Thrace Senpai's Official Guide to Character Roleplaying

Alright, so most likely, most of you are wondering "What is this?". "What the hell am I doing here?" "I was trying to find sport news!", and stuff like that. I'll try to explain as good as possible. Apparently, I've somehow been voted as Minister of Roleplay. I have no idea what this is, but most likely, I'll help this regionto make some roleplays, and have fun. This will probably be a very hard job, considering how roleplay active this region is(sarcasm), but at least, this will finally allow me to infiltrate the government in order to finally find proofs that all the government members are in fact, filthy Freemason spies that work in order to keep the corrupt capitalist western interests in this region... anyway, back on the subject.

So, Character Roleplays. I've noticed that most of the region seems to like nation roleplays more, so let me introduce you to the wonderful world of character roleplaying!(The Kolyma train is leaving, choo choo!).

What is character roleplaying?

Well, just as the name says, obviously, it's a roleplay in which the players control characters, people, creating them, and controlling their actions, usually in a story, with a purpose, but that depends on the type of roleplay.

Why would I join a character roleplay?

Well, it seems that some people like nation roleplays more, and yeah, they are fairly interesting. But in my opinion, the character roleplays are much more interesting. You can create a character however you want, decide on his personality, traits, and so on, and then control his actions, interact with other characters, take part in a story, develop him. It's much more interactive than nation roleplays. In nation roleplays, you simply control a nation. Boooring. Wouldn't it be much more interesting to also control characters from that nation? Instead of simply moving armed forces from one point of the other, control a character who is a part of those forces. Character roleplays are much more interesting, at least for me, since they involve much more interactions, feelings, stuff like that. Of course, I am not trying to denigrate nation roleplays in any way, but I think that the character ones are nicer. If you like nation roleplays, you could at least try a character roleplay, who knows, maybe you'll like it. Just because you are playing one type of roleplay, it doesn't mean that you can't play the other. And combined roleplays, both nation and character, are the most interesting.

Alright, let's say that I join a character roleplay. What should I do?

Alright, you liked the story of a character roleplay, and tagged it. Now, you need to join. To join, you'll need to create a character. And this is were most people get lazy and run away, forgetting that even if could be a little bit of effort, the fun that comes after that fully compensates it. Let me explain the way you can create a character.

Creating a Character
Now, most roleplays have application forms you have to fill in order to join. Don't be scared, you just have to use your imagination, and follow the points on the app. First you'll have to find some inspiration. Whether you're inspiring from a character from a movie, and anime, or a game, or inspiring it from your real life persona, it doesn't matter. The only limit is your imagination. And the rules of the roleplay, obviously.

Name
All characters need a name. You can use a random name generator if you want, but if you really want to make it interesting, search for the meaning of names, and try to choose a name that would fit. This is usually called name symbolism, not compulsory, but interesting. You also need to be careful at things like their age, origin, language, and so. But if you want to name a black American girl "Ivan Stalin" , do so.
Bio
A bio, so a biography, is present in most of the roleplays. It will usually contain what happened to the your character until the point where the roleplay starts. Check to see how the world of the roleplay is, and use your imagination. The Bio is the perfect way to explain the reasons behind how your character is. As an example, a character with PTSD probably suffered a trauma in the past, and a character that hates Russians had a bad experience with them in the past. Events that happened in the past affect the way your character became who he is now, so think about it. Make it as interesting as possible. You can also be mysterious, and reveal his past during the roleplay. Whatever you want fam.
Personality
Personality is, to use the words of one of my friends on the NS Forum, the lifeblood of the character. His every action is usually determined by his personality. How is he? A sociable person, a quiet and reserved one? A sad character, a happy character, the personality is where you have to decide it. You can either use a clearly existent personality type, by copying the personality of someone the real life, or using a pattern, or you can simply let your imagination fly. Make your character just the way you want him. A psychopath with cold blood? Of course. A happy go lucky girl? No problem.
Gender
I'm going to assume that many of you will be uncomfortable with playing a character that has a different gender from what you are in real life. No problem, it's understandable. It's obvious that a male would be the best at controlling male characters, and a female the best at female characters. But you don't have to stop there. There is no fence, or a rule to say that you can't. Make your character be whatever gender you want him to be. I'm a male, and even so, playing female characters, although a little difficult, was interesting for me. In a roleplay, the only thing that matters is the gender of your character, your gender in real life is not important.
Sexual Orientation and Relationships
Even if yeah, NS Forum usually has that PG-13 rule, that doesn't mean that relationships don't exist, or anything like that. Sexual intercourse and other stuff like that is usually not detailed, keeping the limit, but characters fall in love, things like that. Make your character however you want, straight, gay, it's not that important, but in case something happens, keep the limit. I'll cover this subject later.
Others
What was above were the main things needed for a character, but sometimes, apps also contain other stuff, like, what they like, what they hate. A theme song. Their birthday. Stuff like that, that's usually optional. Even if you feel lazy, trust me, do it. It gives more depth to your character.

