Breakfast topic: Roleplaying
by Elizabeth Wachowski 
May 11th 2007 at 7:55AM
We don't do a whole lot with roleplaying here at WOW Insider. As far as I know, none of us has mains on an RP server, and it can be a tough thing to get into from a non-RP background. There seem to be few happy mediums between "You must be in character and follow all rules at ALL TIMES or you will be gkicked" and "RP is for sissy nerds who want to cyber with gnomes." (I never understood why non-RP players constantly make fun of RP players for being geeks. Is there a non-geeky way to pretend to be an elf for hours each week?)
But having dabbled a bit on RP-PVP servers, I can see the attraction. Even without RPing in general chat, players on RP servers seem to be a little friendlier and more likely to spell correctly. And RP allows you to get a little more depth from the game than is offered by the quest text. It adds a whole new dimension to WoW, beyond simply raiding for phat lootz or PVPing to fulfill your bloodlust.
Even though my blood elf paladin isn't on a RP server, I've thought a little bit about my motivations for playing her. I play my paladin as a good guy -- healing the sick, protecting my teammates, even helping injured Alliance. How can I reconcile that with draining the Light from a Naaru? Well, I find the Naaru sickeningly good, and I really like the current theory going around that the Naaru are actually evil beings setting us up for a fall, so I sort of transferred that to my character. Since the Naaru are bastards, it's totally cool to drain the Light from them, and my pally is still good.
What do you think about roleplaying? If you play on an RP server, do you have a background for your character, or are you just there to enjoy the sights? Why do you RP (or why do you choose not to?)
Filed under: Virtual selves, Breakfast Topics, RP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Chives May 11th 2007 8:20AM
While I have never played on an RP server, I can see the appeal that you're talking about. Sometimes, I think it would be nice to see "More adventurers needed to cleanse the wailing caverns of evil!" instead of "LFM WC JOIN FAST"
RP would be fun, but I think maybe it would get old after awhile. It would certainly bring more depth to the game.
Lenny May 11th 2007 8:28AM
When I started the game way back on release day I chose a normal server and was suggested the realm of Durotan. I made a Tauren, then a Nelf, and finally a human before I got to a point where I just didn't feel like playing for a while. Then my friend calls me up one day and tells me he's made an Orc Warrior on a realm called Shadow Council that was RP. His selling point was that he had yet to find someone who was an asshole. So I created my Undead Mage that I play to this day. There isn't a lot of role play that I see happen on my server, but I do have to admit that everyone is just a lot friendlier. Even the random whisper for water or a portal is courteous and I am often happy to oblige. My guild isn't about role play at all either, we are just a bunch of friends that get along really well and with that we've gotten up to raiding in Karazhan and I'm sure we'll accomplish much more as time goes on. I've also met a few of the people in my guild in real life since I travel a bit for my company and I'm glad to say that they are just as cool here as they are in game.
Having said all that I really do enjoy the stories, theatrics, and philosophy in and of the game. But that could just be me since I'm old school and carry around a d20 with me, you just never know when you'll need to roll for initiative... :D
Amsirahc May 11th 2007 8:37AM
I play a Dwarven Hunter on the Argent Dawn RP server, and honestly there aren't that many RPers out there. A bunch of people RP don't get me wrong, but the number of actual RPers keeps dwindling down. I sometimes leave the general and trade channels just to get away from all the "LFG BRD" crap. The guild I belong to doesn't require that you RP all the time, but welcomes RPers who wish to. I think if people were to RP more often, the game would have much more purpose than just grind for xp/rep/gold, quest for xp/rep/gold, but rather add to the WoW story in your own way. Sometimes it can get a little old, especially when people try to mix general IRC speak with RP speak, but the real fun comes from acting out your character...not just the verbal portion of RP.
Mats May 11th 2007 8:36AM
I play on a RP server, and the only "rp" I do, is that everything I type in /s and /yell should be "in-character".
I seldom attend RP events, but I do sometimes end up doing something RPish with people who try to enforce some silly RP idea onto others.
