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Aris · **12-06-2014, 06:23 PM**

(12-06-2014, 06:10 PM)Blue Wrote:
(12-06-2014, 05:53 PM)Aris Wrote: Maybe you could arrange a story arc beforehand. At first the characters mightn't talk much, but then a relationship slowly forms and your character opens up more as it progresses.
Or maybe have a task to do. Even if your character might not talk much about personal things, they'll talk about the task at hand eg. making a plan, and there'll still be some sort of progression.

Our FC is actually preparing a theater play event in which Jet'a will be forced to play (very badly so, too) the role of villain. Hopefully when it'll be ready, some interesting stuff will happen. It's our very first event too!

Ooh! Yes, this is definitely a wonderful point to build from. Jet'a will have to interact with the rest of the cast about it; theater is all about teamwork. Tongue

Aris and I would love to be there if it's public, sounds a lot of fun!

Blue · **12-06-2014, 06:29 PM**

(12-06-2014, 06:23 PM)Aris Wrote:
(12-06-2014, 06:10 PM)Blue Wrote:
(12-06-2014, 05:53 PM)Aris Wrote: Maybe you could arrange a story arc beforehand. At first the characters mightn't talk much, but then a relationship slowly forms and your character opens up more as it progresses.
Or maybe have a task to do. Even if your character might not talk much about personal things, they'll talk about the task at hand eg. making a plan, and there'll still be some sort of progression.

Our FC is actually preparing a theater play event in which Jet'a will be forced to play (very badly so, too) the role of villain. Hopefully when it'll be ready, some interesting stuff will happen. It's our very first event too!

Ooh! Yes, this is definitely a wonderful point to build from. Jet'a will have to interact with the rest of the cast about it; theater is all about teamwork.

Aris and I would love to be there if it's public, sounds a lot of fun!

I'll have to prod X'elo into moving things faster. Right now we're still trying to look for the best location (it needs to be a place with no monsters, but that allows mounts to be used), after that I think we'll finally open a thread to recruit some staff/cast because we're missing most of it. Right now it's just the three of us.

Also, thanks to all of you who have offered to RP with me. When I'm able to get on, I'll look forward to sending some friend requests, so I can spot you easily when in RP circumstances!

C'kayah Polaali · **12-06-2014, 06:54 PM**

You know, one thing that stands out from your stories to me is the fact that you (and your potential RP partners) are talking *about* your RP expectations instead of just jumping into RP. Even the first one where you warned them that your character was an introvert.

In general, I like to avoid talking OOCly about RP with other folks except in very specific circumstances: If we're doing conflict RP, it's essential to know where people's limits are and to coordinate the conflict; I'll also happily talk about my character's RP with other characters with someone I've RPed with already. For the most part, though, I just jump into character and what develops develops. Just like in real life. Maybe my character and the other character hate each other at first sight. Maybe they become fast friends. Who knows? But I do like to let the characters develop things. Talking too much about RP OOCly with someone I haven't RPed with always seems to be a sure fire way to have stilted RP based on OOC expectations.

Especially if you and your character are introverts, try this. You might enjoy the more natural way RP develops.

Verad · **12-06-2014, 07:11 PM**

I find that jumping into RP without OOC expectations is a really fast way to find the people you don't want to RP with as the RP "naturally" develops, so I'd argue the opposite of C'kayah here - you're doing the right thing by setting out OOC expectations from the outset. It can be frustrating when that doesn't get you RP right away, but you will find the right player to work with, and you will eventually get good RP from it. Keep at it.

Lillini · **12-06-2014, 07:35 PM**

Playing an introvert is definitely difficult because if your character is a "conversation ender" (as in any attempt at conversation just gets shut down or the replies are things like 'I see' and that's it), it is really hard on the other character to keep interacting with you unless their character is flamingly extroverted. Although I don't think my character is exactly introverted, he is quite rude and shameless so I worry often about not being able to RP with others due to their characters disliking him, but that's just how it is! If walk up RP just doesn't work out, you might have to plan a situation where your character would interact more with another one when you contact someone to RP.

Aya · **12-07-2014, 12:41 AM**

I don't really see anything wrong going on in your stories, except maybe in the case of the slightly pushy girl (though I find it hard to fault someone being forward and upfront).Â Sometimes conversations don't go well, and I guess the same has to be true for RP conversations as well!

