So here's a short explanation, much of it taken from my own forum:
Basically, you write what happens. If you can write it in an appropriate way, it can happen in the rpg. But it is important to be somewhat realistic! Your character in the beginning will not be very skilled. If attacked by a Soletaken, it would have no other chance to survive than to flee!
Also, if a dragon is immune to magic and fire, and you throw a firball at it... Well, it's not realistic. Not that dragons are, but whatever lol
In text-based rpg's you are required not only to post short posts, with only speech. Most forums that features text-based rpging requires a minimum number of sentences per post that is In-Character, and some of the must be action. The better you can write, the more fun the roleplaying!
Basically, yeah, it's like paper-rpgs but on the internet:p
Here's an example, taken directly from my forum, with a very bad example and a good example of how to roleplay:
Quote
^^^^***Kleko's little note: this is what Uncle Admin calls God-moding and thats Wrong. Also, it is in a non-proper format of writing, too short, contains very unecessary swearing, and is in all ways of the term bad***
Correct: Paran walked over to the bar. The barman was a round and shabby little man, and the sour smell of bad alcohol stung his nostrils from halfway across the room. Paran nodded at him, and resisted grimacing at the stench. <<<<***K.L.N This is yes, yes!***
"May I get some of your finest ale, Mister? It has been a long day of wandering, and my throat is dry as desert sand."
"Ain't no money, ain't no ale. Show me some glitter now, pal..." The barman grinned. Somehow Paran knew he was going to overprice the ale...
He carefully unsheathed his sword a bit, barely revealing the blade.
It glittered faintly.
He leaned over the counter, and whispered to the man, clenching his jaw against the stench. This close up he noticed the faint smell of urine mixed with the alcohol...
"Two imperial crowns- and not a penny more. My demands are reasonable. Do not force me to drink your blood instead of your ale..."
The man flinched, and pulled a bit back. His grin faded, and was soon replaced by a snarl.
"Ok, ok! I was gonna ask for that anyway... Cool down, mister man!"
When Paran two minutes later carefully sipped his ale, ignoring the murmurings from the counter, he thought the bartender had probably not given him his very finest ale. If he had, Paran wouldn't like to taste his worst... He mentally shrugged it off, and continued drinking.
He barely noticed the man who entered the bar, until the bartender cried at him.
"Fernando! That man there threatened to kill me for free ale! Help me!" He grinned evilly at Paran, so openly that even the brute Fernando could not fail to notice.
Of course, thought Paran. He couldn't play fair.
"No I did not! I paid him two imperial crowns!"
Fernando spoke with a deep, malevolent voice before the bartender could protest.
"You're a stranger. It's your word against his. And guess what- I don't like strangers..."
Fernando unsheathed a vicious looking broadsword, and with a fearsome war cry he attacked.
The heavy man was fast, and Paran barely managed to throw himself out of the way. The broadsword splintered the table he had sat on.
Fernando snarled, and tore it lose, before attacking again.
At this rate, Paran had unsheathed his sword, and was ready to meet the strike.
Still, the power of the impact made his arm nearly numb.
He groaned. He knew he couldn't win the battle should it continue on like this. He had to finish it quickly!
Fernando swung his blade again. Paran saw it coming, and managed to duck beneath it. And Fernando was fast, but not fast enough to block his own strike.
With a quick slash he had cut the man's Achilles sinew.
Fernando roared in pain, and fell to the ground. His head hit the rocky floor. He fainted, and the battle was over.
The bartender, who seconds earlier had been shouting and cheering, now squeaked and ran for escape through a back door.
Paran figured he wouldn't wait here for him to bring reinforcements.
He sheeted his sword and fled out into the street.
He sighed. It seemed his journeys were far from over...
Should things still be unclear, I'm always open for PM's;)