Another way to get started with roleplaying
by David Bowers 
Oct 24th 2007 at 5:05PM
In last Sunday's All the World's a Stage column, we talked about one way to get started with roleplaying, using mainly a character description made of two simple words that highlight the essential qualities of your character, without too much concern for background and details just yet. The idea here is that you can start with a basic character idea, and fill in the details later on as you get involved with other roleplayers.Over at WoWBlues, however, Nairuil has a different way of getting started. She has a list of questions for you to answer that are designed to help you think of your character's background, as well as give you some helpful tips for what sorts of backgrounds would be inappropriate for WoW (such as the cliche "vampire" idea), all before you actually get started roleplaying in game.
Which approach do you find more useful to you personally, and why?
Filed under: RP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Malyfactian Oct 24th 2007 5:25PM
I rolled on Cenarion Circle about 3 months ago, and have yet to see much RP'ing going on. There is generally a more mature player population, which is nice (and pretty much all I was going for anyway).
Are there any RP servers where the majority of the population (or at least a good percentage) *actually* RPs? If so I wouldn't mind rolling at least one character just to see what that's like.
Dulcet Oct 24th 2007 5:45PM
I remember there was a lot on Steamwheedle Cartel when it first opened, but it's harder to find now. I think it's a natural server age problem. Finding a good heavy RP guild helps.
For my characters It has been closer to the first way. I pick one moment, and build on that. It can be something that has already happened (for Dulcet, a lost shipment) or something that the character really wants to happen (Deathany, undead priest, won't feel like a REAL priest until she has been ordained in Stormwind Cathedral.)
For me, tying it to a moment instead of a full backstory keeps me flexible and helps my characters integrate better with other characters' storylines. My backstories develop from my interactions with other characters.
Delroy Oct 24th 2007 6:40PM
RP is something I always wanted to try, but I never did because, on ever server I read up on, it seemed like it hardly was any different than on the PvP server I was used to...
I love WoW, but most of the time I feel very little RP in the MMORPG. Only a few times do I feel like I'm part of a story, but that's just the nature of MMO's I guess.
kunukia Oct 24th 2007 8:41PM
@2
Dulcet!!! This is Ngakma. We had good times back in the day. I still have a few toons on Steamwheedle, but don't log on there very often.
love you!
Dulcet is the most dedicated RPer I ever knew.
Amanda Rivera Oct 24th 2007 9:05PM
Roleplay, I find, is best begun with the plunge. Of course, rolling a character on a RP server will help things a lot, and if you want to take the time to write a short backstory for your character you can, but you don't have to. In my experience events in game are often the greatest inspiration.
I recently created a pair of Night Elves on a roleplay server with a friend of mine, and proceeded to run them to the human lands to level as I normally do. As we hit Menethil, a level 43 hunter stopped us and asked what we were doing so far from home. My answer: "We're seeing the world!" The encounter instantly created my wide-eyed roving optimist, as well as got us an escort through the Wetlands. Never be afraid to simply jump in and try it.
Badger Oct 25th 2007 9:26AM
@3: Man, that's a real shame ... I'm in a dedicated RP Guild, on one of the most immersive RP servers I've found yet, but I know all too well what you're talking about. Griefers and gankers can ruin the experience.
Delroy - If you or anyone you know is in the same position, and you want to give it a try, look up Adalrich over on Moon Guard server. I run with a good RPer crowd and we're always happy to help.
Dulcet Oct 25th 2007 6:07PM
@4
*waves*
Hi! I've got multi-server alt-oholism too, but it would be great to "see" you again.
Sorry for the spam, everyone.
/stealth
Mabon Oct 31st 2007 11:15AM
I started my characters on a PvE (Normal) realm, mainly because I was intimidated by the "rules" of the RP server, and since my kids were playing, too, I didn't want them to worry about. However, my characters all seemed "real" to me. They evolved over time. The ones I have created on the RP server BWR were thought out first, then created. I wanted to play with my husband, who prefers paladins, and I wanted a rogue. Why would a rogue be with a paladin? Well, what if she didn't know she was a rogue, having been raised by a paladin father? And Bingo! Mabon was created.