Roleplaying etiquette for open world on Balmung

[FreelanceWizard]

It sounds like the poster in question needs to get better acquainted with rp in ffxiv and how it works. Clearly they aren't aware that most characters don't actually have the Echo when it comes to rp. (...) Maybe someone could send them a heads up and inform them about the rpc and role playing in ffxiv and what's reasonable knowledge for characters to know?

 

I wouldn't go that far, personally, since telling a person that comes off a bit as enforcing a "community standard" on RP -- and to me, at least, that's a massive turn-off from a server and a game. It really comes off as, "We, players of the game, have decided the lore is thus, and we won't RP with you if you don't agree." Also, I think if you asked 10 members of the RPC what that standard would be, you'd get 15 different answers.

 

Anyway, since it's entirely reasonable for a character to not have the Echo and have no idea what it is -- or to have it and still have no idea what it is -- it's a bit unreasonable to get bent out of shape OOCly when a character responds with "you're nuts" to being accused of having it. In fact, someone who has it and knows what it is still might respond that way, just because they don't want people to know they have it! I know L'yhta would deny or hedge it if a waitress started accusing her of that, since she'd immediately be on edge and wonder why this normal person was so knowledgeable about esoterica.

 

It's weird that the poster of that thread would emote whispering to an NPC, which any reasonable RPer would interpret as offering an RP hook to nearby players, then get huffy OOC when that RP hook is used and handled in the manner appropriate to the character. If you didn't want people to respond to that behavior, why emote it at all? I have to agree that this sounds like someone who's perhaps new to RP and has trouble with the IC/OOC line -- and not anything wrong with what Flashhelix did.

 

In my experience, everyone's been nice and respectful in open-world RP on Balmung, as long as you show the same respect in return. Part of that respect is keeping the IC/OOC line. If you're a new RPer and you're not sure if something is IC or OOC, just ask! If you're not sure why a scene isn't going the way you'd expect, ask! I've never met anyone who'd bite your head off OOCly for asking questions.

[ShoggMommy]

It's inconsiderate when people idle OOC in RP hotspots, especially when they're doing something like standing on tables.  I think the OP of that forum thread was justified in finding that annoying.

 

Except this is the unofficial server for rp. People can stand around if they like and idle as long as they aren't trolling. I fail to see why it's rude to watch rp or stand around ooc. It is still a quest hub in quicksand. Balmung isn't an rp only server. I don't like table standing and trollish behavior however.

[Warren Castille]

To play Devil's Advocate, perhaps people shouldn't cold-open RP with people standing on tables if they're not openly emoting about it. Communication is key. If someone says they're OOC when you talk to them, you don't then ignore them and pretend they're there anyway.

[Flickering Ember]

Open world RP ettiquette pretty much boils down to this:

 

Are you in the open and accepting walk ups?

 

Use /say

 

Are you in the open and not accepting walk ups?

 

Use /party or /tell

 

Actually if you are RPing anywhere but the RP is private do not RP in /say. If people can't join in, /say serves no function that /party can't other than advertising your rp but then saying "lol can't touch this."

[Arter Wood]

I snorted and dismissed this when I saw the person complaining about the quicksand. People that are leveling constantly run in and out, there are bound to be trolls. I don't expect any decency in there.

[Aoi Fukiku]

It's inconsiderate when people idle OOC in RP hotspots, especially when they're doing something like standing on tables.  I think the OP of that forum thread was justified in finding that annoying.

 

Except this is the unofficial server for rp. People can stand around if they like and idle as long as they aren't trolling. I fail to see why it's rude to watch rp or stand around ooc. It is still a quest hub in quicksand. Balmung isn't an rp only server. I don't like table standing and trollish behavior however.

This. There is no dedicated RP server and if I want to stand and watch people rp or just stand there and tab out then I have the right to do that. It may be considered rude to other RPers but it is actually my right. It is nice enough of the PVErs who often troll us to even let us have as much peace as we do in the Quicksand and other areas of the world to RP.

 

I am just nice enough to keep my window opened on the side so if I see someone trying to rp with me I can tab over and either let them know I am busy or pop ic to assist.

[ShoggMommy]

This. There is no dedicated RP server and if I want to stand and watch people rp or just stand there and tab out then I have the right to do that. It may be considered rude to other RPers but it is actually my right. It is nice enough of the PVErs who often troll us to even let us have as much peace as we do in the Quicksand and other areas of the world to RP.

 

I am just nice enough to keep my window opened on the side so if I see someone trying to rp with me I can tab over and either let them know I am busy or pop ic to assist.

