What is your view on RP or ERP and why is it so taboo within the community?

[Laerune]

I am guessing the NA rating is the same like the EU one? FFXIV is for 16 years and older in EU. Last time I checked when you are 16 you probably have seen way worse things then two Miqo'te trying to virtual hump each other.

[Kikoten]

My view on RP: Bring it! The more RP, the better. RP is something I think people whom the activity interests need when things start to feel dry. It adds a dimension to the game that can't otherwise be attained. RP wicks the imagination and allows for folks to release their creative side in a safe and fun way.

My view on ERP: Okay, so you want to get risque. That's fine. But here's the thing: not everyone wants to get risque. There are just as many non-risque folks as there are risque folks, perhaps more. I don't like getting too risque, because RP is an activity which yields emotional investment, when the stories get too deep, and because ERP contains the atmosphere of something so personal--something we all want in the real world, to varying degrees--it runs the risk of deteriorating friendships and leading people down dangerous paths, sometimes leading to the intervention of law enforcement.

Why it's taboo: It's different. Difference scares people. Because of that, people tend to make fun of it. I know, because I used to be one of those people. I used to laugh at roleplayers back when I played Ultima Online. But when I tried it, I never wanted to stop. In turn, I was laughed at with all the rest of them.

Just as well, it's gotten to the point where RPers have gained a certain level of notoriety. RPers who take roleplay too seriously (once again, guilty as charged, back in my WoW days) have a tendency to look down on those who do not RP. Those who do not RP, in turn, feel like RPers are using "roleplay" as an excuse to troll or grief them, because "their character is mean, not the player."

ERPers tend to be clingy and shameless, and because of that, they contribute to the taboo nature of RP in general.

Did I miss anything? I wrote this while half-asleep. Have fun ♥

[basketofseals]

ERPers tend to be clingy and shameless, and because of that, they contribute to the taboo nature of RP in general.

Did I miss anything? I wrote this while half-asleep. Have fun ♥

I would like to say it's more like you're more likely to be exposed to or notice the bad RPers. It's like furries. There's probably tons of them that you don't notice because they don't share it for obvious reasons. Then there's the ones you do notice...

[dinnertime]

It's weird to me how ERP is treated like cybering using avatars instead of telling a story about characters in an erotic fashion.
I see why people dislike it, especially when they make ERP so personal and how they indecently approach people for it.

[RichardButte]

ERP, like sex, should be done behind closed doors.

I mean, the game has private housing AND apartments so there's literally always somewhere people can go to ERP in private if they so choose.

That said, anything people want to do behind closed doors is no one else's business.

[ArcaviusGreyashe]

It's weird to me how ERP is treated like cybering using avatars instead of telling a story about characters in an erotic fashion.
I see why people dislike it, especially when they make ERP so personal and how they indecently approach people for it.

I see what you mean, and I agree with that, in a way... the thing is, though, you're never sure of what the other person has in mind... So yeah, I think, for some, but not all ERPers, it's p*rn, and that's what's shocking, for people, I guess... There are also people that don't see the "art" in erotism and think sex is just sex... And they're somehow comforted by the few ERPers that do it in /say and are often the most... "excited" ones.

[LunaFaye]

I am guessing the NA rating is the same like the EU one? FFXIV is for 16 years and older in EU. Last time I checked when you are 16 you probably have seen way worse things then two Miqo'te trying to virtual hump each other.

FFXIV is marked as teen.

Here in the US that's what that means : "TEEN Content is generally suitable for ages 13 and up. May contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling and/or infrequent use of strong language."

Since it's not marked or promoted as M (mature) and even that would be for ages 17 and up, you need to be aware, that maybe a 13 year old, even if he/she might have experienced worse, should be put into an ERP environment, that has nothing to do with the actual game itself. We do not talk about some virtual dry humping here, we actually talking about ERP, or what some people think it includes. I do not have to watch/read some weird xxxx rated chat, every time I enter Rhalgr's Reach, nor does anybody else, especially younger players.

Again these things don't need to be in zone or public chat, and while we can now argue about the interpretation of points like "use of strong language" and/ or "suggestive themes" neither of that falls under the abuse of T or M rating. The current on going ERP on some servers would fall under the R and/or Ao category which ffxiv needs to be marked as, if we are allowing these kind of things in regular chats from now on. Sorry.

[Hestzhyen]

FFXIV is marked as teen... The current on going ERP on some servers would fall under the R and/or Ao category which ffxiv needs to be marked as, if we are allowing these kind of things in regular chats from now on.

It was already posted ITT but the ESRB does not rate player interactions. It's outside of their purview, and it's impossible for devs to control what people say - people always, always, always find ways to express themselves with what they have. So if you see ERP in public channels report them and hope they get moved or warned by GMs since that kind of stuff is not okay to share with the world at large, but don't be dumb and think that a few knuckleheads typing obscene things into /say or /shout is a good reason to ban everyone under 18 from playing the game. That's what an M/AO rating would do. Almost everyone ITT has said that ERP should be kept private, regardless of how they personally feel about it- we don't want anyone of any age to be subjected to whatever stupid erotic fantasies someone is acting out if they didn't agree to be part of them.

Also, you know, XIV's community is pretty mild... kids who play PvP games like LoL or CS (or even just watch others play) have probably seen and heard more than you think.

[Lyrai_Celestine]

The current on going ERP on some servers would fall under the R and/or Ao category which ffxiv needs to be marked as, if we are allowing these kind of things in regular chats from now on. Sorry.

Mhmm. For one who does get into proper ERPs in private, I think we all fear one thing: For the internet to notice FFXIV as a place full of slutty people. We do not want officials to stain FFXIV's social reputation, let innocent kids encounter a situation they should not see, and people who publicize acts of Eroticism through public chat is going to hurt everyone. Such act can potentially have a bigger impact than they might think... as such we must play our part in keeping the community clean and stable, and not be afraid to stop anyone who attempts to ERP in public.

[Burmecia]

Until I meet dumbass who is 24/7 in rp mode and "lightning mage" because of that, I find fc recruiters in towns biggest nuisance in this game. Not that variation which silently spams every free sprout with invite, but the variation which spams in /shout. Real nice to walk around towns, especially in Chaos, when there is GER and FR recruiter outshouting each other every minute...</vent>

Roleplayers are cool, so is roleplayinv. I guess there still exists people who try to bully other for that but... dude, it's mmoRPG. It's videogame. Can't get much more nerdy than this and it's aweaome. Live and let live. In some circumstances I could consider myself rper too, tried to attend few user held events too when I stumbled on opportunity, but unfortunately I found those sort of things bit awkward. (But when I realised that is not my flavour of sport? I thanked them for event and left peacefully.) Most of ERP people tend to be masterful at keeping their IC so that not everyone has to read that. If that is not courteous I don't know what is.