Role Playing and Chat

[VenomousFiligree]

The following is my interpretation of the chat commands, and is how I like my games to be run. It is primarily aimed at the group I am running at the moment, which is comprised of some new players not used to Role Playing over a chat interface. However I'm sure the community will pitch in with their ideas and their way of running games!!!

Following the simple steps below leads to this GM being a happy GM! :D And a happy GM is a GM who wants to carry on GMing and will probably give lots of XP and loot! :)

The commands that come with Fantasy Grounds (that I'm going to discuss) are:
/ooc
/action
/emote
/mood
/whisper

To start with I'll discuss normal chat. This is your character, talking not the player. After you have written the text you just press enter.

So:
https://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3244/chattext1zw6.jpg

becomes:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/1159/chattext2bz7.jpg
after pressing enter.

Whenever your character is engaged in conversation with other characters or NPCs, this is the method to use. :)

Next we'll discuss Out of Character chat or /ooc. This is general chat between the players, not the characters. Too much of this can ruin the immersion in the game, however it does have its uses.

OOC chat can be done by either prefixing with /ooc (or /o), or by pressing alt + enter.

So:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/8803/chattext3pn1.jpg
after pressing enter...

or:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/416/chattext4mz3.jpg
after pressing alt enter...

becomes:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/1493/chattext5gs1.jpg

You'll notice that the players name is before the bracketed characters name. You'll also see that when you press alt, the word chat is replaced by OOC.

Whilst learning the Fantasy Grounds interface I realise that there will be a fair amount of OOC chat, however as your experience with the interface grows, then it should be used less.

One of the main uses for OOC chat is to clarify things, ie:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/151/chattext6cf2.jpg

[VenomousFiligree]

Next we'll look at emotes. Emotes can greatly enhance the atmosphere of the game. To emote either prefix with /emote (or /e), or press shift + ctrl + enter.

So:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1839/chattext7tx9.jpg
after pressing enter...

or:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/5358/chattext8ba7.jpg
after pressing shift ctrl enter...

becomes:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8521/chattext9rk3.jpg

You'll again notice that the word Chat has been replaced when you hold down shift + ctrl, this time by the word Emote.

Sometimes you may want to emote while talking, this can be done in a few ways, two of which I'll look at here. The first is by enclosing the emote (you want to do) with asterisks (or similar) when speaking.

ie:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6580/chattext10lz7.jpg

The second method we'll discuss after first looking at the Mood command.

Using /mood (or /m) is another way to enhance the feel of the game. It can be used in two ways, with a single word or multiple words.

So:
https://img407.imageshack.us/img407/9692/chattext11uy3.jpg

becomes:
https://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4187/chattext12sf0.jpg

and:
https://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9629/chattext13jy4.jpg

becomes:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6083/chattext14el5.jpg

Going back to emotes, the second way of emoting whilst talking can be done with the mood command.

ie:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2424/chattext15he0.jpg

[VenomousFiligree]

Now on to the action command. This is used to show your characters intentions to the GM. It can be used by prefixing with /action (or /a) or pressing ctrl + enter.

so:
https://img249.imageshack.us/img249/2708/chattext16ja4.jpg
after pressing enter...

or:
https://img249.imageshack.us/img249/2153/chattext17wc3.jpg
after pressing ctrl + enter...

becomes:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1571/chattext18ml0.jpg

Again you'll notice when ctrl is pressed the word Chat changes to Act.

As I said, this is what your character wants to do! His actual actions may be quite different.

ie:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/562/chattext19nv3.jpg

Finally we'll look at the whisper command. This can be used to talk player to player or player to GM. As I do not encourage player to player chat, I'll only look at player to GM.

The whisper command is used by prefixing with /whisper (or /w) and the text you type will only go to the GM.

so:
https://img249.imageshack.us/img249/8444/chattext20yw8.jpg

becomes:
https://img249.imageshack.us/img249/6316/chattext21yu6.jpg
after pressing enter.