"No, you cannot have your te-party in Undercity mr. dwarf, no-no, no need to get up, I'll make sure you get out of undercity a lot faster."
Kirby1612 May 11th 2007 8:41AM
I played on an RP-PvP server (Maelstrom) up tp level 40, and not a lot of people actually did RP. It seemed just like another server with less jerks, better spelling, and it was actually fun to run ZF because "The trolls have been corrupted and must be stopped before they can reach their god Hakkar! Looking for three more brave adventures! One must heal our group, another to keep the enemies focused on them, and yet another to kill them quickly!"
Don't get me wrong, I love RP, it is a game, and that's what we're all doing playing our characters. But sometimes I think it goes a little too far. Just my own opinion, but getting married in a game? Going on a date with your night elf guild leader? It seems like sometimes it can get out of hand, but that's just me, since apparently people do these things.
Sozay May 11th 2007 8:47AM
As a former member of AD (Horde), I can say that if you didn't know any better than reading the realm forums, you would swear it's a PVP server. There is so much e-peen waving and smack-talk, it's absurd.
That, among many other things, made me transfer when the offer came up.
Don't get me wrong, it's fun to watch from the outside looking in; I would much rather deal with polite RP'ers than the "OMG UR TEAM GOT ROLLED IN AB LOL" crowd.
Besides, I have found it's quite fun to RP in /say while someone else is acting juvenile.
"hay dood ur gear sucks imo"
"Excuse me, traveller. But why must you speak so ill of my collection of armor and weapons?"
"lol wut"
"This conversation is being ended by me. Good day, sir."
[Dumbass Level 10 Shaman Whispers] lol ur gay rp
/r Enjoy the suspension.
Aeillien May 11th 2007 8:54AM
I'm on the Thorium Brotherhood RP server, and its great. I've never even tried a PvE or PvP server, so I have no point of comparison, but I've run into a few "in person" Rp sessions here and there, and there's an actitive and relativily healthy community of RP'ers who rp on a channel for that purpose. As for why? The mechanical aspect of the game isn't intersting enough by itself for me, sorry to say. Grinding etcetera are sometimes fun, but sometimes boring.
Bur if you have a really good RP session, it's lots of fun, and you get a high from it, like leveling, but better.
Rog May 11th 2007 11:42PM
Even though I play on a PvE server, I've always roleplayed my character, although more privately in a way, to myself.
Part of what turns people off from RP servers is the way so many RPers feel it's necessary to broadcast their roleplaying, in public channels or spamming crowded areas with custom and overly-elaborate emotes.
But I do agree, RP servers do tend to attract friendlier people, or perhaps just less of the lame-o's.
FadedReality May 11th 2007 9:06AM
I rolled on Dalaran with my RL friends and after 1-60, taking a break, sitting at 60, taking a brak, 60-70... I wanted more than just "if you aren't raiding you're in a casual guild that talks about raiding and links epics for thrills. Also, farming. "
After a trip to wowwiki and seeing that there were weekly public RP events I rolled a toon over there to check it out. 3 weeks later I told my guild and RL friends peace out and transferred my 70 over. Granted, there isn't 24/7 RP going on, but there is definitely a larger draw to playing than phat lewtz and farming mats. We have RP wars, storylines, and there is definitely a more mature attitude than my old server. I mean, even on my sparse trips to The Barrens people were actually *helping* each other ffs. It was like being in the Twilight Zone.
Hugh "Nomad" Hancock May 11th 2007 9:24AM
I've got characters on three different RP servers - in fact, I don't have a character on a non-RP server.
RP is a lot rarer on the RP servers than it used to be when the game was new, and even a year or so ago. However, you do come across people who are roleplaying from time to time. My impression is that there's slightly more Horde-side RP than Alliance-side.
Why do I roleplay? Well, because I enjoy it, I've been doing it for 20-odd years offline, and I'm good at it! It adds an extra layer of entertainment on top of the game - I'm not just playing a game, I also get a chance to inhabit the shoes of someone totally different to me and, for a while, be in a different world. Which beats the pants off "LF3M 4 HR PST".
