First Time Roleplayer's Guide
From Convergence
What is roleplay?
Roleplaying is a type of interactive writing. Each person plays a role of a certain character in a certain setting. Here in Covergence you have the opportunity to write as a character based in the Wheel of Time setting (Age of Destiny), Joss Whedon's Firefly, or an Original Fantasy world (Cranna). Your characters will interact with other characters in these settings, and what you do will affect that setting, and the events in the setting world will affect your characters.
You can play as many characters as you want and create just the kind of character you want to write as long as it first the setting.
What is this Age of Destiny thing?
The world of Age of Destiny is very similar to the Wheel of Time books written by Robert Jordan, allowing role-playing in a time where the Dragon Reborn is discovering himself, and preparing the world for the Last Battle. You can play any kind of a character that could exist in the world of the books and even concepts that are more unique. Your character could be anything from a noble savage Aiel to a male channeler in the Black Tower or a Warder dedicated to the protection of the White Tower.
What is this Cranna thing?
In the Cranna setting some people can wield the powers of the elements and their strong magic brought destruction to their home. Now they are scattered around the world and persecuted. Are you one of these feared Patternbearers? What will you do with yourself and your powers? What kind of adventures will you experience?
What is this Firefly thing?
Coming Soon!
How do I roleplay?
This roleplay takes place on message boards located here. You will write a piece from that character's point of view, third person past tense being customary, and post it as a new thread or part of an existing thread. Other players will then reply posting pieces from their character's point of view. However, there are three key points of etiquette to be aware of before you start posting.
- SETTING HARMONY. All characters should have a biography, or bio, detailing their history, personality and appearance and any special skills that they might have. To make sure that the character fits the world and is in balance with the other characters, the bio should be approved by a Staff member before roleplay begins. This should take no longer than a day. Your characters abilities and talents should also fit their background. If your character was raised as the literate son of a high lord it would be reasonable for you to assume that he can read the Old Tongue; that same character is unlikely to have woodcraft or tracking skills which a common born character might have.
- THREE-DIMENSIONALITY. Perfect characters are boring and nobody wants to play the less interesting henchman to your stunningly gorgeous, fabulously intelligent, super-powered legendary princess heroine. Just like an ordinary person, your characters will have strengths and weaknesses, good points, bad points, flaws and complexities. Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose. Sometimes they fail utterly at everything they turn their hand to. That's where the interest is in roleplay. Flesh out your character with flaws and play them.
- CONSENT. Talk to other players before you start plot involving them and make certain everyone is happy. You shouldn't harm or kill another player's character without their permission. You should not do something which would have a significant effect on other people's characters without gaining their permission. Most players will be open to new possibilities.
How do I get started?
It's as easy as one two three:
- Check out the Bio creation outline and as much background information as you feel necessary.
- Get your character concept written up into a bio and post it to the Bio Board. Our coordinators are quick and usually they post their approval within a day.
- Start your roleplay!
Your character concept is the initial idea you have for this character. You might want to play the angry Illianer innkeeper who joins the Band of the Red Hand to protect her war-obsessed young brother, or the subtle, devious Cairhienin spy, or a sultry and empty headed courtesan from the Domani courts. Bear in mind the THREE-DIMENSIONALITY rule from above. You might want to play the legendarily beautiful, high spirited, flawless princess fleeing an arranged marriage who has amazing strength in saidar and is destined to become Amyrlin Seat, but your bio will not be approved until you have taken the perfection down a notch.
What is a bio and how do I write one?
Your biography or bio is basically a character sheet which lays out certain key details about the character you'd like to play. It's like the foundation on which you can build your roleplay. Bio can be as long or short as you like. Some people like to flesh their characters out more during the roleplays.
In a bio you should list your character's name, age, origin, description, personality, history and possibly some notes about any skills or agenda they might have. Other characters are not aware of this bio, only other players, so feel free to write about their motivations and secrets.
Any tips on writing a good bio?
Some general tips that are common to all groups:
- your character should be be from a continent in the known world
- don't include the Forsaken or main plot characters such as the Dragon Reborn
- unless you have played your character for a very long time already, you shouldn't be a blademaster or a masterful channeler
Any tips on making a good impression?
- There are very few rules and guidelines in Convergence. Our main motto is 'Have fun without impending on the fun of others'. If you play by this, you will do just fine.
- Be polite and constructive with other members. Discuss your ideas with others and be open to other people's ideas too. Best roleplaying stories are crafted together and are the brain child of everyone involved, not just yours.
- Be friendly and contribute to the atmosphere. Offering help if someone needs assistance always gets you kudos.
Can you show me some other resources?
- This wiki is a wealth of information on all things Convergence.
- Our boards contain roleplays for those who'd like to see what we've been up to.
- The concordance contains everything you'll ever need to know about the Wheel of Time. What existing book might a lady of cultured tastes be reading? Is there any herb to treat blood loss? This site has the answer ... and if there's anything it can't tell you, the Wheel of Time encyclopaedia has it.
- Old Tongue dictionary for when you can't remember that word al'Lan Mandragoran used to describe a love lost beyond regaining.
- And lastly, a dictionary and a thesaurus are your friends.
How do I advance?
You may be thinking right now that you'd like to play an Ajah Head, the M'Hael, an Aiel Society Leader or even a queen. How do you get there? The fast answer is to refer you back up to the PERMISSION rule. If a position is open, ask and you may get. Let's assume for a moment that the position you want is high up or already full and there's no way people are going to approve you to get it straight away. How do you get ahead in the roleplay?
Staff look for many qualities when deciding these matters. Seniority, ie length of time in the roleplay, is one but not the most important of those qualities. Generally speaking you will not be considered until you've been in the roleplay a few months because people drop out fast and never make use of the shiny tricks we might have given them. However, come back in six months' time and you have as much chance as somebody who's been around years.
This definitely ties in with the how to make a good impression question up there. People like members who give a lot to their groups, who are active and keep a high profile, who give help gladly whenever they're needed. Have your own opinions by all means, but be polite on the boards, play by the rules and recognise when it's time to drop a topic. A good way to get ahead, and I can't stress this enough, is to contribute. There are projects under way all the time that could use help. Some are glamorous top jobs like the main timeline work whereas others are unsung necessities which keep everything running behind the scenes. People remember who helps out.
It should also be mentioned that some regularly open positions such as Sitters in the White Tower Div are determined by election. Therefore be helpful, make yourself popular, and you're already ahead of the game.
Do you have some kind of overseers and who are they?
We try to keep Staff to the minimum and have our members be as autonomous as possible. We have faith in the common sense and everyone wanting to play nice.
Age of Destiny (AoD), Firefly and Cranna settings have their own coordinators, though. Their task is to keep the bigger picture together and help out in what ever way is needed. But mainly they are here to write and have fun too.
If you have some questions pertaining to a particular setting, they *points below* are the people to contact.
Age of Destiny Coordinators
- Light Faction (governs the Lightfools like the Aes Sedai and most of the nations): Arette
- Shadow Faction (all things darkfriend): James
- Dragon Faction (if it is allied with the Dragon Reborn, it falls under this Faction): Estel
Any of the three can answer any questions or direct you to the right person. What ever it is, don't hesitate to ask.
Cranna Coordinators
- Inactive.
Firefly Coordinators
I have more questions!
Pick one or several:
- Email or Private Message (PM) one of the coordinators above, or email anyone else who offers assistance. Other contacts will also work well. Everyone is here to help out.
- Post on your setting's or Faction's board listed above.
Cheers! Hope that helped.
Credits: This is a slightly modified text originally written by Eleanor (Sirayn). We have her kind permission to use it.