Emote — Definition, examples, FAQs, and more

Emote: a brief history

Historically, emotes originated in early online chat systems and MUDs as a way to add depth to text-based communication. MUD-family games have generally offered an emote or pose command since their early days, and the same idea spread through internet chat: on IRC, typing “/me” before a message produces an action line, a convention that later chat platforms such as Slack commonly carried forward. Graphical MMORPGs like World of Warcraft use “/emote” (or “/em”) for the same purpose, alongside menus of predefined animated emotes.

The mechanic has stayed remarkably stable across decades: type a command, describe the action, and the system shows it to others with your name attached. Over time, emotes have become a fundamental aspect of roleplaying, enabling players to bring their characters to life beyond simple dialogue.

How it's used today

Emotes appear anywhere players want to show what their characters do or feel, rather than just what they say. They are a key part of text-based roleplay, helping to make scenes more vivid for everyone involved.

Types of games where the term is commonly used include:

MUD, MUSH, RPMUD, PbP, Chat RPG, Social media RPG, MMORPG, RPI, RPE.

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Emote examples

• “/emote looks around the room cautiously, trying to stay unnoticed.”
• “:sighs heavily, rubbing his temples as he tries to make a difficult decision.”
• “/emote’s eyes light up with joy as she spots her friend in the crowd.”
• “emote takes a deep breath, steadying his nerves before stepping into the arena.”

Other commands for emote include “emit” and “pose.” Which is preferred depends on the specific game.

Myths and misconceptions

1. Emotes are only for experienced players or writers. In reality, anyone can use emotes to enhance their roleplaying experience, regardless of their writing skills.
2. Emotes are unnecessary or unwelcome outside of serious roleplaying games. However, emotes can provide valuable context and depth in casual settings as well, and can be a great way to engage and draw in new players.
3. Emotes must always be written in a specific format or style. In practice, the way emotes are written often depends on the preferences of the players and the conventions of a particular game, so there is flexibility in how they are used.
4. Emotes should never include a character’s inner thoughts or feelings. While the focus is usually on observable actions, many roleplaying communities allow or even encourage some expression of internal states, as long as it doesn’t dictate another character’s experience.
5. Emotes always have to be long and detailed to be effective. In fact, even short and simple emotes can provide a lot of flavor and contribute to the immersion of the scene.

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Emote FAQs

How do you create an emote in a game?

The command to do an emote can vary by game and platform. To create an emote in a video game such as World of Warcraft, you would typically put your cursor in the chat window, then type “/emote” followed by a description of your character’s action. For example, typing “/emote smiles warmly.” would be displayed to other players as “[Your Character] smiles warmly.” For the basics, see: Beginner’s guide to roleplaying with text.

Can you use emotes for any action?

Yes, emotes can be used to describe virtually any action, emotion, or detail you wish to convey about your character, as long as it adheres to the game’s rules and community standards. This includes physical movements and facial expressions, and could even include dialogue. For example, “/emote smiles warmly and says, ‘Hey there.’” would be displayed to other players as: [Your Character] smiles warmly and says, ‘Hey there.’

Are emotes considered essential in text-based roleplaying games?

While not usually mandatory, emotes are considered essential by many players seeking a richer and more engaging roleplaying experience. They help convey nuances and depth of character that cannot be fully expressed through dialogue or socials alone.

Do all text-based games support custom emotes?

Most text-based roleplaying games, especially MUDs and MUSHes, support custom emotes, but the specific commands and format can vary from one game to another. Some games might have limitations on how emotes are used or formatted, such as the length of the emote and what can be described. For example, in some games, players are discouraged from writing out their character’s intangible thoughts and feelings, as other characters would have no way of knowing that information unless it was conveyed through physical cues or dialogue.

Can emotes be misused?

Yes, emotes can be misused if players create inappropriate or non-consensual content. It’s important to use emotes respectfully and to follow the game’s RP culture and rules. For example, using emotes to force an action, reaction, or emotion on another character is usually against the rules and is considered a form of powerposing or god-modding.