TFW you've RPed Ul'dahn soldier for 14 months and never in any plots

[Seriphyn]

< rekt. Down here pls

 

Not an entirely fair remark, given that from July to recently Kale was EATC/Syndicate (and then before that, lot of RP was internal FC), but throughout that, Kale had always given off the vibe "Thanalan First" ("Thanalan Thirst"?)

 

 

Either way, the sentiment is the same. Now, Kale is back in the Flames as a Bloodsworn, and while I am RPing him as "new to their ways", I still have interest in using their mission ("an elite unit answering directly to the Flame General") as a device to justify more extensive RP than just playing around in Flame camps all the time. From their limited lore (all in their leves), I'd go as far as to say they would do more "Protecting the Sultanate" than the Sultansworn, who are technically just royal guards. BUT (and that's a big but) I am of course very biased. The goody knight angle isn't really my thing.

 

 

Anyway, for the love of all that is holy, please drag me into your plots. Kale has been of the Sultanate's military for going on 18 years, as a mercenary soldier back before the Immortal Flames was reformed. Yes, he can be abrasive/aggressive, but someone who's been in an army for that long is going to be very no-nonsense and intolerant of BS. From my RL experience, soldiers (especially veteran NCOs) are like that. At the same time, he can be extremely friendly and boisterous, even full-on whimsy. It's all part of the deal! More here. His assholish tendencies have been fully embraced by myself, and they all have justifications rationalized from experiences in his backstory.

 

 

Maybe I haven't properly exposed myself to the plotmakers, but given how much RP seems to happen around the Sultansworn RP group, it SEEMS cliquey*. I'm not going to outright say it is, because I equally accept I could be doing something wrong in not reaching out to the right people. Nonetheless, it is frustrating for someone who has consistently RPed an Ul'dahn soldier for so long to never get into all the plots that the RP community facilitates. In any case, whether or not it's cliquey or it's just me, this serves as my classified to the scheming sorts

 

 

*An example of this; someone mentioned they've RPed a Sultansworn for 3 weeks, and already got in on 3 plots. I don't want to have to make my character a Sultansworn just to do "For Ul'dah!" stuff. Nor do I want to feel like the Sultansworn group are monopolizing the "For Ul'dah!" stuff, especially when they are such a fab group of RPers. From the story, the Immortal Flames do 99% of Ul'dah military business (to exclude Stone Torches and Brass Blades), so I don't see why Kale can't be included in the Sultansworn's escapades.

[Unnamed Mercenary]

One quick consideration to make before calling out the Sworn RPers is to look up what their plots are. From the ones I've seen; the public stuff has been about initiating new Sworn.

 

Such a storyline may not lend itself to other forms of Ul'dahn law enforcement.

 

But at the same time, you are right. The sworn are there to protect the Sultana, not be police. Them standing at say, one of the pillars in the Quicksand would imply they are off-duty.

 

Maybe something similar can be done for a group of blades?

[Jana]

A lot of Flames-related RP also seems to be done in groups or FCs with their own units. Part of the reason that RPing Jana as part of the Free Brigade is so convenient is that she can be an accessory to lots of people's plots, even when she's representing the Flames. It may not fit Kale's character too much to have him hanging around the Quicksand, though...

[Berrod Armstrong]

I'd wager that you probably aren't talking to the right people. There seem to be tons of plots flying all around, though at present there doesn't seem to be any particular 'community' oriented plot -- this is fine, they have their seasons. Rather than clique plots, I have seen several plots belonging to/revolving around free companies -- my own included. It's largely considered a safe approach given the different views on certain roleplay elements expressed by the community. It's not a bad thing, it's just how it works! What you perhaps need to do is go shopping through FC plots to see if any FC is running one that you may join. It's going to take some reaching out.

 

Regarding your character,  you don't have to justify who/what/how he is, just play him and have fun when the opportunity arrives! Enjoy the interactions and keep ooc communication open so that you can keep abreast on HAPPENINGS.

 

And hey, even if it isn't a long-spanning plot, forming meaningful relationships with other characters is a great way to become connected with things that happen to them, and to allow for the germination of organic plots -- and at times those are the best! For that purpose, I happily offer my own lug to get things started, if you want.

 

Last but most definitely not least, you can start your own plot! It ain't easy, but with the right folks it's usually fun as hell. It can be a forum thing that goes into the game, a game thing with a thread on the forum, purely in game, purely forum...anything goes! I'm sure you can find something, and I'm sure there are people here who would be glad to help.

[Erik Mynhier]

Can you site the Bloodsworn lore for me. I'm a nut for lore and cant find much on them but they have always interested me.

