Roleplay Guidelines

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Roleplay Guidelines

Chatsubo is a roleplay-focused MUD set in a cyberpunk universe inspired by William Gibson's Sprawl trilogy. These guidelines will help you create immersive, engaging roleplay experiences.

Core Roleplay Principles

1. Stay In Character (IC)

IC vs OOC Separation: - Keep in-character and out-of-character communication separate - Use OOC channels (ooc command) for non-roleplay discussion - Avoid breaking immersion in public roleplay areas

Example:

GOOD:  say "This city's getting more dangerous every day, choom."
BAD:   say "LOL that was funny, did you see the game last night?"

Use the ooc command for out-of-character chat:

ooc Did anyone see that movie?

2. Embrace the Setting

Cyberpunk Atmosphere: - Chatsubo is inspired by William Gibson's Neuromancer and cyberpunk noir - Think neon lights, corporate dystopia, street-level survival - Technology is advanced but gritty - Society is stratified: corps on top, street level below

Genre Conventions: - Cyberware and body modification are common - Corporations control most aspects of life - The "matrix" (cyberspace) is a real place netrunners can "jack into" - Survival often means bending or breaking the law - Trust is earned, not given

3. Create Believable Characters

Character Depth: - Your character should have motivations, fears, and goals - Think about why they are who they are - Consider their backstory and how it shapes them - Characters can evolve and change through roleplay

Avoid: - Mary Sues / Gary Stus (perfect characters with no flaws) - One-dimensional characters (all tough, all smart, all evil, etc.) - Characters that are just copies of famous fictional characters

Character Roles: Each role has distinct traits and playstyles: - Console Cowboy: Elite hackers and netrunners, digital warriors - Street Samurai: Cybernetically enhanced combat specialists - Fixer: Information brokers, deal-makers, networkers - Tech: Hardware specialists, cyberware experts, mechanics - Rockerboy: Rebels, artists, cultural icons - Media: Investigative reporters, truth-seekers, influencers - Corpo: Corporate operatives, climbers, insiders - Nomad: Outsiders, wanderers, family-oriented

See Roles Documentation for detailed information.

Roleplay Quality Standards

4. Emoting and Actions

Use Descriptive Emotes:

BASIC:  emote smiles
BETTER: emote smiles, neon light reflecting off chrome teeth
BEST:   emote leans against the grimy wall, a slight smile crossing his face as neon reflections dance across his chrome teeth. "You looking for work, choom?"

Show, Don't Tell:

TELLING: emote is angry
SHOWING: emote clenches his fists, jaw tight, eyes narrowing as he steps forward

Use Commands: - say - Speak out loud - whisper - Speak quietly to someone nearby - emote - Describe actions (also /me) - pose - Set your character's current pose/stance

5. Respect Other Players' Roleplay

Collaborative Storytelling: - Roleplay is collaborative, not competitive - Give other players chances to respond and react - Don't dominate scenes or talk over others

No Powergaming: - Don't force actions on other characters without consent - Example of powergaming: emote punches you in the face and knocks you out - Better: emote swings a fist toward your face

No Godmodding: - Your character is not invincible or all-knowing - Accept consequences of actions - Don't retroactively change what happened

No Metagaming: - Don't use OOC information your character wouldn't know - If you know something OOC, your character may not know it IC - Discovering information through roleplay is part of the fun

6. Combat Roleplay

IC Justification: - Combat should have in-character reasons - Random violence without RP context is prohibited - Build up to conflicts through roleplay when possible

Using the Combat System: - Chatsubo has coded combat mechanics - Use the combat system for PvP conflicts - Roleplay around the mechanics - Accept defeat gracefully

Example Combat RP:

say "You picked the wrong alley, choom."
emote draws a smartgun from his shoulder holster, the weapon's LED targeting system flickering to life
attack thug
emote fires a burst toward the thug's center mass

Mature Themes: - Chatsubo deals with mature cyberpunk themes - Violence, corporate oppression, and moral ambiguity are part of the setting - Respect player boundaries on sensitive topics

