(07-02-2015, 09:16 AM)Gegenji Wrote:Its no problem. I had a feeling after I posted it, that this phrase would cause some confusion. I should have better clarified what I meant. Â First of all, you're right. Â We the players are ultimately engaged in a game of pretend, whether RPing or not. The phrase "let's pretend" was used for lack of a better phrase, but I really meant it within the context of being IC. Â When performing a wholly text-based RP, it seems to me as if the characters themselves are playing a game of "let's pretend." Like they came up to each other and one said, "Pretend I'm swinging my sword at you" or something similar. Â(07-02-2015, 09:03 AM)Sylentmana Wrote: If they are not going to use the game's mechanics and are just going to throw text around, then it just seems like playing a game of "let's pretend." I have to wonder why they aren't just playing a tabletop RPG instead of a video game.
Sorry, but I definitely need some clarification here on the part that I bolded. We're roleplaying. Isn't that, at its base, a game of "let's pretend"? We're pretending to be wizards and merchants and warriors and chocobo farmers and whatnot.
To go even further - our "character" in the game is the WoL, according to the mechanics presented. So aren't we playing pretend to not be that and to be something else other than what the game says we are for RP purposes? We're not actually Ul'dahn nobles or Ishgardian soldiers or Yellowjackets or a splinter-tribesman from a Sangoli Seeker tribe. We're someone from outside Eorzea who came in from elsewhere and became everyone's go-to Primal-butt-kicker and ultimate errand boy/girl. Everything beyond that is "playing pretend" - though, to be fair, to try to RP as the WoL would be playing pretend too, wouldn't it?
I'm sorry, I hope I don't seem dismissive or anything. I'm just curious about your stance here.
It just makes me think of the characters themselves as if they are engaged in a child's game of pretend, chasing each other around, swinging invisible swords, and making swooshing and clanging noises. Â It all just seems a bit silly to me.
I hope this helps clarify what I meant. Also, your reaction pics made me laugh.