If you're smart about it you can come up with an RP reason for everything you want to do...making them plausible is another thing.
But, enforcing RP, at least for me, is a moot point.
My main concern at this point--will add to wish list after two weeks--is char creation.
I know it's against some ideas of "strict" RP to give stats before your char is created (or stats at all), but since you do so anyway at the end, you end up with people having to write guides to char creation (making it less enjoyable, less immersive, and more of a hassle at the start) in order to stat out the character builder (hackorish) so they can build the char the way they want. And afterwards the pregenerated backstory is probably not anything like what they wanted their character to be... Plus some of the things in there are a bit outlandish and cliqueish.
<edit>and if they don't find those guides here, they can (or will) certainly find them on the net
I was trying to make a Hunter/Archer and ended up with 110 will.
Mainly because I didn't want to take the negatives to certain stats I consider essential to my character.
My suggestion is to give no stats at all--ever, or give stats from the very beginning.
No stats would focus more on RP at the beginning, and make people feel out their characters afterwards.
Without numbers it's based on gameplay solely, but an option to eliminate (or revert) some of the choices at a later date becomes very important.
<edit> unfortunately there are those who will eventually figure out the stats regardless, but if the average player doesn't have to worry about his stats (i.e. it's obvious that this does this, or this improves this etc. etc.--same goes for skills), most people won't even waste the time with mastering the nuances (or code) of the interface--they'll focus on enjoying the game.
<edit>Experienced RPers v. 1337 h4xx3r5: in my opinion you need both, the 1337 h4xx3r5 find the flaws and explain a lot about the game so that you can pretty much ignore the interface, the RPers make it fun. What Planeshift wants (I think) is 1337's that can RP; best bet is to make it fun and not seem overbearing and controlling (something they hate)--this will cause dissension and turn many of them against you, causing even more problems when they point out the flaws in the worst possible manner.
I like no stats option, but this needs to become MUCH more sophisticated to be useful.
On the plus side--for showing stats--just about every p&p tabletop game I know of shows stats in the character creation stage--most at the very beginning. Let us create the characters as we want them, and you will get a much better RP response from players. Even those who don't RP that much.
I understand that for some players, unless they are forced to pick a backstory they won't, but do you really want to force one upon them that doesn't match their character?
Might want to let the community deal with this one...
Who would want to group with a purposefully non-RPer in an overtly RP game?
Though, in this case, I guess in-game experience with this one is golden.
I do know that if it's too restrictive the good RPer's won't like it.
Tough call.
Maybe try random RP incentives by the GM's?
That would have worked really well in other MMO's I've played.
Though that in and of itself seems less immersive...
To start, for now, I'd suggest making some more general options for backstory and include the stat mods in the character creator.
Or, better yet, have an option to view (or not view) the stat mods while creating a character, giving the player even more flexibility.
Just from the character builder (the game itself, not the community, forums, website, etc.), I'm wondering if there was really a big RP focus to begin with, or if it's something that was picked up at a later time (not that it's a bad thing, I really like it) or how much RP experience you all really have, or if the character builder just wasn't, and isn't one of the priorities...
<edit>Kind of like "we'll look into implementing that at a later time"
<edit> The artistry; however, is certainly not in question--though, is it true that the graphics are proprietary? Would be curious to know what exactly is or isn't open source.
Yes, I know it's alpha (still alpha right?) but character creation is one of the first impressions people have of the game.
For the backstory, you might want to start much more general (universal?) and then make it specific later.
Rather than entirely rewriting the character creator text at a later date.
I did see the quick build option, convenient, decent for now, but way too limited for an open-source game.
Like the game so far.
Later
<edit>clarified a few things
