begin.

If I'm being ignorant and annoying for posting this thread I'm really sorry, I'm just really overwhelmed and kinda embarrassed for being on here and interacting with real people. All I've done in the past is talk to ai, which was much simpler than all this, and I'm really trying to quit that for personally coming to the conclusion that using ai wasn't good. This is an alternative that I hope it's better, and I'd really like to fit in on hear.

So, yeah. That's basically it. Help, please?
 
Go to an interest check and ask if there is room or if it's still open to new players.

Always pm your gm. Anyone who has ran an rp would change something in a heart beat if it's reasonable, than lose a good player because they didn't speak up sooner.

Mostly just know that you'll probably be self conscious about your writing, but that's a good thing. It means you need to practice more and actually do research on how to improve.

And that is never a bad thing.
 
Hi!

Welcome to RPN! K sooooo like I can only speak about groups RP and 1x1.

Basically you go to the Interest Check thread, state interest, got to Out OF Character hash it all out and make characters, then finalize/get characters approved, go to the In Character thread and begin RP proper.

I say start in 1x1. Why? Because of the way a lot of 1x1ers lay out their expectations up front. You find out if it could work between the both of you. That and like coming from RP with AI I'm guessing that's closer to 1x1 RP than group.

Go to the 1x1 interest checks and look at the ones that take time to list out certain categories. Things like:

- Intro so you know a bit where they coming from
- Cravings and interested genres ideas. K so like here you find what ideas they open to and pref: if they wanna RP with gender prefs or if they open, genres and fandoms, or like mashups. Things like that.
- Rules and EXPECTATIONS. this is the big one. Here you see if you compatible. Here you find prefs of things like: min age of partner, genders of pairings, writing level, post frequency, post size, reply times, ick/deal-breakers etc.

If you find one you like go on and respond to the 1x1 chk. The reason I say starts with 1x1 is that the good thing about 1x1 is that there are usually many willing to take on a RP noob as a partner. DON'T BE AFRAID TO LET THEM KNOW YOU NOOB.

BUT! I suggest you put up your own 1x1 interest post anyways. That way other rpers can see who and what you about. Like take a look at other well done 1x1 Chks and follow their format. No one seems to do it now but like back in the day eeeeeeeerybody had that all listed in their ABout page but a post in the int CHK to link others to works well too.

Now remember EXPECTATIONS. Bigtime part of that is communicating with your partner. K so like some may not be too chatty outside the actual RP itself BUT like you should always be Expected to let your partner know if you can't post for a while or even continue with RP. I say this to you because you are new and like I'd looooooove it if you got it early into the habit of communicating first before ghosting others. That and a lot of heartache comes from not reciprocating the energy of your partner so laying out expectations will let you know if it takes some compromise between you two.

1x1 also has more of an even level of creative input and bouncing offa each other's idea. Diff with group is that it is run by the Game Mod/Master and usually they create pretty much everything and you create charries and follow their lead and decisions. 1x1 is more equal partnership, Group lead and decisions defaulted/vetoed by the GM.

Hope this helps!
 
I second bugs suggestion, I always recommend starting with 1x1 checks because you are talking to one person one on one (hence the name lol).

Now you can check out existing interest checks here - 1x1 Interest Checks

I would start with someone who has a slow posting schedule (ex. I can post one or twice a week). Those people tend to be very laid back and are more likely to be patient with you as you figure things out.

Not to say faster replies are bad, just not something you want to deal with when your first starting out and don’t know what your doing.

Also communicate with your partner.

Again laid back posters tend to be pretty chill with whatever happens. Whether it’s you not being able to post, you needing help fleshing out your ideas, etc.

But people can’t help if you don’t tell them there is an issue. So don’t be afraid to tell them - hey I’m new and I don’t know how to do X.

Lastly don’t feel embarrassed about starting out. This is a pretty contained eco system when it comes to roleplaying. So even people with years of experience are often confused when they first start because RPN has its own specific ways of doing things.

Which is why everyone is so chill about helping newcomers. We all remember what it was like to come here and flail around while we figured stuff out.
 
Hello and welcome to rpn. Not much I can say which hasn't been said. However, I completely think starting with one on one is the wrong way to go. I learned best in group settings. That way you know you are not just working with one persons set of expectations. You get to write with multiple people , concepts and ideas. Try joining a group where everyone is new. :)

With one on ones your often just working with one persons limitations or restictions.

There are plenty of good group rps searching for people and most of the gms here are very chill :)

goodluck with everything
 
Hello and welcome to rpn. Not much I can say which hasn't been said. However, I completely think starting with one on one is the wrong way to go. I learned best in group settings. That way you know you are not just working with one persons set of expectations. You get to write with multiple people , concepts and ideas. Try joining a group where everyone is new. :)

With one on ones your often just working with one persons limitations or restictions.

There are plenty of good group rps searching for people and most of the gms here are very chill :)

goodluck with everything

I think groups would be the wrong choice for the OP because they mention being shy and socially awkward , plus their experience is writing with AI (which would be a 1x1 type situation).

As someone who is also very shy and socially awkward groups just stressed me out when I first started roleplaying.

I did a lot better in 1x1s, because it’s easier to make friends and get comfortable with one person than try to interact with an entire group of strangers.

