We are playing a text based game. Our imaginations are our graphics levels - some play with everything set to minimum, where others play in full HD.
The goal of a RPL is to create these images for people to interpret in there own way.
They are there to arouse the imaginations of the players to cause images and feelings to spring forth inside of the players around them.
What is considered as RP though?
Is just loading mobs and saying "Oh my we are being attacked - quick kill them and save me" then mindlessly slaying mobs till they are all dead, roleplay?
On a basic level yes - not well thought out really gives little scope for the individual player to advance or drive a story in a direction, but for the most part is a way to get people who would normally not get involved with roleplaying, slowly involved in it.
Where do we go from there? I talk to people - ask them questions about who their character is, tell them about myself again arouse that imagination start them thinking. Once you have the player thinking work with them, help them to develop their ideas, give their thoughts substance, take that black and white image and make it colour then help them to see it in HD. Once you have done this you get players who look further with their characters they want to tie other game elements into their history. Clan pride starts to surface again. it is all a flow on effect.
Now when you have players who can imagine their character, who know who they are and how they would react to situations you need less props to engage them. The imagination is active and requires less to stimulate, ideas flow and the players become more active in their involvement.
I used to start a story with a group then we would go for a walk - wander the realms, use what is already in place and work from there, people would react to what was around them, players would bounce ideas and story between themselves, I was only a guide, I started the ball rolling and was there to keep momentum. This is what I aim for.
Now I tell stories, I suck people into another world entice them with the wonders of old, weave a story full of truths, half truths, and grandeur.
It is amazing how simply just sitting down and telling a story brings people to listen and gets people excited and wanting to hear more or progress more with their own ideas.
It is not easy work, and it should not be, if it is easy then you as an RPL are not investing enough of yourself into it - give it your all because the more you put into the more the players get out of it and in turn the more satisfaction you will feel as you see new role players formed and develop around you.
Just my 2 cents