I have a fairly long backstory for each character I create. I usually list the events they have experienced up to their encounter with the Scions; the flaws/qualities; and the little things that make a character come alive. Do they pay attention to smells, if so, what would be their favourite? What do they secretly dream about? Do they have character traits that they can't stand in others... And, on the contrary, flaws that are obvious but that they don't pay attention to? Which weapon do they wield with ease, and which discipline do they resist the most? If you wanted to manipulate them, how should you deal with them (particularly useful for finding the character's main weakness)?

I continue this initial sheet throughout the game, retracing the story as it is told, but in a personalized way. To give a quick example, I recently climbed the BLM to level 60; and in the job quest, you meet an elementalist. For my character, it's time to take an interest in this discipline... And that's how she came back to Gridania, driven by curiosity, to learn elementalism.

On the other hand, I've never really RPed with people on a JV, and I never share these elements with players. I prefer to keep the "real RP" IRL, in D&D sessions with people I know... And who I trust. I've always had the impression that RP was something extraordinarily intimate; in general, you always put a little bit of yourself in there, even if it tends to get more and more diluted with experience. On FF, I must admit that I was also quickly put off by the sexual part that some people didn't hesitate to brandish very quickly, without asking the other person's opinion first. Without being particularly prudish, I appreciate that people know how to keep their distance... Whether it's IRL or IG.

Anyway; I guess I'm not really responding to the topic, but I'm interested in RP, so I'll post my experience here.