I still think that the best solution would be to add an "IC/Roleplaying" status icon in-game. I have been asking SE a couple times already both on the official forum (one of my most successful threads, everyone was answering positively to it, even those who don't like RPers), and via the Send a Suggestion feature in-game, but so far we have no news about it unfortunately.
To actually KNOW someone is looking for roleplay and is not just afking in a cool posture goes a long way towards encouraging roleplaying. A status icon right next to your name that informs me you are In Character and wishing to be approached, more so even one that allowed me you to find you through Search, would be the best thing in the world to me, and even a shy person like me would at least send a whisper in direction of someone with that over their head.
There is the search message, that is true, but I honestly am one of those that does not look at that, unless I -already- know the person is RPing and I want to see if it contains some information about their character. For example, I don't use my Search Box to say if I'm IC or not (I'm way too lazy and forgetful to change it so often), but rather to inform others of what my character is in a small summary ("Keeper Wizard", "Xaela child" "Ala Mhigan refugee", etc.). That way I don't have to update it often and can forget about it.
A status icon instead would be much easier and quick to notice and toggle on or off to inform when I want to RP, and when instead I don't have time for it. Maybe I'm just standing by the quicksands to watch others' RP, or maybe I just want to craft that day, and don't feel like being walked up for IC interactions.
I think in short that not exactly knowing who is RPing and who isn't is a big part of the wallflowering problem, and that a visible hint could help a lot. SE has already acknowledged RPers by adding the RP icon to free company description, so I trust that if there is sufficient demand, we shall receive a response about it. I'm sure it would be used a lot more than the Looking for Meld one, at the very least.
To actually KNOW someone is looking for roleplay and is not just afking in a cool posture goes a long way towards encouraging roleplaying. A status icon right next to your name that informs me you are In Character and wishing to be approached, more so even one that allowed me you to find you through Search, would be the best thing in the world to me, and even a shy person like me would at least send a whisper in direction of someone with that over their head.
There is the search message, that is true, but I honestly am one of those that does not look at that, unless I -already- know the person is RPing and I want to see if it contains some information about their character. For example, I don't use my Search Box to say if I'm IC or not (I'm way too lazy and forgetful to change it so often), but rather to inform others of what my character is in a small summary ("Keeper Wizard", "Xaela child" "Ala Mhigan refugee", etc.). That way I don't have to update it often and can forget about it.
A status icon instead would be much easier and quick to notice and toggle on or off to inform when I want to RP, and when instead I don't have time for it. Maybe I'm just standing by the quicksands to watch others' RP, or maybe I just want to craft that day, and don't feel like being walked up for IC interactions.
I think in short that not exactly knowing who is RPing and who isn't is a big part of the wallflowering problem, and that a visible hint could help a lot. SE has already acknowledged RPers by adding the RP icon to free company description, so I trust that if there is sufficient demand, we shall receive a response about it. I'm sure it would be used a lot more than the Looking for Meld one, at the very least.
To be an interesting, intriguing, well-written character, there needs to be something to allow the audience to relate to them. That is what the problem is with who wants their character to be "perfect". Perfect characters will never be strong, and strong characters will never be perfect, because WE (those who read, who watch, who RP) are not perfect.
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." -- N.C.
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." -- N.C.
