1. FFXIV operates on both polar ends of customization. The character creator is going to feel extremely limited if you're more used to Korean MMOs that give you sliders and options galore. On the flip side, this also means that your character's animations are gonna look fairly decent most of the time, even if there might be a bit of a sameface problem. Where FFXIV shines is really in gear options. We have a -lot- of outfits, many of which can be dyed. The glamour system isn't as robust as other MMOs, but hardly needed if you're roleplaying in noncombat zones. It's getting a big update when the 4.2 patch comes out later this month!
   
2. They exist. I know at least on Balmung, we have had some instances of people harassing RPers or trolling them. It's usually pretty limited and not the average experience. Mateus and Omega (for EU) are probably about the same. More trolling generally happens in the /shout chat channel, which is a zone-wide chat. You can filter/disable it as needed.
   
3. Groups come in two (possibly more soon) flavors in FFXIV. These are your Linkshells (chat-only groups, limit 8) and Free Companies (aka guilds, limit 1). Like the other chat channels, you can filter them as wanted. For a good idea of what some of them look like, check out our Linkshell Hall and Free Company Hall! The RPC regularly goes through "hall cleanings" every 2 months so most should be active. (I've actually gotta do this....eventually.) Do note on a trial account, you can be invited, but you cannot make either.
   
4. It varies. Some people keep all their RP organized with Linkshells. Some stick to FC-only RP. Others only do open-world stuff. I'd say most people use a mix of everything to find what they like. Depending on which server you roll on, coordination may happen on other sites as well, like enjin. Or may be coordinated in various Discord servers.
   

• each character can be all classes, that's 26, so can be very versatile in adapting to a persona
  

• Dying is possible for a lot of gear, with a one colour per item, and each item will then apply that according to it's look (each item is often multiple colours/shades)
  
• Glamoring (or overwriting an items image with another) enables you to look the way you want in any situation
  
• Outfits (no stat items) are plenty and include things like bathing attire and seasonal looks
  
• You can dress as a peasant, noble, fantastic-hero, etc.. it is very wide ranging
  
• Clear/blank items are available so they don't show
  

• Largely sword and sorcery fantasy
  
• Guns, flying ships and technology is also present
  
• The starting areas are western in style and there is the new area now that is eastern
  
• There is one player faction
  
• There is no open world PvP
  

• Characters are shape wise similar by race, with height being the main difference
  
• Face/features etc.. can be customized. This is somewhat less than BDO/ESO
  
• emotes (your character moves) are many and work in a variety of standing/sitting/laying positions
  
• you can sit on seats and on the floor or anyplace
  
• you can lay down on specific areas (beds etc..)
  
• you can swim in some zones
  
• you can go underwater in some zones
  
• There are no chat bubbles, all chat is in chat windows, you can 4 chat windows/tabs and they can be filtered
  
• You can tell/wispier people and join up-to 8 specific chat channels (called linkshells)
  

• In the starting area travel is on the ground, in expansion areas flying mounts are available
  
• Lots of building are closed, but some are open to use for RP
  
• There is an RP flag you can apply to your name plate
  
• Dungeons can be used for RP (within the limits of the dungeon)
  
• Housing works great, except there is not enough of it to go around (biggest flaw imo)
  

• There are no add on/in programs, in fact they are not allowed
  
• There is internal macros you can write which can help with combat and crafting. They do get used extensively in RP for performing
  
• There is a new feature that lets bards play actual notes, so you can play actual music. It cant be macro enabled yet so it is literally playing an instrument
  

(01-02-2018, 11:04 AM)Nebbs Wrote: Most of what you ask i would say that given your experience it is what you would expect of an active and thriving RP community, in all its diversity.

On  Customizability for RP I would say the game offers a wide variety of support.

Short version.. very supportive of playing an RP character in a rich visual way.

Classes 

• each character can be all classes, that's 26, so can be very versatile in adapting to a persona
  

Gear

• Dying is possible for a lot of gear, with a one colour per item, and each item will then apply that according to it's look (each item is often multiple colours/shades)
  
• Glamoring (or overwriting an items image with another) enables you to look the way you want in any situation
  
• Outfits (no stat items) are plenty and include things like bathing attire and seasonal looks
  
• You can dress as a peasant, noble, fantastic-hero, etc.. it is very wide ranging
  
• Clear/blank items are available so they don't show
  

Setting

• Largely sword and sorcery fantasy
  
• Guns, flying ships and technology is also present
  
• The starting areas are western in style and there is the new area now that is eastern
  
• There is one player faction
  
• There is no open world PvP
  

Character

• Characters are shape wise similar by race, with height being the main difference
  
• Face/features etc.. can be customized. This is somewhat less than BDO/ESO
  
• emotes (your character moves) are many and work in a variety of standing/sitting/laying positions
  
• you can sit on seats and on the floor or anyplace
  
• you can lay down on specific areas (beds etc..)
  
• you can swim in some zones
  
• you can go underwater in some zones
  
• There are no chat bubbles, all chat is in chat windows, you can 4 chat windows/tabs and they can be filtered
  
• You can tell/wispier people and join up-to 8 specific chat channels (called linkshells)
  

Environment

• In the starting area travel is on the ground, in expansion areas flying mounts are available
  
• Lots of building are closed, but some are open to use for RP
  
• There is an RP flag you can apply to your name plate
  
• Dungeons can be used for RP (within the limits of the dungeon)
  
• Housing works great, except there is not enough of it to go around (biggest flaw imo)
  

I could go on and on

[Edit added extras below]

Extras..

• There are no add on/in programs, in fact they are not allowed
  
• There is internal macros you can write which can help with combat and crafting. They do get used extensively in RP for performing
  
• There is a new feature that lets bards play actual notes, so you can play actual music. It cant be macro enabled yet so it is literally playing an instrument