All my characters tend to have a background worked out. Quite how detailed that is depends on how much chance I've had to actually RP them - for example, my BElf mage had a decent start to a background worked out, but then I couldn't find an RP guild for her (Steamwheedle EU - I was hoping someone would be running a nasty, backstabbing, socialite Blood Elf guild, but apparently not so).
I've done a lot less RP recently, since the demise of my guild (Earthen Ring EU, Invisible Circle - sadly missed). I do try to make a point of RPing in trade announcements and LFG announcements - largely because I've found I get much more positive reactions if I do.
There are one or two exceptional RP guilds and groups out there. Steamwheedle EU, for example, is home to the simply marvellous Scarlet Missionaries (http://scartel-eu.elwiki.com/Scarlet_Missionary), who spend their days doing a very good job of roleplaying the "outreach" arm of the Scarlet Crusade!
Jacob_THG May 11th 2007 9:46AM
I have characters on Draka (PVE) and Farstriders (RP). I strongly prefer Farstriders. The only reason I go to Draka is because I have several RL friends there.
I spent a few weeks in the Barrens. When I told my Draka friendas this, they askerd how I put up with all the Chuck Norris bullshit. This confused me. I then leveled my Draka Tauren enough to hit the Barrens and that is when the stark difference hit me. The stereotype that obnoxious kids play Horde suddenly made sense.
I don't RP 24/7 by any means. I do, however, play in a style that fits my intent for the characters personality. I decided to be an Alliance hating brat, so if I runi into Alliane in the wild, I /insult. I also grief a little bit, but not enough to truly upset players (grab an herb I see them heading for, or Ambush the mob they are targeting). I'll do this once, just to let them know I hate them, then let them get back to playing.
RP is not always about "Avast yon traveller." Sometimes it's just an emote, a grief, or a challenge. It makes the game more fun, IMHO.
Sylvina May 11th 2007 10:08AM
I'm also on Argent Dawn, but it's a bad representation of RP Servers, it's the most populous, the most trolled by non-RPers, and in general, it's turned into a PvE server with more mature players (at least from a horde perspective).
KissTheRing May 11th 2007 10:04AM
RP is about as queer as a football bat
Pingmeister May 11th 2007 10:20AM
I was walking through Duskwood with my young Dwarf Paladin a few days ago and ran across two higher level folks sitting by a player-campfire.
I stopped and got close to the fire
/em warms his hands by the fire
"In my youth in the frozen North I don't remember the cold being as bone-chilling as this foul fog that haunts Duskwood."
That started a long RP-session which ended with them offering help with any Quests I might have in the area.
As silly as non-RPers might find RPing it tends to be a respectful, close-knit group.
I don't consider myself an RPer but can't imagine rolling toons on a non-RP server.
I'd miss these encounters way too much.
Kahja May 11th 2007 10:57AM
"I'm a gnome"
Drumninmer34 May 12th 2007 1:54AM
I have a lvl. 70 Troll Warrior on The Underbog, whom I transferred from Skullcrusher about a week after TBC was released. I gradually leveled from 60-70, which took a few monthes, and due to my RL schedule, never really got into the instance/raiding scene. Nor did I before TBC. I eventually got tired of sitting in Cap' cities on him doing nothing - occasionally checking AH for things I couldn't afford; whispering people for no reason; running 'noobs' through low-end instances, ect. - so I made a lvl. 19 twink. He was really fun, but over time, got old as well. Me and my close RL friend are planning to start playing again. Being current 'Hordies', we're cut between rerolling Horde, or trying out Alliance. And then when that decision's made, we'll decide if we should roll them on a different type server or not. We used to play PvP, but are now considering RP / RPPvP. I can't really picture a server w/o WPVP. =/
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :)
Mat May 11th 2007 12:27PM
"RP is about as queer as a football bat"
This is a game whose basic foundation was laid by classic RP. Even if you don't do it, you'd have to be a complete idiot not to recognize that the two go hand in hand.
Also, way to be a douchebag.
Bobby Hansen May 11th 2007 12:30PM
I always get made fun of. In BGs I like to do some RPing (pro-Alliance comments, get people to rally around the idea of this being a defense of our home, ect.), but I usually get told to shut up or such. idiots.