[Coatleque]

As I have said before, if you want to be involved it is your responsibility to make yourself available. If you spend most of your time sitting by your FC house in the Goblet avoiding people, then of course nobody is going to know who you are. You can't expect people to suddenly go "I need the Flames for my plot. Oh, why not Kale?" when nobody ever sees Kale actively doing things.

 

I know the so called "Sultansworn Group" can seem like a clique, but anyone who walks up to me should know I'm the least clique-y person out there. I involve everyone I can to the extent that others allow, but I am not a DM. Crofte was supposed to be a side-character, not a quest giver.

 

The Sworn are not an FC, we're just an IC Linkshell of like-minded RPers. The reason we're so noticeable is because we are publicly active. We wear the uniform, stand on the street corners, and yell at kids to stop running on wet pavement. People come to us with plots for that very reason. Often times I flat out say "Talk to the Blades" or "Flames", but guess what? There are never any around.

 

The point is, if you wait for RP to come find you, you're going to be waiting a very long time.

[C'kayah Polaali]

+1 to what Coat says.

 

I'll add to that by saying that if you approach RP from the point of view that you're a supporting role in someone else's plot, you'll have a much easier time finding RP. I've gotten a lot of RP by saying "I have a crime syndicate. If you want villains for your RP arc, we can help!"

[Warren Castille]

Stand around in hubs doing Flame-y things. The 'Sworn plots typically involve 'Sworn politics or angles. It's sort of like saying "My police man is always nearby, why don't the fire fighters ever bring me along?"

 

Try to make your presence known in the Quicksand. The inn is arguably not "jurisdiction" for the Sultansworn but definitely would be for a Flames free agent looking out for his country. Start getting loud with the troublemakers and acting the part, and you'll get the reputation.

 

Hell, sometimes you get the reputation no matter how many times the words "free" and "paladin" come out of your mouth.

[Jancis]

Maybe I haven't properly exposed myself to the plotmakers, but given how much RP seems to happen around the Sultansworn RP group, it SEEMS cliquey*. I'm not going to outright say it is, because I equally accept I could be doing something wrong in not reaching out to the right people. Nonetheless, it is frustrating for someone who has consistently RPed an Ul'dahn soldier for so long to never get into all the plots that the RP community facilitates. In any case, whether or not it's cliquey or it's just me, this serves as my classified to the scheming sorts 

 

I fail to see the need to point out a select few people. 

 

My understanding is there have been off-and-on two to three "Sworn" at any point and in the past two weeks there's now five who in some form or another have listened to people around them and gotten involved with plot lines by offering help and assistance.

 

Which in role play is typically all it is. 

 

I know that time is limited given the busy school and training schedule. 

I know that the Free Company has nearly weekly plot line events so it is not as if Kale is not busy. 

I read a story that involves at least two other fantastic role players which is basically heralding Kale's new position as this top of the line Bloodsworn or whomever they are suppose to be. 

I have waited for specific role play people to do plots with that fall through because something happened.

I have gotten whispers and announcements upon everything like an advertisement, including this thread.

 

Otherwise I am growing highly weary of the audacity and childish tone that is taken about other role players for being involved and willing to listen to other plot lines and go with it. Players are not NPCs to simply talk about in poor light and the tone I am taking from this "advice thread" is more "Why do they get to play; what about me?" as opposed to "Hey, I see they're doing a great job at playing and what are some ideas I can get to mimic that?"

 

Perhaps it would be an idea to make a thread in the Making Connections board and get some more brainstorming there. Or hang out around the people that are part of Ul'dah and keep Kale involved and offering help, regardless of his brash attitude. He can bring in more guys, he can pull some rank and make something happen, he knows so-and-so. Also, make an excuse for a character to be somewhere instead of needing a personal invitation in. The worst that can happen is the plot line has enough people already and the only role play is a cameo spot now and then; not always going to be that way. The reason other people have a spot and get invited is because they offered.

 

If anything, the amount of venting and attention mongering is going to dissuade people from wanting to "deal with it" and dissuade them more from giving a clear reason as to why. Which at this point is singling out one group and making a mountain out of a molehill on fabricating how involved one character is.

 

Offering is really simple, can do it either IC or OOC. Example is as a healer I will have Jancis notice and listen to problems then approach someone. Or if it is someone I know I can send a whisper and say "Jancis knows a lot about poisons if you need" or "My character knows an alchemist for this problem" and take it from there. Don't go overboard using NPCs for every reason, but use them to make role play happen. Use them like a comma. Hear rumors on the streets, have tie ins with groups, Jancis will hear from the conjurers time-to-time, priesthoods, Maelstrom, people who live in farmsteads in La Noscea.

