It's the little things...

[Shalandravv]

Well, here's a pointless post. Chalk it up to sleep deprivation and a late night.

After years of playing online RPGs, I've noticed special little trends when it comes to roleplaying in deep moments, or just passive times. Along the lines of George Carlin, they're "The little things" we all share in common when roleplaying together.

There's one instance I've noticed that pops up during roleplay sessions. I call it "The Collective Space out"

You ever notice, every once in awhile when roleplaying how everyone just suddenly stops speaking? You could be in the middle of a deep conversation, a casual joke, or an epic speech between your arch nemesis when all of a sudden, -POP-, everything just comes crashing for like 30 seconds as everyone roleplaying just spaces out until someone comes back around to break the silence.

A funny joke is just told, everyone laughs, or just another line is added to the dialogue and all you can hear for the next few moments is crickets.

I love things like that. Very human things we have in common.

Anyone know what I'm talking about?

Can anyone think of any other shared roleplaying habits?

Anyway, to sleep!

[lankycheese]

Heh yea, I know what you mean, call them awkward pauses, or thinking moments, or whatever, but they're there.

The latest one happened to me yesterday when Shal and Til were talking, and there was a moment where the silence felt apart of the script, both characters were in deep thought and I could almost hear the wind.

Other times it's because I can't think of anything else to say.

I have to say though, my favourite little trend, or trick with RPing, is improvising. RPing with things that arn't there. Whether it be pulling out some rope, or writing on the sign here, or even jumping into the water to catch a fish! It can often turn into a little story telling of what you are doing. The biggest instance of this would have to be when a group of us all went on that boat near the Anshar temple. I was so enthralled by it I completely forgot we were just sitting on the dock until Astymer asked us what the hell we were doing.

[Mireille]

Oh, so it isn't for working out how to either escape the party or how to kill them?

Silly me...

[Kell]

Sometimes you connect, sometimes you don't. Sometimes you just haven't got anything to tell anymore after hours of talking to eachother. Sometimes you really just don't think it's worth it. Sometimes you want to beat your opponent in the head with a blunt object, sometimes you'd rather kiss them. And you think about it for a while. And then there's the silence.

Suddenly everybody starts either scratching their heads or asses, starts looking about theirselves, pondering the weather and there's the awkward silence.

Time to bring out that blunt object to beat those teeth out of your lovers mouth eh? Whack.

[Roser]

i like to call these times my "mental lapses"


hell sometimes i even stop right in the middle of sentences

[Evelond Formos]

These times happen to me quite often.

i.e.,

Subject A(erm, how about Divven Arkenath?)
Subject B(Hakiseth Freeman, of course)
Subject C(Tillirin(spell check? and i don't know his last name))

Divven: No, really, I'm a good drow!
*silence*
*monsters attack, and Divven flees with a darkness spell*
*Tillirin and Hakiseth kill the foes*
*Hakiseth kills Divven*
Hakiseth: Don't ever do those magic tricks on a pirate!
*I don't remember the rest that happened*

This actually happened, believe it or not!

Silences actually get me anxious. I don't know what to say, and have no idea what's coming next. One of these days those silences are going to kill one of my characters.

[Mon-Da-Oth]

Sure I believe it. Myles would kill a Drow too.

[Evelond Formos]

Sure I believe it. Myles would kill a Drow too.

Would you believe he ooc respawned, and returned? (he did NOT perform combat, as far as I remember, so I do not think it is against server rules? Ah well, I was an ameture RPist back then. *shrugs*

[lankycheese]

Heh that was cool. We were having some awesome banter against your drow, then the shadow fiends jumped on us in the silent pause. Awesome timing there. But we arn't griefers so once we killed ya we let you go on your buisness.

[Eragon]

The biggest instance of this would have to be when a group of us all went on that boat near the Anshar temple. I was so enthralled by it I completely forgot we were just sitting on the dock until Astymer asked us what the hell we were doing.

Man, that might be the most awesome thing I've ever been a part of. Have to hand it to Justin for pulling us all in to that one.

That night was probably the night which left the biggest imprint on my character as well. She is now dead terrified of boats and water ;p