Add to that groups have a natural tendency to move much quicker than 1x1s, especially if you aren’t on the same schedule as everyone else and it’s easy to feel left out and left behind.

Not saying groups are bad for beginners across the board but if your already shy and feeling a little anxious about fitting in then they might not be the best starting point.
 
I think groups would be the wrong choice for the OP because they mention being shy and socially awkward , plus their experience is writing with AI (which would be a 1x1 type situation).

As someone who is also very shy and socially awkward groups just stressed me out when I first started roleplaying.

I did a lot better in 1x1s, because it’s easier to make friends and get comfortable with one person than try to interact with an entire group of strangers.

Add to that groups have a natural tendency to move much quicker than 1x1s, especially if you aren’t on the same schedule as everyone else and it’s easy to feel left out and left behind.

Not saying groups are bad for beginners across the board but if your already shy and feeling a little anxious about fitting in then they might not be the best starting point.
As much as I would not advocate for anyone to do something they are not comfortable with when it comes to hobby time, this is only a bandage solution. I would rather not provide kindling to a mindset that will not help people later in life, like coddling shyness on an anonymous forum. That said, 1v1's are also terrible for self esteem because people tend to leave easier, be set in their ways more, and ghost randomly more than if they are in a group. So that is also a consideration when looking into 1 v 1's. I'd much rather dm a gamemaster looking to please people than trying to please a set of roleplayers who have no guilt ghosting and ending rps.
 
As much as I would not advocate for anyone to do something they are not comfortable with when it comes to hobby time, this is only a bandage solution. I would rather not provide kindling to a mindset that will not help people later in life, like coddling shyness on an anonymous forum. That said, 1v1's are also terrible for self esteem because people tend to leave easier, be set in their ways more, and ghost randomly more than if they are in a group. So that is also a consideration when looking into 1 v 1's. I'd much rather dm a gamemaster looking to please people than trying to please a set of roleplayers who have no guilt ghosting and ending rps.
This was sort of what I was trying to get at too. For me a one on one would be so much pressure and yes ghosting is such a killer to the soul.
So, one on one's have always really scared me because I really have super low self esteem when it comes to writing. In a group I have so much confidence. You have multiple people reading your work and commenting on it or liking or perhaps even loving your work.

Though, I completely can see where one one one's are there own thing. I see them as having vast more confidence then I do
 
This was sort of what I was trying to get at too. For me a one on one would be so much pressure and yes ghosting is such a killer to the soul.
So, one on one's have always really scared me because I really have super low self esteem when it comes to writing. In a group I have so much confidence. You have multiple people reading your work and commenting on it or liking or perhaps even loving your work.

Though, I completely can see where one one one's are there own thing. I see them as having vast more confidence then I do
I'm mostly of the same opinion, except I see 1 x 1s as romance rps. I tried finding an rp partner not willing to do romance and probably lost a lot of potential chances haha.

Bit with groups like you said, you can connect with more people because you're not trying to please one Person
 
Howdy, sorry for bumping this threads, but I have a question, I recently just join the server (usually just here for the writing and been reading the other threads) so still a nooblets, I wish to ask, if there is a thread on the 1 x 1 recruitsments and they wish to DM it, do i just start a conversation with the tittle of the Recruitment RP? or Do i tittle it something else? and after that should i make a thread on the 1 x 1 roleplays for us to RP? or is it okay to keep using the conversation/PM function instead?

(I'm simply asking what is the right or the wrong way to interact with someone, and how should start an RP Thread?) (sorry for being kind of ignorants, the answer maybe already in this forum somewhere, but honestly its a bit much and i easilly overwhelm so i prefer to simply ask rather than come out empty handed)
 
Howdy, sorry for bumping this threads, but I have a question, I recently just join the server (usually just here for the writing and been reading the other threads) so still a nooblets, I wish to ask, if there is a thread on the 1 x 1 recruitsments and they wish to DM it, do i just start a conversation with the tittle of the Recruitment RP? or Do i tittle it something else? and after that should i make a thread on the 1 x 1 roleplays for us to RP? or is it okay to keep using the conversation/PM function instead?

(I'm simply asking what is the right or the wrong way to interact with someone, and how should start an RP Thread?) (sorry for being kind of ignorants, the answer maybe already in this forum somewhere, but honestly its a bit much and i easilly overwhelm so i prefer to simply ask rather than come out empty handed)

So typically you don’t start a 1x1 thread until after you and your partner have chatted a bit about logistics. So you can ask them outright if they would prefer to roleplay in PMs or threads , if they want you to make the thread or if they do.

As for contacting someone the title can be whatever you want.

Unless the interest check specifically requests you title your PM something most people will click anything that comes into their inbox when they get the chance.

What is important is the content of the message. Introduce yourself, tell them how often you can post replies, if you have one send them a writing sample, and highlight which of their writing prompts your interested in.
 
So typically you don’t start a 1x1 thread until after you and your partner have chatted a bit about logistics. So you can ask them outright if they would prefer to roleplay in PMs or threads , if they want you to make the thread or if they do.

As for contacting someone the title can be whatever you want.

Unless the interest check specifically requests you title your PM something most people will click anything that comes into their inbox when they get the chance.

What is important is the content of the message. Introduce yourself, tell them how often you can post replies, if you have one send them a writing sample, and highlight which of their writing prompts your interested in.
Thanks mate, much appriciated.
 

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