Rather new around here...
I bought this Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game because I needed a new addiction. I've come into this knowing that there is no such thing as a commercial MMORPG that is purely roleplay. The simple fact is that too many game players nowadays are only interested in hack and slash, and even go as far as to ridicule people who roleplay.
I was hoping that there would be at least some small community that enjoys roleplaying, that I might find and fit into. But seeing this roleplaying forum for this community is hardly used, is not too encouraging.
What makes or breaks an MMORPG for most people, isn't the skill system, isn't the level system. It isn't the graphics, or the connection quality. It's the community. If you don't enjoy the community, you're not likely to stick around. And I have some experience in online communities, as I've been playing games online for around 9 years now, starting with the original Quake.
One of the things I've noticed is that, if the community is great, it will survive even through aging graphics, horrible lag issues, and even extended periods of down time.
Point in case is the Confederation of Planes and Planets which is an organization of multiple persistent worlds using the game Neverwinter Nights.
In the CoPaP, RP is enforced. You're expected to stay IC at all times, and keep Out of Character, real life stuff, to the forums, or in private tells. This is for immersion reasons. People want to RP and get into their role. Immerse themselves in the world, and forget about the troubles of real life. It's kind of like acting, without a script, I guess. And this is what I'm just now coming from. I realize it wont be like that here, but it would be nice to see some RP.
Now, NWN wasn't tailored for PWs. In fact, it took third party software to make it truely viable. But even then, the engine shows that it wasn't intended for this purpose when you get a lot of people logged on to a server that has a large module file. Lag can be horrible at times. And the graphics of NWN are old, and looking rather flat, in the face of some of the newer games today.
But the community is 2000 strong, and still growing. Three years after the original NWN was released. Part of it is because we've put together a great set of persistent worlds that are fun to play in. But if the community wasn't great, if they weren't friendly, and easy to get along with... there wouldn't be much of a community of which to speak.
So far, Ryzom has this as a strong point, from what I've seen. The community seems to be great compared to other MMORPGs out there. But, really, is this an RPG? Is there any roleplaying to be had? If so, I'd be very interested in hearing about it. Working towards goals, like getting an apartment, or that next level, or skill; conquering that new challenging mob, or just simply exploring; they're all well and good, but rather empty for me. It's like reading only the battle scenes in the book, and then reading the ending, skipping all the content in between.
So, veterans, what are your views? Is RP largely accepted and embraced here? Or are RPers driven off and ridiculed like I've experienced in other MMORPGs, like UO.
-Faileas
) community. Some players (and I applaud their efforts) organize events: Doubletap organized a harvesting competition (hard!) and Gfunk set up the "Amazing Matis Race". Although it is true that events are not strictly related to RP, it makes it easier to.
