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Leggerless · **11-17-2016, 12:07 PM**

Most posts talk about the lack of RP, how they cannot find connections, or any variant of "Why am I not getting as much RP as I should?" If you've been around long enough on any RP board, I'm fairly certain you've seen at least one of those threads pop up.

Instead, I want to view this same issue from an entirely different perspective; the possibility RP is so abundant the sheer volume makes getting a foot into the door a challenge rather than a breeze. My argument is conventional means of acquiring RP are no longer appropriate and new solutions to get sufficient RP are required.

I'll give a few examples of what I see.

Person 1: "Anyone want to RP?"
Person 2 (or Others): *silence*

Person 1: "Anyone want to RP?"
Person 2: "Sorry, doing something else."

Person 1: "Hey, who wants to RP?"
Person 2: "Oh, I'm already at an event. Maybe another time."

Person 1: "Hey X, want to RP?"
Person 2: "No thanks, Y."

I wish I had real data to back this up, but I've noticed a mild correlation with increasing RPers on the server, more events taking place on the server, and more groups/FC popping up in relation to the number of responses similar to the examples above; dismissal or "off doing other RP." I'd argue the responses are--surprisingly--also independent of what kind of connection one person/group has to another person/group.

Honestly, I'm still confused about the state of RP in general on Balmung. Is it getting oversaturated with events, is it plentiful for all people, is it too much to find a particular focus, etc.

Any feasible ideas how to work around this type of deal?

Parth Makeo · **11-17-2016, 12:20 PM**

I am starting to think the abundance of Events (even those not on forums) could be the reason for said lack of RP.

I have three active RP characters that are involved with three different RP circles myself (with one group strangely connected by an event I have yet to join Sad

)
And for new people it may not be that they can't find RP because others are currently RPing their own plots, their company story, or too busy running the company events.

Honestly it does feel oversaturated to the point that I stopped going to the grindstone purely because of how MASSIVE it's gotten in recent years. I truly missed the old average of like 40 or 30 people. Sad

So I think the idea of "no one can find RP because there is too much" is a thing as well. Some people are looking for certain kinds of RP and it pains me to turn down people when a position is filled...

Zhavi · **11-17-2016, 12:21 PM**

I think that becomes an issue primarily when you want to rp with a specific person or group that is up to their eyeballs in plans and plots. It's the same thing that happens irl when you're friends with someone who's friends with a lot of people: your window of opportunity with them is incredibly small. So you either roll in with them (oh you're doing x on y day? I was thinking of going to that too, what would you think about going together? -- but also give them an easy out, since you don't want to make them feel like you're pressuring them) or you make plans far in the future and then give them a reason to seek you out.

But I mean, I do what I've always done, from Zhi to new characters: play with new players. Sometimes they'll bail, yes, but they're fresh and usually eager to rp. Go to places where people hang out like wallflowers and peel one of them off the wall. Go to mixer events where there is inevitably one or two people who showed alone or with a group and is having a hard time interacting with so many people.

It's the same problem as ever. Make your opportunities. Anyone can sit around saying "no one wants to hang out with me," but that's just the thing -- if you're just sitting there like a rock without a plan or set of ideas that sparks someone else's creativity, why would they want to hang out with you? Be proactive. If you're shy, you're gonna have to dip your toe in somewhere -- approach a FC or LS leader and let them know your circumstances and see if they have suggestions of members who might fit you. But at the end of the day, it's still the same ol' problem, just with a different window dressing.

***Maril*** · **11-17-2016, 12:36 PM**

I think there's more to it than people always being out doing other RP - what my thoughts gets lead to is the timing of those kinds of questions. If someone is asking a lot, but the questions always come right in the "prime time" then indeed, a whole bunch of people might already be occupied or at events because of prior arrangements. So if you ask earlier, you may be able to catch people before they arrange something - or even with enough time for them to be able to work you into whatever they're getting up to.Â

I also think that asking, "Hey, anyone want to RP?" can be a bit too open-ended of a question, whilst of course it doesn't take long to do something on a whim, some might not be comfortable with that? So if you instead re-word the question and put in some hooks like,Â
"Hey, my character is doing (X) at (This location) in a little while, would anyone like to pop along for a bit of RP?" it could help inspire people a bit more, give them something to go on.Â Being proactive is one of the best ways to find RP, and you're already taking a big first step by asking - putting some more bait on your hooks might help.

