I’m curious to know the extent people to go with roleplaying on a RP server. Does it happen at all or is it just a few people partaking in the RP?
Reason why I’m asking is because I’ve always played on a standard PvP server however the concept of RP is quite entertaining.
So if I were to join an RPPvP server would I see much of it or should I just stick with a PvP server?
Some people play out stories, but a lot do the same thing as they would do on Normal or PvP servers. RP can be fun, but you need to find the right crowd.
I’ve played on an RP server before. I’m not a RPer.
It is entertaining. You will see alot of in character shinanigans and some funny stuff. Also some over the top in character annoying stuff. So just like a regular server but with RP.
I never felt obligated to play along and as long as your not bashing RP or spamming chat with politics no one really cares if you are out of character.
However, character names are more restrictive (ideally).
So mostly, there is no obligation on you but you get rewarded by seeing characters who are clearly trying to entertain and add some flavor to the world. It like if the NPCs where written half well, but they are players.
We don’t know if they will have an rp/pvp server yet.
Rp is great for those who like to take the time to really get into their character. You can use an add on to give them a last name. (MRP) And to fill out a small biography if you desire.
I love rp because I am a writer and it gives me lots of room to be creative. You are the writer, the director, the producer and the actor all in one.
Dark, dark things. You don’t want to know.
Goldshire anyone?
WoW is probably the best game to get started in RP. Community events (can be found on the forums and Discord) can be fun. I personally like racial guilds’ RP since they tend to be more thematic.
If I had to guess though, I would wager only like 5-10% of the people on an RP server ever actually have interest in writing a story out. Most people are there for either a “chill atmosphere” or to repeat the same jokes like Sarrthronah does.
Doesn’t hurt to try it out! No one is going to expect you to RP. I know a lot of RPers that just avoid most new people and RP with friends-only. If you decide that you’re interested in the actual roleplay part of things, try to find a guild or get involved with Discord.
“To war, fellow adventurers! It has come time for us to slay the horrible dragon known as Onyxia! No longer shall she blight our world under her flame! Stormwind will never bend the knee!”
“We do this every week… can’t you just post LFM like everyone else?”
I remember standing in the corridor between trade district and canals leading to Mage quarter and seeing these two wizardly looking fellows talking about the dreaded defias brotherhood and marshaling forces to put a stop to their offenses.
I just stood there watching from maybe 20 feet away, fascinated by the in-depth role play peppered with emotes as they scratched their chins and nodded as the dialogued.
After the conversation ended, one of the men walked off. The other turned to me and after about 15 seconds of my continued staring, he said, “mmmmmm? Yes?”
I felt totally conspicuous and a little embarrassed for having been eavesdropping and spying them for so long only to learn that one of them had been aware of me for some time.
I turned and ran off.
That was my first experience witnessing RP.
wait…but now I really want to know!
Under most circumstances, an RP server is a bustling community of people playing out the ‘fantasy’ of living in the World of Warcraft. The idea of roleplay is to treat the world like it’s an actual community of people, each with their own goals and motivations and limitations while they work towards shared or opposing goals.
While not every player on an RP server is actively roleplaying all the time, there are many who are active, and they often use addons, such as MyRoleplay, which allows you to see what they’ve dreamed up about their character.
I might even suggest getting MyRoleplay or TotalRoleplay3 and wandering over to Moon Guard or Wyrmrest Accord and just watch people in Stormwind or Orgrimmar. There is a ton of freeform roleplay to be found.
Many players will organize large events. Not just PVP wars where people roleplay during BGs or open world fights, but all manner of events where everyone can get together and interact.
Right now, Moon Guard is gearing up for a large week-long event, called the Tournament of Ages. From August 4-10, there’s going to be a week of roleplay at the Argent Tournament grounds. You can certainly hop by and come over and see what’s going on.
Classic will certainly present a different set of circumstances for roleplayers, and we’ll be looking forward to what prospective roleplayers have in store.
…stays on an RP server.
You don’t want your significant other to learn about what went down in Goldshire....
I used to play on an RP-PvP Realm - ED REPRESENT!
I personally didn’t RP at all, or very little. I respected the naming rules and played along if something was going on.
It’s interesting, you notice the difference in community and realm participation for events whether it be PvP or not. When I was burned out of dueling, I’d go to normal spots where players RP. I love reading their stories and how they interact with others. A lot more RP walking around town too. It feels more alive maybe?
I never really saw people roll playing while raiding or PvP’ing though. There’s no amazing cringe like speech after downing a boss for example. I felt it was a solid community who focused on their own things. When they were done, they’d pull up a chair in designated areas and RP their stories.
I played an MMO once, not WoW, where I picked an RP server. There were a few that RP’d and it was great watching them go at it but most players were playing the game normally. But one thing I did notice right away is that most players on the server were mature. It was a real pleasure not reading mindless bickering on the world channel. Hopefully something like that will extend to WoW Classic RP servers if they have any.
There are as many different types of Roleplayers as there are any other players, really. Many, but not all, come from a tabletop Dungeons and Dragons background. Think of it like improv theater where people see the world through their character and speak through them, acting them out.
Most generally like roleplaying within the game’s lore to help bring it to life, while also investing in their characters even more ways than Rank or Gear. Many have detailed backstories with plot-lines played out with other RP players and a nice little story forms.
Like everything ever; there are bad apples. Also, Erotic RPers certainly exist but they’re usually a minority of a minority. Most RPers either keep it private, hand wave it, or don’t engage in ERP at all. And of course, there’s people getting into RP without much experience and it could be awkward to see their chat (which they usually keep in /say and are usually encouraged to do so as opposed to /yell or public chat channels which is frowned on by other RPers, it’s intrusive to other RPers and non-RPers on the server)
There’s many pages worth of information and etiquette on Roleplay and it’s certainly not for everyone. But even if you aren’t interested at all in Roleplay, as long as you respect Roleplayers and refrain from trolling, they’re usually a really welcoming bunch and you’re never obligated to ever be in-character or roleplay yourself.
Classic offers a pretty unique opportunity to live out a period of time in Warcraft directly off the heels of Warcraft 3’s storyline and before many new plots and retcons were introduced. I’m really excited to see people RP in the Horde under the rule of Thrall, Vol’jin and Cairne. And before Sylvanas got the villain/idiot ball, and before Garrosh even existed.
there is always at least one guy who logs on and reports everyone around for a name that doesn’t fit his RP
Some RP guilds will give you a personal story update every so often, like once a week. Some, you’re expected (or at least left to your own devices) to come up with your story, but the guild has a guild story.
Many, many years ago there was a guy who was active on the forums here who, I think, eventually got his account suspended because he wouldn’t stop reporting people for names that didn’t meet his own personal RP standards even after Blizzard warned him he was abusing the report feature.
Some of them are very serious. If they see people not RPing they won’t even talk to them.
There are some cool things, though. There are people who will claim buildings in towns as their “RP Guild/Clan” buildings. People will walk in town instead of running. I’ve seen people set up shows in Stormwind - they’d have little plays and stuff they’d act out while people sat and watched.
RP servers can be kind of cool if you’re that sort of thing.
It really depends on the server and where the serious RP’ers happen to congregate. I’ve tried other RP servers than the one I’m currently on, and only found one other that had a lot of activity (people in Stormwind or IF, Org or UC etc.) RP’ing as well as active RP guilds. Where people end up in the Classic servers remains to be seen, I know I’ll be open to switching servers if the one I initially choose seems to be dead.
Even if I’m not RP’ing I love just seeing it happening around me, especially in city hubs, helps me feel like I’m part of a community.