Main Storyline: A Matter of Taste, or RP Etiquette?

[Gone4everbye]

Before I dive in to this, I'd like to open with a disclaimer! I'm posting this for a good, healthy discussion to take place. Disagreements may occur. If they do, and you happen to be involved in the disagreement, please keep a level head and keep your tone respectful. I'm not really certain how contentious this topic might be, but I don't want it spiraling out of control in the event that there are differences of opinion.

 

Let's talk about the "Main Storyline," and how we regard it in RP.

 

This RP community comes from all corners of the MMO and/or RP universe. Some of our members are even new to both. With such diversity comes a colorful variety of playstyles. Specifically, I'm talking about RP styles.

 

Most of my RP experience in MMOs comes from Aion, so forgive me if I over-use it as an example. Aion, like most MMOs, had a "Main Storyline." FFXIV:ARR does as well! In both, the player is put in a position of considerable growing importance, which puts them in a position to interact with all of the unique NPCs and allows them to see all the world, encountering (and often remedying) most of its problems. I've never played other MMOs extensively, so I can't really say for sure whether games like WoW, GW2, SWTOR, Eve, NWN, and others had such a thing as a single-player storyline.

 

When MMOs give us these pre-packaged stories, some roleplayers opt to still regard the stories as though they're happening to them. Most, in my experience, extract the lore they learn from it and mostly disregard it, giving their characters a more natural role in the world presented to us. In Aion, I came across the occasional RPer who wanted to regard elements of the main story as happening to their character in real time. This, of course, caused some conflict. For instance, the Shadow Court (a ruling power for Asmodians in Aion) would capture the player and force them to fight their way out of a dungeon in order to assess their skill. While it wasn't magnanimous, the more people who claimed the Shadow Court was after them in the same fashion as dozens of RPers before them, the more we had to wonder what exactly made everyone so very special that they were the target of such attention. This was a minor thing, but more confusion erupted when players were taking credit for killing a being who would not and could never return--when it was the "hero" of the story who did so.

 

Similarly, in FFXIV:ARR, I have heard some rumors about players claiming to fight and kill Primals, as the "hero" of the overarching storyline does. I'm not well-versed in the XIV lore, but even in the event that primals can return to power after a good slaying or two, the story does establish that these rises to power for the primals happen over an extended period of time, and the manner in which you encounter them is lauded as being alarmingly different or rare.

 

It is my opinion, that players shouldn't encounter Primals, or at least shouldn't encounter them as casually as they might enter in to a fight in a video game. I'd even go as far as to say that it should be rare to be accepted to the Scions. Even the "hero" of the Main Storyline is told to keep their affiliation somewhat confidential. At least, they're told to never, ever talk about the location of the Waking Sands and to try to be discreet about their membership (though obviously some NPCs are well aware of your affiliation and often tap in to your resource.) I also think that instances should be treated worth a grain of salt. For instance, Toto-Rak is "off limits" to outsiders, so if you were there, you'd better justify it ICly, and probably not using the same excuse the story gave you. You're not there to rescue the Elder Sylph. You're... maybe there to execute an experiment with the approval of whatever Grand Company you've enlisted with.

 

Anyway, enough about my opinion. What do you guys think? How should RPers regard the Main Storyline? How should RPers regard other RPers who are clearly considering every point in the Main Storyline actual events that have happened to their character? (Personally, in other games, I have always simply taken to silently dismissing them as crazy, but respectfully humoring them to their face.)

[Clover]

I'm personally not imagining that the main storyline is actually happening to my character. As you commented, that'd be chaotic.

 

Regarding the primals, it'd be very cool if someone ever organized an event in which an army of RPed characters have to actually fight one. We don't need the game story, we can make our own and play it our way!

[Vinter]

I think any role that should by all rights exalt your character to a position of great renown or influence in the world, should be avoided at all costs.

There just isn't enough room in the world for everyone to be the dragonborn. (just an example)

That's why it's better that no one claims to be a mythical hero, and just ignores any feats of greatness, for the sake of better RP.

 

That's my view on the whole thing.

[Chisae]

You know, I would love to have an mmo where there is no over-arching storyline, or at least not one that thrusts you into the middle being the god-like hero they god-mod you to be. Have it be a background thing that the npcs talk about and MAYBE you encounter snippets of the story during your adventures. There should be quests and dungeons though, otherwise it would just be a horrible grinder game.

[Dravus]

The main story is geared towards telling the tale of a single hero for the most part and there is absolutely nothing out there that will ever make a single role-player worthy of portraying the sole hero in a multi-player game. I'd be fine with someone tastefully presenting their character as part of a greater force, though - be it one of the Grand Companies, an enemy faction or even the Scions. I'll likely be incorporating some of the flavour lore I've learned during the course of the main storyline, though. There's some pretty interesting nuggets of information such as giving insight into the various plights major settlements face and their local superstitions and so on.

