The Romance Class

[erosskye]

Howdy everyone. I am sure that the upcoming topic is not even close to being new around here, but alas everything needs a fresh look now and again. 

 

The topic we will be sitting down and attempting to perfect today is the little thing I have called the three Ls of roleplay romance. Lust , love or loser. 

 

Now don't get me wrong I'm sure a lot of us have fallen under loser quite a few times, but that's why we are here to assess the situation beforehand and attempt to have a better hand of cards for our next story or chapter.

 

Now let's open our text books and turn to pages

http://rpedia.tumblr.com/post/21863466084

 

The best part about this article is the writer ruthlessly tears into the problems which I have made myself and have seen others make, but then after making us feel guilty swiftly give us hope with a strong planned solution. 

 

Let's be sure to keep rl rl and IC IC! Also the balance of time and characters must be looked into.  Turn your pages to. 

http://www.gaiscioch.com/lore/romance_in_rp_the_good_the_bad_and_the_ugly.html

 

Here it discusses that your roleplaying interest also has other things on their mind than just you! This must be kept in check less the story be broken.

 

------- Part 2 ------

 

So far we have touched in on three major topics.  The bluntness of making your romance worth reading for you and your partner, keeping what needs to be private private, and not letting yourself be personally immersed in the romance allowing time for yourself and your partner to actually play the game.

 

For what may or may not be our final topic; how to go about starting into a romantic roleplay without bein a friggen creepzsauce. Go ahead and bust out your books and turn to pages

http://www.lordofthecraft.net/forum/index.php?/topic/70580-how-to-rp-romance-without-being-creepy/

 

That is all for today. But keep a hold of your text books because this class is far from over.

[Gideon Aryeh]

A wonderful article that covers many aspects of romantic rp. I consider myself pretty good at it and I used to teach impromptu rp classes in character in the various mmos I've played. I personally love romantic and sometimes even erotic rp as long as its based on the storyline at hand and I think great romantic rp that leads to erotic rp can be wonderful. Its not for everyone of course but with the right partner (or teacher) a sweeping romantic adult story can be absolutely fantastic. I even enjoy doing the weddings that come along with them.

 

 

If anyone on Gilgamesh needs a wedding done in character I would gladly do it if I am able to be in the game the day of it. Trust me you won't be disappointed. I can do a damn good server event wedding.

 

(once I get an alt to at least airship pass level I can also do it on Balmung, or at least be able to help with advice, places to do it, etc)

 

Right now I would highly suggest the Bismark in Limsa Lominsa and Akpallu Falls in Gridania.

[erosskye]

A wonderful article that covers many aspects of romantic rp. I consider myself pretty good at it and I used to teach impromptu rp classes in character in the various mmos I've played. I personally love romantic and sometimes even erotic rp as long as its based on the storyline at hand and I think great romantic rp that leads to erotic rp can be wonderful. Its not for everyone of course but with the right partner (or teacher) a sweeping romantic adult story can be absolutely fantastic. I even enjoy doing the weddings that come along with them.

 

 

If anyone on Gilgamesh needs a wedding done in character I would gladly do it if I am able to be in the game the day of it. Trust me you won't be disappointed. I can do a damn good server event wedding.

 

(once I get an alt to at least airship pass level I can also do it on Balmung, or at least be able to help with advice, places to do it, etc)

 

Right now I would highly suggest the Bismark in Limsa Lominsa and Akpallu Falls in Gridania.

Whoa whoa!? Wedding! We just met ;p

Great read and thanks for the support on this topic. Also good to know we have a virtual father in the house.

[Quuyn]

erotic rp as long as its based on the storyline at hand and I think great romantic rp that leads to erotic rp can be wonderful.

 

QUICK, EVERYONE SHUN THE ERPER- Wait what's that you say?! Most of the entire roleplay community secretly has a underbelly life, where most people secretly ERP but are too ashamed to admit it?! Nonsense!

 

On a serious note, Romantic RP is pretty much all I do. Usually I keep it private, because I've never enjoyed having to watch other people swap spit in front of me. So I'm not going to make people read my snuggling and kissy lovey dovey emotes either. I've often found myself just keeping everything to party chat, even if it's nothing even remotely 'naughty', just because it gives us the flexibility we want without having to worry about upsetting other people.

