Eorzea as a Whole?

[Melodia]

Sorry if this topic has been discussed before but I wanted to see how you all felt about the issue of the areas in Eorzea in relation to roleplay.

 

I know Ul'dah's the hot spot, and Limsa coming in second (I guess?) But I wonder why places like Gridania, Coerthas, or Mor Dhona don't have much if any rp going on there? It makes me sad to see everyone get so confined to one place and fail to expand the rp world past the boundaries of a given city. Yes, stories happen in Ul'dah, and yes, stories happen in Limsa, but the other places should have stories going as well. I get the whole "Well, Mor Dhona is where endgame folks hang out." Right. And? So no one can sit in the tavern there and rp? No one can explore the areas outside maybe and rp?

 

Or Gridania. Why is Gridania so left behind? It's a beautiful area and there are plenty of areas to rp, and just there but the Shroud as a whole. And Coerthas is the same. Why wouldn't we have people up there scheming and plotting in the dark castles with the snowy backdrop? I mean...maybe stories in the snow just don't work (cough cough Game of Thrones cough cough)?

 

It just baffles me that we as a community tend to isolate ourselves. I applaud those that work to try and set up rp spots in the other lands. Why not? It isn't like Ruru says "Mor Dhona....I can't go there....I hear only those who raid dungeons dwell there." We travel in real life. And some travel far quite often. So why wouldn't folks in the game? Coatleque and Warren....thank you for having a story set in Coerthas!   Kiht and others! Thank you for your efforts in the Shroud!  I hope we can begin to push outside of our "comfortable circles" in the towns and get a better sense of connectivity in the world we dwell in. It's a shame if we can't because it's lost opportunities if that's the case.

 

TL; DR: We live in a big damn world so why do we bottle ourselves up in one or two places and not expand past those places?

[Coatleque]

I would love to branch out to other areas. My problem IC is that Coatleque is sort of bound to the city by duty. She's really taking a risk just going off to Coerthas to help a friend, plus a diplomatic incident if a Sultansworn is caught doing something illegal there. Of course it's the danger that makes it fun.

 

I actually sat in Whitebrim last night trying to garner some inspiration from the area.

[Roswyn]

TL; DR: We live in a big damn world so why do we bottle ourselves up in one or two places and not expand past those places?

 

I think it largely has to do with the OOC notion of wanting to be where the people are or the action is.

 

ICly though I tend to think it makes sense. I tend to view Ul'dah as the Eorzen equivalent of LA or NY. It's where people go to see and be seen. If you want a specific item or information that would be where you would go. Everyone from the rich to the poor, the Mob Boss to the small fry trying to make a name for himself. It's not too much of a stretch for me ICly for folk to gather there and for it to need a decent police force.

 

....*cough*

[Kage]

Because not every person -is- an adventurer or a traveler. To bring in real world experiences, I've been out of the state of California perhaps 5 times my entire life. 5. My brother's graduation from Pharmacy School, my first FIRST Robotics competition, a visit to texas and 2 trips to Taiwan when I was 3 and 8 respectively. Going to Vegas for FanFest would be the 6th time I'd be out of state, 2nd time in Vegas.

 

In-game that means Kage has actually traveled a lot more than I have -and- he  was pretty much duty bound to do so when he had actually traveled.

 

It's up to the RPers to change it up which is why it's commendable when they do say "Man I'm going to make some RP in this area, I don't care that there's no one here to RP with. I'll just make RP that draws them here in the first place."

 

ICly and OOCly. I have no interest in Limsa or Gridania. At all. They look pretty and that's about it for me. I only go there because I have X quest to do or needs to be turned in or gathered. Kage goes to those places because he has to or he wants to enjoy his fun with others. Either to visit someone or to find them, but he's not willing nor is he interested in those places in particular. Same with the time he ended up at the-not-stone-vigil-but-where-svara-is. He only went there because Salem was there. He went to Costa or some other place in Limsa because of Nat's... thing. He'd be just as fine being in Ul'dah with his group of friends or taking a breach on a beach with his friends but he's not going to be the one to initiate those things unless he made a promise... to visit.

[Berrod Armstrong]

I'm all for open world roleplay! Honestly, I love the stuff.

 

I'm sure some free companies and groups of roleplayers engage in it more often than we may think. I try as often as possible to take things to an area -out there-.

 

Ul'Dah seems to be the most common, with Limsa close behind and Gridania just a tad bit lacking (there are times when I have seen Miounne's place positively teeming so I won't say it's completely barren). The cities serve as hubs for people to meet at, and a lot of the time people's characters actually simply live and work there. 

