roleplays

Roleplay is collaborative storytelling in which participants adopt fictional characters and interact within a shared setting. It follows agreed norms, prompts, or rules that guide actions and plot development. Unlike works created by a single author, roleplays evolve through ongoing input from multiple participants who shape the narrative together.

Common formats include tabletop or pen-and-paper roleplay, live-action roleplay (LARP), and online roleplay on forums, chat, or social media. Tabletop roleplay emphasizes character sheets and narrative narration, with action resolution often using dice. LARP involves in-person acting with costumes. Online roleplay spans text-based exchanges to multimedia storytelling in dedicated communities.

Core elements include character creation, setting, goals, conflicts, and a system for resolving actions. Participants may follow posting orders, maintain continuity through shared world rules, and distinguish between in-character and out-of-character communication.

Etiquette and safety guidelines emphasize consent, boundaries, and respectful interaction. Common practices discourage god-moding or metagaming, and many communities publish codes of conduct and safety resources, especially for mature topics.

Roleplay has roots in collaborative storytelling and tabletop games, expanding with online forums in the 1990s and with LARP and virtual environments. Uses include creative writing practice, social interaction, education, entertainment, and skill development in writing, improv, and world-building.

Communities and platforms hosting roleplays range from dedicated forums and wiki-like sites to chat apps and organized events. Participation is typically voluntary and guided by community norms, which vary by genre and platform.