(07-15-2015, 08:51 AM)Graeham Wrote: 1. As an actor I feel like it's fair to compare role-play to acting since they're similar in many ways. I'd be met with doubt - and rightly so - if I received a role and didn't do any research into the more intricate aspects surrounding it. Could I improvise? Sure - but then I still wouldn't be doing as well as I would if I were to put some genuine effort into the entire affair.1. You get paid to act (in theory). You don't get paid to roleplay. If I was getting paid to roleplay then hell yeah I would soak up every bit of lore there was. As it is, with RL being what it is, and FFXIV not being the only game I play, sometimes I only get in an hour per night. That's like... watching one cutscene sometimes. No thanks. I'd rather be more productive with my gaming time and read the abridged notes.
2. I feel like this is even more important when one creates a character that is influential. I'd imagine that if I were to create a character that claimed to brush shoulders with Ul'dah's elite (as a rough example) then being familiar with Ul'dah's ongoing state of affairs would be important even if I didn't touch upon it directly.
3. In short? I doubt very much that anyone is getting 'upset' over what other role-players choose to do in their approach to role-play. It doesn't mean that people can't be skeptical over potentially damaging/limiting role-playing practices though.
2. Agreed. If you are going to play someone who SHOULD know about Ul'dah politics, then yes, you should be keenly aware of current events. If you are playing a baker from a small town who isn't even aware there's a group called monetarists... then what does it matter?
RL example: I know who the president of the United states is, and the governor of my state. That's about it. I don't know who the mayor of my town is, nor the speaker of the house, nor my state senators. Â Why? I care little about politics. I could find out pretty easily, but I think we take for granted because we are educated and have information at our fingertips (aka the internet) that the same holds true in Eorzea.Â
There is no evidence of this. The mass populous would probably be uneducated, and key information would be long to those who wish to wield power over others. 80% of what we learn in the MSQ is because our character is a WoL who schlums with the Scions, a group who trades in information and secrets. This is not stuff that's gonna be known to every tom, dick and Jane in the streets.
3. I think it can be equally limiting to take all your cues from the MSQ rather than try to forge your own story and imprint on the world.
