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Prove It
A RolePlayer's Guild to Impressing The Ladies Picky GMs

This thread is to discuss and help people with submitting RP posts to get into quality RPs. If you need help with character profiles, visit the awesome Character Creation Thread. This thread is specifically about actual RP posts because many RPs, group and one-on-one RPs alike, and RP guilds require you to submit a sample in order to join. Some GMs/One-on-One RPers check your post history trying to find out if you're the kind of RPer that they want. I know I do when a character profile that someone's submitted makes me a bit uneasy. Your post history or sample RP post is often the deciding factor for getting into that RP you've just fallen in love with.

Things you can do in this thread:

  1. Discuss techniques for getting into RPs and keeping your post quality up; discuss picky GMs; discuss the RPs that you've been accepted into, and the ones that you've been rejected from. Discuss your horror stories and your joyous successes with finding RP partners and accepting players into group RPs.
  2. Post an RP post to ask for advice. If you've ever been rejected before, or if you're planning to go to the next level, or if you're just plain perfectionistic, this is the place for you. You can give us a link to the RP you've taken the post from, but whatever you post needs to stand on its own as well. If you're planning on submitting to a particular RP, go ahead and mention/link to that.
  3. Critique RP posts submitted here. Not every thing has to be a line-by-line break down. Sometimes just a single sentence about your impressions or your level of satisfaction with the post is enough. If you're a GM of a certain RP, tell us about it and whether or not you would accept such a submission to your RP. Tell us if you would be happy or annoyed if someone who had already been accepted posted that.

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Resources to Help you Prove it
Feel free to post or PM me resources. Feel free to also mention people who helped you out, but I won't be posting those here because people change their names or accounts or become inactive too often.

Science Fiction RPs, Search + Listing
The Character Creation Thread
How to Fool Others into Thinking You're an Advanced Lit. Rper.
How Not to Roleplay
Roleplay Recruitment Center
Literate Roleplays? What happened?
SDRP Roleplaying Guide
Helpful Writing Tips for All
The Character Help Thread
The How To, A Guide To Roleplaying
So You Wanna Take it Outside, Huh? - Combat Guide
Roleplayer's Sanctuary
Why Won't You Join? -- Flaws of RPs Revealed
Adding Flair to your RP or Profile

Guilds
School of Dedicated RolePlayers
The Literate Roleplaying Guild
Fantasy Writer's Association of Gaia
SOUL: Society of Unified Literates
The Gaian Grammar Guild
The Gaian Roleplay School

Off of Gaia
100 Most Often Mispelled Words
Punctuation Made Simple
Punctuation (more complicated)
100 Most Important Things To Know About Your Character
Tramatic Injury For Gamers (an example)
Building a Female Character
The Art of Magic (example system and useful terms
The Big List of RPG Plots
The Mary Sue Litmus Test
Sentence Diagramming
Basic Grammar (terms)
The Online Writing Lab at Purdue U.
Jack Lynch's Guide to Grammar and Style

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High Command

Getting into Quality Role-Plays



First, I'll assume that you've already found a high-quality RP. If not, I'd suggest you keep looking around both the Barton Town and Barton OOC forums, and don't forget to look into some role-playing guilds.

Now, let's say you've got your sights on an RP with a great setting that you're just dying to get into. However, this RP has strict rules on joining. I'll do my best to give a few pointers on how to "dress to impress", so to speak.



    1) Do Your Research
      This is a pretty obvious thing to do, even though you haven't even submitted an application/profile yet. However, this is just extremely important! Be sure to read everything in the role-play's introduction. Usually, the GM has this in the first one or two posts, but some put useful information on the entire first page! Make yourself familiar with the genre, setting, and various aspects of the universe that the RP is in. Make sure you are comfortable with the rules the GM has set forth, and make sure they agree with the Gaian ToS. If the GM has posted other players' profiles, be sure to read them over. This will not only give you an idea of what the GM is looking for, but can help you create a unique character that stands out from the others.

        User ImageSome GMs like to have players title their PMs with a certain phrase they have placed somewhere (often inconspicuously) on the first page. Be sure to check if your PM needs a title! Forgetting to appropriately title your application can leave a bad impression on the GM.



    2) The Character Profile
      As was said by Penden, if you need help creating on creating characters, visit the Character Creation Thread. I will provide tips on how to make sure the profile you provide will impress the GM.

      In general, make sure that your spelling and grammar is tip-top in your profile. Remember that you are trying to leave a good impression, and the GM expects no less than your best. Check and recheck your profile for spelling mistakes, and make sure that you are completely satisfied with your work before you send it. For now, here are some specific tips for the various parts of most profiles.

