⚔️ ROLEPLAYING IN ESO ⚔️

Cucumber

ZENIMAX solution to avoid birthing dead realms and dividing player base is to have all players thrown into same pool of random instances in NA or EU servers. However this sparks problem where now, people who only wish to play the game and people who wish to socialize/roleplay are in same space

Naturally occuring roleplay is almost impossible, with only option to browse roleplaying guilds or forums, which is not really what everyone wants but rather have naturally occuring interactions, where strangers are able to approach eachother or setup scenes in which others can react to. This is possible in MMO's like World Of Warcraft because of its realm meant for roleplaying.
ESO has ton of roleplaying potential due to the big selection of character customization, emotes, mementos, housing and furnishing. It almost feels like ZENIMAX encourages roleplaying but sadly it is very very scarce outside roleplaying guilds.

Solution i am suggesting is to allow toggleable roleplay status, where by default all ESO players continue being in the normal worlds as of now, but have option to enter or and leave anytime one, meant for roleplaying.

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EDIT: I like Triplesixtyson 's idea in comments, where instead of having separate RP instance, players can tag themselves with RP status to easily to identify eachother. Maybe as tiny icon next to player name, or have roleplayers name colored different, etc.

Another cool addition could be introduction of RP profiles, where you can customize character profile and write bio with info and story of your character, similar to TRP3 addon from World Of Warcraft

opalcity

💡 OTHER (Comment)

Being able to see a list of instances, move between them, and have zone chat across all instances, would benefit everyone not just RPers.

Danikat

ZOS could do this with the megaservers, using existing tech. The game can already create multiple copies of each zone and 'sort' people into them - that's why you'll never be stuck in a queue to get into a busy zone, if there's too many people to fit at once it will create a second copy, or a third or fourth or however many are needed.

It's not used as often now (thankfully) but that tech has also been used for 'phasing' where players are put into different versions of the areas within a zone based on their choices. This used to be very common, you could be grouped with someone and they'd suddenly disappear as you crossed an invisible line in the world because you entered an area affected by a quest and one of you had completed it but the other one had not. They largely stopped doing that because it was often annoying for players (because the people you were grouped with would disappear) but it's still possible.

What I'm not sure about is how it would be enforced. How do you make sure the people who chose to be in the RP version of a map are role--players and not trolls? (It sounds weird but even in games with dedicated RP servers players will jump through hoops to make what looks like a genuine RP character so they can troll the role-players.)

What about grey areas? What if someone wants to role-play Epic Lord Shiny Horse who uses illusion magic to make himself the brightest, most noticeable person around and always, always gallops around the group on his magical steed or jumps and dances naked while engaged in conversation?

RP guilds have the time and incentive to police things like that and can reasonably set boundaries because they're not telling Epic Lord Shiny Horse he's not allowed to RP, just that he's not right for their group and needs to find another one. By setting up dedicated RP instances you're shifting that responsibility to ZOS and presumably asking them to set clear boundaries for what is and is not allowed in those instances. Do you think they'd actually take the time to enforce that?

I'm also not sure about genuine grey areas. I like the idea of spontaneous RP with strangers, and I'd be tempted to use this option, but then I'd worry about forgetting to change it when I see the time and need to gallop through Alinor to the bank to finish what I'm doing before I log off. Or even just remembering to turn the Random Mount addon on and off when I switch to RP instances.

bmnoble

💡 OTHER (Comment)

Main issue with it that I see is, people are going to use this other instance simply to go to a less populated instance to grind or do content with less players around, with no intention to actually roleplay.

Not to say there won't be a lot more role players around there but I feel like the role play specific instances are just going to fill up with regular players doing there own thing as normal, resulting in it ending up as just another instance but one people can choose to go to.

Especially with the "travel to player function" and addons that make use of that feature, possibly accidentally bringing in players that don't realise they are in a role play instance who end up getting annoyed at the role players and making that annoyance know in zone chat, all the while thinking they are in the normal instance type.

