Role Playing feelings and Real Life feelings.

[Ignacius]

What the Hell is wrong with you people?!  I just said my characters had skinned people alive, tortured them, and engaged in all manner of evil debauchery and violence.  Why DOESN'T anyone think there's something wrong with me?!  My roleplay has at various times become sick and disgusting and I've played those characters sympathetically!

 

Jeez, you people...

 

In all seriousness, I'm rarely serious.  I wouldn't take anything I say as a personal attack and my own ego is pretty bulletproof.  I half expected someone to respond, "Well, most people should feel some kind of connection with their characters.  Not you, Iggy.  You need 24 hour care and one of those rooms with no inflexible protrusions or sharp edges."

 

The whole point of the post, self-deprecation removed, is that I tend to play characters that, for some reason, people have a lot of sympathy, respect, and admiration for.  Which is strange, because I most often play characters who engage in terrible violence, horrendous crime, and no small amount of indulgence.

 

It's entertaining, and I feel like I can tap into an undercurrent of people's feelings where they can respect someone like that and even follow them, then see how low they're willing to follow the character into the hole in the ground they live in.  I love the archetypical "dark knight", a villainous character of high moral principle that is just as likely to buy a poor kid an ice cream as he is to hide a police officer's body in a sewer for the rats to consume.  I really like seeing what kind of decent people might end up following them and to see how they react to falling from grace.

 

Which is fun, but I'm the last guy that says you need to have empathy with your characters.  At the very least, be happy I'm not that well connected to mine.  I've had people cry IRL when bad things happen to my character simply because people come to like and admire them.  I don't; they don't deserve it.

 

I do sometimes worry about people getting too attached to their characters and mine, though.  There have been a few RP relationships that the individual players have taken too far, mistakenly thinking those feelings made their way OOC.  Definitely not in my case, as I feel as much connection to the positive emotion of their love as I do to their anger when they're bodily ripping someone's ripcage out and wrapping it around their backs.

 

Yes, that's happened in RP as well....

[ArmachiA]

I always try to get inside my characters head and feel what they feel when trying to play a scene and I have a lot of empathy when something bad happens to one of my good characters (Not so much with my evil ones) and I have cried at overly emotional scenes - just like reading a good book or watching a good movie will do.

 

I think in order to play our characters accurately, we have to try to feel what they feel in the moment. Whether it's a funny scene or a serious scene, we have to try to get into their head. In essence, we're actors and thats what actors do.

 

Never take it OOC though. Once your out of your characters head remember that you are you and your character is your character. This can be difficult, hell even some big named actors have trouble with this once a shoot is wrapped. But it's important to get out of your characters head space when you are not being your character, if you find yourself stuck there - taking their feelings into the OOC - you need to take a step back and distance yourself a bit till you can leave.

 

OOC and IC are always two very distinct and different things.

[Kage]

I think it's being able to keep the IC things IC and never taking it OOC. You're you and your character is a character. You're not your character.

 

Empathizing with their feelings or those in the moment in my mind is a process of RPing I think for most people with the characters that they like.

 

I've certainly cried a few times in the past two weeks in some big emotional scenes because the characters would have moved me for sure if I had been reading about the scene from a book or watching it as a scene in a move.

 

It's possible that you're disappointed and sad over how your character's RP is not going the way you want it. Perhaps a retcon or finding different RPers will also change that?

[C'kayah Polaali]

I'll echo Kage here on this one. For a lot of people (myself included), it's not only common to feel things that your character is feeling during a scene, it's desirable. Good RP characters are like good characters in a book. You empathize with them. You get into their heads to some degree. You laugh with their jokes, you cheer with their triumphs, you cry with their defeats. It's the same thing with RP characters, except that you're writing them yourself. It's only natural if you feel along with them.

 

At the same time, it is a game and you are entitled to insist that you get some enjoyment out of playing it. If playing your character makes you sad all the time, to the extent that you're really not enjoying the game, then it's time to think about why that is and what you can do about it. It's perfectly reasonable to make OOC decisions about the direction an character goes in order to make them more fun to play. It's also perfectly reasonable to set them aside in order to play a character you enjoy, or to take a break from the game and get a little distance.

 

And if being part of an Ul'dahn crime lord's new empire might make you happy? It's perfectly reasonable to contact me. 

 

Seriously, though. If you're on Balmung and feel like making an RP change, I'd be happy to help.

