I’ve compiled together a list of questions I see asked either here or other places very frequently, I thought this would be a great time to create one.
How do I start RP?
Roleplaying can sometimes appear to be rather overwhelming at times but, I promise, it’s very simple to get into. The basics to get started usually revolve around making a character, writing up a brief backstory, working out their personality in your head, making your way to a Roleplay Hub and just engaging yourself in conversation. For anything more specific, Shandris wrote a wonderful article that’s a bit old but still relevant.
What’s the best RP server?
Different people will give you different answers but the most popular ones are Moon Guard and Wyrmrest Accord. Moon Guard (MG) is more centered around Alliance roleplay while Wyrmrest Accord (WrA) has a better balance. Emerald Dream (ED) is another large-population RP server but being a PvP server as well, they see very little roleplay. Other smaller servers such as Cenarion Circle (CC), Earthen Ring (ER) or Scarlet Crusade (SC) have very small RP communities, but it’s mostly centered around guilds. Your best bet is to make a character on each server and check out the atmosphere before you make a decision.
Where do people go to RP?
On RP realms we have designated RP hubs. For Horde, this is the Wyvern’s Tail Inn (and usually the rest of the Valley of Honor) in Orgrimmar, as well as the entirety of Silvermoon City, and for the Alliance, this is Cathedral Square and the Mage Quarter in Stormwind. You may find other areas populated by RPers while out and about but they’re very likely a part of a personal storyline or a guild.
What are some RP terms I should know?
The most basic ones are IC, meaning In-Character, and OOC, meaning Out-Of-Character. This designates whether you are currently roleplaying or not. Other common ones include godmodding, powergaming, metagaming, lore-breaking, fanon, realm lore, etc. If you’re unaware of the meaning of these terms and wish to know more, I wrote a guide to them a few years ago.
Do I need any addons?
Technically, no you do not, however I have to say you’d be missing out on a huge portion of RP if you don’t get some version of an RP Profile addon. This allows you to write detailed descriptions, histories and notes for your character that other RPers can view and read. The most popular is MRP for its simplicity, but another big one is TRP3. The surplus of features on that addon usually only finds use for storytellers or dungeons masters. A big one that has popped up recently is XRP, a more polished version of MRP that I personally use and find perfect. To get these addons, I suggest downloading the Curse desktop app from Curse, installing the addon and then ensuring it’s activated once you’re in-game.
Do I need to be in a guild?
On high population realms such as Wyrmrest Accord or Moon Guard, it is not at all necessary as there’s usually plenty of roleplay at the designated RP hubs. However, if you’re on a small population RP realm or desire more storyline-centered roleplay, you may want to find one that fits your character. Ask around in Trade or let your character’s recruitment happen naturally during RP.
Do I have to follow the lore?
Not at all. A very important thing to note is that this is your character, your subscription and your fun. However you attain that fun is up to you. You’ll find the vast majority of RPers do follow the lore rather strictly and don’t enjoy swaying from it, but if you want to RP something that is not in WoW’s story, go right ahead.
Where can I find more information on the lore?
Wow.gamepedia is the best source, and always avoid using Wowwiki. Wowwiki was abandoned some number of years ago and has not been upkept since; because of this, it’s filled with inaccuracies and vandalism, partially caused by a hack a year or two ago, and partially caused by people cramming their fanon into it. Wikia hired a moderator to clean it up but he apparently gave up half way through, and Wowwiki as a whole has been shifted to the fandom tag
What if I still can’t find the answer I need?
If you’re still struggling to find the answer you’re looking for, don’t be afraid to make a thread asking about it either here or over on the Story Forum, which is dedicated to discussing the lore. You’re also free to post a question in my Lore Q&A and Character Help thread, which I made specifically for this reason.
How big is Azeroth in the lore?
Really big. Certainly about the size of Earth, if not larger. Azeroth was scaled down tremendously for World of Warcraft, but in the lore, a zeppelin flight from Thunder Bluff to Orgrimmar takes three days and a hike through Feralas takes over two weeks. There’ve been many attempts to math it all out, but nothing has been too consistent. Just remember that Azeroth is really, really big.
Is it okay if my insert race behaves like this?
Of course it is. A member of a certain race, be it a pandaren, human or troll, is not at all confined to the stereotype their race tends to show. Every person on Azeroth is an individual person capable of their own opinions and thoughts, and if your character happens to have opinions that differ from the majority of their people’s, that’s perfectly fine.
