And you don't even have to do-- I should specify again-- a direct walk-up-and-say-hello. Yes, that's awkward and it rarely happens IRL unless it's at a job fair or something. I recall all the times I've ever started a conversation with someone.
Looking over in a book store and seeing someone reading a book I like or overhearing an order in a cafe and asking if that drink is good. If you tend to hang around a place that's of interest to your character, like the market or a tavern, the docks or a training ground, other characters might have similar interests.
It's another reason I feel compelled to start up a training LS. Just a group of individuals who spar against one another and form connections with expert and novice fighters alike to keep their skills sharp. Anyone who'd be interested to watch could hang around there too. But I'd be much more likely to start it -after- meeting people in character who share such interests.
I should also mention that when people say they don't like seeing closed groups and they're scared to walk up to people, it's not helping to promote just joining an LS or an FC -JUST- to make it easier. Emphasis on the 'just' there, because people who rely on their groups for contact often either end up forming cliques, unintentionally, and only show up when their new friends are about RPing or they feel neglected because LS/FC-mates aren't giving them the RP they joined for. While LS and FCs are great, if you can't build up the courage (not to say you can't have help but practice does contribute a lot to building up your self-esteem) to attempt walk-ups, then you're probably not going to be able to contribute as much as you'd (or your guild leaders) like to the overall LS/FC purpose. Guilds consist of like-minded people and your officers and such can be DMs and they can outline the guild plot and organize events and they should be making sure all the members are happy but it's an equal-part members contributing to the guild itself by going out and working towards the purpose and actively getting involved with one another rather than hoping that their leaders will come get them.
That, of course, really only applies to joining an RP LS/FC, not for OOC ones. I've just seen people try to join guilds for RP because they feel like they'll have more of a chance to get attention and character develop and friendships but they end up feeling neglected and leaving again for a guild they think will do better for them.
Looking over in a book store and seeing someone reading a book I like or overhearing an order in a cafe and asking if that drink is good. If you tend to hang around a place that's of interest to your character, like the market or a tavern, the docks or a training ground, other characters might have similar interests.
It's another reason I feel compelled to start up a training LS. Just a group of individuals who spar against one another and form connections with expert and novice fighters alike to keep their skills sharp. Anyone who'd be interested to watch could hang around there too. But I'd be much more likely to start it -after- meeting people in character who share such interests.
I should also mention that when people say they don't like seeing closed groups and they're scared to walk up to people, it's not helping to promote just joining an LS or an FC -JUST- to make it easier. Emphasis on the 'just' there, because people who rely on their groups for contact often either end up forming cliques, unintentionally, and only show up when their new friends are about RPing or they feel neglected because LS/FC-mates aren't giving them the RP they joined for. While LS and FCs are great, if you can't build up the courage (not to say you can't have help but practice does contribute a lot to building up your self-esteem) to attempt walk-ups, then you're probably not going to be able to contribute as much as you'd (or your guild leaders) like to the overall LS/FC purpose. Guilds consist of like-minded people and your officers and such can be DMs and they can outline the guild plot and organize events and they should be making sure all the members are happy but it's an equal-part members contributing to the guild itself by going out and working towards the purpose and actively getting involved with one another rather than hoping that their leaders will come get them.
That, of course, really only applies to joining an RP LS/FC, not for OOC ones. I've just seen people try to join guilds for RP because they feel like they'll have more of a chance to get attention and character develop and friendships but they end up feeling neglected and leaving again for a guild they think will do better for them.
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