[Ignacius]

I'll echo Kage here on this one. For a lot of people (myself included), it's not only common to feel things that your character is feeling during a scene, it's desirable. Good RP characters are like good characters in a book. You empathize with them. You get into their heads to some degree. You laugh with their jokes, you cheer with their triumphs, you cry with their defeats. It's the same thing with RP characters, except that you're writing them yourself. It's only natural if you feel along with them.

 

At the same time, it is a game and you are entitled to insist that you get some enjoyment out of playing it. If playing your character makes you sad all the time, to the extent that you're really not enjoying the game, then it's time to think about why that is and what you can do about it. It's perfectly reasonable to make OOC decisions about the direction an character goes in order to make them more fun to play. It's also perfectly reasonable to set them aside in order to play a character you enjoy, or to take a break from the game and get a little distance.

 

And if being part of an Ul'dahn crime lord's new empire might make you happy? It's perfectly reasonable to contact me. 

 

Seriously, though. If you're on Balmung and feel like making an RP change, I'd be happy to help.

 

Too bad you're on Balmung.

[K'nahli]

Unless you're a creature that lacks the ability to empathize then I don't see how you could not experience strong or harsh emotions for your characters. I have felt a variety of things through, or on behalf on my characters, even if they themselves didn't. In addition, I have also been through a lot when exposed to other characters even when I was totally uninvolved with the scene taking place or even so much as not even having ever roleplayed with the character. This is what makes RP exciting and interesting. If you couldn't feel anything from it then I don't understand why one would do it in the first place.

 

I've played a character before that has nailed a woman (literally with carpenter nails) naked to a table and interrogated her by skinning a tattoo off her hip and tossing it down on her face.  He finally got her to talk by preparing to slice off her finger to show her the ring she was wearing, having her tell him it had come from her husband, and threatening to have them find her husband to torture him as well.

 

It was fun, it was tense, it was dramatic, it was absolutely 100% not something I'd ever want to empathize with.  I've had a great many heroic roleplaying characters in my time, but I've also played characters that, at various times, have burned down an orphanage after killing everyone inside, had a witness killed and disposed of in order to get a murderer acquitted, and had one character bring a yearlong forum RP thread end by killing his own fiancee on behalf of his employer after leaving his entire gang to death.

 

My post was targeted specifically towards the OP's experiences. Of course there are exceptions out there too but I was simply making a broad claim rather than a universal one. In your case where you play a character you morally despise then I guess it would be a case where you are getting most of your enjoyment from the reactions and developments of the characters around you, though if I am mistaken then by all means correct me. In any case, I'm sure you can at least empathise with other peoples' characters.

 

I always try to get inside my characters head and feel what they feel when trying to play a scene and I have a lot of empathy when something bad happens to one of my good characters (Not so much with my evil ones) and I have cried at overly emotional scenes - just like reading a good book or watching a good movie will do.

 

I think in order to play our characters accurately, we have to try to feel what they feel in the moment. Whether it's a funny scene or a serious scene, we have to try to get into their head. In essence, we're actors and thats what actors do.

 

This precisely. If you can't even try to understand how your character thinks then you are just setting yourself up for inconsistencies and random OOC behaviour when compared to past events. Even if a character had something coming to them, its still very possible to feel sympathy for them on some level(actually, K'nahli is a fine example of that).

[Ignacius]

 

My post was targeted specifically towards the OP's experiences. Of course there are exceptions out there too but I was simply making a broad claim rather than a universal one. In your case where you play a character you morally despise then I guess it would be a case where you are getting most of your enjoyment from the reactions and developments of the characters around you, though if I am mistaken then by all means correct me. In any case, I'm sure you can at least empathise with other peoples' characters.

 

 

To be fair, I have a hard time empathizing with other people's characters because, sometimes, I just don't get it.  I mean, one second, we're in a struggle of life or death where, presumably from the story, death is possible and we're certainly killing people occasionally.  It's hard for me to personally empathize with characters who ten minutes later can be whining about their personal relationships and drinking to their victory.

 

Granted, a character I could actually empathize with would be boring as Hell, because this is a video game and it would be a dull one if the exciting parts had to be bookended by serious roleplay about the very real philosophy of mortality, loss, and the Hell of war.  But I'm well aware these aren't real people.  Sometimes, what best keeps me disconnected from everyone's characters is my suspension of disbelief.

