Roleplay - How does it work around here?

First off a small introduction. I am a returning a player, formerly of the Triumph server. Most know me as either Blazefire or Frith Ra (my two dominate characters). I've been a roleplayer for many years but mostly in smaller communities and games such as Neverwinter Nights. Previous RP experience in MMOs has been less than stellar, in fact most times it was just plain chaotic, but I'm thinking I might be willing to give it one last try here in CoX.

I'm wondering how the player base of Virtue makes RP work. How much is IC versus OOC? Where are the major RP hub locations? What supergroups partake in frequent roleplay? That sort of stuff. I have right now a character I'd like to go IC with I just want to be around the right people for the RP to work and not be random encounters that just might not make any sense at all.

So if anyone would like to give me the basic breakdown of how the flow goes around here I would greatly appreciate it.

IN MY PERSONAL (and generally highly valued) OPINION:

You'll want to do the following:

* Stay IC in local, team and supergroup chat. OOC chat is denoted with OOC tags, which should be used in IC channels and not in OOC channels. Using OOC tags in OOC channels is not only redundant, but also lets people make fun of you.

* Use the /e command to emote, rather than asterisks. Asterisks are clumsy and make you look like a novice; thus, less people will take you seriously.

* Create interesting character concepts. Don't be a generic angel or demon. Be a unique hero with a unique origin. But don't go overboard on the uniqueness.

* Engage in roleplay. Don't let it come to you - walk up to people and say hello. Being dark and brooding in a corner only gets you overlooked.

You'll want to avoid the following:

* People with "ERP" or "Futa" in their bios, unless you're into cybersex and/or women with male parts.

* People who roleplay something that goes too far against the mechanics of their character. A Super Strength brute who happens to have a machinegun or is additionally a psionic is okay. A Peacebringer/Warshade that is "ACTUALLY AN ANGEL/DEMON LOL" is not "original" or "creative", no matter how loudly they whine about it. A Fire blaster who pretends his fire attacks are actually bolts of water is kind of silly.

* People who roleplay in a flagrantly silly manner. Typically, these people stick to one-line emotes and don't take themselves or others seriously. Neither should you take them seriously.

* Michael Bay movies. Seriously. The guy is probably intelligent, but every movie he's ever directed involves two seconds of exposition and ninety minutes of things exploding. That many explosions is not good for your health.

PLACES OF INTEREST:

* Pocket D. It's the /b/ of roleplaying - while you might have a good time there, you'll probably end up horribly and irreparably changed by the experience.

* Atlas Park, under the Atlas statue. Roleplayers congregate here, but so does -everyone else-.

Considering how odds are the only way I'll find a group that fits with my character concept is to post up her backstory, how would you guys recommend I approach that? I'm assuming a post on the appropriate forum indicating that I'm looking for an RP SG followed with a brief summary of the character?

The best advice I can give is to roleplay the way you feel confortable. If others try and make fun of you or tell you you're "doing it wrong" then they aren't worth the time. There are all types of RPers out in virtue, so you don't have to worry about running out of people to RP with just because you RP a certain way.

When it comes to SGs, there is a big list of them stickied on the virtue forums, so the best place to start looking would be there.

Generally speaking, I'd suggest avoiding Pocket D like the plague. Since its inception, it's pretty much been the leper colony of the most stereotypical, overdone, angsty nonsense imaginable. While a lot of RPers do frequent the place, it seems to me that a lot more avoid it.

Of course, you might be interested in that stuff and different people have different experiences. At the very least, if you check it out, please don't use it as the yardstick of RP on Virtue.

There is no hard and fast rule to Virtue RP.

What someone might consider OOC like Enhancements, Went Worths, Dr Aeon making it possible for ATs to use new powers, the medical porters not working for them at all (this is a common one from my experience), others may say it happens/works in IC.

The secret is to find people you enjoy RPing with, with similar mindset to you.

Then you can RP with others who don't, and easily just say later, "Never happened"

First off, welcome to Virtue!

If it hasn't already been mentioned, I'd add:

* Put "Looking for RP teams" in your search function. Some people do read them.
* Join the RP Virtue channel
*Ask if there are any RP teams running, sometimes RPers PUG too

As for creativity, do what sounds fun to you. For example:

My girl friend played a Warshade who wasn't a Kheldian - she time slipped here during a race (turns out that old hackneyed "time travel by slingshotting around the sun in Star Trek wasn't so hackneyed) and the nova and dwarf forms were part of her emergancy survival gear.

My Warshade is cephalopod/human/REDACTED hybrid that "escaped" Aeon labs. After they left a lot of doors open between him and the outside world.

I have alts that range from normal humans who are exceptionally skilled, to outright gods. The important thing to remember is that RPing should be fun for all, so make sure you interact with people and don't just talk about yourself, or make yourself all powerful. No one wants to hang around with someone who just talks about themselves or tells them what their character does.

Rules for roleplay:

Do what you find fun as long as it is not at the cost of other peoples enjoyment.

That's it. Simple.

