We’ve talked a bit about character endings. Death is a fact of life and is thus a fact of roleplay. We’re in a war story, after all, and it is somewhat inevitable that some characters will pass away. Someone may decide to end his character himself or he may have his character taken away from him. No matter exactly how it comes to the conclusion, many characters will experience death in their lives.

It therefore falls on us to roleplay out that grief. Your character is undergoing a significant experience. It may just be an acquaintance who’s passed away peacefully or it could be as meaningful as a lover being cut down before their time. Your character will have emotions and thoughts, and you want the chance to express them.

There are tricks to it, of course. You want the chance to roleplay this life changing event without being obnoxious. Sure, you could fall on your knees in the middle of Ironforge and gnash your teeth and moan in misery. If you feel like beating your chest and back with a whip for everyone to see is the best expression of your character’s angst, don’t let me stop you. But at least a few other players will likely not respond with the gravitas and seriousness you’d like. Let’s review some methods for getting your grief out for all to see, without being obnoxious about it.

Continue reading All the World’s a Stage: Effectively roleplaying grief