History Main / InAndOutOfCharacter

[[folder:Theatre]]
* ''Theatre/MaratSade'': As the inmates are mentally unstable, a few of them at times break character. Particularly, the inmate playing Monsieur Dupere is a dangerous "sex maniac" who regularly attempts to attack the actress playing Charlotte Corday.
[[/folder]]

* ''Podcast/AintSlayedNobody'': The cast spends almost as much time bantering and bickering with each other and the Keeper while out-of-character as they do in-character... and that's just the content that makes it through the editing process.

* Speaking In And Out Of character is a bit more difficult in many [=MMORPGs=], because the primary means of communication in these games is through text-based chat. Players have found ways to manage it, though. Assuming they even care, which most don't, as there generally isn't any actual penalty for OOC chatter; your medieval knight is perfectly free to exult that despite the TotalPartyKill he just caused, [[Machinima/LeeroyJenkinsVideo at least he has chicken]].
--> '''Troper:''' Messages like this -- especially when sent to global or local chat channels -- are assumed to be said in-character.\\
'''Troper:''' [OOC] Players often indicate that they're speaking out-of-character with an "OOC" tag.\\
'''Troper:''' [Putting the message within brackets or parentheses is also a common method.]

Compare with [[TalkingIsAFreeAction Talking Is A Free Action]]. Not to be confused with OutOfCharacter or OutOfCharacterMoment.

* Speaking InAndOutOfCharacter is a bit more difficult in many [=MMORPGs=], because the primary means of communication in these games is through text-based chat. Players have found ways to manage it, though. Assuming they even care, which most don't, as there generally isn't any actual penalty for OOC chatter; your medieval knight is perfectly free to exult that despite the TotalPartyKill he just caused, [[Machinima/LeeroyJenkinsVideo at least he has chicken]].

* ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'' is in part an AffectionateParody of InAndOutOfCharacter. The strip visuals are the in-world personas and settings, but their speech is that of the players. This produces comical, jarring, juxtapositions that gets to the heart of InAndOutOfCharacter. See [[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0006.html this strip]] and [[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0167.html This one.]] [[{{Munchkin}} Pete]], who's playing R2-D2, uses this to get around the fact that he took the Mute disadvantage as part of his MinMaxing. The [=GM=] take this in stride, arbitrarily enforcing the rule that he use sound effects to communicate in character just for amusement. This eventually escalates into [[spoiler:Pete creating an entire consistent language out of beeps which R2 speaks, which some of the other players eventually work out how to understand.]]

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]
* ''Manga/TheTruthAboutBleach'' lives and breathes this trope, what with the characters being genre savvy actors playing one-dimensional manga characters in a series where the script already is a muddled mess of in-and-out-of-characterisms.
-->'''Ichigo''': I know you insulted Chad as well. You said something about him being [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Mexican when he's clearly Hispanic]]!! You Racisto Son-of-a-bitcho!!\\
'''Shinji''': Listen to you talking. You need to embrace your true self. You're a Vizard.\\
'''Ichigo''': Damn straight I'm a wizard!! I'm *eff*ing Dumbledore!!! Why are you still coming to my school, yo!?\\
'''Shinji''': What the *eff* is wrong with your character...? Are you sure you read the script for today?\\
'''Ichigo''': For the first time ever, yes I did!!

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

[[AC:TabletopGames]]
* In the RPG ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' and its sequels, the rule is that [[spoiler:if the GM asks someone what they're doing and they take longer than three seconds to answer, they stand there and do nothing. Now, report for termination, Citizen; that information was above your security clearance]].\\
\\
In-character, this is because life in Alpha Complex is supposed to be overwhelmingly confusing all the damn time, doubly so for the type of citizens that players usually portray. Out-of-character, this is because ''Paranoia'' gameplay is supposed to be [[RuleOfFunny entertaining]] rather than tactically optimal; the GM is encouraged to reward entertaining players (while still screwing them over) while just plain screwing tacticians (or at least making the [=NPCs=] equally merciless in their own tactics).\\
\\
Also, a character using out-of-character knowledge is usually considered evidence of spying and therefore treason. This makes Paranoia possibly the only game that has a direct, in-character punishment for metagaming.\\
\\
The GM's section of the rulebooks has a ''hilarious'' example of gameplay illustrating how this is supposed to work.