 

Which, thank God, because I've had to roleplay someone that had to display realistic and understandable emotions in a serious dramatic RP, and I was bored to tears.  RP isn't a time I want to meet people who think and act like real people.  RP is a time I want to go nuts with other people who are going nuts!  The next time someone's head gets taken off in combat, I want people scrambling for the best sociopathic one-liner.

 

"I guess he's seeing things from a new angle, now."

[Zhavi]

 

 

Which, thank God, because I've had to roleplay someone that had to display realistic and understandable emotions in a serious dramatic RP, and I was bored to tears.  RP isn't a time I want to meet people who think and act like real people.  RP is a time I want to go nuts with other people who are going nuts!  The next time someone's head gets taken off in combat, I want people scrambling for the best sociopathic one-liner.

 

"I guess he's seeing things from a new angle, now."

 

Hee, I'm fairly opposite to that. I nearly always go for the serious realism aspect (though, admittedly, with situations and setups that you normally wouldn't find irl). . .one of the people I rp with regularly had to strongarm me into doing a comedic take on mercenaries. He went so left field. . .made an anthropomorphic rhino man who talks like mike tyson and wears a monocle that, we determined, gets destroyed in new and fun ways on every job.

 

But, eh, that's why I tend to sympathize more than empathize with characters. I haven't experienced many of the things the characters have (nor do I want to, ever, considering the crap I tend to put characters through), but darn if I just don't feel sorry for that rhino every time he is forced to interact with my character. >: )

[111]

I pretty much completely feel the emotions my character has. I think that's what you need for really good rp. Emotions aren't logical, and the only way to figure out what they would be realistically, is to experience them. It has it's downsides obviously, I've been in some RPs that were so painful to my character and myself personally, that I almost couldn't finish them. Overall though it lends itself to really immersive RP. As people have said, much like actors, we are playing the role of our character, and like good actors we should get into character.

[Naunet]

Which, thank God, because I've had to roleplay someone that had to display realistic and understandable emotions in a serious dramatic RP, and I was bored to tears.  RP isn't a time I want to meet people who think and act like real people.  RP is a time I want to go nuts with other people who are going nuts!  The next time someone's head gets taken off in combat, I want people scrambling for the best sociopathic one-liner.

 

"I guess he's seeing things from a new angle, now."

 

I don't really understand this at all. What's uninteresting about playing believable characters? I mean, we can't all be sociopathic, weathered adventurers who have seen so much death and killed so many that it's as easy as pressing a couple buttons and watching things get shiny. If Antimony sees someone get killed, she's not going to just brush it off all "Ah, sentient blood! What a perfect accoutrement to my afternoon tea"-like. She's going to react like a person to whom death is a seriously frightening, grief-inducing, terrible event. And I don't really understand how that's boring. It's human emotion and gut and instinct, visceral and ugly and indifferent to the wants and needs of its bearer.

 

I mean, I can understand someone not wanting to rp a "normal" person (I've rped my fair share of... weirdos, for a lack of a better word), but to not even want to interact with "normal" people? That's confusing as hell.

[Magellan]

 

 

Granted, a character I could actually empathize with would be boring as Hell, because this is a video game and it would be a dull one if the exciting parts had to be bookended by serious roleplay about the very real philosophy of mortality, loss, and the Hell of war.  But I'm well aware these aren't real people.  Sometimes, what best keeps me disconnected from everyone's characters is my suspension of disbelief.

 

Actually, I find action, action, action in RP to be rather dull and boring, because it can quite quickly reach a soap opera level where these characters are caricatures of cartoons, rather than real, living people with full lives, in many realms outside of just fighting.

 

I love slice of rp. I think scenes of high drama or action need to be properly setup by people establishing interpersonal relationships outside of 'fights'. If you are offering Dragon Ball Z vs something that's more of a character study like Lost was, I'll take Lost every single time. I'd rather study personal drama than Chuck Norris kicks ass... again! My last character in ARR was a baker. She didn't fight at all. And I had a blast playing her.

 

To echo what Eva said earlier; a lot of OOC drama can be avoided by simple use of OOC communication. One should never assume just because they are having fun, that those around us are having fun too. I find things like torture, ultra-violence, and extreme psychological discomfort as intolerable in my rp as I'm sure others find 'social' rp. We are here for different reasons, and to make sure we are not upsetting someone else OOCly, or putting them into situations they really aren't comfortable with, or not enjoying, we must communicate.

