What is IRC?

IRC, or Internet Relay Chat, is a group of networks where users communicate in real time using an IRC client, a program that enables them to connect via a server to a network.

What is Free Form Role Playing?

Most people have heard of role playing games, the most familiar being Dungeons and Dragons. Refereed role playing games, or RPGs, involve statistical information and dice rolls under the supervision of a gamemaster, who creates a situation and determines the outcome depending on the players choices and rolls. Free form role play, on the other hand, has no set scenario and no gamemaster. Everyone contributes to the story line in a sort of interactive writing forum, simply responding to other characters and situations as they arise.

Free Form Role Play is a form of role play that is indiginous to the real time chat environment. It has but one rule, that rule is "NO GODS." This came to be for several reasons.

  1. People could meet and talk real time across hundreds, even thousands, of miles
  2. It was easy to "create" a character to be played, as there were no rule books to buy and just that basic rule to follow.
  3. If everyone played an immortal, unkillable or infallable god who knew all saw all and could do anything, what fun would it be?

The main advantages were clear and So FFRP was born. Millions of people, on all kinds of internet chat systems, from AOL to Undernet play FFRP (Free Form Role Play). Now there are several "rooms" on these servers.

Pure FFRP does not rely upon dice, random number generators, character sheets, and extensive rules. The system must be kept simple, as people of all ages are discovering and becoming involved in FFRP. Characters of FFRP consist of a history, a basic outline if you will, of their origins, abilities, powers and quirks.

Some pages on FFRP even have character pictures, either original artwork or selected artwork, and very detailed and specific information about the character.

The ideal FFRP game does not deal with combat or fighting, but instead with character interaction and story telling type role play. Although some FFRP rooms do have rules for and the capability to run a combat between characters who wish to fight. FFRP is as I said, a natural evolution of role-play into something anyone,

People of any age can enjoy. Many of the "rooms" I have been in do, however deal with situations that could be considered basically adult in orientation. FFRP is not a way of life, nor is it a cult, it is simply another way for people on the internet to interact, to immerse themselves in a story of their own creation. Painting the scene in their own minds, playing out scenarios as if they were their character. It has the draw of Fantasy, Science Fiction and Gothic Horror role playing games. The stories and occurances in channel can, betimes, become confusing to a newcommer.

Be not afraid, however, as soon you too will become involved, either on your own, directly, or by the players around you. In FFRP we are all seeking to "write" stories about "characters" and their interactions, so bear this in mind.

The OOC or Out Of Character text is typically typed within brackets : ( ) or { } or [ ]. Also try to remember, this is just a game like monopoly, and the Mundane (or MUN) player of the character is not attacking you personally, so keep the Real Life Hostilities down to messages and or Direct Channel Chat. In 99% of the rooms I have played in, the disruptive person is usually kicked, then warned. If the warning is not heeded however, the kick becomes a permanent ban, just to keep the peace.

This is a game for everyone to enjoy. If you have questions about a room or game it is recomended you speak to the channel operators via a message or some other means of private communication, so as not to interrupt an ongoing game.

What about combat you ask? Are you truly that bloodthirsty that you must slake your thirst upon the blood of others?

Well, combat is handled differently from channel to channel. Most follow the PURE FFRP system, but some do use dice, which I will now discuss. Some rooms have arenas (or annex rooms) that are set up specifically for such an occurance. It is this type of FFRP, the type involving combat, that becomes burdened with rules.

When you think about the flow of a story, is it interrupted in the middle of a passion filled scene of two bitter enemies fighting, with dice rolling and resolution according to some rules?

Not usually. However, the BEST players I have gamed with can, through private messages, create a realistic fight scene with a (agreed upon by the players involved) definate winner and loser. If a player desires the death of another players character, the death must be A) consistant with the flow of the story, and B) agreed upon by the parties who are involved.

Otherwise the wounds they inflict will heal, eventually... and the resultant behavior of the character so wounded should reflect his injuries (specifically speaking, if the character lost an arm or an eye, or gained some sort of scar from their ordeal).

How do I start playing?

First, read the respective channels guidelines. Then write a character. Consider the setting of the game and write your character accordingly. For example, #CyberPunkCafe is set in the Dark Future of CyberPunk 2020™, a RPG from Talsorian Games. The year is 2020, and the rapid advance of technology has resulted the downfall of the government, with huge corporations taking over controlling small city-states and dictating the lives of their employee citizens. Cyberpunks are the rebels against the system, struggling to keep their independance in a violent world. While on the other hand, the #Tower_of_High_Sorcery is the Tower Of High Sorcery from the Dragonlance Saga, full of elves, dwarves, and magicians. For some examples of characters, check out the Black, Red, and White orders links. Once you have your character, simply start interacting. Wander into your favorite FFRPA channel and strike up a converstation in character. Don't worry about being perfect. Any of the other players will gladly help you learn the ropes. Pretty soon you'll find yourself in the storyline.

And That is Free Form Role Playing in brief, if you have any more questions please e-mail the ffrpa at ffrpa@geocities.com.



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Segments of "What is Free Form Role Play" taken from Free Form Fantasy Web. © D.Pontious 1995