 

BUT YEAH, I'm totally the "Puppy Love" one. I have a knack and love for making everything stupidly adorable. Very nice article~ :love:

[YesGood]

Awww... I'm on Balmung. Not that I see my beefy Roe in a wedding ensemble.

 

Thank you soooo much for posting that link. I feel fairly comfortable with my romantic RP, in fact I always feel a little empty when I play characters who aren't at all open to love in any of its forms. Still, I know I make mistakes and this writer does help me recognize them.

 

It's far too easy to fall into bad habits. Either because one-liners become the standard and my multi-paragraph posting doesn't seem like it could be appreciated sometimes or because a relationship that's gone on a while sort of plateaus and little /em kisses him's become common and easy in an established situation.

 

I love deep romances that blossom unexpectedly and go on to mold my character's personality in different ways. I understand the fear of the stigma that goes along with 'ERPer', that many very skilled RPers don't want to be labeled as one because it sort of denotes that all they're interested in is cyber sex, especially to non-RPers. I would never push it on anyone, and I also bear in mind that a lot of OOC drama can crop up over it, just like in combat RP.

 

But if you're open to it under mature terms, or even if you will go as far as romantic and black out the rest, why not keep your romance up to snuff with the rest of your fantastic RP? Sometimes really great combat RPers or diplomats and such become a little shy OOCly when it comes to affection and suddenly deep, winding posts chock-ful of creativity and beauty become stunted for fear someone will walk by and take a kiss on the mouth or a brush of the cheek the wrong way.

 

It's saddening. So, in my usual tangent, I hope anyone else who reads this great link Erosskye posted and the subsequent replies will not only glean some good tips and things to keep in mind but feel a little bit more confident. Don't be afraid of being labeled as an ERPer just because your legitimate IC relationship has some physical contact. It's not any different from breaking someone's nose in detail, or cracking their ribs. Well... It is... but just worry about you and the people involved with you, not with OOC bystanders.

 

*Disclaimer: I, as nearly all others, still don't consider it wise to ERP in public chats. So, dun think I'm telling you all to have a raging orgy in /yell.

[Lost River]

Damn you Siobhain, shattering my dreams of being a bordello Mistress, hosting a nice swap-meat. *coughs* But yes, as how things are. I'd love romance to be included, especially with my second character, Lucinne Jandalaine. It's almost a corner-stone for her to have a romance interest. Now as for Lost... she has a bit of a dual nature going on, so someone would probably have to border around the tone of masochism. Ahem, anyway.

 

Romance can be an integral part of a character's development. How far you go with it is between the two playing, everyone has their niche and as long as no one gets hurt (unwillingly) in an out of character experience, I am fine with it. 

 

 

After all, I've actually witnessed RP romances kindle into actual ones before, not saying they're all going to, but it's quite wondrous when it happens!

 

As for the adult stuff, as long as you're both adults. Do whatever you want. I'm fine with it.

[YesGood]

Damn you Siobhain, shattering my dreams of being a bordello Mistress, hosting a nice swap-meat. *coughs*

 

I hate myself for rolling Siobhain. I cannot play more than one character, I just don't have the time or the attention span. But I've always wanted a character like Inara from Firefly. She's like the ONLY character I've ever wanted to have an RP character have ANYTHING in common with. And I don't even like her.

 

Is that so wrong? Having a fancy bordello with fancy 'companions' where people can go talk and not ostracize everyone involved for being creepers and perverts? I know you're only kidding but... I tried to start a sort of 'French host club' in the WoD RP I was doing and everyone just didn't want to socialize that way. I know there's Ambrosia but it's over on Gilgamesh and I know Siobhain will....not....EVER... be the type to sit in a place like that and serve anyone anything even flirtatious conversation.

 

Or maybe someday she will. I don't even think it's possible to turn such a strict character into someone who can be sociable or, Twelve help us, -seductive-. When I think of Siobhain, I find myself writing her as being masculine despite my intentions, but I just can't help it.

 

No romance for dis Roe.