 

Of course, if you ARE uncomfortable with a situation, it does also fall upon you to SPEAK UP! You are in charge of your character, and if you feel their fun is being sucked away, or like you are consistently sad or depressed when playing them, then try avoiding the situations that are causing this, and seek out a different form of rp. There are many tastes and styles that permeate mmo rp... you should be able to find one that makes you happy and back to enjoying yourself again.

[Zhavi]

I pretty much completely feel the emotions my character has. I think that's what you need for really good rp. Emotions aren't logical, and the only way to figure out what they would be realistically, is to experience them. It has it's downsides obviously, I've been in some RPs that were so painful to my character and myself personally, that I almost couldn't finish them. Overall though it lends itself to really immersive RP. As people have said, much like actors, we are playing the role of our character, and like good actors we should get into character.

 

Just pointing out that I can write emotion without needing to feel it at the time of the writing. Case in point: your character breaks a bone. You are able to write the pain without experiencing it firsthand as it's happening. It's the same with any emotion -- you know what it's like, you've observed how other people deal with the same emotion, you alter it to fit the character. I can get that not everyone wants to rp that way (to each their own) but why are so many people insisting that without actively experiencing the emotions as they're happening for the character the rp becomes bad? I admit to a sense of puzzlement. I can understand what the character feels and desires without needing to feel it at that moment myself, without losing out on my sense of enjoyment and immersion.

 

 

(sometimes I even have a sense of unholy glee when putting my characters through awkward/embarrassing situations. heh heh heh)

[Tiergan]

I pretty much completely feel the emotions my character has. I think that's what you need for really good rp. Emotions aren't logical, and the only way to figure out what they would be realistically, is to experience them. It has it's downsides obviously, I've been in some RPs that were so painful to my character and myself personally, that I almost couldn't finish them. Overall though it lends itself to really immersive RP. As people have said, much like actors, we are playing the role of our character, and like good actors we should get into character.

 

Just pointing out that I can write emotion without needing to feel it at the time of the writing. Case in point: your character breaks a bone. You are able to write the pain without experiencing it firsthand as it's happening. It's the same with any emotion -- you know what it's like, you've observed how other people deal with the same emotion, you alter it to fit the character. I can get that not everyone wants to rp that way (to each their own) but why are so many people insisting that without actively experiencing the emotions as they're happening for the character the rp becomes bad? I admit to a sense of puzzlement. I can understand what the character feels and desires without needing to feel it at that moment myself, without losing out on my sense of enjoyment and immersion.

 

 

(sometimes I even have a sense of unholy glee when putting my characters through awkward/embarrassing situations. heh heh heh)

 

I'm in the same boat as you Zhavi. I love RP where my characters go through a serious sense of conflict because the story, the dynamic between my character and other people's characters, is what gets me really excited. The added punch of being in my character's head to a certain extent, just makes it all the better for me - but I didn't need to feel exactly what Tiergan was feeling for it to be an intense, awesome, emotional moment for me.

 

For example, recently Tiergan's little cousin vanished in a way that seemed like he was accidentally killed by a friend. Tiergan was completely distraught, furious, and out of his mind with grief, even going as far as trying to attack the innocent man he thought might've taken his cousin's life.

 

Then Tiergan's cousin was found to be alive, and the flood of relief was so much for him that he pulled his cousin into a hug and wept.

 

All of that was really moving, fun, and intense for me - but I didn't need to *completely* feel Tiergan's feelings of despair, depression, fury and grief over the whole thing. That would have actually ruined the RP for me. I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. It's the intensity of the moment I love. You don't have to be a method actor to be a great actor.

[Ignacius]

Which, thank God, because I've had to roleplay someone that had to display realistic and understandable emotions in a serious dramatic RP, and I was bored to tears.  RP isn't a time I want to meet people who think and act like real people.  RP is a time I want to go nuts with other people who are going nuts!  The next time someone's head gets taken off in combat, I want people scrambling for the best sociopathic one-liner.

 

"I guess he's seeing things from a new angle, now."

 

I don't really understand this at all. What's uninteresting about playing believable characters? I mean, we can't all be sociopathic, weathered adventurers who have seen so much death and killed so many that it's as easy as pressing a couple buttons and watching things get shiny. If Antimony sees someone get killed, she's not going to just brush it off all "Ah, sentient blood! What a perfect accoutrement to my afternoon tea"-like. She's going to react like a person to whom death is a seriously frightening, grief-inducing, terrible event. And I don't really understand how that's boring. It's human emotion and gut and instinct, visceral and ugly and indifferent to the wants and needs of its bearer.

