The Basics of Role Play
The primary focus of this is on that of a Gorean slave; although, the vast majority herein pertains to all.
Some enter Gorean venues with no intention of role playing, they don’t like it, they feel it belittles their lifestyle; others enter Gor only wanting to role play, they have no desire or intention of living their life according to Gorean customs and philosophy. Some, embrace both
The dynamicsof role play can be difficult to get used to when first entering Gor. Among the first things to learn are protocols: how to enter a room, greet those present, how to talk, kneel, and observe. As a slave, how to act. As a Free, to know what to expect from a slave, etc.
Anything outside of role play is kept as much as possible out of open chat. You always remain in character (IC) while in open chat. If you need to speak in OOC, (Out of Character,) your words are placed within ((double parentheses)). At times this is frowned upon, especially if the story line is flowing and active. It is generally preferred that you take OOC comments, to an instant message.
Generally, the differences between D/s, BDSM, TPE, and Gor Chat, is there are no bratty, me, self-centered, Gorean slaves. Yes, there is spirit in Gorean slaves; there is even attitude, struggle, and strife. However, if pushed, beyond expressing such to a free person with deference, they will and should, call you on it. Always, always, always, show deference to the Free.
Deference. The way we use our words, which words, the diction, the punctuation, is all we have to work with here.
Deference .. to all, -all- ways, always .. in your thoughts, your words, your actions.
This isn’t to say that you can’t express ~yourself~ it only means to do so, as respectfully as possible.
Think on this. Your Master commands you to your knees and you reply, “make me!”
This as an example of the difference between someone who is being coy and someone who is being self-centered:
Example:
Setting the Scene:
A slave is with a Master on a warm summer night, lying in the grass beneath the moons of Gor. Conversation leads to teasing play, he to she and back again. After some time, they begin to wrestle with one another and the passion begins to build. Now, he is done teasing, he is ready … although she is still playfully teasing, when he commands her to she-sleen (aka: she-quadruped – a common Gorean position, where the girl moves to all fours, in this case, to use her sexually) and she says, teasingly, “make me!”
Here it actually heightens the arousal; although she was teasing, you can well imagine at that point then, he does make her .. she feels his strength, but it is not construed as anything other than what it was intended, a tease.
Example:
Setting the Scene:
A Master is discussing with a girl, her skill and training. She is growing frustrated over the length of time and the continued repeating of the same position. She has other things on her agenda, and it isn’t to be there, doing that! He has made her move into nadu (radiant were her features, bright was her smile; thick golden tress shimmer beneath the dim, Tavern lightening; long, shapely legs fold beneath her as she drifts down to the worn floor, the soft caps of her knees caressing the surface as they parted, fully; poignantly her back arches, while her shoulders are drawn straight, giving rise to full, ample breasts; sharply, a breath was drawn inward, tightening her belly as soft, smooth hands lower to rest atop supple thigh) at this point five times, between several other positions, which too, have been repeated. He is critical of her positions, which she thinks are .. book perfect! She baulks at his command, he persists. She growls, “How many DIFFERENT ways are there to NADU for Kings sake!” He soon stands, in full control of himself and the situation, saying “Nadu!” and she .. glaring up at him, growls .. “Make me!”
Here, he would also, make her. Generally, she will do as he says, when he says. If she shows attitude, it will be returned with the same; his, much more powerful than hers. She would nadu, she would also no doubt be punished, and if still found not to be pleasing, to have learned from her err, to correct her attitude .. she would be sold or possibly killed.
Expressing Thought
In Second Life the ‘emote’ command is “/me” – without the quotes. To express a thought, you should use the emote command with a verb, such as ‘thinks’, ‘contemplates’, ‘considers’, etc.
Example:
this Master is cruel and I wish he’d just leave me alone.
in SL will look like…
My Name: this Master is cruel and I wish he’d just leave me alone.
(You said it. Everyone hears it. Expect to be disciplined or punished)
or
/me thinks this lesson is much more difficult than the other
in SL will look like…
My Name thinks this lesson is much more difficult that the other.
(In this example – it’s actually silly if anyone replies directly because it’s a thought – so don’t reply to these. Unless you roleplay a telepath. In which case, role play is invalidated. The one thinking it should not expect to be punished.)
However: in the above “thought” example, it is plausible the master can read body language, and you are found to be displeasing, an so you will be punished. So do be careful in your thoughts as well.
This is called emoting and works wonderfully to express body language and action. For example:
- smiles brightly, with perky movement and eyebrows raised over wide eyes “greetings Master!”
