I've played multiple anti-social grumps, some of whom ended up infamous for anti-social grumpery, which is an odd contradiction, antisocial celebrity. I think I managed that last mostly by doing forum posts (not that I've done that in FFXIV), so people who'd never had to stand my scowling still knew who I was. Then I'd show up at a party, and people would reach out to me rather than me having to break my own shell, and I'd have multiple opportunities to say how much my character didn't want to be there, and yes, leaning against this stuffed ostrich is the best spot in the room, thank you very much.
As an anti-social grump, I've found "solo" roleplay to be the best way for me to still feel like I'm playing. By that, I mean writing. I can not go to RP events for months on end and still feel like I have a character that could RP with others should the opportunity arise. While I sometimes felt like why didn't I just make a social character goddamnit, the times that I have made social characters often backfired, so with the next character I inevitably go back to my corner.
One thing that I've used time and again as a sort of excuse to get the character out and about is an interest in gossip/blackmail, usually easy since I tend to play manipulative bastards. It doesn't have to be a real interest. Just an imagined reason that my character knows even if I don't yet. "I need info on someone at this gathering, or someone who might show up at this place, or someone who might be known by someone who might frequent this shindig, so I'm going to put up with this lunacy until I get some juicy tidbits." That places my character at the party, so to speak, and forces me to pay attention to everything going on, to see if I can build something out of it. Most of the time I can't, but the exercise is successful nonetheless. I learn something about other characters. I might even force myself to ask other people questions to help my not-actually-existing blackmail plot along, or eavesdrop with such obviousness that someone eventually asks why I'm staring.
Don't forget to have a nice bag full of antisocial grumpery emotes ready to pull out at a moment's notice. You might not be participating in the conversation, but you can still fold your arms and frown frequently enough that someone might notice you're there. When I'm doing that, I'm actually usually playing by myself, per se, following my character's reactions without interacting. (What's the point if you're not interacting? Who made that rule? I can interact with myself just fine.) If someone does respond, it's a bonus, not a requirement. I still feel like I've accomplished something, even if I mosey on my way without saying a word to anyone.
As an anti-social grump, I've found "solo" roleplay to be the best way for me to still feel like I'm playing. By that, I mean writing. I can not go to RP events for months on end and still feel like I have a character that could RP with others should the opportunity arise. While I sometimes felt like why didn't I just make a social character goddamnit, the times that I have made social characters often backfired, so with the next character I inevitably go back to my corner.
One thing that I've used time and again as a sort of excuse to get the character out and about is an interest in gossip/blackmail, usually easy since I tend to play manipulative bastards. It doesn't have to be a real interest. Just an imagined reason that my character knows even if I don't yet. "I need info on someone at this gathering, or someone who might show up at this place, or someone who might be known by someone who might frequent this shindig, so I'm going to put up with this lunacy until I get some juicy tidbits." That places my character at the party, so to speak, and forces me to pay attention to everything going on, to see if I can build something out of it. Most of the time I can't, but the exercise is successful nonetheless. I learn something about other characters. I might even force myself to ask other people questions to help my not-actually-existing blackmail plot along, or eavesdrop with such obviousness that someone eventually asks why I'm staring.
Don't forget to have a nice bag full of antisocial grumpery emotes ready to pull out at a moment's notice. You might not be participating in the conversation, but you can still fold your arms and frown frequently enough that someone might notice you're there. When I'm doing that, I'm actually usually playing by myself, per se, following my character's reactions without interacting. (What's the point if you're not interacting? Who made that rule? I can interact with myself just fine.) If someone does respond, it's a bonus, not a requirement. I still feel like I've accomplished something, even if I mosey on my way without saying a word to anyone.
![[Image: g9ASfFg.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/g9ASfFg.jpg)