[Chisae]

Ive always been a fan of "a hero did it" A nameless person just known as A Hero... kinda like the recent anime where the characters were all called by titles instead of names... or like Clint Eastwoods spagetti westerns.

[Moondoggie]

Some of the lore you could probably use in RP but agree that a lot of things are just impossible to use because they make a character seem all powerful. Can probably get away with Grand Companies being canon for your character because technically its just like a group you work for it doesn't really grant the character some all powerful god killing abilities or anything exclusive.

[Vinter]

Ive always been a fan of "a hero did it" A nameless person just known as A Hero... kinda like the recent anime where the characters were all called by titles instead of names... or like Clint Eastwoods spagetti westerns.

 

Loved MaoYuu, it was brilliant.

[Ildur]

I have to agree with the "A Hero Did It" approach, for the most part. I'm actually of the school of thought (and if it isn't a school, it is now!) that the main storyline exists in its own vacuum. The game universe is frozen on stasis until the developers release a new expansion.

 

The problem comes from knowing where, chronologically speaking, the roleplayers stand in the current frozen storyline. From what I've seen in other games, it seems like the common thing to do is to infer from the storyline the state of events of each area and merge them together in some sort of massive concurrent story.

[CalemvirLucin]

Rakka'sae  hi! I think we should use our best judgement when incorporating our story quests into our IC roleplay. A lot of stuff shouldn't be used, becuase it just won't make sense if a hundred roleplayers are all saying they did or fought the same thing when it was supposed to be a unique experience or whatever 

[LiadansWhisper]

I think it's important to remember that the Primals can, apparently, come back.    Ifrit has been killed many times, and Titan has been killed more than once, as have others.

[Keru / E'ir]

While I have no problem with people from the main storyline being mentioned, I don't believe they should be rp'ed at all, that being said I also think that small storyline pieces with a different outcomes can be used, I also like the idea that what happens in the storylines should just be considered rumors.

[Moondoggie]

Killed by very large forces at least from what i gather and not easily. Having everyone and his Mother having done battle with and defeated primals it just gets silly

[C'io Behkt]

I've been wondering about this in relation to those who want to play Summoners IC. To summon a Primal Egi, one must need to have faced that Primal before. While Primals can and do return, it does tend to be over an extended period of time and with great attrition. With all that in mind, how does one justify being a Summoner?

[LiadansWhisper]

I've been wondering about this in relation to those who want to play Summoners IC. To summon a Primal Egi, one must need to have faced that Primal before. While Primals can and do return, it does tend to be over an extended period of time and with great attrition. With all that in mind, how does one justify being a Summoner?

 

There's a statement made right around the time you encounter Ifrit that basically says that he's been summoned with greater and greater frequency over the past five years since the Calamity.  They describe the war between Ul'dah and the Amalj'aa as a "war of attrition," speaking of the Immortal Flames stamping Ifrit out over and over, but ultimately getting nowhere (as his people always summon him again).

 

It does take time...unless the world was wrecked, the aether lines are completely fucked up, and the beast tribes are stockpiling crystals to force a summon.

[Keru / E'ir]

I've been wondering about this in relation to those who want to play Summoners IC. To summon a Primal Egi, one must need to have faced that Primal before. While Primals can and do return, it does tend to be over an extended period of time and with great attrition. With all that in mind, how does one justify being a Summoner?

 

Well I kind of like the idea of that since the primals are viewed as gods to the beastmen, why can't they manifest themselves to humans in non-physical ways(e.g. Dreams) or maybe the summoner makes an offering to the primal? Not sure how it exactly works but those seem logical to me.

[Remis Locke]

The very thought of the heavens gifting my character, of all people, a godly gift such as the Echo would be a very cruel joke indeed. I for one would never consider the main story as part of my characters journey. By all means I’d consider events caused by it, for lore-sake. But I doubt I'd play a major hand.

 

To those who do choose to use the main story as part of their background I by no means judge you, each to their own. It would be awkward in conversation if five people did the same thing at the same time but I suppose you could work around that, or shrug it off, or just get confused in character.

 

That being said, what Clover said about the primal would be a very interesting venture, given that they are a worldly issue which would effect everyone. Like the War of the Ring in LOTRO for example.

[Yeldir Melfusor]

I simply play Yeldir as if he wasn't even a part of those events. Consequently, I tend to be OOC when I'm playing through them.