 

Gathering in one spot increases our chances of meeting each other as well. If we all scattered out into the world a good bit of us would never actually see one another! Naturally, excursions can be planned with our friends -- but a lot of people need to meet these friends first! The hubs are the best place for that. There's also the issue of the lowbies who wish to roleplay but can't access the higher level areas without an escort.

 

The best way to get your stuff happening out there is to just do it! By all means, meet your contacts/friends in the Quicksand/Drowning Wench/LolGridaniannamething. Then take the scene elsewhere! Get people hooked, let them come along. Recently Berrod challenged a man to a fight and they went out to the Sil'Dih excavation site to have it -- along with a few spectators. 

 

It's out there, and if we want more of it, we've gotta make it ourselves.

[Warren Castille]

I'll play the meta. Roleplayers are largely pack animals. We stick around where we know the rest of us hang out, and Ul'dah was the most popular city in 1.0 because the story was centered there, and blah blah blah reasons.

 

I think the flipside is that you're more likely to run into jerks in the areas where people are playing "seriously." Mor Dhona's always going to be full of people idling and waiting around for other things to do so the risk of being hassled and trolled rises immensely. Coerthas is arguably the same way; The FATE Train still runs those rails regularly so you're liable to be barged in on seemingly anywhere you end up.

 

Always better to err on the side of caution, as they say, so I think we're all kept in our locales due to not wanting to stir up the ecosystem.

[Oscare]

It's out there, and if we want more of it, we've gotta make it ourselves.

This might sound really rude and short, but this is exactly it. Kage also has a point, some of our character would never go out of the city because they can't fight, or they simply just do not wish to go outside of their comfort zone.

 

But again, if we don't make it happen, it'll never happen.

[Coatleque]

I was kicking around the idea of a joint military operation between Flames, Adders, and Maelstrom to patrol the road from Ul'dah to Ishgard in an effort to foster trade between the cities. Problem is, I have no idea what to do along the way. It takes about 45 minutes to walk the route on a bird.

 

Also, participants would have to be IC members of said companies.

[Melodia]

I understand that certain specific roles limit location but saying that one wouldn't leave because IRL the player wouldn't travel much....I have heartburn with that because it's too simple to just dump real life player thoughts and issues that then limit the character. I've never ridden a horse but that doesn't mean I won't jump on a chocobo in game and use that as my means of transportation.

 

Let's liken the three major hubs Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. Now living in Los Angeles, if one had the means and opportunity....why wouldn't they go visit Chicago? Why wouldn't they visit New York? Forget real life fears of planes, etc. You have the means to get there. Why wouldn't you go?

 

ICly, if one is a soldier, adventurer, whatever, why would one fail to take the opportunity to exist in one of the other hubs, even just to visit? The means are there. Ferries, chocobos and even by foot. So as a curious citizen of the world, the means are there, so why wouldn't I go see Quarrymill? Why wouldn't I go see Costa Del Sol.....a damn beach!? LOL!

 

I just feel like maybe some people use OOCly dislikes for area aesthetics as a reason to keep their character ICly from going to those areas. *Shrugs* Just my opinion. I'll let the thread go on as I really don't have much more to offer than that.

[Kage]

Just because you can does not mean one will or should. You gave IRL reasons of means to do things, why not give IRL reasons -not- to.

 

Some characters just plain ICly do not want to. Not everyone -does- have the opportunity in their RP to do so nor are they willing to break that, for whatever reasons they want to.

 

Fault them all you want but they have their own reasons. OOCly, I am perfectly content and happy with my RP in Ul'dah and the surrounding areas. Going on beach trips, going on missions, expeditions are that much more meaningful when he does go. He -has- to go there for whatever reason and that makes it much more interesting.

 

You forget that not every character is curious. Just like real people, not everyone wants to explore or travel the world. Either because no means, no opportunity, or more importantly, desire. For the longest time Kage was content with living in Thanalan as a horrible Goldsmith under his parents' business or continuing his mother's interest in Thaumaturgy.

[Jancis]

I find it's really like what Berrod said, have to make up reasons to travel if your character is suppose to be doing that.

I started a short note list recently for myself on writing down spots that looked interesting and useful for role play situations as I turn in quests or explore. That way if I come up with an idea for some story plot line or even small event I have a cheat sheet of where in the world that idea could work out at.

 

Off the top of my head for example: 

Gridania has the Botany guild and their 'guildhall' looks a lot like a cute semi-farmer market with vegetables and flowers to purchase. Jancis has lured her poor friends in there before to buy things and do other stupid nonsense antics such as pick out flowers for their lady, eat a dragon pepper, or argue about the use of almonds in a pie. 

