Styles of Roleplay

In Runescape's roleplay community, there are a few different styles of roleplay practiced by different subgroups of people. These styles are sometimes independant of other styles, sometimes they are completely isolated, or other times hybrid styles are used. While the general majority of the community uses what is called textplay, everyone does not. This page is for the documentation of all the styles of roleplay.

Textplay/Descriptive/Vanilla
The most common form of roleplay in the community. This style uses typed out descriptive actions in the stead of using actual game mechanics. The extent to which actual gameplay is used is very little - players typically only craft outfits and position their avatars accordingly. Any leveling, skilling, etc done in relation to this style of roleplay is only done for the looks of the avatar, relating back to outfits. There is a clear distinction between being in character and out of character - being out of character is the default presumed state of interaction. This wiki itself was founded and rooted in this style of roleplay, and so the majority of articles and character pages are assumed to be in regards to textplay unless otherwise stated.

The key points are as follows;
 * Keeps game mechanics to a bare minimum.
 * Does not utilize game combat.
 * Types out actions of characters in a descriptive fashion.
 * Makes a clear distinction between being out of character and in character.
 * The presumed default mode of interaction for textplayers is out of character until explicitly stating they are going in character.

Notable textplay/descriptive groups

 * The White Knights 
 * The Kinshra Knights 
 * The Aren Family 

Notable textplay/descriptive characters

 * Aranitus Aren 
 * Arachnea
 * Ahvgaeni D. Avencianci

Themeplay
Themeplay is an entirely different form of roleplay practiced by subgroups of the RuneScape roleplaying community. Unlike typical public roleplaying, themeplay is a form of roleplay that wholly recognizes and uses the mechanics set within the game itself, rather than simply using the world of Gielinor as a backdrop and setting for typed out actions. A themeplayer, one might say, embodies his avatar and acts as if he is a character inside of the game complete with skill levels, duelling mechanics, item stats, food healing, and anything else game mechanic entails. There is little to no differentiation between out of character and in character for themeplayers - a themeplayer is always in character. A themeplayer/themeplay group may or may not choose to segregate and isolate themselves from the other styles of roleplay - some see their styles incompatible and thusly consider themselves in 'another world' from other styles. Bluntly, they may not acknowledge textplay and it's subsets.

The key points are as follows;
 * Full acceptance and use of game mechanic.
 * Always in character.
 * Potential segregation from other roleplay styles.