Let's share some RP "tricks and tropes" you as a Player use or notices others using - to bring life to your character, realism to a scene and/or to get things rolling. A more individual expansion on How to RP on an RP MUD if you will.
Scene starters
Allow me to begin. First some basic scene-starter tropes and ideas! These are for when you are alone in a room hoping for others to join you (we've all done it). They involve setting an action for players to see when entering. More advanced setups means defining the room mood as well as preparing events and vNPCs in the room, to running miniature optional scenarios for everyone entering.
The barfly
A roleplaying mud classic since time immemorial. The barfly is alone in a tavern and tends their drink, waiting for things to happen. A passive role, but trivial to set up and easy for other players to jump in on - they just slide up to the bar and ask what's up. Fun variations is the drunk barfly or really, really sad/happy barfly, states which immediately give other Players things to ask about and work with.
The Strider
This is the "dark stranger in the corner" variation of the barfly. It is simple to execute - just sit in a dark tavern corner looking glum and mysterious. Often used by newbie players unsure of the commands. The problem is that unless they know the Strider since before it's hard for other Characters to include him/her in their role play in a realistic way. The whole IC point of this trope is after all to avoid attention.
The busybody
The busybody is keeping busy in this room. Most commonly they are performing their job. If they own a bar or own the shop, they tend it. If they are guardsmen they are standing on patrol. If they are wee jesters they are making fools out of themselves. And so on. Depending the nature of the work they will make it easier or harder on other Characters to interact with them (it might be harder to motivate why some characters would strike up a conversation with a guardsman than it would be to a street vendor for example).
The demagogue
This more advanced starter involves striking up a loud conversation with an NPC/vNPC. Whenever another Character enters, the Player plays out a small scene of their Character "arguing" with the NPC, playing both roles. The argument could be "continuing" or just starting as the new PC enters. It could be about anything from tavern prices to refuting a made-up insult. The advantage of this is that it gives immediate character to the demagogue (as well as the NPC) and gives the newcomer an easy way to take sides in the debate. Serious demagogues actually do this stuff with or without other PCs showing up ...
The damsel in distress
This trope, which of course works both for male and female Characters, sets up the damsel as being in a dependency situation to whomever enters the room next. It involves describing the damsel in a sort of precarious situation that clearly needs an extra hand to resolve. This could be everything: Having their hands full and nearly dropping stuff. Chasing a dog that is running off with their book. Being accosted by vNPC ruffians. Either way the newcomer has an ongoing scene to react to, and roleplay immediately ensues.
The stage director
This is a more sophisticated starter, setting up a whole little scene involving some action involving the Stage director and any number of semi-named vNPCs. The stage director could be directly involved or a spectator (which other PCs can walk up to and ask what's going on). The action could be everything from a trite bar brawl to a domestic dispute in progress. Or maybe a marriage proposal between two vNPCs in the middle of the street. If the stage director is threatened in some way, this is a large-scale version of damsel in distress. The scene should continue to be played out around the PCs also as they interract, making this potentially ooc demanding on the Stage director. If the other Players are experienced they should pick up on this and maybe even contribute their own vNPCs to the scenario. Alternatively the stage director can invite other Players to do so. It's important to remember the rules of godmodding here, never to thread the line of forcing another PC into anything.
The aggravator
The aggravator starts off on the wrong foot with people. Maybe they lash out due to some perceived injustice or they are just grumpy. This trope does not fit all character concepts. The aggravator should accuse the newly arrived PC for something. It could be something from their common history or something made-up out of the blue. It is an active trope in that it forces other PCs into role play, if nothing else in order to defend themselves. A simple example is to chide the newly arrived PC for not stopping the vNPC that just ran past them out the door. It's important not to take the aggravator trope too far, especially not when using vNPCs. The idea is to get a scene started with some tension, not to get the other (possibly random) PC into real trouble. No godmodding, remember. If the two Characters have a history though, is another matter ...
The Organizer
In a game with a developed message/mail system there is no reason for not explicitly inviting any number of players to a scene. If the Organizer is a Character in a position of power, this should make good IC sense, even. If not, anything from calling in a favor to suggesting a business opportunity or looking for a job works. Or simply throwing a party or writing a love letter to a loved one. This trope works exceptionally well in combination with Stage director or Aggravator for getting selected Players into a memorable scene.
