Two quick points

Two quick points:
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Posted by Cyradia (IMM) on August 14, 2000 at 14:53:25:

In Reply to: Where do you get your information? (Role) (t) posted by Proud Blade(VIP) on August 14, 2000 at 13:56:34:

1. I'm not sure it's 80 char/line. I think 80 works for most people, but I believe 60 is a safer bet (80 is too long for me, for example). I could be wrong...line it up with a room description to be safe. I liked (and now use) Challen's suggestion which is to open a word pad, make the font New Courier, and type:
1234567890 --6 times and then 1234567 after that

Make your desc or role under that, making sure your lines, line up. That will allow for the "desc + " or "role + " and your 60 characters.

2. This myth that you only need a role if you're trying to do something crazy like jump allignment/classes, etc...is a horrible, untrue rumor indeed. I, and many other immortals, have discussed the topic until we're blue in the face and I don't think anybody, anywhere, came close to saying, "you only need a role if you're doing something really weird." Very disappointing that people believe it and feel the need to tell people that on a forum...but I give up.

> The role command is there to give a basic outline of your character's personality and background. This is true whether or not your character is highly unusual, which seems to be a common myth around the forum of late.

> The IMMs are the only ones who can read your role, so it makes sense to read what they have to say about it. A very incomplete list:

> ../messages/32500.html
> ../messages/27372.html
> ../messages/20328.html
> ../messages/20276.html
> ../messages/19092.html
> ../char/messages/1064.html
> ../messages/32432.html

> If you want a summary: A well-written role will make it easier for an IMM to interact with you. It can explain why your character acts as he/she does. Some people think they are roleplaying, when they are really making it all up as they go along, and act quite differently, depending on who they think is watching. A role is a good way of making an informal contract: "This is who I am. Treat me as such." Several IMMs have pointed out that it makes interviews (cabal, empowerment, tattoo, quest, etc.) go much more smoothly if they don't have to begin every interview with "So.... tell me about yourself." (As a bonus, you don't have to explain your life story to every IMM you run across.)

> A badly-written role will make them clutch their head, and move on to do other IMMly things. While the length of the role is somewhat flexible, they prefer if it is:

> - Clearly written
> - Formatted to 80 chars/line
> - Relevant to the character's actions and thoughts
> - Trimmed down to the most important parts. (I've been guilty of fracturing this one. I'm trying to get better.)

> Any number of sample roles are available on the Character Board. Some are quite good.

> So, I disagree with Zepachu. Having a role makes quality roleplaying -easier-, because it provides bedrock for your character's persona.

> (As an aside, I'm starting to include "keywords" in my subject lines where possible. It makes Forum Searching easier, so I'd recommend it to other people.)

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Or you could open word and set the right margin at the 4-5/8ths mark. nt Imbrogno 18:19:12 8/14/2000 (2)
- That number is font dependent, by the way. Test it first, kids. (n/t) Proud Blade(VIP) 12:13:24 8/15/2000 (1)
  - If you open word it starts at 10 so that's what 4-5/8ths is, of course if you're a college student you've been programmed by the desire to write papers quickly to automatically up that number to 12 or 14 and increase the margins :) nt Imbrogno 12:19:06 8/15/2000 (0)
That's it! War! Proud Blade(VIP) 14:59:41 8/14/2000 (1)
- I laugh out loud while reading the forum maybe once per day, and that North Swahili bit is the winner for the day. Hilarious. nt Imbrogno 16:42:37 8/14/2000 (0)

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Comments:	> 1. I'm not sure it's 80 char/line. I think 80 works for most people, but I believe 60 is a safer bet (80 is too long for me, for example). I could be wrong...line it up with a room description to be safe. I liked (and now use) Challen's suggestion which is to open a word pad, make the font New Courier, and type: > 1234567890 --6 times and then 1234567 after that > Make your desc or role under that, making sure your lines, line up. That will allow for the "desc + " or "role + " and your 60 characters. > 2. This myth that you only need a role if you're trying to do something crazy like jump allignment/classes, etc...is a horrible, untrue rumor indeed. I, and many other immortals, have discussed the topic until we're blue in the face and I don't think anybody, anywhere, came close to saying, "you only need a role if you're doing something really weird." Very disappointing that people believe it and feel the need to tell people that on a forum...but I give up. > > The role command is there to give a basic outline of your character's personality and background. This is true whether or not your character is highly unusual, which seems to be a common myth around the forum of late. > > The IMMs are the only ones who can read your role, so it makes sense to read what they have to say about it. A very incomplete list: > > ../messages/32500.html > > ../messages/27372.html > > ../messages/20328.html > > ../messages/20276.html > > ../messages/19092.html > > ../char/messages/1064.html > > ../messages/32432.html > > If you want a summary: A well-written role will make it easier for an IMM to interact with you. It can explain why your character acts as he/she does. Some people think they are roleplaying, when they are really making it all up as they go along, and act quite differently, depending on who they think is watching. A role is a good way of making an informal contract: "This is who I am. Treat me as such." Several IMMs have pointed out that it makes interviews (cabal, empowerment, tattoo, quest, etc.) go much more smoothly if they don't have to begin every interview with "So.... tell me about yourself." (As a bonus, you don't have to explain your life story to every IMM you run across.) > > A badly-written role will make them clutch their head, and move on to do other IMMly things. While the length of the role is somewhat flexible, they prefer if it is: > > - Clearly written > > - Formatted to 80 chars/line > > - Relevant to the character's actions and thoughts > > - Trimmed down to the most important parts. (I've been guilty of fracturing this one. I'm trying to get better.) > > Any number of sample roles are available on the Character Board. Some are quite good. > > So, I disagree with Zepachu. Having a role makes quality roleplaying -easier-, because it provides bedrock for your character's persona. > > (As an aside, I'm starting to include "keywords" in my subject lines where possible. It makes Forum Searching easier, so I'd recommend it to other people.)

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