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Role-Playing 101

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Kirthag

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Role Playing in Ultima Online is a feature that is enjoyed by many. However, the game itself doesn't provide mechanics to ensure role playing, so shards with active RP communities come up with their own guidelines for interaction.

This is not to say that the way one group RPs is the only way to RP. However, some common ground is necessary for all to enjoy.

This thread is compromised of information submitted by the community. If additions or changes are needed, please send a PM to an Administrator with your information. If verification is needed, it will be requested.

Contents
Overview - this post
Basics
In Character (ic) vs Out of Character (ooc)
Rules of Engagement
Role Playing Guilds
Role Playing Establishments


Credits: @Pandora_CoD @Kirthag @Zuckuss
 

Kirthag

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Basics



GUILD/CHARACTER ALIGNMENT
Guilds usually align themselves either Good (usually Order), Neutral (switches often) or Bad (usually Chaos). There are varying degrees of each alignment and individual characters within a guild can have a different degree or alignment altogether. It is always best to interact with the individual characters to truly know them.

Role players tend to choose to be "good" or "evil", which closely resembles the AD&D definition of alignment. UO tends to have just two major alignments, both of which can have Lawful, Neutral or Evil branches.​

Order
A character or guild that aligns as Order is law-abiding and almost always lives by a strict code as laid out by the guild's leaders. For the most part, these guilds tend to adopt a Virtue or set of Virtues to follow.​

Chaos
A character or guild that claims Chaos is quite the opposite and most usually lives with almost no restrictions at all. They don't really have a set of rules and may actually they live to break them.​

RP COLLABORATION
Folks should be respectful of other groups' storylines, plots, role playing style. Respect begets respect. When you are engaging in role play, you may wish to use the following guidelines:​
  • Guild Abbreviations and/or Titles mean nothing, they are a game mechanic and may not be used as RP identifiers by some RPers. Some may recognize the Guild Abbreviation as a worn insignia or badge, whereas others will totally ignore it.
    The truth is, as a character, you may not know someone until they actually introduce themselves. You may have heard of the other character, which certainly can have some misconceptions or imply bias toward them, but unless you know them personally (in character), you cannot substantiate any claims to their identity or role.
  • Use party chats to collaborate on storylines. Specifically when it comes to RPvP engagements. You cannot kill off someone's characters (which they have worked very hard on) without their permissions. Remember its the other person's character, that person's story, that person's game. By interacting with you, they are allowing you to take part in their story, and by you interacting with them, you are bequeathing the same privilege.
  • Highlights do not always mean that character is an enemy. The war declaration system has been used for decades, especially since the birth of Trammel, to allow for different types of interactions between groups. That does not mean they are kill on sight. Check with your guild's leadership for how your guild acts and interacts with Orange Status Guilds and Vice vs. Virtue status in the game.
  • Please remember that how folks act while in character is not necessarily how they are in real life. Many times things said or done are taken personally, when they are really not. This includes use of foul language and certain situations. A simple OOC conversation can quickly clear things up.
  • "Trash Talking" may or may not be part of another player's RP. If you doubt the sincerity of another's RP, it is best to ask them OOC or to find out their intentions.
 
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Kirthag

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In Character (ic) vs. Out of Character (ooc)

When you are in game and in public, for the most part you are "in character". Forums, private messages, party chats, guild chats, and alliance chats are some areas that may be open to OUT OF CHARACTER (OOC) general interaction. Depends on how your guild structures themselves.

When approaching non-RP'ers, you can invite them to a party chat to talk more openly, but not everyone may want to accept party chat. In this case, it is acceptable to use double-brackets ((like such)), but please keep it minimal. Depending upon the circumstances, you may want to flip out of character mode to help new RPers understand - this may be done in private situations. Most non-RP'ers tend to follow along though and they are quick to pick up on your RP.

The general style of Catskills is considered to be high-fantasy, hard core. That means you may encounter a lot of supernatural situations and use of questionable language and also special use of languages (like orcish, elvish, latin, etc.). Please keep that in mind.
 
