(03-08-2017, 07:07 PM)Daeva Wrote: Since coming to this server to actually roleplay and not just do content it's been one hell of a ride even if I've played other MMO's and MUD's before at a young age. From someone who has been there... Taking a chance to walk up and start talking to someone is so worth it. You won't always strike gold (as explained below) but I've met incredible people that make it worth it over my time playing!ÂThis just describes a ton of RP'ers in general in this community: Â Needy. They need a ridiculous amount of accommodations and the 'rules' of RP vary so strongly from one to the next. Some people go so far to try and have me script my RP and list out every detail of what is going to happen and what is the expectation of it. I find few to RP just for the sake of RP and generating story. Unfortunately at least for me, these great majority disappear after a week or hop on another character to play for a few month's streak, and go back and forth, or IRL gobbles them up.
Lately it's just the dedication of roleplay. You can't really just talk to someone random and be like "ermahgerd-wanna-do-long-plot-together?" cos that doesn't always work. Schedules. Job. Family. OOC. Being out of practice takes a lot of confidence outta you so I'm still trying to figure out how to connect A to B and approach someone about a serious RP and since I'm new... I wonder if I won't have anywhere to fit in since everyone has their own groups/storylines going on. I wanna be included but I don't wanna intrude, yanno?Â
I had to find out the hard way that there are some undercover people who are all about the badonk and it really made me wonder if I should tone done Daeva's personality. I'd become friends with a person and we'd eventually plot something while ooc chatting and doing some content. They seem hella cool at first until I either don't agree to something they want (usually some "u want some fuk???" smut that comes in WAY too early in our plot and feels unecessary) or start flirting with me oocly (usually involves them asking weird questions and treating me like I'm Daeva or just as flirty as her *SPOILER ALERT-I'M NOT*Â
In the end they'd ghost on me or just drop out of contact and move onto someone else. Real classy, mang. For awhile I thought it was my fault and with me just wanting to fix things I approach them to hash it out but it really just ends in arguing or them making fun of me for not being jive with their "needs". I know I don't have to do things if I'm not comfortable but it still stings, a lot, bc you really believe that they were interested in being your friend.Â
I also feel like hot garbage bc I can't be at every event in my current FC cos I'm usually out and about or still pushing OT at work :c Not something I can really change since real life > roleplay. Silly I know but I can't help but wonder if I'll just fade in the background if I miss everything cool that happens.Â
What keeps me hooked to the game is my ability to make RP happen anywhere and the ease I can make walk ups for people to exercise their characters. As Pawn Stars says, you never know what'll come through those doors (quicksand doors). I enjoy seeing new RP'ers who make their first steps into the game and give them a taste of quality where they can weave through AFK'ers and ERP magnets. The Quicksand gets a horrible rep but those with their noses stuck so high to the ceiling forget that this is where first-time RP'ers go. The main hub. You gotta sift through mud to dig out the gold and diamonds. People become so obsessed with stigmas and maintaining their image they forget to enjoy the RP that is right under their noses.
P.S., Some of the best advice I can give for being a successful roleplayer is to entirely detach your OOC self from the RP. Lots of people want to jump into FC's and other groups and get immediately connected. Discord calls, discuss X and Y in the real world. Unfortunately the internet is not an accepting place and this can cause -major- friction. The Identity of you should be your characters and your characters alone. The best RP's I had are where I have no clue who was on the other side of the keyboard and our only focus was the story at hand.
Per Example, I'll relay myself only because I'm not bothered if these facts deter or upset people:
I am a Southern Baptist Texan Libertarian. I am CiS-gender Male (hate that term personally). I believe there are only 2 genders with exceptions of mutations in development. I own lots of firearms. I believe in right to bear arms. I am very confrontational and 'in your face, shake my hand' type of personality. I don't believe Trump is Hitler. I talk issues out on the internet as I would IRL. I talk about contemporary and sensitive issues openly in person and online forums (as you can see here).
In my personal experiences, I've come to clash alot with RP'ers who tend to be on the opposite end of my political and social spectrum, and how I handle RP. I've found most of the community to be strong-leftist idealists. I will not say in this post which side is right or wrong out of respect for their opinions and forum rules.
I've found the RP community on FF is entirely counter-culture from where I started (runescape), which is not talking about problems and spreading rumor mills on linkpearls or FC chat that might not be entirely true. The use of screenshots is limited to none. There is heavily scripted RP and players are extremely sensitive to various material and for not agreeing with their methods or own political or social views. If you stick to your guns and are not wanting to change the way you RP or how you view the world in whatever X topic, there are strong odds you will be ostracized or belittled for being 'uncooperative'.
Disclaimer:I present none of the above information to promote nor belittle personal views, religions, etc of others, to abide by Forum Rules Post 2, Section 3 (http://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/showthread.php?tid=19139).
tl;dr version: Roleplay to have fun with your characters but do not expect people to follow your own rules and needs. Avoid Stigmas and prejudices, such as 'everyone in the Quicksand is a terrible RP'er'. This is where mostly everyone starts. AVOID identifying who you are oocly in RP if you want it to go as smoothly as possible. The internet is intolerant and unmerciful, and this simply opens the can of worms that can soil your RP and plots as it has done for me countless times.