      Name: Make sure the name you provide keeps with the overall setting of the role-play. For example, if the role-play is set in a fantasy world, a name like "Buck" might not fly. In the same way, try to make it believable. "Roccinapheneledril" might not get you many points, either.

      Appearance: Unless specifically told to do so by the GM, do not post a picture (anime or otherwise) of what your character looks like. Instead, describe his/her appearance as best you can. Be sure to include things like eye color, height, build, skin tone, facial features, anything easily distinguishable, and possibly what he/she is wearing (provided they don't change often). This will help others describe your character as well, and taking the time to write everything out let's the GM know that you are serious.

      History/Personality Provide as much or as little as the other accepted players have posted, but make sure it is still high-quality if it is short. Try to only include relevant information in the character's history, and be sure to leave some details out, that you can bring up later in the RP. If you can, try to think of ways that your character's history and/or personality can link to the storyline. This can include plot twists, character flaws, etc. Make sure that your character will benefit the RP!

        User ImageDon't be afraid to make some room at the top of your message to say a few words to the GM directly. You can compliment their work on creating the RP, express how excited you are to find it, or how much you can't wait to start playing with everyone else. Let the GM know you're really interested in the RP and that you're going to stick with it!



    3) Ask Questions
      This is something that people often forget, but it can make a big difference if you know how to use it! Most high-quality RPs have a fairly set universe that the GM wants to maintain. If you are unsure about what is accepted in the setting provided, don't be afraid to ask the GM about it! Most GMs love to talk about their settings (trust me), and it gives them the impression that you really care about the RP. If the RP has already started, ask them if they can think of a clever way to work you into the story, and discuss your own ideas with them. As said above, developing a slightly closer relationship to the GM is a great way to make sure you get into the RP and stay there.



    4) The Role-playing Sample
      This can often be the trickiest part of the application process. Some GMs prefer to review your post history, while others simply ask for a sample.

      Say the GM has stated on the thread that your post history will be checked. In this case, there's not much else you can do. If you are confident that they will like what they see, your job is done. However, perhaps you haven't role-played on Gaia recently, or perhaps you have simply been forum hopping for a while. Sometimes, if you can impress them enough with your character profile, they will trust you enough to not check.

      Alternatively, if they request a sample post, you have a bit of leeway. If you know of a great post you've made in the past, feel free to dive into your post history and submit it. If you don't think you have one on hand, you might just have to make it right there. I'll provide some tips on submitting role-playing samples that give the GM a good impression.

      Using a Previous Post:
        Double check your post to make sure that it is as great as you remember it to be. Check for grammar or spelling mistakes, and the overall length and flow of the piece. In addition, you may want to consider doing the following:
          - Make sure you explain any details that the GM might need to know about it. However, keep the summary short, as it will detract from the post itself!
          - Post the actual post, as well as a link to it in the role-play!
          - Try to submit a post that it is in a similar genre. This is not always necessary, but it can only help.


      Creating a New Post
        I am going to assume that you will not copy-and-paste a piece of literature, and decide to make your own post. That being said, you should make your post in the setting of the role-play you are joining. This will do two things. First, it will show the GM that you are fully capable of post high-quality work in their role-play. Second, it will prove without a shadow of doubt that you yourself wrote the post. Now there are some things you can consider.

          - This is a great opportunity to show how you will use your character.
          - This is a great opportunity to write about your character's history.
          - Try to keep the post related to the RP's overall theme.
          - Make sure that your post is poignant. This post needs to be exciting and interesting enough that the GM will want to see more.
          - Your post should be able to stand alone without a prologue or epilogue.
          - Make sure it is long, but not too long!



    With some good writing of your own, hopefully the GM will invite you in! I will most likely be updating this post in the future, and if you can think of anything to add, let me know!

    Thanks and happy hunting!
    HC

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Reserved.

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I can't possibly need any more than that, so post!

Dangerous Hunter

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YAY!!! FIRST POSTY!!!

Ok, now down to business. I'm going to submit a piece of work and I want it analyzed and torn apart, just to see how good I am.

Takamura Kobayashi
You Will Never Be A Man

Takamura turned to the man that he had assumed addressed him. He bowed low to the man, his brown hair flopping in front of his face. "Hello good sir, I am Takamura Kobayashi, but most people call me Taki." It was then the mans question registered in his mind. Oh dear, he must think I am badly injured, maybe I am. Oh my. he thought as he rose from the bow and lifted his hand to touch the back of his head. Feeling the congealed blood and matted hair Takamura simply sighed. "Another wound. It will heal in time my friend." He took in the mans dress, very unlike his own. He bowed again motioning towards a chair at the table. "Would you care to join me?" Takamura asked, his voice filled with concern.

