Hi, I'm Mae and I RP MSQ.
Actually, I'm in a linkshell that RP's MSQ as a group. Not that there's many of us, to be honest -- MSQ RP is probably just a -bit- more stressful than regular RP, so it certainly isn't everyone's cup of tea. The rate of overall progression, RP-wise, can be grating, but for those who have the mindset for it it's fairly satisfying.
Warren wasn't too far off the mark with (at least with the group I'm in) how we handle the Warrior of Light status. It's a group thing, so we're all Warriors of Light -- which is something that anyone can arise to if they had a vision of Hydaelyn talking to them and heeded her call (AKA, the level 5 MSQ CS where we -do- see more than just the MC buzzing around the crystal) which pretty much goes hand in hand with having the Echo in some capacity (our group's take on the Echo is that if you had a vision of Hydaelyn, you have the Echo/Hydaelyn's Blessing), and are willing to find a reason to work with the Scions.Â
And... that's it. That's all it takes to be a Warrior of Light with my group. It is -mostly- a title that most of us ICly actually hate/have grown to hate. The only real 'superpower' we have is that we can't get thralled by Primals and we have the extraordinary bad luck of being dragged into the worst situations possible with just enough good luck that we don't all get slaughtered. We get hurt, sick, injured, accumulate greenwrath/woodsin, and we've had characters die and stay dead; we're not invincible juggernauts.
Our MSQ related RP is handled 100% in-linkshell. This is done partially as a courtesy for the rest of the community, so that our MSQ RP doesn't bump elbows with another person's/group's MSQ RP, or their lack thereof. But it's mostly done for the sake of keeping our group all on the same page -- if you're in the linkshell, then you've agreed to RP as if we're all on the same point. Outside of MSQ RP, members have a choice on how to handle stuff in Open World RP/other groups; they can just keep the MSQ-based stuff quiet/secret, opt to be different versions of their character in Open World versus MSQ RP, or any other solutions they come up with. I personally don't RP much outside of the linkshell because, while I love my characters, most of them just don't do well in Open World RP (and I'm okay with this, no-one needs to come and try and save me from isolation).
Inside the linkshell, we have scheduled days that we put time aside specifically to progress MSQ or other major events where we all need to be on the same page. Rest of the week, everyone is free to RP as they wish as long as they don't progress MSQ-related events past where our Pacekeeper is.
So, the "Pacekeeper". This is a specific character that a player has agreed/dedicated to only progress MSQ-wise during our MSQ-scheduled days. This allows people who wish to progress OOCly faster to do so -- the Pacekeeper transcribes quest and relevant cutscene dialogue from NPC's into the linkshell for everyone to see and potentially respond to, and also makes any necessary adjustments to the dialogue to turn it from a one-person experience to a group one. And, where appropriate, creates original NPC dialogue.Â
The Pacekeeper also sets the bar to what has already occurred in our group's timeline. Prior to HW, this meant that until a newcomer caught up OOCly to that minimum point, they had to be okay with not physically being able to go into/be considered for going into various duties but still RP them as happening/having happened. The way HW is gated is a potential problem for anyone who hasn't gotten 2.55 completed... we just haven't had a need to find a solution yet.
... This all sounds horribly complex. I know. In actual practice, though, it's much simpler. One of those things that's easier to show than explain.
We also operate on the assumption that we're not the only ones doing things. The assaults on the Castrums, for example, weren't done by a single group of eight; it was a small army that went in with various units that came together or moved apart as situations needed. Same with other raids and duties, and even some quests; just because Alphie or Minfi sent us out to do a mission, doesn't mean they didn't send out a second team to try to accomplish the same thing from a different angle.
In the end, MSQ RP is something that can be very OOC-planning heavy, somewhat frustrating, sometimes like herding cats, it's easy to burn out on in short time, not... well received... in Open RP, and IC progression can also be slow as hell. But if you have a like-minded group, it can be enjoyable enough that all the OOC mud doesn't matter. So go ahead and try it if it sounds interesting to you.
