Thoughts about RP servers...

[Vicario]

Sorry, but I already did. ^.^; Is it me, or is watching Goldshire actually somewhat entertaining?

Also, anyone know what RP addons I'd need?

[Kryte]

http://www.ponylandpress.com/ms-test.html

I got 81. Apparently Saturo is an "Über-Sue".

Don't be sad. Many characters of professional works get scores like that. It's all in the execution, and characters that score 81 are simply harder to pull off than those that score 11.

This is very much true, and it is technically possible to have a good character who scores highly as a Mary Sue. However, I would emphasize that because of the difference between a written work and RP -- namely, the interactive aspect. While it's generally an accepted cliche of written works to have a main character with special (in-universe) powers, or to be something like the 'Chosen One', these things are generally looked down upon in RP because
1) They're often used to steal the spotlight from other players. This is bad because in RP, there is no main character -- though, there may be main or more important characters for a given storyline.
2) These Sue traits are often used to define a character, instead of proper characterization. Being the son of Illidan doesn't make your character special or unique ~ you do that by giving them a personality, habits, and a strong backstory, and follow through with these things in execution. Many inexperienced RPers look at their favorite characters and decide that by copying one or two aspects of these characters, they'll attain the same level of awesomeness. But Aragorn wasn't cool JUST because he had a specially forged sword and was descended from kings. You can see this really well in works that TRY to draw upon these tropes but fail at executing them. See: Eragon.

So, I wouldn't take getting a high score on the test to mean that you're bad at roleplaying or that you've made a poor character. Just take it as an opportunity to look at what's making your character score so high, and if these things are related to the two problems I mentioned above. And a quick glance at this test reveals some problems with it (for example, granting points for having an elven character in a world where... elven characters are pretty much normative). It may not be the best test to judge your character on. Also keep in mind that you shouldn't be giving your characters points for things you can't control (for example, if you play a character that has other players hitting on her all the time (this happens a lot to female characters, whether they invite it or not)).

[Azunara]

FlagRSP is what I use, as well as I think it's, ironically called, Mary Sue. Both allow you to give titles and descriptions for your character. And it clues people in you RP, making interaction easier I'd suppose.

[Ryai]

I only ever play on roleplaying realms.
I fact, roleplaying was the reason I started playing WoW back in 2006.

It is a sad thing that rp-realms are literally overrun by people who don't give a damn about roleplaying and Blizzard themselves don't seem to give a damn about it.
But then, you have to keep in mind that your style of roleplaying might differ by far from the style of others.

You don't have to play a stereotypic blood elf. Look at all the people in real life. Yes, there are typical Americans, typical Germans and typical French. But there sure are as much untypical Americans, Germans and French as well. Just take your time to think of a rough sketch of your characters story and invent the details as you go along. You have no idea, what crazy, cool or funny ideas you get while playing!

Just try to stay in character and let people see that you are roleplaing. Choose an appropriate name and then see what happens.
It always worked for me...

Eh tbh I was scared off of role playing realms mostly because of threads over well what the lower sort of folk seem to love doing in silvermoon and other 'ghost cities' and all that. The other fact is, all the while I'm playing my toon, I'd have to role play. But not just the casual sort but mean, writing up replies and emotes too? And I saw people actually frowning and blacklisting people over the use of the normal emotes. And I just go what?

That and some of the people may not understand how to roleplay. I know I would have been one of those at the lower end of the barrel, cause I never really recieved help until a friend or two stepped in with more than just a 'kind word' to snap me to the truth basically.

Blizzard shouldn't have to enforce roleplaying, there's ignore features for a reason and you can always just give people tips or whisper to them that this is a roleplay realm, can you please get into the game? etc etc. I mean I've even made characters on a PVP realm >.>

[Kryte]

I only ever play on roleplaying realms.
I fact, roleplaying was the reason I started playing WoW back in 2006.

It is a sad thing that rp-realms are literally overrun by people who don't give a damn about roleplaying and Blizzard themselves don't seem to give a damn about it.
But then, you have to keep in mind that your style of roleplaying might differ by far from the style of others.

You don't have to play a stereotypic blood elf. Look at all the people in real life. Yes, there are typical Americans, typical Germans and typical French. But there sure are as much untypical Americans, Germans and French as well. Just take your time to think of a rough sketch of your characters story and invent the details as you go along. You have no idea, what crazy, cool or funny ideas you get while playing!

Just try to stay in character and let people see that you are roleplaing. Choose an appropriate name and then see what happens.
It always worked for me...

Eh tbh I was scared off of role playing realms mostly because of threads over well what the lower sort of folk seem to love doing in silvermoon and other 'ghost cities' and all that. The other fact is, all the while I'm playing my toon, I'd have to role play. But not just the casual sort but mean, writing up replies and emotes too? And I saw people actually frowning and blacklisting people over the use of the normal emotes. And I just go what?

