First off, let me say that I am not new to DR or roleplaying... but when you RP in DR, it seems certain elements apply... so, here goes.
My character, although mid-lower circle, really has no personality other than ME being HIM. I have had a lot of ideas for him, but it seems to me that I am limited in my span of options regardless of DR's wonderful RP system.
Now, I am not asking anyone to tell me how to roleplay my character. But it seems to me that the vast history of Elanthia is somehow seperate from us. Allow me to explain.
I play a ranger (of course) and, well, he's part of the ranger guild (duh). Aside from that, the only other distiguishable part of his character I can play is his personality (which, I stated, is derived entirely from me right now). A lot of the rules in place prohibit me (and others) from RP'ing their characters the way they would like to play them.
First off, it seems that there is a fine line between fact and fiction (even for an RP game... :) ). So, we all have to pretty much work within the guidlines that the GM's have placed before us. I have NO problems with that at all. However, it seems to me that the rules and conduct of play seem to prohibit a lot of traits that we'd find in a character.
Let us say I wanted to RP a ranger who hates halflings (i dont, just an example), it would be really hard to pull off because the extent of the RP would be that he views the race cold, doesnt talk to them, and etc etc. But let us say for means of this example that my ranger likes to harrass them. He can't. Now, again, I am not saying that I WANT to harrass anyone (believe me), but it's an example of things that simply cannot happen without getting kicked off DR (seen it happen with a lot of people).
Right now, it seems, that a lot of people are pretty much the same character with different names. everyone (for the most part. There is always an exception.) is really nice to each other, eveyone hugs everyone, people have a tendancy to only really discuss ranks and skills and the occasional request for a lesson in something. That is fine. I don't see anything wrong with that. But, I feel as though I am fairly limited as to how I can RP my character (even using Elanthian history to do it) because, if say I wanted to RP my character as a Paladin gone Ranger who was trained in the court of the Prince and etc etc blah blah, I really couldn't because, well, people would have to suspend a lot of disbelief OOC for that one.
I'm finding trouble really getting my point across (damn our limited language). Sorry if this seems like a lot of complaining... That isn't what I am trying to get at. My point is actually a question:
How do you feel about RP'ing your character and how do you still do it successfully AND get around the rules of gameplay WITHOUT actually bending or breaking any of them?
Larzul
"Skin it, scrape it, bundle it, rinse and repeat" -- The Life of the Ranger
LAZURUS
BENNERR
Re: Questions about roleplay in DR
05/02/2003 09:30 AM CDT
Get away from the cookie cutter liberals in DR who believe everyone should be loved. There is an element of use non-liberal, terror weilding Rangers that believe in the over throwing of Socialistic Monarchy and death to all Dwarves. There is also the faction of people who believe in the slaughter of innocents and the robbing of traders on their trade routes. Once you eliminate yourself from the huggly smoochies, you have more freedom, since there is less reporting of actions and RP you are doing. Then you can immerse yourself into your style of RP without fear of retribution handed down by the GM's. Yes there is a good element that does battle the dark side, that also subscribes to the same environment. So there is some fun things that can happen.
Just immerse yourself into the underworld, and come over to the dark side. IT is a growing trend. People are tired of the giggly huggly smoochies. The power of the dark side is strong. <grins>
Arctuniol
In the words of Mr. Aldouri, "The Game is over."
Just immerse yourself into the underworld, and come over to the dark side. IT is a growing trend. People are tired of the giggly huggly smoochies. The power of the dark side is strong. <grins>
Arctuniol
In the words of Mr. Aldouri, "The Game is over."
SAGAN9
Re: Questions about roleplay in DR
05/02/2003 10:01 AM CDT
<< Get away from the cookie cutter liberals in DR who believe everyone should be loved. There is an element of use non-liberal, terror weilding Rangers that believe in the over throwing of Socialistic Monarchy and death to all Dwarves. There is also the faction of people who believe in the slaughter of innocents and the robbing of traders on their trade routes. Once you eliminate yourself from the huggly smoochies, you have more freedom, since there is less reporting of actions and RP you are doing. Then you can immerse yourself into your style of RP without fear of retribution handed down by the GM's. Yes there is a good element that does battle the dark side, that also subscribes to the same environment. So there is some fun things that can happen.
