[Balmung]Can we get more "RP hubs"?

[Aya]

You know how the Quicksand got so busy?  Because people were there.  Aya waitressed.  Warren and Crofte stood at their pillars.

 

♥ Zhavi! ♥

 

I actually don't feel like Balmung has only one "hub" and that hub is around the Quick Sand. There was a time that was true. When you could sit in Gridania all day and never observe any RP occurring in public.

 

There is simply so much RP these days that you can find in anywhere if you're looking. There are also settings all over the world, and an unbelievable variety created by player housing.

 

Its the last part I think that is actually the greatest obstacle to creating another outer-world hub as busy as Ul'dah. People like having control over their RP environment and housing allows that. So instead of having dozens of RPers crowding the area around the Wench in Limsa, they're more likely gathered around a more dispersed group of locations in player housing areas.

 

Nonetheless, what Zhavi's said is true. What creates hubs is the expectation that if you go to a place there will be RP there. That only takes player effort to create.

 

On the idea of "road" based RP. Walking RP is sadly very difficult to do in this game. Some sort of auto-group walk feature would be really handy for that.

[Arashin Kujqai]

You know how the Quicksand got so busy?  Because people were there.  Aya waitressed.  Warren and Crofte stood at their pillars.

 

♥ Zhavi! ♥

 

I actually don't feel like Balmung has only one "hub" and that hub is around the Quick Sand.  There was a time that was true.  When you could sit in Gridania all day and never observe any RP occurring in public.

 

There is simply so much RP these days that you can find in anywhere if you're looking.  There are also settings all over the world, and an unbelievable variety created by player housing.

 

Its the last part I think that is actually the greatest obstacle to creating another outer-world hub as busy as Ul'dah.  People like having control over their RP environment and housing allows that.  So instead of having dozens of RPers crowding the area around the Wench in Limsa, they're more likely gathered around a more dispersed group of locations in player housing areas.

 

Nonetheless, what Zhavi's said is true.  What creates hubs is the expectation that if you go to a place there will be RP there.  That only takes player effort to create.

 

On the idea of "road" based RP.  Walking RP is sadly very difficult to do in this game.  Some sort of auto-group walk feature would be really handy for that.

I wasn't saying actual walking RP meant how you can walk down say a path in thanalan or down the main path of Ul'dah and on your right you'll see a group of armored adventurers talking, then a lil further on your left you'll see a group of scholars talking, then go a lil further into another area you'll see a group of randoms just conversing. Rather than it all being so condensed around a huge population around the quicksand.

 

As for auto walking RP though... (not that I meant that as a subject >~>) I've done it a couple times, either someone follows to lead the way somewhere or I'll just auto walk along side them but ping varies so sometimes I slow down lmao. It's weird

 

 

Also I know Zavhi's right, I think 3 people have emphasized that post now The real issue is group interest, I can't be the only one who'd like to make something like this happen/work. I'd just like to know what else people would love to see it at or make as more of a hub.

[Kailani]

If anything, I'd love to spread it out enough to where people can just walk along roads and find groups/RP every so often in their travels. Something that kinda helps the world feel a bit more alive.

 

I do share in your desire to see bigger crowds spaced out throughout Eorzea sometimes. But as some have said in other threads, a lot of people don't like those big groups because chat spam and emotes get too crazy to follow. But there is plenty of smaller RP going on.

 

I've been grinding out an alt for the last month or so to finish her before SB and I see RP everywhere in the world. This includes zones level 20-50+ now and it's been really entertaining.

 

It may not be a huge group of 30+ people, but I see small groups in many of the quest hubs and even sitting out by some lakes fishing, chatting in /say with public emotes. So RP is absolutely out in the middle of the world. The Quicksand is self run basically, and every level player can reach it just about so it'll always be popular.

 

My suggestion would be to wait for SB to worry about it much. At that point, so many people will be out of the "usual spots" and in the new world. At that time, I can only suggest you find some new place that you think would be an amazing new RP hub, and maybe start dedicating your time to be there and also advertise something for it. If it's a bar or tavern, you can probably find some folks to help out with bartending and serving at least until it gets off the ground. :thumbsup:

 

It's really the only way something new will pop up as others have said. It takes time and effort to establish anything that'll last long term.

[Momo]

One of the bigger problems with this whole scenario, is that Balmung RP is often less about creativity, and more about getting easy RP while being creative inside the box that ease provides. It is the reason a place like the QS thrives, while the entire world is open for RP to a great degree, but not many strike out to find it or create it in any lasting way. Essentially, the Balmung RP community has many "active adventurers" and often very little actual adventuring.

 

That being said, personally bar RP gets boring for me after a while, but I can always meet RPers at the other main hubs like The Carline Canopy or The Drowning Wench. Also for further further BaRP, a majority of events at FC houses or set up in locations, are one of the following: fight club/tournament, bar, live performance, and with a smattering of other minor themes that pull from those. The biggest way I have seen to counteract this? Have an FC leader and an FC theme which supports group plots and activities that are only furthered in the outside world.

 

I guess this may be one of those "be the change you want to see" which is always going to sound hypocritical and a little condescending, but truly the best way to combat this is gather a group interested in active RP outside of a bar. Get together at least a few plot builders too, you will want others to help fill in gaps in activity over time, and help with ideas, then start hard advertisement here and on other social media platforms. A good solid theme is always going attract more people, and some standout members who are good RPers, not showy or dramatic, always will help make a foundation.

 

I hope that this helps or reassures you that there are those out there who agree and support these sorts of ideas!

[Erah'sae]

It's kind of like out in the real world though, if you think about it.  There are always 'events' and what not to go to, but the big places to meet new folks outside of 'events' tends to be the taverns/bars/clubs.  Outside of events, that (and the internet) tends to be where you get introduced to other social circles and find other things to do and make new friends at.  Also like in the real world, a lot of people are timid about approaching other people.  We've, as a people, kind of social engineered ourselves into a corner with that, but that's a soapbox I don't need to get on.

 

I do really love the concept of a living, breathing, world, but without some incentive, it's hard to create a need to just be between places.  This is especially true with the mechanics of FFXIV where we just teleport everywhere.  The only ways to really counteract stuff like this is to grab a friend, and go out in the world, RP tag on, and vocally RP.  Not just with each other, but RP at other people.  (The friend is important, you need someone to RP off of when other's aren't biting.)

 

You'll probably be surprised at who responds instead of just running off.

 

Nefzen and I had a lot of luck with this on our alts.  We -walked- everywhere, and RP'd at just about anyone who crossed our paths.  We asked players about where quest mobs we were looking for, or what was over that next hill.  We feigned ignorance about most of what we, as players, knew of the game world to give people something to do/contribute when interacting with us.  It was a lot of fun seeing everyone who'd drop their quest grinding to talk to us about trivial things like "where the best place to find limestone deposits" were.

[Eses Fafa]

I generally prefer to toggle walk mode and pick a location then walk and see who snags..works surprisingly well on some days!