Roleplay 101

Roleplay is taking on the persona of a character by playing, acting out events, scenarios, and situations. Simply put, to act and speak as if you are the character you're portraying.

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These characters can, and most commonly are, beings of one's imagination. They appear as you want them to, they speak as you want them to speak, they behave how you want them to behave, they take on any and all characteristics you wish for them to have. Think of them like characters in a book, but the story is one that you make for yourselves. You invent their background. You invent their likes and dislikes. You create a being.

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Lunaria focuses on immersion into the environment and the fictional narrative. Players maintain agency of action, meaning that the experience is not heavily curated by a game master. Players engage in freeform and loosely scripted scenes where players undergo their own personal narrative alongside the metanarrative, including interpersonal relationships and dramatic arcs. Immersion involves solving problems through cognition, including strategic thinking, abstract reasoning, and tactics.

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WYSIWYG

Lunaria utilizes the What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) ideal in which actions are physically/virtually acted out by the players character (avatar).

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Crafting Roleplay Guide

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Elements of a Narrative Arc

A traditional narrative arc has five elements, in the following order:

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1. Exposition or Stasis. This is the introduction to the story. The exposition offers background information to prime the rest of the story, including introducing the main character(s) (the “who”), setting (the “where”), and circumstances.

2. Rising action. The rising action usually begins with what’s called an “inciting incident”—the triggering event that puts the main events of the story in motion.

3. Climax. This is the highest point of in your storyline, and often the point at which all the different subplots and characters converge. 

4. Falling action. This is what happens as a result of the PC decision. 

5. Resolution. Also known as a denouement, this is how your story ends. The resolution of the narrative arc closes the loop and show how the events of the story have changed the characters and the world around them.

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Story Arc Video

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What Is the Difference Between Narrative Arc and Plot?

Plot refers to the individual events that make up your story. In other words, the plot is what happens. Narrative arc, on the other hand, refers to the path or sequence of your plot, and how that series of events creates a flow and progression that keeps players engaged at each stage in the story.

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What Is the Difference Between a Narrative Arc and a Character Arc?

If a narrative arc is the path of the overall story, a character arc is the path a specific character takes during that story. The story arc is external, and happens to all of the characters, while a character arc is internal, and happens to one person.

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A character arc usually involves a character overcoming an obstacle and changing the way they see the world. When the narrative arc begins its descent down the pyramid into the falling action and resolution, the character arc has its moment to shine. This is when a character experiences a turning point by asking for help, learning a new skill, making a critical choice, and/or becoming more self-aware. Typically, only major characters have character arcs, though minor characters and NPCs can undergo this type of character development as well.

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Players may have wildly different experiences based upon what emotions, themes, and stories they choose to explore. 

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Archetypal Narrative Arcs and Literary Examples

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Plot points outline the main archetypal narrative arcs.

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1. Overcoming the antagonist. Must stop the antagonist or force. Example: Dracula by Bram Stoker.

2. The quest. Take an epic journey to find something, someone, or some place, running into obstacles on the way. Example: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

3. Voyage and return. Visit a new world and return home with a new perspective. Example: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

4. Comedy. Experiences an escalating sequence of confusing but comedic events, which are ultimately resolved into a happy ending. Example: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare.

5. Tragedy. Your character has a flaw or makes a mistake that results in their downfall. Example: Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare.

6. Rebirth. Experiences an event that makes them your character a better person. Example: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

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Narrative Arc

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Here are some writing tips for building a narrative arc:

1. Choose an archetypal narrative arc. Think about the story you want to tell. Is your character overcoming an obstacle? Going on a quest? Experiencing a rebirth? You don’t have to follow any one example to the letter, but writing with an archetypal narrative arc in mind can be a huge help.

2. Identify your beginning, middle, and end. Who are the main characters? What are they doing? When are they doing it? Where are they doing it? Why are they doing it? And, most importantly: What is all of that building toward?

3. Plug your events into a narrative arc. Creating a visual diagram of your chosen narrative arc, then add the events of your story along that arc. Seeing a quick overview of your story on a page makes it easier to identify problems and fill any gaps. For instance, if you have a lot of events clustered in your “exposition” stage, you may want to cut some of them out or reimagine them as new developments in the rising action.

4. Adjust as needed. Of course, there’s no hard and fast rule that you have to stick to. Every story is different: some are heavier on exposition, while others draw out the rising action. Give yourself the freedom to be flexible and see where your unique story goes.

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Here is a useful tool that can help you stay on track if you’re ever unsure of how to develop your character and subsequent roleplay. 

Character Development Questionnaire

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