The Art of Roleplaying in GemStone IV (guide) - Revision history

GS4-XERAPHINA at 21:29, 3 November 2024

2024-11-03T21:29:40Z

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	{{Player-guide		{{Player-guide
			\|title=The Art of Roleplaying in GemStone IV
	\|author-displayed=[[Silvean (prime)\|Silvean]]		\|author-displayed=[[Silvean (prime)\|Silvean]]
	\|author=Silvean		\|author=Silvean

GS4-XERAPHINA: updated page to include new player-guide template

2024-11-03T21:29:09Z

updated page to include new player-guide template

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			{{Player-guide
			\|author-displayed=[[Silvean (prime)\|Silvean]]
			\|author=Silvean
			\|date=2014-08-21
			\|topic=Roleplaying
			}}
	<center><b><span style="font-size:20pt">The Art of Roleplaying in GemStone IV		<center><b><span style="font-size:20pt">The Art of Roleplaying in GemStone IV

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	[[category:Guides]]
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VANKRASN39: fix header levels, toc format

2017-02-04T21:02:34Z

fix header levels, toc format

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VANKRASN39: /* See also */

2015-06-09T05:30:58Z

VANKRASN39: /* See Also */ add link

2015-04-02T04:53:51Z

SILVEAN: /* Features and Attire */

2015-02-06T03:04:01Z

Features and Attire

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	Gemstone offers nearly unlimited opportunities for the customization of your character's features and attire. The [[character guide\|Character Guide]] and the official alteration guidelines available through the [[ALTER]] verb provide an overview of what is mechanically possible and allowable in terms of policy. Official lore documents can provide some guidance on the [http://www.play.net/gs4/info/races/races.asp races] of Elanthia, their [http://www.play.net/gs4/info/tomes/clothing/home.asp distinct forms of dress], and the symbolic [http://www.play.net/gs4/info/gems/ meaning of gems] used for adornment.		Gemstone offers nearly unlimited opportunities for the customization of your character's features and attire. The [[character guide\|Character Guide]] and the official alteration guidelines available through the [[ALTER]] verb provide an overview of what is mechanically possible and allowable in terms of policy. Official lore documents can provide some guidance on the [http://www.play.net/gs4/info/races/races.asp races] of Elanthia, their [http://www.play.net/gs4/info/tomes/clothing/home.asp distinct forms of dress], and the symbolic [http://www.play.net/gs4/info/gems/ meaning of gems] used for adornment.

	The potential for other players to look at your character and get a sense of who that person is before you have typed a word makes your features and attire one of the most powerful roleplaying tools in Gemstone. In connection with a strong sense of background and worldview, it is advisable to aim for some consistency in dress. It is instructive that GameMaster NPCs are often ~~give~~ one notable feature and just a few worn items in order to provide a strong and immediate sense of identity.		The potential for other players to look at your character and get a sense of who that person is before you have typed a word makes your features and attire one of the most powerful roleplaying tools in Gemstone. In connection with a strong sense of background and worldview, it is advisable to aim for some consistency in dress. It is instructive that GameMaster NPCs are often given one notable feature and just a few worn items in order to provide a strong and immediate sense of identity.

	Given the creativity that goes into GemStone item design, it is possible to build up entire character concepts around the cleverness of a particular object. Perhaps a clockwork dagger concealer will inform the kind of rogue you are envisioning or a particularly evocative set of prayer beads will shape the way you think about your cleric. With the prevalence of scripted items in GemStone, the possibilities are expanded even beyond an item's passive appearance to include the descriptive impact of its actions. It is easy to imagine how an item may come to have a life of its own that becomes intertwined with the one you are creating for your character.		Given the creativity that goes into GemStone item design, it is possible to build up entire character concepts around the cleverness of a particular object. Perhaps a clockwork dagger concealer will inform the kind of rogue you are envisioning or a particularly evocative set of prayer beads will shape the way you think about your cleric. With the prevalence of scripted items in GemStone, the possibilities are expanded even beyond an item's passive appearance to include the descriptive impact of its actions. It is easy to imagine how an item may come to have a life of its own that becomes intertwined with the one you are creating for your character.

VANKRASN39: /* See Also */ add link

2015-01-28T05:16:14Z

INIQUITY: /* What is a Roleplaying Game (RPG)? */

2015-01-07T05:45:21Z

What is a Roleplaying Game (RPG)?

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	It is easy to become bogged down by semantics when puzzling over what counts as roleplaying, and it may be helpful to distinguish between roleplaying games (RPGs) and roleplaying (RP) as one possible activity in such games.		It is easy to become bogged down by semantics when puzzling over what counts as roleplaying, and it may be helpful to distinguish between roleplaying games (RPGs) and roleplaying (RP) as one possible activity in such games.

