Post by Jac on Aug 20, 2008 17:29:04 GMT -6
Over the many months I have been roleplaying, I have run across a vast amount of fellow roleplayers who, for some reason or another, shy away from narrative fighting. I can understand why, fighting is an art form - and it takes time to master like all other art forms. However, with a few simple tricks, you can upgrade your fights from beginner to advanced very quickly. Intrigued? Good! Lets get started.
MOST COMMON PROBLEMS WHEN ROLEPLAYING FIGHTS
Powerplaying.
Most powerplays are unintentional... they are often the result of a new roleplayer trying to join in on the fun. It is important to realize this and not blow it out of proportion for the first offense. There are ways to combat powerplays, which I will reveal later. For now, let's just make sure you don't fall into the powerplaying trap.
Essentially, powerplaying is controlling another person's character, or not allowing them the chance to defend themselves/avoid a situation.
Not Allowed: Leafpaw pounced on Stonepaw and bit his throat.
Unless Stonepaw is blind and exceptionally weak, the odds are that he would have tried to stop Leafpaw from pinning him down and biting him. However, since Leafpaw did not give him the chance, she just powerplayed. But how can you fight without making posts like that? Well, with a simple twist of words, the previous example will become a beautiful (albeit short) fighting post.
Allowed: Leafpaw launched herself at Stonepaw in an attempt to pin him down, and tried to sink her teeth into his throat as she did so.
Hooray! That's a perfectly acceptable attack post! It's short and it doesn't have much flair - but it's a good solid post nonetheless. If you understand the basics behind these examples, then you know how to avoid powerplaying. Give yourself a gold star and keep reading.
"But how can I do damage to an opponent by posting like that?" you ask. No worries! We're getting to that soon.
Godmodding.
Everyone wants their character to be great... powerful… unstoppable. But you have to remember that we try to keep things as realistic as possible on VWW. And just like in real life, all characters have their flaws. It is important that you realize this, as a roleplayer, and play your character within their limitations.
Unfortunately, there is no easy fix for godmodding like there is for powerplaying. It is solely your responsibility to play your character fairly. Keep in mind that a tough rogue is probably a better fighter than a peaceful loner, an apprentice would probably get their butt kicked by a senior warrior, etc… and you'll do fine. Don't be afraid to have your characters lose fights. It earns you respect - and the person who roleplays your character's opponent might remember this and repay the favor later, as your character develops.
Here's an awesome tip! Set up a private message and work out the entire fight OOC with your battle partner. Decide beforehand who is going to win/lose and what damage both sides will take. This ensures that everything is fair, and that neither of you get carried away in the excitement of the fight!
If Someone Powerplays/Godmods Against You...
If your character is powerplayed, there's several ways to deal with it. First, decide whether the character you're fighting really is a lot stronger than yours. If they are, you can take the hit. Remember when reading others' fights that some powerplays are intentional (have been agreed upon OOC).
If you don't wish to take the hit - or feel that you shouldn't - then continue roleplaying as if the other person never powerplayed. You can politely ask them not to do it again OOC, or contact a staff member and they will handle the issue.
Person A: Flamepaw clawed Snowpaw's flank.
Person B: As Flamepaw tried to swipe at her, Snowpaw dodged the attack.
If you are godmodded, you can gently ask the other person to tone down their character's abilities a notch. But bear in mind that many roleplayers are extremely defensive over this sort of thing. It may be easier to simply message a staffer or roleplay your way out of the fight.
Now that we've gotten past the most common fighting problems, we can talk about improving your battle posts to get the most out of them! Excited? So am I!
Battle Basics
Fighting posts can essentially be broken down into two main parts - the defense and the offense. It is extremely important that you pay attention to both parts... both in your opponent's posts and in your own.
The Defense
This is typically the start of a fighting post. It is where your opponents say how they handled your attacks, and where you shall post doing the same. We'll follow through with the example about Leafpaw and Stonepaw from before to show you what I mean… if you remember poor Stonepaw who was about to have his neck munched on.
Stonepaw's Response: Seeing Leafpaw's muscles bunch in preparation for the pounce, Stonepaw rolled away and allowed Leafpaw to sail harmlessly past him.
That's a decent defense. It got the character out of harm's way. However... it doesn't give Stonepaw much of a chance to retaliate, does it? Stonepaw is on the ground and will probably not be able to strike back until Leafpaw has already landed and is ready for more. It's important to think defense posts through; sometimes the most obvious course of action isn't the best one to take. (Even though it can be good to give the opponent an advantage for a turn, just to let things get interesting!) An improved response might have looked like this.
Seeing Leafpaw's muscles bunch in preparation for the pounce, Stonepaw sidestepped and allowed Leafpaw to sail harmlessly past him.
