FFXIV Roleplay: Reborn!

[Kyri]

Well, as a video game genre, RPGs got their namesake from the tabletop roleplaying games that they based their play mechanics off of, but considering the limitations of the hardware, doing any actual roleplaying as an in game mechanic is nigh impossible, as actual roleplaying requires that there be another human that can react dynamically to what your character is doing in order to put together an interactive narrative.

Roleplaying within an MMORPG simply puts the roleplaying back into the game by having your character interact in the world as if they were really there, and not like there's someone at a computer controlling them.

Instead of your Hyuran Dragoon just being a Hyruan Dragoon, he might be a grizzled curmudgeon who is the descendant of a long line of spear-wielders who hangs out at the inn for a drink every evening, and when interacting in-character with other roleplayers, he will react accordingly.

This isn't to say that roleplayers are in-character all the time, as we like to do quests, level, and do endgame, but when we're not doing that we often get together and play out our character's lives with each other.

Careful there you might . . . . . . his head

[Twiddle]

That's not very nice

What? all i said was it went over my head... more so do to my lack of understanding, then anything you wrote... The hole concept of RP is lost to me, do to not having enough imagination to think up of a character name... i usually use random name generator!!

@Kaisuna:
I get what you are saying, still I can't see how it impact's ones game play... you are already an adventurer, who, regardless of the lack of a past, is intended to save the future... why invent more on top of what's know?

[Keisuna]

@Kaisuna:
I get what you are saying, still I can't see how it impact's ones game play... you are already an adventurer, who, regardless of the lack of a past, is intended to save the future... why invent more on top of what's know?

I suppose it's like reading a whole novel as opposed to reading a synopsis. Sure the adventurer sets out to save the day, but why? What are his motivations? Is he an idealist who wants world peace? Is he just a sellsword simply following orders? Does he find love? Does he experience loss? Does he have friends? Enemies? Allies?

Who knows, maybe your character wouldn't want to save the day? Maybe they have a wife and children, and decided to sail to the west for a few days because fighting a war while a giant meteor crashes down on your head is rather suicidal.

People like roleplaying for the same reason that people like in-depth stories, except instead of having it told to you, you can be PART of the story and influence how the story goes.

[Mihana]

To put it simply, think of it like the role of an actor. Your favorite actor/actress doesn't go off playing the daily role of "John/Jane Danger of the Wilds", they've got their own life and everything. For a brief time they step into that role taking on the fictional character's persona. Now in RPing on a RPG is different, but similar too. A roleplayer gives life to an otherwise lifeless digital avatar as an actor would give life to a character within a movie or script. The difference there is there is no script/lines but everything is ad-libbed leading to something more of an improv actor I guess. There are much larger differences between the two than that but I'm just using an example.

Playing any game you're more or less taking on the role of that character following a narrated story but a roleplayer takes that a step further by going deeper into it. Your average gamer wouldn't worry about aspects like what a character is feeling at any given moment, what their history is, where they came from, and so on. A roleplayer would and makes effort to step into that character's role as if they were them. Billy Gene from New York becomes "Roark Geldwin of Limsa Lominsa", a Seawolf Roegadyn trying to make a name for himself after a bad gambling habit in Ul'dah cost him his life savings. So now as Roark, he travels around doing odd-jobs, and might go to a tavern someplace to unwind and socialize, or find some fellow friends and fight the Garlean threat.

More or less there's a difference between stepping into the role of a fictional avatar you create in an online game, and creating a fictional avatar you bring to life as if he/she was a believable living person within this fantasy world. The biggest thing to remember is even if a RPer might be similar to an actor (I don't mean a professional actor or someone who works in a theater.) none ever live and act out their digital world characters in real-life. Meaning just because Billy acts out Roark does not mean he will respond to his friends in a daily conversation just like that or dress up like him. That tends to be the biggest misconception about RPers I've seen, people believe a RPer goes around pretending to be their digital avatar in their own personal lives too.

Hoped that helped a little to explain it.

[Nayto]

TL;DR
It's like 'cosplaying'. In the eyes of the public, it's completely pointless and disgusting because it's abnormal. But in the eyes of your fellow peers you get a feeling of being immeresed in a world you can dream up about, and that's pretty much what roleplay offers: deeper immersion.

Sure were all adventurers recruited into stopping dalamud but really do most players really care in stopping dalamud anyway? They'd rather go attempt their next triple meld and get higher parse numbers in the next Garuda run. Hell people think dancing in game is lame and want to see modern dance moves incorperated to the game-- it's easier to act with the current real life setting we live in because were used to it, even in a fantasy environment, I mean after all... it's just another game nonetheless. Hell your so called AH is based on real life business models anyway, your local blacksmith mass produces weapons like your modern day factory and doesn't have any real renowned 'craftsmanship' that seperates him from the other blacksmiths.

[Forgo]

If given the chance in FF XVI i would have role played some (which i did anyway) Its fun to put yourself into your toons shoes and wall abit in them...

[Anonymoose]

I have to ask: when you made that logo, did you actually have resources for the text and image that were separate from the single image on na.finalfantasy.com, or is this just very clever photoshopping?

[RoxyLalonde]

This is a very valid statement as was the quote it quoted. It happens everywhere but rather then split up because of a bad apple or two I would rather see the community grow together and just ignore the few sour apples.

Sorry for my late reply.. Finals just finished. In my case the "bad apples" are simply people who don't care for me much. Sufficed to say they are considered popular in the RPC crowd... there really isn't recourse or protection when people with history can black list you and make up whatever they want... I've seen the effects outside of RP and trust me when I say I don't want to end up even on the same server as them.

[Endigiont]

Pro-tip: Avoid cliche backstories...


Murdered Parents
Royalty Parents
Found abandoned


you know lame stuff...

There is a ton of cliche stuff.


EDIT: Especially the - my royal parents were murdered and I was found abandoned with a royal pendant combos...

[Taelia]

Pro-tip: Avoid cliche backstories...


Murdered Parents
Royalty Parents
Found abandoned


you know lame stuff...

There is a ton of cliche stuff.


EDIT: Especially the - my royal parents were murdered and I was found abandoned with a royal pendant combos...

Isn't that one of the rules of jRPG?
The female main character is a princess of sorts, her parents die one time or another, started a new life, and carries a pendant that will save/destroy the world? And she's a White Mage.