RPG RULES
1. Don't spam or comment in an RP; use the
Newbies forum to introduce yourself and the
Friends forum for making friends. If you want to ask any of the players a question then use the
Private Messages feature. Repeated offenders will be warned as to their future conduct.
2. Long running RPs, ie those over 50 pages are closed to new players. Don't under any circumstances try to join one by just jumping right in. If the RP is only just over 50 pages, you may PM the owner and ask if you can join; if you are refused, then don't have an attitude about it. Start your own RP instead, but don't make one that's an exact copy of the one you weren't allowed to join.
3. If you want to start an RP, please do the following:
1. Stick to the "3 RPs per topic" rule.
2. Don't ever copy someone else's RP.
3. Always have a recognisable plot, and at least 1 paragraph for a starting post.
4. Don't start a new RP for every new character; introduce that character into an existing RP!
5. Understand that scripted RPs aren't as popular as ones that ensure that players can control their own characters. I personally don't like them; giving out names and descriptions of characters is fine, but telling players to control the character you assign them a certain way is not. Let ppl control their character however they want, and your RP will be a lot more popular.
Any RP that doesn't meet these criteria will be locked. For more information on which RPs are open to new players and which categories are open, go here: RPG Categories, Availability And Which RPs Are Open To New Members.
4. Never Godmod or make your character perfect. Godmoding is considered the worst crime ever by every RP I know, anyway. If you don't know what Godmoding is, it's controlling a character not your own. If they give you permission, then fine but don't just start doing it anyway! Also, don't make your character perfect and without faults. These characters are called Mary Sues and are despised by RPers. If you're not sure as to whether your character is a Mary Sue or not, then use the following link to check it:
The Original Fiction Mary Sue Litmus Test
5. Additional notes on RPs and RPing. If you're new to the whole thing, you might want to read the following paragraphs carefully. Experienced RPers would do well to check them over, too.
Some ppl obviously need a step by step guide on joining RPs, so here it is. This is what you do before you even think of making a post in one:
* Check to see if the RP is private.
* Check the number of pages in the RP.
* Read the first page to see if it's suitable for you.
Now, going thru each one of these in detail. Private RPs are closed to other members. These ones will have a title like the following:
"Shadowfire. [Sarah, Wolf, Cheetah and Miranda]." If you see an RP with a title like that, then
DON'T POST THERE, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. You will p*ss off the players, as they have made it perfectly obvious that their RP is private, between them only.
Second, we have the number of pages in an RP. If the RP is just 2 or 3 pages long, then you can jump right in, no problem. If the RP is 10-50 pages long, then you'd better contact the owner and ask first if you can join in. If they refuse to let you join for any reason, then just accept it and start your own RP; just make sure that if you're running along a similar theme, ie starting your own Harry Potter one, then have a completely different plot not one copied from the RP you couldn't join. That's plagurism, and will more than likely get your RP locked or deleted.
If, however, an RP is past the 50 page mark, then it's closed to new players. Anyone new joining would just get lost within the story and wouldn't be able to keep up with all the developments. So, don't just barge right in and expect the players and owner to roll out the red carpet for you; it won't happen. What will happen is that your post will be ignored, and possibly deleted, and you will be put down as a complete prat who disregards basic RP ettiquette. In other words, just like with godmoding,
NO-ONE WILL EVER WANT TO RP WITH YOU. The same goes for you whether you're a newbie or a regular; there is no excuse. Most RP forums have rules stuck to the top; it would be an idea to read them if you're totally clueless about RPing.
Finally, we come to the thing that so many noobs bypass; reading the first page. And any other pages of the RP, assuming it's just started or is only 2 or 3 pages long. That way, you can get a feel for the RP and understand what the story's about, and whether it's your kind of RP. If you read the first page of a futuristic RP and you RP best in medieval times, then it's best to not join this one and look further for a more suitable one for you. Don't just join it and either demand that it changes for you, or try to put in an out of context character. It won't happen; you'll be booted off. Start your own RP instead.
I will also add this as a final note;
DON'T SPAM OR COMMENT IN RPS. It's fine to comment if you're a player; just make sure you put Ooc: (out of character) in front of your comment. But if you're not, then you don't comment. If you want to tell the owner that you like their RP, then send them a private message. The same goes for asking to join or making a huge suggestion. Just don't get p*ssy if the owner turns you down or doesn't accept your suggestion. As for spam, that usually happens when some ignorant noob is too daft to realise that the RP forum does not equal the newbies forum. Try reading the forum description in future.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask them in this thread. 
Q) What's an RPG?
A) A Role Playing Game is basically a story, where you write only what happens to your character. RPGs, or RPs, can either be in First Person (where you write everything as "I said" or "I did") or Third Person (which is "he said" and "she did"). If an RP is First Person, for example, everyone participating has to abide by that, otherwise it becomes confusing.
Q) How do I comment in an RP?
A) If you're not playing, you don't. It's rude and disrupts the RP for the players. If you're a player, you can comment simply by posting Ooc: which means Out Of Character, in front of your comment.
Q) What happens if I want to join an RP?
A) Ask the owner, ie the person who started the RP, if it's OK in a PM. Don't just jump in regardless. And certainly, if the RP is 50 pages or more, there isn't any point in joining in as you'd only get lost within it.
Q) What do I have to do to start an RP?
A) Well, for one you should find out first if anyone wants to play with you. Also, you should post the specifics; ie, whether there are restrictions on races like you want yours to be human only; whether or not anyone can join or they have to PM you and ask first; and whether or not they have to give a description of their character first. Basic character forms look like this:
Name:
Age:
Race:
Powers: (if any)
Bio:
You should also post at least 2 paragraphs on what the RP is about, plus a starting post for the RP to give players something to work from.
Q) What different types of RPs are there?
A) There's loads of different themes, but for a RP noob, just 2 main types. They are Scripted and Freestyle. Scripted is when the owner states what characters there are, their names etc and how the RP will go. Freestyle is when the owner specifies the plot and character restrictions, then just posts two beginning paragraphs and lets the players get on with it. Freestyle is generally preferable, as Scripted generally causes problems with players; let's face it, no-one likes to be told how their character will act; ppl want to choose how their character is and what happens to them. In my experience, Scripted RPs usually end in fights or they just fizzle out.
Q) I want to join a vampire RP, but it's far too long. Can I start my own vampire RP instead?
A) Yes, you can! There's no limit on RPs; there can be up to 3 on the same topic running alongside each other. Just try to make your RP original; don't copy other ppl's.
Q) Does the "3 RPs per topic" count for all RPs?
A) No; just active ones. Once an RP hasn't been posted in for a length of time, it's considered inactive and locked. If you want your inactive RP reopened, just post in this thread: Inactive RPGs
Q) What happens to an RP that hasn't been posted in?
A) It will be locked, as will any RP that's dead; ie, the players have run out of ideas and it no longer serves a purpose.