Walk-up Roleplay Advice.

[J'lyneth]

I'm one of those people who will walk up and start talking to that person who is just doing the passive emotes, usually because I take it as an invitation to engage whereas someone having a conversation, even in a hub, may not be as welcoming of some random stranger walking up and butting in. I know I've had deep and intense RP scenes kinda ruined by that sort of thing before so I tend to be much more nervous about approaching people RPing amongst themselves than I am about approaching a person who's doing the passive invitation emotes. And I play the type of character that would see a person sitting off by themselves in the pub and decide to go and keep them company "Cuz who wants to drink alone, certainly not me, lemme buy you a drink, is this seat taken?"

 

It's much more difficult on a more introverted character and I agree with the people saying you should have a plan. Lost object, need directions, hiding from danger... there are endless possibilities. I've gotten lengthy RP conversations off of just standing next to someone and saying. "Nice hat."

 

It's hard to put yourself out there, but if it makes you feel any better about it, know that most of the people you're walking up to are just as nervous about approaching new people as you are and a lot of us on the RP servers are pretty happy to be approached since it means we didn't have to screw up the courage to do it ourselves this time.

[Seriphyn]

I follow "real life" rules of roleplay. How do we initiate conversation with people in real life? We might make a comment on the weather or how busy it is. Exactly the same with Kale.

 

"Bloody 'ells, quite busy today in the Quicksand, ain't it?"

"Y'alright, mate? That's a pretty interestin' lookin' sword you 'ave there, where's it from?"

"You by y'self at this table? I can join you, yea'?"

[Chris Ganale]

Been in and out of really-awful WoDs so have been bypassed by the convo. Was gonna say that lots of failed efforts to RP and, worse yet, active snubs are more prone to turn people off from trying entirely. Aside from that, it's one thing to get a bit of a twitter-patter when you want to reach out to RP, but it's something else entirely when your entire mental state shuts down and paralyzes you with a perfect storm of fear, indecision, and insecurity.

[111]

So just as a side note, I get the fact that people have mental baggage, and things to overcome.

 

I have my own issues as well.

 

However this is a thread about walk up RP. At the end of the day, you just have to swallow your fear and go pester someone. I understand it might be hard.

 

However it's the only way~ you either have to figure out some way to muster up the courage, or find another way of meeting people for RP.

[ArmachiA]

Yeah, my best advice is not to be passive. Reading a book shows you want to be alone, saying you are drinking at the bar doesn't necessarily mean you want to interact. Armi is a clumsy sort, usually if I feel like walk-up RP I'll have her trip over someone, run into them, or have her drop something. If I hear a conversation I want to be a part of of, I'll have her VERY OBVIOUSLY eavesdrop so she;s caught (Though I also send /tells before hand on conversations that look like they may be private) and if she isn't caught, I'll have her do something stupid so she is caught. Really look at your characters personality and see what they can do to be noticed. Armi, for instance, is a doof so I do doofy things. Loki is pretty cool, laid back but kind of snarky. So for Loki, she would just walk up and talk to someone alone at the bar. If she sees something of interest she'll ask someone about it. She'll interject her opinion even when someone didn't ask for it etc etc. There are always ways to make your RP a more aggressive one, even when your character is shy (Like Armi is) it's just a matter of figuring out exactly what would make sense within the boundaries of your character.

 

Aloof? GM them spilling a drink, or being angry that day and just needing to vent. Someone in my guild plays a pretty aloof character and he goes to the Quicksand when the character gets agitated so he'll just sit next to someone and start talking. It's actually pretty funny!

 

Shy? Earring gets lost. Or they are looking for someone who told them to meet them there and they just didn't show up. How about a shy character who is actively trying to be more social? It could be for funny rp to watch a shy one try to interact (I've done this on Armi, she made a joke about cheese. It didn't go well.)

 

Aggressive and loud? Buy everyone drinks, you had a good day!

 

There's always something you can do. The cutest one I've seen was my guild went to the Golden Saucer and this Lalafell pranced right up and interjected himself right in the scene. He started pointing out the stereotypes of the group "That must be the brooding one". "That's the token female." It was amazing.

[cherrybomb]

I can't really contribute much advice here because I'm still feeling this stuff out for myself, but I will say that I get the struggle with shyness - if you're an introverted person, I imagine it's really hard to put yourself out there and act against type. Even with the layers of separation that we get in online roleplaying, it's not necessarily as simple as "just getting over it", if you're the type who literally freezes like a deer in a spotlight. It's one thing to write an outgoing character when you're anything but, it's another thing entirely to play one out in realtime.

