Understand RPing Objectives

[Illysia]

This idea is just nagging at the back of my head and I can't drop it. For a long time, I didn't realize just how different some RP styles were simply because you don't think about it as long as things are working. But now, I realize that when people RP they are often trying to get a wide variety of things out of it. I think better understanding different RPing objectives would help people to entice more people to join when trying to make group RPs.

This is what I have so far, please feel free to add to it and comment on it:

Character action
Personality Interaction
Literary Storytelling
Seat of the pant reaction
Character development
-Sub: Fulfills a Character's Personal Goals (Aramara)
Story Development
Genre?
RP Combat
RP that is not Dependent on Reading Descriptions (cdmoreland)
Settings Development (Eonwind)
Dynamic Player Run World (Aramara)
Deductive Puzzle Solving (Kaerli)

After watching the talk The Clues to A Great Story I am really interested in how to integrate the elements he spoke of into RPs that can draw people in to the point of caring. But, I feel this can't be done without better understanding of what uniquely RP elements must be addressed.

[cdmoreland]

This is just my take. I can't take time to read everyone's desc so if it must be read let people know before you interact with them like"[please read desc]" so others know. But I must say that I won't spend the time to read a desc that runs on and on.

[Illysia]

So maybe in your case, it would help if people include the relevant or most noticeable parts in an emote from the beginning? Sometimes, when I remember that is, I'll put in an emote about Danao's deep voice as I know many haven't read his description to know he's well a he.

[cdmoreland]

That's exactly what you did, Illysia, the first time I met Danao.

[Illysia]

Lately I've been forgetting. I should probably make sure I do that.

However, I'm surprised more people haven't commented? I'm sure I haven't compiled a mostly definitive list. But I figure that this is part of the block to seeing more groups of RPers coalescing in the streets. People pass by chances to RP because they aren't getting enough of what they like to convince them to stop doing whatever else they were up to.

[Volki]

What you might consider chances to roleplay could be too boring for other players.

[Illysia]

Perhaps, but even just speaking to another character doesn't have to devolve into how's your mother RP if you can incorporate a theme, a goal, and an interesting character. However, I don't see how taking a chance on RP that could be boring is worse than staring at the same crafting interface or whacking the same creatures for hours on end.

Perhaps learning what others are looking for will help us broaden our horizons wide enough to be able to enjoy more kinds of RP than we normally do, and if more people spend more time RPing everyone is more likely to find the RP they find stimulating. But, passing up on RP because it's not the RP you want can unfortunately lead to you not getting to what you want simply because you pass up opportunities to turn an RP into the RP you want.

[Eonwind]

I give you another RP objective: "Settings Development". Albeit settings is developed by devs it can be seen as an achievement by some players to create a rp event, a magical research or just something that will be remembered for a long time by others players and will (somehow) shape the world (or its hystory) in way or the other. Even being the creator of a new (RPed) spell after a RP research can be seen as an achievement.

[Illysia]

Ok, but now how would a regular player work that goal into an RP for other players? Generally, most players don't enjoy enough widespread use of something they RP in order to make it shape the world.

However, now that I think about it, I guess that is the answer to my own question. You simply have to find a popular enough RP item or scenario. For me, the only thing I think I've ever done was come up with lacka and other liquors for the RCD when I was working there and now it seems to be popular enough to where it is still in use aside from me. Lolitra did it pretty often and hers was popular enough to make it legitimately into settings. I think LigH mentioned once that Roltoks were something of her creation.

So now the question becomes, what is the niche that needs to be filled to find the next player created future settings mainstay?

[Aramara Meibi]

i think there was once a push to get more player written books in jayose's library. not sure what ever came of it, but I submitted a few.

the creation of longstanding influential guilds i think would also fit under this objective. the explorer's tent near harn's and their camp also count. player run enterprises like the RCD and Museum surely count as long as they are in operation. it was long before my time, but wasn't kada el a PC?

[Illysia]

Yeah, she was. However, the push for books is still on going. But in a way writing books is different that what I am trying to get at as that can be done completely aside from RP. All you need is a good idea and then you can write about it on your own.

[Aramara Meibi]

i think one of the things that first enticed me to play this game was the promise of being able to participate in and have an impact on the history of the game world, that the game world existed in a state of ever evolving flux as does the real world. of course, that isn't the state of the game, but I hope that that is still the vision the developers are working towards. Ideally, government positions wouldn't be held by static NPCs but PCs could actively campaign for and hold office. The heirloom family names and dynasties so often RPd within guilds could actually mean something, territorial disputes and resultant guild conflicts could be documented and become part of the world history and lore. Trade organizations, monopolies, could rise and fall in a dynamic active economy. One political ruler may promote the creation of public works, calling for architectural designs and the building labor of other PCs. The next may squander the government coffers through corruption, resulting in a coup...

of course, none of this is currently possible with the state of the game and the activity of the player base, but, one can hope.

[Illysia]

Actually, it is all possible with the game as it is. What is lacking is a motivated enough player base with enough active players to sustain it. I tried that very thing in another game and found that it all fell flat simply because many would say it was a good idea but few were willing to work to sustain it. Most people want to sit back and watch, not prop up the incredibly burdensome system that goes with it. What happens is that the players that are working behind the scenes burnout from work overload... and too many anarchist just wanting to destroy it to be contrary. :p

But that is still another goal. Not necessarily always trying to long term affect the settings but have a dynamic player run world. I was really happy when the Stonehead Tavern, the Explorer's Camp, and the Red Crystal Den were being run by players and had active patronage.

[Kaerli_Stronwylle]

Actually, it is all possible with the game as it is. What is lacking is a motivated enough player base with enough active players to sustain it. I tried that very thing in another game and found that it all fell flat simply because many would say it was a good idea but few were willing to work to sustain it. Most people want to sit back and watch, not prop up the incredibly burdensome system that goes with it. What happens is that the players that are working behind the scenes burnout from work overload... and too many anarchist just wanting to destroy it to be contrary. :p

But that is still another goal. Not necessarily always trying to long term affect the settings but have a dynamic player run world. I was really happy when the Stonehead Tavern, the Explorer's Camp, and the Red Crystal Den were being run by players and had active patronage.

The key to this is to harness the anarchists through clever game and lore design. (Hint: the GoonSwarm Federation's not going anywhere.)

Going back to the OP though:  I find that I'm after a mix of detail-oriented play (including RP combat) and cleverness that relies on leveraging the details of the problems it confronts.  While non-combat solutions to problems are fine by me, full-bore diplomacy isn't: I'd rather focus on getting people to emotionally disconnect from the problems that brought them to this point than try to come up with a solution to the problem that takes their emotions into account.

[Illysia]

So deductive puzzle solving?