What does RP(role player) mean.

DanteVFenris

Like if assume that if you are playing an rpg like this game, everyone would be considered a RP. But there seems to be a difference were people talk as if it's a different way to play. What do they mean by RP?

Technically everyone is role playing, so i don't exactly get what people are trying to say when they say stuff like "do you want to RP" because I am RP by playing the game itself as it's an rpg.

Fi'yra

It's basically what kids do.
They role play certain subjects they like - Dinosaurs, power rangers ect.
- It's basically pretending to be something else, (Playing a game)

ArconSeptim

People who like to play sexy scenes you know what I mean eh eh eh

TeraAngelos

When role-playing, you act entirely as your character. You speak in chat as the character, not as a human sitting at your computer playing a game; some people develop an intricate back-story for their character to go along with this.

Eatitapple

It's when you actually act out your character like how they would talk and such. People make back stories for their characters and basically act them out

DanteVFenris

I'm not getting it from you two. I know what it means but it seems to have a different meaning in this game and probably other mmos.

ArconSeptim wrote: »

People who like to play sexy scenes you know what I mean eh eh eh

And I do know what you mean

DanteVFenris

TeraAngelos wrote: »

When role-playing, you act entirely as your character. You speak in chat as the character, not as a human sitting at your computer playing a game; some people develop an intricate back-story for their character to go along with this.

Oh wow that's hardcore. I don't think I could imagine something better then me. So id rather not

Eatitapple

Like i was saying its playing out your character like a khajiit player talking like a khajiit would.

Karnus

I think it goes back to the original Dungeons and Dragons table top role playing game where people had to actually speak as their characters and play that role.

BrassRazoo

It means something is missing.

DanteVFenris

Eatitapple wrote: »

Like i was saying its playing out your character like a khajiit player talking like a khajiit would.

Oh yea I know I wasn't talking about you, thank you

isengrimb16_ESO

Karnus wrote: »

I think it goes back to the original Dungeons and Dragons table top role playing game where people had to actually speak as their characters and play that role.

Exactly. You make decisions as your character would make them, not as you would make them - since ESO actually allows decisions, this is a good game for RPing a character in your head.

Imagine being an actor in a play or movie set, but YOU have to make up the lines as you go along, while trying to think and do as the character you are playing would do.

Any time an actor plays a character, or a writer writes one, they're basically "role-playing" (though the actor has a script.) The best actors are the ones who make you believe they're actually nasty, evil people when they're actually really nice. Or those who make you think they're cool beans when they're just a pile of bullpuckey.

Tabletop roleplaying games are, essentially, group storytelling, and not really a "game" (as it's not zero sum, there're no winning or losing, just success or failure that has consequences later in the story.)

Crumpy

It means you need to get a life.

shanersimms_ESO

DanteVFenris wrote: »

Like if assume that if you are playing an rpg like this game, everyone would be considered a RP. But there seems to be a difference were people talk as if it's a different way to play. What do they mean by RP?

Technically everyone is role playing, so i don't exactly get what people are trying to say when they say stuff like "do you want to RP" because I am RP by playing the game itself as it's an rpg.

Greetings noble citizen! My elven ears detected your request for knowledge from afar. As is my Elvish duty to propagate such knowledge on to those who seek it, I have thus journeyed forth to provide such knowledge.

Yet upon arriving I have noted that such knowledge is seemingly unfit for one with such a feeble mental constitution as your own, and therefore instead suggest we go on to explore dungeons and far away lands seeking fame and glory!!

What sayeth ye?!

xaraan

I grew up on RP pen/paper games, so role-playing to me just means getting into your character. Maybe create a history (basic or detailed), respond to situations the way you think your character would, even if you personally might not, etc. Though it seems to mean, all to often in MMOs, using emotes, taking clothes off, doing things that people in the midst of a giant war wouldn't be doing, etc., also playing Khajiits just so they can speak in 3rd person seems popular.

DogFaceInBananaPatch

The entire purpose to play an MMO as a player is to roleplay as a character.

Audigy

Role Playing usually combines playing and staying in Character during your online time.