Also, semi related I would also say to avoid assuming that people are always busy. Of course there are some who tend to plan ahead a lot, but my impression is that most people don't exactly have their whole week booked. And -even- then, I don't know anyone who'd get insulted over being asked, if they -are- busy then you can always plan to set off some time in the near future.

Aya · **11-17-2016, 12:51 PM**

I don't feel like RP events actually interfere as much as PvE, crafting, etc, even as prevalent as they are now. That's not a bad thing, its just the way it is when it comes to MMO RP.

And Zhavi is entirely right: you have to make your own opportunities, and create you own chances to RP. You can't rely on them just happening, though I suggest you embrace those chances when you get them Smile

Ruran · **11-17-2016, 12:56 PM**

Basically echoing what a lot of people are saying already. It really does depend on the time of day, and the type of people you're asking. There's a ton of RP going on, to be sure, which isn't a bad thing at all. With the increase in RP, there's also an increase of RPers. It's just a matter of finding them.

I'm...not a fan of spontaneous RP, usually. When people ask 'Anyone want to RP? I'm free right now!', I panic. Maybe it's because I'm naturally introverted and am a bundle of nerves under pressure, or because I like to consider what my character is doing/where/why/etc and have time to settle in and prepare myself.

But I'm also one of those people that enjoys planning a week or so in advance, because I can get quite busy with RP plans stacking up on me.

People can't expect others to come to them, and they also can't expect anyone to be free at the drop of a hat. Instead, communicate in advance! Once you start poking others, making plans, and setting aside times to RP with a few people, you'll soon find yourself drowning in RP.

Gegenji · **11-17-2016, 01:02 PM**

(11-17-2016, 12:56 PM)Ruran Wrote: I'm...not a fan of spontaneous RP, usually. When people ask 'Anyone want to RP? I'm free right now!', I panic. Maybe it's because I'm naturally introverted and am a bundle of nerves under pressure, or because I like to consider what my character is doing/where/why/etc and have time to settle in and prepare myself.

I'm... sorta like this? Unless I'm actively having my character chill out in a location where spontaneous interaction occurs (like the Quicksand), I usually find myself trying to figure out a reason why my character would be there. I'm trying to be better about it, but I do get hung up on where they would be meeting and what they'll be doing.

... The latter is actually why I hesitate on asking folks for RP. I always feel the onus is on the asker to also provide a scene or situation, and if I'm lacking that then I feel weird asking someone to RP. It seems almost rude, in a "hey let's RP and YOU decide what we're doing" kind of way.

Aya · **11-17-2016, 01:05 PM**

(11-17-2016, 01:02 PM)Gegenji Wrote: ... The latter is actually why I hesitate on asking folks for RP. I always feel the onus is on the asker to also provide a scene or situation, and if I'm lacking that then I feel weird asking someone to RP. It seems almost rude, in a "hey let's RP and YOU decide what we're doing" kind of way.

I ask all the time, and am always happy to help come up with the scene. Sometimes you just have to trust your friends and be a little flexible to have fun! Don't forget the "Play" part of RP Smile

Thunderbolt300 · **11-17-2016, 01:11 PM**

Well, this definitely turns the topic on its head... it's an interesting question. I've run into this a fair bit too, and it's left me asking the same question at times.Â

Some of it is simply a question of priorities: some folk are going to want to run content more than RP, and use RP to fill in the gaps or save that for major scheduled events. Others are going to prioritize RP to the detriment of everything else, so it's really a matter of personal preference.

