Ryzom

You see a lot of people roleplaying in very different ways. Much of the time you probably can't tell as conversations about fighting kitin, digging mats and going on treks fall into OOC and IC.

Some people see themselves as the big guy (wise, old and to be revered and bowed to).

Jool is the opposite, he has trouble trying his bootlaces for hours - then realises there's no laces anyhow.

People don't want to play in a team with Eddie Smith (Postman from Bognor), they want to play with some sprightly young tryker who's angry at the kitin for ruining her life and murdering her loved ones. They might be the same person, but roleplayers like to get immersed in a character.

Roleplaying for me is setting aside what's best for the player and doing what's best for the character. As such I enjoy Doubletap's efforts, I'm sure the fanatism of the character gives the player problems but KA's imperialism early spring added to the world and gave my Matis a reason to fight against my own people.

Ryzom is a very weird place to RP in. When I first started I did what I always did in NWN, I presented myself for people I wanted to know better and asked their name. Because Ulani was a stranger and can't read minds at all. When I recieved answers like "my name? lol can't you read? it's over my head" I decided to be more flexible instead of being stubborn and expect people to respond IC or not talk with them at all.
However I still try to avoid roleplaying in guildchat or tells, still Ulani is not a mindreader. I will answer IC tells with an IC reply though, as I don't expect people to play exactly like me.

What I think is good for a roleplayer in Ryzom is the world feels alive (mob AI), the player decides the alignment (factions) and people respect eachothers ways of playing the game.

Give yourself a little time on Atys, once you've been around for abit, read some lore and joined a Guild you will soon find you have a "role to play" that sorta landed on you and you will be "roleplaying" to a greater or lesser extent without necessarily realising it.

You could create a toon with a pre-defined mindset and try and stick to it and thats fine for some or for some specific occasions but I prefer to grow into somthing.