The Usage of Future Tense

[Kage]

I've finally decided to ask.

 

What is the reason why some roleplayers I've found are more likely to use future tense? In some or all of the cases, it's not even about compromising whether or not the other roleplayer they are interacting with will allow an action.

Sometimes it's just:

Kage Kiryuu would throw himself at the ground and then tackle the others' feet in an attempt to make him stumble.

 

Is this a common way to speak / roleplay in tabletop? Where does the future tense usage come from?

 

Edit: I've emphasized a point that has been brought up already. I know this. That's why I already mentioned it and now I've bolded it.

[Aaron]

So people dont accuse you of godmodding for.. No reason other than to just be difficult.

 

Future tense leaves the other person open to react however they please rather than taking what you did because you used present or past tense.

[Virella]

Being an EU wow roleplayer. We only roleplayed in future tense, it was mind blowing to see people roleplay in past tense. I quickly enough adjusted though, I wouldn't know how to do it any more in present tense!

 

That said, it sometimes pops up during emote battles, as indeed, you give people more of an opening to react onto stuff.

[Gegenji]

That's how I've always seen this being used as well. It's saying that - if the other person in the RP allows it - this is what would happen. If not blocked or dodged, this punch would strike them in the jaw. He would move to wrap his arm arm around her waist. Implying intent of action without flat-out stating it is what happens in order to give the other person more agency in said action.

[Kage]

So people dont accuse you of godmodding for.. No reason other than to just be difficult.

 

Future tense leaves the other person open to react however they please rather than taking what you did because you used present or past tense.

 

That's how I've always seen this being used as well. It's saying that - if the other person in the RP allows it - this is what would happen. If not blocked or dodged, this punch would strike them in the jaw. He would move to wrap his arm arm around her waist. Implying intent of action without flat-out stating it is what happens in order to give the other person more agency in said action.

 

I've already addressed this in the opening post, as some people do it outside of just making sure that they're not taking away the other roleplayers' agency. They use it for everything.

 

These are cases were someone is going to do it. There's no ifs, ands or buts. There's no other person that would be there to say "NO YOU CAN'T WALK DOWN THIS STREET I HAVE AGENCY OVER THIS."

 

It's just seeing... "She would go to the store and see if there were apples in stock."

 

She's going to go to the store.

[Maril]

These days I use past tense as much as I use present tense. I used to think past tense looked /really/ odd when I came to Balmung, and how exactly I changed, I'm not sure. Future tense I use sometimes when I am following up on an action in the same emote, usually happens during combat or similar situations where explaining what your character would do with a lead up move is going to be too confusing in a new emote some 4-5 minutes later (since fights can be at a slower pace). The would comes in as me presenting how it would be if the action succeeds, I suppose to give the other player something more to work with, especially if the lead up looks really weird. It can also be a way to communicate to the other player that everything you do is interrupt-able, and you would acknowledge the interrupt because there's no possible situation where they'd dodge it. That's my take on it anyways.

 

ETA: Forces of habit can be really strong as well, sometimes they just don't make sense.

[Kage]

ETA: Forces of habit can be really strong as well, sometimes they just don't make sense.

I'm curious though, where does this habit come from?

 

I roleplay using a mix of present or past tense depending on who I'm with. If the majority uses present tense I go with that. I'm more pre-disposed to past tense because that's how I prefer stories I read to be in. I can understand present tense. I can see, though I believe it's perfectly doable to write such a way in both present and past tense, the usage of future tense for combat or where in cases of agency might come out.

 

But I've also seen this a -lot- more in places where there is no need for it and it confuses me.

[Warren Castille]

I always saw the usage as denoting intent without forcing an action. It's kind of like putting an action on the stack, to borrow the term from Magic: The Gathering.

 

Action: Warren would attempt to trip his opponent.

Reaction: His opponent blah blah blahs, result occurs.

 

It's basically saying "this is what will happen unless something else stops it." Admittedly, I'm viewing this through the lens of the Grindstone, where this sort of thing happens fairly regularly.

[Gegenji]

It's just seeing... "She would go to the store and see if there were apples in stock."

 

She's going to go to the store.

 

Apologies, I read the now-emphasized line but then saw your quote - which was of a combat-oriented nature - and assumed that was the sort of situation you meant.

 

If they're using it all the time, perhaps that's just the style they're going for (like speaking in past and present tense) or - as you surmised - something instilled in them from another manner of RP. Maybe they're from situations where you have to leave everything open to the agency of others, so that going to the store could and likely might get interrupted by something else. You could argue quite easily that just saying they are going to the store to buy apples in a present tense would work just as well, though...

