No Longer Exists

*Snooze bubble pops* Personally, the reason why I've all but given up on 14 and its RP is that I have never felt connected in any way when I RP. I love Doc as a character and I know he's aloof to the point of standoffish and rude, but that's just a layer that a scant few have actually peeled back. Those who have, I absolutely adore, and while I know that no one is required to involve themselves with me and Doc any more than in passing, it's a sad shame that this happens more often than not in a community spanning so many FCs and so many individual players. Watching people post events, have no one (or very few) show up, then give up on it entirely actually damages my creative soul. Some events stick and (no offense to the GS here) they're chaotic, overstuffed to the point where few can actually RP much more than mindless cliche'-isms, showing off, or attempting to post something worthwhile but getting lost in the scroll of hurr durr OOC nonsense from those so bored that they've taken to the 4th Wall to be entertained. I think the most damaging moment for me was being asked to prioritize, against my character's knowledge and sensibilities, who he heals for the sake of the GS mechanics. It's nitpicking, but we're RPers. We're supposed to RP. We're supposed to encourage RPing, not confine it for the sake of moving shit along in an RP event. That, in essence, is my uncertainty when it comes to RPing on 14 anymore. We're all very busy people, sure. That goes without saying, I used to spend 5+ hours every night on 14 doing some game content or grinds and then looking for RP only to be vastly disappointed and log off with a sour sentiment. Last time I left to take a break was amidst rampant nonsense drama, this time it's because the RP community feels less like a community and more like a jumble of withered vines unable to connect to anything that'll rejuvenate them. FCs are isolationists, people are too concerned about offending someone to be open and have fun. So I think my uncertainties stem from how badly people suck, more than my own RP which I'm not even bothering to do on 14 at this point. Yeah, I know. I know. Hush. *Snooze bubble*

Doc Oak will not be participating in the next few Grindstones leading up to Season's Beatings.

*Snooze bubble pops* While it's still in the early stages, Circle of Healing is a linkshell I created and I would be happy to extend you an invitation to it if you're into that sort of thing. Lots of people from various FCs to chat with and the linkshell IS in character which I'm hoping everyone will get in on and enjoy in time. Just reply here or by FPM or prod me in game on Doc Oak to join. -Hatter *Snooze bubble*

*Snooze bubble pops* Warren is right. Having a tangible goal for your RP expectations is very important here, but don't think that it has to be rigidly defined. Take a deep breath and think where you want Melodia to be in RP, with what sort of people, and why. That's all you really need to get started. Even I find it frustrating sometimes, because of my timezone being EST and my RL obligations, to catch all the people I want to play with. Warren and I almost NEVER see each other IC outside of the Grindstone and yet Doc Oak treats Warren as a kindred spirit and considers him a trusted ally if not a friend. I have two new members of the FC I'm in and one of them has had one good RP session with me, the other had a casual "Hey, nice to meet you" moment and that's it. Sometimes, the stars don't align. On that note, it seems you have quite a few folks who want to meet Melodia and RP with you, so I would suggest focusing on getting in touch with them immediately and at least get a little "slice of life" going. If you'd like, you can player search for Doc Oak as well and add me to the list of RP encounters. In the end, it's not abnormal to get discouraged after a while. You're not crazy, it's the way of things. Cheers! -Hatter *Snooze bubble*

Doc Oak 1. Please state the nature of the medical emergency. 2. You're in my way, please move. .....Doc's not the most open of people so I fail at finding 5 reasons. Whistler 1. PRETTY! (This encompasses women AND objects of value) 2. Steve Irwin Syndrome. Example: He looks scary and tough, I'mma go poke him. 3. I'M BORED. Entertain me! 4. To steal something from said person. 5. The devil made me do it. Example: Boss says I gotta get , know where I can find one?

There are now three people able to invite listed in the information above. This is a bump, as well.

[THUNDERFURY, BLESSED BLADE OF THE WINDSEEKER] That is all. I will eventually return to WoW, it's sadly inevitable. However, I have no real input to add to this conversation.

You were already on the list, Star!