Jim Moreno May 11th 2007 2:05PM
Well, considering the entire genre of games like WoW are called massively-multiplayer online ROLEPLAYING GAMES, if you are not roleplaying, then you are missing out entirely on half of what the game is about. For me, RP is the only way to play and have fun.
http://rolecraft.wordpress.com
Juliah May 11th 2007 3:00PM
Wow, this is not just a breakfast topic -- I could go on for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! :)
I am a roleplayer from back in pen and paper days. That being said, World of Warcraft is very likely to be my last MMORPG because of the lack of respect for roleplaying by both players and GMs.
I do not understand why so many people seem to understand that the men's room is for men, that a baseball stadium is for baseball, and that an Italian restaurant is going to serve Italian food, yet they seem to feel that the rules for roleplaying servers do not apply to them. If you don't want to roleplay, then don't select a roleplaying server. Period. This playground has been designated for roleplayers. We have nowhere else to go. Unfortunately, we are a minority even on our own servers. This is simply wrong.
Additionally, people can't seem to get that they're playing in Azeroth. Not Star Wars. Not the Wheel of Time. Not Lord of the Rings. If you want to be Darth Twinkletoes, Star Wars: Galaxies is ready when you are.
I hear a lot of protests and lamentations about how "oh, regular PvE servers are so immature." I am sorry, but that is not my fault. There's no need to ruin the good time of people who are paying their monthly fee same as any other player by not respecting the rules of the server. This issue is compounded by what I like to refer to as "Friend of Bob" syndrome -- roleplaying servers are particularly susceptible to this problem.
Let's say that Bob likes to roleplay, and plays on a roleplaying server with a roleplaying guild. About three months later, his real-life friend, Tom, picks up the game and really likes it, but wants to play on the same server as Bob. Bob's thrilled that Tom wants to play, but Tom is not a roleplayer. Bob is selfish, and does not care: Tom is his friend, and he wants him in his guild on his server, regardless of the effect it has on everyone else's immersion. The guild is a bunch of nice people and they don't want to lose Bob, so they reluctantly allow Tom in. Lather, rinse, repeat, and pretty soon you have a server with at least as many non-roleplayers as roleplayers. Now add in the people who don't know what roleplaying is when they sign up for the server, don't care to find out, or are joining strictly to be spoilers, and pretty soon, the roleplayers are outnumbered and frustrated. Appeals to the GMs fall on near-deaf ears, 9 times out of 10.
Why Blizzard even bothers to HAVE roleplaying servers if they're not going to enforce their own rules is beyond me. If it is too expensive to hire staff to keep up, then why do it at all?
The situation might be helped by having "adult" servers, where the player is required to have a credit card ***in his or her OWN name*** for age verification. Don't get me wrong: I've met plenty of people over 21 who were immature, but I've had the response from a lot of players that they'd play on such a server if it existed, and wouldn't play on roleplaying servers if they had such an alternative. (Mind, it begs the question how you can see yourself as mature yet completely disrespectful of the rules of the server that *you* clicked "Accept" to play on, but I digress.)
Finally, there are the roleplayers who give the rest of us a bad name. I'm talking about the cheesy Goldshire cyber types. We're definitely not all like that.
I ran a great guild for five years (Camelot to Warcraft) that was comprised of adults who were solid roleplayers, competent gamers who thought tactically, and decent human beings who looked out for one another. Unfortunately, due to real life pregnancies, military assignments in Iraq, cross-country moves, job changes, graduate work, and other factors, we recently disbanded. I can tell you first-hand that it's possible to have ooc conversation when necessary without bothering a single other human being on the server: use tells, or create a guild-only ooc chat channel for when you absolutely have to say something that's not in-character (AFK because the house is on fire!), etc. All it takes is a little effort and respect, and that's really all that most roleplayers ask from the non-roleplayers. If you don't know how to roleplay, ask: you'll find a lot of people who are glad to help you with lore resources, styles, and so on.
In short, all it takes is acting like a member of the community that you voluntarily opted to join.