What is Text Roleplay?
A complete beginner's guide to text-based roleplay in GTA V. No experience needed -- we will walk you through everything from scratch.
What is Roleplay?
At its simplest, roleplay means pretending to be a made-up character. Think of it like acting in a movie, except there is no script. You make it up as you go, reacting to whatever happens around you.
You create a character -- give them a name, a personality, a backstory, maybe even a few quirks -- and then you play as that character in a shared world with other people who are all doing the same thing. Everyone is pretending to be someone they are not, and together you all create stories that none of you planned in advance.
Here is the key thing to understand: your character is not you. Your character has their own name, their own history, their own opinions, and their own way of seeing the world. Maybe you are a quiet person in real life, but your character is loud and confident. Maybe you work in IT, but your character is a mechanic. The fun is in becoming someone else.
In our server, GTA V is the "stage" where all of this happens. The city of Los Santos is the world your character lives in. The cars, buildings, shops, and streets are all props and scenery for your story. You are not playing GTA V the way you normally would -- you are using it as a setting for collaborative storytelling.
Think of it this way: in regular GTA V, you might steal a car because it is fun. In roleplay, your character might steal a car because they are desperate, because they owe money to dangerous people, or because they are a thrill-seeker who cannot help themselves. The reason matters just as much as the action.
What is Text-Based Roleplay?
There are two main types of roleplay in GTA V multiplayer: voice RP and text RP. You have probably seen voice RP on Twitch or YouTube -- streamers talking into their microphones, putting on funny voices, having conversations out loud. That is voice RP.
Text RP is different. Instead of talking into a microphone, you type everything in the chat box. You type what your character says, what they do, how they react, and what is happening around them. It is like writing a story together with other players, one message at a time.
Here is what makes text RP special:
- You do not need a microphone. All you need is a keyboard.
- You can be more descriptive. It is easier to describe emotions, thoughts, and subtle actions in text than by acting them out with your voice.
- It is more thoughtful. You have a moment to think about what your character would do before you type it. There is no pressure to speak immediately.
- Anyone can do it. You do not need a good voice, an accent, or confidence in speaking. If you can type, you can text RP.
- It creates a written record. You can look back at conversations and scenes in the chat log.
Text RP is naturally a bit slower than voice RP because typing takes longer than speaking. But many players see this as a strength -- it leads to richer, more detailed scenes where people really think about what their character is doing and feeling.
How Does It Actually Work?
In the game, you use chat commands to do different things. Each command tells the server what kind of message you are sending. Here are the ones you will use most:
Regular Chat -- Your Character Speaking
When you just type a normal message in the chat box (without any command in front of it), your character says those words out loud. Other players nearby will see it as dialogue.
Whatever you type, your character says. So make sure you only type things your character would actually say out loud.
/me -- Describing Your Character's Actions
The /me command is used to describe what your character does. You write it in third person (meaning you use your character's name or "he/she/they", not "I").
The /me command automatically puts your character's name at the front. So you do not need to type your own name -- just describe the action.
The first bad example is too vague -- nobody knows what "stuff" means. The second one does too much at once and does not give the other player any chance to react.
/do -- Describing the Environment or Asking Questions
The /do command is for describing things about the world around you, or for asking questions that help a scene move forward. It covers things that are not direct actions by your character.
When someone asks a /do question, anyone involved in the scene can answer it with their own /do. Be honest -- /do should always describe the truth of the situation.
/b -- Out of Character Chat
The /b command is for talking as yourself, not your character. Use it when you need to say something to the other players that has nothing to do with the scene.
Only use /b when you truly need to break from the scene. Do not use it to share information that your character could say in character. Overusing OOC chat breaks the immersion for everyone.
Putting It All Together
Here is what a simple conversation between two players might look like in the chat. Notice how they combine regular speech, /me, and /do to create a scene:
See how each player takes turns? Nobody rushes. They describe their actions, they speak, and they give the other person space to respond. That is the rhythm of text RP.
IC vs OOC (In Character vs Out of Character)
This is one of the most important concepts in roleplay, so take a moment with this section.
IC stands for In Character. It refers to everything that exists inside the roleplay world -- what your character says, does, knows, thinks, and feels. When you are "IC", you are acting as your character.
OOC stands for Out of Character. It refers to you, the real person sitting at the keyboard. Your own thoughts, your knowledge, your feelings -- these are all OOC.
The most important rule in roleplay is keeping IC and OOC completely separate.
This means:
- Your character does not know what you know. If you read on a forum that a certain player runs an illegal business, your character has no way of knowing that unless they found out through roleplay.
- Your character's opinions are not your opinions. Your character might dislike another character. That does not mean you dislike the player behind that character.
- What happens to your character is not happening to you. If your character gets arrested, robbed, or insulted, that is part of the story. It is not a personal attack on you.
You see that another player's username is "DrugDealer420". Your character has never met this person before.
Your character would have absolutely no reason to know this. This is using OOC information (the player's username) for IC purposes. This is called metagaming and it is against the rules.
