Zhavi

Mateus has a lot of rpers, though. I mean, at prime time their hotspots are just as popping as the ones on Balmung (though more non rpers hanging around), and I've seen open world stuff. There are several rp fcs with focus, but I can't comment on the rp they do because I have only been around the open world common area stuff. Though I do agree that the newer feeling, especially with a higher concentration of new rpers, could be contributing to that. But too, trying to accommodate new rpers could also be why focuses are broader.

From my casual experience with open world stuff and seeing recruiting fc spam, there seems to be an outward (because the inner, more insular, less recruity rp could be a lot different) higher focus on slice of life stuff, more daily living, less drama, with occasional bouts of good vs evil. Like a little slower paced but greater depth than the slice of life I've experienced on Balmung, less of the slice-of-life "fronts" you see a lot of FCs doing on Balmung. Maybe it seems (and I'm stressing that word on purpose) a little more inclusive as opposed to more strictly themed/run/focused fcs on Balmung. But I do want to emphasize that my experiences are as a casual observer, not someone actively trying to find rp. The casually observed rp on Balmung is also sometimes much different (see: reputation as erp capital where everyone erps as main rp focus) then the stuff you have to dig to find. edit - I will also note that pickup rp on Mateus seemed pretty easy to find/run into. A lot more people use RP tags out and about on Mateus than they do on Balmung. edit 2 - will also note that if you primarily use the RPC, balmung tumblrs, or your own discord groups, you might think mateus is dying because you don't see their activity. They focus their ooc community around a ton of discord hubs and their own tumblr hubs (though I think, but don't know for sure, that tumblr is just support to post longer text stuff --especially stories -- as opposed to being a place for ooc communication), and don't seem as inclined to mix as previously? There is a lot of activity there, you just have to look for it!

This. Even casually dipping into Mateus' community has convinced me that they're happy and proud of their community -- as they should be. They have what they enjoy. Is it exactly like Balmung? No. But then again, if it was, they'd just come right back when Balmung opens again. The whole point of having sustainable server communities is to have those unique identities and rp styles so that people have options in finding what they want. It's good if someone has a bad time on Balmung, or Gilgamesh, or Mateus, or Siren/Jenova, or whatever other small server, and can go 'this server isn't working for me, I'm going to try a new one.' It allows people a chance to find their people, and sometimes a fresh start can help alleviate burnout.

Pricy, but not imo exorbitantly so in general, some items do run the exception, however, due to lack of competition. If you're a crafter, there are plenty of niches to exploit. Like uhhh, immediate example: one person had 2 5 stacks of void blue dye up for 7k per one, and looking at market history, while they don't sell super fast, that seemed to be the average going price give or take 1k. Glamour items are decently pricy, with cashmere poncho going for like 5mil if I remember right, half high house boots sitting around 150-200k. Meanwhile, I've seen low level mats like lavender sell for around 700-800 per one -- but it moves a little slowly. Higher than balmung, but not so extreme that you can't meet going rates with a little effort. (note that I didn't check endgame stuff though!)

I'm with ExAtomos -- not a problem now, but will become one in the future if this lock goes on for years. I do miss seeing new players (whether they're rpers or not), but I wouldn't say it's affected my rp at all. I still hold firm to the notion that this is good for the overall rp community; by the time the lock comes back off, there will be entrenched and populated rp communities on Mateus and hopefully elsewhere who will not be tempted to transfer to Balmung. I have noticed some attitudes towards Balmung from people who left (of the good riddance it's locked and hopefully it'll stay locked forever variety) that worry me a little bit; Balmung has always had something of a reputation -- for good or ill -- but the lock kinda...I dunno, it feels like it crystallizes it, in some ways. Having a hard time putting words to it, but basically I just never want to see server vs server animosity. I like that different servers have different feels to them! Multiple server rp communities are great to me. Barring the sour grapes who always exist, I just want the overall community to stay supportive of each other, no matter who goes where.

Would it be better or worse to award them a few pieces of Abalathian Rock Salt? Or like, a few pieces of all the types of salt in game. A bouquet of salt. And maybe a single popoto.

