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.
18 May 2022, 5:35pm
Willow ThornSo like, to me that sounds the quest for meaning that grows in the head of everyone capable of noticing there is more than the "self" to consider. But like, thank you for explaining your perspective to me Fallharbor.

Cosmic

Of course, Commander Thorn. If you ever seek a home with like minded individuals you are most welcome.
18 May 2022, 6:29pm
FallharborI'm not sure I do. Are you saying one child is the Thargoids and the other is Humans? If so, I'm not sure what all the toys Thargoids want are. They only seem to want specific ones not all. Humans though...most want everything and devour endlessly. They must be guided to learn and accept.
Yeah, you got it right. From this perspective, Thargoids want to devour none less, just their interests are specific. Humans can play with any kinds of toys, and I'm sure humanity will gladly accept a peace. Because there's enough toys to play with, without interfering. It's the Thargoids who want to take a toy and keep it to themselves even if it's already played with by another species.

We, at least the AXDF meaning of 'we', don't want this war. But we're forced to wage it, to keep all those careless idiots who are so lost in infightings, in relative safety.
18 May 2022, 6:49pm
Meowers
FallharborI'm not sure I do. Are you saying one child is the Thargoids and the other is Humans? If so, I'm not sure what all the toys Thargoids want are. They only seem to want specific ones not all. Humans though...most want everything and devour endlessly. They must be guided to learn and accept.

Yeah, you got it right. From this perspective, Thargoids want to devour none less, just their interests are specific. Humans can play with any kinds of toys, and I'm sure humanity will gladly accept a peace. Because there's enough toys to play with, without interfering. It's the Thargoids who want to take a toy and keep it to themselves even if it's already played with by another species.

We, at least the AXDF meaning of 'we', don't want this war. But we're forced to wage it, to keep all those careless idiots who are so lost in infightings, in relative safety.

Your defense force name confuses me. Are you a defense force against Xenophobia or are you a defense force against the foreign entities? If the former your war makes no sense. You should be fighting the Xenophobic propaganda. If the latter, well I can't see how you wouldn't want this war.
18 May 2022, 7:46pm
Yeah its like "Oh the Thargoids are acting up again. So I'm just a miner, but strap some weapons to my ship and I'll go kill some of the only other sentient beings in our galaxy, why not?" There's no like "What happened to piss them off, is it something we're doing?" it's all "Let's go do some killing. Yee-haw!"

Then out of nowhere come The Anit-Xeno Initiative to save us all. Yeah, so they'll ignore the late Commander Jameson bailing on the last great solution, because they got a new way to make money off the hysteria.

"So hay commanders, go pillage the ruins of an ancient civilization, destroy any examples of their technology that may have survived and bring use the scrap and anything else you find. To reward your desecration, we'll give you weapons to go kill a living civilization. Like most of you are not archaeologists or fighter pilots, but what could go wrong right. Remember, free weapons and medals for the best killers of Not Us's" No organized military response, just give the tools to any killer with a pilot's licence that's done enough looting.

So they don't know where the Thargoids are coming from, how many there are or where they are going to attack, but they call them self a defence force . . What? Its like poking the nest with a real long stick, and then calling themselves heroes for swatting the critters that came out to fight off the people with the stick.

In the meantime, civilians are like, getting killed on stations that are not defended by the so-called Defence Force because you can not defend against an attacker that can literally drop out of nowhere right in front of your base. And yeah, so we can't do that to them, because the Anti Xenos don't know where they come from and we still have to drop by stars unlike our enemy. Way to military intelligence AX force!


Last edit: 18 May 2022, 8:03pm
18 May 2022, 8:22pm
Hey, we're not that numerous to assign a patrol around every station, and the numbers that could appear there will overpower any patrol wing in an instant. If only we knew how to catch them without putting the civilian stations and vessels at risk, we would be doing that. I'm a pilot and technician, not a scientist. I hope the research teams, ours, AXI, other AX-oriented squadrons, will eventually develop both ways to catch them in hyperspace and human technology based weapons. Do you think we like lingering around those ruins? Well, maybe some people like, but there's not so many of them. I believe that the more attention we attract in uninhabited, at least by civilians, places like the Pleiades, the less of them will attack the Bubble, being busy with killing us. Yes, killing. We're taking losses as well. So, I can't make a scientific breakthrough, but I'm risking my life, drawing their fire on me. They cannot be reasoned with, they tend to grab what they want. Yes, station attacks are their response on our resistance, but then, without that resistance, humanity would be on the run constantly. What words you will be saying, seeing them placing barnacles in the middle of the city on Earth? Or on Turner's world? Lave? Capitol? "Let them play with our homeworlds?"

