Stowi

Slate and Artstone – Role playing is the act of assuming an imaginary identity, along with others, in order to act out a story in real time. There are a wide variety of mediums that can be used to engage in these activities, ranging from real life costume play, to internet based interactive technologies. Roleplaying in a chat room is a unique experience because it provides the mental stimulus of writing a book, but in real time, with others participating in the writing of that book. In this way, it’s a truly improvisational act of creative acting, done in the form of characters on a screen, and visions in the mind.

With nothing but imagination and descriptions to work on, it can be difficult to imagine a scene, especially when action happens in real time, with other living people shooting ideas, actions, and story plot twists at you in real time. Engaging in this type of activity helps to increase your ability to think on your feet, while also teaching you to be a better writer, both in form, and in story creation.

The writing of a book is actually a very isolating experience. You have to work entirely on your own. Even when collaborating with another author, the actual writing is a singular process that can in extremes cut you off from external reality.

Chat roleplaying is a writing process that actually connects you with other people. It’s creative, without being isolating. It is actually an evolution of the old game, where a story is written one line at a time, each line being written by the next person in a circle. However in roleplaying through chat, you can actually assume the role of a character, allowing you to get emotionally invested in the story you are creating.

After the chat is over, a good roleplay site will provide a transcript of the action. This allows players, and those who were not present at the time, to read over the written actions of the characters who participated, much like reading a novel written by a variety of hands.

RolePages is the world’s first roleplaying chat room and social network. Designed much like other popular social networks, on RolePages you sign up for an account as a fictional character, creating a profile, and uploading pictures and videos to express who your character is.