 

Another thing, I like that there are people around it makes for a busy tavern look. In a place like Uldah that would be packed. To say that, if you aren't rping-leave, would make things look very thin. I think it does add to the atmosphere sometimes.

 

Not to mention Triple Triad games are also often played at hubs.

[Miko Shiroi]

As plenty of others have said, there's really no need to avoid the Quicksand. Like any crowded environment, there are going to be good encounters with others and, likewise, bad encounters. Even though it's a bit discouraging when other people react in inappropriate manners to your character, you shouldn't let it discourage you. Just take it with a grain of salt and move on.

 

That being said, not everyone in the Quicksand is bad. In fact, I've made quite a few RP contacts from lingering around there. Going to the Quicksand is an easy way to seek out RP, which you could then choose to move from there if you and your partner can agree on it.

[TheLastCandle]

It's inconsiderate when people idle OOC in RP hotspots, especially when they're doing something like standing on tables.  I think the OP of that forum thread was justified in finding that annoying.

 

Except this is the unofficial server for rp. People can stand around if they like and idle as long as they aren't trolling. I fail to see why it's rude to watch rp or stand around ooc. It is still a quest hub in quicksand. Balmung isn't an rp only server. I don't like table standing and trollish behavior however.

 

This. It's give and take; we can't just claim a spot and say "this is for RP." We have to share that space. Suddenly I'm reminded of a situation not long ago, in which a friend of mine and Rivienne's wanted us to come to the Canopy to see her new glamour.

 

We were talking out in the open, (tells wouldn't have sufficed, as it was a three-way conversation and we were queued for duty so it's not as if we could reasonably invite the third participant to a party..) and we were even enclosing our discussion in brackets to differentiate our little chat from the single pair RPing downstairs.

 

All of a sudden, there it is: "[Can you take this to tells please?]" And I was stunned for a few seconds, because at this point our conversation was perhaps a few scattered lines and not spammy in the slightest. Now, I've been roleplaying for a really, really long time. Long enough to know that outside conversations "breaking" one's "immersion" is largely a myth, and long enough to know that we are in the minority and can't reasonably expect those around us to follow some strange rule of silence (or even stranger, not stand nearby) when they're in the vicinity of people who are roleplaying. It's exactly that kind of behavior that makes some people resent roleplayers.

[Aoi Fukiku]

It's inconsiderate when people idle OOC in RP hotspots, especially when they're doing something like standing on tables.  I think the OP of that forum thread was justified in finding that annoying.

 

Except this is the unofficial server for rp. People can stand around if they like and idle as long as they aren't trolling. I fail to see why it's rude to watch rp or stand around ooc. It is still a quest hub in quicksand. Balmung isn't an rp only server. I don't like table standing and trollish behavior however.

 

This. It's give and take; we can't just claim a spot and say "this is for RP." We have to share that space. Suddenly I'm reminded of a situation not long ago, in which a friend of mine and Rivienne's wanted us to come to the Canopy to see her new glamour.

 

We were talking out in the open, (tells wouldn't have sufficed, as it was a three-way conversation and we were queued for duty so it's not as if we could reasonably invite the third participant to a party..) and we were even enclosing our discussion in brackets to differentiate our little chat from the single pair RPing downstairs.

 

All of a sudden, there it is: "[Can you take this to tells please?]" And I was stunned for a few seconds, because at this point our conversation was perhaps a few scattered lines and not spammy in the slightest. Now, I've been roleplaying for a really, really long time. Long enough to know that outside conversations "breaking" one's "immersion" is largely a myth, and long enough to know that we are in the minority and can't reasonably expect those around us to follow some strange rule of silence (or even stranger, not stand nearby) when they're in the vicinity of people who are roleplaying. It's exactly that kind of behavior that makes some people resent roleplayers.

Now, if you were spamming I could understand but you stated you were not so I find it rude on the RPer for trying to ask you to go elsewhere. As I stated, this is not an RP server. We, however, do very well with our community. We try to be polite. As a roleplayer we, however, should not police OOC/non rpers to go elsewhere because they are ruining our fantasy world. That causes trolling and that is why many will jump and dance on us because they know it bothers us (those who let it bother them anyway.) We need to understand that we share the server. OOC is going to happen, dancing on tables is going to happen. Unless you are spamming emotes I see no problem with people being OOC or being silly around me. I will just ignore them and keep to my thing. Not hard.