Last but not least all the trolls and hecklers that will likely congregate in the roleplay instance.

That is just my 2 cents, I am neither for or against the inclusion of roleplay instances.

Eiagra

Undecided. I wouldn't have known there was an RP community to begin with if there had been separate instances, as I randomly stumbled across some happening in Koeglin Village, but it seems more difficult to find for me at random like that these days (though admittedly, I don't get much opportunity to look anymore). There were occasional instances of griefing, but nothing too serious or unmanageable -- not sure how it is these days, and whether separate RP/social instances are warranted.

endgamesmug

✔️ YES Separate RP instance

Well hey if this means you can go to another instance and do your thing safely i dont have a problem with it why not i say. I used to get weirded out by it when going to bangkorai but thats just me not getting it i suppose. I dont grief or anything like that

colossalvoids

❌ NO Separate RP Instance

Afair it was considered and was talked about to rp community way back at first patches but got abandoned ever since.

peacenote

💡 OTHER (Comment)

Nor sure if this is ok with role players or if it is part of the problem, but, while I don't role play myself I enjoy seeing the world be alive with spontaneous events. I might hang out and observe sometimes and it seems a shame that the activity would be hidden away instead of being part of the world we all share.

But I don't know if me even not noticing / responding to whispers, says, zone chat etc detracts from those trying to role play in the area. I'm just quiet.

I think a prefix or suffix to titles or something else to visually indicate that you have time/interest to participate in RP might be better than leaving and returning to the current worlds.

While I don't want to kick off the another "types of role players" debate, I would like to add that it might be nice if ZOS fixed what they broke with AwA that impacted role playing before tackling this, as we lost a lot of character tracking with that update. In fact, we have yet to even get a statement that ZOS still supports in general multi character and role playing. They never acknowledged whether they knew how AwA negatively impacted those things and whether it was intended or a side effect.

Tandor

💡 OTHER (Comment)

One other problem with this is that if anyone stayed in a normal zone and dared to do the slightest little thing that could be considered role-playing he/she would be mercilessly trolled and told in no uncertain terms to go to a separate instance.

I also think it could result in a significant expansion of the number of zones requiring additional instances and as such would have hardware requirements that could well be out of proportion to the number of roleplayers participating.

Tenthirty2

💡 OTHER (Comment)

I get what you are saying OP, I'm just not sure I see any benefit to implementation?
Also in your post you don't really give reasons WHY you feel RPers need to have separate instances\modes?
I can take a guess but would be more interested in your motivation behind your proposal. Unless I have misunderstood your meaning.

I mean, if the idea is to create separation between those who want to RP vs. those who don't to avoid jerks and immersion-breaking behaviour that would likely be welcome by many.
It's really hard to get into the story you are trying to RP when you have randos running through mud-balling everyone or some murder-happy player killing every NPC in the area who isn't tagged 'essential'

Plus, say they create a separate instance, how would it be moderated? There are many people in game who get amusement from simply being jerks to others, so what stops them from entering the RP instance and carrying out the same obnoxious behaviour?

I don't think your idea is a bad one, I just don't see how ZOS could implement it but limit to only those that want to RP while keeping others out.

Vevvev

❌ NO Separate RP Instance

As a roleplayer we already have separate instances, it's called housing. If I don't want to RP with random people I invite my friends and guildies to a nice house that's designed to look like XYZ location. We don't go overland, and if we do we don't RP in /say or /emote unless we're feeling brave.

Bouldercleave

✔️ YES Separate RP instance

I used to be an officer in a strict RP guild in Everquest 2 and let me tell you, it takes a lot of work and dedication to stay in character. More so than most casual gamers realize. Unfortunately RL keeps me from that level of dedication now.

I try to give my upmost respect to the RP community by not interfering in their interactions and by doing small things like walking through the room, inn or area that they are RPing in instead of flying through and grabbing what I need. I don't murder or steal in that area, and I move on as quickly and quietly as possible.

