MMO Roleplaying
Before I ever messageboard role-played I didn’t "get it". I didn’t understand how one played when you had so many people doing more or less their own thing, but then I played and it all made sense in a nonsensical way. Now the great mysteries are tabletop role-playing games, the concept of which I understand but the mechanics of which I don't -- too many stats and dice and an awkwardness I'd probably feel verbalizing pretend actions in front of other people -- and MMO role-playing. The latter I can imagine RPing in a chat or board setting by using the setting of the game, but to maintain that illusion inside the game I might find hard to do primarily because of the limitations of the game where often the "grind" is the main focus, especially on retail servers. Stop too often to play out little RP scenarios and you fall behind. Besides, the limited movements, emotes, and environment just isn't quite made for RP, but that's not to say it can't be done or shouldn't. However, for some people this is apparently a touchy subject as this chat I found illustrates. [Tal] If only there was something to help pass the time... Anyone do anything cool lately?
[Sarah_] I um...
[Sarah_] I'm a 56 druid in WoW
[Tal] Err... Oh well, another one addicted to WarCrack.
[Loopy] wow .. i don't have WOW :(
[Sarah_] You should get it. And play.
[Tal] Neither do I...
[Sarah_] We have rp servers.
[Tal] That is true...
[Tal] Are they PvP?
[Loopy] cant -- poor artist
[Sarah_] They are rp and pvp.
[Tal] Ah.
[Sarah_] Rp is like a mix of everything
[Loopy] fooey.. "rp" on a morg
[Tal] Well, to make it "RP"... You cant talk about anything outside of the game. You wont hear about baseball statistics...
[Loopy] ohh in THAT sense
[Loopy] I was in COH for a while..a fan gave me a sub
[Tal] So, people use it like that, or... Some people will actually RP. The more time you put into a character... Whats COH?
[Loopy] city of heroes
[Tal] Oh.
[Loopy] ya but no mmorg can EVER have the freedom and flexibility of an RPG, so I can't help but be a bit offended by the words "RP" in a mere computer game
[Sarah_] Well it depends on what you do. My friends and I also have an mirc room for what we can't do in game. Its still rpg because you play a character and work to bring it to life. You just need more effort than you would otherwise.
[Loopy] ya but limited to what can hasppen in the computetr game.. wjereas limitation to me is asntithesis to RPG
[Sarah_] But we're limited all the time in rpgs.
[Loopy] Excuse ME
[Sarah_] I'm not trying to pick a fight or anything
[Loopy] If i2d were a stupid mere computer game, Miko would only have been able to stay in the city.. she wouldn't have been able to move into the demon world
[Loopy] Really? Well, saying that a computer can do my job just as well as I can is going to.
[Sarah_] Well for one thing stop accusing me of saying that.
[Loopy] All computer games have is glitzy graphics, and it seems that's all folks care about today. COH was the WORST desgined game you can imagine
[Sarah_] I'm saying its a different way to rp.Not better. Because its not. So get off the defensive Loopy.
[Loopy] Saying what you do on those things [is] RPG is offensive to me.
[Sarah_] ...
[Loopy] Cause if it is, then all I am is a computer game without the glitzy graphics, and therefore, pointless that I even do it. And I'm pretty offended that you find being on a MMORG even in the same category as true RPG
[Sarah_] We post on forums and do other things to make up for the lack of flexibility. Why are you offended?
[Loopy] And so what do you do when you do things that can't happen in the game? the computer game
[Sarah_] We go outside it. to an irc room.
[Loopy] Cause you're saying a machine does what I do, and in fact, better, cause it has the graphics
[Sarah_] No I'm not! I'm not saying that at all! Are you evening listening to me? I said different! Not better! And it has major drawbacks.
[Loopy] If you call a mmorg an RPG, then yes you are. I'm an RPG. That's a computer game. Never the twain shall meet.
[Sarah_] I'm just saying I enjoy it loopy.
[Loopy] I don't think it deserves to be in the same league as me, or any true RPG. In an RPG, the game responds to you, builds around you, you're a living part of it. You're the story.
[Sarah_] ...
[Sarah_] Fine.
