Racial RP: How do YOU do it?

[Gegenji]

I wish to re-name this: Racial RP Doing it Right or Wrong.

 

.... Have there ever been any instance in the game of Miqo'te NPCs even actually acting other than "man with extra appendages, possibly better smell etc"?

 

I mean, I certainly don't see the Miqo'te in the Shroud or those in the U tribe acting... "feral"? Uncivilized in western culture I guess is the best way I can put it. Yes, we haven't seen any evidence to say there aren't, but have there been instances where the Miqo'te act anything other than a man with tails and cat ears? Cultural norms aside of the Nunh etc.

 

because these species were developed to be flavor and not as in depth setting that others could use to reproduce for the purpose of in depth characterization.  As many nice things as rpers get in this game, actual realistic culture/behavior is definitely not one of them.

 

So the only thing to do to truly separate from the other human split offs is the little flavor bits of biology.

 

I'm wondering if it could go too far into the other direction, though. There's something to be said about not having every little nuanced detail of one's culture spelled out for them so that the player can have some freedom with how their particular tribe acts or what have you.

 

Yes, creativity can thrive under constraints, but it can just as easily be stifled.

[Berrod Armstrong]

When is someone deemed a tribal Miqo'te character and when a Miqo'te gutterslut?

 

A lot of people have the wrong idea about them in general so if you even show hints of promiscuity then you're going to get slapped by the judgemental hand of Lord Stereotype.

I find this a good question. For example -- up until recent developments I played Berrod as a very sexually charged character. He sometimes went out of his way to display his attractiveness, down to the sort of clothes he wore. He had zero problem calling lewdly to women in public, and would often strut about with a blatant "You definitely wanna fuck me" attitude. Yet -- he never got the reputation of being a gutterslut. Was it because Highlanders don't have the same sort of societal construct as Miqo'te? I could never figure it out.

 

Well, if a MIQO'TE does it, it's being slutty. If a Manlander does it, it's just RPing. Obviously we're suffering from fantasy racism. :roll:

 

And if a lalafell does it, a black van shows up in my dri-

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17l7jakm8bipkjpg/original.jpg[/img]

[Zhavi]

I wish to re-name this: Racial RP Doing it Right or Wrong.

 

.... Have there ever been any instance in the game of Miqo'te NPCs even actually acting other than "man with extra appendages, possibly better smell etc"?

 

I mean, I certainly don't see the Miqo'te in the Shroud or those in the U tribe acting... "feral"? Uncivilized in western culture I guess is the best way I can put it. Yes, we haven't seen any evidence to say there aren't, but have there been instances where the Miqo'te act anything other than a man with tails and cat ears? Cultural norms aside of the Nunh etc.

 

because these species were developed to be flavor and not as in depth setting that others could use to reproduce for the purpose of in depth characterization.  As many nice things as rpers get in this game, actual realistic culture/behavior is definitely not one of them.

 

So the only thing to do to truly separate from the other human split offs is the little flavor bits of biology.

Zhavi I love you but I think something got cut off or my brain is dying.

 

So there... isn't really?

 

Realistic, not reality

 

Cultural development and behavioral norms are very shallow in this game. No reason for them to not be, because they're flavor. But it still irritates me. In short, every species in this game is mostly derived from various human cultures, and therefore there's no reason to limit yourself to any "lore" regarding culture so long as you make it make sense with the character's backstory, because there's almost none of it to begin with. The only big differences are the biological ones, and most of those aren't in depth enough to really drive cultural behavior. At least in my opinion. My grumpy opinion. : x

[Warren Castille]

My grumpy opinion. : x

 

Pish posh, roleplaying is built, dare I say thrives on these sorts of things.

[Kage]

Well more like if a Lalafell does it, whoever they do it with gets a black van and guys in black suits... I mean.

 

I think part of why non-Miqo'te don't get the 'slutshaming' is maybe in part, a type of racial confirmation bias. That and who would talk like that to Berrod? I'm sure some(one) may be intimidated to not ever say a thing!

 

I'm now curious. On a different note.

