Does anyone actually care about the story or roleplaying?

[angus858]

Raynes, I first started playing Ryzom because it looked like a cool game for RP'ing. But I couldn't find an RP guild so I didn't play very often. Just last night I joined your guild, Living Planet Defenders, and you can be sure that Indobi will be speaking in-character if you or other RP'ers are around.

Ryzom is a particularly difficult game to RP because the world, its history, civilizations, and cultures are not only unfamiliar to us .... they are hidden and will only be revealed through the encyclopedia (if they ever are at all). It is hard enough for the average gamer to RP an Elf much less a Zorai. So cut these folks some slack, but don't give up on RP.

I'm not the least bit interested in my character statistics (it is always a surprise when something dings). I've been playing since launch and haven't reached high levels in anything. I don't grind for xp. Ever. And I feel no burning desire to have the best equipment (which means I never have it). I play for the story ... which will (I hope) start taking off soon. I can't blame you if you decide to find another game, but to answer your question...yes, some people do care. Look for me tonight in Knot of Dementia. I'll be making my family proud by standing firm against the unholy kitin hordes.

Indobi

[raynes]

Raynes you should start a role playing guild. Or does it break the role playing experience if 100% of the player base isn't on it?

It's not a matter of 100% of the playerbase being into RP, it's a matter of having some players being into it. I have thought about starting a guild, but the way I would want to run it, not many people would want to be a a part of it. I'd want people to make earning Kami fame a priority. I'd want the members to actively go to Matis and Tryker lands and try to convert people from Karavan to Kami. I'd want the members to spend time killing Karavan supporting groups, and pvp challening Karavan supporting players. I'd want them to really support the Kami and go against the Karavan even if it meant loosing spawn points and not having vendors sell to them. But since no one really wants to play that way, there is no point in me forming my own guild.

Raynes, I first started playing Ryzom because it looked like a cool game for RP'ing. But I couldn't find an RP guild so I didn't play very often. Just last night I joined your guild, Living Planet Defenders, and you can be sure that Indobi will be speaking in-character if you or other RP'ers are around.

Ryzom is a particularly difficult game to RP because the world, its history, civilizations, and cultures are not only unfamiliar to us .... they are hidden and will only be revealed through the encyclopedia (if they ever are at all). It is hard enough for the average gamer to RP an Elf much less a Zorai. So cut these folks some slack, but don't give up on RP.

I'm not the least bit interested in my character statistics (it is always a surprise when something dings). I've been playing since launch and haven't reached high levels in anything. I don't grind for xp. Ever. And I feel no burning desire to have the best equipment (which means I never have it). I play for the story ... which will (I hope) start taking off soon. I can't blame you if you decide to find another game, but to answer your question...yes, some people do care. Look for me tonight in Knot of Dementia. I'll be making my family proud by standing firm against the unholy kitin hordes.

Indobi

I'll keep an eye out for ya, but I actually quit LPD last night. I had just reached my limit concerning the lack of leadership, lack of goals, and all around lack of purpose. I just couldn't be a part of something that had no purpose. And before anyone says "the purpose is to make friends and help each other", that is what a friends list is for. I want to be in a guild that is determined to be more than a glorified friends list.

[aelvana]

Raynes -- why not start that guild and see how many will join? Would you still have fun with it even if it was small?

I can offer why I don't roleplay in Ryzom -- I used to play D&D with my brother and his friends. We'd roleplay then, and get into it. It was fun. I've also played video games since Nintendo started, and even in RPGs, I'd just level or play with the game engine or try to do weird things. To me, playing Ryzom with others is like playing a multiplayer video game with your friends, as opposed to role playing a character in a fantasy world with your friends.

That having been said, in Ryzom I DO play the role of a homin to the extent that I'll offer help in situations that actually need it. The current invasion quests I haven't done much of, because it seems more a roleplaying thing done by the staff and I can't see in-game results, only Player-DungeonMaster interaction. If, say, a town was taken in an invasion, and players had to win a very hard mass combat fight to get it back, I'd be on it like white on rice.

[josephm]

I'd give it up to Ma-Duk if I had a reason to give it up to Ma-Duk. As it stands events are relatively impossible for me to make. Relative only because the current one is a long term. I missed all others.

Not to begin a religious debate but I don't believe in a higher power as I've been given no reason to. Yes I know if I step off in blind faith it all comes etc... Like I said this isn't about religion so much as that Ryzom is a game. So blindly stepping off to follow Ma-Duk with my character...it does...wait for it....wait for it...NOTHING!

I RP to the extent that I run up to every Tryker while it's targeted and take a backward shot of me staring town at them before I start making jokes about eating them.

Last night we walked to Yrkanis from Fairhaven and I said to a few Matis Leonin members 'Hello Pasty faces!'. Because I'm blue like a rasberry!

[animd]

Raynes -- If, say, a town was taken in an invasion, and players had to win a very hard mass combat fight to get it back, I'd be on it like white on rice.