I know what they are putting into their characters and devotion to staying in character and I try to respect that at all times. Some folks are a bit rough around the edges, but I see that they are trying.

[snip]
[edited for rude/insulting comment]

TaSheen

💡 OTHER (Comment)

I wouldn't be interested in that myself, but if they set up separate instances I'd be fine with it.

Dr_Con

just want to point out that a game released in 1999 was able to combine all instances of zone chats, and have zone chat channels accessible even if you weren't in that zone. I just wanna throw it out there that this same game was able to communicate across different shards of the game as well, and had robust trading, LFG, roleplaying, and class help channels, all available in-game from any one of their now 500+ zones (it's way higher now, this number is from 2011), plus the instanced ones. Also want to throw it out there that the creators of this game are seeking money to fund a different mmo project and can probably be hired to overhaul the chat system.

JUST SAYING.

MJ202

💡 OTHER (Comment)

I like the idea but feel there are just too many ways to RP and they aren't necessarily compatible with each other.

ArchangelIsraphel

💡 OTHER (Comment)

On the one hand, I like the idea because the thought of having a quiet server where people are respectful of the fact that you are role-playing would be nice. The thought of a server where people aren't rushing around, spamming skills, or crowding quest npcs certainly has appeal.

I "roleplay" solo most of the time, creating stories I my imagination as I journey through tamriel questing, riding slowly through the world and taking it in. I don't rp in the chat, and I rarely interact with other roleplayers. (Bad experiences in the past have lead me to keeping to myself.) But the occasional encounter might be interesting.

But on the other hand, I've seen how strict rp communities can be. I don't want to be yelled at by responding out of character that one time, or for "breaking the lore" or for existing on the server but not participating in a group, or for playing characters that exist in tamriel but go beyond the scope of its lore because I'm doing my own thing. I'd be a bit concerned about people wanting others to "dress correctly" on the rp server and to be strictly lore accurate, when I definitely do not fall into that category (I don't dress my characters in a shiny way, but I'm not lore accurate either)

It would be great if we could have, even within an rp server, an "I'm not up for interactions" tag, so you don't have to say anything OOC to disrupt someone's immersion when you just want to be like "hey, I'm solo questing right now, not really up for rp"

I just don't want to see it turn into big rp groups lording over small groups, even rp servers can get bad.

Yeah, I'm a hermit in an mmo (I do play with others at times but I love my solo time >_<)

dsalter

✔️ YES Separate RP instance

why cant we have an optional toggle?
if your clearly a [censor] who just trolls RP you can get a suspension from that server.

otherwise you can just hop over or back whenever you like.

likewise if theres a big interest in this it'll help spread the server strais onto seperate instances so less lag all around.

everyone wins

Oreyn_Bearclaw

❌ NO Separate RP Instance

Sounds like a really great use of resources now that combat balance has been restored and ESO is finally bug free.

Gaebriel0410

I think a RP shard option would be nice, as it would be so much more convenient for random open world RP without having to do a bit of organisation first,

But on the other hand if you seperate roleplayers entirely, it will be pretty invisible, no one will ever coincidentally bump into RP unless specifically looking for it.

I think the trolling thing is pretty overrated, just put them on ignore and don't react. At the end of the day, it's them wasting their time in some desperate failed attempt to be noticed.

It has never happened in all the years I've roleplayed, but if some tryhard would mudball me, I'd just turn my camera and continue writing while I wait for the amusingly slow realization to set in that he can't disable my chat window.

DreamyLu

💡 OTHER (Comment)

Undecided.

In my main game, RPers have zero problem and no need for separated instances to role play, so am not sure to understand where is the problem in ESO with that. Maybe because I don't know ESO enough though.

Rohamad_Ali

Remembering back to when factions were separated completely from one another in the beginning as well as instance phases disappearing after completion being huge rp challenges in early dev work. Rp has come a long way but the op has a concern shared by some still. Not sure on a solution but hoping you find one because I know limiting where you rp is frustrating. This one having rp'd even in pvp zones realizes the challenges out there.