 

I mean, I can understand someone not wanting to rp a "normal" person (I've rped my fair share of... weirdos, for a lack of a better word), but to not even want to interact with "normal" people? That's confusing as hell.

 

Honestly, it really is that way.  There might be drama in and around it, but I get bored, quick, when the focus of an RP is the drama.  Mostly I think that's because I hated high school and if I wanted to listen to people's "feelings" all the time, I'd have paid more attention when I worked at Target.

 

No, I'd rather talk about squeezing somebody so hard their head pops off.

 

Seriously, though, I interact with normal people having crazy dramatic moments every single day.  I don't want to make a hobby of doing it with imaginary people at home.  I'd rather explore the drama associated with combat, crime, and justice.

 

Actually, I'll be honest, I'd rather just RP where the drama can sometimes take a backseat to the sudden outbreak of violence.  Nothing like sitting in a bar listening to people talk about their love life and wishing somebody would just throw a punch already.

[Zhavi]

Honestly, it really is that way.  There might be drama in and around it, but I get bored, quick, when the focus of an RP is the drama.  Mostly I think that's because I hated high school and if I wanted to listen to people's "feelings" all the time, I'd have paid more attention when I worked at Target.

 

No, I'd rather talk about squeezing somebody so hard their head pops off.

 

Seriously, though, I interact with normal people having crazy dramatic moments every single day.  I don't want to make a hobby of doing it with imaginary people at home.  I'd rather explore the drama associated with combat, crime, and justice.

 

Actually, I'll be honest, I'd rather just RP where the drama can sometimes take a backseat to the sudden outbreak of violence.  Nothing like sitting in a bar listening to people talk about their love life and wishing somebody would just throw a punch already.

 

The terrible part of me kinda wishes you played on Balmung so I could find you and mock-drama rp at you. Juuust because. Though I guess that's probably not a nice way to act towards strangers. Still though, temptation.

 

But on a serious note, I'm not sure if by justice you mean violent justice or like interaction within the law's system. Because the latter is so much fun. Of course, I don't know, do you like verbal smack downs as much as physical ones? One thing I've always enjoyed was the game of insult-without-being-obvious-about-it, especially when there's a snippy old woman involved (gosh I love snippy old women, as long as they're not facing their wrath towards me). Political rps can be fun in the same way. Smack talk for daaaaays.

[Skyless]

I would like to start with announcing 3 things first: I was beta and enjoyed what I saw immensely. second, that I don't entirely own the game yet but was planning hopefully Saturday or Friday to be able to launch the game officially. Third, I never participated in a Role play server before But from the obvious amount of post, I assume it is both emotionally exhausting and emotionally rewarding, depends on ones pursuit. But enjoying the game is priority but as a Rp character is something new to me. Is there a few rules and tips and points of interest that can be noted once I begin? If so can I get feed back with a honest opinion or two. Most of the post here are either reflecting negative or highlighting some inheritance to both fun and fears. 

[Kimikimi]

First of all I would like to thank everyone for their opinions. I can see that much of the community is about 50/50 when it comes to RP.

Some people like using emotions to their advantage, some try not to get emotionally involved. We arnt here to criticise how others play their game, as we all play differently. This topic was made so people can share their expirences about their play style, and I wanted to know if other went into their RP the same way I did.

While playing my character I will admit I as the player can over react on my characters emotions, and sometimes I feel like she is being ruled by her emotions.

I also recently made an alt, unlike my main, she has a strict story and I honestly do not feel the emotions she feels, this might just be that I am not as attacted to her like my main.

 

Anyways the most important thing is have fun.

[Naunet]

Mostly I think that's because I hated high school and if I wanted to listen to people's "feelings" all the time, I'd have paid more attention when I worked at Target.

 

While I'm not sure you meant it this way... experiencing emotion is not immature, nor does having an emotionally deep reaction equate to melodrama.

[Melkire]

This thread is full of people referencing melodrama and other people mistaking them as referencing emotions in general, and vice-versa. Can we please stop doing that?

 

inb4 someone mistakenly reads this in a negative or disapproving tone of voice and the thread continues to devolve in a series of misunderstandings before hitting rock-bottom at full-blown drama. There, now I've reverse-jinxed it, and it stands no chance of happening.

