(02-09-2015, 10:08 PM)Reshie Wrote: I view the IC/OOC boundary as being a very simple and very clear divide for me. This is a character who I am playing to match their own distinct personality. Are there parts of me in this character? Yes because I can't play something I don't understand but that being said I am not that character. I had a lot of issues in SWTOR with people feeling that I was my character and it caused a lot of problems that have made me a little gunshy about RPing. That being said, I view the character as the character. You are not your character and I am not going to assume such. Just because the characters are friends does not mean you are my friend OOC and we're all buddy buddy. That's just not how it works.
I don't mind OOC communication but traditionally that communication stays about the characters and their interactions.
I've only RPed on FFXIV for a couple of weeks, but from what I've observed, my personal preference is the opposite of this. I have some anxiety OOC and RPing with new people is oftentimes nerve-wracking for me. My creativity suffers under pressure. I freeze up, panic, and struggle to visualize my character's responses. And when I finally do respond (usually because I'm pushing myself to do it in a more timely manner), it sounds canned, like I'm playing a caricature. Which of course then adds mortification to that anxiety.
On the other hand, if I'm already on decent terms with someone OOC and have a general sense of who that other player is, I feel a lot less nervous and am able to have a lot of fun, regardless of whether we're playing friends or enemies. I agree with many other posters in that it all boils down to communication. I'm a big fan of talking to someone OOC to get a good sense of whether they're enjoying themselves and what their expectations are. My character can be hyperactive and obnoxious, and, depending on the other person's energy level at a given time, she may not be their cup of tea - and that's fine. I'm perfectly happy to resume a scene at a later date. The same is true in reverse: if something starts to happen IC that bothers me, I want to feel comfortable shooting the other person a tell, and I'm much more likely to feel comfortable starting a conversation like that with a friend.
To me, RPing is like any other social activity: playing golf, throwing a frisbee. But really I want to compare it to sitting next to someone watching a movie. I like to be able to share a laugh at funny moments, a roll of the eye at the derpy moments and the occasional meaningful commentary at a scene here or there. I'm not going to want to talk non-stop throughout the show of course, but you probably get the gist of it.