 

.... why do lots of FemRoes lean towards Bisexuality or Lesbianism? Not to say it's wrong etc. But I've seen quite a few FemRoes who are more non-hetero than... hetero.

[Zhavi]

My grumpy opinion. : x

 

Pish posh, roleplaying is built, dare I say thrives on these sorts of things.

 

It allows for more freedom, yar. Agreed. But then it doesn't make sense to say 'you shouldn't do that because it goes against established cultural norms' when the established cultural norms are more shallow than a raindrop and really probably doesn't make that much sense when you peel back the outer layers.

 

RAH RAH RABBLE RABBLE

 

EVERYONE REBEL!

[Gegenji]

.... why do lots of FemRoes lean towards Bisexuality or Lesbianism? Not to say it's wrong etc. But I've seen quite a few FemRoes who are more non-hetero than... hetero.

 

I don't think it's just FemRoes. I've seen quite a bit of GLBT disposition across almost all the races.

[Warren Castille]

.... why do lots of FemRoes lean towards Bisexuality or Lesbianism? Not to say it's wrong etc. But I've seen quite a few FemRoes who are more non-hetero than... hetero.

 

I don't think it's just FemRoes. I've seen quite a bit of GLBT disposition across almost all the races.

 

Can confirm. There've been more than a few nights where the Grindstone turns into a Taco Bell after the first elimination round.

 

I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THAT SENTENCE AT ALL.

[Kinono]

.... why do lots of FemRoes lean towards Bisexuality or Lesbianism? Not to say it's wrong etc. But I've seen quite a few FemRoes who are more non-hetero than... hetero.

 

I don't think it's just FemRoes. I've seen quite a bit of GLBT disposition across almost all the races.

 

I'm definitely guilty of this, and I have nothing to point to to say Kino should or shouldn't be totally okay with it (barring bringing up modernity) other than the fact that that one shopkeeper lady was totally okay with announcing to passing strangers she was marrying another lady.

 

But yeah, I dunno. Kinono is totally okay with it.

[Kage]

It's just been in my experience watching/reading/interacting/etc that FemRoes were more of the Bisexual/Lesbianism.

 

Lots of Catboy loving. Also Hyur.

 

I was just curious because the majority of femroes I have met were Bisexual or Lesbian so I was wondering if it was something in the game, their characteristics, or player-made/choice.

[Berrod Armstrong]

.... why do lots of FemRoes lean towards Bisexuality or Lesbianism? Not to say it's wrong etc. But I've seen quite a few FemRoes who are more non-hetero than... hetero.

 

I don't think it's just FemRoes. I've seen quite a bit of GLBT disposition across almost all the races.

 

Can confirm. There've been more than a few nights where the Grindstone turns into a Taco Bell after the first elimination round.

 

I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THAT SENTENCE AT ALL.

Female roes as played by thirsty males: A realm reborn.

Sounds mean, but it's a big possibility! Lovely Roe ladies with other lovely Roe ladies...

 /collartug

what...was the question again?

...and when does Balmung open...?

[Flickering Ember]

Hm. In the thread this conversation originated from, I thought we were talking miqo'te literally being Rped as hyur wearing ear and tail accessories. Now I wonder if Alothia thought I meant city miqo'te/non-tribal miqo'te. But I don't see anything wrong with that at all. Didn't we establish in one of the threads that city miqo'te are more common than tribal miqo'te? Eh, I can't keep up with it all.

 

The core of this discussion, I feel, goes back to craving a variety of stories and characters, not unreasonable. But we can't control what other people play, as much as we try to find that variety. There is little to be done other than being the change you want to see and choosing who you surround yourself with. We can't look down on people for doing something that seems overdone. They are having fun the way they want to.

 

And yeah, I certainly think a non-tribal fits the lore of Eorzea well.

[Alothia]

//magicadminhat

 

Look, I see this thread getting off topic talking about people RPing futas and whatnot. I'd like to ask that if you're not going to talk about the main topic, and you're not going to do it in a respectful manner, that you don't talk at all. 

 

There is no need to call anyone out for anything. You don't like the way they do something, that's fine. You don't need to put them out here for everyone to see. Let's keep it respectful please.