YOU SHOULD TRY IT. :D

If you're having to lessen money from the winner, I'd just do something fun/funny for second place: an ooc, completely random, unannounced item. There are so many cool things in game, from minions to mats to pieces of pretty gear to chocobo barding to whatever. Make it completely ooc, make it fun, make it a 'hey, thanks for participating and helping to make this a good show' type of deal. That way icly you keep the winner takes all, but oocly you can have a nice laugh with the people who showed up once it's over. ...and I mean if they're being a bad sport give them an ugly minion. ;D

You feel lost. Out of the small bit of information you gave, that's the bit that matters to this discussion. Whenever someone asks for the best server/community/rp niches, they're looking for examples from other people to try to find something that pertains to them, something someone else experienced that they will themselves find enjoyable. Tistan, I'm willing to bet people on every server have found what you're looking for. That's not the problem, the problem is that whatever it is, you're not finding it where you're at right now. Why? I know that's already a question you've asked yourself, and you're probably frustrated by it, or else you wouldn't have made a post here. So I'll ask you -- what are you looking for? What's the best thing Tistan could hope for? What kind of group do you want to get in on? Do you even want a group, or do you wanna be solo and awash in open world rp? Do you just want one or two close knit rp partners? Do you want to fill your time going to event after event after event and mingle with the crowd? What's your "best," and what have you been doing to try to find it that hasn't been working for you? Once we know that, then people from the different servers can speak up and offer their own experience in their communities to hopefully point you in a more specific direction.

The issue is that you can't just apply a general one-thing-fits-all to everywhere. People tend to look at the big cities in western europe in specific time periods, and apply that to every single group of people in every time period ever, and that simply does not work. What's their diet like? What's their idea of hygiene? What's their idea of normal? What's their idea of appropriate hygienic practice? To say that "I don't think applying it to more or less 'standard' pre industrial revolution diet is fair" of one group and then assume that another group is "standard" is missing the point and really, really defaulting back to that western bias.

I just wanted to comment here -- your feelings matter the most, on these kinds of subjects. At the end, once you decide that somewhere is no longer for you, that's that. There is nothing in this world that will be 100% for everyone, and if you really felt like Balmung wasn't doing it for you, then Balmung wasn't doing it for you. I think that this is something you're going to hit wherever you go -- finding a solid rp partner who has similar ideas about what constitutes good rp, and gets excited the same way you do can be a long process. My biggest piece of advice is to not give up. My second biggest piece of advice is to not get discouraged. Check out peoples making connections posts, make your own, look at wiki pages and send messages to people whose characters look like good fits for yours. If they're on a different server, give something like forum, skype, or discord rp a try. It's probably going to take several duds before you find your diamond in the rough. Expect it to happen. Remind yourself that finding compatible people is a process. But push come to shove, if the discouragement that you feel is souring the process and turning to cynicism, don't be afraid to take a break. Breaks can be positive experiences, allowing you to recharge and come back with better vibes. Sometimes negativity can be a sneaky thing, and make you subconsciously turn away from things that otherwise might have been something you were down to try, especially if you're starting to get burned out. But for me, personally, messaging people has never let me down. I might go through ten, twenty, thirty people to find one who I really mesh with, but man, it's worth it. In any case, I wish you luck, and hope you're able to find the right rp partner for you.

Regarding teeth - Had a neat article from one of the Inuit elders who spoke about how before western goods became readily available, they never had issues with their teeth that we'd consider common or normal today. Why? Most of what they ate didn't contain a lot of sugar or other refined products that help the bad bacteria breed in your mouth to create cavities and such. That said, soap isn't the only way people have kept themselves clean. Sweat lodge and a scraper; I've also seen references to using sand as an abrasive to get the worst off. Oil and a scraper, too. I mean guys, when you think about the stereotypes about gross city living way back when, keep in mind that ideas about hygiene historically have sometimes included notions that washing with water spread diseases. Too, there's a big difference between city living and living in the bush. What's considered proper social etiquette regarding hygiene also affects how "clean" someone might be, as well as cultural notions of what constitutes "clean."

Oh man, me too. I want most of them!

I edited after posting it, but, Square Enix is making no promises that any of these will be added. Sorry for the confusion!

https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/topics/detail/b82453956cc4916f6027431d85ccec8720f538c6 edit to add - before you get too excited, keep in mind that they may or may not add any number from winners or entries. They make zero promises. ...okay there are a ton, click the link. FURNITURE HYPE!

I cannot stand events. It isn't the events themselves -- I see other people having fun doing them and I think that is absolutelyfreakingawesome, and I think they serve a purpose and fill a need. But they aren't for me. So generally I only ever see two types of rp -- Quicksand rp, where I hang out and watch other people rping (usually for an hour or so before I go to sleep, where I have a show on or am doing other things and tab back and forth). I have to say, there are these two/three rpers who I kinda...loosely follow some of their storyline. Their characters are very well characterized, they get up to hijinks outside of the tavern, and every time I see them I'm like OOH WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW. I'm not a stalker I swear. The other is open world rp. I...maybe it's that I go farming a lot (and everywhere), but I've been seeing a ton of open world rp in the last few months, mainly at hubs. Like, I think it was Wednesday I caught sight of some rp around ....Bentbranch? It was in the Shroud somewhere, I hung around for a couple minutes before dashing off. Looked like an introductory rp though, and I enjoyed it. The other half of that is scheduled rp, which has been super dicey on my end lately (I'm trying ;_; ) -- I blame work. But I have a plotline where one of my characters is gonna take some thumbs out in Thanalan as part of fulfillment of a long running arc with her kith, and the other is an introductory bit that'll prolly be out in La Noscea somewhere. Adventure, action, intrigue, and crime. Also identity crises, because they're just too fun to pass up!

