We all do it. Sometimes we do it with friends, sometimes we do it with people we just met, sometimes we do it with complete strangers, and sometimes, by ourselves, alone, in front of our computer, while no one is watching. I’m, of course, talking about roleplay. I’ve not yet once met a gamer, MMO or otherwise, that did not roleplay in some fashion.
For most people, the roleplay community is not something they think of themselves as a part of, but everyone who plays an MMORPG is a roleplayer; at least to some extent. Not everyone claims to be a roleplayer, and on the other hand some claim it loud and proud. If you have ever thought how your character feels about a specific quest, pictured your character’s smile while he slew his foes, or became inspired during a quest as the cavalry comes in to save you – you my friend, are a roleplayer. Roleplay comes in so many forms that it’s hard to determine what is “good roleplay”, what is “bad roleplay”, and what’s “just plain inappropriate”. It’s not all a bunch of super-geeks dressing up shouting “thou”, “thee”, and “forsooth!”
Follow me after the jump and I will show you exactly what you’ve been missing all your life.
Simply put, roleplay is the act of seeing the game-world through your character’s eyes, nothing more. This very basic definition of roleplay is where it starts, the rest depends on your personal comfort level. This ‘comfort level’ is exactly why different roleplay communities are so divided on just what roleplay is. Some people enjoy roleplaying heroics, some enjoy small talk, some even believe that entering into a roleplay relationship with another player’s character is what it’s all about. Whatever comfort level you’re into, it’s a matter of preference, comfort, and will.
People who play their character’s story out in their head while soloing (like I tend to do with Star Trek Online), typically find a kind of simplistic enjoyment in reading quests, hanging on every word, and imagining how their character feels about a situation. You find yourself making your decisions based upon your character’s thoughts and feelings. Do not be mistaken, this is the beginnings of roleplay.
Once you are comfortable with the concept of roleplay, you can take off into the streets of the nearest major city or trade hub to find people to roleplay with. Maybe you just want to watch others do it so see if it’s right for you. My advice here would be to take it slow. Remember, stay at your comfort level. If you need to know where the roleplayers hang out in a specific game I cannot help you directly. I can, however, offer you this: find a location that supports social interaction. Good places to start would be a bar, a space station, trade depot, or maybe an adjacent room to the throne. If you’re looking to avoid the legwork the global and general channels are often a good place to start. Once you find your would-be friends, you can start your roleplay. This can be very rewarding and I offer you a few tips to joining in.
- Scout around and listen to all public in-character conversations. See if the type of roleplay that’s going on is something you can enjoy.
- Anyone who tells you that any single type of roleplay is the ultimate or ‘best’, they are just plain wrong.
- Raiders, Achievers and Crafters can all be elitist jerks and Roleplayers are absolutely no exception. Meaning, you might not be doing it wrong, they might just be jerks. Keep looking.
- If all else fails, check the game’s forums for a roleplay guild that accepts new roleplayers. Most are very welcoming.
- You should never, ever attempt to roleplay beyond your comfort level. (Personally I cannot roleplay anything relationship driven. Be it simple boyfriend-girlfriend stuff or ERP (erotic roleplay), sometimes negatively referred to as “cybering” (You’ll have to look that one up, I have no wish to provide that link or explain it). I can’t do this type of roleplay because it is beyond my comfort level, and my wife would kill me.
- Try not to change the theme as this creates unnecessary conflict. Conflict (referred to by most roleplayers as “Drama”) is good for roleplay, but not everyone is receptive to it, especially when new roleplayers try it.
- Lastly, you’re going to mess up. Try not to get discouraged.
Once you’ve found a group that matches your intended roleplay style and appears inviting, approach them in character if possible. If you don’t understand what the term “In Character” means, instead of saying “Hi there! Can I RP with you guys?” you’d type in chat from the viewpoint of your character. “Hail friends. Mind if I sit with you?”. Just remember, you’d want to keep your character’s speech game-appropriate. You probably wouldn’t want to say “Hail friends!” to a group of Eve Online roleplayers.
Roleplay can really add a new level of depth to your playtime. If done correctly, you will enjoy your game time even more and possibly make new friends. Where you roleplay, when you roleplay, and how you roleplay should be completely up to you. Most roleplayers have absolutely no problem teaching newcomers, so finding someone that can teach you may initially be difficult, but in the end, I doubt you’ll regret it.