The lazy bum
This is unfortunately the most common of starters and we've probably all done it one time or another. It does not involve anything but simply standing in a room. No action set, no nothing. Just being there, the Character staring into space until something happens. Yeah.
Scene entrances
Here are some ideas on how to enter a scene with one or more other PCs already involved in role play. It should be noted that if other PCs already has a scene going they might be OOC annoyed if the newcomer muscles in with some room-changing entrance. Check the land and the actions set on people in the room. If a great scene is already in progress it is probably most reasonable to try to get into that as smoothly as possible instead.
The mouse
The most common of entering schemes. The Character walks into the room/area not drawing attention to themselves. A simple, passive setup that fits many situations and Character types. Useful to enter an already running scene. Is definitely over-used though, and implies it's up to others to notice and respond to you - for proper use the mouse must emote clearly that they are explicitly not drawing attention to themselves, making it clear to other characters they need not go out of their way to notice the newcomer.
The ignorandi
This trope is useful for crowded or large locations. The ignorandi simply doesn't notice the other Characters in the room (and emotes so explicitly - "S/he does not notice the others yet")- it could be because of being busy or because of lots of people being around. This is a very useful entrance since it allows both the ignorandi and other PCs to "accidentally" notice one another later in a very natural way.
The walker
The walker is just "passing through" this area. They are really heading somewhere else and just happens to stop to chat with people in this room. It's an effective entrance that allows for quick, logical exits as well (they just have to 'be on their way'). This is far better than the more normal approach of just congesting onto a street room and start greeting people as if all you do is stand in the street all day.
The planned vistor
This is a variation on Busy bee. The planned visitor needs to come to this room, and that is not in order to chat with random PCs. The visitor will start to perform this action while interacting with others. The classic take on this trope is to read message boards or to order food and drink. More imaginative ones could be to ask the NPC barkeep for a job, look for a person (which turns out to not be here), repair something, do some sort of inspection or setup for an artistic performance.
The wet kitten
A classic that involves entering a scene shivering or drenched to the bone from whatever weather is reigning outside. Common to taverns everywhere. For some reason this trope rarely instills much sympathy unless taken to the extreme - but at least it opens up for other Characters to comment on the weather. A slightly more extreme variation is The staggerer.
The third wheel
This is an active entrance. It should directly interrupt and involve other PCs. The trivial confrontational way to do this is for the intruder to muscle or elbow past other PCs in a rude way, maybe even giving them a rough shove. This is sure to start off a scene! The more common third-wheel approach is to walk up to another group of conversing PCs and simply jump into their conversation mid-sentence. How this is received depends on the situation and Characters involved. In both cases it's important to make it clear this is a conscious RP choice and not the result of Player inconsideration: In other words, emote something like '... He/She does not seem to notice or care that s/he is intruding.'
The theatrist
This is an on the fly version of the Stage director or demagogue. Only use if it's clear the currently ongoing scene allows it (the theatrist should test the land, following in on a few emotes in the room before setting this one off). Just like stage director, it starts some sort of background action in the room based on vNPCs. Maybe a brawl, an argument or some other event like a happy announcement. Maybe a vNPCs starts hitting on another PC. If mimicking the demagogue, the theatrist gets involved in a discussion with an NPC/vNPC. Bartender NPCs are classically useful targets for this. Again, the theatrist must be considerate here, and perceptive so as to not take over an already running scene. Some PCs might forcibly choose to ignore the events going on in order to focuse on their ongoing RP, so don't shove it down their throats (no god-modding!)
The non-sequiteur
This far-too-seldomly used trope involves running into a crowded room, shouting "Weeeee!" then running out again, laughing. This one at least leads to role play for the confused people in the room you just visited. ... and no, don't do this unless you have a very specifically suitable character concept, kids.
The newbie
The classic newbie entrance involves walking into a room and saying "Hello" to no one in particular. Regardless of if the room's on fire and the PCs within are all involved in mortal combat. Luckily this is a safe and harmless entrance that normally doesn't hurt anybody.
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Empheba (let's hear your tropes and ideas!)
Your personal roleplaying tricks and tropes for a good scene
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