Alright, so, I hope I made this clear. Making an app is not dangerous or hard at all. The type of apps differ from roleplay to roleplay, but it doesn't matter, since most of them have the same or similar points. Just follow them, follow the rules, and use your imagination. Or smoke some weed and do it, I don't care.

So, I did my character. How do I roleplay?
Well, it really depends on the roleplay. Usually, character roleplays have stories, plots. Something happens, and your character take part in it. Simply follow what's happening, and build the story up with the other players, by writing what your character is doing. Interact with other people, fight, speak, whatever is happening, do it. Or, in types of roleplays that don't have an established plot, try to join other characters in what they do, and simply have fun!
The thing is, how exactly do I control my character?
Well, you write what he's doing, obviously. Whether a battle is currently happening, a fight, or you are interacting with someone, just write what he's doing, speaking, or thinking. I know that choosing what that character does and thinks can seem difficult, but it's not. You have the character, you imagined it, you know his bio, his personality, you know him. Simply think as he or her would do. Is there a fight happening? Don't control him based on what you would have done. No. Do what he would have done in that situation. Does he speak with another character? Say what he would say, not what you would say. He's the one in the action, not you. As an example, in a fantasy roleplay, you are not the one that's there. You're not an American fat boy that stands at the computer all day long. If your character is a magic elf, you are a magic elf, you think like a magic elf, you write what a magic elf would do. As simple as that. And most important, have fun!
I don't know.. what if my character does something wrong, and everyone will laugh at me?
It doesn't matter. Everyone is learning. As long as you don't break the roleplay's rules, your character can do whatever he wants. There isn't an established way in which you have to play your character. This is a roleplay, what's important is to have fun, and spend some good and interesting time.
Alright... but where and how can I join character roleplays?
Well, right now, our region doesn't exactly hold the record and the number of roleplays it has, so it would be a little.. difficult. We do have a roleplay I believe, and I would make some more, but right now, you can try to join a roleplay on the Portal to the Multiverse(P2TM) thread on the NS Forum. That's the hell paradise of roleplaying. Don't be shy, people in P2TM don't bite(mostly), and are pretty accepting. Just look at it, and if you find something you like, join, whether you know those people or not. Try to have fun. If you need help, just ask people around, most of them are fairly nice, and will help you if you really want help. Just follow the rules, and don't be a a d*ck. Or a oneliner. Annoying persons and oneliners who don't even try to write posts are usually impaled or beheaded.

Meanwhile, I'll put here a list of character roleplays I recommend people to join. In the near future, I'll start working on roleplays for the region, and I will post a list of roleplaying ideas, but for now, this will have to do.
Horizon Tours Incorporated
This is a space character roleplay on the INWU Forum. It's a simple and nice one, and if you want to start from somewhere, you can try it.
Imperial Academy Roleplay
This is a sci-fi roleplay on the NS Forum. Simply put, it's a military academy in an alien empire, that has recently opened its gates to foreign students, and people from all across the galaxy attend at it. It's one of my favorites. We have fun, take part in missions, do academy stuff,have interactions between characters nice things like that. I'm also coincidentally a CO-OP here, so I can help you if needed.
Stories of Aincrad
This is a roleplay that's happening in the virtual reality game that serves as the place where the first arc of an anime called Sword Art Online(just like the name of the game), is happening. Don't run away at the mention of the world anime, while it is a little anime-esque, that doesn't matter. We're focusing on the video game,and what happened in the anime doesn't matter. Basically, 10,000 players have been blocked in this virtual reality game where you die in real life if you die in the game, and to escape, they have to beat the game. I really like the premise, and its really interesting. We have quests, bosses, mobs to beat, plots, characters, everything. And also, this is another one of the RP's in which I am a CO-OP, I can help you out if you want to enter.
Holy High Roleplay
This is... hard to describe. It's one of the calm and kinda chill roleplays, but the thing is, it's pretty chaotic, and confusing, so don't expect to really understand what's happening, because I personally can't keep up with it, and I only jump in from time to time. There is a lot of fun in there though, that's why I'm recommending it. To put it shortly, it's a high school where gods, demigods, angels, demons, and other supernatural creatures attend, and yeah, while it's chaotic, it's interesting. Technically, we were supposed to do school stuff, but the last time I checked, we were conquering the world or something, who knows.
The Aetherian Knghts
A really nice and new fantasy medieval character roleplay, made by one of my friends from P2TM. It's really promising, so join it while it's hot!
One last thing, Thrace senpai, what do I do if I have questions?
Well, you can either put it on the RMB, and quote or tag me, or you can hit me with a TG. I'm always available to answer to any questions, except from when I'm sleeping or watching anime. Of course, the questions that come with bribes will receive answers first.

Alright, so this would be it, for now. I plan on updating it, but I hope that my little guide over here will be enough to help the people who want to start taking part in character roleplays. Let's start having fun roleplaying, alright?

Your Eastern European Vampire friend,
Thrace
Minister of Roleplay of the INWU