Metagaming is a word an Rper has likely heard a number of times in a number of different ways and on a number of different websites just like this one. But the meaning while simple can actually be rather complex when certain situations arise. This guide will help you sort out the complicated dance that is OOC knowledge and IC actions.

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First of all let's talk about what OOC and IC mean and clear all of that up before we get into the more complicated things. OOC means out of character, while IC means In character. Real Life is different from being out of character. think of it like this, when you are on an instant messaging system and talking to a friend you met online you would be considered out of character in that moment. When you are on an RP SIM and are actively playing a character that is someone different from who you are as the writer, then you are in character. Things that happen to them in that in character space are not actually happening to you in your out of character world. Mixing the two is called blurring, and it's dangerous and can make RP really not fun and really painful to someone mentally. So the first very important thing in understanding not just meta-gaming, but playing a roleplay game in general is that you and you character are not the same person. You and your character may have similarities, you might have the same name, you might have similar personality and similar interests, but even then at the end of the day your character lives in a fantasy world created by other writers, and you do not. In this fantasy things happen fast, time moves differently, and painful and frightening experiences abound. The real world, well that is little more predictable most days, we hope. So putting the real you in these situations can lead to hurt feelings and things that are bad for you, but really good for your character in terms of development and really good for developments in the game itself. So it is very important to remember you are not your character. It's also Important to remember that no one else is their character. So if another person's character does something bad to your character it is not that other person doing something bad to you.

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Alright now that OOC and IC have been cleared up, what does it mean when someone meta-games? The Simple explanation is, metagaming is what happens when someone uses OOC knowledge to effect an IC situation. So if I know, because I was chatting with my friend out of character about the story, that they are playing a drug dealer and are about to break in to my character's girlfriend's house and rob her, it would be really bad of me if I then brought my character to their girlfriend's house to stop the robbery I only knew about because of what my friend said OOC. That would be a clear cut case of metagaming.

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But what about if I could come with an excuse for my character to be there in that moment? Is it still metagaming if my character had every logical reason to interrupt that plot? Like say after hearing about it OOC my character suddenly realizes he forgot his wallet at his girlfriend's house and needs to go pick it up right when my friend's character is about to break in. Does that mean I metagamed? The answer to that is a question in itself, and one you have to answer honestly, and that is, did you come up with a reason because of what you knew out of character? Or did you legitimately play before you knew anything at all that you character forgot their wallet? If the answer to the first question is yes, then it is definitely metagaming, if the answer to the second question is yes then it is probably not metagaming but your friend might see it that way anyway. And thus the very simple explanation get really murky and confusing. So how do we clear the waters?

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The first thing you can do is simple, don't discuss specific story points OOC. That way the temptation won't be there, but even that is not always a viable option. There are time when you have to post something key in group chat to move the plot line along, or times when you cam someone and find them being held at gun point, or someone cams you and find you holding someone at gun point. So you have to think about how to deal with this anyway!

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Which is why there is a step two, if you find yourself knowing something OOC that your character might really want to involve themselves in IC, try shooting the people involved in the plot a quick IM, asking when and if you should interrupt. That way they have time to play out the story that was set up and you can still further you own character's story by getting involved in something fun. Even this very fair and very reasonable suggestion may not work every time, the person might be ignoring their IMs because they are deeply involved in the story, orr you may not know or be friends with the people involved and might be a little shy when it comes to iming them.

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If that is the case then there is always step three! If you saw something or heard something is happening OOC, you really want to play, but you can't IM the people involved but your character does have a real actual legitimate reason to be there, then you can go ooc at first, check out the scene and assess whether or not it is an appropriate time to enter, and then if it is make sure it takes you at least two posts, or two rounds to enter, and make sure that those two posts are made when it is your turn according to the post order. That way you will give everyone a heads up that you are entering the scene, and! they will have time to respond to that in character and finish up where they are in their plot line and decide how they want to proceed in character. Do they want to tip your character off? Or do they want to slip out a back window before you can catch them? Giving them the opportunity to play it out the way they wish to is a very important part of not meta-gaming.

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If you follow these basic guidelines you should be able to completely avoid the pitfalls of metagaming, but if there is a situation that is even more confusing and completely unsolvable by these three steps, always feel free to ask an admin or someone with lots of experience before doing it. Then you can blame them if things go south. :D

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