 

And I have only said something oocly when trying to RP and someone was spamming the hell out of their emotes for the annoying lalafell sound and scrollage of shocked. Come to find out they didn't know you could turn off the emote text. Helped them out, they spammed it and I played without my game sound (listening to music on pandora instead).

[Raelas]

I think its worth noting that in the case of "You're being annoying go elsewhere so I can RP." is an unacceptable request from anyone, ANYWHERE in open world, even on an RP server.

 

Why?

 

Because you, I, or anyone else does not have the right to tell someone who pays their sub, how and where they can do something. That just smacks of self-entitlement.

 

I get that it can be really annoying and frustrating but lets face it, if its open to the public they have every right to be there and do in that place whatever they choose to.

 

[EDIT] - Words and spelling. ;w;

[111]

I think its worth noting that in the case of "You're being annoying go elsewhere so I can RP." is an unacceptable request from anyone, ANYWHERE in open world, even on an RP server.

 

Why?

 

Because you, I, or anyone else does not have the right to tell someone who pays their sub, how and where they can do something. That just smacks of self-entitlement.

 

I get that it can be really annoying and frustrating but lets face it, if its open to the public they have every right to be there and do in that place whatever they choose to.

 

[EDIT] - Words and spelling. ;w;

 

 

I think you have the right to ask people. I have asked people to stop spamming emotes for example, and sometimes they even listen.

 

You are more than allowed to ask.

 

You just shouldn't demand

[Raelas]

I think its worth noting that in the case of "You're being annoying go elsewhere so I can RP." is an unacceptable request from anyone, ANYWHERE in open world, even on an RP server.

 

Why?

 

Because you, I, or anyone else does not have the right to tell someone who pays their sub, how and where they can do something. That just smacks of self-entitlement.

 

I get that it can be really annoying and frustrating but lets face it, if its open to the public they have every right to be there and do in that place whatever they choose to.

 

[EDIT] - Words and spelling. ;w;

 

 

I think you have the right to ask people. I have asked people to stop spamming emotes for example, and sometimes they even listen.

 

You are more than allowed to ask.

 

You just shouldn't demand

 

Most certainly ask in an extreme case like spamming emotes and what not... but in the case of Yve? I don't think so.

 

Just my opinion of course but unless that person is paying my sub, bought my game, pays my electricity and internet bill and owns my computer... then you can go about telling what to do and where.

 

It comes off as being really dickish sounding and I don't mean to imply I do dickish things but I don't like being told what I can and can't do in a public space like the quicksand.

 

If that makes any sense.

[111]

I think there is nothing wrong with asking politely.

 

Its the same way with real world public places.

[Darien Cadell]

Something about the original thread seems really off. It's difficult for me to tell if the person's just that new to the concept or troll-ish. When you pretend to be a character to "add fantasy to your game," you don't usually accuse others of rudeness for what amounts to not taking your added fantasy on a silver platter and bowing profusely?

 

I don't know. The person's behavior and retelling of it just seemed odd. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being odd, and a person doing all the things they did with a cheerful demeanor would be absolutely welcomed, but there is something wrong with being consistently offended by little things around you when you've put yourself into a situation that behooves others to respond as they wish, not as you wish.

 

If someone had been spamming dragoon spin on her head or telling her she was stupid or to go away OOC, she'd have a legitimate complaint.

[Raelas]

I think there is nothing wrong with asking politely.

 

Its the same way with real world public places.

 

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with asking.

 

However, if one must respect that people RP in a place then RPers must also respect the fact it is a public place for people do whatever the hell they want within the ToS.

 

The same applies to the real world. You don't have to like what they're doing but if they're not doing anything wrong you can't really expect them to care about what you think or what your request is.

 

Hell, we have a blist for a reason right? Temp Blist is always a nice option. Shame that doesn't work IRL.

[FreelanceWizard]

Long enough to know that outside conversations "breaking" one's "immersion" is largely a myth, and long enough to know that we are in the minority and can't reasonably expect those around us to follow some strange rule of silence (or even stranger, not stand nearby) when they're in the vicinity of people who are roleplaying. It's exactly that kind of behavior that makes some people resent roleplayers.

 

Emphasis mine.

 

I really have to agree. When RPers act with a sense of entitlement, they generate resentment. We're already a community that some people don't understand and asks for things that seem pointless to an outsider (such as designated RP servers, more and persistent emotes, and IC flags); it does us no favors to also start making demands of fellow players when they're doing normal things that cause no harm.