[Shae'ra]

Anyway, enough about my opinion. What do you guys think? How should RPers regard the Main Storyline? How should RPers regard other RPers who are clearly considering every point in the Main Storyline actual events that have happened to their character? (Personally, in other games, I have always simply taken to silently dismissing them as crazy, but respectfully humoring them to their face.)

 

I think it truly should be something that is accessed per situation and since the way it is played out by one person may not be the way another plays it out.

 

Let's take the Echo: This is a primary factor in your storyline starting early on in which every player experiences in their questline. If a character walked up to me and OOCly demanded information on me because of the echo's ability to resonate with others and view a past experience: I wouldn't give in. I am not required to play along with someone else who feels it is acceptable to demand I do things. However, if someone kindly asks me if I would be willing to play along with giving some information in order to get the two characters to bond or give reason for a plot/etc: I am a very open-minded person and would be willing to go along with such so long as I am allowed to expose only what I care to share.

 

I think most of what people do is based on how they execute it versus exactly what it is. I personally do not use the game-story 99% of the time for my character unless there is something very minor I need to use, I prefer to learn the lore from it and go my own way and develop from there.

 

However, in contrast to the above, there are things that draw the line for me. Such as claiming relations to NPCs. If a character approaches mine and claims to be friends with the Admiral: I will have my character invite them to join him -- see what kind of excuses are made as to why someone so close to another would be so unwilling to join. I am not usually the kind to completely ignore someone who I disagree with, but I will question things and see what kind of responses I get.

 

All in all: how should people do things? That is not for me to say as everyone will do things the way in which they want to. "To each their own" and if I do not agree, that is my right. Nobody is forcing me to roleplay with someone who I do not feel comfortable roleplaying with.

[Seamus O'Toole]

Myself, I just use the main story as background information. Nobody has to be the hero, but these events are still happening as things you can talk about....wars with beastmen....your rank in the Grand Company...places you've visted (for maybe a different reason). It all makes for a good backdrop.

[FreelanceWizard]

XIV is nice in that a lot of canonical events can, in fact, be repeated by all PCs. Primals, for instance, can be repeatedly summoned, and in fact the story of XIV is that summons and attempts to summon them are indeed becoming increasingly common. You also have to consider the fact that PCs are in fact a subset of adventurers, who are a subset of all characters in the setting; player characters are a rare breed relative to all the other beings in the world (and even all the other adventurers in the world). So, yes, the Echo is rare, because PCs are rare. Despite being the among the (if not the) most popular races for PCs, miqo'te are still rare in lore because PCs are rare.

 

Based on those story elements, I think it's perfectly fine to have the Echo, to face off against Primals, to be associated with the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to some degree, and to be a member of a Grand Company if you want to be. None of these are story elements that must be exclusive to a single individual (and in fact, the Echo seems to have been explicitly written not to be; the cutscene with the mothercrystal shows lots of other people). Of course, it's also fine to not do any of these things if they don't fit your character concept, either.

 

The trick, I think, is to strike a balance between incorporating the lore and "genericizing" elements that'd step on other players' toes. Taking the example of the Limsa Lominsa story line, for instance, you end up at a state dinner with the Admiral for having done a great service to the city. Obviously, not all characters can do that as written. However, you can take the lore presented in that sequence and incorporate it into your character by writing a story yourself that explains how your character knows it. Likewise, you can take the theme (you got recognized by the city in some way for service as an adventurer) and write any number of stories that fit it and that don't involve you having a state dinner with the Admiral. It's a tricky balancing act, but what works for me is to think, "Is this a story element that, given the parameters of the setting, would be impossible or exceedingly improbable for more than one PC to do?" If the answer is yes, then it needs to be made more generic or skipped completely. A few examples of events that I feel need to be genericized or excluded are meetings and connections to canonical characters, quests that talk about you being "the only one in " to perform a task or get an ability, and the destruction or defeat of canonical characters unless the game provides a clear, well-known canonical way for them to come back from that. So, if a quest involves killing a certain Garlean Wolf, that would need to be genericized (to "some Garlean officer") or skipped entirely. Defeating Primals, however, is increasingly becoming a common occurrence, and so that can be easily brought IC ("those bloody Amal'jaa, they just keep summoning Ifrit... when will it end?").

 

Obviously, there's a problem with playing the main scenario quest fully as written; if you did that, you'd be among the most important characters in the world, rubbing elbows with the leaders of city-states and supping with Louisoix's acolytes. However, going completely down the other path -- ignoring the story entirely -- can be problematic as well, especially if you expect others to do the same thing. This is especially true when considering fights with Primals due to Tempering.

