what would you consider an rper?

[theirah]

what is your definition of  a roleplayer? be specific.

[Parallo]

http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=10310.0

Fairly straight forward.

[theirah]

I'm not asking what an rper is. I'm more looking for peoples personal definitions of rpers.

[Rayken]

Then you are asking for an objective definition of a term that is by nature highly subjective.  You are not going to get an objective answer; it's just not possible.

[Suvok]

Then you are asking for an objective definition of a term that is by nature highly subjective.  You are not going to get an objective answer; it's just not possible.

It think that is the point. He's not looking for an answer, he's looking for opinions.
In my mind, an RPer is someone who plays the game the way that their character would play it. Byt his, leveling up is completely based on whether your character would do it or not. If your character is a warrior, he would level strength related stats, if your character is a blacksmith he would level crafting related stats, if your character is a lazy civilian then wouldn't level up much at all.

An RPer may train skills if it is linked with their characters personality and experiances, yet primarily uses the game as an oppertunity to act out improvised situations with other RPers in an attempt to simulate the workings of a real world.

[Zan]

An RPer to me is someone who enjoys creating characters and (inter)acting with these characters in a predefined (usually fantasy, but not always) setting with other RPers. Hereby trying to stay in-character as much as possible.

Roleplay is about immersion and challenges. It's about taking up new views on things, putting yourself in the skin of someone different. It's also a way to escape from reality and build on a new reality along with other people.

[theirah]

mine is also about immersing yourself in a new world, being able to explain everything your character does by their personality and the world in game, and generally trying to be your character, not yourself.

by the way...I'm a she

[Parallo]

Yes, its like fully predefining a whole person from birth to present and then when faced with a situation taking in every possible factor of that person(Personality, history, race, creed etc.) all at once and based upon those deciding what their reaction will be. Its deciding an action based on following the same logic as you deem your character to have and coming to the conclusion that way rather than deciding, based on what you as a player want to do, a reaction and rationalizing it with made up on the spot history. I have seen that way too much.

[bilbous]

I have to differ with most peoples idea. To me if you are constantly referring back to your self-imposed character concept you are not role-playing. You are play acting at the improv. To me you roll up your character however it pleases you nd that is your starting point. Then when you upload the character and enter the game the settings are there to define what you can and cannot do. They are still a little nebulous so you have a fair amount of wiggle room but there is quite a lot of detail too and this is where you take your cues. If you have to think about what your character is going to do you are not playing the character you are playing at being the character. Most people are not strictly defined from birth and neither should your character be. Certainly take your original idea of your character and then let it grow naturally. Do not think "How does my character feel about this situation," think "How do I feel about this situation." If you have assumed your character properly you will know how you feel.

Some of you may look at me and say "but you don't roleplay!" To that I say I play myself I don't play an extraordinary life. Just joe blow doing what comes naturally within the confines of the setting.

[Zan]

That's a form of roleplaying too, Bilbous ... playing a character very much like the real you but in a settings defined situation. I started out that way with my first character but afterwards I discovered that it was a lot more challenging and more interesting to take up some characters who were quite different from the real me. Just a personal choice really since in essence your way of roleplaying doesn't differ from mine, only the character differs.

Parallo made a good point though. Many of the people who just came into contact with roleplaying through planeshift start with a desire. Usually that desire involves being powerful, fighting other players or just having fun. But of course since it is a roleplaying community, heck they'll 'rp' to fit in. Their entire rp is arranged around their desire as a player though. Whether they're not to be called roleplayers ... that's something I'm not going to comment on but I do think it's a on whole different level and a whole different reason for playing. Those people also tend to be very selfish with their interactions. They'll rarely think how their actions affect the experience of others as long as they're having fun.

Personally I am bothered by those people more than by the 'powerlevelers'. Powerlevelers leave you alone and level, the above kind doesn't leave you alone.

[theirah]

hmmm...now that I read your posts, bilbous and zan, I have to agree with parts of it. Personally, I roleplay with a part of myself merged into the character, but sometimes, my character does things I would never actually do, like challenging someone way stronger than me ;p.

[Erisnas]

Well it is often a good idea to incorporate yourself into your characters a little bit.  It lets you know better how to react to certain things.  Also, you do need some normalcy.  It seems that with most RPers in other games everyone is either and orphan or had some tragic past.  We of course know this isn't true in the real world.