You wont chat in your guild about "hey I saw that girl in the wall mart and she had big grapefruits to sell".
No! You will actually talk to a stranger about that Argonian which had a sprinkled tail and sent you to Glenumbra to rescue her son from the Werewolf cult, and if that person has seen anything suspicious last night (eye to eye contact).

Roleplaying is usually done by what you see and hear, not by what you can read. That's why so many people wont use guild chats if they RP but /s.

The interesting point about Roleplaying is that you are your own boss. You can play a Char as you want in any possible way. If you get across something then your reaction is based on what the Char can see or know, not what you might know.

I pretty much always RP in MMOs, its to me an essential criteria - but you can get in really strange situations with it.

If your char is a bit more "open minded", it could happen that especially boys get attracted to you and fall in love. Not everyone can see the difference between a in char chat and a in person chat.


Personally I wish ZO had more options for Roleplaying, especially the promised questionnaire that never came. My biggest RP memory at ESO is till that Orc which saw my Breton with bare feet and went into the wilds to hunt a wolf so he could make her boots. She then cooked a meal and both were happy.

Kafolarbear

Eatitapple wrote: »

Like i was saying its playing out your character like a khajiit player talking like a khajiit would.

This one does not know what one means... can one elaborate further for khajiit?
While one is at it, may khajiit procure you some fine skooma?

rynth

Think of role playing as if your reading a book and you are acting out the scenes of that book that you are writing. You have your character who has a back story something to give them "life" a history a reason for being, etc. Then you join with others to "live" out that character's life.

From reading the posts some people think its childish I guess....which is funny cause without roleplaying well we wouldn't have a lot of books and movies we have today.....or probably this game.

MasterSpatula

Crumpy wrote: »

It means you need to get a life.

Perhaps you're playing in the wrong genre.

Anastasia

TeraAngelos wrote: »

When role-playing, you act entirely as your character. You speak in chat as the character, not as a human sitting at your computer playing a game; some people develop an intricate back-story for their character to go along with this.

---

Appreciate your succint, mature explanation and description TeraAngelos.

SirJesto

Karnus wrote: »

I think it goes back to the original Dungeons and Dragons table top role playing game where people had to actually speak as their characters and play that role.

Exactly.

SFBryan18

Anyone notice the support team will role play in the emails they send you as far as what they see in the scrolls and stuff. Personally, it's kind of creepy. I mean, one time I was at this inn and these players upstairs were speaking gibberish and adding in sexual innuendos. I was like...

I give my character a story and make decisions for him, but if I use the chat, it's going to be for real communication.

Greybarren

TeraAngelos wrote: »

When role-playing, you act entirely as your character. You speak in chat as the character, not as a human sitting at your computer playing a game; some people develop an intricate back-story for their character to go along with this.

Probably the cleanest why to generalize the play style typically surrounding roleplay in an online game.

GnatB

There are a *lot* of different meanings behind RP, though they're basically similar.

One of them is the game genre. i.e. RPG. Which is basically any game where the success/failure/any shade in between of actions is determined almost entirely by the roles (or characters) abilities.

RPing, is simply playing as if you actually are the role, acting/talking in character, even to other players. i.e. your character would have no concept of video games, or baseball, or what's going on in the news, etc. So any such talk would be OOC (out of character), and generally considered taboo.

That said, RPG tends to assist RP (not surprisingly). I could be the most all thumbs player, barely able to control the mouse, but in a pure RPG I could still role play the most powerful dragon slayer, able to vanquish dragons with my trusty sword, because the role controls how well I fight that dragon, not my personal dexterity (or lack thereof).

And, then, of course, there's the whole sexual role playing thing... which is pretty much just the same thing, except the roles being played are usually some type of fetish, whether it's Doctor, schoolgirl, or whatever. Though I guess maybe sometimes it's still dragon slayer... if you know what I mean.

Elf_Boy

BenS1337 wrote: »

It's basically what kids do.
They role play certain subjects they like - Dinosaurs, power rangers ect.
- It's basically pretending to be something else, (Playing a game)

Wow I'm 48 years old and just a kid.

It is not just kids that role play.


Just like everything else there are levels of role playing. In a pen and paper system it is a bit easier to get into your character(s) and develop a back story, decide what kind of person they are.