"The fact is, a good healer isn't an island even if one tries to be. To promote the best health and wellness for all of Eorzea, not just a free company or grand company, a medical practicioner must keep up to date on methodology and have a strong awareness to the plights the world faces. To do this, I feel it is best that each and every healer, doctor, herbalist, and alchemist be able to exchange information freely. That is the purpose of the Circle of Healing." - Doc Oak Circle of Healing is an RP based Linkshell for medical workers, holistic healers, conjurers, midwives, etc. Any character with a background in or a desire to learn the healing arts is welcome. This Linkshell offers multiple opportunities: 1> A way for healers to exchange their knowledge in "real-time" through RP. Ask a question, get an answer from your colleagues. Make new connections among the healing populace. 2> An EMS system. Through the Linkshell, any healer can call for back-up aid immediately. This is another great way to get the RP flowing between companies, individuals, and events. 3> Coordinating events such as the Free Clinics, staffing for tournaments like the GS or the Champion tourney. Remember, this Linkshell is IC only. It is intentionally designed that way to promote more roleplaying. If you would like to join Circle of Healing, give a shout here or send me an FPM to set up an opportunity to RP and be invited, or simply find Doc Oak in game and engage him in conversation! Linkshell leaders (Aka those who can send invitations) Doc Oak John Waterstrike

*Snooze bubble pops* This is something I've always wanted to do, but on the grandest scale of...say....an entire ward of housing acting as a town. Unfortunately, it's nigh impossible to create such a thing on this game because the housing market is super-dumb and practically every server by now has had its wards stockpiled with random ownerships. The second hurdle is that many an FC is insular and with good reason, while plenty DO interact with each other on occasion; there is no interplay so deep that the FCs feel that each is part of a larger community. They may wave to the neighbors, but that's about it. At best, we've had RP events that are geared toward Crafter's Bazaars and our jewel, the Grindstone's fighting tournament as well as other tourneys. It's about as social as the server on the whole gets really barring the occasional "Slice of Life" bar crawl. Nevertheless, I would looooooooove to see this sort of thing exist so I encourage you to keep dreaming, keep conceptualizing, and strive for that goal. Cheers -Hatter *Snooze bubble*

*Snooze bubble pops* Did you know that I judged this post as soon as I finished reading it? The OP statement is nothing new, we've all seen it before on many a forum and it still surprises me how many people sound off on a redundancy check. Some of you will look at my first sentence there and immediately judge the rest of this post. I'd be willing to bet most of you will, because most of you have had interactions with me and I'm not the most pleasant person. I AM opinionated and I speak openly. Some will invariably look at the ole Black Hat and think "Oh great, here we go...." I'm cool with that. It's the way of things and that's really the only advice one can give on a subject like this. Get over it. It sounds rude, I know. There's no clear outcome to a discussion like this, because it's personal preference. It's not a law, it's not a scientific fact of the universe. It's opinion and opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and they all stink except mine. :lol: Unless the human race suddenly becomes a hive mind collective, we will never think the same thing at once. P.S.: I say it all the time: This is not a community. We are not a community. We do not occupy the same space, because the game world is not a space. It's a pass time activity for entertainment. We DO have a characteristic in common and that's roleplaying. HOWEVER, definition 2 of the word "Community" states "A feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals." RPers do not do this. RPers are self-serving. If we were a community, we would have a commonality that involves open inclusion, where everyone worked toward the betterment of the entire group. Sadly, this is not the case. Occasionally, a few glomp together based on commonality and they become an FC which IS a community. But the RPC is a forum, a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged. The expectation of inclusion and acceptance in a forum is unfortunately absurd. -Hatter *Snooze bubble*

Assuming she's looking for a tutor in the medical field, you're more than welcome to keep an eye out for Doc Oak (Actual In Game Name). He'd be more than happy to work with another healer-type. Incidentally, Swyg and I have been discussing a healer linkshell and some medical based RP. If you'd like to know more, feel free to drop me a PM on the RPC here or contact me in game. Cheers -Hatter P.S. - We apparently share the same FC name. lol. I now have "It's a small world" stuck in my head.