 

Take this with a grain of salt, but one thing that might work for people with major social anxiety is to try approaching people OOC first. Tell them that their character sounds interesting and you'd like to interact with them but you're strapped for ideas how, or something. Improv can be really hard, especially with people you don't know; if you can break the ice OOC a bit, that'll take a lot of the pressure off you. I can't speak for everyone, but I imagine a lot of people would be accommodating in that kind of situation, so long as you're willing to brainstorm ideas too and not just make them do the mental footwork.

 

If you're shy or have social anxiety, it's a hurdle that you're going to have to overcome if you don't want to have to rely on others to approach you; it wont be easy, and it won't be instantaneous, but gradually, as you put yourself out there more and more and strengthen your coping mechanisms in case embarrassment occurs, it'll get better.

[Nebbs]

Lots of good advice.. and having something to say is good and then go with it.

 

The main point is..

 

1. Walk up

2. Say and emote something

 

 

If you want to practice I would be happy to play the target. We can even do it IC.

[Maril]

One that I frequently use in the QS/taverns

 

>Walk up to bannister/bar, near someone else you think might be a roleplayer. Checking search info help

> Emote/say something about how busy/quiet it is currently/today/tonight (I try not to mention time because I get it wrong and then people look at me funny.)

> Person you are close to now has an opportunity to reply.

> If that happens, continue to talk about the weather, local politics, inquire why people are here, and don't forget to do a delayed stylish introduction because your character totally forgot their manners. "I'm Bob, by the by". You should now be able to just keep the conversation going. If casual conversation stalls, keep on asking questions about the other person, most people love talking about themselves icly too. I mean this in a positive way.

 

Or alternatively

 

>Stand about at the bar/banister/whatever has your characters legs by magnetic force

> Notice someone walk up next to you, but they are silent

> Contemplate life

> Emote a casual nod of acknowledgement, a gentle greeting or similar. It's like the "Yes I want to RP" to the silent "Hey do you want to RP" the person (probably) made by walking up next to you.

> The person now has a chance to reply!

> Now talk about the weather.

 

You could adapt this to other situations as well. It's all about presenting people with an opportunity to respond to you.

 

Edit: Forgot to say, whatever you do, do not drop a pick up line within the first 5 minutes of interaction.

[ArmachiA]

Edit: Forgot to say, whatever you do, do not drop a pick up line within the first 5 minutes of interaction.

 

"Hey baby, wanna kill all humans?"

[Nebbs]

Edit: Forgot to say, whatever you do, do not drop a pick up line within the first 5 minutes of interaction.

 

"Hey baby, wanna kill all humans?"

 

Well I playes a male who would open with pickup lines, so over the top that he actually got a lot of RP!

 

Have your thing.. and work it baby!

[Maril]

Edit: Forgot to say, whatever you do, do not drop a pick up line within the first 5 minutes of interaction.

 

"Hey baby, wanna kill all humans?"

 

Well I playes a male who would open with pickup lines, so over the top that he actually got a lot of RP!

 

Have your thing.. and work it baby!

 

Well, obviously that can be a thing, but then one should at least be aware that some people might walk away, or ones intentions might be misunderstood ^^ At least in the quicksand

[Nebbs]

Edit: Forgot to say, whatever you do, do not drop a pick up line within the first 5 minutes of interaction.

 

"Hey baby, wanna kill all humans?"

 

Well I playes a male who would open with pickup lines, so over the top that he actually got a lot of RP!

 

Have your thing.. and work it baby!

 

Well, obviously that can be a thing, but then one should at least be aware that some people might walk away, or ones intentions might be misunderstood ^^ At least in the quicksand

 

Yes definitely, I got from equal responses to ignored to outright IC hostility. Which was all great for RP. But I would say (toning it down a little) try and be your character and if you choose obnoxious, withdrawn or any other harder to pull off types be prepared to deal with it.

[Aris]

If I might link to Ilwe'ran's post here that has helped me in the past, not so much about walk-ups but about just generally initiating roleplay.

 

 The key is to have a reason to talk to someone. Like in real life, if you don't have a reason to talk to someone standing across the room, you won't do it. Giving your character a purpose to be there will also help give the conversation a bit of direction.

Going to events is especially helpful in that regard, as the purpose to be there is the event. You approach people and talk about whatever is going on and it's all very natural and expected.

 

 And as Seriphyn mentioned earlier, following 'real life' prompts can be helpful too. For example, when I go in to the local shop often people are talking about the weather, or might comment on how busy it is. While the conversation might take a little effort after that to get going (because talking about the weather can only last so long) both of you know that 'you're in. First step, complete.' That is where having a purpose to be there can help, because there's a hook for further conversation if the player doesn't provide one.