It seems to me that in a lot of cases, folk tend to shy away from slice-of-life / tavern-RP where the potential to encounter character development is fairly low, so there's not a lot of incentive to engage in that. Meaningful character develop occurs through conflict, events, and having an antagonist on-hand, and none of these things seem to be greatly plentiful in the community-at-large. At least, events of this nature are kept to silos, aren't advertised well, or are by invite-only. Still, slice-of-life / tavern-RP certainly has its place in the RP ecosystem- but it's filler, it's not the main content.Â

Speaking of content, that's really the end-game. Generating content is done by a pretty small minority of the general player base, much less players who play bonafide villains and actively act as community-oriented antagonists. It's a face-off of RP content vs. PvE content, and while PvE content is low-effort plentiful, RP content is more difficult to generate, in much smaller supply, but when it is available, tends to win out easily over static PvE content.

Virella · **11-17-2016, 01:18 PM**

Hmm...

Do I think events can interfere with regular RP? Oh yeah. Everyone and his mother is running their events during the weekends, and there's a heap of roleplayers who only have time to RP during said weekends. Then well, heh, its a person choice whether you want to go to those events, or do a bit more personal roleplay?
A lot of people simply enjoy going to events, and no one can fault them for it. I think its really just a matter of finding a (small) friendgroup with the same tastes in that regard, so you don't run into this problem.

Well, besides that I can just offer you the typical advice of 'go find more people to roleplay with', but you've been around forever, so you know this. But yeah, I think it is just truly a matter of that. My friendgroup doesn't often attend events. One every so often? Yeah, they like that, and I'm of the same mind. But personally for me, between the Ala Mhigan LS events, Sea Breeze Bazaar and the odd Grindstone, I'm good really. But others just want to attend things all the time! What is perfectly fine. It just yeah, don't feel like doing that myself as I generally get little character development out of /most/ events. Anyhow...

People's priority with roleplay is all over the place, I think it's a matter of finding people who share the same tastes in that regard.

Also, I don't think you should stop asking people to roleplay on a whim. I harass my roleplay partners all the time for roleplay. I get to hear 'no, got no time right now, later maybe?' quite often as well. But I just move on to poke the next one who I spot online.

Edit time:

(11-17-2016, 01:11 PM)Thunderbolt300 Wrote: It seems to me that in a lot of cases, folk tend to shy away from slice-of-life / tavern-RP where the potential to encounter character development is fairly low, so there's not a lot of incentive to engage in that. Meaningful character develop occurs through conflict, events, and having an antagonist on-hand, and none of these things seem to be greatly plentiful in the community-at-large. At least, events of this nature are kept to silos, aren't advertised well, or are by invite-only. Still, slice-of-life / tavern-RP certainly has its place in the RP ecosystem- but it's filler, it's not the main content.

Yeah, I think Balmung is the first and only community I've seen who has more slice of life/tavern RP going on then anything else. I find it is terrible hard to find people to plot with and interest them in things beyond said 'casual' roleplay. It's the sole reason I like social roleplay to some degree, but not overly much. Well social roleplay? My main character on WoW, or one of them, never gone into battle for over the seven years or so I've had her. But we had a lot of politics going on, interguild roleplay, server events and that like. Balmung, somehow, doesn't have this.

Zhavi · **11-17-2016, 01:18 PM**

(11-17-2016, 01:11 PM)Thunderbolt300 Wrote: It seems to me that in a lot of cases, folk tend to shy away from slice-of-life / tavern-RP where the potential to encounter character development is fairly low, so there's not a lot of incentive to engage in that. Meaningful character develop occurs through conflict, events, and having an antagonist on-hand, and none of these things seem to be greatly plentiful in the community-at-large. At least, events of this nature are kept to silos, aren't advertised well, or are by invite-only. Still, slice-of-life / tavern-RP certainly has its place in the RP ecosystem- but it's filler, it's not the main content.Â

It's an ic way to make contacts. For a while, a long, long while, I avoided anything that remotely looked like plotting or planning. And I'd go to the Quicksand, and sit at the bar, and just emote my character going about her business, slice of life style. And every time I did, she'd meet someone new, and out of that she got business opportunities and contacts who -- if I pursued -- I could have easily rolled into a plot. I've said it before, but just because you meet someone in a lull where there's no dragons being killed doesn't mean it has to remain that way. If anything, how a character acts in their day-to-day rounds can influence their character development. Besides which, sometimes a little slice-of-life can help a character process the dragon slaying or whatever big things are happening to them.

