Hello there maggot, today I, Heineken will teach you how to become a semi-decent to decent RPer.
First things first;
ASK yourself.
Is this what I want to do?
Am I really up for this time-consuming task?
Do I really find WW1 to be something THAT interesting?
If you answered yes to all three questions, then you seem to have nothing better to do and are qualified to start this arduous and never-ending journey.
Now what I want you to do is test yourself. Write as much as you can about an imaginary battle that took place in Berlin. This is serious. Start writing. Go.
DO NOT READ BELOW THIS IMAGE UNTIL YOU ARE FINISHED.
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If you wrote 1-2 paragraphs (100-200 words) then you should leave, right now.
(Your RPing level: Moron)
If you wrote 2-3 paragraphs (2-300 words) then you are not fit for RPing.
(Your RPing level: Noob)
If you wrote 3-4 paragraphs (3-400 words) then you are still not fit for RPing.
(Your RPing level: Chum-bucket)
If you wrote 4-5 paragraphs (4-500 words) then you are almost there, but still not fit for RPing.
(Your RPing level: Almost Competent)
If you wrote 5-7 paragraphs (5-600 words) then you are average.
(Your RPing level: Competent)
If you wrote 7-10 paragraphs (7-1000 words) then you are proficient.
(Your RPing level: Proficient)
If you wrote 10-15 paragraphs (1000-1500 words) then you are a fairly good writer.
(Your RPing level: Voracious)
If you wrote 15-20 paragraphs (1500-2000 words) then you are a masterful writer.
(Your RPing level: Masterful)
If you wroter 20-25 paragraphs (2000-2500 words) then you are an excellent writer.
(Your RPing level: Top Gun)
If you wrote 25+ paragraphs (2500+ words) then you are at the Old Guard level.
(Your RPing level: Old Guard)
If you scored above competent, then congratulations (but you still probably need help.) If you scored below, then don't be disappointed, I'm here to help.
Rule #1 of RPing - Don't make < 100 word articles. They are useless. They just clog up the DE and do nothing.
Rule #2 of RPing - No OOC posts unless you are posting to say you wont be on. I find myself guilty of this in many occasions and am doing my best to stop.
Rule #3 of RPing - No favoritism. As in, if your friend is in the game, do not join him in his alliance. It does nothing but make the game into a normal Supremacy game which is what us RPers try to avoid. That does not mean go to war with him, but only be his ally if your nation can gain something from such a pact. BE NEUTRAL. Ignore his username, pretend that you are in fact General Venzino Regatti, the autocrat of Italy, and Kaiser Baron von Bredfort wants to make an alliance with you for no reason.
Rule #4 of RPing - Post everyday or every other day.
Rule #5 of RPing - Do not seek empire. This might as well be called the IS Rule. Oil is important yes, but it can be gained through trade.
Rule #6 of RPing - Have fun. If RPing is not fun for you, then don't do it.
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Pointers on writing in general;
- Use adjectives. They bring your reader into the story.
- Go into detail, name the unit that is attacking Belgrade, tell the reader what the General had to say after his forces were routed. Be specific.
- Use spell-check. do not wriet liek this it id so anoying and do not write in runon sentences or forget your punctuoashion/capitale letters i will find you and i will burn you're hous doun if i ever see u writing in dis fashion i swaer to god i will go over their and wreck u.
- Use paragraphs. They make your block of text easier to read.
- Use dates/locations when reading. Use a simple header telling the reader when and where the article is being published.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So you find yourself writing an article, and can't think of what to write about or make the article anywhere near acceptable (400 words+). Then here are some tips.
- Go into detail. Include dialogue, perhaps an interview between the President and the newspaper. Include foreign affairs issues. France attacked Switzerland, what are you going to do about it? What preparations are underway? Are you an ally of France? Germany is threatening to attack France, will you announce your alliance to deter him? DETAILS BUDDY.
- Put yourself in your leader's shoes. What does your leader feel like on this day? Does he want to go out an have a press conference? What about your generals? Advisors?
