RP'ing your FFXI Char

[Thistle]

Most GMs do a tiny bit of RP whenever they greet you, especially if you're some kind of knight.

Usually I like that they do that, but I reported some fishingbots on my mule Fishingbot and I was hoping for some kind of a joke about that, but all I got was "Greetings thief Fishingbot!".

[Bakthi]

Most GMs do a tiny bit of RP whenever they greet you, especially if you're some kind of knight. It's just too bad your character is so detached from everything in the game... like san d'orians don't snub you for not being elvaan, random other npcs don't treat taru like they're children or 'cute as a button,' or your current job not having any impact almost anywhere.

It'd be interesting to have to be certain jobs to either get certain quests or interact with certain npcs to where if you grouped with them or had them talk first then you could get something done. The only place like that is the loltavern in upper jeuno as well as a couple areas where your rank matters, but it doesn't change any contents based on it.

It goes even further than this. I got rank 10 in San d'Oria recently, and when I was doing 2-3 for Bastok that same day (still with the Sandy title), Halver just did his usual "Why the fuck is this dirtbag in my palace?" thing. I'd understand if he were upset about me changing to Bastok (sorry Sandy, you and Bastok were never more than one week stands), but seeing the same thing I did as a 25 THF, rank 2 Windurst, was pretty funny. And of course Excenmille and Rahal don't remember me at all, etc.

I think a lot more could be done with NPC dialog in general. Some of it is altered based on fame, nation of allegience, quests/missions completed, etc., but that sort of thing is really sparse. It does take away from the "RPG" aspect (all arguments about "real RPG" versus "video games that are called RPGs" aside, because aside is where I want them).

Possibly somewhat as a result of this, but of course due to other factors as well, when people RP in FFXI it seems...jarring, and this is coming from someone who just dressed up yesterday to go to a Ren Faire. I suppose it wouldn't if you were in an RP linkshell, but even someone who's near-fanatic about LS-onry exp like myself has to party with other people some time, to fill in a spot for exp/missions/whatever. The game just isn't set up for that, and I don't think it works very well if you try.

And of course, the whole 18/F/Cali thing when you're really 35/M/Basement is no less creepy here than anywhere else. If some RPer likes referring to my Mithra as "she", I don't really care, but people I know tend to say "he" because of assumed maleness online + me telling anyone who bothers to ask.

[altwight]

I've never understood the whole RPing concept. Let's use WoW for example since they have RP servers.

PVP server PVE server blah blah same thing basically - killing people when you want to

RP server. same game?

[fantasticdan]

From my experience, almost no one on the wow RP servers even RP. I leveled a character to 70 on emerald dream(RP-PVP), and than did some casual raiding on it. In my entire course of playing there, I only saw a few people RPing, and they were all in the same (all tauren) guild.

I've never seen any real RPing in FFXI at all, other than people doing it sarcastically to make fun of RPing. I've only seen people pretending to be weird e-families (like pretending another character is there parent/sibling/etc.).

[Demosthenes]

http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57193

[Awoir]

It'd be interesting to have to be certain jobs to either get certain quests or interact with certain npcs to where if you grouped with them or had them talk first then you could get something done.

And the Black Belt quest. (And AF)

[Yugl]

Somehow I'm sensing the OP didn't get the response he wanted. Regardless, his and the generally accepted definition of Role Playing are creepy.

[BadKarma]

RPing while playing an MMORPG is fucking stupid.

I was in West Ronfaure a few years ago and saw a new Warrior at like level 3 or 4 approach an Orc. It went something like this:

Numbnuts>> Halt Orc! I have no wish to fight you! Return from whence you came!
Orc>> ... (wanders around aimlessly)
Numbnuts>> Thank you for letting me pass in peace, beastman.
Orc>> ... (turns around and aggros)
Numbnuts>> Fie vile beast!
*engages*
Numbnuts is defeated by the Orcish Grappler.

I walked away and let him HP. Some lessons are best learned the hard way. Orcs don't RP.

Win

[Antithesis]

FFXI wouldent be as fun if we RPed anyway.

[Demosthenes]

I like rping. I don't do it much, or when other things are happening. I only RP with a few people (irl friends in game, same people I play d&d, exalted etc with irl), and it's not done when we are exping or doing other events. It's fine as long as you are not bothering people with it.

[Imitarate]

MSPaint'd, meme officially dead.

[Thistle]

I like rping. I don't do it much, or when other things are happening. I only RP with a few people (irl friends in game, same people I play d&d, exalted etc with irl), and it's not done when we are exping or doing other events. It's fine as long as you are not bothering people with it.

What he said. Like anything else in life, RP shouldn't be forced on those not interested in it, however consenting adults who wish to take part in it should be 100% free to.

[Feedmenow]

Because there's no emotional or character psyche behind the character, there's no way for the player to "act" or role play that character. The character does not grow as a character, it only grows in levels and in gear.

Just because the main character is silent in the plotline does not mean it's not an RPG.

[Thiefami]

Just because the main character is silent in the plotline does not mean it's not an RPG.

haha that is correct like the old time rpgs where the main guy was named Ryu or Hero and didn't talk.

Anyway my thing is if you do not lead anyone on you are not wrong for it. If you said you were a guy and you're really a chick or vice versa as long as you were not establishing intimate and personal relationships with people I do not see what the issue is. It is when you start leading people on do they feel betrayed.

Just tell them flat out you are not comfortable with meeting in person who cares? I started playing with friends, and accidentally met another person at a party that happened played on my server who at first I had no contact with, only saw the name now we talk in game besides that I don't see myself meeting any of you crazies. No offense but I still have love for you all. Crazy fuggers.