I've had the most enlightening chats with strangers, in the past. Sometimes I help them, sometimes they help me. There's no reason why it can't be the same in rp.

Kilieit · **11-17-2016, 01:24 PM**

(11-17-2016, 12:36 PM)Maril Wrote: I also think that asking, "Hey, anyone want to RP?" can be a bit too open-ended of a question, whilst of course it doesn't take long to do something on a whim, some might not be comfortable with that? So if you instead re-word the question and put in some hooks like,Â
"Hey, my character is doing (X) at (This location) in a little while, would anyone like to pop along for a bit of RP?" it could help inspire people a bit more, give them something to go on.Â Being proactive is one of the best ways to find RP, and you're already taking a big first step by asking - putting some more bait on your hooks might help.

Agreeing with this. The biggest thing that encourages me to RP is imagining what entertaining scenes might arise from doing so. Especially if you're a total stranger, "anyone want to RP?" gives me noooothing. And especially if I'm already feeling a bit naff and am thinking about logging off (this is the case more often than I'd like - chronic illness sucks yo), it's not going to inspire me to do anything different.

Maybe whatever hooks you provide won't grab me either - maybe they don't fit with the character I'm on today or maybe they're just not my thing. But the chance becomes greater than the ~0% I get with just a flat "want to RP".

Also agreeing with what Aya said about game activities (and... like... other stuff to do outside the game) being a bigger barrier to RP than "having lots of other RP", at least in my case. Maybe I'm logged on but I was trying to psych myself up to do a roulette, or some gathercrafting, or I was actually about to log out and try to do some IRL chores or writing. "In town, not queued for duty" doesn't mean "ready to RP".

Parvacake · **11-17-2016, 01:38 PM**

-raises hand- I'm one of those people that have too much RP and can't make a whole lot of time to spend with others.

Though I don't go to many events. Most of them get way too crowded and I can't stand the chat scroll so I avoid them and I know many others are the same way. It's not that I wouldn't mind going to events, but if it's 30-40 people crammed into one floor of someone's house? No thanks. That's too much for me and it's not worth it to go to an event where people keep missing each others posts and you basically sit there either posting in tells or party chat or simply not saying anything at all.

Performance events, though fun when attended now and then, are the same thing. I'd rather go out and engage in something active then sit and watch other people emote and occasionally /clap but otherwise just...sit there. Especially if I go solo. I end up spending more time alt tabbed then actually paying attention.

Instead? I plan. I have too. Why? Between working 45-50 hours a week as a nanny/caretaker, maintaining time between my boys, hanging with my friends in my LS/Discord, date nights, family time, 'me' time...if I don't plan? I'd never get anything done. Ever.

However, I notice a number of folks who don't really plan. It's not a bad thing! But when they randomly ask me 'Wanna RP right now?' and I just started a RP I organized to do with someone a week ago? Yeah, I have to say no. I try to plan something ahead with the other person if possible! But if they aren't willing to meet me halfway in that? Then we don't RP unless they happen to catch me at a rare moment when I'm not doing something already planned or I'm not reveling in 'me' time. It might suck for the other person if they like to be more spontaneous, but I don't have the time for it.

I also have three active in-game characters, one semi-active Skype RP character, and then alts that I swap between when the need or mood rises for it. Along with the PvE that goes with that (two in-game mains are geared across two or three classes each and the third just recently hit level 50).

It's a combination of getting RP in when there isn't events people are going to or plans already laid out in advance. Usually planning helps get the ball rolling but it doesn't always ensure someone is able to get RP happening at the moment they wish for it. Sometimes they have to wait and fill in the gaps they have in the meantime.