Now Stonepaw is still standing, has avoided getting hurt, and has put himself in the perfect stance to counter attack. Let's talk about some attack posts!
The Offense
This is typically the end of a fightng post. A good offensive incorporates your defenses smoothly to make things flow; you can't simply pop up somewhere and attack. You must describe how you got there if you decide to attack from a different direction. This is a mistake often made by beginners. We'll finish up Stonepaw's fighting post from before.
Seeing Leafpaw's muscles bunch in preparation for the pounce, Stonepaw sidestepped and allowed Leafpaw to sail harmlessly past him. Then, he aimed a swipe at Leafpaw's ear.
You can see the problem in this - Stonepaw didn't powerplay, but he goofed up anyways. Bad Stonepaw. See, Stonepaw had stepped to the side, and Leafpaw probably landed a few tail-lengths past him. How was Stonepaw able to get in front of Leafpaw and attack her ear? Nobody knows! The popular theory is that there was a distortion in the very fabric of time and space. Here's a more realistic response.
Seeing Leafpaw's muscles bunch in preparation for the pounce, Stonepaw sidestepped and allowed Leafpaw to sail harmlessly past him. Then, he spun around and aimed a swipe at one of Leafpaw's hind legs.
This is a much better reply! Stonepaw has now smoothly moved from his defense actions to his offensive ones. Furthermore, he took advantage of movements Leafpaw had already committed herself to. He also added detail about exactly where he planned on hitting (hind leg rather than just any leg). That's a decent post. It will work, for the most part… however, if you're like me, you'll want to spruce it up a little. Here are some tips to make your fighting posts a bit more grand - as well as some little mind tricks that may give your character an improved chance to do damage.
Tips & Hints
-- Detail. As long as you aren't describing every tree, bush, and pebble in the area, there is no such thing as too much detail in a fighting post! I have been in fights where it took the roleplayers more than twenty minutes to write each response. This often leads to epic clashes well worth the wait!
-- Stances. Try not to post these. Saying that Flamepaw took a Flying Crane Stance doesn't really tell us much; for all we know, he could be jumping up and down with his tongue out. It's better to describe how and where your character is standing.
Snowpaw crouched low to the ground, knees slightly bent and left forepaw half-raised, as she awaited Flamepaw's attack.
-- Environment. You can take advantage of it in your posts! If your character isn't fighting in an empty white room, there's usually something for them to use. It can be a huge help. In the forest? Kick dirt at their eyes, climb a tree, try to trip them on some vines. In the mountains? Run up a ridge, then try to roll medium-sized rocks down the slope when they give chase. Causing destruction in a duel is great fun and adds spice. Find a way to incorporate it into your offensive or defensive strategy!
-- Specify how hard you hit, how much damage you plan on doing, and exactly where you're aiming. This gives your opponent more information to work with, and plants a hint about taking damage in the back of their mind. They are more likely to take the hit, at least partially, if they know the damage you're trying to inflict!
Example: Flamepaw tried to claw Snowpaw's flank.
Improved: Flamepaw tried to claw Snowpaw's rib area, putting enough strength into his attack for it to seriously bruise if it connected.
-- Let your own character take damage! I cannot stress this enough. Having your character get hit is a token of your sincerity - your opponent is much more liable to take damage themselves if they know your character is getting hurt as well. Injuries and scars are great for character building. Don't be afraid to get hurt or even lose a duel… it can lead to even more awesome fights down the road as the characters become mortal foes.
-- Take advantage of your opponent's offense. Once in a while, roleplayers will leave themselves wide open for a counter attack! A great example of that would be the flying leap. Try to avoid it yourself, unless you want your opponent to have a big opportunity for retaliation - that can be fun in its own way!
Snowpaw launched herself at Flamepaw from on top of a boulder, hurtling through the air with the intention of slamming him into the ground!
Unless Snowpaw has wings or can use some sort of magic to maneuver herself in the air, odds are that she will be unable to legally avoid anything Flamepaw does in return. There are endless possibilities here. If you don't want to leave your character open to easy attacks, keep that in mind when posting offenses.
-- Don't be afraid to talk during fights. Argue, laugh, use sarcasm. It can add a whole new dimension to the duel! Also, post your character's feelings when the opportunity arises. Are they surprised by a certain attack? Do they do something reckless in a fit of rage? These are all important character-developing actions.
-- Talk to your opponent OOC while you duel! This can be done via private messaging or with OOC comments, but remember that all posts within the roleplaying boards should actually have roleplaying in them. If you don't understand your opponent's moves, it's perfectly fine to message them and ask for clarification. You can (and probably should) also choreograph an important duel ahead of time. Sometimes storylines require this. For instance, a lower character beats a higher one due to some unfortunate incident, which leads to something else.
