Elite roleplay: Banter

General Roleplay Etiquette:

1. Control only the actions of your own character(s). (AKA: God Mode)
This doesn't matter how small the action is, even if it is as simple as scratching their nose or a direct reaction to something else that just happened. This applies to everything from casual conversation to full blown fight scenes. If you'd like someone to do something specific, PM that person, however keep in mind they are completely within their rights to say no. Especially if said action is inappropriate to their character and/or circumstance.

2. Don't brute force your way into another persons RP.
Approaching with a conversation starter is fine, or indeed some other small action. However charging in, guns blazing and disrupting the flow of another person/pair/groups conversation/arc is about as rude as doing so in real life. If something is going on that you'd like to participate in, be subtle about it. Put out a gentle hook for someone to take, but again, be aware that said hook may not be taken. If you fear it was simply unnoticed, PM the person or people it concerns. Or even leave a message in the OOC forums.

3. Good grammar and spelling is preferred.
We're not asking you to be perfect, but please at least demonstrate willingness. no1 iz gna tak u srsly usng txt spk. There's a wide variety of people here, many who speak English as a second, or even third language. There are even some with varying degrees of dyslexia and/or likely other issues that affect spelling/grammar. We accept them all here. However, people who aren't accepted, are those unwilling to accept polite correction. Remember that even a small thing like the placement of a comma, or the wrong use of there/their/they're can completely change the definition of an entire sentence.

4. Accept constructive criticism gracefully and politely.
If someone spots an issue with your writings, they may wish to help you improve that writing. They may do this through PM or even publicly air their thoughts on the OOC forum. If they have taken the time to be polite and explain what is wrong with your writing, the best way to behave is to respond in kind, using the same manner they have approached you with. It means they have taken an active interest in what you have written and wish to see more. Basically, you have a fan!

5. Don't take the actions or opinions of things done IN RP, to be directly relevant to the writers thoughts or opinions.
Basically, if some ones character calls your character a jackass, it doesn't mean the writer thinks you are a jackass. It's a ROLE they are PLAYING. Watch a movie. The argument between the characters isn't an argument between the actors involved. The same applies here.

6. It's not a popularity contest.
Your RP might be bustling with participants. You have 3 people off station in a fire fight, while another 2 are infiltrating the darkest areas of the station, meanwhile a group of 4 others are tracking your movements in an effort to stop you. Good for you, I'm sure it will be a thrilling read! But you know what? Sometimes the absolute BEST work, comes from two RP characters having a simple heart to heart. Both are valid, both are great, but NEITHER is categorically better than the other. Period.


Inara RP Etiquette:

1. Respect the setting and rules of the universe.
Inara is an Elite: Dangerous 3rd Party Tool. The RP Forums are set in the Elite: Dangerous universe. Elite: Dangerous has rules, as any fictional universe does from Lord of the Rings to Star Wars, or Game of Thrones to Star Trek. If you intend to RP within the Elite: Dangerous universe you are bound by the history and rules of that universe. Simply put, this RP forum is bound by the same rules as the game, so if it can't be done in the game, it is not permitted here. This applies to things from a 50Ly Jump Range on a normal, unmodified Sidewinder, to the destruction of entire stations.

2. Respect the characters created by others.
We have a wide variety of characters already here. It's expected that some will be similar, just as it's expected that two characters will be vastly different. Opinions of each persons character will naturally be varied, but all are valid provided they follow the rules of the universe. You are allowed to interact with, or avoid interaction with, any character in the RP forums. But you have no right to belittle others for their creation. You are not an authority figure on writing, nor are you directly affected by another persons imagination. You might not like it, but you MUST respect it.

3. Be caught up on current events before joining in.
You need basic things like character descriptions in order to interact with them. You also need to know what's going on in the surrounding areas. This is simply because the people you are hoping to RP with, might be gearing up to something that you might not want to be part of. Or simply that the most recent post, out of context, could leave a different impression on the goings on than if you gather that context. We don't expect you to read every single post from the beginning of the forums, just enough to get that basic understanding.