[Zhavi]

This thread is full of people referencing melodrama and other people mistaking them as referencing emotions in general, and vice-versa. Can we please stop doing that?

 

inb4 someone mistakenly reads this in a negative or disapproving tone of voice and the thread continues to devolve in a series of misunderstandings before hitting rock-bottom at full-blown drama. There, now I've reverse-jinxed it, and it stands no chance of happening.

 

Well, I dunno, the only way people resolve differences of opinions is to talk about them. Key is figuring out when it's just a matter of people thinking in different ways (...all experiences get recycled back into writing. all of them). But, for my part, most of my responses are me trying to figure out if I'm understanding points right, and trying to clear up if certain things said are said seriously or as hyperbole (me making assumptions about tone and intent always turns out badly). Oh so many times have I tried explaining ideas only to spend an extra half hour to hour clearing up misunderstandings...

 

Still though, I think it's a fun thread. Differences of opinions, disagreements, moments of bewilderment and all.

[Ignacius]

Honestly, it really is that way.  There might be drama in and around it, but I get bored, quick, when the focus of an RP is the drama.  Mostly I think that's because I hated high school and if I wanted to listen to people's "feelings" all the time, I'd have paid more attention when I worked at Target.

 

No, I'd rather talk about squeezing somebody so hard their head pops off.

 

Seriously, though, I interact with normal people having crazy dramatic moments every single day.  I don't want to make a hobby of doing it with imaginary people at home.  I'd rather explore the drama associated with combat, crime, and justice.

 

Actually, I'll be honest, I'd rather just RP where the drama can sometimes take a backseat to the sudden outbreak of violence.  Nothing like sitting in a bar listening to people talk about their love life and wishing somebody would just throw a punch already.

 

The terrible part of me kinda wishes you played on Balmung so I could find you and mock-drama rp at you.  Juuust because.  Though I guess that's probably not a nice way to act towards strangers.  Still though, temptation.

 

But on a serious note, I'm not sure if by justice you mean violent justice or like interaction within the law's system.  Because the latter is so much fun.  Of course, I don't know, do you like verbal smack downs as much as physical ones?  One thing I've always enjoyed was the game of insult-without-being-obvious-about-it, especially when there's a snippy old woman involved (gosh I love snippy old women, as long as they're not facing their wrath towards me).  Political rps can be fun in the same way.  Smack talk for daaaaays.

 

Definitely violent justice.  Not only that, but I suppose most people don't have the research put into criminal activity, gang culture, and organized crime that I do.  One of my favorite things to do in RP is to bring that up and run with it.

 

Take, for example, justice.  Just about all criminal organizations, from your local slicer-dicer gang to La Familia have a strict code of silence.  You don't go to the police ever, not just on behalf of a victim but on behalf of yourself.  If someone breaks into your house, you don't call the police.  If someone shoots your best friend, you don't call the police.  You get justice yourself, blood for blood.  That's not something, I hope, anyone here has experienced or really understood.  It's not just that your angry and want revenge, it's literally an honor-bound code for vengeance and violence that you have no choice but to participate in.

 

My smack talk generally serves as the early warning system that someone's about to go off the deep end.  I have more suave characters that can dismantle you with words (Jaconsus St Croix comes to mind in WoW), but my favorite characters are usually the ones who drop a Dirty-Harry style one-liner to inform people that they are inviting an asswhooping.  That whole, "If'n y'open y'mouth one more goddamn time, they're gonna need a good pair'a pliers t'pull y'teeth outta th'table, son..." sort of thing.

 

People who talk about melodrama like that tend to earn derision or the sort of advice they probably wouldn't appreciate.  "I dunno, kid, why don'tcha jus' chop th'guy up, toss'm n'a lake f'the critters t'eat, an' tell'r y'love'r at th'guy's memorial service?  M'jus' sayin', y'ain't thinkin' solutions here."

 

Ah, if only I could just move that character over.  Love playing him.  If only Final Fantasy had room for that sort of brutality, but even I feel like that would be a stretch.  I'll have to get back into WoW a bit now that my internet is working.

