I have only RP'd romance once before. It occurred between two troll characters in WoW.  We'd RP'd together for nearly a year before the relationship developed, and it happened quite organically. There was never any drama, and since both of us were attached OOC and had diametrically opposing gender/sexual orientations an OOC relationship wasn't even possible. We also never publically displayed affection, since she was a GM and I a guild officer, we thought IC (and OCC) it'd not be professional. It was a great experience and we'd played those characters together for years.
As for ERP, we started out with "fade to black" but over time we became more comfortable and started RPing out more. Of course, it was done very privately. It'd be far to scandalous in our minds to ever have anyone know. Mind you, we played on WRA, where everyone's main was also their f-alt. Of all the WoW RP servers I played on, WRA seemed like a hotbed for ERP. I know Moonguard has its ERP-shire reputation, but on WRA it wasn't Goldshire and level 1s, it was max level characters and only vaguely hidden.
I think romance, and ERP even, can be fun and great but it really has to be conducted well by the players. I recall from my years as a teen, people commonly alienated friends for the harmone driven novelty of new boyfriends and girlfriends, I am probably guilty of that too, but now as an adult I just don't see that anymore. Even with friends who get into new relationships, they don't suck face at the dinner table/bar/wherever while we all watch. I mean, could you imagine? You and your colleagues are out for dinner to celebrate someone's promotion and two 30-somethings are sucking face while the sommelier uncorks the wine?Â
Bob One: "Grats on the promo, Dave!"
Matt & Mindy: *slurp, slurp, slurp*
Bob Two: "Yeah, way to go!"
Matt & Mindy: *slurp, slurp, sluuuuuuuuuruuuuuuuuuuupppppppppp*
Dave: "Ah, thanks guys! Um... I think Mindy just got pregnant."
As for ERP, we started out with "fade to black" but over time we became more comfortable and started RPing out more. Of course, it was done very privately. It'd be far to scandalous in our minds to ever have anyone know. Mind you, we played on WRA, where everyone's main was also their f-alt. Of all the WoW RP servers I played on, WRA seemed like a hotbed for ERP. I know Moonguard has its ERP-shire reputation, but on WRA it wasn't Goldshire and level 1s, it was max level characters and only vaguely hidden.
I think romance, and ERP even, can be fun and great but it really has to be conducted well by the players. I recall from my years as a teen, people commonly alienated friends for the harmone driven novelty of new boyfriends and girlfriends, I am probably guilty of that too, but now as an adult I just don't see that anymore. Even with friends who get into new relationships, they don't suck face at the dinner table/bar/wherever while we all watch. I mean, could you imagine? You and your colleagues are out for dinner to celebrate someone's promotion and two 30-somethings are sucking face while the sommelier uncorks the wine?Â
Bob One: "Grats on the promo, Dave!"
Matt & Mindy: *slurp, slurp, slurp*
Bob Two: "Yeah, way to go!"
Matt & Mindy: *slurp, slurp, sluuuuuuuuuruuuuuuuuuuupppppppppp*
Dave: "Ah, thanks guys! Um... I think Mindy just got pregnant."