I'll go and put more nails in their coffins. When one or two of them will attack you, remember that, if not for me or people like me, you would be attacked by a pack.
18 May 2022, 8:44pm
Most of them don't attack unprovoked. If they attack a station something or someone led them there. Are Humans not the same? Only difference is we can talk between us even if we choose not to.

I whole heartedly agree with Commander Willow.
18 May 2022, 8:48pm
Oh wow, seems a lot has happened since I took a mental health break. More people with space madness...shame. And the discussion about Thargoids, too. And both of my friends were here too, what else did I miss? Please, catch me up.
18 May 2022, 8:59pm
Oh like it's worse now. The AX have the greatest blackmail device ever. They can stop Thargoids coming into systems with the Blackmail Generator functioning.

So yeah, as long as you are friends with the AX, you can have their "Protection" Or like they can push the alien attacks where the AX wants them by installing Generators around systems they don't like, so the Thargoids have few options on where to go to find the nest-kickers.

The Defence force is a few short steps away from being an oppression force using the aliens as their weapon.
18 May 2022, 9:02pm
Both of the sides may see their opponent brainwashed or plain stupid, but only the time will tell who were right. Until then, I'll go and do what I believe in, and you may do yours.

KazukoHimuraa mental health break
Hope you're feeling better now. These things are nasty when they're at full power.
18 May 2022, 9:09pm
MeowersHope you're feeling better now. These things are nasty when they're at full power.

I am, yes. But I'm back and ready to go.
18 May 2022, 9:10pm
KazukoHimuraI am, yes. But I'm back and ready to go.
Oh, amazing. Looks like I'm finally somewhat stabilised as well. Still under pressure, but without much contrasts.
18 May 2022, 9:10pm
I'm like not on the Thargois side, but the AX are reacting to the symptoms of their actions and are incapable of doing anything to stop the problem.
So it's like the net result of that is AX pilots are chasing personal glory and telling us they are heroes while they antagonize an enemy they can not anticipate, or counter when the Thargoids inevitably retaliate.

Its not the pilots that go out there playing in the mess they helped to make that suffer, it's the people on the stations that the AX, until very recently, were totally incapable of protecting that bare the brunt of the aliens fighting back.

Anti Xenos Defence Force is the wrong name. It should be Superior Enemy Antagonization Gang.


Last edit: 18 May 2022, 9:21pm
19 May 2022, 9:04am
While it's true that one has crossed paths with Thargoids many times, and our meetings have always had a peaceful conclusion, the Goids are targeting stations seemingly for maximum casualties. I haven't taken up arms against the Goids, but I have spent many hours evacuating the people that are unwilling casualties of an escalating conflict.

I am glad we have a force dedicated to standing agist the tide, but one can not ignore the fact that station attacks have only grown in frequency since civilian pilots have been encouraged to chase Goid bounties.

One 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.

More study is very much warranted. Personally, I would like to know how to say hello and start a dialogue instead of setting about eradicating them.
19 May 2022, 2:59pm
Creamy Goodness III

More study is very much warranted. Personally, I would like to know how to say hello and start a dialogue instead of setting about eradicating them.

This too is what I would like to do. There must be so much we can learn. People say they have tried and Thargoids don't respond but I think we just haven't found a way.
19 May 2022, 4:02pm
Willow ThornI'm like not on the Thargois side, but the AX are reacting to the symptoms of their actions and are incapable of doing anything to stop the problem.
So it's like the net result of that is AX pilots are chasing personal glory and telling us they are heroes while they antagonize an enemy they can not anticipate, or counter when the Thargoids inevitably retaliate.

Its not the pilots that go out there playing in the mess they helped to make that suffer, it's the people on the stations that the AX, until very recently, were totally incapable of protecting that bare the brunt of the aliens fighting back.

Anti Xenos Defence Force is the wrong name. It should be Superior Enemy Antagonization Gang.

Creamy Goodness IIIWhile it's true that one has crossed paths with Thargoids many times, and our meetings have always had a peaceful conclusion, the Goids are targeting stations seemingly for maximum casualties. I haven't taken up arms against the Goids, but I have spent many hours evacuating the people that are unwilling casualties of an escalating conflict.

I am glad we have a force dedicated to standing agist the tide, but one can not ignore the fact that station attacks have only grown in frequency since civilian pilots have been encouraged to chase Goid bounties.

One 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.

More study is very much warranted. Personally, I would like to know how to say hello and start a dialogue instead of setting about eradicating them.

FallharborThis too is what I would like to do. There must be so much we can learn. People say they have tried and Thargoids don't respond but I think we just haven't found a way.


Now I'm even more lost...

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