	RPGs became popular in the tabletop format with the release of Dungeons & Dragons in 1974. Itself an inheritor of miniature war games, Dungeons & Dragons allows players to create and develop a character over the course of imaginary adventures in a fantasy setting. A Dungeon Master sets the scene and controls the monsters. Dice and statistics are used to resolve conflict in the game: roll to see if your knight successfully hits the troll, roll to see how much damage is done. The success of Dungeons & Dragons led to a number of other tabletop roleplaying games, including the Rolemaster system and its Shadow World campaign setting. These properties formed the basis for GemStone's setting until 1995.		RPGs became popular in the tabletop format with the release of Dungeons & Dragons in 1974. Itself an inheritor of miniature war games, Dungeons & Dragons allows players to create and develop a character over the course of imaginary adventures in a fantasy setting. A Dungeon Master sets the scene and controls the monsters. Dice and statistics are used to resolve conflict in the game: roll to see if your knight successfully hits the troll, roll to see how much damage is done. The success of Dungeons & Dragons led to a number of other tabletop roleplaying games, including the [[Rolemaster]] system and its [[Shadow World]] campaign setting. These properties formed the basis for GemStone's setting until 1995.

	In the video game market, RPG is a genre distinguished by a concern for elaborate world building, narrative development, and enhanced control over the player character(s). Science fiction and fantasy settings are common and typical examples include the Ultima, Final Fantasy, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect, and Fallout series. It is becoming increasingly popular to include some of these RPG characteristics in games that would otherwise fall into another genre, e.g. football games that let you design and “level up” your own quarterback. GemStone is, of course, a type of RPG video game.		In the video game market, RPG is a genre distinguished by a concern for elaborate world building, narrative development, and enhanced control over the player character(s). Science fiction and fantasy settings are common and typical examples include the Ultima, Final Fantasy, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect, and Fallout series. It is becoming increasingly popular to include some of these RPG characteristics in games that would otherwise fall into another genre, e.g. football games that let you design and “level up” your own quarterback. GemStone is, of course, a type of RPG video game.

VANKRASN39: add link

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	==[[Node]]s==		==[[Node]]s==
	Popular resting places like the Hearthstone Manor porch near Wehnimer's Landing or the Hanging Gardens in Ta'Illistim can provide opportunities for impromptu roleplaying. It is here that you can experiment with IC interactions while forming connections between your character and others. On a more discouraging note, many players like to go AFK while letting their characters rest on nodes and you may find yourself with a particularly non-responsive environment. If your roleplay is met with a stony silence, do not take it personally. Try again another time.		Popular resting places like the [[Hearthstone Manor]] porch near Wehnimer's Landing or the Hanging Gardens in Ta'Illistim can provide opportunities for impromptu roleplaying. It is here that you can experiment with IC interactions while forming connections between your character and others. On a more discouraging note, many players like to go AFK while letting their characters rest on nodes and you may find yourself with a particularly non-responsive environment. If your roleplay is met with a stony silence, do not take it personally. Try again another time.

	==Amunet==		==Amunet==

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	=Introduction=		=Introduction=

	Since returning to [[GemStone IV]] in 2013, I have been thinking about writing some explanatory notes and reflections on [[roleplay]]ing based on my own experiences with the hobby over the last twenty years. I have been continually putting this project off in favor of writing more documents in the voice of Silvean, but [[user:VANKRASN39\|Allereli's player]] finally shook me from this procrastination by asking for my input on ~~a Krakiipedia~~ article. If you like what you read here, please feel free to thank me. If you hate it, blame her.		Since returning to [[GemStone IV]] in 2013, I have been thinking about writing some explanatory notes and reflections on [[roleplay]]ing based on my own experiences with the hobby over the last twenty years. I have been continually putting this project off in favor of writing more documents in the voice of Silvean, but [[user:VANKRASN39\|Allereli's player]] finally shook me from this procrastination by asking for my input on an article. If you like what you read here, please feel free to thank me. If you hate it, blame her.

	In contrast to my most well-known character, I am not an egomaniac. I cannot claim to be a perfect roleplayer and I cannot claim this guide is comprehensive. Roleplaying can be intensely personal, and individual players will have their own opinions about best practices. I have recently participated in some great conversations under the “General Roleplaying” category on the [http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/view official forums] and learned as much from disagreements as I have from the consensus.		In contrast to my most well-known character, I am not an egomaniac. I cannot claim to be a perfect roleplayer and I cannot claim this guide is comprehensive. Roleplaying can be intensely personal, and individual players will have their own opinions about best practices. I have recently participated in some great conversations under the “General Roleplaying” category on the [http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/view official forums] and learned as much from disagreements as I have from the consensus.

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