If someone is off doing other RP or says they're busy? Try to plan! Ask when would be a good time or day! If they can't manage to do that then try giving it another two or three goes with asking them when it seems like they're not busy. Otherwise? They're either not interested or too swamped and it might be best to find someone else in the same boat RP wise.

Thunderbolt300 · **11-17-2016, 01:38 PM**

(11-17-2016, 01:18 PM)Zhavi Wrote:
(11-17-2016, 01:11 PM)Thunderbolt300 Wrote: It seems to me that in a lot of cases, folk tend to shy away from slice-of-life / tavern-RP where the potential to encounter character development is fairly low, so there's not a lot of incentive to engage in that. Meaningful character develop occurs through conflict, events, and having an antagonist on-hand, and none of these things seem to be greatly plentiful in the community-at-large. At least, events of this nature are kept to silos, aren't advertised well, or are by invite-only. Still, slice-of-life / tavern-RP certainly has its place in the RP ecosystem- but it's filler, it's not the main content.Â

It's an ic way to make contacts. Â For a while, a long, long while, I avoided anything that remotely looked like plotting or planning. Â And I'd go to the Quicksand, and sit at the bar, and just emote my character going about her business, slice of life style. Â And every time I did, she'd meet someone new, and out of that she got business opportunities and contacts who -- if I pursued -- I could have easily rolled into a plot. Â I've said it before, but just because you meet someone in a lull where there's no dragons being killed doesn't mean it has to remain that way. Â If anything, how a character acts in their day-to-day rounds can influence their character development. Â Besides which, sometimes a little slice-of-life can help a character process the dragon slaying or whatever big things are happening to them.

I've had the most enlightening chats with strangers, in the past. Â Sometimes I help them, sometimes they help me. Â There's no reason why it can't be the same in rp.

I'm not disagreeing with you at all there- in fact I totally agree! In my own personal opinion, putting in the time and effort to get out, network in the greater community, connect with other players- it's all excellent for leading into more stuff later. A more connected community is capable of great things. It's like building the foundation for the house. Yes, it's time and labor intensive, but there's a long term payoff there. You have something to build off of.

It's just that not everyone is going to have the time or the desire to invest that heavily into a long term plan, in what is essentially random. While it is not my approach, I can sympathize with the dilemma.

Ruran · **11-17-2016, 01:47 PM**

(11-17-2016, 01:02 PM)Gegenji Wrote: ... The latter is actually why I hesitate on asking folks for RP. I always feel the onus is on the asker to also provide a scene or situation, and if I'm lacking that then I feel weird asking someone to RP. It seems almost rude, in a "hey let's RP and YOU decide what we're doing" kind of way.

That's exactly true for me, too. If I'm asking for RP, I often feel like it's my obligation to have a purpose or driving force behind it. Otherwise I kinda flounder around, wanting to RP with someone but not having any idea what to do, and so I don't ask.

But Aya's right, flexibility is important, and you have to trust that since the other person wants to RP with you, you can both build a scene together!

(11-17-2016, 01:18 PM)Zhavi Wrote: It's an ic way to make contacts. For a while, a long, long while, I avoided anything that remotely looked like plotting or planning. And I'd go to the Quicksand, and sit at the bar, and just emote my character going about her business, slice of life style. And every time I did, she'd meet someone new, and out of that she got business opportunities and contacts who -- if I pursued -- I could have easily rolled into a plot. I've said it before, but just because you meet someone in a lull where there's no dragons being killed doesn't mean it has to remain that way. If anything, how a character acts in their day-to-day rounds can influence their character development. Besides which, sometimes a little slice-of-life can help a character process the dragon slaying or whatever big things are happening to them.

I've had the most enlightening chats with strangers, in the past. Sometimes I help them, sometimes they help me. There's no reason why it can't be the same in rp.

This is a very good way of thinking, and one that I don't do often enough. I guess it's because I'm on the fence about smalltalk RP. It can be hit and miss, and it so often devolves into awkwardness and 'well, gotta go', that I would rather make plans with a specific purpose in mind. (At least for certain characters, anyway.) But this definitely works for a lot of people and should be something to consider!

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