*Snooze bubble pops* I'll try to describe this as briefly as possible, but it's really NOT something that can be summed up. Galen Aubrey crossed over from Gilgamesh World to Balmung (via character transfer) and my partner and I RPed that they were pulled through a void gate that shouldn't have been there in the first place. It was a cataclysmic experience for both characters. Galen woke up outside Limsa Lominsa alone, separated from Fram, so his first thoughts were absolute terror that she was lost to him. So he walked into Limsa and immediately booked passage to Ul'dah, planning to return to his company house and look for her or organize a search party. Everything seemed normal to him until he reached the housing wards. Suddenly, it was apparent that whole companies of adventurers that he had known did not exist. GROUPS OF PEOPLE SUDDENLY -GONE-. Imagine waking up and finding out half the people who knew and worked with had ceased to exist Rapture style. Chew on that for a moment. So he returned to Ul'dah, where everything looked the same but he now had this sense that everything was just slightly to the left of what he knew was real. After running through the wards finding every company, every home, every group of people he knew were replaced, Galen spent two weeks wandering around Ul'dah looking for clues. Two. Entire. Weeks. Each day, that paranoid sense that either he was utterly insane or a victim of some cataclysmic prank lingering for fourteen days where I RPed with people who wondered why he talked about stuff that didn't exist or looked at every person with suspicion. He was a nice guy, but something was off about him and everyone he met took note. (I bought a house OOC) He began to squat in a small cottage in the very back of the residential ward and spent many weeks after amassing equipment, crafting, diligently writing out theories and research into madness curses, aether-sickness (to explain how he confused things maybe?) and eventually surmised that he was not where he was meant to be. That singular thought shattered his mind and he began to gather aetheryte, even voidal energy, while building a massive machine in the basement of the cottage he squatted in. He withdrew, spent less and less time out in Ul'dah unless he needed supplies. All that mattered was putting right what was wrong with the universe, returning home. (OOC: The character became less and less fun to play because of this, his disassociation actually crippled my ability to RP him out in the world.) When the machine was finished, he didn't test it, he didn't double check it. He was so lost to his obsession by then that he pulled the lever and vaporized the house, and himself, in a terrible explosion. That is crippling madness. It's a side of RP I don't think I'll ever venture into again after that. It's a dark, sad, frightening place to visit. I would not wish it upon even my worst enemies. NOW. This isn't to say that everyone would react that way, sure. We can wave our magic wands and say our characters are made of tougher stuff. I could've handwaved a retcon when I realized where it was going. I have the powah, I am He-Man of my RP. BUT! It's a consideration that I feel should be considered when hopping a pre-fabbed character over into a different setting/game/world. But as with anything around here, this is all based upon the whim of the individual. There's no legislation involved, only advice. Cheers. *Snooze bubble*

*Snooze bubble pops* I guess it's a matter of inclination really, some people really do just RP because they like to RP and don't care about the lore at all. Some want to twist and push the boundaries just to be edgey. Some are just plain odd (THIS IS A PERSONAL OPINION, SHUSH). Meeting a magical transformation girl born of the unholy union between a dragon and a housecat can be somewhat daunting, but I enjoy RPing my interactions with that person as if they were the RL homeless man with tinfoil on his head. It doesn't impact my RP at all unless they start swinging PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWAZ and then get upset cause I wonder why they're waving their hands around wildly but to me, nothing's happening. Maybe that's mean, but it's how I avoid lore breaches without destroying the RP. Incidentally, I often RP character transfers as dimensional shifting. This lead to the dramatic death of a character by suicide after he went insane, trying to build a device to send him back to what he believed was his home dimension and blew himself up when it malfunctioned. That was fun. Lastly, my brother plays this game on two worlds with me and his character is the twin brother of mine on another world but I don't play that one on Balmung. We discussed that his character is an alternate reality version, where he killed his twin in an epic battle and lost an eye in the process (cheesey, but kinda cool). So really, it's all in how one fiddles with the paradox of alternate realities and transdimensional, wibbly wobbly, timey wimey......stuff. *Snoozes*

*Gwen flares up a cigarette in the alley, the parchment catches the corner of her eye during the match's flame. the short midlander saunters over to the letter taking a drag out of her cigarette and blowing a puff of smoke into the air.* "What have we here now? Inconspicuous lovely little note left in an alley eh? Oh Voidies, wonder if this a paid job?" *Gwen takes another drag of the cigarette and pulls out a small blank book and a quill and writes down the location of the purposed meeting.* "Well guess it won't hurt none to have a looksie, my schedule seems clear enough yeah?" *the midlander casually walked away from the location and the letter deeper into the alley way. She tosses the half smoked cigarette onto the ground and stepped on it as she whistled a weird tune.* As if the whistled weird tune had summoned him, the little miqo'te thief known as Whistler dropped down into the alley four steps and to the left of Gwen's strolling form. "Hey, didja see this? Somebody's musclin' in on our turf." Whistler said, waving back at the note with a blue skinned hand covered in black leather. "Bad enough with that old witcher in the way. How're we supposed to make any gil with every Tomomo, Dickson, and Harbold running around after all the weird stuff? I mean, c'moooooooooon. Be afraid of the dark for twelves sake!" After his little tirade, Whistler stuffed his hands into the pockets of his newly purchased pantaloons and kicked refuse with fresh leather highboots. It felt weird wearing new clothes that didn't stink or itch to seven hells. He fell into step behind Gwen, mirroring her gait. "I'm hungry." He muttered, shaking his purplish bangs from in front of yellow eyes. "Better not steal our work, I'm swivin' serious. I will stab a jobber, I swear ta Rhalgr...."