- Is your nation running out of a resource? Go into detail about how the lack of a resource is affecting the populace. Use this to signal at any upcoming rebellions, or trade pacts. You have a surplus of iron, trade it with Morocco for God's sake.
- You just built the 'world's' first Dreadnought-class battleship. BRAG about it. Threaten your aggressive British neighbor with it. Did you build a Railway? Talk about how the construction of that railway will boost morale.
- Are elections coming up? Talk about the two candidates. Is civil war going to break out because your ruler is committing voter fraud?
- Is your neighbor having a famine or civil war? Talk about how your neighbor's government is incompetent, and perhaps use this as a clause for an 'intervention' or maybe even an alliance.
- Did you capture an unknown spy, or a Swedish one? Take action, sabre rattle, call for international action.
It's really not that hard.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tips for RPing:
- Write, you shouldn't care about your nation's ranking in the DE. IT IS IRRELEVANT, THIS IS NOT A REGULAR S1914 GAME.
- If your neighbor is invading everyone, then you should view him as a threat. Plot against him. RP games are meant to last, even if you are his ally it is not in your interests for him to become such a strong power. That does not mean that you should automatically go to war with him, but think of your nation AS YOUR OWN. No-one liked Britain when it was expanding, no-one liked the US when it went into the Middle East. BE REALISTIC.
- Be historically accurate. If the Turks are invading Serbia and you are Russia, you should in most situations intervene, lest he be stronger than you (Serbia is predominantly Slavic, as is Russia). The Balkans in particular are a melting pot of conflict. If Germany invades Switzerland, then France and Italy should be offended.
- Your ultimate goal should be to expand your nation's influence. That goes without saying that if you find your nation to be weak you cannot turn the tables via diplomacy. The main goal however, should be to exhibit your RPing skills.
- Do not let a single power bloc dominate the game. If the alliance consists of France, Germany, Great Britain, Austria, The Ottoman Empire and Russia THEN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG HERE. As I said before, this game should be HISTORICALLY ACCURATE. Russia and Austria would never be caught dead near the Turks, and France/Great Britain hate Germany. You can improve relations as the game goes on, but alliances should for the most part be realistic.
- Let real-life have a take in the game. Religion, Politics, Government, etc. should all take a part in whether or not your nation accepts to the terms of an alliance. Perhaps being an alliance is not even in your nation's interests. It could force you to devote resources into a costly conflict that does not benefit your nation at all. You could throw an oddball however and make an alliance between Austria and the Turks, but this should only be spurred on in special circumstances.
- Place a particularly heavy weight on human lives. If you lost 100,000 men in a conflict, regardless of whether you are winning it or not, you should see the negative effects (be it through protests or negative propaganda from your own nation). Even if your ruler doesn't care, the people should. In WW1 there were cameras and videos of soldiers being mutilated by machine guns. I get that you should seek to further your nation, but you must also see the other side of the coin.
- WHAT DO THE PEOPLE THINK? 100,000 men died in the failed assault on Koenisberg. That's 100,000 families without a son. Those 100,000 families will all protest. Not a single person likes war, let that reflect in the populace's opinion. Your ruler and his advisors may approve of your invasion of tiny little Malta, but the people will not. This may spur on a revolution. Simulate what will happen in your head, do you really think the people/the parliament will sit idly by as you go to war with France, Sweden, and Russia with no allies? NO! They will either impeach you or a revolution will break out. That doesn't mean that you can't rally the people with an inspiring speech, but that will only last you so long. Will you send the military into major cities to stop a riot/rebellion? Will you abolish parliament but at the same time risk an assassination attempt?
- Be realistic, if your nation is being invaded morale will drop throughout the entire country. You will eventually have to sign a truce as the defeats mount. If you're invading another country however, and you aren't suffering particularly heavy casualties, then perhaps morale will rise.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remember that Test I made you do in the beginning of the article? You will be writing at least one of those 500+ word articles every day or other day. The point of an RP is for every member to contribute into one big story that will be fun to read once the game ends.