 

Hope that helps. Congratulations, attention received.

[Oli!]

Wow guys :U

 

 

 

Personally I think they're just frustrated. I for one have been in the "I want to do things, and I have the will to do things, but I have literally no idea where to start right now" position. It's not always due to laziness or shyness or inaction that people are unable to join things, there's just a literal flurry that's moving too fast to jump into, and no one is slowing down. It can be super overwhelming at times. There's also the fact that being an unknown face or roleplaying as a less noticeable group sometimes also makes things harder ('cause mummy told me not to talk to STRANGERS). That's happened to me as well.

 

All that said, I emphasize. Even if you're totally trying to get some RP literally all the time, sometimes things just don't work. It's frustrating. I think one thing that could help is making a thread and calling people who are currently running plots to come and see if they have anything that you could jump into (a My Character For Hire sort-of thread).

[Seriphyn]

MRW I very clearly annotate my negative concerns in the OP with the more-than-likely possibility that they may not be valid and still get borderline responses.

 

Cheers for the other responses, in any case. I don't think there's anything constructive that can be further derived from this conversation, since it's suddenly personal.

[Seriphyn]

Right, okay, I've had a very firm talking to on the side and going to have to back up considerably. Despite the annotations, it still appears that are unjust insinuations in the OP, and I'm not going to be disingenuous and attempt to claim that they are not present. While as Oli pointed out, it was fundamentally sourced in frustration, the way this was voiced publicly was not appropriate, and no amount of annotating my points with self-doubt would have changed that. Honest concern, but bad execution, if you like. I apologize for that; I have no interest in harbouring bad blood between people.

 

All that being said, the core message is still there; my character is X, and you can use it for Y.

[Warren Castille]

If you want peace, I'm afraid you're going to have to narfel the garthok.

 

But seriously, hang out and act official. People are inclined to go with it.

[Melkire]

On the "there are never any Flames around" side-note, I would totally stand around on Ul'dah's street corners, but given how my work and personal life have started eating up more and more of my time, how the PvE grind keeps calling to me, and how my main character is a covert irregular (and my alt is my alt, hence why I'm not usually on it), I've found it... difficult, recently... to make myself publicly available.

 

Looking to change that after Christmas Starlight.

 

It's also worth keeping in mind that, owing to their larger nature (multiple brigades, units, etc.) Flame roleplayers are a more diverse and disparate group than the Sultansworn, who are tight-knit by virtue of being a small elite unit of bodyguards led by a few individuals. I'm sure there are at least a dozen roleplayers out there playing as Flames who do their own thing on their own time and don't ever come together as a visible and cohesive entity. In contrast, if you're playing a Sultansworn, you're pretty much pinned by the tail to Ul'dah and forced to mingle and cooperate with fellow 'sworn courtesy of lore restrictions. Not to say they can't leave the city, but that it's rare for them to do so in an official capacity.

 

More on-topic, I second Warren's suggestion. Stand around official-like in RP-dense areas. Take the initiative and have Kale react appropriately to what goes on around him. Eventually, you'll hit upon something. Hi Erik, hi Kiht, hi Xydane.

[Gegenji]

Hence why there's so many Free Paladins. So they can go be 'Sworn elsewhere!

[Melkire]

Hence why there's so many Free Paladins. So they can go be 'Sworn elsewhere!

 

Not to mention that Free Paladins aren't nearly as restrictive to roleplay as in comparison to the Flames who serve as Ul'dah's military force. Free Paladins are basically adventurers, after all.

[Seriphyn]

Honestly, I've been having more luck recently, with this Bloodsworn thing rather than the "Syndicate merc" angle. Despite my attempts to illustrate someone serving Monetarists aren't necessarily bad, the fact remains that they are portrayed as villainous in the main story, and thus extra effort would have been needed to get myself in on RP plots...extra effort needing time I don't have.

 

At least last night, standing around the Quicksand, Kale walked in with his black/gold elite armour and two other characters spotted it, and conversations was struck from there; very similar to how a Sultansworn would walk into the Quicksand in the Gallant gear and RP would be spurred. The "exposure" is made, and thus those characters might think to Kale should they ever need Flame help.

 

Really, people knock the Quicksand, but it's a great focal point. Even in-universe, Kale spins it as a nexus of connecting various factions within the city...just so long as he isn't mistook for a lawman...

[Erik Mynhier]

On the "there are never any Flames around" side-note, I would totally stand around on Ul'dah's street corners, but given how my work and personal life have started eating up more and more of my time, how the PvE grind keeps calling to me, and how my main character is a covert irregular (and my alt is my alt, hence why I'm not usually on it), I've found it... difficult, recently... to make myself publicly available.

