Roleplay Rusty

[Warpnow]

That is, unless your character changes the way he speaks. If your character normally speaks rigidly...but then you say something you want said a different way they won't understand without an emote.

I don't use emotes for the way I normally speak usually, they're for when my tone varies from the norm.

And as for not replacing what can be said I kind of disagree. I mean you could have a character say I'm scared! or you could emote his breath getting heavy and his eyes drifting away from your fellow rper, the latter being much more interresting.

EDIT: And I've read On Writing and almost all of King's works and I know he wouldn't tell you that body action shouldn't be used as a way of communication...he does it all the time.

[Deykari]

And as for not replacing what can be said I kind of disagree. I mean you could have a character say I'm scared! or you could emote his breath getting heavy and his eyes drifting away from your fellow rper, the latter being much more interresting.

I think that's different. I think what Icor is saying that emotes shouldn't be used when they don't need to be. In your example, that emote would be needed if you wanted to show someone's eyes drifting away and breath getting heavy; you can't imply that in speech alone.

I think what he's saying is for things like, "Bob says sharply," or "Bob says softly,". Because if I said to you, "Put that down. Now." you'd more than likely assume I was saying it 'sharply'. And if I weren't, I'd emote to show otherwise.

Of course, I could be barking up the wrong piece of wood with leaves ontop, so feel free to correct me Icor.

I tend to slam emotes in all the time, simply out of habit. Even when I'm doing a regular say, I often type 'emote says, "Blah".' Simply redundant, but I can't help it.

Dey

[Icor]

No, you're right Dey'. Characters can use body language and stuff, but I think it's possible to over-use emotes in exactly what you made an example of with adverbs. I'm not saying emotes shouldn't be used. I'm just saying they should be used sparingly, because when they're used with too long a string too often, their beauty becomes washed out, and their creation becomes a chore for both the player and the people watching.