Can I RP as a non-playable race?
If you’re interested in the arakkoa, or the quilboar, or the saberon, taunka, gnolls, hozen, jinyu, ogre, ethereal, broken, furbolg or whatever else it may be, you’re more than welcome to RP as one. An important thing to keep in mind, however, is exactly why your character would want to join the faction you choose, and to be wary of other character’s perceptions of you. A jinyu strolling through Orgrimmar, for example, would likely be met with an axe and chains.
Can my character have a love interest in whoever?
As with the previous question regarding how a character acts; of course! Inter-race relationships are very common in roleplay and are supported within the lore with such characters as Turalyon and Alleria, Kalec and Jaina, even King Anduin Wrynn finds draenei females to be quite attractive.
Is homosexuality, transgenderism or crossbreeding in WoW lore?
There are indeed homosexual couples in WoW. Throughout the years it’s been hinted at many times, but there’s an enchanting questline in Azsuna where we reunite two lesbian elves separated by war. There are no known transgender characters within WoW, but gender-changing potions exist in the lore so they’re certainly possible. As for crossbreeding, many combinations are already confirmed to be natural, such as half-human half-orcs, half-orc half-ogres, half-draenei half-orcs, half-elf half-human and so on, but Blizzard has confirmed that just about any crossbreed child is possible through magic.
What is ERP?
ERP, in its most commonly used form, stands for Erotic Role Play. It’s a term used by many to describe the act of roleplaying out sexual acts in-game. ERP is generally viewed as acceptable under the right conditions; so long as it’s between two consenting adults and offers some sort of benefit to the story of the two characters, it’s considered yet another form of RP.
What is griefing and how should I handle it?
Griefing is when a single or multiple players intentionally harass RPers. RP servers have a unique set of rules separate from the rest of the WoW realms, and one of these is strict punishment against those who harass RPers. Griefing can include verbal harassment, intentionally refusing to used (( bracketed text )) in RP hubs when not in-character, or spamming in-game items, such as toys, to cause numerous sounds or visual effects that disrupt the RP happening. If this occurs, ignore the players to the best of your ability and report them using the in-game reporting feature or by opening a ticket.
What is godmodding, metagaming, powergaming and how should I handle it?
Godmodding is when another character takes control of yours without your permission. An example of this would be if Cannibal "lifts the goblin over his head and breaks his back on his knee." This is literally paralyzing the goblin without the player’s consent, and is NOT okay. Speak with the godmodder and tell them you’re not okay with them controlling your character. If they argue or refuse, ignore them and move on with your day. They’re not worth your time.
Metagaming is when a player uses knowledge they have as a player in roleplay that their character would otherwise not know. An example of this would be if you told me here on the forums that your character is secretly a dragon, and the next time we RPed, Cannibal called out your character for being a dragon. This is NOT okay. Speak with the metagamer and tell them you’re not okay with them having that knowledge of your character. If they argue or refuse, ignore them and move on with your day. They’re not worth your time.
Powergaming is when an RPer intentionally makes roleplaying choices to be incredibly over-powered. An example of this would be if Cannibal showed up to a fight "covered in impenetrable armor with the fastest, strongest weapon on Azeroth and invincibility potions that he just drank." It’s unfair, unfun and NOT okay. Speak with the powergamer and tell them you’re not okay with them being what is basically invincible. If they argue or refuse, ignore them and move on with your day. They’re not worth your time.
A very important thing to know is that you are not obligated to RP with anyone you do not want to and can refuse to at any time for any reason, or no reason whatsoever.
What is a Mary Sue/Gary Stu character?
A Mary Sue, or a Gary Stu for male characters, is a character deemed "too perfect" that they’re boring. An example of this would be an elf noble, filthy rich, absolutely gorgeous and the best mage in the city. There’s no character flaws and nothing to make the character interesting. For some, this isn’t an issue, but for a lot of people this is a deal breaker for sure.
How should I handle character injury or death?
Nothing can happen to your character without your permission. Your character cannot get injured or die without your go-ahead. Whatever happens to your character, be it a small cut or complete decapitation, is entirely up to you and no one else unless you give them the right.
I hope this has been helpful.
If you have any additional questions or suggestions for something else to include in this FAQ, please leave a comment below and I’ll consider adding it in.
Yours truly,
Cannibal of Wyrmrest Accord