 

Looking to change that after Christmas Starlight.

 

It's also worth keeping in mind that, owing to their larger nature (multiple brigades, units, etc.) Flame roleplayers are a more diverse and disparate group than the Sultansworn, who are tight-knit by virtue of being a small elite unit of bodyguards led by a few individuals. I'm sure there are at least a dozen roleplayers out there playing as Flames who do their own thing on their own time and don't ever come together as a visible and cohesive entity. In contrast, if you're playing a Sultansworn, you're pretty much pinned by the tail to Ul'dah and forced to mingle and cooperate with fellow 'sworn courtesy of lore restrictions. Not to say they can't leave the city, but that it's rare for them to do so in an official capacity.

 

More on-topic, I second Warren's suggestion. Stand around official-like in RP-dense areas. Take the initiative and have Kale react appropriately to what goes on around him. Eventually, you'll hit upon something. Hi Erik, hi Kiht, hi Xydane.

 

This right here. My personal life and leveling has all but removed me from RP. Erik is a Sworn and a Flame, but I have only been in one scene outside the FC in the last month. But that is no one's fault. Time is just a limited resource at the end of a year. It'll pick up for you Kale. In fact I asked if you would be in our event a week ago and the offer still stands. We have actually moved the event to the forums due to holiday scheduling so feel free to hop in man. You're always welcomed into our meta, and I'm sure others feel the same.

 

After the new year (and our current event) the Red Wings' mission will be ic expanding, retaining their covert ops side, while adding a "regular army" side, becoming publicly known as a covert unit and dropping the humanitarian cover. Should be some meat for you if you wanna join in the fun.

[Melkire]

...just so long as he isn't mistook for a lawman...

 

Be prepared for this to happen a lot. It's become something of a running joke for my Flame characters.

[Berrod Armstrong]

The Quicksand is a great place to meet and mingle, but if it's plot you're looking for, things may have to go a bit beyond that! I use it for pretty much the same purpose -- meeting people. I actually just go stand there and figuratively flex on my character until I have a couple new contacts to play with (by flex I mean: Look interesting to those willing to approach, and be willing to approach those who look interesting). 

 

Once that's done, the OOC communication opens up. Hi hello, nice to meet you, I had fun! What time do you usually roleplay, would you like to roleplay some more? Your character mentioned X, Y, Z, that sounds interesting! Can I get my guy in on that? Yeah? Awesome! Hey look, I don't have all that much time to play in game but I would still love to be involved! Do you have an account on the RPC so we can PM? Or tumblr, maybe, or skype if you're comfy with that?

 

I should also point out that it is sometimes crucial to bend your character concept a little to get into things. I'm not knocking your character, or saying anything is wrong with him. It's just a little bit of advice that I've found PRICELESS when trying to get into the swing of things. For example, PLOT OF ALL PLOTS is about to begin, and to get involved, Kale will have to eat mushrooms on a pizza. BUT KALE HATES MUSHROOMS ON PIZZA, BLECH. NO WAY. But if he doesn't eat the mushrooms, you're gonna be hard pressed! People may argue that NURR I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO MAKE MY CHARACTER EAT THE MUSHROOMS...but in reality, if people want something, sometimes compromise must be made. So: OH WELL, MAYBE HE'LL EAT THEM THIS ONCE BUT GODDAMN WILL HE BITCH ABOUT IT AND GET A CASE OF THE HERSHEY SQUIRTS AFT-- well, you get the idea. BAM. PLOT OF ALL PLOTS ATTAINED. 

 

When time is short, keeping as many channels of communication open as possible, as well as opening initiative when you DO have the time can mean the difference between fulfilling enjoyment and being on the sidelines. The internet is rife with tools to do so with willing people -- and believe me, there are a LOT of willing people. 

 

Hell, I might hit you up sometime and see what you have to offer, since there's a bit of a murder mystery AND a huge quarrel with the Corpse Brigade involved in my FC's plot. I'm open to connecting, so let's see how we can get it done. With regard to the rest, good luck!

[Jana]

...just so long as he isn't mistook for a lawman...

 

Be prepared for this to happen a lot. It's become something of a running joke for my Flame characters.

 

When this happens with Jana, I just run with it and tack on a "I'll send word for Brass Blades..." at the end. We don't really have many actual Brass Blades RP mains that patrol the city, so if Jana's flagged down while totally not on purposefully taking a walk while in uniform, I'm happy to help.

[Kellach Woods]

If the text in the Quicksand stopped scrolling by so goddamned quickly though...

[Aduu Avagnar]

Did Kale finally earn enough money to pay off the Hall to forget his mistakes after serving the enemy then?