The Fourth Wall

Started by GreyBidoof November 25th, 2015 1:48 PM
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  • 10 replies

GreyBidoof

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Age 26
Male
Goldenrod City, Johto
Seen June 14th, 2020
Posted November 29th, 2018
774 posts
9 Years
Hey! Hey you, reader? How do you feel about characters breaking the fourth wall? Is it appropriate in a roleplay setting, and if so, when?



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gimmepie

Age 27
Male
Australia
Seen 7 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
I don't like the idea of fourth wall breaking in RPs. I can't give much of a reason but it kind of irks me.
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Age 26
they/them/she/her
Kamisato Estate
Seen December 2nd, 2022
Posted September 29th, 2022
8,320 posts
8.2 Years
Unless one can pull it off as a means of comedy, breaking the fourth wall is gimmicky and gets tired after the first post.

Circuit

Wiring your Circuits

Age 27
Male
Berlin
Seen January 6th, 2021
Posted July 29th, 2020
4,815 posts
15.2 Years
I think in very small, subtle amounts it's okay, but often and not done in a comedic sense it becomes very... bland? Yes. That's what I wanted to say.

Ice

Seen October 16th, 2022
Posted February 3rd, 2020
3,448 posts
8.8 Years
I haven't made any characters yet to break the fourth wall, and I don't intend on doing it, either. My writing style does lean a bit against the fourth wall, as the narrator sometimes has a bit of a personality. It doesn't come close to actually breaking the fourth wall, it just means the wall is a bit thin and you can sometimes hear what people are doing on the other side.
Age 34
Seen June 11th, 2019
Posted May 14th, 2019
422 posts
10.2 Years
I've occasionally broken the fourth wall as a writer, but not very often in character. Things like putting in a real world reference, then striking it out (but leaving the text in place, as if I crossed it out on the page) and using something more appropriate. I only do that very rarely, and never in a roleplay or situation that would suffer as a result.

I did have one character who broke the fourth wall directly, although not often, and the people I roleplayed with at the time said it was terrifying - which was the intent. Like if you were watching television and the serial killer the good cops are chasing turned to the screen, called you by name and said you were next.

So I think it CAN work, but only in special circumstances. Like anything else it is a tool, knowing when you need or can use that tool is the key.

Sonata

Don't let me disappear

Age 27
Male
Indiana
Seen 7 Hours Ago
Posted March 25th, 2023
13,619 posts
10.2 Years
It is acceptable when being done for comedy and not done constantly. It is slightly acceptable when being done while a character is on drugs. It is slightly acceptable when a character is having an existential crisis. It is slightly acceptable when uh... yeah no I think that's it.

Ray Maverick

Age 27
Male
Seen 3 Hours Ago
Posted 23 Hours Ago
3,411 posts
14.3 Years
I usually place a lot of effort in my settings and a lot of thought into situations that come up with the primary goal of making them realistic and giving an explanation for everything that's being said and done. Breaking the fourth wall in an RP which has gone/is going through this process equals to missing the point of all my work, so I'd just rather it didn't happen and everyone respected the tone of the story with seriousness. That being said, if it's just for an RP, it's not like the world will be lost if the fourth wall is broken - if done in a very subtle, clever way, it can be entertaining

moon

they/them
Seen 11 Hours Ago
Posted 23 Hours Ago
37,443 posts
15.5 Years
My writing style does lean a bit against the fourth wall, as the narrator sometimes has a bit of a personality.
Maybe a little bit like this, sometimes. But I'm treading into non-RP territory here, because it's mostly in solo writing I do that. In RPing, I'm usually so focused on getting the character's thoughts and actions through that I don't really give the narrator much personality.

Unless I write in second person! That's fun to do, even in RP posts. Examples: Most of Astra Story, and some Crossroads posts. But that's not quite breaking the fourth wall. That's rather not building a fourth wall in the first place.


Spoiler:


However, much to your utter contempt, your FOURTH WALL was stolen some time ago.


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JukeboxTheGhoul

Rocking Round the Clock

He/him
England
Seen September 4th, 2022
Posted December 1st, 2020
737 posts
12.1 Years
However, I think it's interesting and entertaining if you have somekind of off-hand comment breaking the wall. I.e. "No, something like this only happens in stories." "What kind of twisted psycho thought up this contraption?" or "it dawned on him how idiotic this situation was."
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vampiricrogue

skydemonairpirates

Female
St.Louis
Seen July 24th, 2018
Posted June 28th, 2018
53 posts
7.4 Years
I say if it is used in good humor, then it could be allowed.

Example of say, our character looks to another one and asks if they get the sneaky suspicion that they are but a puppet in a story guided by a series of higher beings...

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