Berrod Armstrong

Sawyer/James Ford from LOST was a HUGE inspiration to the way I played Berrod. I adopted Sawyer's habit of giving everyone a nickname, too! Berrod has changed now, but I'll remember it fondly. All those dirty Bara mangas i read also contributed.

Quoting this for emphasis, because I think it's really, really important. Communication, as always, is key. I actually am a therapist. Shit. Though I agree that communication is key! Edit: Domri! I shall hunt you down when my internets are stable again! I saw you at the Grindstone on Saturday-- if I'm overseeing again this week I'll have Racist Cactpot Granny Berrod come voice APPROVAL OF THE BLOOD. Or something!

I've been playing FFXIV on and off since the game's relaunch, personally. Yet despite multiple attempts to get involved with more than just brief meetings in the Quicksand it was only when I stumbled across my current FC that I actually felt welcome. Now, I'm not new to role-play by any means. I've led events and role-playing guilds back when I devoted my MMO time to WoW. I've got a pretty big load of ideas for planned events and the like yet any attempt to break into the community outside of my FC often falls flat. People say they're open to being approached in-game or that they're happy to join a particularly intriguing fresh LS and yet when push comes to shove they don't deliver on that promise. It's understandable if they're busy or swamped with other matters but if so maybe they shouldn't be giving people false hope by saying 'sure, I'll get involved' and then not doing anything. As you can no doubt imagine it becomes even more frustrating when those same individuals then come to this very thread and feign innocence or deflect blame by making it seem like those putting in genuine effort need to do more to get involved. It's a dangerous, vicious cycle and I for one will be doing what I can to try to end it. Though for that to happen we need acknowledgement and humility from those responsible. This is an interesting perspective. I am glad you found a Free Company though. I'm curious as to how you stumbled across them! I'm also genuinely curious (not being snide! I know sometimes tone can be misconstrued in writing) regarding the individuals in this thread who feign innocence or deflect 'blame'. Rather, I would like to know, for myself and my own self improvement, if you would count me as one of those, and if I am, I'm very open to suggestions on how I can change that.

*looks lovingly at Val* I've actually done this lol. I've also actually had Berrod LEER at Coatleque outside the Quicksand, which developed into an awkward 'Oh god it's so awkward talking to her after ripping her clothes off with my eyes, what do I even say, may I flee now?' reaction to her. The dynamic that grew based on short, awkward conversations is one I immensely enjoy, and I know if for any reason I want to RP something more intensive with her, all I need to do is send a PM and ask. All that from actively leering!

My worry is mostly for those who do step up, I obviously beleive one SHOULD step up. You gotta do the work, obviously. It's the ones who do step up and nothing comes of it where I want to give them a solution to try one last thing that would definitely get the character noticed and couldn't really think of anything. That I can understand completely! It's where the persistence comes in, really. /IMAGINES SOMEONE STOMPING ON WELCOME MAT AND BANGING ON THE DOOR ...well. Methods may vary. But, that's how this thread was born, in a sense, which makes this forum a great avenue for 'that one last thing'. ...this thread is that one last thing. Whoa. that's so zen holy shit

I'm relieved that you finally got what you wanted. It's one solution out of many listed on this thread, of course. It really sucks when the character of a new roleplayer isn't acknowledged or is outright rejected. I for one do what I can to make them feel welcome -- though, they gotta step up to the welcome mat at least, first.

Isn't this the very essence of encouragement? To urge people to do that which is hard? That which is challenging but rewarding? To let people know that yes, its tough, but there is good reason to follow through? It depends on how much they've tried. If they've gone and done it and it failed, really. Seeing "You need to have confidence and do it!" while good advice, can wear someone down after awhile if it isn't exactly working for THEM. What works for some people, doesn't always work for others, is the thing. Confidence falters. I'm not saying new people try really hard and fail all the time, but I have a lot of sympathy for people trying to break into this community - especially now, I did it when the game launched, I couldn't imagine doing it now - and I've seen a lot of people leave frustrated and wondering if there was a way to help. That's what these posts are for. All of them have valid advice that can serve as a big help to anyone looking to break through. To be fair a lot of those posts are exactly what I'm talking about. "Get out there, here's what I did" sounds discouraging to someone who is trying and STILL failing, is my point. This actually happens a lot more often then you think.What do they do? The ones who have tried? Try again, and again, and again until it works, or until they don't want to anymore. Try until they discover new methods, or unearth old ones. Those posts are an arm reaching out, and if someone is unable to take it, then the person extending the arm is only a PM away for more advice. None of us can wave a magic wand to conjure an ideal, or to give RP to the RP-less. We can only do so much. What would be your idea of a solution?

