I have only just started playing in the past few days, and this will be my first post to the forums, but I feel like I have been caught already.
I have never played a game like this before, never role-played, nor even really played any online games in years.
Plane shift came as an experience. Sometimes a hard one (installation nightmare, but worth it), but something kept me here. I don't know if it was me, the game or something entirely different.
I joined because I finally had the tech and the time to play a game, and planeshift was free, mac compatible and highly recommended online. So I tried it. There was barely anyone around and I spent my time trying to understand how things worked, whether to commit or just leave now. I was intimidated by the idea of interaction (I'm not like that so an unusual and unsettling feeling for me) with people who would be more experienced and with a community they already knew and that I did not.
Some people tried being polite, but I didn't notice until too late, or was caught up trying to do something or just didn't realise because I have never, ever played with a chat like this and therefore had no clue as to what was going on at first. Then it became a habit to be aloof, my character didn't like nor trust people anyway.
Then, earlier today in-fact, just after I had read and read and read up on the forums about tips for new players and roleplaying, a guy at Harnquist's forge said hello. I took a very deep breath, thought on what many of you here on the forums had said and had a go trying out Calantha's (my characters) voice.
We didn't say much to each other, it wasn't deep or epic or long, but I got help that I needed, I didn't feel like I was an idiot, and he (I can't remember his whole name it started with A and had a last name like Elendir?) took a moment to talk to someone who wasn't being very forth coming at first and was just nice. no insane theatrics or anything, just nice. I came away from that event smiling behind my screen and a warmth in my heart - that was when I knew I had to stay and really try to explore this game and meet other players.
This will be hard, as I go on during Australian hours and have a character who dislikes people - but I will try, because there something here that I like and would like to experience more of.