- kneels gently and softly, curvaceous buttocks kissing the heel of bare feet, as she leans forward, arms outstretched, fingers splayed to the ground in obeisance.
- looks at you with a quizzical expression on her face, head cocked slightly to one side with brows slightly furled
Preceding each of these clearly communicates your mood and body language. Thus, seeing the last one aboce, the other participants will know clearly you are experiencing a bit of confusion to something you’ve seen or heard.
It takes two… or more
Bait, Hook, Play
Bait is basically a lead-in given by you to another; they hook on to it, taking it and bait you back; together, bait and hook, promote interactive and hopefully enjoyable, role play. Without the bait it leaves the role play up to one person who might as well be role playing alone.
It’s important to give the person you are interacting with something to bite into to further the role play. The “quizzical” example above leaves the interaction open, prompting a question and thereby, an answer and it continues. You start out small and then elaborate on something specific. Let’s say the emote was regarding something you saw, then the question “what is it, girl?” – even though you obviously see someone coming into the sim on a prim-tarn – play it out:
- “a strange shadow ran quickly over the grass in the square, Master.”
- <turns quickly about to study the grass, seeing nothing? “are you certain, girl? I see nothing. You will be punished if you toy with me”
- ~fear shakes her briefly when she sees the shadow again, pointing quickly~ “there, Master! see? i speak truth! a bird!”
- <looks and spots the fast moving shadow, turning eyes skyward, spots the tarn and rider>
Yes, a lame example. But you get the idea.
Chat Etiquette
Ideally each person in the same scene will post once, taking turns. It becomes a bit more tedious when there are more than two people directly involved in a scene, but it can still be done. This is generally referred to as “Post for Post” role play. This form of role play is generally considered the correct and polite form.
Please do NOT write a novel for each chat post. if you have a lot to say, press the enter key every sentence or two so people aren’t wondering if you fell asleep while they wait for you to finish typing up your post. Simply end the sentence or two with an elipses to let everyone know you are still speaking, like so:
- I suspect the tarn carries a spy or a messenger, however, I don’t recognize the markings…
- I did hear rumor of a contract out against our city the other day, though, but I shrugged it off…
- so I suggest we take cover and prepare for an attack to be on the safe side.
Now, it you force everyone to wait for you to type all that up before you press enter, the roleplay drags on and gets boring. And others will move the conversation on leaving you behind. What happens is others will begin ’speed posting’ when that is not their intent, simply because as far as they and everyone else knows, you’ve stepped away from the keyboard.
Speed Posting… this is where a single player doesn’t give the others a chance to reply. This format is generally frowned upon. It is best to make a statement, allow others to respond, then respond back.
Another term is “Force Posting.” This is where the posting player will not only post their action, but the receiving others’ reaction. This is generally not considered fair play and if disputed, often invalidates the scene. Force posting and speed posting are similar in that one person in the scene isn’t permitted a chance to react themselves.
Expressing Attitude
Example:
Setting the Scene:
Master John Doe comes into the Tavern; he calls you to his feet and begins to whine about his life; his demeanor, totally not masterful. Then he orders paga, heated. You’ve had it listening to his whining; to you, he is definitely not a Master; and, he doesn’t need another paga!
The Post:
~huffs as she lifts to her feet; eyes narrowing as she slips back from Him, totally disgusted and thinking ‘what a jerk,’ but she does as told anyway~
The Consequence:
When called on such, some argue, saying, “but it was just a thought, I -didn’t- actually say it!”
Ahh .. but she did.
The slaves body language, her facial features, would speak volumes to the disgust she felt. The principle requirement of a Gorean slave is … to be pleasing. If you are going to role play such in your emote post, be prepared to further the role play, for most will call you on it.
Think on this for a bit .. how could your character, would they, could they, express disgust, and still be found, pleasing?
Think on this for a bit .. is your character out for punishment, out for the thrill of ‘what-ifs’?
Slave characters don’t have to be prissy, prim, and boringly proper in role play; but they should know how, when, and where it is appropriate to express emotions, especially those with negative undertones, in role play to free persons .. and the possible consequence of such.
The absolute truth must be spoken to a Gorean master.
It is forbidden to a girl to hide her feelings.
CAPTIVE OF GOR, page 346
This quote doesn’t necessarily give way to be displeasing in expressing your characters feelings. There are ways in which you can express them, even the negative ones, with deference, humility … and a touch of light-hearted humor wouldn’t hurt either.