[Lost River]

Now now, being masculine and a Roegadyn isn't a negative trait. It's almost expected, so, I hate to burst your bubble, but it's still possible for romance! :3

[Otte]

As a lover of romance RP I found the articles really fun to read! The slow buildup of feelings, starting from acquaintances to friends, then maybe from an innocent crush to budding love, and something more...I certainly like the trip better than the goal (though relationship RP itself can be fun if both sides work to make it so!). Well, let's say I used to read too many of those sappy paperback romance novels, I just like puppy love  

I'd like Otte to find some romance someday, but I won't force it. Who knows, maybe my loud Roe lady will find someone before him, you never know!

[YesGood]

IS IT POSSIBRU?!!!1 *clasps Lost River by the shoulders* DON'T LIE TO ME, WOMAN!

 

Also, that second link, I didn't mention, is super nice also. It reminds me of one of my biggest issues: time. I've been spending so much time in the past couple days trying to draw and level and set up an LS I haven't really had the chance to look for RP. On the other hand, I'll always be a little busy with the baby so I'm afraid of issues with any other RPer, romance-related to my toon ICly or LS-mates, etc. being like "WHERE ARE YOU?! Get online nao! Why you neglect me/us?!"

 

Both are a bit complicated and there needs to be communication. It's one of the cornerstones for any RP. It's also one of the things I hate to do at length because I tend to get really in depth and too much OOC discussion breaks immersion for me.

[Lost River]

Well, for some people, me included, I understand real life responsibility comes before a second one. And as how things are going, it isn't impossible nor improbable for a mate to do something other than be with said other counter -all- the time, it isn't healthy.

 

 

I understand that you also want to play and do other things, it's why I see romance as an applied option instead of a necessity.

---

Well, for some people, me included, I understand real life responsibility comes before a second one. And as how things are going, it isn't impossible nor improbable for a mate to do something other than be with said other counter -all- the time, it isn't healthy.

 

 

I understand that you also want to play and do other things, it's why I see romance as an applied option instead of a necessity.

Just I feel sorry for anyone who romances Lost instead of Lucinne. :3

[Alothia]

I think that romance RPers get a bad rep sometime....but it's just like real life. There are people who thrive on those sorts of relationships for one reason or another.

 

Alothia is definitely one of those characters. She loves being in love, she loves the chase, the buildup, the comfort. I'm a fade to black RPer, but when the mood strikes me, I'm more than happy to fill in the black with a story that I wrote by myself. I always get input, but ERPing to me crosses boundaries in my home life that I'd rather not cross. But I do believe that there is some wonderful character development that can happen in those situations.

 

Kudos to all of the Romantics around. It's nice to know that I'm in good company.

[Poe]

Great articles!! And thank goodness they mention have other stuff going on besides just sucking face or whatever, erm....

 

I personally love to add romance RP to my characters story arc but I don't want it to be the -only- thing!

[K'nahli]

I never did quite understand the taboo around ERP. I never did it myself but I mean why should there be anything "wrong" with it? Sex is just a normal part of life and hyping it up and putting it up on a pedestal as if it is some sort of supreme thing is just silly. Besides that, most if not all of us are adults here(I'm gonna count mid-teens, in this case, as adults as well) so theres no reason for us to be ashamed of something as normal as it is.

 

That said, I agree with doing it in private. I can't say I'd be enthralled to see RPers all around be describing every vivid detail in public ;;

[Lost River]

I never did quite understand the taboo around ERP. I never did it myself but I mean why should there be anything "wrong" with it? Sex is just a normal part of life and hyping it up and putting it up on a pedestal as if it is some sort of supreme thing is just silly. Besides that, most if not all of us are adults here(I'm gonna count mid-teens, in this case, as adults as well) so theres no reason for us to be ashamed of something as normal as it is.

 

That said, I agree with doing it in private. I can't say I'd be enthralled to see RPers all around be describing every vivid detail in public ;;

 

 

I personally see nothing wrong with it, but that's just me. I'm quite level headed and enjoy all things. But "To each their own" as the adage goes. But yes, doing such stuff in public isn't allowed, even if you are consenting adults. Don't make me get the water bottle!

[YesGood]

I'm glad to know there are other mature and worldly RPers in the world... I knew they were there but it just reinforces my confidence and pride to be part of this community.

 

*deep sigh*

 

....On a side note, let's get married, River.

