Rolling With Role-Players

[B. de la Durantaye]

We've all ran into a role-player or two in our online gaming experiences. These are the folk that bring flavor to our games with their in-character actions and dialog. Sometimes appreciated, sometimes shunned, there's no denying that role-players make up a good part of the MMOG community.

But is role-playing dying? Are developers leaving out role-playing tools in their games, and potentially sabotaging the lifespan of their own games?

Benjamin "Machail" de la Durantaye talks about roleplaying with four experienced role-players from the Age of Conan community to find out what makes them tick, and get their thoughts on the future of role-playing.

“MMORPG. The genre name says a lot,” explains Khalathwyr. “I understand that some gamers want to just ‘play a game’ and not get involved with role-playing, which is perfectly ok. There are, however, many gamers who grew up playing pencil and paper RPGs and enjoy taking that experience to a computer game format with other players.

• Read "Rolling With Role-Players"

• Is role-playing destined to extinction? Are game developers ignoring the one important aspect of games that will give them lasting value?

[Johnny]

Nice, an extensive insight into RP'ing that I really enjoyed reading, thanks to all involved, a few familiar names especially!

I've never really RP'd heavily in an MMO, occasionally I will fall into character on a forum or the-like, mostly Star Wars related.

I really enjoyed a moment in LOTRO when I was walking through the second area for hobbits after the shire, Bree-land, I think, and some body with the character name 'The Storyteller' came and , in character over one of the regional channels told everyone a story. That was nice, and made me feel like I really was in Middel Earth or something.

Anyway, the 'pressure' of having to be in character for the majority of my playing time is a little off-putting, which is why I am hesitant to apply for an RP guild, or any guild rolling on an RP- server.

I like to 'switch off' in games, and just have some fun with my mates, chill out, etc. Most of this involves other things that would be considered OOC.

All well, nice write up. Thanks again, You guys keep me coming back for more every day =]


Edit:

Are game developers ignoring the one important aspect of games that will give them lasting value?

To what aspect are you referring? I may have missed it in the article?

[Khalathwyr]

Man. What can I say. Sure, I'm a little biased, but that article blew my socks off. Very, very well done.

[Top]

I appreciate roleplaying and enjoy "getting into" the spirit of the game. I am not an All The Time roleplayer, and I don't play on a RP Only server, I just think it adds to the enjoyment, the suspension of disbelief if you will. I like to do it from time to time.

-Top

[B. de la Durantaye]

Thanks guys. Glad you enjoyed the read. Again a thank you to Khal, Arcania, Zason and rocqu.

Originally Posted by Johnny

To what aspect are you referring? I may have missed it in the article?

I was referring to the developers of today not adding the small things to their games to make RPing more viable. Small things like the ability to sit in chairs, or as Khal mentioned, books that you can write in.

[Johnny]

Originally Posted by Machail

Thanks guys. Glad you enjoyed the read. Again a thank you to Khal, Arcania, Zason and rocqu.

I was referring to the developers of today not adding the small things to their games to make RPing more viable. Small things like the ability to sit in chairs, or as Khal mentioned, books that you can write in.

Ah, indeed, things that add to immersion, yeah? I agree on that, but perhaps they have to weigh up the time vs. the results/rewards. I was in two minds about the ability to craft anywhere in the world, which is not so much related to role playing, but immersion. Although I guess you could argue they are almost the same thing anyway.

Gaute said you could sit in chairs in the recent state of the game article, in case that was more than just an example.


I apologise if I'm missing the point, its late, I should be in bed! XD

[Martuk]

Excellent article Mac. Often times you can spot a Role-player refering to the difference between a game and a world. This is typicaly part of the immersion factor as I call it. A simple game can be made like any other. It doesn't really draw the player in but it may look good. A world on the other hand, is when a developer manages to capture the player and actually draw them into the gaming world making them feel like part of it. As stated in the article, this is sometimes a lost art.

Role-players to put it another way that wasn't mentioned, become part of the story and the world. For people working to improve writing skills like myself, this can be a great way to work on creativity as well.

[Acidbaron]

Machail, you can sit on chairs in Age Of Conan.

By the amounts of social items ingame you'll see they support that side of the community but they did say they will not have alot of features but what features they will implent will be big enough and not a small fluff, when the playerbase is there, there will also be made room for volunteers besides moderation and help to plan events.


Personally i'm not an on the fly RPer, writing a biograph, a story that's where i put my time in, i would never join a hardcore RP guild because they in my opinion are to fanatic and sometimes have issue to nuance things.

The problem with people is the stereotypical view, RPers are odd people that dislike PvP and don't participate in it due to wanting to create an utopia, false impression but that's something that many people have. "lewl RP = carebear!"
(3 cheers to Funcom for making their initial RP servers PvP!)

The setting of Hyboria will be good for me as i don't like censorship when writing things.

If it's not for the Storyline, one should give it a shot as you can even become part of the community rather then just player 1234486 after top loot, cause we all know top players are not only distinguished by their gaming skills but also by their social skills.

It will never die but i don't expect it to become very huge again either.

Anyhow good read and pretty much what i expected as it is in line with my opinion and stances.

[Rocqu]

Had fun doing the article, thanks again for the opportunity. BTW I was joking about meeting chicks. lol

[Johnny]

Originally Posted by rocqu

Had fun doing the article, thanks again for the opportunity. BTW I was joking about meeting chicks. lol

Yeah right,

Twas funny.