The people who subscribe to this philosophy are a dime a dozen nowadays as well.
By all means, come up with an abrasive character if you wish, but don't do it solely for a means of PvPing as is the norm nowadays. Really, it all comes down to the quality of your RP, if you want to RP a gnome hating bigot... great! And as long as you don't just run amok killing every gnome you see with little to no cause, then you'll be safe.
The Realms needs more quality RPers that make things fun and interesting. CvC is good... PvP is bad. The difference is in the quality of the RP. A good example of a character that inspired some really good CvC was Rock. Don't know if you were around back then for him, but those were interesting conflicts of his.
Tusca
"Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jude"
The people who subscribe to this philosophy are a dime a dozen nowadays as well.
By all means, come up with an abrasive character if you wish, but don't do it solely for a means of PvPing as is the norm nowadays. Really, it all comes down to the quality of your RP, if you want to RP a gnome hating bigot... great! And as long as you don't just run amok killing every gnome you see with little to no cause, then you'll be safe.
The Realms needs more quality RPers that make things fun and interesting. CvC is good... PvP is bad. The difference is in the quality of the RP. A good example of a character that inspired some really good CvC was Rock. Don't know if you were around back then for him, but those were interesting conflicts of his.
Tusca
"Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jude"
SUNFROSTED
Re: Questions about roleplay in DR
05/02/2003 10:02 AM CDT
<<Right now, it seems, that a lot of people are pretty much the same character with different names.>>
it's a wide world... keep looking, you will find some incredibly neat, unique people out there.
<<if say I wanted to RP my character as a Paladin gone Ranger who was trained in the court of the Prince and etc etc blah blah, I really couldn't because, well, people would have to suspend a lot of disbelief OOC for that one.>>
Pshaw. All of RP is "suspending disbelief." If you ever come across Czrethh in game, if you can get him to talk to you ask him why he refers to himself in the plural. It might make the hair on the back of your neck rise. :)
Basically from what i've seen, the "rules" are very, very loose. You can't pretend to be a figure of authority, you can't pretend to be related to someone immediately famous (like you can't be Sorrow's brother, though you could probably pull off being the son of a man who claims to be the bastard son of Sorrow's brother... see the difference?)
From my own personal experience... I am Captain Allegoria Everyoung of the (yet to be commissioned) Maelstrom. The story behind how I actualy came to BE a called "Captain" by my crew is obviously fiction, the In game explanation having nothing to do with the true origins. HOWEVER. The past is a wonderful, misty place that allows us to create our own life stories, and since a CHARACTER cannot disprove them, we are free to embellish them however we want.
I'm not sure if you see what I mean, but basically if someone in game says "you conuldn't have done that there's no such thing," it's more likely to be their PLAYER making the OOC distinction based on their knowledge of game mechanics. It's how the other characters you intereact with view your story that decide whether it's believable or not, but when it comes down to it, the actual "rules" of what you can claim and what you cannot are very, very few.
I obviously don't have "Captain" in my game-mechanics title... but that doesn't stop my crew or even perfect strangers calling me "Captain," anyway. It's how I present myself, it's gotten me killed (three times! twice by GMPCs and once by Nystarn) and it's provided a great deal of fun.
So i guess in closing what I'm trying to say is... RP whatever you want to RP. Try to take how others react to you with a grain of salt (do they have VALID RP doubts? Or is it just Crossing Snert "you can't do that neener neener neener" talk?) and run with it.
Just don't claim to be a guild leader . :::hides:::
Allegoria
"I'm your huckleberry."
it's a wide world... keep looking, you will find some incredibly neat, unique people out there.