[Lost River]

....On a side note, let's get married, River.

 

 

Oh? Get married? So soon! Now that'd be quite the interesting thing to see! And for some reason, I find myself wanting to write it. A Roegadyn lesbian couple, thoughts for plots! And for doom for others.

 

Muahaha.

 

 

:tonberry:

[Therese Villefort]

Thanks for the hint at these articles! They do help me a lot.

 

Im Rping now for a 3/4 year online and am not erxactly new to it, as i already RPed 2 or 3 RLS, the longest going half a year. But that was basically all sweety-doody sugar-sweet romantic RP, and that was pretty easy (yeah, i like it super sweet romantic).

 

I have a great partner with whom i RP on Balmung, but as her character is greatly different from what i was used to before, it feels for me like our Chars RLS is quite a rocky road.

That article sheds more light on do's and don'ts (like how to keep it interesting and non-boring) and i think that will greatly help me when i keep this article in mind.

 

I would also advice to have a look at that dude's other RP help-sections:

http://rpedia.tumblr.com/archive

[Lost River]

Thanks for the hint at these articles! They do help me a lot.

 

Im Rping now for a 3/4 year online and am not erxactly new to it, as i already RPed 2 or 3 RLS, the longest going half a year. But that was basically all sweety-doody sugar-sweet romantic RP, and that was pretty easy (yeah, i like it super sweet romantic).

 

I have a great partner with whom i RP on Balmung, but as her character is greatly different from what i was used to before, it feels for me like our Chars RLS is quite a rocky road.

That article sheds more light on do's and don'ts (like how to keep it interesting and non-boring) and i think that will greatly help me when i keep this article in mind.

 

I would also advice to have a look at that dude's other RP help-sections:

http://rpedia.tumblr.com/archive

 

 

For me, for some reason, I am drawn to the tragic romance more than the lovey-dovey sort of thing. Lucinne's theme if I was to pull a song about her love life and perhaps life as a whole, would be R.E.M.'s Losing My Religion:  

 

Living the life of a Duskwight all by herself in an awkward place (She's in Ul'dah), dedicating herself to her country and losing more of herself as time passes on. Filling her emptiness with duty, so tragic. Perhaps someone will be brave enough to pull her away from this hollow shell of a life and make her feel alive.

 

Oh my. *fans self* :3

[YesGood]

Thanks for the hint at these articles! They do help me a lot.

 

Im Rping now for a 3/4 year online and am not erxactly new to it, as i already RPed 2 or 3 RLS, the longest going half a year. But that was basically all sweety-doody sugar-sweet romantic RP, and that was pretty easy (yeah, i like it super sweet romantic).

 

I have a great partner with whom i RP on Balmung, but as her character is greatly different from what i was used to before, it feels for me like our Chars RLS is quite a rocky road.

That article sheds more light on do's and don'ts (like how to keep it interesting and non-boring) and i think that will greatly help me when i keep this article in mind.

 

I would also advice to have a look at that dude's other RP help-sections:

http://rpedia.tumblr.com/archive

 

 

For me, for some reason, I am drawn to the tragic romance more than the lovey-dovey sort of thing. Lucinne's theme if I was to pull a song about her love life and perhaps life as a whole, would be R.E.M.'s Losing My Religion:  

 

Living the life of a Duskwight all by herself in an awkward place (She's in Ul'dah), dedicating herself to her country and losing more of herself as time passes on. Filling her emptiness with duty, so tragic. Perhaps someone will be brave enough to pull her away from this hollow shell of a life and make her feel alive.

 

Oh my. *fans self* :3

 

*gathers River and her Elezen up and strides away~ To consider maybe making fanart.*

 

Thank you for linking the other helping RP sections, Sini. I would like to look into dem.

[Lost River]

*gathers River and her Elezen up and strides away~ To consider maybe making fanart.*

 

 

Oh mai! What fun! Hehe. Lucinne may be more tragic, but a song that would be suitable for Lost would be this one. Be warned, it does have some strong lyrics. Lost is just lost.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0POZBcCuG0

 

 

Also, thank you Sini for the wonderful links! I love all new things to learns.

[Martiallais]

You folks are all great. Seriously.