[Loopy] In a computer game, however sophisticated, ALL you can EVER do is whatever the game designers thought of beforehand. Period.
[Sarah_] I'll call it mmo around you.
[Loopy] So they can have thought of a lot, or a little, but you CANNOT step out of bounds of what they thought of.
[Sarah_] Yes yes you win.
[Loopy] Whereas in I2D, you're encouraged to. And quite able to. That is the very POINT of doing an RPG
[Sarah_] You didn't have to be an outraged... ughh.
[Loopy] because it's human, not machine
[Sarah_] I GET IT
[Loopy] Well, saying a machine is just as good as me, just "different" is offensive. I'm more than just a machine, unless to your thinking, cute 3d graphics make up for being locked in, and that's certianly true of all the sheep living today. If it looks good, who CARES if it's good.. The Matrix, COH, etc.etc.etc.etc.
[Sarah_] You know what? I just enjoy it out. Its something to do when I can't play. Does it freaking matter Loopy? When I can't be here I want something to do.
[Loopy] To a gamemaster?
[Sarah_] I don't miss MIRC for it.
[Loopy] Would you mind if your husband thought a machine was just as good as you? Just different?
[Sarah_] I have not missed an i2d game.
[Loopy] MIRC? or I2D?
[Sarah_] i2d. So you still win. I come here for this. And this has nothing to do with me my husband or any of that. So lets stop that train of thought right there.
[Loopy] No, but it's just the same idea. If what you are and what you do, other people feel a machine can do just as well.
[Sarah_] Look I just enjoy the game.
[Loopy] Meanwhile, apropos of the topic, feel free to go on WOW now. I doubt anyone else will show.
[Sarah_] And I put as much effort into it as I do this game. SO YOU INSULTED ME TOO OMG345K3[P125OPRKL,
[Loopy] Yes, I would love to have it too. I don't find it anything like an RPG, however. I played COH myself.
[Tal] I think we could have dropped it about five minutes ago, while it was still friendly.
[Loopy] It's just a computer game. You can do the 5 things, and that's it. Cute graphics tho.
[Sarah_] I can create a character. I write about her.
[Tal] What makes those games interesting, is the PLAYERS, not the game.
[Sarah_] I do forum posts ic. I come to an irc room and role play her. I play WoW strictly for the people. Its all about doing your best with what you have. And right now I wish we had a game going because I was looking forward to it. I wasn't just here waiting so I could scuttle back to WoW. The second I start doing that is when I know something is wrong. I don't play WoW when I play this.You haven't been replaced.
This Loopy fellow is a wee bit defensive methinks.
[Sarah_] I um...
[Sarah_] I'm a 56 druid in WoW
[Tal] Err... Oh well, another one addicted to WarCrack.
[Loopy] wow .. i don't have WOW :(
[Sarah_] You should get it. And play.
[Tal] Neither do I...
[Sarah_] We have rp servers.
[Tal] That is true...
[Tal] Are they PvP?
[Loopy] cant -- poor artist
[Sarah_] They are rp and pvp.
[Tal] Ah.
[Sarah_] Rp is like a mix of everything
[Loopy] fooey.. "rp" on a morg
[Tal] Well, to make it "RP"... You cant talk about anything outside of the game. You wont hear about baseball statistics...
[Loopy] ohh in THAT sense
[Loopy] I was in COH for a while..a fan gave me a sub
[Tal] So, people use it like that, or... Some people will actually RP. The more time you put into a character... Whats COH?
[Loopy] city of heroes
[Tal] Oh.
[Loopy] ya but no mmorg can EVER have the freedom and flexibility of an RPG, so I can't help but be a bit offended by the words "RP" in a mere computer game
[Sarah_] Well it depends on what you do. My friends and I also have an mirc room for what we can't do in game. Its still rpg because you play a character and work to bring it to life. You just need more effort than you would otherwise.
[Loopy] ya but limited to what can hasppen in the computetr game.. wjereas limitation to me is asntithesis to RPG
[Sarah_] But we're limited all the time in rpgs.
[Loopy] Excuse ME
[Sarah_] I'm not trying to pick a fight or anything
[Loopy] If i2d were a stupid mere computer game, Miko would only have been able to stay in the city.. she wouldn't have been able to move into the demon world
[Loopy] Really? Well, saying that a computer can do my job just as well as I can is going to.
