What is passive-aggressive RP + 5 examples
April 11, 2023
Learn what passive-aggressive RP is, why it's so frustrating for many players, and what you can do about it in your game.
Category: Ideas & Advice (Page 2)
Information useful to game creators, writers, roleplayers, and storytellers, including practical tips, ideas, and advice.
How to create a style guide for your MU*
April 3, 2023
Learn how to create a Builder's Style Guide for your multi-user dungeon (MUD), including what should go in it and where it should live.
How to measure player activity in text games
January 18, 2023
Learn tips for asking the right questions and steering clear of common pitfalls when measuring player activity.
How to improve player retention in multi-user (MU*) games: 15 tips for game designers
January 8, 2023
Learn how to calculate and track player retention in your multi-user (MU*) game, plus 15+ tips for getting players to return.
10 Ways to support your favorite text games and game creators
November 21, 2022
Discover 10 ways to support your favorite text games and game creators, especially indie games that could use the marketing boost.
Ways to welcome and include new players in your MUD
September 30, 2022
Looking for more ways to welcome and include new players? In this post, fellow roleplayer Petal shares her 11 tips for oldbies in RP MUDs.
Beginner’s guide to roleplaying with text
September 14, 2022
Learn the basics of roleplaying online in this beginner's guide to RP, including essential terms and concepts, how to stay in character, and more.
Medieval fantasy language in roleplay
September 10, 2022
Learn what's important - and what's not - when roleplaying with medieval fantasy language. Plus, Amika returns with her tips for using Archaic English!
Erotic roleplay (ERP) and consent in games
September 8, 2022
What is erotic roleplay (ERP)? This post covers what you need to know about ERP and consent in text-based games, plus advice for game admins and staff.
10 Ways to spice up your tavern RP
August 28, 2022
Tavern RP is a type of social roleplay that is set in bars and pubs. Here are 10 ideas to keep your tavern roleplay from becoming stale.
Toxic gaming communities: how to identify and deal with toxic behavior
August 19, 2022
Learn what makes a game or gamer toxic, as well as tips for avoiding toxic gaming communities and handling toxic behavior.
The 5 basic multi-user dungeon (MUD) styles and you
August 13, 2022
An introduction to the 5 basic MUD styles, including what you can expect and how to find a suitable game.
How to market your text-based game
July 25, 2022
What does it take to successfully market your text-based game for free? Find out in this post, which includes accessibility tips and more.
How to use a character arc roadmap in RP
July 17, 2022
What is a character arc roadmap, and how can you use it for roleplaying? Find out in this guide with tips and examples from fellow roleplayer Amika.
Immersive Roleplay 101: the essential guide
July 9, 2022
Immersive roleplay is any roleplay that allows players to focus fully on their character, the setting, and the story with minimal OOC distractions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ideas & Advice?
Ideas & Advice is a collection of guides, resources, and thought pieces for anyone who writes, roleplays, or creates text-based games. You’ll find everything from creative inspiration to practical tips for building better worlds and communities.
Who writes these articles?
Most are written by me, Andruid, but I occasionally feature guest writers or community contributors with unique insights into MUDs, roleplaying, and storytelling.
Are these posts tutorials or opinion pieces?
Both. Some explain how to do something step-by-step, while others explore broader design or community topics. Either way, the goal is to give you ideas you can use – or practical advice to follow.
Can I share these articles with my game community?
Absolutely! In fact, sharing links to these articles is one of the best ways to support the site. It helps signal to search engines that the content is worthwhile, which in turn can help new people find out about it.
Can I submit an idea for this category?
Sure! If you’d like to see a particular topic covered, send me a message and let me know what you’re curious about.