And so ends my lesson on Role Playing with chat, it's aimed at the beginner and I hope it's clear.

I look forward to the comments of the masses! :D

MB

[Sir Bayard]

Just a couple copmments. Player to Player whispering has not been integrated yet according to our discussions, but if you know how to do it let the rest of the community know. I believed dev's said they were working on integrating but was not done yet.

Other than that, I agree with the use of pretty much everything, except in all the campaigns I've done we don't use the /act command. We emote it all. like /e attempts to jump over the very wide chasm and then emote again results or anything like that. Act command is pretty much like OOC in a different color IMO. /ooc I'm going to jump over the very wide chasm is no different than /a Jump over the very wide chasm. But, to each their own.

I especially agree with the use of /m to combine emotes and talking.

[VenomousFiligree]

Player to Player whispering has not been integrated yet according to our discussions, but if you know how to do it let the rest of the community know. I believed dev's said they were working on integrating but was not done yet.

OK.. wasn't sure on that one! :)

[Griogre]

I have found the mood command to also be useful for directing in character speech to a specific character as a player i.e.:

/m (whispers to Alyssa) He's lying...

/m (to Fusky) Hold that Door!

[Traamros]

Being new to FG and reading this before being in any game helped a bunch Thanks for the post very very useful.

[VenomousFiligree]

I have found the mood command to also be useful for directing in character speech to a specific character as a player i.e.:

/m (whispers to Alyssa) He's lying...

/m (to Fusky) Hold that Door!

Very useful indeed! :)


Being new to FG and reading this before being in any game helped a bunch Thanks for the post very very useful.


No problem, I aim to please!! :D

MB

[Oberoten]

I have found the mood command to also be useful for directing in character speech to a specific character as a player i.e.:

/m (whispers to Alyssa) He's lying...

/m (to Fusky) Hold that Door!


oooh? No "/m (turned to Auron) And you? You keep being a dead pervy palladin...

[Griogre]

Nah. Haven't seen the ghost of Auron lately. ;) Though we were talking about Auron in character just the last game. It went something like this:

/m frowns Remember Auron? That guy who hated pallidins but acted like one?

Not sure exactly how he came up but we were visiting Cinnily's former minions and founding members of her thieve's guild. Lio has very mixed feelings about the minons of his dead wife. :p He has carefully been not mentioning them to Cin's daughter and vice versa. LOL.

[Lancer30]

This should be kept at the top of the list, for new players. Being one, I found it quite useful.

[SniperDM]

I just want to note that while I mostly agree with your intended use of action, I disagree with the syntax you suggest. Yes action should be used to show player intent for rules-sensitive actions, whereas emote should be used only for flavor, but when using action, you should phrase your sentence normally instead of writing in the third person.

For example, instead of typing:


/action jumps over the very wide chasm.

which comes out as


Princess Daphne: jumps over the very wide chasm.

you should type


/action I'm going to try jumping over the chasm.

which comes out as


Princess Daphne: I'm going to try jumping over the chasm.

The reason for this is that action puts that little colon after your character's name, designating that the output text should be like normal speech. Writing it like an emote ends up looking awkward whereas using it like I suggest sounds like something you'd say over the table. It also helps to differentiate it more from emote, which again, should be used only for flavor.

I don't recommend replacing action with emote, because if you write everything as an emote, you will often end up declaring that you do something only to end up failing when the dice hit the table. Typing


/emote mightily bashes down the double-locked, reinforced steel, magically sealed door.

is probably a recipe for making your character look foolish.

Additionally, I'd suggest using action for rules questions to the DM instead of OOC. In fact, think of action as a 'rules' channel for chat. Anything that requires DM adjucation should put input as action text. Instead, OOC is simply used for banter, jokes, setting up times for the next session, announcing afks and so on.

As for my group, we use voice chat so the chat window is unfortunately unused. If we didn't though, that's how I'd divide up the channels.