[Sarah_] Well for one thing stop accusing me of saying that.
[Loopy] All computer games have is glitzy graphics, and it seems that's all folks care about today. COH was the WORST desgined game you can imagine
[Sarah_] I'm saying its a different way to rp.Not better. Because its not. So get off the defensive Loopy.
[Loopy] Saying what you do on those things [is] RPG is offensive to me.
[Sarah_] ...
[Loopy] Cause if it is, then all I am is a computer game without the glitzy graphics, and therefore, pointless that I even do it. And I'm pretty offended that you find being on a MMORG even in the same category as true RPG
[Sarah_] We post on forums and do other things to make up for the lack of flexibility. Why are you offended?
[Loopy] And so what do you do when you do things that can't happen in the game? the computer game
[Sarah_] We go outside it. to an irc room.
[Loopy] Cause you're saying a machine does what I do, and in fact, better, cause it has the graphics
[Sarah_] No I'm not! I'm not saying that at all! Are you evening listening to me? I said different! Not better! And it has major drawbacks.
[Loopy] If you call a mmorg an RPG, then yes you are. I'm an RPG. That's a computer game. Never the twain shall meet.
[Sarah_] I'm just saying I enjoy it loopy.
[Loopy] I don't think it deserves to be in the same league as me, or any true RPG. In an RPG, the game responds to you, builds around you, you're a living part of it. You're the story.
[Sarah_] ...
[Sarah_] Fine.
[Loopy] In a computer game, however sophisticated, ALL you can EVER do is whatever the game designers thought of beforehand. Period.
[Sarah_] I'll call it mmo around you.
[Loopy] So they can have thought of a lot, or a little, but you CANNOT step out of bounds of what they thought of.
[Sarah_] Yes yes you win.
[Loopy] Whereas in I2D, you're encouraged to. And quite able to. That is the very POINT of doing an RPG
[Sarah_] You didn't have to be an outraged... ughh.
[Loopy] because it's human, not machine
[Sarah_] I GET IT
[Loopy] Well, saying a machine is just as good as me, just "different" is offensive. I'm more than just a machine, unless to your thinking, cute 3d graphics make up for being locked in, and that's certianly true of all the sheep living today. If it looks good, who CARES if it's good.. The Matrix, COH, etc.etc.etc.etc.
[Sarah_] You know what? I just enjoy it out. Its something to do when I can't play. Does it freaking matter Loopy? When I can't be here I want something to do.
[Loopy] To a gamemaster?
[Sarah_] I don't miss MIRC for it.
[Loopy] Would you mind if your husband thought a machine was just as good as you? Just different?
[Sarah_] I have not missed an i2d game.
[Loopy] MIRC? or I2D?
[Sarah_] i2d. So you still win. I come here for this. And this has nothing to do with me my husband or any of that. So lets stop that train of thought right there.
[Loopy] No, but it's just the same idea. If what you are and what you do, other people feel a machine can do just as well.
[Sarah_] Look I just enjoy the game.
[Loopy] Meanwhile, apropos of the topic, feel free to go on WOW now. I doubt anyone else will show.
[Sarah_] And I put as much effort into it as I do this game. SO YOU INSULTED ME TOO OMG345K3[P125OPRKL,
[Loopy] Yes, I would love to have it too. I don't find it anything like an RPG, however. I played COH myself.
[Tal] I think we could have dropped it about five minutes ago, while it was still friendly.
[Loopy] It's just a computer game. You can do the 5 things, and that's it. Cute graphics tho.
[Sarah_] I can create a character. I write about her.
[Tal] What makes those games interesting, is the PLAYERS, not the game.
[Sarah_] I do forum posts ic. I come to an irc room and role play her. I play WoW strictly for the people. Its all about doing your best with what you have. And right now I wish we had a game going because I was looking forward to it. I wasn't just here waiting so I could scuttle back to WoW. The second I start doing that is when I know something is wrong. I don't play WoW when I play this.You haven't been replaced.
This Loopy fellow is a wee bit defensive methinks.