My Fear (Unable to find any RP)

[Aya]

I also wasn't eager to head towards the infamous Quicksand. Not only because in many ways it is this game's version of Goldshire (though there are shining gems to be found amongst the muck) but because it didn't really make sense for my character to go there.

To compare the Quick Sand to Goldshire is horribly misleading.  Yes, there is that there.  But its a quiet background matter amidst what is otherwise a mostly pleasant and active RP scene.  Not liking the place (perfectly understandable) doesn't mean that it should be made to seem worse than it is.  It is not a Goldshire with shining gems among muck, it is a fun and energetic place with public RP-a-plenty and some undeniable background unsavoriness that is, fortunately, not difficult too ignore.  

 

The QS should not be "infamous" in any sense of the word.

 

For the OP: Finding RP, like making friends, is challenging. Sometimes its just circumstantial.  All you can do is keep trying.  There is more RP going on around here than in any other game or environment I have ever seen before, and while that really doesn't make it any easier to tap into, it does give reason for hope that persistence can pay off.

 

I would not advise large events as a good place to meet people (though I have met quite a few people at social events, such as balls).  Just continue to keep you eye out for public RP like you have been, and maybe try to find some LSes that might lead you that way.

[Roen]

I am going to third the approach of finding like minded people here on the RPC and sending them a PM. It is how I have made many of the RP friends that I have now. My experience has been mostly positive so far!

 

As for walk ups, the results are very variable from one person to another and also from one occasion to another. The prospect of something spontaneous giving rise to something enjoyable is always exciting! But like going to a bar to meet that special person, most of the times you will be disappointed. But it might happen someday.

 

My experience from hanging out in the Quicksand has been mostly positive. I got to meet Natalie, Aya, eventually Kage. It was totally random and based on luck. I also met plenty of people that I don't ever run into anymore. >_> Meeting at large events? Also very luck based. But Roen met one of her closest friends through the early days at the Grindstone.

 

So I can't say don't do random walk ups, but know that the yield can be low and the experience can be frustrating at times. I would say just walk it off and keep trying, and be ready to be really patient, if you want to keep chasing that spontaneity (which I totally get!). If you want to increase the chance that you will find someone steady to RP with or weave a story together, another way to approach it is to do some research, read profiles, wikis, story posts, OOC posts, then poke that person in some form or another (/tell or PM or what have you) and see where things go.

[Momo]

Don't do walk-ups, you will see many people here don't do them, or will attest to them being not the best idea for RPers, at least at random in random locations.  Do walk-ups at an event, like a bar meet, something not too crowded but not too sparse, they happen frequently, almost every night of the week, and are great for meeting new people and doing random RP.  I usually call that BaRP, because while it is walk up, there is a predetermined setting of RP happening.  You can meet all levels of RPers, all levels of lore-precise or otherwise, all levels of class (rich to poor), and of course it involves a bar, so lots of social life and drinking.

 

Quicksand in my opinion, is not a good place for RP unless you schedule it, or someone is running an event there.  That is because, not only is the QS a main spot for RPers, it is also a main spot for trolls and regular players who do not RP, or even target RPers.  Always always send a tell first to ask about RP before randomly starting some, that way you know to wait for a post to be made or if the person is present and ready to RP right off the bat.  This isn't something being said here much, but in person having talked to people who do "Walk-ups", this has been the main thing said to avoid confusion.

 

Lastly, rather than Walk-ups at all, if you don't insist on being a "Free RPer" with no affiliated FC or what have you, then I suggest you find one.  Find an FC with people that fit you, or even find a good RPLS that is active and have RPers who RP with each other frequently.  These are the best and most steady methods of finding RP, just by saying, "Hey anyone wanna RP?", you can get RP almost any day and any time.  If you don't want to do that, then I suggest the above, goto events that happen all the time, meet new people, you may find a group that you can RP with frequently that way as well, and to be honest, in the end, you should be looking for a group anyhow, just because meeting new people everyday of the week isn't going to help you progress your story much whether you progress your character activity or not.  Steady companions to RP with is the name of the game, when it comes to story progression, and finding that perfect speed and setting.

 

Good Luck

 

(Also people here are really touchy, as it is a group of RPers, so try to be slightly less generous with the truth or how you genuinely feel, as if it is angry or frustrated, most won't respond well to that, dramadramadrama!)

[FreelanceWizard]

Lastly, rather than Walk-ups at all, if you don't insist on being a "Free RPer" with no affiliated FC or what have you, then I suggest you find one.  Find an FC with people that fit you, or even find a good RPLS that is active and have RPers who RP with each other frequently.  These are the best and most steady methods of finding RP, just by saying, "Hey anyone wanna RP?", you can get RP almost any day and any time.

 

Very much this.

 

Also, having access to one or more IC LSes can be a godsend for getting RP going. Admittedly, most IC LSes are restricted to particular RP groups, but it's certainly possible to get access to one without formally joining a group if you get the right RP rolling. For example, we have several people with access to Mysterium's IC LS who aren't members of the group IC, just because they've made friends with the membership.