[[AC:VideoGames]]

--> '''Troper:''' Messages like this--especially when sent to global or local chat channels--are assumed to be said in-character.\\

[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]
* ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'' is in part an AffectionateParody of InAndOutOfCharacter. The strip visuals are the in-world personas and settings, but their speech is that of the players. This produces comical, jarring, juxtapositions that gets to the heart of InAndOutOfCharacter. See [[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0006.html this strip]] and [[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0167.html This one.]]
** [[{{Munchkin}} Pete]], who's playing R2-D2, uses this to get around the fact that he took the Mute disadvantage as part of his MinMaxing. The [=GM=] take this in stride, arbitrarily enforcing the rule that he use sound effects to communicate in character just for amusement. This eventually escalates into [[spoiler:Pete creating an entire consistent language out of beeps which R2 speeks, which some of the other players eventually work out how to understand.]]

[[AC:Other]]
* Many RealLife Role Playing Game sessions. Also seen in casual chat where a player may express the opinions of their character and not themselves.
* ''Podcast/CriticalHit'' has this in spades, as it's a recording of an actual ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' campaign.
%% * ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'' uses this a lot, both in the anime and the visual novel.

* ''TheWhatIffersInFinalFancy'' stars a group of roleplayers acting out a story, and they speak to one another out-of-character, signified by an <OOC> tag, almost as much as they speak in-character.

* Many RealLife Role Playing Game sessions. Also seen in casual chat where a player may express the opinions of their character and not themselves.
* ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'' is in part an AffectionateParody of InAndOutOfCharacter. The strip visuals are the in-world personas and settings, but their speech is that of the players. This produces comical, jarring, juxtapositions that gets to the heart of InAndOutOfCharacter. See [[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0006.html this strip]] and [[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0167.html This one.]]
** [[{{Munchkin}} Pete]], who's playing R2-D2, uses this to get around the fact that he took the Mute disadvantage as part of his MinMaxing. The [=GM=] take this in stride, arbitrarily enforcing the rule that he use sound effects to communicate in character just for amusement. This eventually escalates into [[spoiler:Pete creating an entire consistent language out of beeps which R2 speeks, which some of the other players eventually work out how to understand.]]
* ''[[Manga/TheTruthAboutBleach The Truth About Bleach]]'' lives and breathes this trope, what with the characters being genre savvy actors playing one-dimensional manga characters in a series where the script already is a muddled mess of in-and-out-of-characterisms.
-->'''Ichigo''': I know you insulted Chad as well. You said something about him being [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Mexican when he's clearly Hispanic]]!! You Racisto Son-of-a-bitcho!!
-->'''Shinji''': Listen to you talking. You need to embrace your true self. You're a Vizard.
-->'''Ichigo''': Damn straight I'm a wizard!! I'm *eff*ing Dumbledore!!! Why are you still coming to my school, yo!?
-->'''Shinji''': What the *eff* is wrong with your character...? Are you sure you read the script for today?
-->'''Ichigo''': For the first time ever, yes I did!!
* In the JournalComic ''Webcomic/TodayNothingHappened'', GM Brittany kept player discussion to a minimum [[http://www.todaynothinghappened.com/index.php?c=20 in this strip]] by making things happen faster and faster the longer the players discussed their plans. To the players' horror.

* Battles in ''Film/TheGamers'' are shown entirely in character with no pauses while the characters strategize. In ''Film/TheGamers: Dorkness Rising'', however, this trope is played straight in the battle with the goblins, with both the characters and the goblins pausing as the characters describe their actions. Later battles are done more seriously, although at one point Cass takes advantage of a distraction to rearrange everyone's miniatures.

* ''Podcast/CriticalHit'' has this in spades, as it's a recording of an actual ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' campaign.

--> '''Troper:''' Messages like this--especially when sent to global or local chat channels--are assumed to be said in-character.
--> '''Troper:''' [OOC] Players often indicate that they're speaking out-of-character with an "OOC" tag.
--> '''Troper:''' [Putting the message within brackets or parentheses is also a common method.]

