What do "you" consider Role Play?

Aireal

The subject came up in another thread and it got me curious as to what others consider as Role Play.

Is it just following the story? and creating a character that best suit's your style of play? leveling and maxing out a character?

A simple version for me would be my DK here in ESO.. he just wants his soul back and is willing to fight all kinds of obstacles to get it. ( following the MQ ). He's got a "White Knight" complex and likes to help people.

A more complex version is my Crafter Dae, it's her goal to build a nice home for her friends, crafting those things that they need to live while completing there 'jobs" or goals. To that end she has been learning each of the crafts to better serve her friends and do her part in acquiring a home for all of them.

For me Role Play is telling a story of the character I am playing. Living with their personality quirks, finding out their history.. and then living their life as they do the things that are 'them' in the game. (a simple version of my explanation. )

barney2525

Bowling

Nemesis7884

It usually involves my wife in a lusty argonian maid costume...

White wabbit

Nemesis7884 wrote: »

It usually involves my wife in a lusty argonian maid costume...

Lol how did I know someone would post something like the above

Fivefivesix

Sleeping in buring ember pits in delves usually.

THEDKEXPERIENCE

If I have pants on, not role play.

If I speak in an English accent, role play.

If I speak in an English accent, and still have pants on ... PVP.

Radiance

I've been told I have RP tendencies bc I spend a lot of time coming up with cool names and only play certain content and make Quest decisions on certain characters. For instance, I only do bad stuff like steal/assassinate on my NB but, that is mostly just bc the stealth aspect. All my characters have their own roles and styles but I don't have background stories or pretend to be someone else each time I switch toons... So idk tbh. I suppose there are different degrees of RP.

THEDKEXPERIENCE

I was recruited into a RP guild once. It was funny but after about 2 days I was so confused as to how someone can log onto a game every day simply to do that. To each their own and what not.

The last I talked to them I said I was going to PVP and I got a gasp and like 5 people asking me why I’d ever do that. Very odd to me, but hey, it’s their game too. Just not my thing past a few jokes.

Aireal

Nemesis7884 wrote: »

It usually involves my wife in a lusty Argonian maid costume...

<eye roll> sooo whips and chains or just candle wax and wine?

bulbousb16_ESO

Considering ESO is an MMORPG, your character should have a persona. You should have some idea of your character's backstory and motivations. And have them act accordingly.

You're probably doing just fine unless:

1) All you care about is maxing your numbers for DPS or Resists - you could care less what gear you use.
2) Your characters name is "Ganky McGankerson".
3) Faction is just what color logo is over your head.

Aireal

Radiance wrote: »

I've been told I have RP tendencies bc I spend a lot of time coming up with cool names and only play certain content and make Quest decisions on certain characters. For instance, I only do bad stuff like steal/assassinate on my NB but, that is mostly just bc the stealth aspect. All my characters have their own roles and styles but I don't have background stories or pretend to be someone else each time I switch toons... So idk tbh. I suppose there are different degrees of RP.

Role Play in a game does not have to be majorly complicated.. then again, it can be if you want.

I just wanted to know how much people rp

Inaya

Pretty sure my idea of RP would get this thread closed

Fleshreaper

RP, in game, to me is. When you the player, take on the role of the character you are playing. When you are interacting with others, you would speak and act, as your character would. Let's say your character is a bad guy, then you might speak to other in short phrases or insults. Using the /tapfoot emote when waiting.

Aireal

bulbousb16_ESO wrote: »

Considering ESO is an MMORPG, your character should have a persona. You should have some idea of your character's backstory and motivations. And have them act accordingly.

You're probably doing just fine unless:

1) All you care about is maxing your numbers for DPS or Resists - you could care less what gear you use.
2) Your characters name is "Ganky McGankerson".
3) Faction is just what color logo is over your head.

And believe it or not, #1 is the reason I am asking.. it seemed to be what a lot of people were saying... I, on the other hand, tend to agonize over names, what the character looks like and what they are wearing.. usually have a pretty good back story by the time I finish creating them.

Tornaad

I'm still not sure what I consider roleplay in a computer based game. I say computer based because I have played several table top roleplay games and know I consider that roleplay.
I know with my current main I have a personality developing for her, that leaves me wanting to get the god killer title because it would fit so nicely.

Veinblood1965

My girlfriend in a supergirl outfit.

THEDKEXPERIENCE

Aireal wrote: »

bulbousb16_ESO wrote: »

Considering ESO is an MMORPG, your character should have a persona. You should have some idea of your character's backstory and motivations. And have them act accordingly.

You're probably doing just fine unless:

1) All you care about is maxing your numbers for DPS or Resists - you could care less what gear you use.
2) Your characters name is "Ganky McGankerson".
3) Faction is just what color logo is over your head.

And believe it or not, #1 is the reason I am asking.. it seemed to be what a lot of people were saying... I, on the other hand, tend to agonize over names, what the character looks like and what they are wearing.. usually have a pretty good back story by the time I finish creating them.