[ArmachiA]

Just pointing out that I can write emotion without needing to feel it at the time of the writing. Case in point: your character breaks a bone. You are able to write the pain without experiencing it firsthand as it's happening. It's the same with any emotion -- you know what it's like, you've observed how other people deal with the same emotion, you alter it to fit the character. I can get that not everyone wants to rp that way (to each their own) but why are so many people insisting that without actively experiencing the emotions as they're happening for the character the rp becomes bad? I admit to a sense of puzzlement. I can understand what the character feels and desires without needing to feel it at that moment myself, without losing out on my sense of enjoyment and immersion.

 

Because it's a style of acting. Some actors don't get into character to the extent of others. There's a famous story of an exchange between Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier, that - I'll just quote it here:

 

There's that famous, but likely apocryphal, story about Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman when they were working together on Marathon Man. To prepare for a scene, Hoffman had gone for a few days without sleep and looked pretty rough. Olivier asked him why he was putting himself through such an ordeal and Hoffman replied that he was trying to be convincing in the role. Olivier replied, "Try acting dear boy".

 

YOU are Olivier, this people getting into the zone and inside their characters heads are Hoffman. Both are VALID forms of acting and the two have merits and flaws all their own.

 

I prefer the Hoffman approach because I feel I can be more authentic. That's all.

 

(sometimes I even have a sense of unholy glee when putting my characters through awkward/embarrassing situations. heh heh heh)

 

It should be known I love putting my characters through a lot. I believe in character growth through adversity. Armi has been stabbed by the enemy (4 times since the games launch), shot, kidnapped, almost killed my her friend, possessed by a voidsent, had limbs broken, been beat up, fought Garleans regularly, lost to Garleans reguarly, killed people in war, etc etc. I enjoy that kind of RP as well. I enjoy, also putting my character through those situations.

 

But Armi has also struggled with making friends, finding who she is, falling in love, had her heart broken, taught someone how to make cupcakes, danced at social ball, learn to drink like a sailor (Still working on that), cried over boys, had long emotional talks, held hands in the rain.

 

A well rounded character does all of those things and I think, as someone is stating in this thread, that saying thats all characters they see do may be disingenuous. If you saw Armi talking in the bar* you'd have no idea she'd almost been blown up by a bomb a week ago (True story) and assume I only do social rp because you don't see me running off and trying to get revenge or find Armi's missing friend or whatever.

 

*AS a note: You won't see Armi talking in a bar currently, unless her friends force her to go as she recenty had a bad break up and has been reeling over that for 2 weeks SO FAR. I try to be as authentic with pain as possible. If she's hurt, she's out. If someone gets hurt, it takes awhile for her to process, etc ,etc. The bomb also caused quite a fright and she's dealing with that as well. It's not just "This happened, oh well time to go to a bar."

[Kage]

I feel like this thread exemplifies why whenever someone states an opinion there's always that [for me, my belief, my opinion] that's usually just left unsaid but is meant and implied. As stated before, not everyone needs to be a method actor. For some, they feel that that is the best way for them to experience everything. Obviously not everyone believes that or feels that it's necessary.

 

We just have a lot more method actors in here ;3

 

Other than that... I really can't say much more on that topic for now other than echo what ArmachiA has said.

 

 

I would like to start with announcing 3 things first: I was beta and enjoyed what I saw immensely. second, that I don't entirely own the game yet but was planning hopefully Saturday or Friday to be able to launch the game officially. Third, I never participated in a Role play server before But from the obvious amount of post, I assume it is both emotionally exhausting and emotionally rewarding, depends on ones pursuit. But enjoying the game is priority but as a Rp character is something new to me. Is there a few rules and tips and points of interest that can be noted once I begin? If so can I get feed back with a honest opinion or two. Most of the post here are either reflecting negative or highlighting some inheritance to both fun and fears.

 

Could you clarify exactly what you're asking or hoping for us to help you with? I don't want you to feel like you've been ignored but for the most part I have no idea how to respond since I'm not exactly sure what you want from us.

 

I think most people here will tell you that the reason why our characters go through much pain but also much joy is because we feel like it is more 'realistic' or authentic. For most people, the average person isn't going to live a life where they are brooding all the time ravaged by hardships. At least, they wouldn't without some good in their life. Some moments of happiness where they spend time with someone they can call a friend. As mentioned, a lot of people like to get into their characters' heads and rolling with it.

