Runa's Roleplay Discussion - Gaging Emotions

[Runa Rothgar]

Hiya,

 I might conduct a few of these, because FRC is an RP community.  I believe sometimes players don't understand other character's emotions, intensity can build up and misalignment occurs.

Let me give an example:

My character Runa says something stern, perhaps her words are rigid.

Then a player from another character thinks because Runa sounds that way she is angry. 

Angry words? I am unsure, her emotions angry,  nope.

Runa is stoic in her demeanor, polite in 'most' cases.  Her rage would only come out during battle. 

Then a player will post something that regards Runa as having 'Anger issues' .  In which I do not believe Runa has anger issues.

........................


I understand anger doesn't have to be 'rage' , but being considered an 'angry' person gives off bad vibes when that's not the course a player wanted.


........................



Now, I am not trying to call out names, but this an issue between players because even I catch myself not delivering my words with an emotion. My delivery could be worded wrong.

The world today is full of text and chats.  Yes, you have that partner (or observed), significant other that sounds cold and calculating on their text message when actually they didn't mean too.  (They didn't put enough smiley emotes in it xD ).


There has been many times in the past where Runa was considered angry, when I never emoted her being angry at all.   I was playing Baldurs Gate 3 and there is a fiend, female who is very mean, yet she is not angry, actually quite pleasant in expression.

Runa could be considered mean, but not angry.  I think players tend to take their real world experiences and drive them into FRC as the same categories.


'If the player doesn't emote smiling or calm,  they are probably cold, mean, and or angry.'



I think some suggestions should be made in this discussion.  Solutions so that the proper delivery can be made between players so that they can understand each other's emotions , demeanor. 

Sometimes players will frown, smile, or speak of their emotions or mood at the time. 

So let me start off by saying it's no one's fault, Im not blaming anyone for gaging Runa's emotions improperly.  

A players character could say/think oocly:

'Well, that's what my character thinks.. is your character has anger issues.'  

That may happen in certain cases, but if the PC is delivering a message that is not angry, or not happy, or not sad, I think for RP sake, they want that emotion to hit home to those who receive them.


Possible suggestions and solutions:

- Patience.  I think players can get riled up oocly, and want to deliver their comments, passionately, so we tend to strike back impulsively. 

- PCs delivering the comment can make sure their emotions are sent in conjunction.  

For example:    " It's hypocritical of you to think that you talk about being altruistic and have so much coin at the same time."  Runa comments calmly, yet with stern eyes. 


Runa may have a disagreement with someone, but she isn't angry.   Now another PC can be offended or respond how they wish, but as players can see.. Runa doesn't say she's angry, nor does she present herself as such.


For those receiving:

- A player could emote trying to gage another another characters emotions.  

For example:   *Runa glances over to Frimgarold's moustache twitch in attempt to gage his current mood*  


Now the DM running Frimbiscuit could respond , maybe with a roll of wisdom , or just out right relaying that Frim looks heated , perhaps cheeks red, or  annoyed,  something of that manner. 

*Frimgarold seems annoyed at the Reserve Guard's comment, yet keeps on recording* 

This could work for player on player discusions.

I have seen many Roleplayers reveal their emotions without comments, which is great! 

Now some characters may not care, or it doesn't matter at the time.  

We don't have to go around trying to gage everyone's emotions throughout RP.  I mostly speak of intense situations, when things get heated, or just player is not understanding the characters emotions.

There are other possible topics of this I could discuss.


As in, players emoting certain  metagame-ish comments that also refer to another character being a certain way,  'God modeing' another character's emotions or state of mind.


Anyways, I'd like to hear other player's thoughts on this, or possible suggestions to make .


Once again, this is not a blame game, I have gaged other player's emotions wrong , too.  This is just to better help each other understand what their characters are trying to portray at that very moment. 


~Runa

[Animayhem]

Prefacing a few words can help. Like, *in a voice tinged with anger* phrase.  It can be a challenge at times, especially, as it is for many here, English is a second language.

