I think we are looking at this is the wrong light. I constantly hear people complaining about how things used to be back then. How people used to rp back then… how things used to be better. But you know what? This isn’t the past now, it is the present. Forcing people to conform to the ways of how role-play used to be isn’t the way to go. If we have that mindset, we will always be judging people if they aren’t roleplaying “correctly”. And how newbie friendly is that?
What I suggest is looking at the basic form of rp in 4dimensions and then building upon that. The brunt of rp I have been involved with is with clans. Every clan has a story and they have some sort of politics. There are allies, enemies, and neutral (I don’t care wtf is going on kind of people) type of clans. I believe clans will always have the highest chance of instigating plots in 4d, and it is up to the clan to figure out where they want to stand in the game world. If their clan is unfriendly with another clan, their character isn’t going to have drinks with the enemy in the world. Most people, from what I seen, usually join a clan for either power, people, or for a new experience. They want to feel like they belong to something. Clan leaders and clannies should encourage that type of motivation. It really encourages people to stay longer when they have meaning in the game. I would not have stayed if Dark Jedi did not instill some sort of value into me.
People don’t need to have an rp flag or make really long posts to be a part of an rp experience. For example, the clan deeding is an rp experience in itself, it is building upon politics of the game. It is kind of exciting to know that you are in an area owned by another clan, or that is my take of it. There is so much clans can do with deeding, they can start wars over it or form allies. I believe clan wars, traitors, and allying should be highly encouraged. However, I seriously think that people are afraid to hurt other people’s feelings in rl, which is why a lot of this encouragement has died down. What is so wrong with making clans raidable, if the clans have a well thought out motive to do so? Or having traitors in the clan steal resources and give to other clans for the right price? I mean the Vikings, for goodness sakes, are always known for pillaging and Sicillians are mostly cheats. Wouldn’t it be exciting to build on those politics?
What do you guys think?
