Roleplaying Tip for
02/18/04
“Don't take that tone with me, missy!”
TONE has been a
great addition to the game, enhancing the ways in which we can portray our
characters while roleplaying. But like
any system or tool, it needs to be used wisely or it can end up as a detriment,
rather than as an enhancement.
The best use of
tone is for a single sentence or a few sentences in a row, when your character
is taking on a certain tone of voice that reflects their mood or attitude at
that moment. The tone list is extensive
and almost any sort of tone can be found to be used in specific instances like
this. Most experienced roleplayers agree
that this is the best and most appropriate use of the TONE verb.
Another way to
use TONE, one that should only be used after careful consideration, is setting
your tone and then leaving it in place indefinitely. There are very few tones on the list that are
appropriate for this type of usage, such as quiet or slow. But even then, most experienced roleplayers
agree that any tone left on a single setting ends up not making sense at some
point and becomes an annoyance, rather than a benefit to roleplay.
A character who
is feeling flirtatious for the moment looks darn silly still speaking
flirtatiously half an hour later when talking about the new armor she just
bought. A character who makes a
mysterious comment or two looks very foolish when an hour later he mysteriously
announces he will cast mass blurs for everyone present.
Use TONE to
enhance the moment and to make your character come alive as a fantasy
character. Be careful in how you use it
and think about whether or not your tone is appropriate for what you are saying
at the moment, in order to avoid making silly mistakes.
You can type
SAY and TONE for usage information.
Zyllah