[Eruantalon]

Just because the main character is silent in the plotline does not mean it's not an RPG.

You can role play a "silent brooding" character. My point was that a FFXI character does not grow or mature as a "person" through its experiences in game (missions, quests, etc). This is completely separate from you as a person maturing over the course of 4+ years and your play-style changes.

If people want to role play in their linkshell, have at it. But don't expect much acceptance outside of your niche. The game inofitself doesn't promote role playing just as it doesn't promote PvP (no rewards outside PvP == no incentive). You can do both in game, but don't expect a huge following.

All this talk is making me want to get back into Palladium ; ;

[Thistle]

My point was that a FFXI character does not grow or mature as a "person" through its experiences in game (missions, quests, etc).

The character does not grow as a character, it only grows in levels and in gear.

I can't agree with you. You start off as some guy (or girl) who is basically helpless. Someone who is looked down on by nearly everyone (at least if you start out in Sandy). You start in a job, maybe you don't like it and try out some other job. You get 75. You get multiple 75s. You think that wouldn't change who the character is? That years of leveling and missioning doesn't mature them? To go from a weak "nothing" person to going to the hero of your nation wouldn't cause growth?

SE doesn't have to tell you outright that your character has changed, you should be able to know that.

[Eruantalon]

I can't agree with you. You start off as some guy (or girl) who is basically helpless. Someone who is looked down on by nearly everyone (at least if you start out in Sandy). You start in a job, maybe you don't like it and try out some other job. You get 75. You get multiple 75s. You think that wouldn't change who the character is? That years of leveling and missioning doesn't mature them? To go from a weak "nothing" person to going to the hero of your nation wouldn't cause growth?

SE doesn't have to tell you outright that your character has changed, you should be able to know that.

Maybe your character does grow, but NPCs don't react accordingly. At least Morrowind's NPCs react to you differently as you complete quests and the main story. The only NPC who changes is the fame NPC, but that's not affected by the missions you perform. If you consider FFXI to be an RPG, it's one of the poorest and flatest RPGs.

No matter how much fame I have for windy, that one mithra merchant NPC will still start off with "what do you want?" and not "Oh Em Gee, it's you! What can I do for you?"

ToAU missions did change slightly compared to previous missions where you are just a bystander led around by NPCs. But the fact that in the long rants of ToAU, you get to choose how you react makes little difference other than taking a different path to the same destination.

There's a huge difference between a character raising in levels and a character who matures and grows. The fact that you can lose xp and lose levels weighs even less on how a character should be perceived of their maturity and growth.

If NPCs aren't dynamic enough to respond accordingly to your character's notoriety, there's no way of telling if your character's personality has been affected by its experiences. While a character could tell if they've grown and matured, without the change in how NPCs react to you leaves you doubtful. Combined with the flat personality of your character during interactions with NPCs furthers this point. I can only imagine a conversation with your character is the same as talking to a hot LA chick about anything of substance and all you get is a glazed over look on their face. At least until you hit enter

What you get out of FFXI is your own personal experiences doing missions and quests with friends, and your character gaining levels and gear. I honestly have a deeper emotional tie with my pen and paper character even though the same thing has happened to my FFXI character, bar one difference. My pen and paper character wasn't the same type of person it started out as compared to the end. My FFXI character is still the same type of character. I moreso have a monetary connection to my FFXI character than an emotional one.

The greatest evidence against FFXI being an RPG is WoTG expansion. The ability for your character to act freely in mentioning they are a time traveler, and the repercussions of telling a pass self about their future self or the future in general is non-existent.

And stop making me talk about pen and paper >< now I REALLY wanna play.

[Alistaire]

It goes even further than this. I got rank 10 in San d'Oria recently, and when I was doing 2-3 for Bastok that same day (still with the Sandy title), Halver just did his usual "Why the fuck is this dirtbag in my palace?" thing. I'd understand if he were upset about me changing to Bastok (sorry Sandy, you and Bastok were never more than one week stands), but seeing the same thing I did as a 25 THF, rank 2 Windurst, was pretty funny. And of course Excenmille and Rahal don't remember me at all, etc.

I did most of my Corsair AF cutscenes on BLU in full AF, so yeah, some situations make NPC dialog just a bit ironic.

[Jeryhn]

I'm one of those quest-junkie types who does quests for the fun(?) of it. I always thought the RP element in FFXI existed in the NPCs whom you complete quests for. Many of them have different dialog after you first meet them, and complete their associated quest. The other NPCs and shopkeepers probably couldn't care less who you are as long as you have the gil, if we're examining things from an RP standpoint.

There are also NPCs in town that remark upon things you've done in missions. Take Naji in Bastok Metalworks for example, when you complete ToAU. He talks to you about the light of Alexander and being shot down in the airship briefly before going back into his normal lines of speech.

Frankly, if all the NPCs in Windurst who hated on my level 1 WHM back in 2003 all turned around and went all mushy on me, I'd get sick of talking to NPCs pretty quickly. The fact that most of them don't give a shit, and only a few of them will remember you based on the deeds you've done fits well into the role of "adventurer" for me.

[Maxxthepenguin]

RPG in a general gaming sense is a genre that includes FFXI. You are clearly playing a role and you clearly have room to play how you want to play. Your character clearly grows and gains skills and improves existing ones.

Sorry, but RPG in video game parlance doesn't mean D&Dish. It's a broad genre with certain characteristics that FFXI has.