 

But on topic, this was a nice read, even as someone who's run the rp gamut (pretty literally). And it's always nice to see like opinions (and even differeing ones!) regarding this sometimes touchy topic. After all, some people are very shy/uncomfortable/etc about discussing sex in real life, so online and roleplay can and does mimic that at times.

 

Roleplay is about breathing life into a character and making them 'real'. That very much includes relationships with others (which often allow characters to reveal all kinds of things about themselves that wouldn't happen otherwise), and *gasp* actual relationships. It's all about comfort level for me though, both your own and that of anyone else you're rp'ing with. Live and let live and keep what goes on in public at least 'passingly' respectful and generally all will be well, I've found.

[Dravus]

My concern is that all too often 'romance' in role-play is simply sought after and used as an excuse for the player behind the character wanting to get their rocks off. It's usually easy to tell  when this is the case, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating. Another issue is guilds that exist purely for the sake of ERP. It's pretty creepy, no matter how many attempts are made to dress them up as something completely different.

 

Another common issue I've encountered is that many role-players have a habit of ignoring everyone else when their character's partner is around. Sometimes this is on an IC basis, other times it's on an OOC basis instead. I've lost count of the amount of times I've stumbled across a 'generic mercenary' who simply walks off the moment a potential ERP partner arrives on the scene.

 

I'm not going to get into the whole debate regarding ERP, but to touch upon it lightly I firmly believe that it should be kept in private between consenting partners and shouldn't be layered with strange and unusual fetishes. Players passing by a tavern whilst questing don't need to see descriptive emotes detailing what a tavern wench is doing to a mercenary under a table.

 

Which is a common problem - many role-players seem to take the stance that because they aren't bothered by explicit stuff everyone else should just grow a thicker skin. That isn't exactly fair and I say this as someone who isn't afraid to touch on mature themes in my own role-play.

[Naunet]

I've never been one to go actively seeking "romance RP", mostly because my attitude towards roleplay is more of a "If something happens, it happens, be it an affair, an assassination attempt, a betrayal, a secret, a booze binge, a lasting relationship, a friendship, or anything in between and all around." It's all just roleplay to me!

 

Two characters in my previous RP experiences have been involved in "romantic" relationships, but the romance itself was never really the center of any plot. Well, that's not entirely true. There was a huge plot many years ago that had centered around my character desperately attempting to find my partner's character who had gone missing (and ended up being involved in some really evil stuff) which resulted in my character realizing she actually cared about this crazy elf as more than just a friend. That was such a strange RP relationship, though. He was lucky if she let him hold her hand or touch her waist! But it was fun, and though the relationship itself was certainly significant, the best part is including those layers of interactions on top of whatever else is going on. It wasn't just a Forsaken and a Blood Elf poking at dangerous druidic corruption on a misguided science adventure in the Barrens. It was a damaged woman stuck between wanting to be close to someone and wanting to hide for shame of her existence and a man who was quite capable of and had partaken in evil in the past but was wholly smitten by someone who seemed more interested in trying to ignore her feelings than anything - both attempting to work together to uncover a very dangerous mystery!

 

Of course, those kinds of layers of interaction are present even if the relationship between any given set of characters is platonic. The point is really: A lot of times, the most fun you'll get out of roleplaying a relationship is roleplaying around that relationship.

[K'nahli]

My concern is that all too often 'romance' in role-play is simply sought after and used as an excuse for the player behind the character wanting to get their rocks off. It's usually easy to tell  when this is the case, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating. Another issue is guilds that exist purely for the sake of ERP. It's pretty creepy, no matter how many attempts are made to dress them up as something completely different.

 

Ah, indeed that would be rather creepy though I'm sure most people here would only do such things with people they have known for some time IC and/or OOC. Can you imagine sharing such an intimate scene with a stranger you met a couple of hours ago? wwww

 

@Naunet

Ah, I am a little guilty of seeking/planning things, at least to a partial extent. I don't force scenarios or relationships of course, but I do intentionally seek out that my characters have some relation to my friend's character(s) since I love her RP and character design. Of course, I'd never alter a designed character just so they can get along or force relationships that simply wouldn't work(in fact I am hoping that her character can get along with them(have yet to RP them)) but if it doesn't work then it doesn't work ^^/