That and some of the people may not understand how to roleplay. I know I would have been one of those at the lower end of the barrel, cause I never really recieved help until a friend or two stepped in with more than just a 'kind word' to snap me to the truth basically.

Blizzard shouldn't have to enforce roleplaying, there's ignore features for a reason and you can always just give people tips or whisper to them that this is a roleplay realm, can you please get into the game? etc etc. I mean I've even made characters on a PVP realm >.>

Well, the thing is, Blizzard does almost NOTHING to support roleplaying realms, aside from occasionally creating a new one once an old one reach high populations (filled mostly with non-RPers). RP servers DO have differing rulesets than other servers, and it's generally a pain for RPers to get even the most fundamentally basic of them enforced.

I don't, personally, mind non-RPers -- frankly, we need them to maintain healthy servers, and I don't like to be in-character ALL the time, either. But, it's easy to get in the mindset of holding grudges against all non-RPers when you're constantly running into Fartsalot the hunter, getting deliberately griefed for roleplaying, or having your session interrupted by someone who insists on talking in /yell to their buddy about last night's American Idol ... and then having Blizzard do nothing about these things.

The aforementioned interaction with griefers also tends to make RPers hostile or shy when dealing with people who are new to RPing, because it's often times difficult to tell when someone's character is acting strangely because the person playing them just wants to be a jerk, or if the person is simply just doesn't know any better. It's also difficult to tell whether your advice will be welcome, and whether it's just better to keep your mouth -- people may not like it when you question the way they play their character. And so people don't help when they otherwise should.

As for people who are zealous or rabid about even minor indiscretions (like being OOC in Party chat ), just ignore them. They're like those small percentages of the PvE and PvP community who froth at the mouth when stumbling upon the slightest deviance from optimalization. Newer servers also tend to be more strict, because the people who moved there are all hopeful that they'll be able to create an RP utopia to contrast the servers they migrated from.

[Wassa]

For roleplaying addons

FlagRSP, flagRSP2 and MRP are the three most common rp description addons. You only need to use one as they are compatible with each other. Just use the one that you like the look of best.

Tongues will let you talk in different languages.

GHI will let you make your own items for other people that also use the addon.

[Saturo]

FlagRSP is what I use, as well as I think it's, ironically called, Mary Sue. Both allow you to give titles and descriptions for your character. And it clues people in you RP, making interaction easier I'd suppose.

I installed this when I attempted to RP a bit. Anyhow, I'm back on my normal server, when a Gnome walks up to me and starts roleplaying. Scared me.

[Chrizesu]

http://www.ponylandpress.com/ms-test.html

I got 81. Apparently Saturo is an "Über-Sue".

I've got a couple of original characters that got high scores. That test really hates on my shapeshifter caster chars.


On topic, I'm in really bad need for a good rp server to start rping on.
I want to develop a new char, a new try to at keeping a commonly used non 'epic' character.

[Kryte]

On topic, I'm in really bad need for a good rp server to start rping on.
I want to develop a new char, a new try to at keeping a commonly used non 'epic' character.

Wyrmrest Accord and Moonguard both had fairly active communities, when last I checked. But, again, I would recommend rolling some low level characters on servers you're interested in, to get a first hand look at what the community is like in general. Also check the forums, to see if people there generally have ideas that go along well with your own. There are a lot of sub-factions with the general category of "RP".

[Vephriel]

I personally really recommend Farstriders US. Awesome RP realm, and I found an active and helpful community...much more than Moonguard.

[Kryte]

I personally really recommend Farstriders US. Awesome RP realm, and I found an active and helpful community...much more than Moonguard.

I had a lot of problems with Moonguard, myself, but as far as I've found it's not really surpassed anywhere in terms of quantity. And the things I found problematic about it might not bother someone else at all, so, /shrug.

[Chrizesu]

I personally really recommend Farstriders US. Awesome RP realm, and I found an active and helpful community...much more than Moonguard.

Horde or Alliance side? I may roll a toon there.

[Jeauno]

Just try not to be a Mary Sue. Don't know what a Mary Sue is? Well basically it's severely cliche personality/character. An example:

"My name is Legolas Aragorn, son of Arthas, and I trained under Anduine Lothar and Uther Lightbringer. I wear all black plate armor and look awesome. My voice is deep and the ladies love me. I'm also a mercenary pirate ninja who drinks a lot. I have cool scars on my face and chest to prove how awesome I am. I can also kill you in one punch and I never lose a fight. Oh, and I am also half-dragon, half-vampire and half-werewolf. Don't worry, it makes sense."

If you are worried about your character being a Mary Sue, you can take this quiz. It's long, but it is also pretty enlightening and entertaining.

http://www.ponylandpress.com/ms-test.html

Being from an RP server...this made me rofl hardcore. But yeah, in my experience RP servers do contain a hell of a lot more mature people. RP is still rather slim though, as most people on my server don't even know what RP is.... /facepalm. Brill however seems to be SWC's hot spot. Either that or Silvermoon.