Free form role play is really confusing, isn't it? The whole point to free form role playing is the break away from Dungeon Masters/Game Masters, rule systems and dice to put you in the seat of DM, as it were, controlling the fate and destiny of your own character.

But, without any rules, how do you know what you are doing is right or wrong? There are so many opinions out there that you will read. Some people will tell you it's alright in this situation to do one thing--while someone else will vehemently deny that it's not okay to do so.

So what do you do?

Strange enough, right and wrong in Role play relies very heavily on pretty much the same common sense of right and wrong in the real world.

If you start to think about it a little bit and put the two pieces together, you'll begin to see what I mean.

A great example of what I'm trying to say would be taking the little saying most role players keep to heart: In Character Actions = In Character consequences.

Which just means everything you do in character in a room with a bunch  of people is your responsibility to understand there are consequences for every action; to understand that people will react to what you are doing because that's the point of role playing. Interaction! If you think about it, it's just like real life.

If you walk down the street, randomly approach some one you'd never met in your entire life and slapped them across the face, there are consequences for that action. You don't know how that person is going to react, but they are going to respond some how. And generally, most people know deep down in their crumbly little cookie souls that walking up to a random stranger to haul off and lay the smack down on their face just isn't something you normally do.

And that's a good gauge to start learning what's "okay" and what's "not okay." If that common sense indicator in your brain is starting to tingle a little funny and you seriously begin to doubt if what you are doing would be all that acceptable it's always a good idea to step back and consider either not having your character take that action, or discussing it with your play partner/another role player. 

The most difficult thing about understanding free form role play is that, we really weren't kidding when we said there weren't any rules! NO ONE, including the crazy-cat-lady writing this article is an authority on role play. If anyone tells you that, they're lying. The joy and awesomeness of free form is that it's all up to YOU. 

So it's up to YOU whether or not you respect and follow common sense guidelines for role play. Hopefully you'll follow along and help make everyone's experience awesome! :)