Actually, I'm in a linkshell that RP's MSQ as a group. Not that there's many of us, to be honest -- MSQ RP is probably just a -bit- more stressful than regular RP, so it certainly isn't everyone's cup of tea. The rate of overall progression, RP-wise, can be grating, but for those who have the mindset for it it's fairly satisfying.
Warren wasn't too far off the mark with (at least with the group I'm in) how we handle the Warrior of Light status. It's a group thing, so we're all Warriors of Light -- which is something that anyone can arise to if they had a vision of Hydaelyn talking to them and heeded her call (AKA, the level 5 MSQ CS where we -do- see more than just the MC buzzing around the crystal) which pretty much goes hand in hand with having the Echo in some capacity (our group's take on the Echo is that if you had a vision of Hydaelyn, you have the Echo/Hydaelyn's Blessing), and are willing to find a reason to work with the Scions.Â
And... that's it. That's all it takes to be a Warrior of Light with my group. It is -mostly- a title that most of us ICly actually hate/have grown to hate. The only real 'superpower' we have is that we can't get thralled by Primals and we have the extraordinary bad luck of being dragged into the worst situations possible with just enough good luck that we don't all get slaughtered. We get hurt, sick, injured, accumulate greenwrath/woodsin, and we've had characters die and stay dead; we're not invincible juggernauts.
Quote:What do you do about inconsistencies, for example if you're RPing with someone who hasn't reached the same point as you and therefore things in the world are different for them?
Our MSQ related RP is handled 100% in-linkshell. This is done partially as a courtesy for the rest of the community, so that our MSQ RP doesn't bump elbows with another person's/group's MSQ RP, or their lack thereof. But it's mostly done for the sake of keeping our group all on the same page -- if you're in the linkshell, then you've agreed to RP as if we're all on the same point. Outside of MSQ RP, members have a choice on how to handle stuff in Open World RP/other groups; they can just keep the MSQ-based stuff quiet/secret, opt to be different versions of their character in Open World versus MSQ RP, or any other solutions they come up with. I personally don't RP much outside of the linkshell because, while I love my characters, most of them just don't do well in Open World RP (and I'm okay with this, no-one needs to come and try and save me from isolation).
Inside the linkshell, we have scheduled days that we put time aside specifically to progress MSQ or other major events where we all need to be on the same page. Rest of the week, everyone is free to RP as they wish as long as they don't progress MSQ-related events past where our Pacekeeper is.
So, the "Pacekeeper". This is a specific character that a player has agreed/dedicated to only progress MSQ-wise during our MSQ-scheduled days. This allows people who wish to progress OOCly faster to do so -- the Pacekeeper transcribes quest and relevant cutscene dialogue from NPC's into the linkshell for everyone to see and potentially respond to, and also makes any necessary adjustments to the dialogue to turn it from a one-person experience to a group one. And, where appropriate, creates original NPC dialogue.Â
The Pacekeeper also sets the bar to what has already occurred in our group's timeline. Prior to HW, this meant that until a newcomer caught up OOCly to that minimum point, they had to be okay with not physically being able to go into/be considered for going into various duties but still RP them as happening/having happened. The way HW is gated is a potential problem for anyone who hasn't gotten 2.55 completed... we just haven't had a need to find a solution yet.
... This all sounds horribly complex. I know. In actual practice, though, it's much simpler. One of those things that's easier to show than explain.
We also operate on the assumption that we're not the only ones doing things. The assaults on the Castrums, for example, weren't done by a single group of eight; it was a small army that went in with various units that came together or moved apart as situations needed. Same with other raids and duties, and even some quests; just because Alphie or Minfi sent us out to do a mission, doesn't mean they didn't send out a second team to try to accomplish the same thing from a different angle.
In the end, MSQ RP is something that can be very OOC-planning heavy, somewhat frustrating, sometimes like herding cats, it's easy to burn out on in short time, not... well received... in Open RP, and IC progression can also be slow as hell. But if you have a like-minded group, it can be enjoyable enough that all the OOC mud doesn't matter. So go ahead and try it if it sounds interesting to you.
