I was going through the files on my computer, and I found this back. It is a old class I gave a long time ago, but I figured some might find it useful. So, I share it here!

Most 18th century roleplays are not centered around combat fighting, achieving specific goals or defeating the evil (unless you consider du Barry the evil, of course), but, when you really think of it, it is all about the way we communicate with eachother. Our roleplay is centered around conversation, not only because this is something we chose for the RP, but also because it is very historically accurate. Most events in the 18th century were centered around conversation, as for example dinners or salons. Besides, at Versailles nobles could no longer get things done by arranging an army or figt against other nobles/King, but by conversation and getting in the grace of the King through conversation.

Some of you might feel rather uncomfortable in coversations, and thus end up in being silent or very quiet. This is a pity, as around roleplay is mainly centered around conversations. We will discuss several things in this class concerning to optimize the conversations you have with others, which hopefully will result in you being better capable of having roleplay conversations with others. We will start with some technical things, as how to actually do it.

The basics of conversation.

Alright, so let us look at the very basis of conversation in our RP. It is usually Emotion/expression/sort of communcication followed by a thought or something that is being said. An example smiles. Oh, I just love potatoes. This is of course the very basic way of communicating with eachother, and most certainly the fastest way to have a proper conversation with eachother. The emotion or expression is of course not neccesary, because you can also have a fine conversation without it, but it does add something to what you are saying. We will pay attention to this more later.

For example, /me tries to hold back her tears and speaks. Oh, I just love potatoes, gives another effect than simply Oh, I just love potatoes, without any kind of emotion or expression. In the latter case the person saying it probably really likes potatoes, whereas in the first case the person might be traumatized by potatoes but does not admit it. Deep, erh? Of course, just as with conversations in reality, what matters is not so much what you say, but the way you say it. So, you could say something seductively, or sarcastically etc. This of course gives a twist to what you are saying, on which other characters can respond and interact with your character.

Either way, as stated above, it is not neccesarily needed to make use of such emotions, for a conversation. If you simply say what you want to say, thus in this case Oh, I just love potatoes, that is sufficient for a simple conversation. Do please make use of capitals, grammar, interpunction etc. It simply makes it look much better, and it does not cost that much time. oh i just love potatoes looks less good than Oh, I just love potatoes, whereas the difference in time to type either sentences is almost nothing. If you do not put attention to grammar, capitals, interpunction and such, it will look as if you have not put a lot of time in your post, which will make it look more unattractive for others to respond to. Quality is better than quantity!

Of course you can expand all of this as much as you want: but be sure not to push it. Most 18^th century/court roleplays are not paragraph roleplays, and people do expect not having to wait too long for your respond to their question, something they said etc. Try to keep it to 3-4 lines max.

Third person

It is also possible to communicate with someone by speaking of yourself in the third person. An example is: Oh, she says seductively. I really love potatoes., while she winks at the monsieur on her right. Although I do not mind it myself very much, and hardly do it, I did read some people find this way of communicating irritating if it is done a lot. I do think talking in the third person gives you more easy way of being more descriptive in your RP, and I do it a lot myself this way. We in fact do already do most of our roleplay in the third person, without even realizing it. If we say /me smiles, that is in the third person. Because it is Madame du Barry (third person) smiles.

Other ways of communicating: thoughts and movement.

Thoughts at first do not seem too relevant in ways of communicating, as other characters can not respond to your thoughts, as they can not be heard, unless people are mind-readers (in that case: please stop reading my thoughts, yuck!). However, this is not entirely true. By using your thoughts other people will be able to understand your character a lot more, since it will show their true intentions, feelings and what makes them drive.

The same goes with movements, although you can not directly respond to them, it would be a pity to forget them. In reality almost all communication is body language. In SL this is not the case, but it should still not be forgotten. With describing movements, such as nervously ticking your foot up and down, taking the sweat of your forehead, crossing your arms etc., you will be able to communicate with others, while youre not even doing so by having to speak! How easy is that?

Of course movement is not necessarily the only form of body language. You could also for instance describe how you walk into a room, or sit down, or whatever it is that all of you do!

Once again it can be as descriptive as you want it to be yourself. You could for example do walks inside and sits down graciously, or you could do Louise walks inside with her head proud high in her head, but in her eyes one can see she is very nervous. Some powder falls from her face because of the sweat on her forehead as she sits down as graciously as she can. She looks around to see who are present and appears to be about to cry as soon as she faces the man who broke her heart. The latter of course gives people a lot to RP about. Such a descriptive way makes it of course much easier for people to interact on, make whispers about etc.

Content of the conversation.

What to talk about? I think that most of us would be discussing the latest gossips or some random things, such as for example fashion, the weather etc. What are some of the things you all usually discuss during conversations? Of course there are many more things that can be discussed. In fact you can discuss anything, like potatoes But what is there to be discussed? Of course there have happened many notorious things in the past that could be discussed, or things that are going on at the very moment. Take for instance the Seven Years War, the partition of Poland, the developments in America. This of course also depends on where the court or 18^th century RP is set! A few minutes on Wikipedia will give you loads of new topics to discuss with other courtiers. Or you discuss a recent event which was, for whatever reason, quite notorious. It was known that, in France, a minister would be remembered for a much longer period of time for that fabulous party he threw in his apartments, rather than for his successful policies.

But what about our characters personal stories? Dont be afraid to start a conversation about your own character. Especially as a fictional character it could be terribly fun to reveal some more things about your characters true character, or background. As I stated above, please do not be afraid to talk. You are free to make mistakes in the RP, because we learn from them. Believe me, even I made mistakes No, actually I did not, but you get the point pretty much.

I personally think a conversation about anything could be very interesting. Just as I always say with roles it is as boring as you make it yourself. It is you, the roleplayers, who are the ones who can make it all as interesting as possible. Show also interest in others in conversation and pay attention to what others say by for example asking questions. By asking questions you will keep the conversation going. Try not to answer with a simple Yes or No, but tell why you agree or disagree, and ask how others feel about this subject. The task of leading a conversation is mainly the task of the event host, especially by dinners, but we can all help each other to make the RP as fun as possible.

Before we end this class, I would like to remind you all of something that was of great importance in order to make it at Court in the 18^th century in the conversation. What I am talking about is a certain flattery and galanterie. Flattery was incredibly often done at the Court of France. But why? This was in order to come into favour of most preferably the King, or other influential courtiers. In the case of our Roleplay, this might lead to a higher place on the Favour chart. A good example of this given in a Louis XIV documentary is for example when Louis XIV asks a nobleman When is your wifes baby due? at which the courtier answers When Your Majesty wishes it! Flattery is not just a rule for men, but for all courtiers.

With all the things I just told you it is important to keep it to what is relevant. Think to yourself: is what I am saying interesting for others and/or will they be able to respond or interact with it? Quality is better than quantity. Better one good post that adds a lot to the RP, than three that have no effect.