I do feel however the onus should not solely be on the initial speaker.  If the person being addressed does not understand what has been said they could respond with something like "Are you angry, mad sad, etc.

I have caught myself from using modern phrases. I have heard such *totally noms the food* or they mention *totally in "celebrity name" mode.

I really suggest people check out the new emote menu,  the emotes their can assist with conveying the mood.

[Masterbard Alyster Darkharp]

The physical emotes are paramount to my own role-play, mostly because, my character wears a mask roughly 90% of the time and there are no facial cues for his mood, or emotional state. That is by design for the most part, but, it does make conveying mood difficult at times. As a bard, I also have heavily delved into physical emotes for instruments for purposes of the visible performance. They can also be helpful when you are inquisitive, uncompromising, or agitated and it's visible. People who stay zoomed out and don't pay attention to the body language will miss this, but those who role-play with you often at least, will come to rely on it to gauge you.

It's not always emotional shows that people form an opinion on though. If I keep digging for information, regardless of how casually, people will realize that I am dogged and determined to learn that information. Maybe even desperate to learn it. Your opinions and actions, not just your visible appearance of mood, will play a role. If you ignore someones presence consistently, you'll be considered to be dismissive of one another, perhaps even at odds or angry with each other. As far as emotion on that, what seems like logic to you, can seem like anger or bias to those observing you. This same thing works with alignment honestly, you can be as logical as you like with your personal actions, but logic does not cancel perceived emotion or even actual good, or evil. If I smile and laugh while trash talking someone and going over how much I hate them, the perceived emotion isn't joy because I am laughing, the perception is anger.

[darthweasel]

A lot of this is all fine and dandy, but some consideration for other players ooc needs to be considered. Unless you know someone keeping that wall up can be difficult. And frankly with the poor level of communication between players outside of the circle one usually plays with folks dont know when its not personal.

[DM Betelgeuse]

As long as it stays IC...

Be as mean, horrific and as combative as you like. Call people morons, put them down, be patronizing. Smash their bones and drive them before you, just to hear the lamentation of their men.

Why?

Because it is IC. Some people are unpleasant, rude and vile even. Let's breed IC conflict, create IC relationships that will see Fearun temble at our rage.

Why?

Because it is all good fun. Alignments exist. Charisma's of 8 exist. Wisdoms of 8 exist.

Don't be upset OOC because someone's PC was mean, that doesn't mean the player was mean.

This is a world where our fictional PC's interact with other fictional objects and characters.

Let's get this glorious conquest started and crush Cormyr under the boots of our fiendish masters!

[Animayhem]

Aug 25, 2023 14:41:12 GMT -5 DM Betelgeuse said:

As long as it stays IC...

Be as mean, horrific and as combative as you like. Call people morons, put them down, be patronizing. Smash their bones and drive them before you, just to hear the lamentation of their men.

Why?

Because it is IC. Some people are unpleasant, rude and vile even. Let's breed IC conflict, create IC relationships that will see Fearun temble at our rage.

Why?

Because it is all good fun. Alignments exist. Charisma's of 8 exist. Wisdoms of 8 exist.

Don't be upset OOC because someone's PC was mean, that doesn't mean the player was mean.

This is a world where our fictional PC's interact with other fictional objects and characters.

Let's get this glorious conquest started and crush Cormyr under the boots of our fiendish masters!

Remember this is a game, a temporary escape for yourself and others.

[DM Betelgeuse]

[PhatDorf]

As someone who plays a largely non-verbal PC, I tend to think about body language and expression a lot when I'm roleplaying, and try to indicate -especially- when what might be being said doesn't totally match how someone is actually feeling.

I try and keep things somewhat subtle, instead of overtly indicating the emotional context of something. I'd love for people to read into things more and think about not just what is being said, but how -- but I'm not in their heads and I like to think people already do that.

One can also present a more masked emotion or forced expression, like a 'faint, polite smile' which says multiple things to me about how the character might be thinking or feeling, and how they want to present themselves.