Isn't this the very essence of encouragement? To urge people to do that which is hard? That which is challenging but rewarding? To let people know that yes, its tough, but there is good reason to follow through? It depends on how much they've tried. If they've gone and done it and it failed, really. Seeing "You need to have confidence and do it!" while good advice, can wear someone down after awhile if it isn't exactly working for THEM. What works for some people, doesn't always work for others, is the thing. Confidence falters. I'm not saying new people try really hard and fail all the time, but I have a lot of sympathy for people trying to break into this community - especially now, I did it when the game launched, I couldn't imagine doing it now - and I've seen a lot of people leave frustrated and wondering if there was a way to help. That's what these posts are for. All of them have valid advice that can serve as a big help to anyone looking to break through.

I agree, there is help going out, in a sense, though that still doesn't solve the too timid to actually approach the people they want to approach thing. I'm not saying we should be able to find anything, but if their IS a way, I'd like to see it. If there's not, hey at least there was a discussion. Except that 'just go do it' wasn't what they said -- they described methods and resources. Reaching out can also mean passing on knowledge or the results of experience to others. What is being done here is a big help. Advice! Lots of it! There's quite a bit of elaboration on what it takes to 'do it'. Hell, I even went into ways for people who are too timid to approach to make connections with others in a previous post, via rumor swapping and Bulletin Board posts. The good stuff is all over this thread.

Coming to a middle can be done after the failings of both sides are placed on the table. Tiergan identified the failings of one side, and Iex identified the failings of the other -- In fact, why are there even only two sides? ANYWAY. People are posting their own perspectives and observations for people to see, examine, understand, discuss and perhaps debate. I'm sorry if it's not amounting to some sort of middle ground as of yet, but there are some truly pertinent points posted here. Everyone has been civil for the most part, discussion continues, and I'm sure people are learning a thing or two, I know I am. Not everything needs to end in hugging! In my humble opinion, this is fine.

At first I agreed then it went into how Nara'to failed and not... the other side of the community. No one in here has discussed the established part of the community without going "But, really, it's not us, it's them." I'm just asking for a bit of social awareness. If it really is a two way street, admit the failings of the OTHER side too, then maybe we can find some common ground and see if anything can be fixed. It's really not much to ask to try to see BOTH sides of the argument, here. Think of it as less blame as a 'what to do/what not to do'. He did say he did not intend to demonize the guy, after all. I think his words have merit, given that he openly admits to being one of the people ON that side, even if he's siding with the other. He's in the perfect position to see and speak about it, really.

I don't want to keep circling here and make it look like we're sucking each other off, but when someone who is perceived to be popular says "This is how I made friends" you should probably at least listen if you're also trying to also make friends. Roleplay is social interaction. If your character concept, at a base level, avoids or shirks social interaction (The grumbling merc in the bar, the super-shy new adventurer, the hard-to-understand tribal person, the non-posting non-speaking wall fixture) you are going to have a bad time when trying to meet people. Roleplaying requires both parties to invest their time and effort into one another. It is not fun to approach someone only to have them tell you to get lost because that's "how my character would react." Characters like that don't make friends. Building on this because I think it is extremely important. Now, even if someone insists on playing one of the above mentioned types, something HAS TO HAPPEN outside of those qualities to increase the chances of meaningful, lasting interaction. I can vouch for that, because Berrod is a surly, grumpy and sometimes mean bastard. HOWEVER, if someone speaks to him, he talks back. If he sees someone who randomly interests him, he approaches. If I, as a player, see someone who I want to interact with on my character despite his characteristics, I make the choice to craft a situation that will allow for the interaction, and allow for the connection forged from it to last. These are the things we need to consider instead of just 'My character is shy/hates everyone/misunderstood brooding genius/doesn't understand DAS CULTURE'. Another thing can be out of game hooks! The Balmung Bulletin Board is a GREAT place to read about the everyday lives of other characters and post things of your own. Otherwise, a player can start their own thread and post some writing that depicts their characters thoughts, actions and mood -- or perhaps an adventure or two! People see these things, and sometimes, people want to get involved. I was so flattered when characters approached mine asking about the IC writing that I posted on the bulletin board -- to the point where I want to write some more, and do it justice. The wiki is a great help as well! Some people check theirs often, and believe it or not, the rumors section is a cool place to connect! Like myself, some folks like to return rumors to people who post rumors about them. See a character in game that has a wiki? Post your character's impression of them in the rumors section? You never know what kind of connection that might foster. Another thing I think I should bring up-- make sure what you say what you want is really what you want. I am not accusing anyone here of anything, but I have come across this situation far too many times to name. If you want adventuring RP, say that's what you want. If you want romance RP, say so. If you want romance and say you want adventuring RP -- that's gonna lead to difficulty. I suppose it goes the other way around too. MORE RAMBLING -- but here's as good a place as any to get that advice out, methinks!

