If this is in the wrong forum, I appologise. I wasn't sure where to put it. You can move it if desired.]


Okay, so, I've recently created one and joined a few RPG boards.
On a bunch of them I see a 'plot' thread or board, and I've been too scared to post one of my own because.. well, for one, i don't know what the heck I'm doing.

Here's an example of something you'd see on one, if you have no idea what I'm talking about:

And then afterwards someone would reply with, I guess what relationship their character would have with this character?

But anyway, this is what I need: just a basic explanation of what the heck it is, and how it's made pretty much.

Guidance'd be appreciated like woah.

If you need me to elaborate, just say so and I will try. :]


[Once again, if this is in the wrong forum, I appologise.]

Plotting is essentially a outlet for roleplayers to organize their relationships with other characters. The reason for this is that it sometimes gets difficult to keep relationships and character histories straigh, especially when you're interracting with 20+ other characters. So, I'll do my best to sort of explain what goes on a plotting page.


On the most elemental level, a plotting page is a list of possible relationships for characters to have with one another. It's generally split categories, such as friends, enemies, family, romance, etc. What makes it appear more confusing is that most plotting pages are created using song lyrics.

For example, in the example you provided above:

The "don't leave, take it from me" is probably some song lyric; it's meaningless, as far as you're concerned. What's most important to you as the reader of a plot page is the relationship that's tagged along with it.

Most plotting pages have some sort of code at the end that you, as the replier, would need to fill out. On a basic level, it would look like this:

Name:
Age:
Category: (depending on the rp, could be house, race, etc)
Relationship:
History:
Quote about X: (where X is the character whose plotting page you're looking at.)


It's your job, as the replier, to fill this out according to the relationship between your characters. First you fill out the first three variables, the basics.

For relationships, you would look through that list of relationships they posted and find the ones that apply to your characters. Are they best friends? Average friends? Enemies? Dating? Once you found the ones that apply, you copy the entire line, lyrics and relationship, and put it in form. Generally, more than one apply.

For history, you write a few sentences about when your characters met, what kind of relationships they've had in the past, etc. "X and Y met back when they were ten years old. They used to spend their summers together running around the neighborhood, making trouble for old ladies and stealing their walkers. As they grew older, their interests changed a little and they grew apart." Usually it's a little longer, but you get the idea.

For a quote, you basically just want to write something in the first person that expresses your character's opinion about the other character. Something along the lines of, "X and I used to be best friends, but as we grew up I realized that he was an immature git who was too set in his ways to grow up. Now, we don't really talk any more. I don't have anything in common with him, so there's really no reason to."

Basically, a plotting page is a load of fancy nonsense, hiding a functional means of keep track of how your character met other characters and what kind of relationship they have with them. If you post in theirs, they post back, and you add it to your list, so you both have it on record.


I'm not sure if that was a very good explanation, but I hope it helps. :)

Oh it helps a lot. Thanks so much, that really helped. ^^

That helps a lot. I've only been on one site that had that and it's now closed, but I was soooo lost as to how to do it. I agree that it's fancy and useless. I prefer to just have one forum where each character has a thread and yo utalk, like normal people, about how yo uwant your character to interact. Much easier.