On Extreme Role-playing Within XIV

[BunnyChain]

Is this where the masks come off? Where the Nazis "extreme roleplayers" come out of the closet?

[Caurcas]

Is this where the masks come off? Where the Nazis "extreme roleplayers" come out of the closet?

Well considering the political framework which produced Nazism, Facism, Socialism, Communism or whatever you wish to call it does not exist within the world for XIV makes that a no.

[Theodric]

Yep. Furthermore, the Garleans are quite clearly based off of Romans but with a technological fantasy twist to them.

[Lauront]

Well considering the political framework which produced Nazism, Facism, Socialism, Communism or whatever you wish to call it does not exist within the world for XIV makes that a no.

Their sig put it quite well.

[AngelCheese77]

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?

I recall one or two Garlean based FCs on an RP server. Though not sure if any exist now.

I had a character that was a Garlean soldier turned Eorzean patriot, though it wasn't easy with his accent and suspicion. Stopped playing him when my FC became a bunch of a-holes (you know who you are).

There are a number of resources out there people can use to help create characters like what you described, but in an RP setting .. it can be difficult. Communication would be paramount in such situations.

[ReynTime]

Most people in communities like gaming, FFXIV and twitter lack the maturity to separate reality from fiction when it comes to moral standards, ideology and character attitudes. This is not a good idea.

[Alaray]

Well considering the political framework which produced Nazism, Facism, Socialism, Communism or whatever you wish to call it does not exist within the world for XIV makes that a no.

Considering that the Garlean political structure is a Fascist one, prior to it burning down to the ground, this statement doesn't make sense. That, and political ideologies can exist in fantasy as the framework that drives ideology is often part of the allegorical and derivative aspects of reality (Nanamo, for example, had a period of time when she was espousing comments that were similar to communism or socialism pending how you read them, as she was troubled that there were those who were suffering under the Ul'dahn political structure which is heavily driven by money -- the syndicate is made up of monetarists, the spots on the syndicate are granted based on wealth etc...).

Garlemald had a regimented society, were absolutely ultra-nationalists that wanted to bring their rule over others, routinely killed those others because they considered them as "savages" and used them in unethical experimentation (some of which is very highlighted in the Weapon storyline) that amounted to just murdering people for the sake of power. They do believe themselves above the rest, otherwise they wouldn't use terms like "savage" to describe anyone who is an "other" to them. There are individuals who are shown to be exceptions in some cases, albeit some of those individuals only became exceptions to that way of thinking after coming to their own conclusions independently of the Empire. There was only one, as far as I recall, claim of an internal political dissent (Maxima, the Populares) and next we hear about them later on, they're being exterminated.

Final addendum: Additionally, the ruling Emperor is bound by the political machinations of the nation and, whenever espousing action, relates it to the strengthening of the nation (and where such phrases, Glory to Garlemald/Glory be to Garlemald/the Garlean Anthem come into play). Varis and, before, Solus do not act independently from the political bodies around them, they tend to act within them more akin to a modern political dictator. And, considering the civil war, they don't hold to a Divine Right of Kings, especially as the nation tends towards atheism.

They're not 1:1 to any real life regime, though it's extremely obvious that they represent them and it's extremely easy to spot the similarities. It's probably one of the most obvious features of the story.

Like, sure you can explore these darker themes (again, with a willing group), but it does trouble me that you're claiming to wish to write these deeper, darker, nuanced stories and so far I just have:

- Character you want to write, with a defining trait of: Racism
- Doesn't know what political ideologies like fascism, communism or socialism are and when presented with one in the most obvious manner, misses it.
- Calls things you don't like "degenerate" when, in reality, it's a stupid game and is a hypocritical stance to be taking considering your original post.
- Kind of just repeats the same thing again, while the statement about actually agreeing with the Legion in a sense of real life ethicality is sort of...
- And, writing a character just to be a Racist Fascist Man with no other defining traits, narrative designed, or anything even remotely resembling a story around it is just as, if not more, dull than anything else. It has annoying brooding tavern man vibes, just a slightly different flavor. Or worse, that One Guy who was Really Into Rome and Wouldn't Shut Up About It who took the same archeology course I did in college. Worse because that guy's real.

So, what is the point of this thread other than to pretend like you just want to write nuanced, in depth and dark stories, while in reality it just seems like you have some sort of chip on your shoulder with a particular community for... some reason and you're just trying to start a fight?

[HyperSMB]

Extreme Roleplaying sounds like a veil to be a scumbag. I mean, if you did it within a small group of likeminded people, I kinda guess whatever, still very unsettling.

If someone brought any garbage like that into a run or FC I was part of, it would be an instant report.

[Caurcas]

Considering that the Garlean political structure is a Fascist one, prior to it burning down to the ground, this statement doesn't make sense. That, and political ideologies can exist in fantasy as the framework that drives ideology is often part of the allegorical and derivative aspects of reality (Nanamo, for example, had a period of time when she was espousing comments that were similar to communism or socialism pending how you read them, as she was troubled that there were those who were suffering under the Ul'dahn political structure which is heavily driven by money -- the syndicate is made up of monetarists, the spots on the syndicate are granted based on wealth etc...).

Garlemald had a regimented society, were absolutely ultra-nationalists that wanted to bring their rule over others, routinely killed those others because they considered them as "savages" and used them in unethical experimentation (some of which is very highlighted in the Weapon storyline) that amounted to just murdering people for the sake of power. They do believe themselves above the rest, otherwise they wouldn't use terms like "savage" to describe anyone who is an "other" to them. There are individuals who are shown to be exceptions in some cases, albeit some of those individuals only became exceptions to that way of thinking after coming to their own conclusions independently of the Empire. There was only one, as far as I recall, claim of an internal political dissent (Maxima, the Populares) and next we hear about them later on, they're being exterminated.

They're not 1:1 to any real life regime, though it's extremely obvious that they represent them and it's extremely easy to spot the similarities. It's probably one of the most obvious features of the story.

The Garleans are a empire with an absolute monarch. That is their political system. Fascism is a very specific political ideology, and one that doesn't exist within the world of 14. Your post is a great example of what many other posters have highlighted. You are bringing real world feelings, thoughts and ideologies into a fantasy setting. You are also tying a character one wishes to role play to the actual person themselves.

[Alaray]

The Garleans are a empire with an absolute monarch. That is their political system. Fascism is a very specific political ideology, and one that doesn't exist within the world of 14. Your post is a great example of what many other posters have highlighted. You are bringing real world feelings, thoughts and ideologies into a fantasy setting. You are also tying a character one wishes to role play to the actual person themselves.

I'd point out the differences between fascism that correlates to Garlemald, especially with regards to how the Emperor frames the reasonings behind what they do, but it's become excessively apparent any words of effort are wasted on you.

As a final aside, fantasy is derived from somewhere. All human made art, stories, and so forth are derivative in nature. Fantasy does not persist in an ideological vacuum from the real world, to say so is to say stories hold no meaning.