What is Roleplay ?

This recurrent word in the Role Playing Game universe means "Play your Role!" This is a specific phase of the game during which Players will speak as if they wxere their Characters. In this phase, descriptions and conversations won't be in a passive form but each Player will speak at the first person. We should compare Roleplay to improvisation in theatres. This little example will help you  :

Aaron, Bruce, Caroline, Dora, Eleanor and Fred are playing a tabletop RPG with a Game Master :

Game Master : _ Aaron and Caroline, vous arrive in a vast inn and you see a table in the middle of a noisy crowd because it is lunch-time. What are you doing?
Aaron : _ My Warrior come in and look around, then I will sit at the table.
Caroline : _ My Rogue try to see if there are some purses to steal!
Game Master : _ When your Warrior sits down, he sees a Waitress coming toward him. Roleplay : " _ What do you want, Sir?"
Aaron : "_ A pint of barley beer and a portion of boar stew, but quick, I'm in a hurry."
Caroline : _ As Aaron's Character talks with the Waitress, my Rogue slips in.
Game Master : _ OK, Caroline. "_ As I see by your armor, you seems to be an adventurer. What's your name, Sir?"
Aaron : "_ It's none of your business, Waitress. Serve me now..."

As you understand, the Game Master and Aaron are Roleplaying when they speak as if they were their Characters, respectively the Waitress and the Warrior. This is Roleplay!

With beginners, the Game Master shall say "Roleplay" in order to allow his Players to understand that they must speak as if they were their Characters. With experienced Characters, it's not necessary anymore.

During Roleplaying, only Players whose Characters are present may speak, the other must remain silent unless their Characters are present. Characters who are somewhere else must ignore the conversation. If this conversation is too important, the GM will have to go out to speak with Players or the absent Characters will have to block up their ears!!!