 

I haven't really seen it much myself, so I can't do much more than make guesses. :blush:

[Aedan Marceaux]

I just use present tense.

 

"Blah blah walks to the bar and takes a seat."

 

If my action imposes on another character in some way, I add "in an attempt to"...

 

"Bob swings his sword in an attempt to hack off Jim's arm."

 

If my action effects another character but it is nothing detrimental, I just do it.

 

"Bob pats Jim on the shoulder and nods......"

 

No one has complained to me about it yet.

[Kage]

It's just seeing... "She would go to the store and see if there were apples in stock."

 

She's going to go to the store.

 

Apologies, I read the now-emphasized line but then saw your quote - which was of a combat-oriented nature - and assumed that was the sort of situation you meant.

But even in my coded version, there's nothing that makes it better with the use of "would" in that phrase. There is nothing that this follows except following the other roleplayers' actions. Throwing yourself at the ground will happen. It's going to happen. In such a case it's not about agency but whether or the other player is going to stop it from happening.

 

What is the difference between

Kage would throw himself at the ground and attempt to grab his legs.

and

Kage threw himself at the ground and tried to grab his legs.

 

Both still give the other roleplayer a way to stop him.

When the Lalafell would throw himself at the ground, Balthazar would kick him in midair.

or

Balthazar was ready and when the lalafell tried to grab his legs, Balthazar kicked out with a leg, trying to knock Kage back and stop the lalafell in his tracks.

[Gegenji]

But even in my coded version, there's nothing that makes it better with the use of "would" in that phrase. There is nothing that this follows except following the other roleplayers' actions. Throwing yourself at the ground will happen. It's going to happen. In such a case it's not about agency but whether or the other player is going to stop it from happening.

 

You make a good point, which leads me to believe it is likely just a style of presenting the action - as much as someone would emote in present or past tense - which could be an ingrained habit from some other manner of play. Maybe they're from a LARP group that often states what they WILL be doing instead of what they ARE doing, I dunno. Perhaps the best course of action would be to find someone who writes in future tense on a regular basis and ask why they do that. _V^:blush:_V

[Kage]

I'm really just hoping someone knows where it's really common and might give me a better understanding. Do you think it's common in LARP? Tabletop? Certain regions??

 

The last time I asked someone about why they roleplayed x way I got chewed out >.> When I literally just asked them "I'm curious and pretty new. Why do you do ___?"

[LiadansWhisper]

I use present tense, because it's the only one that makes sense to me.

 

Future tense makes my eye twitch.

 

Edited to add: It's not common in LARPs ot tabletop games I have been a part of.

[Larson]

So people dont accuse you of godmodding for.. No reason other than to just be difficult.

 

Future tense leaves the other person open to react however they please rather than taking what you did because you used present or past tense.

 

That's how I've always seen this being used as well. It's saying that - if the other person in the RP allows it - this is what would happen. If not blocked or dodged, this punch would strike them in the jaw. He would move to wrap his arm arm around her waist. Implying intent of action without flat-out stating it is what happens in order to give the other person more agency in said action.

 

I've already addressed this in the opening post, as some people do it outside of just making sure that they're not taking away the other roleplayers' agency. They use it for everything.

 

These are cases were someone is going to do it. There's no ifs, ands or buts. There's no other person that would be there to say "NO YOU CAN'T WALK DOWN THIS STREET I HAVE AGENCY OVER THIS."

 

It's just seeing... "She would go to the store and see if there were apples in stock."

 

She's going to go to the store.

 

Except that she might not go to the store if someone in the alley grabbed her and pulled her away into the shadows never to be seen again.

 

Using future tense leaves an opening for more to happen. Adventurous RPers that are open to random encounters and unexpected things happening often use future tense in actions that could well be interrupted because they see the opportunity for the RP to be more than just apples.

 

Another alternative is that you grab her arm and tell her to stay with you longer. She WOULD go to the store IF nothing prevents her from doing it right now.

 

Future tense is used as a courtesy to others around that opens up the possibility of a change.

 

Present tense uses a lot of absolutes:

 

"She eats the apple." cannot be interrupted, because the moment you post it, the action is finished. You cannot interrupt the eating of the apple because she ate it.

 

"She is eating the apple" is better, because the action can be changed, but you cannot change that she was eating it.

 

"She ate the apple" is self explanatory. There is not a whole lot of difference between past tense and present absolute.

 

"She would eat the apple" can be allowed, prevented, or altered. Future tense creates the most opportunity for diversion.