With the MMO's some people like to get deep and fully involved saying everything in character and making good use of emotes and and adding flavor to dialog for example to put

/in a slow deep serious voice, "Unhand the fair maiden vile beast."

some go so far as not allowing any discussion that is out of character.

Me, I leave the real role play for the P&P games and will do some light RP online with friends only.

UrQuan

Elf_Boy wrote: »

BenS1337 wrote: »

It's basically what kids do.
They role play certain subjects they like - Dinosaurs, power rangers ect.
- It's basically pretending to be something else, (Playing a game)

Wow I'm 48 years old and just a kid.

It is not just kids that role play.

Especially considering how widely RP is used as a training tool in business...

RedMiniStapler

SFBryan18 wrote: »

Anyone notice the support team will role play in the emails they send you as far as what they see in the scrolls and stuff. Personally, it's kind of creepy. I mean, one time I was at this inn and these players upstairs were speaking gibberish and adding in sexual innuendos. I was like...

I give my character a story and make decisions for him, but if I use the chat, it's going to be for real communication.

them ERPers, I remember when I made first alliance character in wow. the moment i went to Goldshire, I was scarred for life. I still can't play alliance without flinching.

Audigy

Elf_Boy wrote: »

BenS1337 wrote: »

It's basically what kids do.
They role play certain subjects they like - Dinosaurs, power rangers ect.
- It's basically pretending to be something else, (Playing a game)

Wow I'm 48 years old and just a kid.

It is not just kids that role play.


Just like everything else there are levels of role playing. In a pen and paper system it is a bit easier to get into your character(s) and develop a back story, decide what kind of person they are.

With the MMO's some people like to get deep and fully involved saying everything in character and making good use of emotes and and adding flavor to dialog for example to put

/in a slow deep serious voice, "Unhand the fair maiden vile beast."

some go so far as not allowing any discussion that is out of character.

Me, I leave the real role play for the P&P games and will do some light RP online with friends only.

Don't worry, we sadly always have people around who think we are weird, 10 years old or somehow RL losers

Just ignore them, I have to say that while working in my club I tend to do little "role games" with my potential crew. I wanted to see how they react and I believe it is one reason why we were so successful back then.

I am sure that people only think bad about Roleplayers because its not "cool" to do it in games, while its not any different to acting in a movie or other situations in life.

Even politicians play a role as we see these days very clearly.

Rev Rielle

Role-playing in one (MMORPG-centric) sense, is acting. You're acting as/through your character and the game/game-world's basically your movie.

kassandratheclericb14_ESO

Elf_Boy wrote: »

BenS1337 wrote: »

It's basically what kids do.
They role play certain subjects they like - Dinosaurs, power rangers ect.
- It's basically pretending to be something else, (Playing a game)

Wow I'm 48 years old and just a kid.

It is not just kids that role play.

I know, right? 42 here, Mother of 3...

This thread is rife with all kinds of misunderstandings...some I believe deliberate and some not. I am not sure if the original poster meant to be so...or was genuinely trying to describe what they thought RP was.

Regardless....Yes there are all these things of which you all speak...the silly, the *nudge-nudge, wink-wink* kind of RP and all that. Most RPers are folks that enjoy building a character, with a backstory..with personality and goals, dreams. Staying in character while playing...trying to act out stories with other RP-ers and make a world in a world. It is living another life...if you will. It is acting a role and seeing just how real you can make it.

Is it escapism? Surely. For myself the fantasy and RP is a way to escape many medical issues that I have been having since I was four. For others merely a way to get away from the idiocy of daily life (not because we don't have a life.) Is it childish? Not by a long shot. Role play adds to a game in so many ways...it often keeps it from growing boring because it adds layers and layers of life into it. Despite common belief otherwise RP-ers know their class and can play content proficiently. Just because they are playing their character as well as their class takes not one thing away. Maybe they don't rush through content like their arse was on fire then sit bored and screaming for more and new content. They try to become part of the story and make more stories for themselves and the other RP-ers. It can be challenging and funny, heartbreaking and silly.

It is okay if some of you don't get it or don't even WANT to get it. There is no need to put it down or those that enjoy RP. To do so tells more about you than your postings tell what RP is or is not.