* ''[[TabletopGame/ProseDescriptiveQualities Vox]]'', a game where each of the characters is HearingVoices, suggests the "table talk" representative of this trope is really chatter from the voices to the [=PCs=]. If another player is trying to suggest a combat action to you even when their character is not around, then you can assume the advice is coming from the voice you hear.

* Speaking InAndOutOfCharacter is a bit more difficult in many [=MMORPGs=], because the primary means of communication in these games is through text-based chat. Players have found ways to manage it, though. Assuming they even care, which most don't, as there generally isn't any actual penalty for OOC chatter; your medieval knight is perfectly free to exult that despite the TotalPartyKill he just caused, [[LeeroyJenkins at least he has chicken]].

** [[{{Munchkin}} Pete]], who's playing R2-D2, uses this to get around the fact that he took the Mute disadvantage as part of his MinMaxing. The [=GM=] take this in stride, arbitrarily enforcing the rule that he use sound effects to communicate in character just for amusement. This eventually escalates into [[spoiler: Pete creating an entire consistent language out of beeps which R2 speeks, which some of the other players eventually work out how to understand.]]

* ''TabletopGame/TheWorldOfDarkness'' has a Derangement (mild psychological trauma caused by evil actions) based on this: Vocalisation. Any OOC chatter that isn't about game mechanics is actually spoken aloud by the character. They have to make a save to realise it (if they aren't told) and another one to stop doing it for ten-ish minutes, at which point it starts happening again.

** [[{{Munchkin}} Pete]], who's playing R2-D2, uses this to get around the fact that he took the Mute disadvantage as part of his MinMaxing. The [=GM=] take this in stride, arbitrarily enforcing the rule that he use sound effects to communicate in character just for amusement.

* Many RealLife Role Playing Game sessions.

* ''TabletopGame/TheWorldOfDarkness'' has a Derangement (mild psychological trauma caused by evil actions) based on this: Vocalisation. Any OOC chatter that isn't about game mechanics is actually spoken aloud by the character. They have to make a save to realise it (if they aren't told) and another one to stop doing it for ten-ish minutes, at which point it starts happening again. It is beautiful.

* In the JournalComic ''TodayNothingHappened'', GM Brittany kept player discussion to a minimum [[http://www.todaynothinghappened.com/index.php?c=20 in this strip]] by making things happen faster and faster the longer the players discussed their plans. To the players' horror.

* ''DarthsAndDroids'' is in part an AffectionateParody of InAndOutOfCharacter. The strip visuals are the in-world personas and settings, but their speech is that of the players. This produces comical, jarring, juxtapositions that gets to the heart of InAndOutOfCharacter. See [[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0006.html this strip]] and [[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0167.html This one.]]

* In the JournalComic ''TodayNothingHappened'', GM Brittany kept player discussion to a minimum [[http://www.shazzbaa.com/index.php?c=20 in this strip]] by making things happen faster and faster the longer the players discussed their plans. To the players' horror.

* Battles in ''TheGamers'' are shown entirely in character with no pauses while the characters strategize. In ''[[TheGamers Dorkness Rising]]'', however, this trope is played straight in the battle with the goblins, with both the characters and the goblins pausing as the characters describe their actions. Later battles are done more seriously, although at one point Cass takes advantage of a distraction to rearrange everyone's miniatures.

* VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi uses this a lot, both in the anime and the visual novel.

* Speaking InAndOutOfCharacter is a bit more difficult in many [=MMORPGs=], because the primary means of communication in these games is through text-based chat. Players have found ways to manage it, though. Assuming they even care, which most don't, as there generally isn't any actual penalty for OOC chatter; your medieval knight is perfectly free to exult that despite the TotalPartyKill he just caused, at least he has chicken.

* In the RPG ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' and its sequels, the rule is that [[spoiler:if the GM asks someone what they're doing and they take longer than three seconds to answer, they stand there and do nothing. Now, report for termination, Citizen?that information was above your security clearance]].\\

Also, a character using out-of-character knowledge is usually considered evidence of spying and therefore treason. This makes Paranoia possibly the only game that has a direct, in-character punishment for metagaming.

* Speaking InAndOutOfCharacter is a bit more difficult in many [=MMORPGs=], because the primary means of communication in these games is through text-based chat. Players have found ways to manage it, though.