[SniperDM]

To clarify my previous post, and because I really feel strongly about this stuff, here's three example lines for each kind of text the chat box accepts, as I would have myself and my players use them. These are of course only suggestions, to be taken with a grain of salt if you have your own methods.

In-character (This is the player default, or when a DM is controlling an NPC personality):


Hail, barkeep. What's the special today?

Foolish orcs! You have no idea who you're dealing with!

Listen guys, I have a plan on how we can save the farmer's daughter.

Emote (used for flavor actions that the DM doesn't have to approve or require any dice. Used only by players or by the DM when controlling an NPC personality. Because of the special nature of the phrasing for this chat type, I will include the command associated with each of these lines. Remember that instead of typing /emote you can hold down SHIFT+CTRL when you send the line.)

/emote draws a long tobacco pipe from his pocket and lights it.

Lothox the Knife draws a long tobacco pipe from his pocket and lights it.
/emote taps her foot impatiently.

Annah taps her foot impatiently.
/emote wipes the sweat from his brow.

Bragus Quickfoot wipes the sweat from his brow.

Mood (This of this as a combo emote/in-character line. The ultimate in roleplaying chat lines. Syntax is

/mood (emotive text in quotes) What your character says.

This is used by players or by a DM controlling an NPC personality)


Farrikus (to Alyssa): Get the wizard!

Peasant girl (screaming): No! Get it away!

Vodo (laughing): Well said my friend!

Action (Rules-sensitive player chat. You can either use /action or hold CTRL when you send your line. The DM never has access to this channel, instead using his own default text to respond to player action text. If the DM holds CTRL it becomes Story text instead. ((See below)) Phrase action sentences normally!):


I peer around the corner. What do I see?

Could I hang onto the rope while I draw my wand of fireball?

I attack the orc with my battleaxe!

DM adjucaton (This is the DM default, when he's not controlling any NPC personalities. Used primarily for responding to player action text):


The corridor stretches off to the north for 20 feet, then slopes downward out of your line of sight.

You'll have to make a climb check to see if you can manage it. If you fail by 5 or more, you'll fall.

Your axe strikes true! Roll for damage.

OOC (Used by both players and DMs for chatter not relevant to the current game, or for announcing afks and similar talk. Use /ooc or hold down ALT when sending the line.)


Pizza's here! AFK.

LOL! None shall pass!

I won't be able to play next time, I'm going to be out of town.

Story (DM only. Descriptive, sometimes pre-written text used for narration. Also works well for room descriptions. Type /story <text> or hold CTRL or drag boxed text from an encounter page.)


The trip goes well. In less than a week you've already covered more than half the distance to Lake Town, with nary a sign of goblins nor spiders.

Beyond the door to the north is a dark room littered with bones. The pungent stench of mildew emanates from the rough dungeon walls.

It's been twelve moons since the death of King Ferdinand. The lands are in disarray, and monsters prowl the countryside. This is a time of darkness and danger, but it is also a time of heroes.

[Tropico]

Brilliant thread.. should be a sticky..

I agree about the actions. To me it seems natural for the 'action' color to represent that slight change in tone you get when declaring your action to the GM in a face-to-face game. That 'final answer' kind of thing.

I think it depends on what type of atmosphere you're going for; if you want it as close to the PnP experience as possible, declare your actions just as you would face to face. But some people prefer to take advantage of the text medium so they can watch the game unfolding more like a novel or a story, in which case the first person thing can fly too.

Also if you've played MUDs a lot you would be used to seeing everything in first person anyway.

(Of course by 'you' I mean 'the GM', as he/she is the one who gets to decide that).

[joshuha]

Correct, I do heavy editing of the logs so I prefer my actions to be done like an emote but only for things that need game resolution. It makes the logs (once the colon is taking out) read like a story and no metagame information is present.

[calvinNhobbes]

One more good use of /m is for designating speech in other languages.
/m dwarvish
/m elvish
etc.