This type of thing has happened for this event. An entire region in each land has been taken captive, much more than a single town. It is very hard mass combat to get the missions done. I think there is too much down time and clicking involved (hopefully that will be fixed). We do have to get the new gaurds armored to get rid of these pesky Kitin that have taken over a region. In case you don't think it has affected anyone I know tons of harvestors that lost packers and their best harvest spots to this invasion. I also think there is more to it than what we now see and that an attack on our main cities is next.

AnimD
Out Of Cavern

[grimjim]

Over on the Euro English server we had the Intendent's Ball, a 100% pure RP event which had over 30 attendees.

A rousing success that just about everyone had fun at and RPed at.

If you build it, they will come

[bobturke]

I think the lack of content makes it quite hard to roleplay (RPing "I went out and killed 143 ragus today" is quite difficult).

Perhaps now there appear to be some longer term and more meaningful events starting (aka the current guard building one) players might find it easier to get into character.

The freedom to be whatever you want is great but can make finding a basis for RPing harder to find. Look at my Tryker for example, class-wise I have no distict pigeon hole for roleplaying, i'm not just a caster, a fighter, a crafter or a digger, i'm all 4! Racial I look different, but other than appearance there is no difference between me an a Fyros. The lore says I should be living "by the virtues of freedom, equality and sharing". OK great at last some guidelines for how I should RP (although they're pretty broad). That's one aide I have to RP.

Next history, usually a great place to get RP pointers. However once again I have max freedom here too. Trykers should hate Mantis because they enslaved us, but then again we side with them and the Karavan against the evil Kami and we are all suposed to be working together to defeat the Kitin and Goo. So no clear messages here either. Similar stories for the other races. We have reasons to like and dislike to other two also. Without a strong "Trykers hate Mantis" type message most players gravitate towards neutral relationshsips with them. And so don't have 'the old grudge', 'trusted ally' or other strong relationship to rely upon when RPing with them.

I'm not saying the system is bad, just that it can make getting into RP harder.

Also this world being outside the traditional dwarves and elves fantasy world many associate with RP makes it harder for them to RP (dwarves are short, greedy and grumpy, elves are tall, lofty, artistic (ie strong racial stero-types)). Once again I'm not saying this is bad, just that it can make getting into RP harder.

In summary, high freedom/lack of direction makes getting into RP harder, but not impossible.

A bit rambling but I hope you get the point.

[josephm]

In summary, Tryker bbq at Turke's place! bring a side dish and bbq sauce!

[bobturke]

In summary, Tryker bbq at Turke's place! bring a side dish and bbq sauce!

Naa, carnivores are too stringy.

Now if you bring some Izam legs....

[grimjim]

*I think the lack of content makes it quite hard to roleplay (RPing "I went out and killed 143 ragus today" is quite difficult).*

Use your imagination...

"At the behest of the Intendent myself and my guild have been hunting the Ragus. They have been encroaching on farmland of late and making off with domestic Bodoc."

Create a background history for your character, form some in-character relationships, find out about other people's backgrounds.

*The freedom to be whatever you want is great but can make finding a basis for RPing harder to find.*

-chokes-
Erm, hardly. It gives you much, much greater scope to be whatever you want to be. You can level skills to create a role for yourself or you can level the skills you deem most useful. IRL people aren't pigeonholed by 'class'.

*Look at my Tryker for example, class-wise I have no distict pigeon hole for roleplaying, i'm not just a caster, a fighter, a crafter or a digger, i'm all 4!*

Great! So?

"Racial I look different, but other than appearance there is no difference between me an a Fyros. The lore says I should be living "by the virtues of freedom, equality and sharing". OK great at last some guidelines for how I should RP (although they're pretty broad). That's one aide I have to RP."

Roleplay is creating your own character, not fulfilling checkpoints that are set for you.

"Next history, usually a great place to get RP pointers. However once again I have max freedom here too. Trykers should hate Mantis because they enslaved us, but then again we side with them and the Karavan against the evil Kami and we are all suposed to be working together to defeat the Kitin and Goo. So no clear messages here either. Similar stories for the other races. We have reasons to like and dislike to other two also. Without a strong "Trykers hate Mantis" type message most players gravitate towards neutral relationshsips with them. And so don't have 'the old grudge', 'trusted ally' or other strong relationship to rely upon when RPing with them."

So buck the trend or give yourself a reason to forgive, something to justify the in game relationship or to gain an RP dynamic by going against it.

Did your grandpartents die in Matis servitude?

Something like that?

"I'm not saying the system is bad, just that it can make getting into RP harder."

Most people find pigeonholing a much greater block to their roleplay. Classes are set and distinct with little to no room for manoeuver and stifle roleplay options, as do racial stereotypes.

"Also this world being outside the traditional dwarves and elves fantasy world many associate with RP makes it harder for them to RP (dwarves are short, greedy and grumpy, elves are tall, lofty, artistic (ie strong racial stero-types)). Once again I'm not saying this is bad, just that it can make getting into RP harder."

I'm so glad you qualified that with a 'many'. There's so much more out there.

"In summary, high freedom/lack of direction makes getting into RP harder, but not impossible."

It makes it more possible and more rewarding than simply fulfilling an existing role with points set out by someone else.