I do that stuff too even though I don’t RP aside from a few jokes. Gotta look good!

My main’s name was changed 3 times. I started out as DK of House Experience but it was so long it wasn’t formatting correctly. Then when Radiant Oppression was at its most OPness I decided to change it to Yugot The Beam for maximum death recap trolling.

My current name was put in place because I was tired of people asking me why my gamertag was THEDKEXPERIENCE but I used a Templar. Surprisingly enough my real life initials are DK and that’s been my gamertag for like a decade. It was purely a coincidence that DK’s are a thing in ESO. So now my main’s name is Iamdk Iamnotadk. Worked well enough!

Coggage

Zuboko wrote: »

I'm still not sure what I consider roleplay in a computer based game. I say computer based because I have played several table top roleplay games and know I consider that roleplay...

I quite agree, largely because a good DM will work with player interactions and alter the game on the fly to make these interactions influence the outcome of the game as it progresses. Computer characters make no difference at all no matter what they do or, in the case of "role playing" (I use the term in it's loosest sense as regards computer gaming), what they say they are going to do, so I wouldn't waste any time or effort on "role-playing" in a computer game.

Tycleton

There have been RPGs (Role Playing Games) around for years. Most having their foundation in stand alone player games. In those you have the tradition of pick a race and class based on your favorite play style. It wasn't about a back story but rather best tricks of the trade to complete the story line (aka game). In parallel were the text based MUD games where people assumed roles and interacted in story development as a group. There was no graphical, no point and click, no calculations nor min/maxing. I think MMORPGs are where the two worlds collide. Am I here to win at a console style game? Am I here to experience a story line read (much like a book)? Am I here to take on a new identity and experience the world and the player driven characters within it? Both the 'shall we play a game' role and the 'experiencing the creative community' role are influenced by the other. It's one digital universe with two mindsets having to interact. In my earliest online gaming days I could create whole backstories, quirks, family lines, and work for hours with fellow guildmates to drive storylines. We would often spend as much time in forums writing story as we did in game itself. In game would often be "in town" interaction (aka "roleplaying"). When we did take to the field of virtual battle, we often stayed in character as we slayed the monsters. But then real life moved on. Marriage, greater responsibilities at work, long distant travel to actually experience the world around me. I am now a solo player. I hop on for an hour or two several times a week. I am back to the role of what I consider classic RPG. I want the best skills, the best equipment, to drive me through the game storylines, quests, and adventures. I like meeting players along the way, but it's ultimately about the levels and the challenges of the game. I don't personally care that a Redguard should never be a necromancer based on lore. I care that Redguard are some of the best stamina based tools of winning in the game. I play an Orc because I want to run like the wind. And on the rare occasion time permits me a few extra hours, I like to jump into the PVP arena for a challenge. So what game life has taught me since the mid-1980s is that all play options are valid. Go with what bring you joy, and try to stay out of other players way if you are not adding to their fun.

Now, Orc face back on!

Ilsabet

I internalize my roleplay, coming up with identities for my characters that inform how I would play them as I go through story content. In most cases it has more to do with personalities than gameplay mechanics, although there are usually explanations for why they use a certain combat style or how they gained their abilities. I don't RP with other people, so it's all about how I approach the game content through the eyes of a character I've created.

DBZVelena

Aireal wrote: »

The subject came up in another thread and it got me curious as to what others consider as Role Play.

Is it just following the story? and creating a character that best suit's your style of play? leveling and maxing out a character?

A simple version for me would be my DK here in ESO.. he just wants his soul back and is willing to fight all kinds of obstacles to get it. ( following the MQ ). He's got a "White Knight" complex and likes to help people.

A more complex version is my Crafter Dae, it's her goal to build a nice home for her friends, crafting those things that they need to live while completing there 'jobs" or goals. To that end she has been learning each of the crafts to better serve her friends and do her part in acquiring a home for all of them.

For me Role Play is telling a story of the character I am playing. Living with their personality quirks, finding out their history.. and then living their life as they do the things that are 'them' in the game. (a simple version of my explanation. )

I would go a step further and say that roleplay in an game like this is actually In Character talking and responding with other people who do the same.
Most prominent example of this is @Santieclaws who posts here In Character as a (at this point somewhat famous) Khajiit. With the very distinct way that Khajiit talk.

However people who only know the term as part of "RPG" would not know of this part of experiencing the game, and some even delight in trying to ruin Roleplayers fun. (The why they do this, can be debated in another topic.)

unfortunately, because some dont know or understand the term "Roleplay" in the context of an mmo. A lot of Guild listings in the guild finder cat are plain useless.

Xerikten

role playing isn't telling a story. it is being part of a story with great detail in acting out your actions and interactions with others.

Aireal

DBZVelena wrote: »

Aireal wrote: »

The subject came up in another thread and it got me curious as to what others consider as Role Play.