4. Either subscribe to, or frequently check, the Roleplay: Q&A and OOC forum.
People may be discussing something relevant to you there, or even discussing you directly. Perhaps someone asked what the general consensus on the existence or non-existence of a certain object. Or we're just chatting about random gibberish. Either way, be aware of it and use it. If you're unsure about something, such as how guns would look and or behave, or even the music selection, use the OOC forum to ask. We don't have all of the answers, but the collective knowledge and logic usually allows us to overcome an issue and come to a decision on what should be allowed. Frontier Developments, and even David Braben himself, don't have the answers to every possible question that can be asked.

5. Large Scale events exploding out of nowhere are a complete no go.
We get it. Everyone wants their character to be noticed and for people to be tripping over themselves to interact with them. In some audiences, an introduction involving you blasting in for landing in a fiery wreckage of a ship, before cart wheeling out and sword fighting 35 Ninjas before whisking off with the local celebrity for a glorious night of passion, is in fact, cool. This is not one of those audiences. It is generally considered better to build your character up slowly over time. Eventually, you might even have a legitimate excuse to fight those Ninjas. Maybe even with other RP participants by your side.

6. Perfect characters are boring.
The point of a character arc, is that it is in fact, an arc shape. One who is morally unquestionable, fully kitted out and an infinite fountain of knowledge, cannot go through an arc. Give your character flaws. Be it a tendency towards befriending the wrong people, or a bad knee that frequently gives out at inopportune moments. It gives readers something to latch onto and empathise with. You can give your character exceptional capabilities at something, but it requires balance. She's a damn good pilot with no equal, but can't drive an SRV for peanuts. It can lead to some very interesting moments between characters, be it heartfelt or comedic.


Other Notes:
It should be noted that there can be exceptions to these points. For example, good grammar when a character is speaking is actually rare. Few people in real life actually speak with perfect eloquence after all. Or previously arranged actions during a fight scene, such as someone stumbling back after a punch. What's key to remember is context.

All in all, remember this is purely for fun. We have some seriously talented writers here, and others whose writing history starts and ends at high school. But many are willing to help out in whatever way they can. All it takes is that you ask nicely.

Also keep in mind that many people who RP here, also have logbook stories related to the character, or characters, they portray. If it looks like there's an "in joke" going on that you're unsure of, it's probably in those.

In fact, some users have even gone to the trouble of creating "alts" to RP with. If you read back far enough, it's usually pretty clear who has and hasn't, and which ones are the "alts". It's therefore not unheard of to see the apparent seizing of control of other characters. If you do spot one, point it out in the OOC section. If intervention is needed, it will be sorted quickly and (hopefully) politely.

Most, if not all RP participants here have Logbook stories pertaining to their character(s). These are for the reading pleasure of anyone who wishes to do so. While it can be useful to read them in order to gain a bit of backstory on a character you wish to interact with, it should not be assumed that your character shares that knowledge. Within the E:D Universe, these Logbooks either don't exist, or are private diaries kept by the characters. Either way, without explicit statements to say otherwise from the writer, your interactions should reflect that your character is in the dark about any information you, the writer/reader, have gained from reading the stories.
19 May 2022, 4:25pm
What got ya befuddled Mis Himura?
19 May 2022, 4:52pm
Creamy Goodness IIIWhat got ya befuddled Mis Himura?

Mostly I just..kind of walked into this discussion after an extended absence from this means of communication. Having a bit of trouble catching up.
19 May 2022, 5:29pm
Ar yes, I can see why one would be on the back foot entering at this juncture. Allow me to comment on my observations that sparked my will to interject.

Miss Thorn and Mr Fallharbor were remarking upon the philosophical nature that exposure to the vastness of the universe has on the searching mind, and the conversation rounded on the Thargoid incursion.