That is all for now! Stay Classy, S1914.
First things first;
ASK yourself.
Is this what I want to do?
Am I really up for this time-consuming task?
Do I really find WW1 to be something THAT interesting?
If you answered yes to all three questions, then you seem to have nothing better to do and are qualified to start this arduous and never-ending journey.
Now what I want you to do is test yourself. Write as much as you can about an imaginary battle that took place in Berlin. This is serious. Start writing. Go.
DO NOT READ BELOW THIS IMAGE UNTIL YOU ARE FINISHED.
If you wrote 1-2 paragraphs (100-200 words) then you should leave, right now.
(Your RPing level: Moron)
If you wrote 2-3 paragraphs (2-300 words) then you are not fit for RPing.
(Your RPing level: Noob)
If you wrote 3-4 paragraphs (3-400 words) then you are still not fit for RPing.
(Your RPing level: Chum-bucket)
If you wrote 4-5 paragraphs (4-500 words) then you are almost there, but still not fit for RPing.
(Your RPing level: Almost Competent)
If you wrote 5-7 paragraphs (5-600 words) then you are average.
(Your RPing level: Competent)
If you wrote 7-10 paragraphs (7-1000 words) then you are proficient.
(Your RPing level: Proficient)
If you wrote 10-15 paragraphs (1000-1500 words) then you are a fairly good writer.
(Your RPing level: Voracious)
If you wrote 15-20 paragraphs (1500-2000 words) then you are a masterful writer.
(Your RPing level: Masterful)
If you wroter 20-25 paragraphs (2000-2500 words) then you are an excellent writer.
(Your RPing level: Top Gun)
If you wrote 25+ paragraphs (2500+ words) then you are at the Old Guard level.
(Your RPing level: Old Guard)
If you scored above competent, then congratulations (but you still probably need help.) If you scored below, then don't be disappointed, I'm here to help.
Rule #1 of RPing - Don't make < 100 word articles. They are useless. They just clog up the DE and do nothing.
Rule #2 of RPing - No OOC posts unless you are posting to say you wont be on. I find myself guilty of this in many occasions and am doing my best to stop.
Rule #3 of RPing - No favoritism. As in, if your friend is in the game, do not join him in his alliance. It does nothing but make the game into a normal Supremacy game which is what us RPers try to avoid. That does not mean go to war with him, but only be his ally if your nation can gain something from such a pact. BE NEUTRAL. Ignore his username, pretend that you are in fact General Venzino Regatti, the autocrat of Italy, and Kaiser Baron von Bredfort wants to make an alliance with you for no reason.
Rule #4 of RPing - Post everyday or every other day.
Rule #5 of RPing - Do not seek empire. This might as well be called the IS Rule. Oil is important yes, but it can be gained through trade.
Rule #6 of RPing - Have fun. If RPing is not fun for you, then don't do it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pointers on writing in general;
- Use adjectives. They bring your reader into the story.
- Go into detail, name the unit that is attacking Belgrade, tell the reader what the General had to say after his forces were routed. Be specific.
- Use spell-check. do not wriet liek this it id so anoying and do not write in runon sentences or forget your punctuoashion/capitale letters i will find you and i will burn you're hous doun if i ever see u writing in dis fashion i swaer to god i will go over their and wreck u.
- Use paragraphs. They make your block of text easier to read.
- Use dates/locations when reading. Use a simple header telling the reader when and where the article is being published.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So you find yourself writing an article, and can't think of what to write about or make the article anywhere near acceptable (400 words+). Then here are some tips.
- Go into detail. Include dialogue, perhaps an interview between the President and the newspaper. Include foreign affairs issues. France attacked Switzerland, what are you going to do about it? What preparations are underway? Are you an ally of France? Germany is threatening to attack France, will you announce your alliance to deter him? DETAILS BUDDY.
- Put yourself in your leader's shoes. What does your leader feel like on this day? Does he want to go out an have a press conference? What about your generals? Advisors?
