No help for the new if they try to RP!

[Idoru]

Well, I thought I would see how quickly the community would come to help a new player if they actually tried to RP.

I was dissapointed

It took about 15 minutes at harnquist before someone offered help OOC, that was while I was asking for help IC. I am greatful for that help but it wasnt exactly what I was after.

20 minutes later, a player finally offered me help IC.

Does the community not bother with those who try to RP their 1st day in game? or do you need to stand at harnquist saying, 'I need money' like a player stood doing while I was there.

If the community wants to try to improve its inclusiveness then they really do need to actually offer assistance when its asked IC. I dont mind if you ignore the annoying newbie types, but trying to help those that have bothered to read the settings should be a high priority for any player.

[ThomPhoenix]

Harnquist is often not the right place to try to RP.
I'd prefer a drink in the tavern.

[Idoru]

Well, I must have missed that in the settings or on the Char creation screen.

My point was to try and do it from a total  newbies point of view. I started as a dwarf and Harnquist has the largest concentration of players in the area.

[ThomPhoenix]

Yeah, doesn't mean the "good ones" sit on Harny's lap all day.
When you're a newbie you should try to discover the game a bit first and get to know some individuals, instead of walking into the first, probably uninterested, crowd and trying to RP with them.

[Idoru]

But they should be interested, they were all just stood around doing not alot.

And you can hardly expect a newbie to have the knowledge to not go ther, they will instantly be attracted to the large group, its human nature.

[Parallo]

Do you really think that the majority of the population of PS really care? Do you think any of the people that don't RP are going to a)see this and in that unlikely case b) Think 'golly, I best clean up my act?'

I do care and I would've (depending on which character I'm playing) helped.

[Idoru]

Do you really think that the majority of the population of PS really care? Do you think any of the people that don't RP are going to a)see this and in that unlikely case b) Think 'golly, I best clean up my act?'

Unfortunatly, No on all counts. That is what bothers me.

[Akaye]

People come here to play, test, and enjoy planeshift. It is up to them if they want to help and to what level. We have a great rep for this community as helpful and friendly. I think Idoru you have just seen a down day. Try not to focus so much on the role-play others are doing and just contribute your own. If everyone did that we wouldn't hear so much complaining.

The newbie is clueless when first entering game unless they have read the information provided in the forums and on the main planeshift website. It would be nice if some could help the newbie if they are talking to Harnquist and you know for a fact they need to just say a few key words. But remember some newbies don't know what role-play is yet. Not only that but some players have issues with trying to explain game mechanics in character. Personally when I am with a newbie I group with them and introduce them to the game first before I unleash my role-plays onto them. Give them a chance to adjust and become familiar with the game. The person may find they don't like role-play. This game is full of wonderful role-players but remember this game isn't just for the role-players. It is for everyone. 

[Idoru]

@Akaye, I think you may misunderstand me. I was attempting to contribute to the RP by being a new person to the town (or the game but with the knowlege that RP is a requirement.)

I tried in the best way I could to do an impersonation of a person RPing being new to PS. I wasnt focusing on anyone elses RP, just the fact that I as new and wanted to RP.

I failed to mention that actually 2 players did try to help aswell but both these were brand new also, they were quite helpful actually. I made no attempt to imply that I needed help with the mechanics of the game. I used '/me' and '/my' in my open chats to try to display this fact. I walked and ran and jumped.

I was, in effect, a non-clueless newbie, like I had read and understood the setings and understood the mechanics of the game.

this game isn't just for the role-players. It is for everyone.

Unfortunatly, and I mean that most sincerely, I think many would disagree with you.

[Akaye]

this game isn't just for the role-players. It is for everyone.

Unfortunatly, and I mean that most sincerely, I think many would disagree with you.

That is fine they can disagree all they want. This was posted in a thread by a dev (unfortantly I can't remember which one, otherwise I would post it). It is their game and I think the players forget that at times. This is not my out look but the out look of the people who created the game. I am a role-player but I am not going to push it on everyone who logs onto the server. If they clearly don't want to role-play, then they are still welcome to play this game and do what they do whether it is a power leveler or a quester. We try and make this game meet everyones needs. It is not the job of a role-player to be a pain in the ass if this is the players choice and they choose not to role-play.