 

 If you're nervous, I've found the best thing to do is tell the other person. If you're worried about telling them, maybe consider approaching someone on this forum for walk-up RP first, because shyness is something that's often talking about on here, and most people are very understanding about it.

 

 Remember that it isn't anything personal if the RP doesn't go very well. Finding someone you really connect with won't always happen instantly, especially in walk-up situations, where you might not know much about the other's character. Sometimes it does, and you find someone you fit in with perfectly and conversation will flow easily. Often, you'll start talking to someone and realise they and you don't really have anything in common and it might be a bit awkward. Other times, you'll feel like there's some potential there and wouldn't mind seeing them again in the future.

 Was it your fault? No, just that people often don't connect because you're too different or a variety of different reasons (in this case, your characters haven't connected, nothing related to you IRL), or that person was distracted, or was busy doing something else.

 

 It's really difficult sometimes, but just need to keep trying.

[Nebbs]

And remember.. the other people want to RP too! And many are thinking the same.

 

To those already RPing, just look around and throw a hook at any person that seems to be hanging at the edge.

 

Well, I normally in my past naturally play the guild meet and greet person. There you see many new people who are unsure about a great many things. So creating that "soft landing" gets them talking to others. I would get a few days of RP with them and then smile as they ran off busy with the RP they now had got going.

 

This is a MMO, use that aspect to create your own support into getting experience at walk up RP. 

 

I'm happy to help

[Spethah]

Walk-up roleplay HAHAHAhaha it's like the best joke for me. Mostly because I'm so fucking shy around people that I can't start conversations ICly (even though Septh wouldn't do that, she's a grumpy asshat) nor can I ask for RP OOCly (because I get nervous fits thinking about asking).

 

I still read all the advice and it's still the same for me. Go to Quicksand, reach the door, step inside, turn around after 20 seconds and leave because nope nope nope nope nope.

[Melodia]

Walk-up roleplay HAHAHAhaha it's like the best joke for me. Mostly because I'm so fucking shy around people that I can't start conversations ICly (even though Septh wouldn't do that, she's a grumpy asshat) nor can I ask for RP OOCly (because I get nervous fits thinking about asking).

 

I still read all the advice and it's still the same for me. Go to Quicksand, reach the door, step inside, turn around after 20 seconds and leave because nope nope nope nope nope.

*Hugs* Funny...I go through that same scenario when I walk into the Quicksand as well. Oh look, a friend.,...oh they look like they must be busy talking to someone I will just turn around and run back to the safety of my housing district Market Board. *clings to it*

[DoomsdayClock]

You really just have to throw yourself into things. Social awkwardness aside...shyness aside...diving in head first has always worked best for me.

if thats really too scary...scope out a convo or character that seems in line for something that would work for your character. Whisper them and establish a hook. A good rp hook can give you the keys into a storyline or social group based on your characters IC needs or background.

there are some rough customers and unfriendly folks out there...but be persistant and use your best judgement based on observation.

Most of all....its a game..have fun!:moogle:

[Nebbs]

Walk-up roleplay HAHAHAhaha it's like the best joke for me. Mostly because I'm so fucking shy around people that I can't start conversations ICly (even though Septh wouldn't do that, she's a grumpy asshat) nor can I ask for RP OOCly (because I get nervous fits thinking about asking).

 

I still read all the advice and it's still the same for me. Go to Quicksand, reach the door, step inside, turn around after 20 seconds and leave because nope nope nope nope nope.

*Hugs* Funny...I go through that same scenario when I walk into the Quicksand as well. Oh look, a friend.,...oh they look like they must be busy talking to someone I will just turn around and run back to the safety of my housing district Market Board. *clings to it*

 

Septha you are in a great guild for RP! I'd be happy to come RP with you and stuff if that would help.

 

Mel, I will assume when you are in your house now I can burst in and run off with you to RP!

 

Hmm an RP buddy scheme.. would it work?

[Melodia]

 

 

Mel, I will assume when you are in your house now I can burst in and run off with you to RP!

 

Hmm an RP buddy scheme.. would it work?

 

Haha! Yus!

[Spethah]

Walk-up roleplay HAHAHAhaha it's like the best joke for me. Mostly because I'm so fucking shy around people that I can't start conversations ICly (even though Septh wouldn't do that, she's a grumpy asshat) nor can I ask for RP OOCly (because I get nervous fits thinking about asking).

