I could write an essay of advice, but if I had to choose a few key pieces of advice, it would be on how to find RP if you are shy.
Just look for fun. Do not be too specific in your search for RP.
If I was bored, I worked on my character wiki, or explored in-game. I entertained myself while keeping my eyes open for RP opportunities. I made a scouting journal that gave me reason to explore in-game, and I watched a lot of random RP while doing so. There is always leveling your character as well, but that does not help in a search for RP. That brings me to my next piece of advice.
Be willing to watch and learn.
Watch RP and be fine with just watching if you are too nervous to insert yourself. Sometimes my shy RP friends come to RP with one of my groups, but get discouraged if my character can't engage them directly the moment they arrive, so they leave.
YOU CANNOT GET RP IF YOU LEAVE.
Get back there and RP with some of the others. Become part of the group. If you focus on just your one friend, your character will never meet others, and never be part of the group. However, if your character is just like that, its totally fine. Just do not let yourself OOCly rage-quit because of something minor. Adapt to the scene, do not expect the scene to adapt to you.
If you can't insert your character right away. Watch the scene awhile. Some entertaining stuff might happen, and an opportunity can present itself. Enjoy the show, and maybe throw in a few emotes every so often to show them that your character is ICly watching them.
Do not have expectations, and do not give up.
It does not matter what your character is, or what your character does, do not go searching with expectations and limitations. You want to enter a bar? Do it. "But my character does not drink alcohol." Then get some damn tea. Want to go to Thanalan? "But my character does not go to Thanalan." You had some bad tea, and while intoxicated, took a caravan to Thanalan. Your character wakes up there; not knowing how the heck he/she got there.
Yes, those are silly reasons, and I am kinda joking, but not entirely. Come up with a reason to do what you want to do. Come up with a reason for your character to exploit an opportunity. Do not try to come up with reasons not to do something, or things will get really frustrating in your search.
Keep searching with an open mind that is open to opportunities.
Just look for fun. Do not be too specific in your search for RP.
If I was bored, I worked on my character wiki, or explored in-game. I entertained myself while keeping my eyes open for RP opportunities. I made a scouting journal that gave me reason to explore in-game, and I watched a lot of random RP while doing so. There is always leveling your character as well, but that does not help in a search for RP. That brings me to my next piece of advice.
Be willing to watch and learn.
Watch RP and be fine with just watching if you are too nervous to insert yourself. Sometimes my shy RP friends come to RP with one of my groups, but get discouraged if my character can't engage them directly the moment they arrive, so they leave.
YOU CANNOT GET RP IF YOU LEAVE.
Get back there and RP with some of the others. Become part of the group. If you focus on just your one friend, your character will never meet others, and never be part of the group. However, if your character is just like that, its totally fine. Just do not let yourself OOCly rage-quit because of something minor. Adapt to the scene, do not expect the scene to adapt to you.
If you can't insert your character right away. Watch the scene awhile. Some entertaining stuff might happen, and an opportunity can present itself. Enjoy the show, and maybe throw in a few emotes every so often to show them that your character is ICly watching them.
Do not have expectations, and do not give up.
It does not matter what your character is, or what your character does, do not go searching with expectations and limitations. You want to enter a bar? Do it. "But my character does not drink alcohol." Then get some damn tea. Want to go to Thanalan? "But my character does not go to Thanalan." You had some bad tea, and while intoxicated, took a caravan to Thanalan. Your character wakes up there; not knowing how the heck he/she got there.
Yes, those are silly reasons, and I am kinda joking, but not entirely. Come up with a reason to do what you want to do. Come up with a reason for your character to exploit an opportunity. Do not try to come up with reasons not to do something, or things will get really frustrating in your search.
Keep searching with an open mind that is open to opportunities.