But yeah, it's generally better to assume no-one *actually* hates you or wants to see you upset, if that's something that's happened to prompt all this.
Text-based communication both IC and OOC lacks tone and expression, which I daresay is a huge part of effective communication anyway.
Also, people have a lot going on behind their screens, and things are rarely so simple as they might present.

[Runa Rothgar]

Aug 26, 2023 8:25:36 GMT -5 PhatDorf said:

As someone who plays a largely non-verbal PC, I tend to think about body language and expression a lot when I'm roleplaying, and try to indicate -especially- when what might be being said doesn't totally match how someone is actually feeling.

I try and keep things somewhat subtle, instead of overtly indicating the emotional context of something. I'd love for people to read into things more and think about not just what is being said, but how -- but I'm not in their heads and I like to think people already do that.

One can also present a more masked emotion or forced expression, like a 'faint, polite smile' which says multiple things to me about how the character might be thinking or feeling, and how they want to present themselves.

But yeah, it's generally better to assume no-one *actually* hates you or wants to see you upset, if that's something that's happened to prompt all this.
Text-based communication both IC and OOC lacks tone and expression, which I daresay is a huge part of effective communication anyway.
Also, people have a lot going on behind their screens, and things are rarely so simple as they might present.

Yeah, it's not about the hate bit.

Honestly, I try my best to assure players that my edge-lady characters aren't a biproduct of my current mood, and really I am an advocate of it's 'your problem' not mine if players are too sensitive to handle my characters.

I try my best not too push my characters into harassing others.  Many players get on to enjoy the game and not try to conflict or bump heads.   We all have our daily lives to escape from. 

If it's all in game that's fine, but it's when players perceive my character as something that they are not, when I am trying to make sure it's not that way.

If I want Runa to be stern, yet polite in her words, calmly delivering, I want other characters to know that for the imagination.   I don't want her words alone to be perceived as angry, or seething when that's not what I intended at that time.

My prompting of this is to just bring awareness and perhaps help nurture better roleplay.  

I just observe that some players tend to get wrong the idea about another character, not just from my characters but interactions from others between themselves.

[Asgardian Grey Hawk]

I mean want advise? Vastly most of my pc's are hated. all that matters is your having fun and not violating rules. It sucks you felt the need to make this thread but I mean your great at your pc. Runa is a love or hate. Kudos for playing Runa.

[Asgardian Grey Hawk]

Aug 25, 2023 17:13:20 GMT -5 Animayhem said:

Aug 25, 2023 14:41:12 GMT -5 DM Betelgeuse said:

As long as it stays IC...

Be as mean, horrific and as combative as you like. Call people morons, put them down, be patronizing. Smash their bones and drive them before you, just to hear the lamentation of their men.

Why?

Because it is IC. Some people are unpleasant, rude and vile even. Let's breed IC conflict, create IC relationships that will see Fearun temble at our rage.

Why?

Because it is all good fun. Alignments exist. Charisma's of 8 exist. Wisdoms of 8 exist.

Don't be upset OOC because someone's PC was mean, that doesn't mean the player was mean.

This is a world where our fictional PC's interact with other fictional objects and characters.

Let's get this glorious conquest started and crush Cormyr under the boots of our fiendish masters!

Remember this is a game, a temporary escape for yourself and others.

Exactly why it is perfectly find to cut loose

[Runa Rothgar]

Aug 26, 2023 14:42:56 GMT -5 Asgardian Grey Hawk said:

I mean want advise? Vastly most of my pc's are hated. all that matters is your having fun and not violating rules. It sucks you felt the need to make this thread but I mean your great at your pc. Runa is a love or hate. Kudos for playing Runa.

I appreciate the words. :3

Im not looking for advice for just myself. 

Im just bringing awareness of how characters can work with each other.  


It's a discussion, xD.

Im not struggling, nor am I really asking for help.  I just seen this thread as an opportunity to give advice all around, suggestions to help nurture better RP for everyone. 


Sorry if this came across as me being hurt, or struggling.   

My characters can deal out some harsh words at times.  Just trying to bring ways to clarify each other in RP.  I have no problem with any players at all.   I just like having discussions like this as a reminder, or just to refresh our RP skillz is all .