Same situation, but handled properly:
Your character treats them like any other stranger, because that is all they are to your character.
A simple test: ask yourself, "How would my character know this?" If the answer is "because I, the player, read it / saw it / was told OOC", then your character does not know it.
The Golden Rules of Text RP
These guidelines will help you write better roleplay from day one. They are not complicated, but they make a huge difference.
1. Write in Third Person
When using /me, always describe your character's actions as if you are narrating a story about someone else. Use their name or "he/she/they" -- never "I" or "my".
2. Be Descriptive
Do not just say what happens. Describe how it happens. Add details that make the scene feel real. You do not need to write a novel, but a little extra detail goes a long way.
3. React to Other Players
Roleplay is a conversation. When someone does something, acknowledge it. React to it. Do not just ignore what others are doing and carry on with your own thing.
4. Give Others a Chance to Respond
Do not try to do everything in a single message. Break your actions into steps so the other player has opportunities to react, respond, or do something of their own.
5. Stay in Character
Once a scene is happening, stay IC. Do not suddenly start talking about real-life things or break the scene to joke around in normal chat. If you need to say something OOC, use the /b command.
6. Be Patient
Text RP takes time. People need to read what you wrote, think about how their character would respond, and then type it out. Do not rush others. Do not spam messages because someone is taking a minute to type. Good RP is worth waiting for.
Your First Roleplay Scene
Let us walk through a simple scene step by step so you can see exactly what you would type and what appears in the chat. Imagine you have just created your character -- let us call them Alex Rivera -- and you are walking up to a gas station where another player, Sam Chen, is working behind the counter.
Here is what you actually typed to make that happen:
That is it. You alternate between /me for actions and regular chat for speech. You wait for the other player between your messages. You keep it simple, natural, and descriptive.
Your first scenes do not need to be dramatic or exciting. A normal conversation at a shop, a quick chat at a bus stop, or ordering food at a restaurant -- these everyday moments are where you get comfortable with the rhythm of text RP.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
Everyone makes mistakes when they start out. That is completely normal. Here are the most common ones so you know what to watch out for:
Using First Person in /me
This is the most common slip-up. Remember, /me automatically adds your character's name to the front of the message, so writing "I" creates an awkward sentence.
Being Too Vague
Messages like "does stuff" or "looks around" do not give other players anything to work with. Be specific about what your character is doing so others can react to it.
Not Giving Others Time to React
If you are in a scene with someone, do not type five messages in a row without giving them a chance to respond. Roleplay is a back-and-forth. Wait your turn.
Breaking Character in Normal Chat
If you need to say something as yourself (like "brb" or "sorry, lag"), always use /b. Typing OOC things in normal chat breaks the immersion for everyone nearby.
Ignoring Other Players' Actions
If someone walks up to your character and says hello, react to it. If someone describes an action near you, acknowledge it. Ignoring other players is frustrating and goes against the collaborative spirit of RP.
Making a Superhero Character
Your character should be a normal person. They are not an unbeatable fighter, a genius hacker, and a race car driver all in one. Give your character realistic strengths and weaknesses. Characters with flaws are far more interesting than characters who are perfect at everything.
Using Information Your Character Should Not Have
This is called metagaming, and it is one of the most serious rule-breaks. If you learned something outside of roleplay (from a forum post, a Discord message, a stream, or another character you play), your current character does not know that information. Only use knowledge that your character has actually gained through their own experiences in the game.
Making mistakes is part of learning. If someone points out that you did something wrong, do not take it personally. Thank them, learn from it, and move on. Every experienced roleplayer was a beginner once.
Why People Love Text RP
If you have read this far, you might be wondering: why do people spend hours typing in a chat box in a video game? Here is why so many players get hooked:
Creative storytelling with real people. Every scene is unscripted. You never know what is going to happen next because real people are unpredictable. A routine traffic stop might turn into a life-changing moment for your character. A stranger you meet at a bar might become your character's best friend -- or worst enemy.
Deep character development. Over days, weeks, and months, your character grows and changes based on what happens to them. They build relationships, face challenges, make mistakes, and learn from them. Watching your character evolve is one of the most rewarding parts of RP.
Unexpected stories. Because everything is collaborative, stories go in directions nobody planned. Two players might start a simple business deal that spirals into a massive conflict involving dozens of people. These organic, unplanned stories are what make roleplay special.
Making real friends. Behind every character is a real person. Over time, you get to know the people you roleplay with, and many players form genuine friendships that go beyond the game.
No microphone needed. Not everyone is comfortable talking on a microphone, and that is perfectly fine. Text RP welcomes everyone equally. All you need is the ability to type.
More thoughtful interactions. Because you have time to think before you type, text RP often leads to more carefully crafted scenes. Players put real thought into their descriptions, dialogue, and reactions. The result is roleplay that can feel like reading a good book -- except you are one of the authors.
The best way to understand why people love text RP is to try it yourself. Create a character, join the server, and jump into your first scene. It might feel awkward at first, but that feeling fades quickly. Before you know it, you will be planning your character's next move while you are away from the game.