Emotes for everyday use in EverQuest

What are Emotes, you ask?

Well, in order to answer that, we first have to make it clear that they are NOT the similarly-named Emoticons (also commonly known collectively as "smilies"). Although Emotes and Emoticons have similar names, that's pretty much the end of the similarities. Emoticons or smilies are text-based indicators of emotion to help lend some sort of equivalent of body language, facial expression, and vocal tone to our text-based interaction.

Emotes, on the other hand, are an EQ-specific tool that, while they can be used to convey emotion, are actually more similar to the stage-notes in the script of a play. In other words, they are more of a background and setting or window-dressing sort of thing primarily used while in the process of playing a Role.

For example, in a play you may see notes in a script indicating the following:

Mighty One: "I summon the awesome might of the WolfBane Blade!"
[ Mighty One draws his sword from his scabbard, holding it aloft as he makes the exclamation, the light gleaming from WolfBane ]

In comparison, in EverQuest, you might see the following:

Mightyone says, "I summon the awesome might of WolfBane, the Langseax of the Wolves!"
Mightyone draws the sword WolfBane from his scabbard.
Mightyone holds the blade WolfBane aloft, light gleaming from its length.

In brief, emotes are a type of short-hand command to help show what your character is doing, feeling, thinking, or even what they're all about.

There are two different types of emotes. The first kind is the built-ins that are already part of EverQuest and readily available to be used, with the text already set and only modified by the source and target of the emote. Some of these also have animations built-in so you can actually see your character or someone else's take that specified action.

For instance, typing the built-in emote, /kneel, without anyone targeted results in the following text sent to your main chat window:

Mightyone feels righteous, and maybe a little foolish.

If you type /kneel with the character Notsomighty targetted, however, you get the following:

Mightyone kneels before Notsomighty in humility and reverence.

These built-in emotes are spelled out in the following document on EQ Stratics:

http://eq.stratics.com/content/statistics/reference/game_emotes.shtml

They are also identified in the EQ Help function in-game.

The other type of emote is more of a free-form emote and consists of typing /em (text) or : (text). For instance if you type "/em sticks out his tongue" then Mightyone would see "Mightyone sticks out his tongue". Likewise, typing ": sticks out his tongue" will give you the same results: "Mightyone sticks out his tongue."

These free-form emotes do not have any animations associated with them because there's no way Sony could have ever guessed what you might say with an /em or : emote and tried to associate an animation with it. However, being free-form, you are much more free to design an emote that fits a situation.

You can also use the target option to show the object of the free-form emote commands. In free-form emotes, you use the %t option to indicate using the targeted character's name. For instance, targeting Notsomighty and typing the following emotes would give the following results:

"/em sticks out his tongue at %t" results in:
"Mightyone sticks out his tongue at Notsomighty."

"/em rolls his eyes at %t and wishes he would quit snoring" results in:
"Mightyone rolls his eyes at Notsomighty and wishes he would quit snoring"

"/em pulls on his boots, gesturing at %t to do the same" results in :
"Mightyone pulls on his boots, gesturing at Notsomighty to do the same"

Most built-in emotes work a similar way to give different results with another player targeted:

Mightyone kneels before Notsomighty in humility and reverence.
Mightyone grabs hold of Notsomighty and begins to dance.
Mightyone laughs at Notsomighty.
Mightyone snaps to attention, saluting Notsomighty briskly.

The emoted text for the "/em" or ":" command is pretty much left up to the discretion of the typer so try to keep it clean and useful. I and an old friend of mine used to greet each other with a "boot to the head" in jest when we were about to group together. I guess that's kind of a male bonding thing. Just remember that people nearby can also "see" and overhear the emotes, just as if you did a /say, and try to keep it clean. This is a family-oriented game, which means PG or PG-13 at worst, so please police yourself.

I personally find that emotes add a nice touch to the game which allow you to highly personalize your interaction with others in the game. You can use hot keys to pre-set up emotes that detail your character's persona and background if you like, but please don't overdo it; nobody wants to be spammed with 20 lines of unwanted text. 2 or 3 lines when you first meet someone or during special situations is plenty.

Remember, this isn't a competition; it's all about sharing the experience together.

I quite often /bow before someone out of respect and in greeting or parting and will /kneel if they're of higher level and/or do me a favor, like buffing me or helping me out of a bad situation. I may also throw in a /salute, if I feel the situation warrants it. If I know someone, I may /wave in greeting or parting. All of those have animations associated with them so you and others can actually see your character perform these acts. I particularly like the /dance animations but your tastes may differ.

One interesting note: emotes seem to come out clear even when the character is drunk. So, if your character is one that likes to imbibe people have trouble understanding you, try using an emote to get your message across.

So, now you know what emotes are, what they're for, and how to responsibly use them. Go forth and spread that knowledge.

/salute

- Ernasty

Emote List

Below is a list of in game emotes. If any emotes are missing, please PM Khama for inclusion..

