Etiquette and Style Guide

From Tapestries MUCK

In roleplay, etiquette and style are often intertwined due to the heavy amount of interpersonal interaction involved. This document is intended to give a set of basic guidelines which can ensure a smoother play experience for everyone.

Contents 1 Etiquette 1.1 Respect 1.2 Cooperation 1.3 Communication 1.4 Separation 2 Style

Etiquette

Etiquette can be defined as how a player interacts out-of-character.

Respect

First and foremost, always remember that everyone you interact with is another person worthy of respect as a unique individual. In OOC interactions, you should always be doing the following:

• Respect others' preferences, even if you don't share them.
• Be polite, no matter what you may feel about the other person.
• Be aware of your feelings, and avoid taking out any negative emotions on others.
• Remember to give back as much as you take.

Cooperation

Tapestries is, at its core, a big collaborative fiction-writing environment. While characters may dislike one another, quarrel, fight, or even come to blows, it's all part of the story that you're weaving with your fellow players. As such:

• Remember that roleplay isn't a competitive game: there's no reason to try to "win" or make others "lose".
  • In conflict-oriented roleplay in particular, it's important to remember that just because your character loses a fight, it doesn't mean that you as a player lost!
  • "Winning" at the expense of another player's feelings means that the roleplay should never have happened. Simple as that.
• Acknowledge others when approached. There's no reason to ignore people who try to speak to you.
• Approach others if you want to speak to them or roleplay with them. It may be hard or intimidating, but roleplay only happens if someone says hello!

Communication

In my experience, a failure to communicate is the biggest and most pervasive cause of player conflict on Tapestries. Improving communication can solve many problems before they ever start.

• Before roleplay:
  • Ask if the people you want to roleplay with are okay with starting a scene or you joining one already in progress.
  • Tell people if you want something specific from the scene, or have a particular direction you'd like the roleplay to go.
• During roleplay:
  • If something in a scene makes you uncomfortable, say something.
    • Share your concerns with the other person.
    • Discuss to see if you can agree on another direction for the scene.
    • Whatever you do, don't just "man up" and bury your discomfort, or leave without saying anything. Bottling your concerns breeds resentment, and leaving without saying anything is considered quite rude.
  • Similarly, be alert to the other player's behavior. If they seem uncomfortable or distracted, be proactive and ask them if there's something you can do differently.
  • If you need to leave early, let your roleplay partner(s) know.
• After roleplay:
  • Thank your partner(s) for the scene.
  • It's considered polite to ask others if they're alright with you WatchFor-ing them. Some also take it as a complement!

Separation

The second biggest cause of conflict that I'm aware of is due to players becoming upset about what's happening in-character. There isn't a list associated with this idea, just a single recommendation: remember that IC should be separate from OOC and that others' characters are often completely different from who they are in real life! If something in a scene upsets you, communicate about it.

Style