On Extreme Role-playing Within XIV

[Rinhi]

Why are people so anti drama lol...
Drama is awesome and fun to watch. Its also extremely entertaining.

of course you'd say that, you're a fae (or was it pixie?) after all, they relish in those things!

[yajnaji]

Greetings, and baiting title aside I would like to begin a discussion over fringe role-playing within the game. No, not the usual degenerate type often debated, but rather what is almost never discussed. That being topics such as role-playing a character who might be racist, xenophobic or intolerant. A Garlean loyalist who believes in the cause, or a Xaela ultra nationalist. A moral compromised character. I've found these types of role-playing within XIV to be almost nonexistent and even treated as taboo. More so than even actual unseemly roleplay of the other type. This is strange to me, as I come from other games that have a much more varied community when it comes to types of characters roleplayed. It makes XIV's scene seem stagnant and boring. Thoughts on why?

What a lovely person you must be behind that avatar.

[AnnRam]

Crystal Generation.

[Zsolen]

I don't RP in FFXIV, but I remember roleplaying in SWG a bit, when I was young. Everyone knew never to take offense to anything that was RP. And if someone was RPing and they encountered a non-role player, the non-role player would often play along anyway. It didn't matter if the RPer was playing a shady or even xenophobic character. Yes, the xenophobic characters were generally Imperials but the role was still played. Ironically, the Imperials players were often far more mature OOC than many of the Rebel players. Perhaps, they had an easier time separating themselves from their characters and seemed to have played roles of people they would despise IRL.

I think the aversion to less savory characters is perhaps a part of a false narrative of 'so many racists in X country.' As for actual people of low moral caliber, when you let them open their mouths, they will do themselves in. Going after random people, just in case, is actually beneficial to people that are actually xenophobic, because now they have people they can try to hide behind. It's also highly immoral to make such assumptions, and it's not even a political issue. People of various political views agree it is bad form to make these lofty allegations without actual proof.

Never had any lewd tells or any forced sexual behavior in other games either, but that's acceptable to some here. That's not RP but generally an act of either desperation and/or harassment, but its somehow claimed to be under the RP umbrella by those that do it and those that approve of these actions.

[Kaoru_Nagisa]

of course you'd say that, you're a fae (or was it pixie?) after all, they relish in those things!

Oh good, I'm not the only person who picked up on it.

[MilkieTea]

Oh good, I'm not the only person who picked up on it.

No wonder they felt familiar! It was niggling at the back of my head and I couldn't figure out why.

[DPZ2]

My notions of the rp community within 14 are founded on what I've seen of them over the 6 years I've played. Although I will say during the HW era it was far better than it is now.

Just a question here -- is you main really on the Aether Data Center then? 'Cuz I've found that RP there is much less active than Crystal.

Siren isn't a world I'd normally consider for RP opportunities.

[DPZ2]

It is all fictional, none of it is real sure it can be used to harm but even then that requires the person to willfully take offense and view such attacks on a character as a personal attack which should never be the case in RP.

In an RP setting within an MMO, we become our Avatar. Unfortunately, certain behaviors can be perceived as attacks. Such attacks, without consent by all parties involved, may be taken personally. And rightly so.

The key in all events that involve more than one person is informed consent. If I know what someone else intends and agree to it, I cannot take offense. Such is the basis for any number of RP events.

When we are anticipating an evening of light conversation in Costa del Sol with friends, we do not expect to be rounded up and dragged off to Garlemald as slaves. Unless, of course, all involved have agreed that such behaviours are within the parameters of the RP event. When we are anticipating a fight event between warring tribes of Miqo'te, showing up dressed for a beach party could be outside the parameters of the RP event, and as disruptive as the first example.

Most RP events I've encountered are pretty light and angst-free. It's fun to meet up with friends and acquaintances in-game, to chat and to develop RP skills. Sharing your Avatar's story isn't easy without practice.

[Caurcas]

Just a question here -- is you main really on the Aether Data Center then? 'Cuz I've found that RP there is much less active than Crystal.

Siren isn't a world I'd normally consider for RP opportunities.

Prior to cross world travel I was on Jenova, but Siren has quite alot of "rp". Although its the kind I strongly dislike.

[Zsolen]

In an RP setting within an MMO, we become our Avatar. Unfortunately, certain behaviors can be perceived as attacks. Such attacks, without consent by all parties involved, may be taken personally. And rightly so.

You aren't your character.

No one is suggesting your character is forced to play slave. I have not seen anything like that in this conversation.