Mortaine’s Blog

I am role-playing an autistic adult in an online game.

I need help.

Right now, he’s so low-functioning, it’s not working– he’s almost infantile, and that’s not what I wanted. I wanted to RP a character who has a hard time communicating, but who can, in fact, do things, if he understands what needs to be done and how to do it. I haven’t decided yet if he can read or not. He’s never travelled. And he’s finally become accepted enough in the community that someone is looking out for him.

It’s a pure-text game. It’s all agriculture, building, and combat with non-monster things (animals and human thieves, mostly). So far, I’ve had him work on various agricultural projects and burying bodies, and he petted a racoon. He also has some weird fascination with cows– he likes them, but when they attack people (yes, we have a problem with Angry Cow Disease), he slaps them back and calls them “Bad Cow!” He also applies the word “cow” to people sometimes.

So far, he’s made a couple of jokes, but they’re the kinds of things that take a second to realize are funny– and you only realize it’s funny if you decide that someone autistic can make a joke, too. Then it’s hysterical.

I know there are a LOT of autistic people from all over the spectrum on my friends list, so I am asking for your help. I want to RP this character in a way that’s realistic.

What are some things that are hallmark autistic behaviors, methods of communication or non-communication, things that would be commonplace as well as things that are less so?

Thanks for any advice. I know this is a horrible, vague question.

*sigh* Due to a change in scheduling, it looks like Saturday’s not going to work as well for me. Would Sunday work for you, and , and anyone else who had considered joining us in our expedition?

Otherwise, I can make Saturday work, it’ll just make it a really jam-packed day.