Danikats training of TiChei

[Danikat]

((Continued from the post in the training discussion thread.))

*Danikat opened the door to one of the training rooms, she paused on the edge of the seemingly infinate darkness and it began to shimmer, slowly shifting until what lay beyond the door looked like a forest grove, with a table and two chairs in the middle*

*Satisfied she walked into the room, across a carpet of springy moss, and sat on one of the chairs to await her pupil*

[TiChei]

*He rose from the cross-legged position on the floor and watched as Danikat opened a door, a darkness behind it that stretched into what seemed like infinity, he blinked as it shimmered and changed, something tangible now rested beyond the door*

*He moved after her, his right hand twitching nervously, he passed through the door and he paused, being sure that nothing bad would happen yet he continued towards were she sat*

"May I have this seat teacher?" he asked.

*Before waiting for a reply he sat himself into the chair and stared at her*

"I am here, teach me teacher."

[Danikat]

Danikat: (with just a hint of irony in her voice) Certinally, make yourself comfortable. I suppose its best to start by asking you what you wish to know. Hmm...or prehaps it would be best to ask what you already know, and then we can work out what you need to learn from there.

[TiChei]

Myanr: Well, I know or at least I think I understand the principles behind this 'freeform' style. But I am not used to it and I wish to know what limits it can be pushed to, if it has any. Like detail, how much is considered over the top, if there is indeed an over the top. Though I am not new to all this -

*He breaks off and gestures vaguely around himself implying the whole thing*

Myanr: -this 'freeform' style intrigues me and I know my limits with other 'styles' but havn't ever seen this before.

[Danikat]

Danikat: Hmm...I think it would be best if I handed you over to my alterego for the explaination, then prehaps I'll take over again for some practice.

((In other words this is going to be much easier to explain out of character.

The basic idea behind free-form RP (called FFRP from now on, coz I'm lazy like that) is that there are relatively few rules on what you can and cannot do.
For instance many non-FF RP's will be set within a specific time/place, and characters will be expected to conform to that. Here that is not the case (except for special RPs), you could for example RP as a 10,000 year old Archmage trapped in the body of Bart Simpson, who lives in a spaceship he stole from an old opponent.
And the same is true for what happens within the RP. When someone creates an RP they won't have much of a set plan for what will happen within it. They will simply control their characters and everyone else will control theirs as we'll see where it goes.

As far as how you write it thats really up to you. One of the best things about FFRP is that it allows you a lot of freedom to do things your own way, and that includes how much description you use.
The minimum acceptable would be just enough to give people the information they need to be able to reply to your post. *I attack you* would be too little, but *I swing my sword at your head* would generally be fine.
Too much description would be when you think people are in danger of getting bored with reading it. This place is nothing like some forums where anything more than two lines per post seems to be too much for some people but in a big, fast paced, RP long blocks of text decribing how the sun reflected off your sword as it moved towards your opponent could get a little irritating.
Best thing to do is to read back through your post when you're done, if you think something is unnessesary take it out. But so far all your posts have been fine.

Oh, one last thing, there are two basic styles people use when writing RP posts. Either they write it out like a story, with description as plan text and speech in speech marks ("). The other style, the one I use is a little more complicated, and seems to be going out of fasion a bit.
In this case speech is in plain text (sometimes with the chracters name in front, but if you only have one speaking character thats not essential) and actions are inside stars (*).

Which one you use is entirely up to you. But the story style is more suited to descriptive posts. But both styles share the use of double brackets ( (( and )) ) to indicate anything said out of character.

Probably the trickest part of FFRP is learning to use the combat system, there is no set system to calculate damage so it can be a little confusing at first, although once you get used to it everything comes naturally.
Essentially you just have to use your imagnation, your opponent will say how they attacked you but they will (hopefully) not say what effect it had. (If they do its considered power-playing, which is about the only thing thats against the rules.) So you read their post and imagine what would happen next; how would your character react? Would they have time to react? What damage would the attack do if it hits?

Of course its tempting to just say your character evades every attack, but that will get boring very quickly, for you as much as everyone else. And sometimes if you're fighting a really good opponent you may find yourself in a position where you just couldn't dodge.

Does that answer your question?))

[TiChei]

((That has cleared it up quite alot thanks))

Myanr: I see, I think I understand now, though as with every new thing learned, practice is the only true way to improve or even get the hang of it. If you would be so kind as to aid me in this little matter of practice I would be ever so grateful.

[Danikat]

Danikat: The best way to learn anything is to do it. Very well. Normally a training session takes the form of a sparing match, but I think for this case I've got something a little better. *She paushed, her eyes taking on a glazed look for a moment* OK, in the woods outside, not too far from here, one of my assistants has hidden an amulet. It looks like a star, made of obsidian, hanging on a silver chain. I want you to find it.

((Just so you know you're under absolutely no obligation to finish this quest. If you get bored, don't feel you're learning anything or think you've learned enough you're free to stop any time.))