 

For the most part, other than trying to get into my characters' headspace I've always had fun with the RP I'm involved in. If I feel a lot of negativity from it and about it that isn't stemming from a place where my character is (I have not felt this yet), then I assume that I'm just not having fun with RP. I'd have to step away from the situation or something because if it's not being enjoyable then what is the point for me? I've certainly felt bewilderment and I'm sure my character has been the cause of it. My character has knowledge and has been of sorts involved in others' RP. A character who I would have never thought to be involved mentioned something about the others' RP and my character just had to follow up. The entire time I had no clue what was going on but when we finished that RP session all I could think was "Wow... that was entirely unexpected but... that was great."

 

Maybe that's just because now I know how others' felt because Kage just couldn't let things go  >_>; kagetastrophy!

[Magellan]

.  "I dunno, kid, why don'tcha jus' chop th'guy up, toss'm n'a lake f'the critters t'eat, an' tell'r y'love'r at th'guy's memorial service?  M'jus' sayin', y'ain't thinkin' solutions here."

 

I do not mean to pick on you, because I actually deeply respect the sense of intensity and commitment you seem to bring to your characters, but I have such a hard time reading that OOCly, that I think my only legitimate IC reaction could be 'uh..... what?' Accents are tricky like that.

 

A couple of people have mentioned all the traumas their characters have gone through, and admittedly that's a bit of a pet peeve of mine. My characters may have one or two defining traumas in their past, BUT, I fully explore those themes and don't arbitrarily heap on more drama for the sake of drama. I'm often left scratching my head, wondering... doesn't anyone like to rp... you know, HAPPY characters?

 

WITH THAT SAID, one of the great things about rp communities is the diversity, and ability to provide content for a variety of different tastes. I see no reason why people of differing tastes cannot find common ground to work with if they rp here and there, but the truth is people will rp with other people who enjoy the same brand of storytelling they do.

 

Think of a library. Everyone has vastly different tastes in books, hence why there is such a wide offering. You aren't likely to sit through a book you hate (unless its for school) so its no surprise if you find yourself unable to connect with a character or a storyline in rp as well.

 

In short, everyone is entitled to their version of fun, and there should be no ill-will towards others who don't share the same brand of fun as you (I.e, 'actor' vs. 'Method actor')

 

I love method acting. I wanna feel what my character is feeling because that is the draw of rp to me. I want my character to be telling me what to type on the screen, not me telling the character what to say. Is it possible to go in too deep? Absolutely. But like with all things, practice can help you hone your craft and be the most effective storyteller possible.

[Ignacius]

.  "I dunno, kid, why don'tcha jus' chop th'guy up, toss'm n'a lake f'the critters t'eat, an' tell'r y'love'r at th'guy's memorial service?  M'jus' sayin', y'ain't thinkin' solutions here."

 

I do not mean to pick on you, because I actually deeply respect the sense of intensity and commitment you seem to bring to your characters, but I have such a hard time reading that OOCly, that I think my only legitimate IC reaction could be 'uh..... what?' Accents are tricky like that.

 

A couple of people have mentioned all the traumas their characters have gone through, and admittedly that's a bit of a pet peeve of mine. My characters may have one or two defining traumas in their past, BUT, I fully explore those themes and don't arbitrarily heap on more drama for the sake of drama. I'm often left scratching my head, wondering... doesn't anyone like to rp... you know, HAPPY characters?

 

WITH THAT SAID, one of the great things about rp communities is the diversity, and ability to provide content for a variety of different tastes. I see no reason why people of differing tastes cannot find common ground to work with if they rp here and there, but the truth is people will rp with other people who enjoy the same brand of storytelling they do.

 

Think of a library. Everyone has vastly different tastes in books, hence why there is such a wide offering. You aren't likely to sit through a book you hate (unless its for school) so its no surprise if you find yourself unable to connect with a character or a storyline in rp as well.

 

In short, everyone is entitled to their version of fun, and there should be no ill-will towards others who don't share the same brand of fun as you (I.e, 'actor' vs. 'Method actor')

 

I love method acting. I wanna feel what my character is feeling because that is the draw of rp to me. I want my character to be telling me what to type on the screen, not me telling the character what to say. Is it possible to go in too deep? Absolutely. But like with all things, practice can help you hone your craft and be the most effective storyteller possible.

 

His dialect is supposed to be somewhat hard to understand; he didn't learn Common in a school.  He likes to say that he only went to Big Dumb Bastard University, and majored in Bastardeering and Interpretive Bastardry.

 

Though you wouldn't have understood him saying that either...