Typing the phrase below causes a message to appear as stated.  Animated emotes are listed in blue text

• %T - Returns the current target.  (for example if you hotkey "/g I am heading in with a %T in hot pursuit" the Mob you have targetted will be filled in for the %T)
• %S - Returns the subjective gender-specific pronoun for the target (He, She, It).
• %O - Returns the objective gender-specific pronoun for the target (Him, Her, It).
• %P - Returns the posessive gender-specific pronoun for the target (His, Her, Its).
• %R - Returns the race of the target (only works on Player characters).
• /agree -- you agree with the targeted person
• /amaze -- Amazed, you asp at targeted person, or you are amazed
• /apologize -- You apologize to targetted person whole heartedly or apologize to everyone in the room
• /applaud -- you applaud the performance of the targeted person or give a round of applause
• /bird -- you make a rude gesture
• /bite -- you bite the targeted person on the leg, or you look around for someone to bite
• /bleed -- you bleed quietly, or all over the targeted person
• /blink -- you blink in disbelief
• /blush -- you blush at the targeted person or your cheeks are burning
• /boggle -- you boggle at the target, shaking your head in disbelief.
• /bonk -- you bonk the targeted person on the head
• /bored -- you express that you are bored
• /bounce -- you bounce around the targeted person, or just in place if no target.
• /bow  --  You bow to the targeted person.
• /brb -- you say that you will be right back
• /burp -- you burp loudly
• /bye -- you say goodbye
• /cackle -- you cackle gleefully
• /calm -- you try to calm the targeted person or you feel peaceful and calm
• /cheer  --  Your character cheers.  An animated emote.
• /chuckle --  You chuckle
• /clap -- you clap happily -- hurray
• /comfort -- you comfort the targeted person
• /congratulate -- you congratulate the targeted person on a job well done
• /cough -- you cough
• /cringe -- you cringe away from the targeted person
• /cry  --  your character cries.
• /curious -- you look at the targeted person curiously, or  look around curiously
• /dance -- you stand on your tip toes and dance, or you grab the targeted person and dance with him
• /disbelief -- you shake your head in disbelief.  [may be broken]
• /drool -- you drool -- something must have gotten you excited, or you drool all over the targeted person.
• /duck -- you duck
• /emote (text) or /em or : (text) or /e - emotes the text.  This is used to add fun to the game.  For example, after a big battle, you can type /emote cleans the gore off his sword.  Everyone around you will see "AllaKhazam cleans the gore off his sword."  More people should use this command.
• /eye -- you raise and eyebrow inquiringly (at the targeted person)
• /finger -- You make a rude gesture at the targeted individual.
• /flipoff  --  You make a rude gesture at the targeted individual.
• /frown -- You frown.
• /gasp -- you gasp in astonishment
• /gesture  --  You make a rude gesture at the targeted individual.
• /giggle -- you giggle
• /glare -- you turn an icy glare at the targeted person, or you glare at nothing in particular
• /grin -- you grin evilly
• /groan -- you groan
• /grovel -- you grovel before the targeted person
• /happy -- you say you are very happy with the targeted person, or are so happy
• /hungry -- you say you need food badly
• /hug -- You hug the targeted person.
• /introduce -- you introduce the targeted person or introduce yourself to everyone
• /jk -- you say you are just kidding
• /kneel -- you kneel down, or you kneel before the targeted person in humility and reverence.
• /laugh -- You laugh (at targeted person).
• /lost -- you say you are completely lost
• /massage -- you massage the targeted person's shoulders, or look around for someone to massage
• /moan -- you moan
• /mourn -- you lower your head and mourn the targeted person, or the dead
• /nod  --  You nod to the highlighted person
• /panic  --  You scream in panic.
• /peer -- you peer at the targeted person intently, looking him up and down, or you peer around intently
• /plead --  you plead desperately with the targeted person
• /point -- you point at the targeted creature/person or straight ahead
• /poke -- You poke the highlighted person.
• /ponder -- you ponder the targeted person, what is going on with him.
• /puzzled -- you look puzzled
• /raise -- you raise your hand
• /ready -- you let everyone (or targeted person) know you are ready
• /roar -- You emit a low rumble and roar like a lion
• /rofl or /rof  --  You roll on the floor laughing (at targeted person).
• /rude -- You make a rude gesture at the targeted person.
• /salute -- you salute the targeted person or the gods in pure admiration
• /shiver -- you shiver.. brrr.
• /shrug -- you shrug
• /sigh -- you sigh at the targeted person, or you sigh, clearly disappointed
• /smile -- You beam a smile at the targeted person.
• /smirk -- you smirk mischieviously
• /snarl -- you snarl at the targeted person, or you bare your teeth in a terrible snarl
• /snicker -- you snicker softly
• /stare -- you stare dreamily at the targeted person, completely lost in her eyes, or you stare at the ground
• /tap -- you tap your foot impatiently
• /tease -- you tease the targeted person mercilessly, or you look around for someone to tease
• /thanks -- you thank the targeted person
• /thirsty -- you state that you are thirsty
• /shiver -- you shiver ... brrr.  Or you shiver at the thought of messing with the targetted person.
• /veto -- you veto the (targeted person's) idea
• /wave  --  Your character waves.
• /welcome -- you welcome the targeted person
• /whine -- you whine pitifully
• /whistles -- you whistle at the targeted person appreciatively, or you whistle a little tune
• /yawn -- you yawn rudely in targeted  person's face, or you open your mouth wide and yawn
• /yell (or /y) -- You yell for help.  People around you will hear "XXX yelled for help from your [direction].  This is a very useful emote/command which you may want to consider hot keying.


Emote list reprinted from Allakhazam