Forums » RP Discussion » Help me write an rp ad that doesn't sound awful?

I want to write an rp ad for this character who is admittingly at first glance the often considered cringy dhampir/werewolf combo. Specially she is a elven dhampir blood hunter order of the lycan from dnd/forgotten realms. A perfectly permitted combination by rules as written. Initially created for some angsty/edgy fun in my second campaign of Curse of Strahd with friends, I have been growing rather fond of her and have decided to try using her out of tabletop.

Not necessarily looking for a strictly forgotten realms rp, any setting that sounds reasonable enough for her is fine by me and I'm looking for a freeform multi-paragraph rp without the strict mechanics of dnd.

Normally I'm perfectly confident in my ability to write rp ads, but when I was trying to write one for her...it just felt awful and unappealing. I'm confident in my ability to make this lady work as I have nearly 20 years of rp experience, rave kudos and success with other suspect character types.

I will also admit that Valeara is a bit of a WIP as I was hoping to further flesh her out through rping.

So can I get some advice from you on how to write an ad for her that sounds compelling?

In my opinion, a good (meaning compelling, thought provoking, interest-piqueing, what have you) ad has a few elements.

The very first thing you want is your book blurb. You have 500 characters (for search purposes) to rope people in, so this is where you put all your catchy genre words. Imagine that you're in a book store, trying to find out what you're going to spend the next several hours on - what's in the kind of summary that makes you interested in investigating a story or character further?

Next, the technical stuff. Now that you've got people interested, it's time to do some rough RP compatibility checks. Put down what you offer (length, response time, pairings, etc...) and what you're looking for. I think it's also a good idea to put your big yeses and big nos here. Once people have read this section and determined that it could actually be kinda fun to RP with you, is where you put the...

Plot ideas! The real juicy part. Here is where you elaborate further on possible plot lines you may have in mind for this character. Where the first part of the ad is better the shorter and sweeter it is, this is where you put more details.

As a maybe-section, you could place some samples of your writing that you're particularly proud of under collapse tags anywhere in the ad you feel that it's appropriate. This is an easy way for people to get a look at your style and help them determine whether you two would be a good fit.

Finally, I think it's good to note down at the very end whether you want people to reply in the thread, or reply via PM. Just for your own organizational purposes.

This is 100% just my opinion, of course. If you're interested in an example of what I think is a good ad (💁), you can find a link to an open RP listing on my profile.

Not quite what I was looking for. I was after some advice more custom tailored to Valeara here rather then a general how to. I know how to write ads and have written dozens and dozens of them. I'm just finding this particular character to be a real stinker for writing one. Besides I frequently don't actually post a plot because I like crafting one after I have selected on a partner and their character so I can craft one with their input. Particularly in the case of this character.

I see! Hm, you say you've played her in CoS before, maybe you could include a short scene/scenario that you've already been through, just written to suit a forum? To sort of get yourself started and set the mood.

What kind of stories are you looking to play her in? More gothic horror/gothic fantasy, or something else? What kind of themes do you hope to explore with her?

Edit (again): Not asking for specific plot ideas, just more of a moodboard, basically! c:

May I here put some words that might help?

I read her story, and it shows the story of a very determined girl, she knows what she wants, she is quite confident and surely a damn good hunter.
Ok the pic, with a well done commission (if you can’t do it on your own) will really help a lot to just seek that little quintessential thing that makes her, so I won’t loose more words on that.
As I said I went through her story, but it’s more her father’s history, his unequalled seek for his love. Keep that to write on her father. Write more on her, her strength, her good and bad features, her struggle to become the best, to be the pride of her father. She looks as if she had to fight for every peace of bread to eat, she seems to have an amazing assertiveness. Use that to describe her, that woman she became, idolized and hated. I think if you play her with antagonisms and contradictions she’ll be an amazing character.
You started already, as she’s an over trained hunter, with that weak point in her heart, softness against her cruelty, fairness (like her father) but so determined and obsessed.
I hope you see what I mean.
That girl that can give the most soft kiss on one’s cheek, while her weapon goes through and through of one’s heart.
Does she have a soul? A spirit inside her, some subconscious ideal?

All right thanks, this gives me some stuff I can use. Won't put up an ad right now though, some stuff came up, but it gives me some things to think about.