Yes, Balmung has a great RP base. I was on Goblin since I got the game, just after it came out, then decided I wanted to do more than just play the game, I wanted to play it with others. So... Googled "Final Fantasy XIV roleplay".

Gilgamesh was only one I could get into at first, but the place felt... empty. Lots of paces in housing areas for RPers, but no one to RP with and felt awkward trying.

Then I figured out the trick. Around 3am Alaska time the servers on Balmung open up. Made myself a character and within seconds of clearing the cutscene in Quicksand I was in middle of open RPing everywhere.

I am now part of several very involved RP threads and have two active characters (no one would leave Talyn alone so I made a guy to relax with). I have seen open RP everywhere and only seen one instance of someone making fun of it and even non-rp'ers told him to leave the RPers alone.

Come, join the fun, and if you see Talyn Shadowmoon or Kyrs'a Lyrabhe say hi to me.