As someone who's first persona ever was something similar to this, I feel like I can relate.
Originally I had a "dragoon" that was moody/troubled, not often friendly because of it until given friendliness of course. Originally I just let people walk up to me while he did things, like putting his helmet to the side when sitting somewhere or adjusting his armor in some fashion. Otherwise I used the environment around me like others have mentioned.
In the end, I realized I wasn't actually enjoying being a moody ass >~>; so I ended up going in a different direction entirely and made a more ambitious treasure hunter type character. Was pretty fun but then recently I transferred to Balmung and I wanted something a bit more stoic and intelligent, something that didn't come across as a numbskull getting into trouble but I also didn't want to look like an ass that just hates everyone and socializing.
So I ended up attempting to make a sexy librarian stereotype. The type that's always interested in books but is usually very quiet and to himself, until you open up to him do you realize how "down to earth" he is. The only adjustment this time is rather than being moody and etc, I've just been keeping him busy and per-occupied reading/studying until someone says something. Overall my char is pretty nice to people but doesn't actually open up until a topic of interest peaks, but otherwise he'll be watching people, jotting down something in his journal, adjusting his glasses, turning pages in a tome, etc.
My personal trick is, I don't actively socialize with people, so I just sit at the desk with an open tome at the thaumaturge guild until someone shows up and interacts outside, trying to get a book off the shelf or just asking me for help around the guild. You "CAN" set up RP meets but I know the trouble of having to schedule RP every time and wishing people would walkup. Could include finer details in your search comment too like "Walkups Welcome/Brooding Char" or etc. Otherwise, I just walk around town and do what my char does, exploring, studying, getting a drink/meal every so often, and randomly people will get interested to talk to me or bump into me somehow
Overall as a stoic and more "lone wolf" esque character(not that my current one is all too much), it's more about taking use of the elements around you. Be creative about it all, using your race to your advantage or items nearby. Like if you're a miqo'te or elezen, have your ears flicker a bit when you hear a phrase and eye someone from across the room.
(05-11-2017, 04:20 AM)Valic Wrote: [ -> ]As someone who's first persona ever was something similar to this, I feel like I can relate.
Originally I had a "dragoon" that was moody/troubled, not often friendly because of it until given friendliness of course. Originally I just let people walk up to me while he did things, like putting his helmet to the side when sitting somewhere or adjusting his armor in some fashion. Otherwise I used the environment around me like others have mentioned.
In the end, I realized I wasn't actually enjoying being a moody ass >~>; so I ended up going in a different direction entirely and made a more ambitious treasure hunter type character. Was pretty fun but then recently I transferred to Balmung and I wanted something a bit more stoic and intelligent, something that didn't come across as a numbskull getting into trouble but I also didn't want to look like an ass that just hates everyone and socializing.
So I ended up attempting to make a sexy librarian stereotype. The type that's always interested in books but is usually very quiet and to himself, until you open up to him do you realize how "down to earth" he is. The only adjustment this time is rather than being moody and etc, I've just been keeping him busy and per-occupied reading/studying until someone says something. Overall my char is pretty nice to people but doesn't actually open up until a topic of interest peaks, but otherwise he'll be watching people, jotting down something in his journal, adjusting his glasses, turning pages in a tome, etc.
My personal trick is, I don't actively socialize with people, so I just sit at the desk with an open tome at the thaumaturge guild until someone shows up and interacts outside, trying to get a book off the shelf or just asking me for help around the guild. You "CAN" set up RP meets but I know the trouble of having to schedule RP every time and wishing people would walkup. Could include finer details in your search comment too like "Walkups Welcome/Brooding Char" or etc. Otherwise, I just walk around town and do what my char does, exploring, studying, getting a drink/meal every so often, and randomly people will get interested to talk to me or bump into me somehow
Overall as a stoic and more "lone wolf" esque character(not that my current one is all too much), it's more about taking use of the elements around you. Be creative about it all, using your race to your advantage or items nearby. Like if you're a miqo'te or elezen, have your ears flicker a bit when you hear a phrase and eye someone from across the room.