[Dravus]

I'm actually toying with the idea of leaving it up in the air as to whether or not Theodric is actually blessed with the power of the Echo. Perhaps he truly does bear the burden of such a gift, or maybe he's just incredibly luckily not to have been captured and subjected to the Tempering process? He's not exactly a pure and righteous hero, but he seeks to atone for his past and it would make a lot of sense for him to offer his aid in keeping the Primals and their minions away from civilisation. I just don't want him to walk away unscathed or as a celebrated hero but at the same time I don't want him to be Tempered either. It's tricky!

[FreelanceWizard]

I'm actually toying with the idea of leaving it up in the air as to whether or not Theodric is actually blessed with the power of the Echo. Perhaps he truly does bear the burden of such a gift, or maybe he's just incredibly luckily not to have been captured and subjected to the Tempering process? He's not exactly a pure and righteous hero, but he seeks to atone for his past and it would make a lot of sense for him to offer his aid in keeping the Primals and their minions away from civilisation. I just don't want him to walk away unscathed or as a celebrated hero but at the same time I don't want him to be Tempered either. It's tricky!

 

IMO, you could definitely make it an open question IC. For some reason, he just can't be Tempered, but he doesn't know why. He doesn't have any of the other characteristics of the Echo -- just the inability to be Tempered. Sure, some will assume it's due to the Echo, but it's a permanently open question ICly (and one you needn't answer OOCly, either ). This is especially workable in lore because the Echo seems to manifest outside the control of those who have it; this characteristic makes it a perfect "Schroedinger," so to speak, where you can avoid making any definitive statement about having it or not while simultaneously being compatible with the storyline and giving others an opportunity to ponder and discuss ICly.

[Dravus]

I'm actually toying with the idea of leaving it up in the air as to whether or not Theodric is actually blessed with the power of the Echo. Perhaps he truly does bear the burden of such a gift, or maybe he's just incredibly luckily not to have been captured and subjected to the Tempering process? He's not exactly a pure and righteous hero, but he seeks to atone for his past and it would make a lot of sense for him to offer his aid in keeping the Primals and their minions away from civilisation. I just don't want him to walk away unscathed or as a celebrated hero but at the same time I don't want him to be Tempered either. It's tricky!

 

IMO, you could definitely make it an open question IC. For some reason, he just can't be Tempered, but he doesn't know why. He doesn't have any of the other characteristics of the Echo -- just the inability to be Tempered. Sure, some will assume it's due to the Echo, but it's a permanently open question ICly (and one you needn't answer OOCly, either ). This is especially workable in lore because the Echo seems to manifest outside the control of those who have it; this characteristic makes it a perfect "Schroedinger," so to speak, where you can avoid making any definitive statement about having it or not while simultaneously being compatible with the storyline and giving others an opportunity to ponder and discuss ICly.

 

Thanks for the advice! I'll likely go down that route, then. It's definitely the best compromise as it leaves thing open without the need to go into specifics or to have my character drop everything to rush off to Vesper Bay and lead a life of secrecy aiding the Scions.

[C'io Behkt]

I'm actually toying with the idea of leaving it up in the air as to whether or not Theodric is actually blessed with the power of the Echo. Perhaps he truly does bear the burden of such a gift, or maybe he's just incredibly luckily not to have been captured and subjected to the Tempering process? He's not exactly a pure and righteous hero, but he seeks to atone for his past and it would make a lot of sense for him to offer his aid in keeping the Primals and their minions away from civilisation. I just don't want him to walk away unscathed or as a celebrated hero but at the same time I don't want him to be Tempered either. It's tricky!

 

IMO, you could definitely make it an open question IC. For some reason, he just can't be Tempered, but he doesn't know why. He doesn't have any of the other characteristics of the Echo -- just the inability to be Tempered. Sure, some will assume it's due to the Echo, but it's a permanently open question ICly (and one you needn't answer OOCly, either ). This is especially workable in lore because the Echo seems to manifest outside the control of those who have it; this characteristic makes it a perfect "Schroedinger," so to speak, where you can avoid making any definitive statement about having it or not while simultaneously being compatible with the storyline and giving others an opportunity to ponder and discuss ICly.

 

This is precisely how I am dealing with C'io's Echo, actually. In her, it manifests as a sensitivity to nature and the balance of the world that's just part of who she is. If someone told her about the Echo, I doubt she'd make the connection that it was the same thing she had.

 

The line earlier about how Ifrit gets summoned often makes sense to me as a Summoner working with the Immortal Flames. The trickier Primals to have an excuse to conjure are Titan and Garuda, who I know are much rarer and tougher. Having Ifrit Egi, however, is enough for me for now. However, it does bring up the problem of how her immunity to Tempering would give her some modicum of renown within the Flames given how devastating Tempering is to their ranks. Still, nothing even close to the fame of the ubiquitous "hero."