-- Most importantly, have fun. Fights are supposed to be fun - not stressful or nerve-wracking. The goal of most fights is not to kill a character off, but to simply set something up for the future. If you're imaginative enough, you can probably find a way out almost any situation. A duel is essentially a game of "who's the most creative"; so just sit back, laugh a bit, and have a good time.
MOST COMMON PROBLEMS WHEN ROLEPLAYING FIGHTS
Powerplaying.
Most powerplays are unintentional... they are often the result of a new roleplayer trying to join in on the fun. It is important to realize this and not blow it out of proportion for the first offense. There are ways to combat powerplays, which I will reveal later. For now, let's just make sure you don't fall into the powerplaying trap.
Essentially, powerplaying is controlling another person's character, or not allowing them the chance to defend themselves/avoid a situation.
Not Allowed: Leafpaw pounced on Stonepaw and bit his throat.
Unless Stonepaw is blind and exceptionally weak, the odds are that he would have tried to stop Leafpaw from pinning him down and biting him. However, since Leafpaw did not give him the chance, she just powerplayed. But how can you fight without making posts like that? Well, with a simple twist of words, the previous example will become a beautiful (albeit short) fighting post.
Allowed: Leafpaw launched herself at Stonepaw in an attempt to pin him down, and tried to sink her teeth into his throat as she did so.
Hooray! That's a perfectly acceptable attack post! It's short and it doesn't have much flair - but it's a good solid post nonetheless. If you understand the basics behind these examples, then you know how to avoid powerplaying. Give yourself a gold star and keep reading.
"But how can I do damage to an opponent by posting like that?" you ask. No worries! We're getting to that soon.
Godmodding.
Everyone wants their character to be great... powerful… unstoppable. But you have to remember that we try to keep things as realistic as possible on VWW. And just like in real life, all characters have their flaws. It is important that you realize this, as a roleplayer, and play your character within their limitations.
Unfortunately, there is no easy fix for godmodding like there is for powerplaying. It is solely your responsibility to play your character fairly. Keep in mind that a tough rogue is probably a better fighter than a peaceful loner, an apprentice would probably get their butt kicked by a senior warrior, etc… and you'll do fine. Don't be afraid to have your characters lose fights. It earns you respect - and the person who roleplays your character's opponent might remember this and repay the favor later, as your character develops.
Here's an awesome tip! Set up a private message and work out the entire fight OOC with your battle partner. Decide beforehand who is going to win/lose and what damage both sides will take. This ensures that everything is fair, and that neither of you get carried away in the excitement of the fight!
If Someone Powerplays/Godmods Against You...
If your character is powerplayed, there's several ways to deal with it. First, decide whether the character you're fighting really is a lot stronger than yours. If they are, you can take the hit. Remember when reading others' fights that some powerplays are intentional (have been agreed upon OOC).
If you don't wish to take the hit - or feel that you shouldn't - then continue roleplaying as if the other person never powerplayed. You can politely ask them not to do it again OOC, or contact a staff member and they will handle the issue.
Person A: Flamepaw clawed Snowpaw's flank.
Person B: As Flamepaw tried to swipe at her, Snowpaw dodged the attack.
If you are godmodded, you can gently ask the other person to tone down their character's abilities a notch. But bear in mind that many roleplayers are extremely defensive over this sort of thing. It may be easier to simply message a staffer or roleplay your way out of the fight.
Now that we've gotten past the most common fighting problems, we can talk about improving your battle posts to get the most out of them! Excited? So am I!
Battle Basics
Fighting posts can essentially be broken down into two main parts - the defense and the offense. It is extremely important that you pay attention to both parts... both in your opponent's posts and in your own.
The Defense
This is typically the start of a fighting post. It is where your opponents say how they handled your attacks, and where you shall post doing the same. We'll follow through with the example about Leafpaw and Stonepaw from before to show you what I mean… if you remember poor Stonepaw who was about to have his neck munched on.
Stonepaw's Response: Seeing Leafpaw's muscles bunch in preparation for the pounce, Stonepaw rolled away and allowed Leafpaw to sail harmlessly past him.
That's a decent defense. It got the character out of harm's way. However... it doesn't give Stonepaw much of a chance to retaliate, does it? Stonepaw is on the ground and will probably not be able to strike back until Leafpaw has already landed and is ready for more. It's important to think defense posts through; sometimes the most obvious course of action isn't the best one to take. (Even though it can be good to give the opponent an advantage for a turn, just to let things get interesting!) An improved response might have looked like this.
Seeing Leafpaw's muscles bunch in preparation for the pounce, Stonepaw sidestepped and allowed Leafpaw to sail harmlessly past him.
Now Stonepaw is still standing, has avoided getting hurt, and has put himself in the perfect stance to counter attack. Let's talk about some attack posts!