Is it just following the story? and creating a character that best suit's your style of play? leveling and maxing out a character?

A simple version for me would be my DK here in ESO.. he just wants his soul back and is willing to fight all kinds of obstacles to get it. ( following the MQ ). He's got a "White Knight" complex and likes to help people.

A more complex version is my Crafter Dae, it's her goal to build a nice home for her friends, crafting those things that they need to live while completing there 'jobs" or goals. To that end she has been learning each of the crafts to better serve her friends and do her part in acquiring a home for all of them.

For me Role Play is telling a story of the character I am playing. Living with their personality quirks, finding out their history.. and then living their life as they do the things that are 'them' in the game. (a simple version of my explanation. )

I would go a step further and say that roleplay in an game like this is actually In Character talking and responding with other people who do the same.
Most prominent example of this is @Santieclaws who posts here In Character as a (at this point somewhat famous) Khajiit. With the very distinct way that Khajiit talk.

However people who only know the term as part of "RPG" would not know of this part of experiencing the game, and some even delight in trying to ruin Roleplayers fun. (The why they do this, can be debated in another topic.)

unfortunately, because some dont know or understand the term "Roleplay" in the context of an mmo. A lot of Guild listings in the guild finder cat are plain useless.

Thank you, that is a very insightful answer!

Aireal

Xerikten wrote: »

role playing isn't telling a story. it is being part of a story with great detail in acting out your actions and interactions with others.

hmm I don't think I put that as succinctly as I could have. When I say "tell the story", I don't mean "I" am telling the story, I mean I am being told the story, by the characters who are living it.. ( sometimes I am 'in" the character, sometimes I am a ghost at their shoulder)

I tend to write out my RP's in one form or another.. the in-depth ones anyway. I have a nice blog of stories.. but I didn't want to make the thread about what I think.. or how "I" RP.. but honestly want to know what others consider RP, thus my answers are a little short or vague.

darkblue5

Playing DnD 3rd Ed. while getting repeatedly disconnected from Cyrodiil because two opposing guilds got a 140 person battle going halfway across the map.
In that game your normally neutral good character takes some extra pleasure in painfully killing their enemies and gets slapped with an alignment change to chaotic evil...

What_In_Tarnation

When people talking about faction loyalty and actually take it seriously.

Kilcosu

when someone doesn't pick up the ram on the outer door and we have to walk with it to the inner....

Ildun

I am not absolute D&D role player. For me, role play is not create a full story for my character, because it is hard to fit in every game universe. It will break immersion no matter how hard I try to role play and sometime it will become very boring.

Instead I create character base on certain moral compass and style, and basic story which blend with game universe.

For example, my main is a "mind over body" style. In fantasy world he will be mage, in scifi world he will be psionic user/ scientist/ high tech gunner.

Aireal

Ildun wrote: »

I am not absolute D&D role player. For me, role play is not create a full story for my character, because it is hard to fit in every game universe. It will break immersion no matter how hard I try to role play and sometime it will become very boring.

Instead I create character base on certain moral compass and style, and basic story which blend with game universe.

For example, my main is a "mind over body" style. In fantasy world he will be mage, in scifi world he will be psionic user/ scientist/ high tech gunner.

I understand...Not everything works in every game. RDR the main save I play is my husbands completed game.. for me in that file "John" is a gentleman gambler, who moves from town to town trying to make money. The mini games are IN the game, so it works, but would not work in ESO..

Nestor

My RP is mostly a rule set of what my character will and won't do. Easy example, only two of my alts have done the Dark Brotherhood. The first one has no morals and will steal bread from your grandma to make a sandwich with cheese he stole from his grandma. His sister was a good girl until she was done wrong by having her child killed by a Noble. She went into Mama Bear mode and joined the DB so she could murder the entire family of the Noble.

All the rest of my alts only kill to protect themselves. Although they do have misgivings about being the catalyst for the situation that results in being attacked. Like, if you don't go in that cave, you don't have all those Bandits looking for your head.

Some of my alts only use that which they acquire in game from drops, some use crafted gear. Some of my alts don't do a lot of combat.

Aireal

Nestor wrote: »

My RP is mostly a rule set of what my character will and won't do. Easy example, only two of my alts have done the Dark Brotherhood. The first one has no morals and will steal bread from your grandma to make a sandwich with cheese he stole from his grandma. His sister was a good girl until she was done wrong by having her child killed by a Noble. She went into Mama Bear mode and joined the DB so she could murder the entire family of the Noble.

All the rest of my alts only kill to protect themselves. Although they do have misgivings about being the catalyst for the situation that results in being attacked. Like, if you don't go in that cave, you don't have all those Bandits looking for your head.

Some of my alts only use that which they acquire in game from drips, some use crafted gear. Some of my alts don't do a lot of combat.

Cool, thanks!

I had an Assassin/thief in Skyrim that was like that... no morals that is. Course I also had one that loved to steal bright shiny objects! ( added a mod that added stuff...)