Miss Thorn pointed out that the Goids attacks increased in line with our response to their hostilities, and after Mis Muir voiced her strong view on that matter, Mr Fallharbor agreed with Mis Thors' views. Following that, Mis Thorn then expanded upon the current Anit Xeno developments in a darker way. While not outside the realms of possibility, her projections of events has the appearance of conspiracy about them. That's when I interjected with my ruminations upon the matter.

I do feel one may have underplayed the efforts' people like the esteemed Mis Muir put in to facing the threat, even casting her and people of a confrontational bent in a bad light. That was not at all my intention. You wouldn't be wildly inaccurate to label me a pacifist Mis Himura, but I do not bow to aggression. The Goids have been, and continue to be, aggressive, and I am grateful to have stalwart defenders like Mis Muir between myself and the horrors of the void.

I hope you feel a little more up to speed now.
19 May 2022, 6:03pm
Creamy Goodness IIIAr yes, I can see why one would be on the back foot entering at this juncture. Allow me to comment on my observations that sparked my will to interject.

Miss Thorn and Mr Fallharbor were remarking upon the philosophical nature that exposure to the vastness of the universe has on the searching mind, and the conversation rounded on the Thargoid incursion.

Miss Thorn pointed out that the Goids attacks increased in line with our response to their hostilities, and after Mis Muir voiced her strong view on that matter, Mr Fallharbor agreed with Mis Thors' views. Following that, Mis Thorn then expanded upon the current Anit Xeno developments in a darker way. While not outside the realms of possibility, her projections of events has the appearance of conspiracy about them. That's when I interjected with my ruminations upon the matter.

I do feel one may have underplayed the efforts' people like the esteemed Mis Muir put in to facing the threat, even casting her and people of a confrontational bent in a bad light. That was not at all my intention. You wouldn't be wildly inaccurate to label me a pacifist Mis Himura, but I do not bow to aggression. The Goids have been, and continue to be, aggressive, and I am grateful to have stalwart defenders like Mis Muir between myself and the horrors of the void.

I hope you feel a little more up to speed now.

I am, thank you.
19 May 2022, 6:08pm
Entirely my pleasure, Mis Himura.
19 May 2022, 10:53pm
So ok, I guess I am all wound up with pirates and scavengers always coming after me when I'm doing something. Like I'm pissed at shitheads always using guns to try and get their own way and I'm venting at the wrong people.

Yeah so I can't see not using guns working either but there has to be a middle ground where decent people operate right?
19 May 2022, 11:05pm
Willow ThornSo ok, I guess I am all wound up with pirates and scavengers always coming after me when I'm doing something. Like I'm pissed at shitheads always using guns to try and get their own way and I'm venting at the wrong people.

Yeah so I can't see not using guns working either but there has to be a middle ground where decent people operate right?

There's a few ways you can go about it-could get your shields and hull reinforced for defense, for some ships you could find a way to fly faster and turn more easily for evasion. Or you can always fire back-it's self-defense, after all.

Well, at least for if you're in your ship. If you're on foot it's either fight or flight.
20 May 2022, 6:58am
Yeah, I like picked that up real quick Kazuko. *smile*
It's like no void guidance needed to save your own skin when a bunch of guys start shooting at you right?
As for the rest, like I guess I'm new so I gotta learn to walk before I run.
20 May 2022, 7:46am
Creamy Goodness IIIOne can't help but think our unfettered use of Witch Space is somehow vexing the Thargoids. After all, it is undeniable they use that dimension in ways we cannot, and no one has reported systems heavily populated with the Goids beautiful organic looking technology they may use to build cities and stations. Perhaps they live in Witch Space and we are like moles creating holes in their lawn, or perhaps causing untold damage to their way of life.
I doubt you will want to hear my opinion after so many... rather unpleasant events. But still, if we're moles on their lawn, sentient kind of moles, then they're trying to exterminate us, a living sentient species, to keep their lawn intact. Much like humans were killing pests in the old age, before the controlled agricultural environments. And still killing, in backward places where people can't afford a biodome. The only difference: we are sentient.

