Roleplaying Focus

[Ralleyon]

I voted No. These ideas have been stated before many times in the thread, so I will just reiterate:

Do we need a bigger player base? My opinion: The developers may need it, yes, but I don't. Having a smaller but specialized player base is sometimes better than large numbers and it will affect the quality of gameplay.

That said, I haven't seen too many roleplayers these days really, or even taken part in many roleplays.

RP does not hinder other type of play in the game, as a matter of fact I do believe that non RP or very mild RP people are the majority.

Why most people move on is because the status of the game as alpha / open beta. Bugs, balancing issues, or just plain boredom after they have attained what they felt they could from such a game are the main reasons for people leaving. RP-ers tend stay more if they find other RP-ers to hang with, but for the achiever types, once they have reached a certain goal, they move on to another game leaving temporarily or for good since there's nothing else to do.

[Zan]

-------------------------------No.    - 31 (30.7%)

This answer I find either completely mistaken or less than intellectually honest. I am not saying there is any intentional dishonesty in those who firmly believe the rp focus is not costing ps players, I just hope those people will be open to my arguments throughout this post. I have confidence that people come here get scolded by someone and leave, not only never to return, but also certain to post a negative review somewhere due to how they were treated by their fellow players. I will admit we lost the single largest cross-section of players to the incomplete state of the game, but the fact that we lose any potential future rpers to the didactic tone of one player to another is something the whole community should be wary of.

It's very important here to distinguish between community and game development. RP focus in the community will drive off certain types of players, just like roleplayers are usually driven off elsewhere. RP focus in game development doesn't need to drive off players in my eyes.

Mechanics-wise focusing on roleplay generally means creating many options and a large freedom for interaction with the world and extensive character development, as well as decreasing the need to grind mindlessly to get somewhere. I don't see how that has to drive off those who aren't interested in roleplay.

The poll did not specify any distinction so don't be too quick to disregard this answer.

[Xillix Queen of Fools]

I did not disregard it, I just disagree with it.

[Waoknie]

When I voted and posted, I was hoping my decision to be shared by most of you (as anyone would). But more than that, I truly wanted to read about the underlying reasons for each one's decision.
By watching the numbers grow, so did my disappointment and sometimes I even felt worse, particularly while reading some derailments towards language references which have absolutely nothing to do with the poll or thread.
As I expect you all did, I was positively surprised and to some point, amazed while reading the poll's 'requiem'. If Xillix analysis was a result of the evolution of the thread itself, then it is good that we have such individual working 'for us' for free. But if it was an articulated setup conceived from the start, then I'm more than happy and somehow proud to be around.
Sometimes we forget that these guys take this thing seriously and believe that whatever happens against our desire is like a personal offense towards us and we get up in arms immediately.
While getting near the 100 vote, I couldn't avoid to feel a bit awkward to the point that I thought the outcome would result in perhaps a new poll like ''Queen of Fools' focus" and perhaps the question would read: "Do you think Xillix is costing PS players?".. I'm serious!
And perhaps it did.. (I'm still serious) As it did a great invitation for me to revise my approach, I hope it helped you to at least meditate about yours. And then you may decide if staying on this endeavor.
Although my questions were not answered for some being derailing the thread or maybe cux of the stupid things I ask, I still think this experience is worth every penny.
When I came into this game, I had a personal guide. Someone willing to teach me about this world and I cannot be more grateful for all the fun I got for nothing.. I hope my silly jokes did pay the favor, specially when I took my first step ever in RPing: "I can't speak PlaneShiftian" which may sound as the most OOClyish thing ever but hey! I may not be excellent or competent but I'm present! and yes, I did better later on. And I do keep my logs from those days.. I still smile when reading my first words: "What the %^$# is this $&!^" No one was around, luckily.
I followed my friends and most admired guildmates when our guild exploded for selfish reasons and then their guild fell for the same ones (ain't it odd?) to another MMORPG but I came back almost immediately. Reason: Respect for my character. My comrades know very well what I mean. This epoch I go solo but I kept myself part of the guild till my character felt otherwise. I know in my char's heart we all felt bad at that moment but the persons in front of their keyboards only expressed it OOCly.. At those moments is when RP is most useful.
Too much drama?.. yes.. bt since I can't play now (puter issues) I have enough time even for that! I hope U have some to kep reading

RolePlay: To express your character's way to be.

I could give you all some advise: Recall your first time in here or try to focus on the moment you fell for it.. and duplicate that for a noob. My character did that a few times and I'm still receiving the thanyous (which sometimes catch me off base for not recalling their names). Even though my char's style may not be the friendliest most of the time.

I tried this game because I was lurking @ mininova and it was listed as top dwnld.. so I gave it a try. I hope this helps at least for where to promote or something.