<<if say I wanted to RP my character as a Paladin gone Ranger who was trained in the court of the Prince and etc etc blah blah, I really couldn't because, well, people would have to suspend a lot of disbelief OOC for that one.>>
Pshaw. All of RP is "suspending disbelief." If you ever come across Czrethh in game, if you can get him to talk to you ask him why he refers to himself in the plural. It might make the hair on the back of your neck rise. :)
Basically from what i've seen, the "rules" are very, very loose. You can't pretend to be a figure of authority, you can't pretend to be related to someone immediately famous (like you can't be Sorrow's brother, though you could probably pull off being the son of a man who claims to be the bastard son of Sorrow's brother... see the difference?)
From my own personal experience... I am Captain Allegoria Everyoung of the (yet to be commissioned) Maelstrom. The story behind how I actualy came to BE a called "Captain" by my crew is obviously fiction, the In game explanation having nothing to do with the true origins. HOWEVER. The past is a wonderful, misty place that allows us to create our own life stories, and since a CHARACTER cannot disprove them, we are free to embellish them however we want.
I'm not sure if you see what I mean, but basically if someone in game says "you conuldn't have done that there's no such thing," it's more likely to be their PLAYER making the OOC distinction based on their knowledge of game mechanics. It's how the other characters you intereact with view your story that decide whether it's believable or not, but when it comes down to it, the actual "rules" of what you can claim and what you cannot are very, very few.
I obviously don't have "Captain" in my game-mechanics title... but that doesn't stop my crew or even perfect strangers calling me "Captain," anyway. It's how I present myself, it's gotten me killed (three times! twice by GMPCs and once by Nystarn) and it's provided a great deal of fun.
So i guess in closing what I'm trying to say is... RP whatever you want to RP. Try to take how others react to you with a grain of salt (do they have VALID RP doubts? Or is it just Crossing Snert "you can't do that neener neener neener" talk?) and run with it.
Just don't claim to be a guild leader . :::hides:::
Allegoria
"I'm your huckleberry."
SAGAN9
Re: Questions about roleplay in DR
05/02/2003 10:09 AM CDT
<< The past is a wonderful, misty place that allows us to create our own life stories, and since a CHARACTER cannot disprove them, we are free to embellish them however we want.
Ya, having your own backstory mapped out really aids you in your RP. You know where you came from and what formed the character you are, so you can use that to determine how you'd react in certain situations. One thing to avoid in backstories is the ole Mysterious beginnings... examples: Don't know who your parents were, or Parents died mysteriously but saved you before they died, or Old Village Herbal Ladies who prophesize over your birth bed. Heh, I swear, there's a ton of characters with the above examples as backstories roaming the realms.
Tusca
"Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jude"
Ya, having your own backstory mapped out really aids you in your RP. You know where you came from and what formed the character you are, so you can use that to determine how you'd react in certain situations. One thing to avoid in backstories is the ole Mysterious beginnings... examples: Don't know who your parents were, or Parents died mysteriously but saved you before they died, or Old Village Herbal Ladies who prophesize over your birth bed. Heh, I swear, there's a ton of characters with the above examples as backstories roaming the realms.
Tusca
"Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jude"
TORTOLIA23
Re: Questions about roleplay in DR
05/02/2003 11:57 AM CDT
Another important thing to do is figure out what's appropriate for your particular race. They're there for more than just stat modifiers and verbs.
Go take an hour or so, if you haven't already, and go read back through all the posts in your character's race folder. Some of them don't have much going on, but some of them have some incredible discussions on exactly this sort of thing - appropriate names, appropriate behaviors, customs, and so forth (I'm biased here, of course, but the S'Kra folder is great, as are some of the folders for the more unique races).
RP is definately something that evolves with time. When I first started playing, Syreeta was quite happy, helpful, energetic, and friendly to everyone. I've moved away from that, partly because I got tired of it, partly because I stopped guild-sitting and got out of Crossing. S'Kra are typically very proud and very aloof towards those not of their ru'at or their race, so I've been making an effort to play that up - lots of eye rolling, smirking, snickering, sarcastic comments, and so forth.