 

 

//friendlyreminder

[Alothia]

Hm. In the thread this conversation originated from, I thought we were talking miqo'te literally being Rped as hyur wearing ear and tail accessories. Now I wonder if Alothia thought I meant city miqo'te/non-tribal miqo'te. But I don't see anything wrong with that at all. Didn't we establish in one of the threads that city miqo'te are more common than tribal miqo'te? Eh, I can't keep up with it all.

 

The core of this discussion, I feel, goes back to craving a variety of stories and characters, not unreasonable. But we can't control what other people play, as much as we try to find that variety. There is little to be done other than being the change you want to see and choosing who you surround yourself with. We can't look down on people for doing something that seems overdone. They are having fun the way they want to.

 

And yeah, I certainly think a non-tribal fits the lore of Eorzea well.

 

Oh, I was never taking the conversation as people playing Miqo's as LITERALLY hyur wearing ears and tails. That would be...odd.

 

Twelve, I hope I never run into someone who actually does that.

[Telluride]

It's just been in my experience watching/reading/interacting/etc that FemRoes were more of the Bisexual/Lesbianism.

 

Lots of Catboy loving. Also Hyur.

 

I was just curious because the majority of femroes I have met were Bisexual or Lesbian so I was wondering if it was something in the game, their characteristics, or player-made/choice.

 

Playing a character who isn't afraid to try to flirt with Femroes... a lot... I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it's largely player choice.

 

Now, I HAVE seen NPC Femroes with those suggested tendencies (at the Aleport docks and Missing Member, for example), but I've seen just as many, if not more, Female Roe NPCs expressing their interest in the males of their kind, too.

 

If there is something more to it than just what a player chooses, I'd be keen to know, and really, that goes for people playing female Miqo'te in much the same way, which is also apparently common, though it may have a little more credence, considering the tight sexual competition in Sun Seeker lore.

[Kage]

I think it was a conversation likening it to... people who wear cat ear bands and tails. We're not generally swishing the tails or flicking the ears or flattening them. The tail doesn't raise or fluff up when certain emotions may cause them to (as some emotes show)

 

They're just... there. I assume that's what was meant, as some RPers typically don't always RP with them there, using them.

 

In my mind, they're not always used even by NPCs. Outraged or shock, huge emotions may get them but generally for me they would have fallen to the wayside as it's generally not used.

 

Until those intense emotions come to play.

[Kinono]

I think it was a conversation likening it to... people who wear cat ear bands and tails. We're not generally swishing the tails or flicking the ears or flattening them. The tail doesn't raise or fluff up when certain emotions may cause them to (as some emotes show)

 

They're just... there. I assume that's what was meant, as some RPers typically don't always RP with them there, using them.

 

In my mind, they're not always used even by NPCs. Outraged or shock, huge emotions may get them but generally for me they would have fallen to the wayside as it's generally not used.

 

Until those intense emotions come to play.

 

There's probably a big difference between a bright-eyed and literally bushy-tailed teen versus a hardened soldier or adventurer. Cat-person or not, learning to conceal/hide emotions is very much a typical and regular skill.

[Alothia]

//magicadminhat

 

 

I'm deleting the posts in question. If those of you involved in those posts wish to continue that conversation, please do it in PMs. Thanks.

[111]

People can RP however they want and you're an ass if you try and force a certain style of RP for everyone.

 

Grow up.

[Kage]

To be honest, and this is just my opinion and could be just my stereotyping, I don't think many people are foregoing using the tail and ears to help emphasize emotions to hide their emotions. There are certainly those who do but I don't think it's the general Miqo'te RPer. I think it's just something that in order to keep on with the story they only use it when it's a very intense emotion. They aren't very conscious of using them in the day to day.

 

Then again, I know very little.

[Gegenji]

People can RP however they want and you're an ass if you try and force a certain style of RP for everyone.

 

That's basically the gist of it. People play in different ways, and there isn't anything inherently "wrong" with not sticking precisely with aspects and traits tied to your race's lore. All I need (and I specify me, as this is personal opinion) is a potential explanation if I'm curious enough to press.