As for misunderstanding I think I have read your post word for word and I have a clear idea with what you are saying. At the same time when I was a new role-player I didn't wait for a group of role-players to pick me up and role-play with me just because I knew how to use the /me command. I went looking for it. A newbie to role-play has to learn how to involve themselves creatively. This is part of the growing pains of becoming a role-player. It isn't handed to them on a silver platter, and sometimes it is down right frustrating to join a group. If I couldn't find a group to role-play with I would create a story of my own and begin to involve those who were interested in it. There are many ways around this problem that you present, it is just a matter of how much effort the new role-player wants to put in.

[Idoru]

So, are you saying that oyu have a background story, then if it doesnt work after quite a while of trying, you then scrap it and go for another?

You would have to delete your Char of course because you would end up with the old story coming back to haunt you.

I was disappointed by my experience of the players I met (with a few exceptions, primarily Stelanso who cared enought to fully in RP lead me to the tavern because I had journied a long time and Ecuetas) (that dissapointment includes a member of the guild I am the leader of) I was just plain ignored other than these two people. I am quite sure that most would have just blatantly ignored me forever.

[Akaye]

So, are you saying that oyu have a background story, then if it doesnt work after quite a while of trying, you then scrap it and go for another?

You would have to delete your Char of course because you would end up with the old story coming back to haunt you.

I would never suggest scrapping your background story. My god as a newbie how much of a story could you have anyway? You are living the story as you role-play. Otherwise if not you have everything planned which means you are not a true role-player. You are just a puppet master with strings.

I can't see what a back ground story has to do with role-playing with others in the community anyway. I mean your background story is just that, some of your history already taken place for you to chat with people on the server about  to give them an idea of your characters personality. A starting point basically. The role-play begins when you start adding to the story. I have lived many role-play stories in Yliakum as Zorbels, I don't just go with my background story. If you are trying to role-play your back ground story and not getting a response to it then my suggestion would be come up with a (I call them) sub story. A little out line of a very small role-play. (This next suggestion I did once) Maybe your groffel got stolen and you are searching for it. So you start to ask the people in Hydlaa if they have seen it. This opens up a conversation and a possible adventure in searching for this groffel. Maybe one of the players says "Yes I have seen it in ojaveda" well because you are supposably new you can explain you don't know the way. This opens up a position for someone to play the travel guide, etc. Then the role-play begins and before you know it, it was bedtime hours ago and your eyes are bloodshot.

I can understand your disappointment with people not just jumping to help you. But seriously it isn't the end of the world and there are bound to be days were no one is around to help or the people on the server are in huge role-plays and don't want to break them to bring a newbie into it. Don't let one time discourage you.

[Zellgadess]

Just a matter of inteterst, what race/name was your toon?

[Peacer]

@Akaye: so nothing has happened to this character before he gets created by you? He've just been stoning all his life not really anything interesting has happened to him? His personality comes from his life, and this life is his background story . I'm sure you know that :O.

@Idoru: A shame I wasn't around, I try to help, both IC and OOC. Maybe I could have depleeted(umm wrong word :p?) your disappointment a bit by acting as you asked. Although maybe the rp'ers at harnquist who wasn't really doing anthing were semi afk. Or spammed up with their chatbox so they ignored you and red what their friends was writing to follow that, maybe their characters ignored you. Many things it could have been.

As for the game being for rp'ers only, I think that's what is stated on the main site if I am right... if someone talks ooc'ly they are asked, by a game master too... to keep it in brackets.
And there's not really much else to do than rp'ing... if yo uwant to spend your time powerlevelling and questing you'll get bored real fast real quick.

[bilbous]

Maybe you were so short no-one could see you. Dwavres are a dime a dozen and always underfoot no wonder you were ignored. On a serious note if you are not a familiar face you often get ignored, if you are a familiar face that is outside the current clique you also often get ignored. Life is tough in the big city, people standing around Harnquist apparently doing nothing are often deep in thought (/telling, AFK talking in a group or guild channel or rooting through their inventory) Perhaps your role play came off as rude and overly annoying. There are many factors that might habe been involved. I wasn't there so I mention possibilities not certainties, you understand.