Fade-to-Black: - Explicit sexual content should fade-to-black - Use page to discuss privately if needed - Not all players are comfortable with all content

Safe Words / Exit: - If uncomfortable, you can always leave a scene - Use helpdesk to file a support ticket if issues arise - No one is obligated to roleplay uncomfortable scenarios

Setting-Specific Guidelines

8. Technology and Cyberware

Cyberware is Common: - Body modifications are normalized in this world - Most people have at least basic cyberware (neural interfaces, data ports, etc.) - High-end chrome is expensive and a status symbol

The Matrix / Cyberspace: - Netrunners can "jack in" to cyberspace - It's visualized as a digital landscape - Has its own dangers (IC

E, hostile programs, etc.)

Tech Terminology: - Use cyberpunk slang naturally (see Glossary) - Examples: "jack in" (connect to cyberspace), "flatline" (die), "chrome" (cyberware)

9. Social Dynamics

Corporate vs Street: - Corps have power, money, and resources - Street-level characters survive through wit, skill, and connections - Tension between these levels drives much of the setting

Syndicates and Factions: - Various factions exist (yakuza, triads, gangs, corps) - Your character may have loyalties or rivalries - See Syndicates Documentation

Trust and Betrayal: - In Night City, everyone has an angle - Trust is rare and valuable - Betrayal is always a possibility (but should be roleplayed, not random)

Common Scenarios

10. Meeting New Characters

First Impressions:

look <character>     # Read their description
emote nods to the newcomer, assessing them with a quick glance
say "New face. You got business here, choom?"

Building Relationships: - Characters don't need to be friends immediately - Let relationships develop naturally through RP - Conflict and cooperation both make good stories

11. Tavern / Bar RP

The Chatsubo Bar: - Central hub of the game world - Classic cyberpunk dive bar - Good place for casual RP, meeting people, hearing rumors

Bar Roleplay: - Order drinks from Ratz (the NPC bartender) - Engage in conversation - Overhear rumors or plot hooks - Make deals or contacts

12. Quest and Plot Participation

Engaging with Plots: - NPCs may offer quests or information - Follow plot hooks when interested - Group up with other players for larger plots - Staff may run special events or storylines

Creating Your Own Stories: - You can initiate your own roleplay plots - Coordinate with other players - Contact staff if you need assistance or NPC support

Quality Roleplay Tips

13. Improve Your Roleplay

Read the Room: - Match the tone and intensity of ongoing scenes - Don't disrupt serious RP with silliness (and vice versa) - Pay attention to what others are doing

Give and Take: - Let others have spotlight time - Respond to what others say and do - Ask questions and show interest in other characters

Details Matter: - Describe your character's appearance, mannerisms, mood - Use the environment in your emotes - Make the world feel alive

Stay Consistent: - Keep your character's personality and motivations consistent - If they change, show the progression through RP - Avoid drastic unexplained character shifts

14. Handling Conflict

IC vs OOC Conflict: - Character conflict is fine (even encouraged) - OOC conflict is not acceptable - If an IC situation becomes uncomfortable OOC, contact staff

Disagreements: - Resolve IC disagreements through roleplay - Don't let IC grudges become OOC grudges - Remember: it's a game, we're all here to have fun

Roleplay Resources

In-Game Commands

  • help roleplay - In-game roleplay help
  • tutorial - New player tutorial includes RP basics
  • hint - Contextual hints in tutorial areas

Getting Help

  • newbie channel for questions
  • helpdesk to file a support ticket
  • Other players are usually happy to help new roleplayers

Documentation

Final Thoughts

The Golden Rule:

Roleplay in a way that creates fun for everyone, not just yourself.

Remember: - This is a cooperative storytelling experience - Respect other players and their characters - When in doubt, ask staff - Have fun and embrace the cyberpunk atmosphere

Welcome to Night City. Jack in and make your story.

Last Updated: October 2025

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