 

"So... you're a Keeper. You must be the one in charge in your house, huh?"

"Nah."

"Oh? I thought Keepers were all matriarchal and stuff."

"They are, I just find that an equal relationship between a married couple results in a lot less hassle."

"Makes sense!"

 

And I think the point that there's no need to constantly draw attention to "HEY, I HAVE CAT EARS" has been made enough times. Though, I wonder if Elezen and Lalafell ears are mobile in any shape or form. Twitch twitch.

[Kage]

And I think the point that there's no need to constantly draw attention to "HEY, I HAVE CAT EARS" has been made enough times. Though, I wonder if Elezen and Lalafell ears are mobile in any shape or form. Twitch twitch.

 

Once upon a time a few of us played with the idea that the ears were sensitive to the touch and sort of a soothing point. Sleepers time if you would.

 

... they then extended it to lalafell ears and I said fuck it why not. The ears, they twitch. They are also very sensitive.

[Zhavi]

To be honest, and this is just my opinion and could be just my stereotyping, I don't think many people are foregoing using the tail and ears to help emphasize emotions to hide their emotions. There are certainly those who do but I don't think it's the general Miqo'te RPer. I think it's just something that in order to keep on with the story they only use it when it's a very intense emotion. They aren't very conscious of using them in the day to day.

 

Then again, I know very little.

 

to me it's no different than the movements we have as humans.

 

Am I gonna emote every single finger twitch and head turn, and blink, and swallow, and shift? No. People fidget, have tics, etc.

 

I use them when I want to draw attention to something, or if I see a character is either very adept at reading body language or is paying extra attention to my character. Otherwise, I give just enough to show what my character is doing, and leave the rest to the other player's imagination. Too many details clutter up the writing, imo.

[Aya]

I don't think there's anything wrong with picking a race based on whether or not it's conventionally attractive. I do think it raises alarm bells when a character has no depth beyond 'look how hot I am' though.

*Crai*

 

 

Final Fantasy is an original MMO world, which means.. I think.. that the lore will always be lacking.  How can culture and lore be deeply established with nuance, tradition, history, and all of the depth of human cultures, without being written on the pages of books?  All an MMO can present are vignettes and superficial glimpses.  I think with that limitation drawing from stereotypical Fantasy tropes (based upon easy to recognize human cultural cues) makes an incredible amount of sense.  They've given us enough bread crumbs to fill in the gaps ourselves, while throwing in enough unexpected twists that no one outside of Midlanders seem bland.  (Now why have they left Midlanders so bland? I really can't tell you).

 

I have a suspicion that the originally quoted text was a statement born largely out of frustration at a certain interpretation of Miqo'te characters by the playerbase at large.  No doubt much of this interpretation is due to the legion of ERP-characters parading about the QS and its environs (though I would like to note that Highlanders ladies are nearly as common as Miqo'te).  I certainly understand that frustration!

 

Still, although I don't think it was really meant literally, the idea of looking down upon someone for not explicitly paying detailed attention to the tail and ears of a Miqo'te character is a little silly.  Are they really that important?  And if they are, what is a Hyur to do without them?  Certainly the full range of emotional response should be expressible without any reference to either... I'm not even convinced that Miqo'te can twitch their ears like cats, and if they can.. I find that really disturbing!

 

But, the bottom line is that Balmung is full of serious and interesting RPers (along with those who are less serious and less interesting).  This population does not cleave to the understood in-game population at all.  There are vastly more Miqo'te, vastly more male Miqo'te in particular, and nowhere near as many Lalafel and Hyur as would be expected.  Trying to force the playerbase into even a lore-founded conception of what the people of Eorzea should be like is going to be a fool's game.

[SessionZero]

I only emote the ears of my Miqo'te when it can emphasize a certain action or give outward evidence of inner workings (specifically, my Miqo'te's ear twitches when she's thinking really hard). Anything else is redundant. The ears and tail are right there, in-game, doing stuff. I don't need to tell you they're there to remind you I am a catgirl and be teh bestest catgirl arpeer.