What is Role Playing?
Role playing is playing pretend, just like when we were kids.  When children play house, they’re role playing:  you have the mother, the father, the baby, and sometimes the family dog.  When we RP, we pretend to be someone else, but because we’re (possibly) more mature than children, the roles we assume and the stories we tell are much more complex than kids playing house.
As role-players, we create our own Final Fantasy XIV stories.  Most RPers try to stay within the established framework of the game, and many chose to imagine their character as far removed from the world-shaking events of the main quest line.  You may want to play your character as if he/she went through all those epic encounters, but don’t be surprised if other RPers are unwilling to accept that your character is indeed the hero from the main story. Â
While you might be upset that your fellow players are unwilling to react to your character with admiration and awe, it’s important to remember that role-playing is a shared experience.  Think back to when you were a kid again…remember those children you DIDN’T like playing with?  Remember how they never admitted they were out?  Remember how they refused to play along if their character got into trouble?  Remember how their toys were invincible and nothing bad ever happened to the characters that kid was playing?  Free form RP in FFXIV is the same way.  No one wants to waste time playing with someone who is the perfect person with powers like a god, and unfortunately the RP community can be pretty judgmental and dismissive. Â
Random strangers may not like the direction your character is going or think that you’re only trying to troll them, and they deal with that by ignoring you.  However, don’t be discouraged!  I’m sure you can create a character that you’re happy with and that others accept, but to make that great character we first need to understand what makes a story.
Role playing is playing pretend, just like when we were kids.  When children play house, they’re role playing:  you have the mother, the father, the baby, and sometimes the family dog.  When we RP, we pretend to be someone else, but because we’re (possibly) more mature than children, the roles we assume and the stories we tell are much more complex than kids playing house.
As role-players, we create our own Final Fantasy XIV stories.  Most RPers try to stay within the established framework of the game, and many chose to imagine their character as far removed from the world-shaking events of the main quest line.  You may want to play your character as if he/she went through all those epic encounters, but don’t be surprised if other RPers are unwilling to accept that your character is indeed the hero from the main story. Â
While you might be upset that your fellow players are unwilling to react to your character with admiration and awe, it’s important to remember that role-playing is a shared experience.  Think back to when you were a kid again…remember those children you DIDN’T like playing with?  Remember how they never admitted they were out?  Remember how they refused to play along if their character got into trouble?  Remember how their toys were invincible and nothing bad ever happened to the characters that kid was playing?  Free form RP in FFXIV is the same way.  No one wants to waste time playing with someone who is the perfect person with powers like a god, and unfortunately the RP community can be pretty judgmental and dismissive. Â
Random strangers may not like the direction your character is going or think that you’re only trying to troll them, and they deal with that by ignoring you.  However, don’t be discouraged!  I’m sure you can create a character that you’re happy with and that others accept, but to make that great character we first need to understand what makes a story.
