Post by Morreion on Feb 17, 2014 17:37:10 GMT -5
Free for All: Can roleplay rise above the sexy stuff? (Massively)
Minus all of the sexy stuff, roleplay is often torn apart before it gets started. Like anything in nerd culture, roleplay is as defined by sets of social rules and guidelines as raiding or PvP is. Roleplay is wonderful improvisation at best and boring, predictable, and even offensive at worst. Roleplay does not often invite new players. I have approached many roleplay events nervously because I knew that many of the established players were too worried about continuing on their specific storylines or drama to be concerned with new players. I usually do what I did in my sessions of Velvet Sundown: stand around on the edge of the group and hope someone stops talking about himself long enough to allow newbies to pop in without seeming rude.
Roleplay and raiding share many of the same issues. There is almost no better example of what makes MMOs great than raiding. Raiding with a group of players is what MMOs are best at, as they should be. Raiding is about working with people, in real time and hopefully having real effects on the game. On the other hand, raiding is usually an instanced activity, one that puts those dedicated groups of players off into their own corner of the world; it's an activity that encourages constant grinding and running on the hamster wheel. Raiding is the core of MMOs, but it's also the enemy of innovation and exploration.
Roleplay works the same way. Roleplayers often ignore many parts of the greater MMO world in order to sulk like a ranger in a corner. Roleplayers can be snooty, ignorant, and as mean and nasty as any troll. I've witnessed just as many players leave the hobby because of jerky roleplayers as people leaving due to burnout with a game's mechanics.
A good look at the challenges facing RP as a playstyle.
Minus all of the sexy stuff, roleplay is often torn apart before it gets started. Like anything in nerd culture, roleplay is as defined by sets of social rules and guidelines as raiding or PvP is. Roleplay is wonderful improvisation at best and boring, predictable, and even offensive at worst. Roleplay does not often invite new players. I have approached many roleplay events nervously because I knew that many of the established players were too worried about continuing on their specific storylines or drama to be concerned with new players. I usually do what I did in my sessions of Velvet Sundown: stand around on the edge of the group and hope someone stops talking about himself long enough to allow newbies to pop in without seeming rude.
Roleplay and raiding share many of the same issues. There is almost no better example of what makes MMOs great than raiding. Raiding with a group of players is what MMOs are best at, as they should be. Raiding is about working with people, in real time and hopefully having real effects on the game. On the other hand, raiding is usually an instanced activity, one that puts those dedicated groups of players off into their own corner of the world; it's an activity that encourages constant grinding and running on the hamster wheel. Raiding is the core of MMOs, but it's also the enemy of innovation and exploration.
Roleplay works the same way. Roleplayers often ignore many parts of the greater MMO world in order to sulk like a ranger in a corner. Roleplayers can be snooty, ignorant, and as mean and nasty as any troll. I've witnessed just as many players leave the hobby because of jerky roleplayers as people leaving due to burnout with a game's mechanics.
A good look at the challenges facing RP as a playstyle.