Kingsindarkness

RP Servers/Shards will not work because you can't force people to Role Play...because my RP isn't your RP and vice versa. People will just use that server to A get away from jerks or B harass the Thespian gamers.

The most anyone can hope for is a toggle that tells others your role playing...though giving any RPers power via a special server will just end badly..it is the type of people they are.

adriant1978

💡 OTHER (Comment)

I remember when they claimed before launch that there would be some kind of RP flag that players could set so that those looking for it would be put into the same instances.

Never happened, and probably got even less likely to happen after One Tamriel.

Carcamongus

❌ NO Separate RP Instance

I believe RPers would be better served by a group finder that brought together people with similar interests. Each person would select a few traits of their desired roleplay and be grouped with others with similar selections. Alternatively, people could write short descriptions of what they want and others in search of a group would then browse the finder and connect with them.

kargen27

💡 OTHER (Comment)

If it caused zero extra strain on the server and harvesting (including drops for killing critters) was disabled then why not. I'm not sure the amount of use would be worth the investment though. Problem is trolls will be trolls and a separate instance is kind of telling the trolls where you will be.

ArchangelIsraphel

💡 OTHER (Comment)

kargen27 wrote: »

If it caused zero extra strain on the server and harvesting (including drops for killing critters) was disabled then why not. I'm not sure the amount of use would be worth the investment though. Problem is trolls will be trolls and a separate instance is kind of telling the trolls where you will be.

Why should anything be disabled on an rp server? It should function and have all elements available to its players just as a normal one would.

AzuraFan

✔️ YES Separate RP instance

Even though I don't RP, I think a separate instance would be good. I always feel like I'm intruding if I happen to stumble into some RP meeting or event. It happened once when I had to go into a keep for a quest (not sure why an RP guild would hold an event where they know lots of players will be going through for a quest, but I digress). I felt like I was interrupting something. So sure, why not, if enough RPers want it.

kargen27

💡 OTHER (Comment)

ArchangelIsraphel wrote: »

kargen27 wrote: »

If it caused zero extra strain on the server and harvesting (including drops for killing critters) was disabled then why not. I'm not sure the amount of use would be worth the investment though. Problem is trolls will be trolls and a separate instance is kind of telling the trolls where you will be.

Why should anything be disabled on an rp server? It should function and have all elements available to its players just as a normal one would.

Because it could be significantly less populated giving an advantage to players farming resources.

Dr_Con

kargen27 wrote: »

ArchangelIsraphel wrote: »

kargen27 wrote: »

If it caused zero extra strain on the server and harvesting (including drops for killing critters) was disabled then why not. I'm not sure the amount of use would be worth the investment though. Problem is trolls will be trolls and a separate instance is kind of telling the trolls where you will be.

Why should anything be disabled on an rp server? It should function and have all elements available to its players just as a normal one would.

Because it could be significantly less populated giving an advantage to players farming resources.

Correct, the very human nature of greed is why we can't have nice things. Just imagine botters find a way to exploit having RP tags on and their own instances of less-visited zones, they'd never get reported. Conversely, a normal player would be able to abuse the tag to get their pick of any resource node or farming spot.

Tandor

💡 OTHER (Comment)

ArchangelIsraphel wrote: »

kargen27 wrote: »

If it caused zero extra strain on the server and harvesting (including drops for killing critters) was disabled then why not. I'm not sure the amount of use would be worth the investment though. Problem is trolls will be trolls and a separate instance is kind of telling the trolls where you will be.

Why should anything be disabled on an rp server? It should function and have all elements available to its players just as a normal one would.

For the reasons others have given. It wouldn't be an RP server, it would simply be an RP instance of the existing zones on a megaserver.

DMuehlhausen

❌ NO Separate RP Instance

As soon as the make the new "server/instance" the next minute will be spammed on the forums how dead the game is and there aren't enough people. So yeah No