There's a spot in Central Thalanan that has a huge flower growing and is really green with a bit of a rock alcove that's great for meditation or learning about elements.

In Southern Thalanan with the beastmen tribe (sahagin?) there's a "backdoor" entrance into their area with a little campsite with barrels and chests that we used to steal back goods from a caravan raid.

 

I think the idea of travelling is great and it starts with just keeping eyes open while out doing other things and finding a way to incorporate what is found outside of city walls (or even in city walls).

[Melodia]

Fault them all you want but they have their own reasons. OOCly, I am perfectly content and happy with my RP in Ul'dah and the surrounding areas. Going on beach trips, going on missions, expeditions are that much more meaningful when he does go. He -has- to go there for whatever reason and that makes it much more interesting.

 

You forget that not every character is curious.

I didn't fault anyone. I just asked "why not?" was all. And if I wanted to fault anyone it would be the ones who OOCly dislike an area and refuse to go ICly because of the OOC reason. "I don't rp in Gridania because I hate the city." That kind of a line annoys me because the PLAYER hates Gridania not Joe Roe!

 

And Ruru has traveled and it's still just as interesting as those who might not go as much.

 

And no. I didn't forget. :dodgy:

[Berrod Armstrong]

Fault them all you want but they have their own reasons. OOCly, I am perfectly content and happy with my RP in Ul'dah and the surrounding areas. Going on beach trips, going on missions, expeditions are that much more meaningful when he does go. He -has- to go there for whatever reason and that makes it much more interesting.

 

You forget that not every character is curious.

I didn't fault anyone. I just asked "why not?" was all. And if I wanted to fault anyone it would be the ones who OOCly dislike an area and refuse to go ICly because of the OOC reason. "I don't rp in Gridania because I hate the city." That kind of a line annoys me because the PLAYER hates Gridania not Joe Roe!

 

And Ruru has traveled and it's still just as interesting as those who might not go as much.

 

And no. I didn't forget. :dodgy:

Think about it this way; if I can't stand the way Gridania looks, why would I situate my roleplaying experience there? I want to have fun, not be disturbed by my distaste for the place! 

 

People tend to stay away from things that they dislike, and it's likely a player will-find a reason not to have their character go somewhere they don't personally enjoy (just as they can find a reason to go out the city to somewhere they do enjoy!). They have the control over their character to arrange that.

 

I don't actually allow that sort of thing to deter me from roleplaying in an area if my character has reason to be there, but I understand the viewpoint!

[Zhavi]

For Zhi, she's poor and beyond that -- she doesn't really consider the outside world as a legit existence beyond places she understands in relation to Limsa. Limsa is her world. Why leave when she'd have zero influence and have to start from scratch in an unknown place, with unknown people and unknown rules?

 

For non-adventurers, presumably the character has a job and a life in the city. I mean, I only visit other cities irl when I'm on vacation and when I have the money to leave. The rest of the time I stay in my local area doing my thing.

 

And to me, Limsa isn't quite there yet. I think it could be a lot more interconnected rp wise, have larger stories going on. That's where I've chosen to put myself, and that's what I've chosen to try and do. I think it's always a good thing to spread out and try to buff up rp in other areas, but part of the reason for why people don't, I think, is limited time. If you're rping one thing in one area, you're going to likely be missing out on another rp thing in another area. Some people are fairly tied up in stories in one area and want to rp out those stories with those people in that area for the time it is going on. If you've only got a few hours every day to be in game rping, well, those are the choices you have to make. It takes time and effort to draw people into other areas for rp, to build the sort of backstory (icly -- characters with history together are going to be more likely to play together) that will make people continuously come back with intent.

[Kage]

I'd tell you that asking people many times "Why" is a question that makes people defensive and very liable to make them think you are faulting them. I'd point out the many "I tried to give this person (unwanted) advice about how to better  their play but they snapped at me when I asked them "Why are you using Fire III so much?"

 

As I said, Kage has IC reasons not to regularly do it. My OOC reasons just mean that I don't -make- the reasons to go out into the rest of Eorzea.

[K'nahli]

My sunseeker is confined to the desert and my hyur has no reason to leave Gridania with exception to events which is arguably meta anyways. Its not that I don't want to. I initially had a character that would be able to go anywhere but I never got his plot going.

 

Its a shame in a sense I guess. Feels like I am wasting the world's RP potential but that's the way it is. Maybe in the future though, when I make a dual blade class... whatever that is called; rogue?

[Melodia]

I'd tell you that asking people many times "Why" is a question that makes people defensive and very liable to make them think you are faulting them.