I have only recomended this game to one person (seriously) just because I found that one to be the perfect fit. English is not her language or mine and I told her she could learn from the whole experience.. now, she seems more devoted than me.
If you see Neoma, tell her I said "muickkk!"

ty

[Ralleyon]

I did not disregard it, I just disagree with it.

Fair enough 

@ Zan

Mechanics-wise focusing on roleplay generally means creating many options and a large freedom for interaction with the world and extensive character development, as well as decreasing the need to grind mindlessly to get somewhere. I don't see how that has to drive off those who aren't interested in roleplay.

I think the distinction is a very good one. RP is often something that falls under the player's hat. The quality of roleplay in the game is in effect the sum of roleplays and roleplayers who stick around. However, if game-mechanics encourage roleplay as an alternative to level grinding, then we will have a balanced environment.

It's not even about RP-ers driving off other types of gamers (as a matter of fact I have seen very little if any of that happening).

It's about attracting more players & what to do with them afterwards, how to keep them interested. If the game is balanced, then the type of player will emerge by himself without much interference.

[Draklar]

Mechanics-wise focusing on roleplay generally means creating many options and a large freedom for interaction with the world and extensive character development, as well as decreasing the need to grind mindlessly to get somewhere. I don't see how that has to drive off those who aren't interested in roleplay.

Because a long mindless grind can lead someone to be "the best" on the server, which is what many people seek in the MMORPGs.

Oh, and those noobs, who reject duels, because "you gave no rp reason" are annoying.

[Kaityra]

Oh, and those noobs, who reject duels, because "you gave no rp reason" are annoying.

And those uber-noobs who just want to duel just because it is their idea of fun are uber-annoying.

[Draklar]

"Just because"?
Isn't having fun a major factor in any form of recreational gaming?

[Kaityra]

Maybe because it is not fun to the other?

[Miaua]

Someone who powerlevels his character (without signs of RP) and then walks from here to there and puts challenges just to proove that...
"I am teh best of teh srver n00b"...
...are more annoying then those who refuzes those duels.
 

At least when this game is supposed to be foccused to RP, not to leveling and duelling. For that are there many else (and yes.. better) games.
Problem maybe is that its hard to become best in community of powerlevelers and its quite easy in community of roleplayers
..then teh n00b appears here and thinks that he is good.

(just a thought.. but I think not too far from truth) 

[Draklar]

Maybe because it is not fun to the other?

I do believe I asked a yes/no question, not a why one.

@Miaua: We're talking specifically about people that aren't interested in roleplay. Not about what is more annoying.

[MustangMR]

One suggestion.  This poll seemed to be about why people are not staying around to play Planeshift.  But there's one problem... you're asking the people who are playing it.  Seems to me you should be asking the people who are not playing it.  Maybe there could be something in game that allows a person to give instant feedback on why they don't think they would want to play PS anymore?  Explain in the tutorial exactly how to provide that feedback if the player should decide to move on?  Just an idea, not sure how you motivate people who just stop playing to provide it, but that's where the data should be coming from.  Everything else is just speculation.

[Draklar]

Just an idea, not sure how you motivate people who just stop playing to provide it, but that's where the data should be coming from.

Spam their email boxes!

No, but seriously, the X-man already explained why he asked this question to the folks that still play PS.

And if I may refer to Xil's opinion (as presented both earlier and more recent), I don't think a slight shift in Planeshift's focus would beg for changed mechanics. I mean, it did already happen in Planeshift's history. If you'd look at PS community from back around middle of 2003 and from today, the focus is very different. Back then roleplay wasn't the aim of the community - it was more of a tool. Basically no one had anything against ooc chatter in the shoutbox (but no French! >:| ), no one whined about people who never roleplayed, but rather chased after crystals, and no one criticized less-than-appropriate names (heck, people named like Enraged, Clawhand, Seperot, Moogie, Pooky, Silenthero, or Karyuu had a high social status). Sure, there was roleplay. But it was only an optional tool and no one would bite your head off if you'd roleplay something against the settings. Free for all, I would say, so long as you don't actually offend another person.
It was a healthy environment, I think. People roleplayed for fun, not because they were expected to. And there was nothing wrong with pausing the roleplay and instead making ooc references, or just mindlessly hunting the crystals <3
Nowadays roleplay seems to be the only accepted form of fun and if you do as little as make a slight ooc reference to lighten up the general atmosphere, people will ICly treat you as if you were some sort of a lunatic (I still remember peeking in to the newly released CB after a longer absence in PS /o\ )... I don't think this is very healthy. I mean, I can see everyone takes things harder than we used to all those years ago.

[neko kyouran]

And if I may refer to Xil's opinion

...

I don't think this is very healthy. I mean, I can see everyone takes things harder than we used to all those years ago.

Truth.

[eldoth_terevan]

I don't think this is very healthy. I mean, I can see everyone takes things harder than we used to all those years ago.

Agreed.