roleplay chat help needed

hi i've recently got into roleplay and have noticed that when i type a conversation and press return it always comes up as Aliana says: how do i get the chat to come out like; the young lady wandered towards the piano. and how do i get the chat to go ooc. any role play advice would also be much appreciated.

Most of the rp I know of use (( text )) to denote ooc and text only or emote for in character. Check the rules of the sim. They almost all have notecards for their rules.

If you type "/me walks across the room" it appears as "Wulfric Chevalier walks across the room". Is that what you mean?

As for OOC, some places like it put in parenthses/brackets, some even like two pairs - "(what's the weather like there?))", other places ask for OOC to be in IM, which personally I think is a better option.

I've also seen OOC chat simply prefaced with "OOC:".

Search for RPTool, was free last time I checked, and it can give you the option to RP under a different name or to not use your name at the begining of an action.

Remember; if you're playing a werewolf, you have to put your arms up in the air to symbolise being in Crinos form.

I know I am butting in here on this thread , but why do role play users employ this format? It has fascinated me when I have visited their places to see a "third person" viewpoint of what I always thought was an immersive situation. Is there a reason for this? Can someone explain this because I have a real interest in literature (tho' I am unschooled and helplessly unwise) and wonder if this is a convention of graphic novels of recent years.

Third person is useful for describing thoughts and actions, which in turn can drive an unfolding narrative. Which is always better than letting the narrative drive you.

A thought can convey information even if it cannot be acted on. "Scott Hifeng wonders if the man is prepared to die a fiery death but decides he'll learn that soon enough." It adds texture to the action, conveys an intent or state of mind, etc.

Third person "emotes" describe actions, too. Sort of like talking genitals only in rp it forces some kind of response. "Scott Hifeng unsheathes his dagger and in one swift motion presses it's point against the man's throat." The subject of this action, is now constrained by this new development unless he can do something to get away.

You often see rpers complain of "godmodding," which is using emotes to describe both an action and its effect, rather than letting the subject of the action do that. "Scott Hifeng takes out his dagger and throws it unerringly across the distance, hitting the man's heart, killing him instantly."

One way to view this type of roleplay is as collaborative literature being written in real time. It's no surprise that participants will want to use a variety of literary tactics in this.

Rather than graphic novels, I believe it's a convention of text-only environments, where there are no animated avatars to watch. It would get really boring or border on out-of-character to verbally describe everything as you do it. "I'm drawing my sword. Okay, now I'm holding it and coming toward you..."

Also, even in SL where there ARE animated avatars, there is only so much those avatars can do without specific animations. Jumping on and off poseballs every time you wanted to run your fingers through someone's hair or whatnot would get old really fast, as would first-person description as above. And what if that animation available had an outcome you didn't particularly want? "Okay, jump on this poseball so I can attack you with my sword, but let's say I don't cut your arm off..."

Third person exposition gives a lot more flexibility and immediacy than first-person speech and animations alone.