There's a lot of variety. As everyone's said, make up some sort of rudimentary backstory (Syreeta's spending a lot of time in Muspar'i partly because it's her home, and she still prefers the sand dunes to the woods), but also figure out how to play your race. It's a dimension a lot of people overlook or take for granted.
It's good to see you focus on roleplaying, and I hope you figure out something to work with.
Syreeta's player
Go take an hour or so, if you haven't already, and go read back through all the posts in your character's race folder. Some of them don't have much going on, but some of them have some incredible discussions on exactly this sort of thing - appropriate names, appropriate behaviors, customs, and so forth (I'm biased here, of course, but the S'Kra folder is great, as are some of the folders for the more unique races).
RP is definately something that evolves with time. When I first started playing, Syreeta was quite happy, helpful, energetic, and friendly to everyone. I've moved away from that, partly because I got tired of it, partly because I stopped guild-sitting and got out of Crossing. S'Kra are typically very proud and very aloof towards those not of their ru'at or their race, so I've been making an effort to play that up - lots of eye rolling, smirking, snickering, sarcastic comments, and so forth.
There's a lot of variety. As everyone's said, make up some sort of rudimentary backstory (Syreeta's spending a lot of time in Muspar'i partly because it's her home, and she still prefers the sand dunes to the woods), but also figure out how to play your race. It's a dimension a lot of people overlook or take for granted.
It's good to see you focus on roleplaying, and I hope you figure out something to work with.
Syreeta's player
DARKANGEL23
Re: Questions about roleplay in DR
05/02/2003 01:38 PM CDT
Heh yeah definitly dont go the way of the tragedy/mystery beginning... its nice and all but everyone and their brother seems to have that motif in their histories. And although its kinda hard with ranger, only since I havent seen any real events (I could be very wrong here as I havent been a ranger long) come from this direction, stay up with the current events regardless of what guilds they are based around... youll find awesome opportunities to flair that RP sense as well as find the people who arent the cookie cutter RPers. Youll also find that lots of times if you start to RP in a place where no one else is (ie guild sitting) more often then not others will start to join in on it. Just of course dont be rude about it (I hate when people gripe at me for slipping my tounge and talking about ranks or somethin.) Youll find a good number of solid RPers if you know where to look but for the most part RP is a monkey see monkey do kinda thing... so just go with the flow that feels right to you and people will start following suite.... and if they start taking something to serious just whisper to them that your only RPing and that nothing was meant personally.
FREDERICKC
Re: Questions about roleplay in DR
05/02/2003 02:19 PM CDT
I left sylviir open in that he was raised in the orphanage in Crossing so doesn't know his background and isn't steered by his elven historical biases. He does however know a HUGE secret about the little tomato sellin' urchin. Ask him sometime.
sylviir
Don't forget to vote DR as the number one mud.
http://www.topmudsites.com/cgi-bin/topmuds/rankem.cgi?id=drealms
sylviir
Don't forget to vote DR as the number one mud.
http://www.topmudsites.com/cgi-bin/topmuds/rankem.cgi?id=drealms
DOUGAS1
Re: Questions about roleplay in DR
05/02/2003 03:19 PM CDT
You can certainly play a person who hates a specific race or guild without doing anything 'illegal'. I personally have a dwarf who despises all bards. He calls them "nothing more than irritating panhandlers who play those annoying instruments that hurt my ears." I've had plenty of RP opporunities of when a bard starts singing or playing, my character will cover his ears, moan and groan and possibly rob the bard of all tips ;)
RP is what you put into it and get out of it. I agree with the others that mapping out a background will aid in your RP a lot.
Hope you find your niche.
~Dougas
RP is what you put into it and get out of it. I agree with the others that mapping out a background will aid in your RP a lot.
Hope you find your niche.