Yeah, I agree that using the elements around me and using actions would be the best to open up more RP with people. For the record I do enjoy the 'jerk' character I have. She's not quiet so much as she's a very irritated person. She comes across as very blunt and doesn't have a filter at all. I have fun RPing her when things get going or if its for some plot thing but there's always this awkward part in casual/social RP where I find it hard to approach people while still maintaining her personality.
(05-11-2017, 10:23 AM)Casa Kai Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah, I agree that using the elements around me and using actions would be the best to open up more RP with people. For the record I do enjoy the 'jerk' character I have. She's not quiet so much as she's a very irritated person. She comes across as very blunt and doesn't have a filter at all. I have fun RPing her when things get going or if its for some plot thing but there's always this awkward part in casual/social RP where I find it hard to approach people while still maintaining her personality.
Oh, I didn't mean to imply that you might not, I just personally struggled was all >.>;...
I see what you mean though, I do recall an instance where I attended an event and someone was very obnoxious/rude bumping into me while also requesting me to buy them a drink all in one process... It sounds like your character could greatly benefit from just being brash overall in any actions. Walking/bumping into people on purpose while in deep thought, or interrupting someone's conversation because you find something in particular distasteful in it. Walkups are tricky but I've often found in going about my business, I find the best roleplay without actually trying to look for it.
Bumping into someone while reading or writing something in my journal, even just being a poser near a light fixture while /em'ing to myself writing/reading attracts people. I often do that when I see someone's within vicinity to view it that has the tag up. I could picture your character going about a similar concept of just brooding aloud or grumbling , maybe staring at someone walk by and describing their character a bit in a harsher way. Suddenly noticing a delightful looking well dressed lalafell dancer is instead through your character's eyes and /em's a "pint-sized tramp with a stupid grin" or something to that effect. That would warrant attention at least, in the end you just have to be creative with your writing and not give up if someone just skips by you.
Marcie is an anti-social, racist jerkwad. So what did I do? I made a bs reason to join an FC on him and make him have a reason to do things with them! His reason for having to be social is because he's on orders as a Temple Knight to go out into the Eorzean lands and further strengthen the Alliance by helping out and being 'friendly'. Most of Marcie's racism doesn't often show up, simply because he A) doesn't want to get murdered/fired and B) often doesn't care enough to give his two gil on anything.
I think random encounters might be a little more tough to come up with on him, but for the most part, think of something your character -must- do that requires someone else. Maybe they're looking for someone, a non-existent NPC, that requires asking around the tavern for them. Maybe they got kicked out of their parents' and have to find a job!
There was a similar thread on this subject a few years ago that might help here.
That said, the best and most foolproof way is to engage OOCly for connections and to come up with premises that force your character to interact with others.
For example, someone accuses your character of a crime, which forces your character to respond to the information and engage. Or, your character needs a particular
thing and the other person's character is the only one who has it.
Regular walk-ups and RP interactions can work but generally don't pan out for characters who are withdrawn or reserved unless there are other characters present who are willing and able to force your character to interact. Once you have a few connections going then you can gradually start to rely on being approached rather than doing the approaching, but otherwise the solutions are either A). figure out a way for your character to seek information or initiate, B). form OOC connections and arrange for RP in such a way that is conducive to both characters, or C). find or create a plot or storyline that will place external pressure on your character to interact.
Yeah I like the idea of thinking of OOC reasons to meet (being accused of crime, bumping into someone, etc). The problem is that I get on almost everyday to RP with my FC and I feel like I can't keep coming up with reasons like that. Though I agree that, that would be the best way to approach RP with walk-ups in Ul'dah. She does have a higher position in her company so perhaps I can have her be forced to try and be 'friendly' or 'sociable' to help recruit or put on a good face for her company's sake.