 

 

Well then I'll just shut my mouth and stop asking. Wish granted. And I'll know better next time than to ask.

 

*Bows and walks away from thread*

 

Ugh.

[Berrod Armstrong]

My sunseeker is confined to the desert and my hyur has no reason to leave Gridania with exception to events which is arguably meta anyways. Its not that I don't want to. I initially had a character that would be able to go anywhere but I never got his plot going.

 

Its a shame in a sense I guess. Feels like I am wasting the world's RP potential but that's the way it is. Maybe in the future though, when I make a dual blade class... whatever that is called; rogue?

As long as you're having fun, it's never a waste!

[Kage]

Asking why in itself is not bad, but continuously asking "why not" after giving IC reasons just seemed like it was an attack. I only brought up the real life OOC aspect because it was pointed out that people -do- travel in real life. The simple answer to that is also, in real life people -don't- travel as well.

[Roen]

I think people should play wherever they want. Wherever their story takes them. Wherever they have FUN.

 

That's what RP is about. 

 

I am not here to broaden world RP. I am here to have fun.

 

That being said, I really did love RPing in Coerthas with Itar and Askier. The harsh environment there just enriched the story SO MUCH. I have also met others with Rae in Coerthas which was interesting because she hates that place, but needed to go there for business. I love Coerthas. Love that white landscape. But it has its own place in RP, for me.

 

Roen has gone to Gridania to meet Kiht, and a few others, and the change of scenery was something she drank in. Gridania is beautiful!

 

Now? Roen is in Limsa. And will likely be there for awhile. Because that's where the story took her. She could no longer stay in Ul'Dah (despite the fact that *I* love Ul'Dah) for storyline reasons. I suspect I will have her wander into the city itself but mostly she is in Middle Noscea. Maybe I will run into some random RP at the Wench or Bismarck, who knows?

[Erik Mynhier]

I never noticed this grouping really in Ul'dah only. I mean I know that a lot of people operate out of there, Erik included. But the Highlands and Gridania both play a huge part in his story and I RPed in both places often, and never was lacking in fellow RPers. Maybe it changed while I was away.

[Tiergan]

Some people prefer the aesthetics or the lore of certain cities, others are simply bound to certain cities because their character backgrounds tie them to a particular city.

 

For me, it's the latter. The majority of Tiergan's life is tied to Ul'dah, so he spends much of his time there. If given some good reasons to travel out to Gridania, he will, but otherwise he thinks about that city about as often as you think about as often as you think about visiting another state/province/country.

 

I have to second what many people have said in that if you want more RP hotspots or for more plots to happen there, just get in there and forge them yourself. I have RPed plenty of times in Gridania's adventurer's guild with friends and it was never very long before other Rpers arrived. I have also run two different public events in Gridania and in the Shroud. People will swing by if given a reason, and only people who really are interested in fostering RP elsewhere can provide that reason.

 

If you build it, they will come.

[Melodia]

Asking why in itself is not bad, but continuously asking "why not" after giving IC reasons just seemed like it was an attack.

 

I know I said I left but this statement made me laugh out loud. So yep....you figured me out. Ol' Ruru always on the attack. And that is truly my final post to this thread that I so regret even bringing up. :frustrated:

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[Berrod Armstrong]

.....>.>

 

WELL OKAY THEN!

 

But yes! Everyone has their preferences, and will tend to make what they want happen. You wanna stay in a city? Done! You wanna do stuff out in the world? Done! 

 

In the end, as long as everyone is having fun, that's all that matters.

[FreelanceWizard]

There's a lot of grumpiness on this thread.

 

For what it's worth, I RP in a number of different places; Limsa Lominsa and Mist, mostly, but I've also RPed in Mor Dhona, Costa del Sol, Camp Bronze Lake, Fallgourd Float... If someone tosses out an RP hook, I'll bite no matter where I am (though L'yhta's likely to get snappy if she's in a pitched battle and, say, someone comments on her hair ).

 

I think it's fair to say that most of the random tavern RP is in Ul'dah, thanks to the network effect. People go there because that's where the RP is, and the RP is there because that's where people go. Back in CoH, Atlas Park and Pocket D were the RP hotspots; if you wanted random "tavern-style" RP, that's where you went for the same reason. It's challenging to create more spots like that for two reasons: one, RPers are a relatively small group of people, and two, you need a "critical mass" before the network effect takes over and the site becomes self-sustaining. Perhaps if an FC made a concerted, sustained effort (Lominsan Society ran into issues because it was concerted, but not sustained) to create RP in a particular location, it might take off.