I'm going to add looking through the Supergroup/Villaingroup Directories (stickies at the top of the Virtue server forums) and taking a look at the RP groups on there. And on Virtueverse.
As many others have mentioned Pocket D RP is pretty hit and miss - you might get lucky and meet a good group of RPers or you can run into something horrible.
There's quite a few RPers around who used to RP on NWN (myself included)!
And finally, welcome to Virtue!

I originally started on Protector and later found my way to Virtue ... being new (at the time) to the MMO world I had no idea what RP was or meant. However like many have said thus far, I have found my own way of RP'ing when I do do it. I had no guide nor anyone to show me what it meant or how. To me, the best thing about my learning experience ... was the learning. Personally, I'd avoid PD as well. Too many emo's for me. 8)

Welcome back and welcome to Virtue!

Go to Pocket D and try your hand at RP there. You may bump into someone you can hit it off with. However, ALWAYS keep a clear line between you and an IC exit. You're just as likely to run into someone you can't stand, and it pays to have a good IC reason for your character to get out of that conversation fast.

Take notes on who is and is not someone you want to deal with in the future, check globals for names that keep popping up with interesting characters, and read bios.

First off, ignore the RP Nazi's. Not those that RP as Nazi's (because those can be interesting) but those that have self delusions of greatness and that their way to RP is the only way.

I've seen a wide array of different styles of rp and SG/VG groups that go with it. The question is, what type are you looking for and what size of a group?

Pocket D isn't my favorite place to go to without friends coming with. Though I've sometimes listened in on local RP's and it's not as bad as some may claim. Sure the occasional showing off of who's got the bigger ego, but personally I find those rather funny.

I think I've made more RP friends/connections in random pugs then I've done so in Atlas or Pocket D. Heck several members of my current SG are members due to this or grouping with other members.

You never know where you'll find rp. I joined a LGTF PuG and there were four people rping. They obviously knew each other well and had been rping together for a while. I jumped right in and started rping, too. Eventually two of the other three non-rpers started participating, too. It was the most fun I've ever had on an LGTF.

Be open to rp where ever it may appear. Yes, there are a lot of already established groups on Virtue. I think you'll find that most are very welcoming to other rpers. A few aren't but they're the exception rather than the rule.

As far as "rules" for RP..I can sum it up rather quickly..

1. Its is preferred by most if OOC statements are encased in brackets.

2. If your character preforms a action in your RP, please emote it instead of encasing it in * *. The latter is just annoying as hell, not to mention /can/ slow the flow of a rp down if speaking is mixed in with the action.

3. Don't let /anyone/ tell you what "good" or "bad" rp is. Also..don't avoid places in game because someone said .. "Pocket D is horrible for rp" or whatever else they might say about a particular area ingame. Try things out for yourself before passing judgment. Afterall.. whats fun for one person, might not be fun for another. "Good" rp is nothing more than a matter of opinion.

4. Have fun, and I hope you enjoy your time on Virtue. Welcome to the nuthouse.

Also, on some Saturday nights in Gemini Park (Galaxy City), the Old Timers hold a general RP (nostalgia about the pre-Pocket D times).

Hi there and welcome back!

The server population, as a whole, has vastly differing styles and methods (As you probably know).

Some great suggestions here already, so I'll try and be brief (brief for me, at least).

The only real staple that is held to across just about all RPers here seems to be the double brackets for OOC (I use a handy bind that just puts ((OOC)): in front of my message when I press an assigned key instead of ENTER).

I really don't know where the people are coming from with the whole asterisks not being good for emoting thing.
Myself and many of the wonderful RPers I have had the pleasure to play with use both options (from sentence to sentence) without any issues.
The use of asterisks has its place and benefits here and there.

The only reason I bring this up is because my experience RPing in this game with others counters this one suggestion that's been mentioned more than once already in this thread and I want you to realize that this is not some universally accepted rule.
It may just be some agenda by one segment of playstyle *shrugs*. No idea... don't really care, hehe.
All I know is that it is not a problem where I have played nor with the people I have played with.


As for finding an SG, definitely search through existing SGs on the forums and ask around (there should be a thread at the top of this forum for SGs).

I'd say the RPing community is greatly segmented and the bulk of it does seem to be broken into SGs and coalitions.
However, as has been said, there are a great amount of us out and about teaming, fighting interacting spontaneously with everyone and anyone.
There are probably more non-Rpers doing the same though... so, you can spend a lot of time in game and question whether there is any RPing sometimes (when you're alone).

While there are tons of excellent SGs out there that may match your liking, you might want to check out the group I am involved with, The Paragon Universe.
The group can cover a wild divergence of concepts while also cater to smaller and more specific ones. It's a house of a lot of versatility with welcoming players looking for fun through role-playing.

Again, I am sure there are others out there as well and I have no idea what you're looking for, yourself!

Best of luck!

Don't worry about finding an SG right away. Look around, take your time. I'm currently SG-less and I'm finding RP when I want it.

I'm open to a good, solid, fun SG but it isn't necessary to engage in quality RP.