The Offense
This is typically the end of a fightng post. A good offensive incorporates your defenses smoothly to make things flow; you can't simply pop up somewhere and attack. You must describe how you got there if you decide to attack from a different direction. This is a mistake often made by beginners. We'll finish up Stonepaw's fighting post from before.
Seeing Leafpaw's muscles bunch in preparation for the pounce, Stonepaw sidestepped and allowed Leafpaw to sail harmlessly past him. Then, he aimed a swipe at Leafpaw's ear.
You can see the problem in this - Stonepaw didn't powerplay, but he goofed up anyways. Bad Stonepaw. See, Stonepaw had stepped to the side, and Leafpaw probably landed a few tail-lengths past him. How was Stonepaw able to get in front of Leafpaw and attack her ear? Nobody knows! The popular theory is that there was a distortion in the very fabric of time and space. Here's a more realistic response.
Seeing Leafpaw's muscles bunch in preparation for the pounce, Stonepaw sidestepped and allowed Leafpaw to sail harmlessly past him. Then, he spun around and aimed a swipe at one of Leafpaw's hind legs.
This is a much better reply! Stonepaw has now smoothly moved from his defense actions to his offensive ones. Furthermore, he took advantage of movements Leafpaw had already committed herself to. He also added detail about exactly where he planned on hitting (hind leg rather than just any leg). That's a decent post. It will work, for the most part… however, if you're like me, you'll want to spruce it up a little. Here are some tips to make your fighting posts a bit more grand - as well as some little mind tricks that may give your character an improved chance to do damage.
Tips & Hints
-- Detail. As long as you aren't describing every tree, bush, and pebble in the area, there is no such thing as too much detail in a fighting post! I have been in fights where it took the roleplayers more than twenty minutes to write each response. This often leads to epic clashes well worth the wait!
-- Stances. Try not to post these. Saying that Flamepaw took a Flying Crane Stance doesn't really tell us much; for all we know, he could be jumping up and down with his tongue out. It's better to describe how and where your character is standing.
Snowpaw crouched low to the ground, knees slightly bent and left forepaw half-raised, as she awaited Flamepaw's attack.
-- Environment. You can take advantage of it in your posts! If your character isn't fighting in an empty white room, there's usually something for them to use. It can be a huge help. In the forest? Kick dirt at their eyes, climb a tree, try to trip them on some vines. In the mountains? Run up a ridge, then try to roll medium-sized rocks down the slope when they give chase. Causing destruction in a duel is great fun and adds spice. Find a way to incorporate it into your offensive or defensive strategy!
-- Specify how hard you hit, how much damage you plan on doing, and exactly where you're aiming. This gives your opponent more information to work with, and plants a hint about taking damage in the back of their mind. They are more likely to take the hit, at least partially, if they know the damage you're trying to inflict!
Example: Flamepaw tried to claw Snowpaw's flank.
Improved: Flamepaw tried to claw Snowpaw's rib area, putting enough strength into his attack for it to seriously bruise if it connected.
-- Let your own character take damage! I cannot stress this enough. Having your character get hit is a token of your sincerity - your opponent is much more liable to take damage themselves if they know your character is getting hurt as well. Injuries and scars are great for character building. Don't be afraid to get hurt or even lose a duel… it can lead to even more awesome fights down the road as the characters become mortal foes.
-- Take advantage of your opponent's offense. Once in a while, roleplayers will leave themselves wide open for a counter attack! A great example of that would be the flying leap. Try to avoid it yourself, unless you want your opponent to have a big opportunity for retaliation - that can be fun in its own way!
Snowpaw launched herself at Flamepaw from on top of a boulder, hurtling through the air with the intention of slamming him into the ground!
Unless Snowpaw has wings or can use some sort of magic to maneuver herself in the air, odds are that she will be unable to legally avoid anything Flamepaw does in return. There are endless possibilities here. If you don't want to leave your character open to easy attacks, keep that in mind when posting offenses.
-- Don't be afraid to talk during fights. Argue, laugh, use sarcasm. It can add a whole new dimension to the duel! Also, post your character's feelings when the opportunity arises. Are they surprised by a certain attack? Do they do something reckless in a fit of rage? These are all important character-developing actions.
-- Talk to your opponent OOC while you duel! This can be done via private messaging or with OOC comments, but remember that all posts within the roleplaying boards should actually have roleplaying in them. If you don't understand your opponent's moves, it's perfectly fine to message them and ask for clarification. You can (and probably should) also choreograph an important duel ahead of time. Sometimes storylines require this. For instance, a lower character beats a higher one due to some unfortunate incident, which leads to something else.
-- Most importantly, have fun. Fights are supposed to be fun - not stressful or nerve-wracking. The goal of most fights is not to kill a character off, but to simply set something up for the future. If you're imaginative enough, you can probably find a way out almost any situation. A duel is essentially a game of "who's the most creative"; so just sit back, laugh a bit, and have a good time.