He always put others before himself, no matter the situation. It wasn't in his nature to be impolite, nor wanting, for he often took far less than his fair share. Eyeing the hole in the door Takamura began to chuckle to himself, to some it would appear he was crazy, but he was far from it. "My head's harder than I thought." He rubbed the back of his head again before resuming his seat at the table.
Unless You Are A Gentleman
You Will Never Be A Man
Unless You Are A Gentleman

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One thing I learned on Gaia was that most of the great roleplayers I've run into post in text size 9 or 10. It just looks more professional and detailed. Some even post in different colors. Of course, you have make friends with color coding to do that. Sometimes even making dialog a different color will make your post seem better. The way I roleplay is I write an overview of what I want to happen and then I just flesh it out by describing the environment or with details on anything I can think of. For example:


Simple Skeleton
It was raining. It was cold. The sun was setting. Monsters were coming out for the night. Dr. Irralius walked out of a dense forest and found a mansion. She walked into that mansion. She wandered the halls. She found the library and picked out a book. Then she sat down in the chair and started reading silently.

Revised Skeleton
Rain waged war against the tree tops as Dr. Irralius traveled towards the forest exit. It had been hours since she last rested and her feet were starting to ache unhappily within her leather boots. Slowly, the trees were losing and rain crept through the last defensive line of leaves and branches. This made the doctors hair stir with impatience. The last thing it wanted was to be drenched with water that could have come from anywhere on the planet.

Dr. Irralius sighed before dashing to the forest edge and spotting a nearby mansion. It would take a swift 50 yard sprint to get her to the front door. Staying under the spotty protection of the trees wasn't an option. The sun was getting ready for bed. Temperature was dropping at an alarming rate. Spheres of ice were melting closer to the ground and roars of anger could be heard in the distance. Ignoring the opposition of her hair, the doctor looked at her watch and dashed across the lawn, diving into the mansion through the front door. Facing the ceiling, she looked at her watch and smiled.


"Twenty two seconds."

BAM! The doors slammed shut. Acinemod's convulsion from the fright brought her to her feet. There was no one in sight. Her first instinct was to leave, but since the sun had already fallen that wasn't on the list of options. In the end, she decided that it was best to get as far away from the door as possible. The being that slammed the door must have been angry. Dr. Irralius turned on her heels and wandered the halls that took her away from the front door. It didn't take her long to find the library and to search the shelves for something interesting. Shakespeare, Socrates, Plato, etc. One thing for sure was that most of the authors were either dead or getting there. Acinemod picked up "The Art of War" and tossed herself upon a random wooden chair. It was then that she realized the mansion was well into its hundreds. The chair fell to dust. Cough, cough, cough, hack! Dr. Irralius scrambled to her feet and traveled the mansion in search of newer furniture. In the center of the library was a bunch of larger than imaginable pillows, which she carefully crawled upon. Death by large pillow was not on her list of things to do. Knees propped up, she laid back slowly and opened the book. Her mind filled with the simple, over-worshiped maxims of the dead author Sun Tzu.

___________________________________________


Nine simple sentences turned into...I'm not even going to count. xd
I got everything I wanted to say down plus more.
It always helps me to make a skeleton of what I'd like to say and then stuff that with details and more ideas.
That post isn't the best post I can make because I kind of rushed it, but it is something nonetheless.
Maybe making a skeleton before writing will be helpful to other people.


EDIT:
I hath fixed the text size!
^^

EDIT:
>.< I just realized I used size code several different times.
Whoops!

Dangerous Hunter

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Doctor Acinemod Irralius
One thing I learned on Gaia was that most of the great roleplayers I've run into post in text size 9 or 10.
You Will Never Be A Man


Whoever came up with the 9 and 10 font should be shot. I find it makes the text too hard to read, and if used with the right color combination impossible to decipher. That's another thing I wanted to bring up. Colors, while helpful, should be used in moderation. I can understand if your character is a little girly and you want to express that, but hot pink on white doesn't work well. Neither does hot pink on white, with a size nine font. Some colors work, some colors you have to adjust your text for, like Steel Blue (The color I use). Works best with a size 11 font and bold.
Unless You Are A Gentleman

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Takamura Kobayashi
Doctor Acinemod Irralius
One thing I learned on Gaia was that most of the great roleplayers I've run into post in text size 9 or 10.
You Will Never Be A Man


Whoever came up with the 9 and 10 font should be shot. I find it makes the text too hard to read, and if used with the right color combination impossible to decipher. That's another thing I wanted to bring up. Colors, while helpful, should be used in moderation. I can understand if your character is a little girly and you want to express that, but hot pink on white doesn't work well. Neither does hot pink on white, with a size nine font. Some colors work, some colors you have to adjust your text for, like Steel Blue (The color I use). Works best with a size 11 font and bold.
Unless You Are A Gentleman
Crawl with me into tomorrow.