That makes me really happy to hear. Also, hey, that's awesome you got to go!

http://www.psu.com/feature/34640/interview-ffxiv-yoshida-patch-4-2-eureka-future-content Cautious hype?

I was always writing stories, even as a little girl. In middle school, I started really wanting to share my love of writing with my friends, but though my friends supported my love of writing and reading, none of them really liked to write. So I started looking online for people to talk to about writing, and learned about collaborative stories, and from there, rp. I stumbled into a MUD in the early 2000s, and I can't tell you how wonderful it was to be around people who felt the same love of writing I did, and to share stories and characters together. I was lucky, I suppose, in that I found a lot of people to admire and look up to, and learn from in terms of how to construct plot and characters. As well, it lead me to meeting some absolutely fascinating people. At the time, my mother was convinced that rapists and serial killers lurked online behind every corner (and that roleplaying lead to satanism and moral corruption, thanks to some news stories about DnD related murders), so it took some determination and cleverness to continue to rp. In a way, I think that made me love it even more. But from game to game, setting to setting, through real life trials and business, ups and downs, even past my own moments of introversion and solitude, what drives me to rp is the same thing that brought me to it: my absolute adoration for writing -- for building stories and characters -- and sharing that love with other people who feel it, too.

Can't get this out of my head lately.

Given the number of Xaela tribes (and the fact that the devs have said there are more than our canon listed ones), it makes sense to me that interior tribes are more reclusive and exterior tribes (especially trader ones or ones that have settled) are more open to outsiders. I don't see a reason why you couldn't have an exterior or intermingled tribe hosting a more open event. Remember, for all the Xaela centric lore we got in the MSQ, there are still a ton of tribes and cultural nuances we didn't see. That leaves some wriggle room. And while not everyone is comfortable operating within wriggle room, you know, I think it's not going to break the lore to play in it now and then.

CAN THERE BE HORSE/CHOCOBO RACING AND ARCHERY CONTESTS NEXT this is cool, I hope it goes well. <3 and then a traditional mongolian naadam pls pls pls

I'd put that down to inappropriately incorporating modern buzzwords into your rp. I think most people wind up tossing colloquialisms into the pile, it's pretty inevitable, but I think there's some wisdom in avoiding socio-political trends irl with people you don't know well or have never rped with before. That said, I think also taking things with a grain of salt is good. Rather than immediately blacklisting, if the person otherwise seemed like a decent sort, I'd open a dialogue with them. Why did they use that particular phrase? Sometimes people can be clumsy with rping sensitive subjects, especially if they've never really written them before, and their good intentions get mixed up in poor word choices and unintentionally coming across like some clodhopper. So, imo, talking to them was a good way to handle it -- and you know, if you think they're worth keeping contact with, there is no reason why you can't come back to the topic in the future. Who knows, maybe it'll lead to some growth on how to handle rp racism, and why and how the various racial/species groups in Hydaelyn feel the way they do about each other, and how they come across to each other. But if they wind up becoming more of a butt, toss them to the curb, yo, and focus on people who improve your rp experience.

Going by the OP's definition of red flag Strictly in terms of things I don't enjoy in combat -- anyone whose rp experience and character is solely focused around combat, kicking ass, and being a badass. I don't find anything wrong with them, and they don't make me think 'get away' the same way that people who mix ic/ooc do, but it's just something that I really seriously don't enjoy. I try to make a habit of not doing stuff that I don't enjoy without good reason. That said, the only combat rp I do is freeform. Dice rolls feel too limiting to me, too random for the type of writing I enjoy building with rp partners. So I suppose in the sense of "maybe this scene isn't for me" I could say dice rolls are a red flag of 'we just aren't gonna have fun with each other' if someone only wants to do combat with dice...but there's a lot of other things to rp, and that wouldn't stop me from engaging in other rp with said person, so long as we liked other stuff and had reason to write together and whatnot. To me, the most beautiful combat rp I can hope to read is when two people who really understand combat (martial arts, swords, whatever -- you know, people who participated in some kind of combat sport or ren stuff -- or are just super into understanding the kinesthetics of it -- who are also good at translating it to words) just do a loose back and forth post style. I just won't be participating!