Creamy Goodness IIIThe Goids have been, and continue to be, aggressive, and I am grateful to have stalwart defenders like Mis Muir between myself and the horrors of the void.
Thank you.

Whatever this war could evolve into, it's a war in the present day. It's us or them. That's why I left everything behind. Humanity is lost in the pointless infightings even if we have a real threat do deal with. Whatever caused that threat, it's a threat. Especially if it's started with INRA and Jameson story, so it's all started to brew centuries ago. We can't fix what has been taking damage for so many years in an instant.


Last edit: 20 May 2022, 8:04am
20 May 2022, 8:29am
A lack of understanding usually leads to ill will and eventually conflict. I have been endlessly disappointed by my fellow humans, but also enraptured by them, and cast down into despair without their chaotic company.

The temptation to call it a day for the future of humanity is entirely understandable, especially when we continue to be petty in the face of an alian threat. One never sees a Medusa lurking above a barnacle to destroy Goid Scouts for the 'lolz'. It feels right to fight a 'them' instead of the endless petty altercations we inflict upon each other. In that climate, it takes determination to try being an example of what we as a species can be, and reach out to an ancient enemy with the will to understand.

Don't leave us all behind is Muir, we are less without you.
20 May 2022, 8:58am
Thank you. I will try to live as long as I can just for the sake of doing something that I feel a right thing to do. Being a silent and faceless part of that force. But if I go, other person with the same ideals will take my place. And I like that idea as well. Just have to do more to make them pay the price of their actions.
20 May 2022, 6:15pm
Personally, I think it's a simple concept... they leave me alone, I leave them alone. They start a fight, I end it or die tryin'.

I'd like to think the bugs have a higher intelligence and don't act on only instinct or hive-mind. But, I don't have enough experience up close an' personal with 'em. That bein' said... when you pick up a weapon with the intention to use it, you except the consequences of that.
20 May 2022, 6:31pm
Jubei HimuraPersonally, I think it's a simple concept... they leave me alone, I leave them alone. They start a fight, I end it or die tryin'.

I'd like to think the bugs have a higher intelligence and don't act on only instinct or hive-mind. But, I don't have enough experience up close an' personal with 'em. That bein' said... when you pick up a weapon with the intention to use it, you except the consequences of that.


Yes, let's remember who hyperdicted who first. We didn't even know they were around until they hyperdicted CMDR DP Sayre.
20 May 2022, 7:57pm
Ooo another tough guy flex!

*Gruff voice* "If they start it, I'll end it!"
So like I can source some good body oil at a reasonable price if you would like to hi light your physique *smiles*

Yeah so I think that guy was gently trying to remind us as you seem to have noticed, if you go prepared for a fight, you will find one. And yeah I needed an attitude adjustment coming in here laying down the law about how violence begets violence with the Thargoids. So playing the blame game is the same thing right?

Ok so like that woman with the Mamba said to me, "If you can't deal with how it is out here, go back home" but like, answering every wrong with better weapons hasn't helped chill out the rain of fire. Like it feels even worse with an enemy we can't even communicate with.

We have tried it that way for months or even more than a year by this point, right?


Last edit: 20 May 2022, 8:08pm
20 May 2022, 9:01pm
Willow ThornOoo another tough guy flex!

*Gruff voice* "If they start it, I'll end it!"
So like I can source some good body oil at a reasonable price if you would like to hi light your physique *smiles*

Yup, ya caught me. Guess I do that some times. But, in my defense, kinda needed for my job.

Willow ThornYeah so I think that guy was gently trying to remind us as you seem to have noticed, if you go prepared for a fight, you will find one. And yeah I needed an attitude adjustment coming in here laying down the law about how violence begets violence with the Thargoids. So playing the blame game is the same thing right?

What I'm sayin' is when someone goes to hit another, they have to expect to be hit back.

There's nothin' wrong with knowin' violence begets violence. It's the truth. Sometimes it's good to be reminded... as long as it ain't too preachy.

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