Seconded on the size 11.

though I find when speaking ICly it's best to bold the speech as well, thus people's eyes will surly see the quotation marks, and know that is your character speaking.

I know someone who uses size 9 and italics it, it's so hard to see her quotation marks it drives me up a wall...


Or I'll drag you to your grave.

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Doctor Acinemod Irralius - thanks so much for posting! Sometimes a couple of sentences is an acceptable post, but you really showed how to take a post that's only acceptable and turn it into something more interesting.

One note about the font thing, I have to say, is that it's too tiny for me D: I always feel sorry for old people or people with bad eyesight like me. But if you hit ctrl and + at the same time, it makes all your font on your browser bigger, so I use that. 3nodding I've even seen some RPs that say DO NOT post tiny. LOL, they must have bad eyes, too.

Takamura Kobayashi

Takamura turned to the man that he had assumed addressed him. He bowed low to the man, his brown hair flopping in front of his face. "Hello good sir, I am Takamura Kobayashi, but most people call me Taki." It was then that the man's question registered in his mind. Oh dear, he must think I am badly injured. Maybe I am. Oh my, he thought as he rose from the bow and lifted his hand to touch the back of his head.
I added a paragraph break here only because you might want to add more detail to convince us that he's not really that hurt. I know head wounds bleed a lot even when they aren't that bad.
Feeling the congealed blood and matted hair Takamura simply sighed. "Another wound. It will heal in time, my friend."
Paragraph break.
He took in the man's dress, very unlike his own. He bowed again and motioned towards a chair at the table. "Would you care to join me?" Takamura asked, his voice filled with concern. He always put others before himself, no matter the situation. It wasn't in his nature to be impolite, nor his desire, for he often took far less than his fair share.
A different paragraph break, starting the next paragraph with an action.
Eyeing the hole in the door, Takamura began to chuckle to himself. To some it would appear that he was crazy, but he was far from it. "My head's harder than I thought." He rubbed the back of his head again before resuming his seat at the table.


Ok, so, overall, it only needed a bit of polishing. Your biggest thing is that you have run-on sentences/comma splices. Those are places that I fixed by anding an and, or by making a new sentence. There were also one or two places where you were missing a comma. And missing apostrophes. I think those would be the thing to worry about as far as submitting this to enter an RP.

A couple of places where I added that are optional grammar-wise. Personally I tend to add in the that if it's not a character speaking, so that the 3rd person sounds more professional.

Virtuous Cleric

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Takamura Kobayashi
Doctor Acinemod Irralius
One thing I learned on Gaia was that most of the great roleplayers I've run into post in text size 9 or 10.
You Will Never Be A Man


Whoever came up with the 9 and 10 font should be shot. I find it makes the text too hard to read, and if used with the right color combination impossible to decipher. That's another thing I wanted to bring up. Colors, while helpful, should be used in moderation. I can understand if your character is a little girly and you want to express that, but hot pink on white doesn't work well. Neither does hot pink on white, with a size nine font. Some colors work, some colors you have to adjust your text for, like Steel Blue (The color I use). Works best with a size 11 font and bold.
Unless You Are A Gentleman

xd
Shot? I didn't do it and I don't know who did. I've been trying to switch to size 10 or 11, but I type so many things and so fast that my fingers are so used to typing 9 and I don't catch it. Then again, I've never had a problem with reading smaller text. I don't know what all the trouble is. For everyone's vision and my changing to a larger text, I'll change the size.
OH! I completely agree with the colors being too bright. I tend to just highlight their text to see what they're writing. If I reply I'll most likely ask them to post in a darker color or something. Of course, things dip a little downhill when you tell someone to compromise their post.

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To be honest the reason I post in size 9 is because I'd prefer my post to look nice and neat. Sometimes to do that the writing needs to be more compressed. I usually put pictures in my posts so I sometimes end up with one line running underneath the picture. Just ruins the post for me. But yeah I guess it's really up to your posting styles.

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I hate it when people put a huge picture (the same one) in all their posts. Like you say, it can look sloppy if the post goes underneath it just a little bit. But I also don't like it because the picture should have something to do with the RP, but it never does. D:

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I hate it when someone posts a picture for their character and then in their post or in one of those url things that displays all their pictures, they totally change their character. Sure sometimes they look similar, but it's really hard to find pictures of the same person. And yeah I dislike ones that have billions of icons pasted around the writing. I don't mind one with a few large words, anything more is just overdoing it.
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