Rila

Rila and I would be BFFs for a week and I'd offer her our guestroom. But I'd have to kick her out after the cops knock on our door at 3 AM in the morning two nights in a row.

Sniffing glue.

I could totally see this happening as a result of some prank. While they're in a meeting someone glamours each hat to look like another, and the glamours dissipate when they each go home. Some unfortunate mage would find themselves wearing I'rila's opaque visor, switched off so they can't see a thing. Could definitely make for some fun.

I'rila the thaumaturge and I'rhaane the conjurer would both be delighted to join. But you knew that already! Since we're also brainstorming, here are some ideas off the top of my head for things the coven could do: -Research magic -Investigate rumors of magical artifacts (essentially more research, but could make for some fun IC dungeons) -Run a clinic -Found Hogwarts -Open up an expensive matchmaking service to those desperate enough to think that consulting a group of strangers in mysterious robes might just make the difference -Kidnap the loved ones of Eorzea's richest and extort them for coin -Summon demons -Sacrifice virgins -Eat cake

A lot of good replies in this thread thus far. I find the advice, encouragement and personal experiences to be very valuable. So, thank you. It's certainly a relief to know I'm not alone in this and I'm glad I started this topic. A few ideas that I've taken out of everyone's responses so far: -The next time I RP, especially in a group setting, I'll try to spend a little less time panicking and a little more time observing other people's writing techniques. -I do frequently get bogged down with descriptions. Not in a way that I want it to sound pretty, but sometimes I visualize a certain gesture or a subtle but meaningful shift in body language, and I want my response to adequately describe exactly what I'm seeing in my head. I feel like this ties into the previous point where learning how other people handle things will help. But I'll also try to give myself the occasional reminder not to fuss over it too much. And of course, to keep it concise and easy to read. -Also in line with the learning thing, it wouldn't be a bad idea, next time I RP with someone new, to just be like, "so, I'm a newb. Pls to give critical feedback if anything comes to mind." -I also liked Erik Mynhier's idea of RPing just to practice and not counting as anything that actually happens IC. Wonder if there's a linkshell for this... if not, I bet it'd be well received.

^ That gif right there is pretty much how I felt after reading it.

Wow, thanks for the responses so far. It's good to know that I'm not alone in this. I feel like I should clarify something though: my personal writing style actually tends more toward longer paragraphs. I like to describe my characters' tone of voice and body language, though I definitely do not judge anyone for making shorter replies instead. But because I tend to want to be more descriptive, it also adds to my response time - which is another thing I'm self conscious over. But yeah, when I'm really stressing out, it's the content of the responses that I'm worried about more so than the length. @Zhavi You know, I hadn't really thought of doing it, but now that you mention it, I'll give it a shot next time. Admitting that I'm learning does seem a lot more genuine than pretending I know what I'm doing, and it also seems like a good way to make OOC connections.

After two months as an active roleplayer on Balmung, this is something I've really struggled with, and I'm wondering if anyone here has the same issue. I love the idea of RP. I do. I enjoy reading transcripts and hearing about other people's characters, and am excited about the backstories and personalities I've come up myself. It's safe to say that thinking about RP is one of my favorite FFXIV-related past times. But then I try to actually RP, and that's when it goes to shit. I'm not a great writer, and when I'm in an RP, I become extremely aware of this fact. I see other people come out with these delightful, interesting and well-written paragraphs in less than a minute and when it's my turn to respond, I panic. It can take me a few minutes to give a satisfactory response, and even then it's not impressive writing. Despite the fact that I've given both my characters a lot of thought, they still seem to come out sounding like caricatures. And the more I panic, the more wooden they seem to sound, the slower my responses tend to get, and the more I panic. Like logically I know RP is not supposed to be a competition, but it really feels like an exam that I didn't study for a lot of the time. Does all this sound familiar to anyone? If so, did it get better over time? Have you found anything that helps with this?

I have trouble juggling my RP connections as it is, but then I saw this thread and I just couldn't resist. T'caska sounds adorable, and I can certainly envision her and I'rila getting along famously. Feel free to hit me up on either I'rila Xanh or I'rhaane Jihro for some IC time of the friendly and lighthearted variety. Well, assuming our characters actually do get along. I think they will. But rivalry would be interesting to play too. Just - come talk to me, kk?

Wow, thinking about this topic has made me wonder where the middle-aged Miqo'te women are. I'rila has unresolved issues regarding a deceased mentor who was almost an adoptive mother to her, so I feel like if there's going to be anyone whose approval she irrationally craves, they would most likely fit that demographic. Other than that, it's really not her style to pine after anyone. I guess if attraction + not in a relationship counts, then maybe Vetiver?

Vetiver/Foxglove comes highly recommended, both as a writer and as a friend. To anyone even remotely considering this: DO EET.