 

I still read all the advice and it's still the same for me. Go to Quicksand, reach the door, step inside, turn around after 20 seconds and leave because nope nope nope nope nope.

*Hugs* Funny...I go through that same scenario when I walk into the Quicksand as well. Oh look, a friend.,...oh they look like they must be busy talking to someone I will just turn around and run back to the safety of my housing district Market Board. *clings to it*

 

Septha you are in a great guild for RP! I'd be happy to come RP with you and stuff if that would help.

 

Mel, I will assume when you are in your house now I can burst in and run off with you to RP!

 

Hmm an RP buddy scheme.. would it work?

 

Yeah, they're great guys and have helped me get over the first barrier which is "omg people?????", but they still have to peel me off my relic to get me to RP with other people because I'm too shy to try myself. 

 

Throwing away social anxiety and shyness doesn't work for me, I have no ability to. In fact trying to throw it away makes it worse because I'm aware that I can't do something without fixing it.

[Verad]

Here's why you shouldn't walk up:

 

1. There's no quality control. A simple "Walk-Up RP is loved!" comment in the search info will tell you nothing about how much you'll actually enjoy interacting with a player. They could be boring. They could be predatory. You are taking a chance every single time.

 

2. The RP is superficial. As somebody who engages in walk-up RP constantly (why is he writing this post if he does it so often, you wonder; I'll get to that), most of the interactions I have don't go further than the initial encounter. I sell people things, they have a laugh at Verad's behavior, I move on. The encounters that developed into more meaningful, long-term RP are vastly outweighed by transient one-shot transactions. If you're looking for walk-up as a gateway to more substantial RP, it is frankly difficult and you are probably better off planning something with somebody in PMs or on the RPC.

 

3. Reasons 1 and 2 both collaborate to create this one - in order to overcome them, you have to take a shotgun approach, constantly walking-up to as many people as possible for the walk-up RP to have any meaningful effect. If you are already grappling with introversion and social anxiety for the act of one walk-up, stretch this out across weeks of effort.

 

4. There will be days when, by relying on walk-up RP, you come up short through no fault of your own. The Quicksand will be empty because of IRL events. There may be an IC event drawing everybody's attention. Everybody might be engaged in other conversations or go afk just seconds before you approach. You have to learn to deal with rejection that has nothing to do with you or anybody at all, really. But it will still happen.

 

So there's plenty of good reasons why any given player shouldn't walk up. I nevertheless do it frequently. I have my reasons. For those of you who are struggling to get past shyness or social anxiety to do this: Why do you want to do this awful thing so bad?

[Warren Castille]

And this is why everyone should attend the Grindstone.

 

/em runs out after his shameless plug, but not before littering the thread with posters detailing the 10PM EST start time every Saturday night, located at Fesca's Wash in Central Thanalan details in signature links etc etc

 

Edit, serious face: Shameless plug aside, that won't actually help. Instead you'll just see a cadre of people you don't know interacting with seemingly everyone EXCEPT you. It's not a bad spot to try and mingle, though, and the fights tend to give everyone something to comment on for conversation.

[Xavieraux Reinardes]

Here's why you shouldn't walk up:

 

1. There's no quality control. A simple "Walk-Up RP is loved!" comment in the search info will tell you nothing about how much you'll actually enjoy interacting with a player. They could be boring. They could be predatory. You are taking a chance every single time.

 

2. The RP is superficial. As somebody who engages in walk-up RP constantly (why is he writing this post if he does it so often, you wonder; I'll get to that), most of the interactions I have don't go further than the initial encounter. I sell people things, they have a laugh at Verad's behavior, I move on. The encounters that developed into more meaningful, long-term RP are vastly outweighed by transient one-shot transactions. If you're looking for walk-up as a gateway to more substantial RP, it is frankly difficult and you are probably better off planning something with somebody in PMs or on the RPC.

 

3. Reasons 1 and 2 both collaborate to create this one - in order to overcome them, you have to take a shotgun approach, constantly walking-up to as many people as possible for the walk-up RP to have any meaningful effect. If you are already grappling with introversion and social anxiety for the act of one walk-up, stretch this out across weeks of effort.

 

4. There will be days when, by relying on walk-up RP, you come up short through no fault of your own. The Quicksand will be empty because of IRL events. There may be an IC event drawing everybody's attention. Everybody might be engaged in other conversations or go afk just seconds before you approach. You have to learn to deal with rejection that has nothing to do with you or anybody at all, really. But it will still happen.