[LiadansWhisper]

So people dont accuse you of godmodding for.. No reason other than to just be difficult.

 

Future tense leaves the other person open to react however they please rather than taking what you did because you used present or past tense.

 

That's how I've always seen this being used as well. It's saying that - if the other person in the RP allows it - this is what would happen. If not blocked or dodged, this punch would strike them in the jaw. He would move to wrap his arm arm around her waist. Implying intent of action without flat-out stating it is what happens in order to give the other person more agency in said action.

 

I've already addressed this in the opening post, as some people do it outside of just making sure that they're not taking away the other roleplayers' agency. They use it for everything.

 

These are cases were someone is going to do it. There's no ifs, ands or buts. There's no other person that would be there to say "NO YOU CAN'T WALK DOWN THIS STREET I HAVE AGENCY OVER THIS."

 

It's just seeing... "She would go to the store and see if there were apples in stock."

 

She's going to go to the store.

 

Except that she might not go to the store if someone in the alley grabbed her and pulled her away into the shadows never to be seen again.

 

Using future tense leaves an opening for more to happen. Adventurous RPers that are open to random encounters and unexpected things happening often use future tense in actions that could well be interrupted because they see the opportunity for the RP to be more than just apples.

 

Another alternative is that you grab her arm and tell her to stay with you longer. She WOULD go to the store IF nothing prevents her from doing it right now.

 

This can be just as easily accomplished either past or present tense.

[Larson]

No it cannot.

 

If "She went to the store" you cant grab her arm and stop her. She already went.

 

If "She goes to the store" you cannot prevent her from going because she did it.

 

If "She is going to the store" you can grab her arm and delay her, but she will still go sooner or later unless she changes her mind.

 

The only completely interactive one is future tense. Future tense has an unspoken IF.

[Kage]

Except if she were to do that, it would most likely be pre-arranged. Someone sends a /tell or previous OOC message, that their character is about to get handled in some way.

 

It can easily be handled in past tense.

Kage went to the store in the attempt to buy an apple.

Stepping in Kage's way to the store, Marshall attempted to grab his arm while pointing a knife at the Lalafell.

 

Kage went to the store to try and buy some apples.

/tell Kage (Hey can I manhandle your character, to steal etc?)

/r (Sure)

Marshall stepped in Kage's way to the store, grabbing his arm and pointing a knife at his throat.

 

If it was so open ended, in my opinion, that just seems... well really passive aggressive.

 

Edit: Oops I left one of the examples incomplete.

[Gegenji]

If it was so open ended, in my opinion, that just seems... well really passive aggressive.

 

I wouldn't call it passive-aggressive. If anything, the case Vyse is presenting is that using of the future tense is a means to imply that they are open and willing to have whatever action they're doing be interrupted for the sake of RP. Sort of an active "walk-ups okay" marker.

 

* Cecilia walks into the Quicksand and would move to pull out a book and begin to read.

 

Sure, they could just as easily say they are pulling out a book or have pulled out a book just as easily - but the person is implying "Hey, you can stop me before I pull out this book if you'd like - come RP with me!" That's how I'm reading the argument, anyway, and it's not such a bad thing.

[Brynhilde]

No it cannot.

 

If "She went to the store" you cant grab her arm and stop her. She already went.

 

If "She goes to the store" you cannot prevent her from going because she did it.

 

If "She is going to the store" you can grab her arm and delay her, but she will still go sooner or later unless she changes her mind.

 

The only completely interactive one is future tense. Future tense has an unspoken IF.

 

Yeah, it can.

 

Just change, "She goes to the store" to:

 

"She turns to head for the store."

"She begins heading for the store."

 

Both are present tense, both state intention while leaving an opening for intervention from a secondary party.

 

Personally, future tense has always struck me as a lack of confidence in writing, somewhat like the passive voice. More often than not, it's lead to me sat at my desk and wondering aloud; "Wait... He would do that? Does... That mean he doesn't? Is there something stopping him?"

 

It often leaves the situation unclear, and clarity should always be a writer's (and RPer's) primary concern.

[LiadansWhisper]

No it cannot.

 

If "She went to the store" you cant grab her arm and stop her. She already went.

 

If "She goes to the store" you cannot prevent her from going because she did it.

 

If "She is going to the store" you can grab her arm and delay her, but she will still go sooner or later unless she changes her mind.

 

The only completely interactive one is future tense. Future tense has an unspoken IF.

 

That's not true. You simply word it as, "She headed down the street towards the store."

 

Mission accomplished.

[Larson]

It can easily be handled in past tense.