These are amazing. I love the way you draw the different hairstyles.

Izzy is an awesome writer and a very sweet lady! Any shy lurkers here who's kind of on the fence about making a new connection: I say go for it. This is one you won't regret.

I just got all my crafting classes leveled, but I need to spiritbond the crap out of some of my old equipment and also wouldn't mind helping others with some HQ turn-ins or mats. Sign me up!

I would say Lucia Cifarelli for I'rila. [video=youtube] [video=youtube]

This sounds amazing. Thanks for putting this together. /signed and acknowledged CHARACTER NAME: I'rila Xanh OCCUPATION: botanist, alchemist, chef, researcher I WILL BE JOINING IN AN: IC capacity

Oh god. I live in Utah so I think I'rila would end up crossing a sort of faith-in-humanity despair event horizon and set fire to the entire state and kill most of its inhabitants all the while giggling maniacally. Or, you know, she'd only manage to murder a couple before some gun enthusiast shoots her full of bullets. Poor kitteh.

I've been pretty swamped RP-wise as of late, but would love to offer any OOC crafting help that I can. Feel free to hit me up in game if you need any crafting gear made, or even high quality stuff for your Grand Company/Ixali turn-ins.

The way I'd describe I'rila's flirting style would be... sarcastically desperate, a tiny bit sad, and generally so outrageous that it can't be taken seriously. This quote from a previous RP pretty much sums it up: "I'm not making a good impression at all right now am I? Just do me a favor and focus on how pretty I am. We can worry about the linear thought processes tomorrow."

Ooh, fancy seeing you here! Lovely work.

I'rila's only good for comic relief when it comes to melee combat. She can hurl fireballs from a distance but by the time she realizes a bear's going to attack her, she's already gotten close to it and poked it curiously a couple of times. If Isky could use a wacky alchemist/culinarian friend, feel free to hit me up in game. Fair warning though, I'm still very new to real time RP, so my responses can be pretty slow.

I've only RPed on FFXIV for a couple of weeks, but from what I've observed, my personal preference is the opposite of this. I have some anxiety OOC and RPing with new people is oftentimes nerve-wracking for me. My creativity suffers under pressure. I freeze up, panic, and struggle to visualize my character's responses. And when I finally do respond (usually because I'm pushing myself to do it in a more timely manner), it sounds canned, like I'm playing a caricature. Which of course then adds mortification to that anxiety. On the other hand, if I'm already on decent terms with someone OOC and have a general sense of who that other player is, I feel a lot less nervous and am able to have a lot of fun, regardless of whether we're playing friends or enemies. I agree with many other posters in that it all boils down to communication. I'm a big fan of talking to someone OOC to get a good sense of whether they're enjoying themselves and what their expectations are. My character can be hyperactive and obnoxious, and, depending on the other person's energy level at a given time, she may not be their cup of tea - and that's fine. I'm perfectly happy to resume a scene at a later date. The same is true in reverse: if something starts to happen IC that bothers me, I want to feel comfortable shooting the other person a tell, and I'm much more likely to feel comfortable starting a conversation like that with a friend. To me, RPing is like any other social activity: playing golf, throwing a frisbee. But really I want to compare it to sitting next to someone watching a movie. I like to be able to share a laugh at funny moments, a roll of the eye at the derpy moments and the occasional meaningful commentary at a scene here or there. I'm not going to want to talk non-stop throughout the show of course, but you probably get the gist of it.

After reading your post, I'd be interested in having I'rila meet P'etra at some point if you're up for it. Their backgrounds are similar: my character also rebelled against her environment, lost people she deeply cared about, and sustained heavy psychological trauma. The way they choose to deal with their emotional baggage is similar, even if their personalities appear drastically different to the casual observer: my character is enthusiastic, flirtatious, hedonistic, curious and a little airheaded - definitely not a personality that screams tragic backstory - but she hasn't even shared the uglier details of her past with her best friend of five years. A relationship between them would be interesting. I doubt they'd somehow magically recognize a kindred spirit within one another since both of them deal with their issues privately, but there would still be quite a bit for us to explore as RPers. Feel free to track I'rila Xanh down on Balmung if you're interested. I generally get online at around 8 PM EST.

Cassandra Allegra Portia Calogera Filomena Pentaghast is my heart's desire and I am not ashamed.

Ditto what Intaki has said. Even though my character's not officially a member of the alchemist, conjurer or arcanist guilds, she's studied alchemy for years within her clan and has head plenty of experience treating injuries and ailments. So, I'd say she's a physician, even if she wouldn't necessarily call herself that for reasons of her own. If you're looking for a colleage or friend with similar interests/knowledge for your character though, I'd love to start an RP with you.