 

RPers are no more a special group worthy of special treatment than raiders, crafters, or PvPers. No more than we would find it okay for PvPers to insist that non-PvP quest objectives be located in FFA PvP zones, we shouldn't find it okay for RPers to demand silence from those around them when they're RPing. That's an unreasonable demand that's inconsiderate and rude.

 

/rant off

[111]

I don't think you need to demand silence, but I have had success before asking people oocily if I can use a table or etc.

 

I really dont see the harm in sending a tell "Hello! Do you mind if we use that table for RP?" Or "Hello! Sorry to bother but could you turn off text notifications for emotes?"

[FreelanceWizard]

There's nothing wrong with that at all. Most people are pretty accommodating. My issue is with what TheLastCandle was talking about, which is people who don't ask but demand -- and make rather unreasonable demands, such as "don't talk OOC near us, we're RPing." There's a reasonable middle ground.

[Leomoon]

RP there if you want, enough said. But be polite, as Natalie said. I can't stress this enough. That doesn't mean your character can't be a jackass. I've rped a crab-ass kitty before, but oocly just be respectful of others.

If I happened upon a RP running around I normally will watch OOCly and get close enough to hear all the characters, if I feel like joining I will ask them and people are normally very open to people jumping in.

[111]

There's nothing wrong with that at all. Most people are pretty accommodating. My issue is with what TheLastCandle was talking about, which is people who don't ask but demand -- and make rather unreasonable demands, such as "don't talk OOC near us, we're RPing." There's a reasonable middle ground.

 

I'd agree with this. There is a certain amount of tolerance everyone must have for disruption. If you 100% do not want any ooc stuff going on, then go to a house and lock the door.

 

Otherwise you have to put up with a certain level of ooc background noise.

[Darien Cadell]

it does us no favors to also start making demands of fellow players when they're doing normal things that cause no harm.

 

And that's my problem with the original thread. The person's setting themselves up as a victim of... completely normal (even relatively polite in the grander scheme of how responses can go) behavior.

 

And referring to it as "such selflessness" as if she's doing everyone else a favor by engaging in roleplay? If she's not doing it for her own enjoyment, why is she doing it at all? Does she expect all other players and characters to give her the royal treatment just because it's "the central hub of a roleplay server"?

 

Nothing she did was wrong, per se, but the ultimate attitude she has about all of the situation is unforgiving and unfriendly. If she wasn't trying so hard to be "selfless" she might have focused instead on the interactions she did enjoy, perhaps even been in awe of the fact that no one spammed dragoon spins on her head in a location that is only an RP hub by mutual consent rather than rule enforcement. Maybe she wouldn't have focused on the little things like being called crazy IC, which I have done and had done to me a LOT, and never questioned it as a perfectly viable and even appropriate response.

 

I feel like this needs a Fry meme with something like "not sure if actually feeling entitled or being facetiously critical of other people's senses of entitlement."

[TheLastCandle]

There's nothing wrong with that at all. Most people are pretty accommodating. My issue is with what TheLastCandle was talking about, which is people who don't ask but demand -- and make rather unreasonable demands, such as "don't talk OOC near us, we're RPing." There's a reasonable middle ground.

 

Exactly this! Mutual respect makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Like, I have a lot of friends who don't RP at all, but go as far as to use "(( ))" or brackets to enclose their words when they're talking in open chat near a group of roleplayers, just as a way of letting them know to "Ignore this statement that is entirely irrelevant to what you're doing!" They don't have to do it, but it's a nice gesture.

[Leanne]

What I am going to was already said I guess, but, my personal etiquette is that thing I always love to insist: Your freedom ends where others begins. It would be nice if everyone tried to find a middle ground to work with, or reach a compromise where both parties are satisfied. Trying to invariably tug things to be -your- way will very probably find you conflict. Heck, even trying to find a middle ground where there's divergence can find you conflict.

 

So...dunno, call it the hugbear treatment or whatever, but try to be understanding, try to be nice, and most important of all, try to be reasonable. I don't feel it hurts, and no one is more important than anyone. That's my personal opinion.

[ShoggMommy]

RP there if you want, enough said. But be polite, as Natalie said. I can't stress this enough. That doesn't mean your character can't be a jackass. I've rped a crab-ass kitty before, but oocly just be respectful of others.

If I happened upon a RP running around I normally will watch OOCly and get close enough to hear all the characters, if I feel like joining I will ask them and people are normally very open to people jumping in.

 

I personally really enjoy reading rp so if others want to read mine that's fine by me. I also enjoy it other people joining into my rp group, my status reads welcome to walk ups so what you're doing is great.