 

So there's plenty of good reasons why any given player shouldn't walk up. I nevertheless do it frequently. I have my reasons. For those of you who are struggling to get past shyness or social anxiety to do this: Why do you want to do this awful thing so bad?

Firstly, thanks for the advice everyone has given so far.

 

As to why I would want to, the answer is practice and to actually roleplay, I've roleplayed in forums and MMOs a lot before, but it has been a long time, I'm out of practice.

 

In addition, I don't want to just up and join a Linkshell or Free Company all willy-nilly. Even if I did I don't necessarily know what I want me character to be.

 

If you don't do roleplay through walkups/tell messages, how do you set up roleplay, is it on forums, through your guild? If so, what did you do before you were in a guild, was it exclusively with friends you made through the game? how did you make those friends?

 

These are questions I'm trying to find answers for.

[Verad]

Firstly, thanks for the advice everyone has given so far.

 

As to why I would want to, the answer is practice and to actually roleplay, I've roleplayed in forums and MMOs a lot before, but it has been a long time, I'm out of practice.

 

In addition, I don't want to just up and join a Linkshell or Free Company all willy-nilly. Even if I did I don't necessarily know what I want me character to be.

 

If you don't do roleplay through walkups/tell messages, how do you set up roleplay, is it on forums, through your guild? If so, what did you do before you were in a guild, was it exclusively with friends you made through the game? how did you make those friends?

 

These are questions I'm trying to find answers for.

 

These are important questions. I had them myself when I first started roleplaying on Balmung. It was especially a problem for me because I came into this game pretty much blind, not knowing any RPers from other services and having to start from scratch.

 

Before I started getting heavily involved in walk-up, I developed my character, sought out out-of-game roleplaying communities (This one, basically) and made a skeleton of a wiki with a basic personality sketch. Then I posted on the introduction page with the concept. I had a few people express interest. I made note of their names and contacted them over time to arrange roleplay when I could find them in-game.

 

I did have one person contact me to set up a play-by-post thread on the forums, and that worked well for a little bit, but it fizzled (No strike against you, Zhavi, that was all me). I'm not that great at responding to forum RP. Other connections made through the forums proved more long-term and substantial.

 

In-game, I started joining linkshells being randomly advertised. Again, no quality control, and several of the ones I was in at the time I have long since left. But it put me in contact with people and gave me a means of getting used to interaction while sussing out the in-game culture.

 

I also started engaging in walk-up RP. There is one piece of advice that hasn't been given: my walk-up RP is highly scripted. Verad has a goal, a set list of products, and a ton of stock phrases. Anybody who watches me engage in walk-up RP will no doubt see there's a lot of repetition. This is intentional. Having a big list of stock topics and statements makes it easier to engage in walk-up RP. There's not as much pressure to be inventive every single time, because I always have one old stand-by or another on which I can rely. 

 

However, I ran into Reason 2, above; with a very few exceptions, it was all transient. If I wanted something more substantial, I'd have to do other things. I set up an advertisement here for a FC company and joined Harbingers of Dawn for several months. That helped with the ability to get long-term roleplay while also letting me continue with walk-ups.

 

You'll notice that I did quite a bit willy-nilly here. I don't really see a problem with willy-nillyness. I started broad with my roleplay and narrowed my approach as I figured out what I wanted. It was very much a work done in-process.

 

One last point: I made my character visually distinctive. He was, in the mists of time, a Hyur Midlander at one point. He was therefore easily overlooked. Elderly duskwight with bright white hair? Not so much.

[Unnamed Mercenary]

If you don't do roleplay through walkups/tell messages, how do you set up roleplay, is it on forums, through your guild? If so, what did you do before you were in a guild, was it exclusively with friends you made through the game? how did you make those friends?

 

These are questions I'm trying to find answers for.

 

I stalk people on RPC and send them PMs. Then, if they respond with interest, we try to figure out if we'll actually be in-game at the same time, and then we'll try to figure out if there are any mutual plot hooks we can make use of. It's worked somewhat well for me, and I'd bet others do the same. (I still have a few on my list I need to actually get to)

 

My first experience RPing was actually acting as an NPC for someone else's event. It threw me in with a bunch of people I didn't know, and I had to react accordingly. My next big RP was on the forums. From there, I pretty much stalked/approached the people I'd met, and then leeched off their friends until they became mine.

 

Friends come out of repeated RP or interaction on RPC/elsewhere. I've got plenty of "RP Friends" that I don't actually RP with. It's kinda weird that way.

 

As of now, I'm currently FC-less and keeping it that way. I didn't find my experiences in the last one I was in to be very enjoyable because of some things beyond my control. So I took control of what I could and left.