04/08/01: The True Meaning of the word "Roleplay"
by Amanda Purol

Deviating from the old fashioned book and dice roleplay, we come to a place online where we, the writers, can cast aside our rollers and become what we truly are: artists. We thrive on the written word and take pride in our creativity, a notion that may seem odd to those who are our partners, friends, and lovers ‘In Real Life’. We pretend that we are someone else, and in doing, must create an entire other world for our alter egos. We start with looks, add on character, and finally come to a homeland or land of origin. We, in a way, become the people we've created. In a way, we always were. Stretching our mind to the limits, we can expound upon our ideas and dreams and make them so much more than just a game. It is our therapy, our hobby, and our outlet for the fantasies and frustrations that we so easily amass in our daily lives.

To write a two page treatise on the one word post defeats all idealism in the art of roleplay. To refer to the more loquacious player as ‘megaposter’ who crushes the rest of the room beneath the weight of his or her post is a grievous flaw on the part of the writer. In general, the ‘megaposter’ tends to be a more visually inclined person who wishes to share their inner ‘sight’ with the world. As opposed to being a stagnant swamp, the wordier player is a fountain of visually stunning imagery that paints a perfect picture of the writer's emotions and visualizations. In other words, the more they describe, the more colorful the picture for those of us reading their work.

In addition to the obvious visual benefits of longer, more detailed posts, there is the benefit of time. Time spent, time given, time shared. If you're going to spend hours in front of a computer screen, then at least make those hours worth the effort. Put a little thought into your posts and don't worry about bombarding people with them. A truly knowledgeable player knows that to describe an emotion or a facial expression it takes much more than a single word. To describe a feeling (that eerie murkiness in a room, the radiant glitter of a sunset) and convey that feeling to another person takes a bit more effort if you truly want that partner to understand where you are coming from.

True artistry comes from a love of expression. When I was a ‘newbie’ stepping into roleplay for the first time, yes, I imbibed in my share of one word posts. There was, however, a standard that I saw and had hoped to achieve. Players who had been at the game for years were the ones I looked up to. Their amazingly creative posts and twisting plot lines were a lure that I couldn't resist. Shunned as I was in my ‘newbie’ skin, I wanted to be on their level. I wanted to be a respected and sought after player; I wanted to contribute my own concepts… I wanted to have my mind challenged and my abilities stretched. I wanted to think.

Evolution of workmanship is an important factor in anything we do. No one starts out being an expert, but to remain in the same rut that you began in is a shame. We grow, we improve, and hopefully we become better. The one word post is a beginner's jewel… go for gold… become something better. With skill comes mastery and with mastery comes the true game. Like chess, anyone can learn to play… but it takes a mastermind to play well.

Next month - Amanda brings us the True Meaning of Victoria Day!