If that happens to me I poke FC mates or friends with the sweet offer of bonus soldiery.

More like, 'this is how I got mine, why don't you try [this], [that], [the other]...?'. That door being closed is a perception. That door is wide open in so many ways. HoD bar nights. The Grindstone. Housing District crawling. Poking people OOC. I only knew a few people when I started in this game, and I still managed to make connections in the community by just. Approaching people. Catcalling pretty girls in the street (this is in character, Berrod was a thug), making offhand in character comments about a conversation (it's actually a decent hook!), sitting down next to someone in a bar and making conversation (don't forget to have your character introduce themselves, and perhaps ask for a friend-add after the roleplay! Do this over and over again and my word, the connections you make...!), seeking out and attending the big public events -- my first Grindstone was amazing, and I always recommend it to anyone who wants to be exposed to a lot of people and make some connections (healers get it easy! Fighters make friends and rivals -- and sometimes fans! Spectators can MINGLE). 'Being popular' is not something that just happens. It's something that is a result of persistence, politeness, and maybe little bit of quality (if you nasty). It makes no sense to begrudge anyone for the results of their efforts regarding getting connected to others. Yes, sometimes repeated attempts to interact with certain people may fail -- but there are SO MANY OTHER people out there! Yes, you may be shy or reluctant to approach people, but if roleplay is what you want, this is what it's going to take to get it. I can try to say 'hey it's okay, lots of people are shy', which is true. People can see and try to help as well, but the effort required is a reality that has always been, and isn't going to change. I tend not to respond to new roleplayer threads here because I can't make any guarantees based on how busy I usually am. However, I DO keep an eye out for those people in game, and if someone contacts me directly because they saw something interesting of mine, I sure as hell make the effort to accommodate them. There are times when I too, show interest in another roleplayer and speak with them for a while before we arrange roleplay. If it's what you want, keep trying. If you're not finding it somewhere, look elsewhere, if you're not getting it with someone, seek out others instead. If you find something and it's not EXACTLY what you want and dreamed of, although it's cool anyway, give it a chance! Okay so that was all over the place, and I think I missed a thing or two, but yis.

Or admit to any of them. "Oscare? ... ah..." Oscare: That gif very accurately describes what happens when Berrod gets within seven fulms of him. He literally flees.

Oscare's gifts are always amazing. Eeeeee.

http://i.imgur.com/GeokVBo.jpg[/img]

"Interviews today. Bugger me sideways."

Natalie McBeef was a riot, and I was happy to play along at the time. I approached Warren because he looked like the sort of character that just BEGGED for antagonizing. And now they're friends. Well, shit. Caleb Agron. Berrod was a complete asshole to him and still plotted to get in his pants. Val Nunh. Broken beer bottles on heads. Yesssssuh. There's a lot more, but I'm lazy!

^ Basically this!

I wake up at around 3:30 , work out and play a bit of FFXIV until about 5:30 then head out to work at around 5:45. I get home from work at around 18:30, dinner, rest and fool around until about 22:00, then go to bed. I get around five and a half hours of sleep a night, and that works just great for me!

E4nL-eoqBPA Berrod's life.

https://41.media.tumblr.com/a0f610611a8d531a29ac8e40fe5c74c0/tumblr_inline_nlm8ngAjLv1rs0i7u_500.png[/img]

...for some reason my connection does NOT want me attending this thing. Good luck, you guys.

https://41.media.tumblr.com/5cc5ae55010dc6de64e142946f622a48/tumblr_nlk9hvYDWR1robwlio1_540.png[/img] My Brawncanist, Rolf Bengairn! ...might be putting him up for that Mr. Eorzea thing.