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Kirthag

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Rules of Engagement


These are the general guidelines followed by most RP guilds and characters. They may differ from time to time depending upon the group(s) involved. When in doubt, ask your guild leader before any engagement.

  • Stay in character at all times. If you must go OOC, please leave the main area.
  • No Res-Killing. The act of res-killing is considered heinous and will earn you a terrible reputation with any RP community.
  • Are you dead or not? Death in UO is a temporary situation. However, some group(s) may have strict rules regarding the death of a character. Here are some that are popular within the game:
    • Time period timer. Some groups have a "recuperation time" after death. Some are as short as 5 minutes, others 30 minutes or longer.
    • In major battles, some groups put a 24-hour "healing period" for any deaths
    • ALWAYS check with your guild leaders regarding the RoE on death
    • Death Robes. For most groups, wearing the Death Robe alerts others that you are not quite ready to re-engage. If a known RP character is still in Death Robes, it is best to let them pass without interaction.
  • Looting - Some groups do not allow looting of any kind, whereas others allow gold and bandage looting. This is subjective to the group you are engaged with. It is always best to check with your guild's leadership as to looting those you defeat. Basic rule: if you don't want to lose it, don't carry it and always insure your armor. This goes for all gaming in UO.
  • Pets - Most RP guilds will limit the number of fighting pets you may bring to engagements. Some have outlawed specific pets (Greater Dragons, Ethreal Mounts, etc.). Again, check with your guild leadership regarding pets.


More RoE may be added, so it is best to check back from time to time. Always check with your guild's leadership regarding the RoE of your guild.
 
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Kirthag

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Role Playing Guilds

To be added to this list, please pm a Forum Administrator.
Include the following information:
Guild Name & Abbreviation
Guild website
Alignment (if relevant)
Accepting War Declarations?
How to join
Contact info (ICQ, vent, email, etc.)​


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Purple Guardians of Honor (PGoH)

Rangers of Spiritwood (R+S)

United Pirates (UP)
https://stratics.com/community/forums/the-united-pirates.529/
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Accepting War Declares: No
Recruitment: Yes
Contact info​
    • Chip at ICQ #113224114
    • email [email protected]
    • or post inquiry to United Pirates Guild Forums Catskills Shard
Village of Aegis (VoA)

The Children of Darkness (CoD)
(www.childrenofdarkness.com)
Alignment: Lawful Good
Accepting War Declares: Conditional Only
Recruitment: Selective (must be willing to work with Ricean lore)
Contact info:
    • GM is Pandora (ICQ# 608083009).

The Royal Britannian Guard (Theme, Various Guilds)
(www.royalbritannianguard.com)
Alignment: Lawful Good, Military RP​
 
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Kirthag

Former Stratics Publisher
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
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Role Playing Establishments

To be added to this list, please pm a Forum Administrator.
Include the following information:
Establishment Name
Location
Operated by
Day/Time of Activity
Play Style (Strict RP, Loose RP, Anyone welcome)
RPvP Allowed:
Description (please keep it short or it will be edited)
Picture (show establishment and radar/map for location)​

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Name: Galehaven Tavern
Location: North Trinsic
Operated by: Purple Guardians of Honor
Days Open: Nightly
Times Open: 8 PM to 11 PM EST
Player Styles Allowed: RP Only
RPvP Allowed: Yes, within reason.

Description:

(TBA)

Pictures, Links, or Maps:

(TBA)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Name:
The Bloody Brew Tavern
Location: Malas, 32'N, 2'E
Operated by: Children of Darkness
Days Open: By Announcement Only
Times Open: 9 PM to 11 PM EST
Player Styles Allowed: RP Only
RPvP Allowed: Outside only.

Description:
The Bloody Brew tavern is open to all members of the Role Playing community by announcement on the forums at or around 9 PM EST. All "other worldly" characters are asked to stay in masquerade. RPvP is allowed on these nights, although you may be asked to take it outside.

Pictures, Links, or Maps:


The Bloody Brew: Feature Page on CoD Site
http://www.childrenofdarkness.com/territories/vampslair/tavern/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
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