~Dougas
MCENTIRES
Re: Questions about roleplay in DR
05/03/2003 12:49 AM CDT
The last few days I've been around Rawb when a War Mage is in the area. It's so hilarious to watch the genuine hatred he has for that guild. It's nothing personal against the character, he just stereotypes them as a group of tree burners and acts accordingly. Regardless of level, he'll make every one of them promise not to burn any trees with their "fire spells." I'm sure he runs into trouble once in awhile, but for a serious RP'er, they'd just play along with him. and go about their business.
I'd agree that evil wannabe's are getting old, but people like Rawb that are good but have amusing 'concerns' make me laugh everytime.
I always thought a little of your real life should play into your character. It's what gives everyone a unique trait instead of having 60% good guys and 40% bad guys and no inbetween.
Ciek
I'd agree that evil wannabe's are getting old, but people like Rawb that are good but have amusing 'concerns' make me laugh everytime.
I always thought a little of your real life should play into your character. It's what gives everyone a unique trait instead of having 60% good guys and 40% bad guys and no inbetween.
Ciek
PBOMBARD
Re: Questions about roleplay in DR
05/04/2003 06:04 PM CDT
Don't forget about TF, either. If you are looking for complete freedom, you can do whatever you want in that environment.
Plat on the other hand, can also be a good option. There are several very well played "conflict oriented" characters over there. However, you need to be prepared to give people an out, if they aren't interested in your RP focus, otherwise you might find half the population ignoring you and another significant fraction looking for any excuse to report you. Pay attention and make sure everyone is having a good time, and you can do a lot in Plat.
-pete
Plat on the other hand, can also be a good option. There are several very well played "conflict oriented" characters over there. However, you need to be prepared to give people an out, if they aren't interested in your RP focus, otherwise you might find half the population ignoring you and another significant fraction looking for any excuse to report you. Pay attention and make sure everyone is having a good time, and you can do a lot in Plat.
-pete
TEMPLERE1
Re: Questions about roleplay in DR
05/04/2003 07:58 PM CDT
No you can't.
Plat is horrible.
Pete is just trying to get people to take my bears and wolves. Leave em alone I said, they are mine!
end sarcasm
Plat has its own joys and pains in the.....
The lovely thing is you can walk out of the CM and pretty much walk into any hunting ground and be all alone. That is good, if you like that, if not well..not so good.
You have more freedom there, but with more freedom comes more responsibilty. But, you can be pretty much what you want to be. Of course, there seems to be a new ton of rangers coming in too...just so you know.
Player of Peperic Timarson, ranger in training and corn carrier for Lucky, the raccoon.
Tree-house, North Road, River's edge.
"No matter how hard you try, you can't fix stupid."
Plat is horrible.
Pete is just trying to get people to take my bears and wolves. Leave em alone I said, they are mine!
end sarcasm
Plat has its own joys and pains in the.....
The lovely thing is you can walk out of the CM and pretty much walk into any hunting ground and be all alone. That is good, if you like that, if not well..not so good.
You have more freedom there, but with more freedom comes more responsibilty. But, you can be pretty much what you want to be. Of course, there seems to be a new ton of rangers coming in too...just so you know.
Player of Peperic Timarson, ranger in training and corn carrier for Lucky, the raccoon.
Tree-house, North Road, River's edge.
"No matter how hard you try, you can't fix stupid."
MGUTHRIE1
Re: Questions about roleplay in DR
05/29/2003 08:16 AM CDT
How about rakash roleplaying?
I mean do you act nice to only rakashes....are they quiet and kept to themselves... i'm confused!!!!!The history says that they were travlers...but i can't find my way in any other town so how's that suppose to help Me!
The secert to stealing is not to get caught!
I mean do you act nice to only rakashes....are they quiet and kept to themselves... i'm confused!!!!!The history says that they were travlers...but i can't find my way in any other town so how's that suppose to help Me!
The secert to stealing is not to get caught!
TORTOLIA23
Re: Questions about roleplay in DR
05/29/2003 09:45 AM CDT
>>How about rakash roleplaying?
Check the Rakash sub-folder in Races folder.
Syreeta
Check the Rakash sub-folder in Races folder.
Syreeta
