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Role-Playing MMOs
TigerRei
Member UncommonPosts: 141
This is probably a question that has been asked before, but I want to hear updated opinions on this.
MMORPG...Role Playing Game...the question is, how many true "role playing" games are out there? Sure, you can call something like DAoC a MMORPG, but is it roleplaying? I dont really think so. Maybe The Sims Online can be considered a roleplaying game, as you're playing the role of a character, even though it's more an avatar of your real self. The point is, there hasnt been a single MMO that stresses actual role-playing. A game where you actually play your character. The emphasis isnt on leveling or capturing territory or that nonsense (although that dosent mean it can be without). The emphasis would be making your mark on the world as a character.
I know I'm probably incoherent, so let me phrase it another way. How many MMORPGs do you know where you actually feel as if you're a part of another world? Where you feel as if you are in the action, and not watching it?
I know I may get flamed for this, but I'm one of those people who look to games as an alternate reality in a way. I havent found a single MMORPG yet (with the exception of some text-based MU*s, which you guys dont call MMORPGs even though they are) that imparts this feeling of actually playing the part of a character and even making a story.
Anyways, post your comments please, as I'd love to hear about them.
POLL: Adding a supplement poll to this, just to get more opinions.
Comments
I support Roleplaying in mmorpg's i've only ever done it in DAOC n it was good except i think the problem is not all those people who run around not rp'ing and also talk like crap (ya know what i mean, 1337 ) But i think the problem with Roleplaying in mmorpg's is simply that most people dunno how to. "11 year olds will be running around using such words as thou, shall, whence, etc. " thats part of the problem right there they don't know what they are doing. Think it's about time a MMORPG acctually thought about supporting RP'ers and people who want to get involved a simple roleplaying guide of some sort, cause most people have an idea what it's about but as Dalavari said people walk around talking like weirdo's, roleplaying isn't fun if u need a thesaurus around all the time, old english isn't required for roleplaying. As for mmorpg's that force roleplaying, i think theres nothing wrong with it aslong as people know it will be like that before they go and invest time and money in it, and if the game is that brilliant non RP'ers will probably give roleplaying a go anyway.
*Notice: The views expressed in this post are solely those of the author... got sick of holding backspace.
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ParaTrooper, That guy that used to mod the MMORPG.com forums.
Well I guess the best that can be done is for a MMORPG to have a RP-only server which people can escape to for roleplaying that's enforced. Call me retarded or whatnot, but the reason I'm so into MMORPGs is that I see them as a getaway from real life, where I can interact with people without the prejudices of real life getting in the way, as well as becoming something that is impossible in real life. And I like the story aspect. If I want to play a space trader, dragon slayer, or even popcorn stand attendee, I want to at least experience it the fullest.
I was thinking if enough roleplayers banded together, they could build a MMORPG themselves that catered to RPers only, with rules to enforce RP and to get rid of twinks.
As for "I was thinking if enough roleplayers banded together, they could build a MMORPG themselves that catered to RPers only, with rules to enforce RP and to get rid of twinks." I'm sure that the definitive MMORPG could be created, Somewhere in the MMORPG gaming community there would be the programmers and associated skills needed and also the financial backing, i know i'd rather by $15 a month go to a bunch of gamers to support their life while in creating/modifying a game. Possibly the problem is the people who come up with game designs don't actually play enough MMORPG's and are blind as to what the MMORPG community wants! WHAT DO WE WANT? A ^#&^ GOOD MMORPG!!! WHEN DO WE WANT IT?.....soon???? Remember that game companies are buisness' and in the end are trying to make as much profit as possible, they don't really care about us, and if they do they got a nice way of showing it.
Note: Sorry for my random crap
*Notice: The views expressed in this post are solely those of the author... got sick of holding backspace.
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ParaTrooper, That guy that used to mod the MMORPG.com forums.
I'm sure you can find a group of roleplayers in any MMORPG. The most fun I've had was in AO. I knew an event character and got involved in some good RPing most nights.
I tried to do some RPG scenarios in EaB by creating some characters using my alt character slots and running with an ongoing character based plot. It was a complete failure, the people I'de recruited into my guild who claimed to be interested in RPing were just complete w**nkers without the imagination to take part in what I was trying to do.
Without RPing the whole genre is lost on me. I don't see the appeal of logging in night after night and killing mobs or crafting like some stat crazed automoton.
I don't think enforced RPing is impossible. I used to play a pen and paper game called .... Excalibur or Camelot, can't remember which. It was by Greg Stafford of RuneQuest / Glorantha fame. Characters had opposed stats that could swing depending on their actions. It required a check to carry out an action that involved some sort of moral judgement. If you succeded in carrying out a task that was opposed to your current moral outlook you would swing the other way a bit (don't laugh you know what I mean!!).
Not an easy system to sell to the masses but could be made to work ... I think.
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Don't jump off the roof Dad
You'll make a hole in the yard
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The problem is what causes people to get really wrapped up in the role of a character in a game is nowhere near what many people think and preach it is.
Its not the players responsibility to actively try and roleplay, and that doesn't work anyways. You just end up feeling like an idiot by doing this...
Its all based on the setup of the game. You get pulled into a role when the game for one Is believable. Not necessarily realistic but like things make sense, people sound like real people in that situation etc. The first time you play Star Wars: KOTOR or Unreal 2 you get drawn into the role. The second time when you go through and they say the SAME things its too fake seeming to draw you in. An MMORPG has and endless supply of totally random acting people to use to create the enviornment, and all they have to do is figure a way to make the players want to interact with each other in character. Yet they can't seem to do it. Part of it is creating an immersive enough world that people have in game things to joke about with each other etc, but the major part of it is placing incentives in the right places.
Thats the other thing it has to be fun. The player doesn't want to get into the game and think "I am nothing but an insignifigant pea" so he has to feel like he is going somewhere. Which is basically what happens in any pvp game where you reach a point at which you cannot get better. (which in a smart pvp game would never happen.)
Last thing I want to say is, non pvp mmorpgs are doomed in this respect. If it was really good, (which they are often not) then it might make you feel drawn into character for a month. You might as well play a single player game.
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