If you're playing an introvert, though, you really cannot blame anyone for walking away from a conversation.Â Its not their responsibility to try to probe around and break things open to become friends with your character.Â They've already taken the hardest step of broaching the conversation, and if you're closing off angles of approach you've essentially rejected their attempt to be friendly (whatever your OOC intent, that is the IC effect).Â That's just going to be the reality of playing a character of that nature, and yes it might grate some people because it can come off as rude, which is exactly the same as in reality.Â That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, its just one of the ramifications of being introverted.

I've encountered this from the other perspective on many occasions.Â I've had people approach me OOCly, wanting to RP, and then once we start to RP their characters essentially rebuff every friendly overture made.Â I will admit that it can be rather frustrating.Â If you want to prompt me OOCly to RP, the least you can do is actually have your character engage rather than putting all of the onus on me, when it wasn't even my idea!Â

Anyway, I guess the bottom line is that you just do what feels natural, and what you feel like you should, and let things fall where they may.Â Being polite OOCly is always helpful, but can't necessarily overcome any trouble, but it can't hurt!

Guy Tower · **12-07-2014, 07:45 AM**

Putting all the people's opinion into nice, compact message (at least my arrogance makes me think it such) - it's as hard to socialize as an introvert character as it is to socialize as an introvert person. It's hard to change this, unless you/your characters will stop being introvertic. UNLESS you are ultra lucky and find people who do not mind your/your char's introvertism, you won't get much of a social life.

That being said, I understand and often share your problem, and I find it refreshing to see you share it with strangers such as us. Still, I cannot see any other solution than not being introvertic.

Aya · **12-07-2014, 08:11 AM**

I kind of disagree with the phrase, "people who do not mind your introvertism". Â The hard part is making friends, if you're set on not talking to people. It's doubtful that those friends mind or ever minded that you were introverted, they just had no idea that you wanted to be friends or thought that you actually didn't want to be.

ArmachiA · **12-07-2014, 08:24 AM**

Armi is what I call a "Hollywood Introvert" in order for me to get around this.

You know how there's like "plain" and then "Hollywood plain"? Someone who would be considered pretty in real life but always plays the plain jane best friend? So the sake of making this argument easier, we're going to just talk about "Shy" characters, because they share a lot of the same traits as introverts, but is an easier stereotype to nail down for Hollywood.
In the movies, everything is exaggerated just so so it's not QUITE real. Someone who's shy in the movies isn't usually ACTUALLY shy. Shy girls in the movies are just, in a lot of ways, aloof or silly awkward, instead of actual real life shyness they actually don't seem uncomfortable conversing with other people or it takes a lot of energy to. The shyness is just there for the "cute" factor of the character. It's real enough to work and people will associate the character with "shy", but it makes it easier for the character to actually interact with her/his peers

I mean look at this article: http://www.silverpetticoatreview.com/201...elevision/

Amelie? Annie from being Human? BELLA from Twilight? LANEY BOGGS FROM SHE'S ALL THAT?

I would barely classify any of these girls are really, actual real world shy. There aloof or quirky, most of them choosing to be away from people rather then it being an actual struggle to interact.
A lot of people say Armi is a lot like Winnifred Burkle (Also on the list) who has traits of being an introvert. She'd rather hole up her room, talking to people - at least at the beginning of her start on the show -- seems to be a hugely exhausting endeavor, and she doesn't like looking anyone in the eye.
But really, Fred isn't shy. She's unafraid to jump into a conversation, or say what she's thinking (even if it's silly), she makes friends fairly easy for being an awkward goofball, and is extremely eager to learn to interact. Eventually, she grows to like being around people all the time and completely drops the whole Introverted thing, becoming a quirky extrovert.

There's a reason "real world" quiet, shy, or introverted characters don't work. They are very quick to shut the conversation down. People mistake their quiet behavior as not wanting to talk at all and will just move on to the next person who will actually hold a conversation. They aren't social, and in an RP environment that forces you to BE social in order to thrive, that makes it really difficult. People want to interact but don't want to take a whole lot of time to try to force you to finally make it seem like you want to be there. In reality, a lot of introverts I know don't go to bars (Unless I force them >.>) pretty content with sitting at home with a good book -- which works really well in real life but it just doesn't transfer over in rp.

My advice? Become Hollywood Shy or at least close to it. A little more extroverted will really really help with this.

Guy Tower · **12-07-2014, 08:27 AM**

I can't see what aren't you agreeing with, Aya Smile

. As you said, "the hard part is making friends if you're set on not talking to people". There are people whom you don't have to talk to much to be friends with them, but they are rare. These are the "people who don't mind your introvertism".