 

Another thing I'd add to this is that, even if you don't join a particular group, having connections with a group can be quite helpful. Many groups will let non-members join their OOC LS to help arrange RP. If you find a group you might be interested in RPing with, but you're not sure you want to join, all it takes is a quick ask to see if they might be willing to bring you into their OOC LS (assuming they have one).

 

I will say, though, that LSes are in many ways like FCs: you get out what you put into them. You have to be willing to step in, say hi, strike up conversations, and so on in order for them to do you any good.

[Kellach Woods]

At best I'd say if you want to walk up, don't walk up to someone who isn't reacting to anything. If they're not active, assume they're AFK.

[Askier]

Once upon a time there was a brand new Rper who had only one person  to rp with and a character not Max level. He had no friends but wanted to tell a story. So he poked some people on this site, gathered lots of lore, thought up a basic story and, knowing no one might show up, decided to run an event where he would play the bad guy and let people.try to stop his character.

 

Five weeks and five events later the plot ended with him having met lots of awesome people to role play with and his character suddenly well known despite the fact he ooc knows almost nothing about the game and was still not Max level.

 

The point here is that if you want rp, sometimes the best thing to do is not hunt but set it up yourself. 

 

The above is me and its true. I don't know the lore well still.  I still.don't have a level 60. And I'm not the best speller and my story was super cliche. But I wanted rp and, when I couldn't find it, I set up a plot myself.

 

This is my advice. Its scary. Its hard. A LOT of work but the rewards are worth all the effort. Believe me, its doable

 If a total noob like me can bull shit well enough to have 

over 50 people show up to the events I ran, anyone can do it.

[Wendigo]

Where is crucial, there is reason why many roleplayers avoid QS.

 

Try to stop by at our Fated Inn if we are open at times when you play. We have FC which is kind of put together out of misfits who all once got into position of being excluded so we decided to make a place where people could always come to RP and everyone will be welcome and where we could help both characters and players alike to get involved.

 

I wish you good luck.

[Lost River]

I like walk-up role-play and tend to tailor my typing methodology to those around. I'm fine with verbose to paraphrase; short to long. But, as others have said, not everyone is willing or wanting walk-up. As well, patience is key and as was spoken previously, it is always best to think if no one responds fully, just assume them as AFK.

 

Also, with those saying that they're not ignoring you; perhaps they're not in an area to be able to notice your character just yet; so there is also that.

 

And group RP is hard to do, the more the channels flood, the harder it is to keep up.

[Kellach Woods]

And group RP is hard to do, the more the channels flood, the harder it is to keep up.

 

Yeah, FYI - the chat system in this game suuuuuuuuucks to monitor RP in areas where there's a lot of people.

[Aquila]

As someone who typically takes 5-10 minutes between replies unless I'm beaten in the head by magic silver spoons or something, if I'm in the process of typing a response, I don't usually drop what I'm doing, copy the block out (and pray that it stays in the clipboard), respond with a quick reply, and then try to regain my thought for a post from there. It completely disrupts what's already a fickle process at times. (Edda can vouch for me when I say I made her wait 30+ minutes for a reply once. And it gave her enough time to rearrange her FC room on top of me).

 

If I get a ((hey, are you still typing, or did it get eaten)) post, I will sometimes drop what I'm doing to respond to it, but I don't consider it the norm.

Reading and responding to the original post, but, I wanted to quote this because, oh man do I feel it deeply.

 

I also have "Walkups Welcome" in my search info, but I won't RP if I'm on my AST (it's a goofy glamour; I suppose you'd feel very odd trying to RP a serious situation with just this dad mask looking at you sternly). For what it's worth, I'm sorry you've had to go through all this frustration; it most certainly is disheartening, but, hopefully, the advice in this thread has given you back some "get up and go", so to speak.

[Parth Makeo]

There are always events that the community offers like bar drinks and even I find people making connections at the Grindstone. Whether they fight or not! 

 

Quicksand is okay if it's not crowded but other than that, you may have to engage in RP for the most part. I've been lucky with my Walkups on my characters but others are not as lucky. 

 

As many pointed out before, it takes time and patience to get replies and form connections. Some RPers like to establish friendship over more than one day to give it a real sense of immersion. Asking for Walk Up RP is okay so long as your character is not idling or acting chill. My recommendation for those who prefer others walk up to them...

 

Do something in your downtime. Turns a page in his/her book, fiddles with , or even the act of scanning and looking around while taking a sip can work. Just have to make your character seem interesting to those who want to walk up.

The other part is image. 

 

I know some Characters that players RP as that refuse to just walk up casually to armor clad people because A) They might just want to relax after a long day of adventuring/work, B) They intimidate them or C) They could be guards on duty and they might not be into idle chatter. So do make casual attire for your character once in a while. You might see more people approach a man in a basic shirt and pants rather than a fully armored Dragoon.

 

But the most important in my opinion is you need to just put in effort. You can't just expect RP events to fall in your lap. You have to go out and make the connections or join the events. If you can't due to Real Life then try to find another.

I honestly cannot recommend Warren and the gang's Grindstone enough. It's honestly the best chance you can make connections even in private chatter while also watching fights.