Kage went to the store in the attempt to buy an apple.

Stepping in Kage's way to the store, Marshall attempted to grab his arm while pointing a knife at the Lalafell.

 

That's not a possible situation. If Kage went to the store then in present tense he is either there or has long since left. The act of going is in the past.

 

If Kage is on his way to the store, Marshall can attempt to grab his arm.

 

The most Marshall can do with the past tense is assault him in the store or try to steal the apple he already bought. Or idk just try to stab him for no reason, as long as it is not while Kage is on the way to the store...because he already went.

[Ignacius]

I've finally decided to ask.

 

What is the reason why some roleplayers I've found are more likely to use future tense? In some or all of the cases, it's not even about compromising whether or not the other roleplayer they are interacting with will allow an action.

Sometimes it's just:

Kage Kiryuu would throw himself at the ground and then tackle the others' feet in an attempt to make him stumble.

 

Is this a common way to speak / roleplay in tabletop? Where does the future tense usage come from?

 

Edit: I've emphasized a point that has been brought up already. I know this. That's why I already mentioned it and now I've bolded it.

 

You will always see it applied to actions, and generally in the conditional tense.  It denotes someone trying to do something, but doesn't place it in the present since you can't auto an attack.

 

It's important because, grammatically speaking, RP shouldn't be done in the past tense.  It represents current actions in the context of the game's setting, so the correct tense for an actual in-game RP interaction would be in the present tense.  Many are confused because a novel, generally, is written in the past tense and therefore many believe all writing is done in the past tense.

 

Also, technically speaking, you can't use the past tense to interrupt an action.  If, as in this example:

 

It can easily be handled in past tense.

Kage went to the store in the attempt to buy an apple.

Stepping in Kage's way to the store, Marshall attempted to grab his arm while pointing a knife at the Lalafell.

 

 

You wrote in that you were attempting to buy an apple.  However, in RP, we don't generally write that we are "attempting" to do anything that doesn't inherently involve another character.  By the time you're writing, obviously, Kage is already at the store.  You don't have to conditionally write that he went there (in the game, he is there).

 

This doesn't happen in the present tense because it's deliberately describing temporal action.  Everything that is typed is specifically what is happening in the moment; there's no indication that this was completed beforehand.  That's why your above example doesn't work; in the past tense, you'd have to correctly predict via conditional notation that your character didn't buy an apple.  In the past tense, of course, you'd know you'd have bought the apple or not.

 

If you're going to have truly random roleplay where people can just hop in or out, you can't plan everything out like a book.  So in addition to being technically correct, the present tense is often more mechanically useful.

 

That means that, if you're speaking in the present tense, any conditional action becomes future tense.  That makes sense.  Whereas in a book all actions are simply being retold after the fact (and by the time of the telling are preordained), RP in real time doesn't happen after the fact.  So the use of the present tense and future conditional is the most applicable for our uses.

 

You'll find this is different in forum RP where you're typing out stories which may well be in the past tense and that the past tense is generally accepted to be the de facto standard for writing your own closed stories.

[LiadansWhisper]

It can easily be handled in past tense.

Kage went to the store in the attempt to buy an apple.

Stepping in Kage's way to the store, Marshall attempted to grab his arm while pointing a knife at the Lalafell.

 

That's not a possible situation. If Kage went to the store then in present tense he is either there or has long since left. The act of going is in the past.

 

If Kage is on his way to the store, Marshall can attempt to grab his arm.

 

The most Marshall can do with the past tense is assault him in the store or try to steal the apple he already bought. Or idk just try to stab him for no reason, as long as it is not while Kage is on the way to the store...because he already went.

 

As Bryn and I both pointed out, there are ways to word this in future tense or past tense that fully address what you're saying.

[Kage]

But it does seem passive aggressive. The player doesn't want to aggressively go after the roleplay and instead seems to just hope for it.

 

I mean, if the person pulls out a book, why not just have someone say "excuse me" or something or other when they do have that book.

 

*Cecilia walked into the Quicksand. She looked around, noting that not one person seemed familiar. She began to pull out a book to read.

 

*Kage watched the woman who walked up to the spot on the railing next to him.

a) Watching her read a bit, the Lalafell pursed his lips before asking, "Are you a scholar perhaps?"

b) The Lalafell looked at the title of the book, noting that it was about Warrior origins. He inched closer before waving a hand in front of the book to try and get her attention. "Sorry miss, I had a question!"

c) Before the woman could really get into her reading, Kage elbowed her and asked her, "Noticed you looked lost! Any chance for a friendly chat with a stranger? That book looks interesting.