Oli! · **12-07-2014, 08:30 AM**

This is sort-of dipping into Writing territory as opposed to Character territory, but the other thing that you could try is making a character's actions talk, as opposed to the character themselves.

Sure, if your character is just going to shut someone down verbally then they'll run out of things to mention and quickly leave. But if you give them bits and pieces of things to go on through things that might not necessarily be verbal, then there are ways of carrying the conversation on, provided that your character is willing to at least talk a little bit. Maybe give them glimpses at that book your character is reading, or have them fiddle with some odd trinket on their person. Even if a character doesn't talk, you can hold a player's interest by giving them things to talk about.

Ritual · **12-07-2014, 09:04 AM**

My character Ludovoix is borderline Schizoid, so he has mute emotional expression, isn't bothered by people and very clearly does not desire sex in anyway.

It is hard finding lasting connections, my strategy was to give him a few qualities you don't often see in others, his explosive emotions when things burden him too much, his analytical nature and "reading" people, (looking at the character not meta-gaming), his kind of dark side, he's far from evil, but I don't see many grey characters.Â

If the conversation strikes a cord with him in some way, if it's about music, religion, the lore of the game things like that he becomes interesting, but alas it is hard, what makes it worth it though, is that the few connections you do get last a long time. The connections that extend beyond polite conversation, they make it worth while.Â

They're just my thoughts on this, some of it is my fault also being somewhat Schizoid -_-, but it's great breaking past that initial boundary, I have friends that I've had Â for a good few months now because of it.

Ritual · **12-07-2014, 09:07 AM**

(12-07-2014, 08:30 AM)Oli! Wrote: This is sort-of dipping into Writing territory as opposed to Character territory, but the other thing that you could try is making a character's actions talk, as opposed to the character themselves.

Sure, if your character is just going to shut someone down verbally then they'll run out of things to mention and quickly leave. But if you give them bits and pieces of things to go on through things that might not necessarily be verbal, then there are ways of carrying the conversation on, provided that your character is willing to at least talk a little bit. Maybe give them glimpses at that book your character is reading, or have them fiddle with some odd trinket on their person. Even if a character doesn't talk, you can hold a player's interest by giving them things to talk about.

Also this is brilliant advice, I made my character play a song on a piece of wood as he tried to explain what a Harpsichord was to a friend, minimal talking mostly just non-verbal communication a lot of the conversation. Superb RP, I loved it.

I also want to point out introverts aren't necessarily people that don't talk, I'm introverted and if you get me hooked on a subject I can talk for hours, it's just we don't like small talk too much, the "formalities". As an ISTP, I'm very non-communicative, unless you require my knowledge, I just HAVE to tell you something or again we get on an interesting subject, I speak more through actions than words and I choose my words very carefully. Introversion and Extroversion have nothing to do with if you're social or not, the man who came up with them himself said this, Carl C. Jung, they're just how your first function is orientated.

I have Ti as my main, which is Introverted Thinking, I base decisions on subjective logic, my logic (introverted, inward), as opposed to the world around me, so my thought process goes unnoticed and I just look like a vegetable. It's just that, say someone is a Te user, Extroverted Thinker, they tend to go on other peoples logic, Ti I'd rather just figure it out myself, Te they'll look up a guide, or talk to people about their opinions on it.

Ergo, giving them the "air" that they are more social even if the person can also be a Schizoid, the extreme of "introverts".

See, a subject I like a lot so I rambled like an idiot -_- sorry XD.

ArmachiA · **12-07-2014, 10:40 AM**

^ IT's a bit unfair though to just talk about subjects you're character would only talk about however. How am I supposed to know what you're character would like unless spooned that info? Then it just feels scripted. What if my character wouldn't even talk about that? What about my characters interests? Conversations should be a two way street after all.

You see the issue here, it's more of a chore to pull people out who only want to talk about certain things and if those things aren't being mentioned there's just a wall.

Ritual · **12-07-2014, 11:01 AM**

Yeah, which is the problem, though my character does interact with others, he doesn't talk much, which is why I tend to do more "action" RP, my character doing movements and all that take up the bulk of my writing. Plus anything can peak his interest, like any character they have their own likes and dislikes. He will talk at length about something someone else likes, but the wall is getting past the introductions to get at the "heart" of a character.

If characters don't share interests then it's just like real life and you move on, everyone's friends with people that share their views, like the same activities etc. I have never tried to force something just because I like someone. Don't cater to a persons character by only talking about their interests, just go with the flow and if it goes there it goes there if no then it doesn't. Which is why RPing introverts is hard because people do walk away, but the ones that stay can become very long term friendships.

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