- Is your nation running out of a resource? Go into detail about how the lack of a resource is affecting the populace. Use this to signal at any upcoming rebellions, or trade pacts. You have a surplus of iron, trade it with Morocco for God's sake.
- You just built the 'world's' first Dreadnought-class battleship. BRAG about it. Threaten your aggressive British neighbor with it. Did you build a Railway? Talk about how the construction of that railway will boost morale.
- Are elections coming up? Talk about the two candidates. Is civil war going to break out because your ruler is committing voter fraud?
- Is your neighbor having a famine or civil war? Talk about how your neighbor's government is incompetent, and perhaps use this as a clause for an 'intervention' or maybe even an alliance.
- Did you capture an unknown spy, or a Swedish one? Take action, sabre rattle, call for international action.
It's really not that hard.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tips for RPing:
- Write, you shouldn't care about your nation's ranking in the DE. IT IS IRRELEVANT, THIS IS NOT A REGULAR S1914 GAME.
- If your neighbor is invading everyone, then you should view him as a threat. Plot against him. RP games are meant to last, even if you are his ally it is not in your interests for him to become such a strong power. That does not mean that you should automatically go to war with him, but think of your nation AS YOUR OWN. No-one liked Britain when it was expanding, no-one liked the US when it went into the Middle East. BE REALISTIC.
- Be historically accurate. If the Turks are invading Serbia and you are Russia, you should in most situations intervene, lest he be stronger than you (Serbia is predominantly Slavic, as is Russia). The Balkans in particular are a melting pot of conflict. If Germany invades Switzerland, then France and Italy should be offended.
- Your ultimate goal should be to expand your nation's influence. That goes without saying that if you find your nation to be weak you cannot turn the tables via diplomacy. The main goal however, should be to exhibit your RPing skills.
- Do not let a single power bloc dominate the game. If the alliance consists of France, Germany, Great Britain, Austria, The Ottoman Empire and Russia THEN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG HERE. As I said before, this game should be HISTORICALLY ACCURATE. Russia and Austria would never be caught dead near the Turks, and France/Great Britain hate Germany. You can improve relations as the game goes on, but alliances should for the most part be realistic.
- Let real-life have a take in the game. Religion, Politics, Government, etc. should all take a part in whether or not your nation accepts to the terms of an alliance. Perhaps being an alliance is not even in your nation's interests. It could force you to devote resources into a costly conflict that does not benefit your nation at all. You could throw an oddball however and make an alliance between Austria and the Turks, but this should only be spurred on in special circumstances.
- Place a particularly heavy weight on human lives. If you lost 100,000 men in a conflict, regardless of whether you are winning it or not, you should see the negative effects (be it through protests or negative propaganda from your own nation). Even if your ruler doesn't care, the people should. In WW1 there were cameras and videos of soldiers being mutilated by machine guns. I get that you should seek to further your nation, but you must also see the other side of the coin.
- WHAT DO THE PEOPLE THINK? 100,000 men died in the failed assault on Koenisberg. That's 100,000 families without a son. Those 100,000 families will all protest. Not a single person likes war, let that reflect in the populace's opinion. Your ruler and his advisors may approve of your invasion of tiny little Malta, but the people will not. This may spur on a revolution. Simulate what will happen in your head, do you really think the people/the parliament will sit idly by as you go to war with France, Sweden, and Russia with no allies? NO! They will either impeach you or a revolution will break out. That doesn't mean that you can't rally the people with an inspiring speech, but that will only last you so long. Will you send the military into major cities to stop a riot/rebellion? Will you abolish parliament but at the same time risk an assassination attempt?
- Be realistic, if your nation is being invaded morale will drop throughout the entire country. You will eventually have to sign a truce as the defeats mount. If you're invading another country however, and you aren't suffering particularly heavy casualties, then perhaps morale will rise.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remember that Test I made you do in the beginning of the article? You will be writing at least one of those 500+ word articles every day or other day. The point of an RP is for every member to contribute into one big story that will be fun to read once the game ends.
That is all for now! Stay Classy, S1914.