A 'set' is a concise description of the current state of the area where the RP is taking place. This should include as many details as you like. The most important are Time of Day, Weather, and the current area's status. +imtime and +weather are your friends.
Take a look at a couple of examples:
| Example By Gondramind |
| The autumn night is warm and clear, a kind of false
summer in this harvest season of the year. Stars burn with a brilliance
of diamonds upon a field black. And upon the open fields of the Anduin Vales,
night rests heavy and silent. The wind alone makes sound as it parts the
tall grasses, just browning now with autumn, parts them like hair or waves
of the sea.
And upon these fields, barely visible in the night, elven tents stand gray and dim as the grass around them. Some are loppsided and in need of repair. |
| Example By Anariel |
| The sounds of summer's night in the valley fill the air. Each breath of wind stirs and flurry of leaves. Crickets chirp noisily, and night birds call out of the darkness that even an elf's eyes strain to pierce. Tilion, nearly taking his leave for the month, is in slender guise, and shrounded deeply in clouds. The stars do not shine. Still, the lights of the Last Homely House glow warmly in the valley below, and a few features can be made out, if one's eyes are keen enough. A ribbon of trail, snaking its way out of the blackness below to the blackness above, can be seen most readily of all. And upon it a single figure makes its way. This last is barely perceptible, and long moments pass when a watcher might think it an apparition. But then it can be glimpsed again, more solidly, moving silently along the trail. |
These are both excellent sets. They not only give you the time and place, but also a sense of how the scene will go forward. Things to think about in your set: time, weather, light, sounds, and smells!
First impressions mean a lot, even in RPing. How you pose into the scene determines how others will react to you and how you'll interact with everyone. Despite it's simple nature, many people are intimidated by a pose-in. The important thing to remember is that you are merely arriving now, not actually stating the reason for your arrival (that may never even come up!) Some nice things to include in your pose-in where you came from (the hallway? the porch? the tents? horseback?) and your general dress and demeanor. Important to note are 'hooks' in your pose-in. Things that are unusual about you that the others in the scene can comment on and get the RP rolling. Don't forget to include something that identifies you in the pose. Either your name, or something else that people can use to refer to you (in case you can't be seen clearly at first, or are in disguise.
Let's look at a few good examples
| Example By Avaesse |
| It takes five minutes for another quende to grace the room with her presence. This one is tall, and not one to be trifled with. Indeed, her quicksilver eyes flash with a fire know to only one Noldo in the valley. This is Avaesse, the Hirdan. |
| Example By Gondramind |
| At the edge of this encampment the Gondramind, master mason and tracker, stands watch over the camp of artisans, one of several shadows that keep guard. His left arm is wrapped tight to his body under his light cloak and he stands leaNing upon his ebony spear. His face is hard and cragged with worry, looking not unlike the moutain they have just left. |
| Example By Duinlas |
| Duinlas is walking nearby the camp, his right hand bandaged with a pure-white clothe, no mark of blood seeping through, although the bandage has not been changed. He walks with two parchments in his hands, although the light is low, it can be seen they are discolored, and he waves them slowly in the air, as if drying them. He spots Gondramind near the edge and walks slowly toward him, still going about his task of waving his parchment. |
Notice that the last of these has Gondramind already in the scene. This is generally only a good idea if you are one of the first people in the scene. There's no reason everyone has to converge on the scene seperately, either. Page your IC and OOC friends to see if they would be ok with arriving together (but don't force them to do anything they haven't consented to in your pose)
The meat and potatoes of RP! These vary as much as snowflakes. Each pose is unique to the situation. Keep it simple, and always try to include a hook in your pose somewhere (sometimes more than one.) What is a hook? A hook is something that lets the other people in the room 'hook' onto and use to interact with you. It can be anything from a dropped book, to a question, or even a smouldering look! Be creative!
Pacing is very important! Don't sit at your computer for 3-4 minutes trying to come up with a really "cool" pose or action. That's just too slow for proper pacing! Think what the natural reaction of your character would be. If you have no hook to react to, make up a hook in your pose. Ask what is new, if nothing is new, make something up! You are only as limited as your imagination.
Here are some great examples with the 'hook' highlighted:
| Example By Gailluin |
| "Mae govannen," Gailluin calls quietly to Ilfwen. To Thileithel she nods a greeting, eyes then darting to Avaesse. |
| Example By Martion |
| "Very well," he says in a sudden rush of words, "I will be a poet if you like. But in that case, Ailiell, I think I must insist that you DANCE with me for once.. And his arms reach to lift her from her feet, sudden and unexpected. |
| Example By Anariel |
| If Anariel is startled, she gives no sign. "Nay," the herald says, her voice as cool as the moonlight that illuminates her. "No one thing in particular do I seek." Then again, with the accompanying flash of teeth in a smile. "Do I intrude upon Rhunedhel's yard, o sentinel?" |
| Example By Duinlas |
| Duinlas purses his lips, "You would think they would have wine for us." He lets out a long sigh as he gazes wistfully at the door. So close, yet an impossible distance for him to walk. He raises his eyebrow, "Now, Dairwenraiel, when she comes she will bring wine. Most definately." He licks his lips in anticipation, but then gazes over at Gondramind, "How long? Mellon, do you wait for something?" |
| Example By Arwen |
| "I confess it is not, Martion," Arwen echoes, the underlying notes of concern in her voice nearly betraying the effortlessness of her apparent poise. "Will you tarry awhile?" At this, the Lady indicates her own chair, beside a modest writing desk and near to Ailiell. For now, she herself would seem content to remain at the window, her fair face a picture of thinly-veiled disquiet, as framed by the afternoon sky beyond. |
Most often you can find yourself asking a question. Or making a statement which you know someone will comment on, etc. Also note in the very last that Martion does not FORCE Ailiell to dance, but rather makes the intention. It is up to Ailiell whether she accepts it in her next pose or not (in this case she did.
Pose-Outs
Alas, the RP must end sometimes. When you have to leave a scene, you should figure out the best course of action. Sometimes merely "fading" into the scene is best (during a party, or other big event that you likely wouldn't ICly leave) but most times a pose-out is not only necessary but desired.
When posing out, think about the reason you're leaving, the direction you're leaving to (especially if you posed-in under the guise of passing through on your way somewhere else) and any last words you might want to throw out there.
Again, I give you great examples to check out:
| Example By Duinlas |
| Duinlas nods at Undomiel's words, closing his eyes as cloth is laid over his wounds, surrendering sight for the sounds of the valley. No sweeter sound could come to one gone so long. |
| Example By Anariel |
| Anariel shrugs, draping her cloak back around her and setting off again through the inky darkess towards the house below. It is as if the herald was content to allow Ailiell to ponder, alone, what was meant by that, but at length she replies, just before she steps far enough away for conversation to be forced and difficult, "In me." |
| Example By Arwen |
| Arwen returns her Beriel's smile, though it remains a weak shadow of mirth. "Elenare. I am sorry to have missed you, but I must take my leave. Perhaps another time..." Then without saying what thus shall wait, the Lady drifts the rest of the way from the room, pausing only to offer a nod of farewell to all - the last for Ailiell. |
Note the common thread among these pose-outs is their simplicity.
The best way to improve your posing is to RP! But these are just some good tips to get you started!
This page thanks to Duinlas