Does RP even matter?

[BaconSoda]

One thing to remember about pirates is that essentially their RP is "Money or die." It can be presented with flair. It can be presented with good vocabulary. It can be presented with accent, imperative, or emphasis. At the end of the day, it is still the same thing.

How is that bad RP? I'm a pirate. I am someone so destitute, selfish, or egotistical that I have taken to stealing my livelihood from others. Should I really care that you are empty? Should I really care that you are down on your luck? I'm stealing from you. Stealing. This is my role. You can respond. You can appeal to my judgement or sympathy somehow. At the end of the day, I want to steal money from you, or I will kill you. This is my end of the interaction. It is the trader's job to attempt to appeal to me somehow to stop this.

But please mind, there's a difference between being a jerk as a player and a jerk as a pirate. If someone comes up to me and says sincerely that he has no money and this is his first run, I might end up blowing him up, but then I'll take the time to explain to him that this was an RP interaction, I hope he enjoys his stay here, and I send him some money to get back on his feet. Mind, sincerely is the operative word. It is very clear when someone is lying to gain an advantage. If any trader ever tries this kind of thing with me, suddenly my demeanor changes from understanding to completely disgusted as a player (Amirite, Mr. Geisha-with-a-15-million-bounty-on-his-head?).

And another thing: I notice a trend that anything which negatively impacts a character appears to be "Bad RP." I don't at all agree. I enjoy being pirated. I enjoy meeting a successful pirate. I make the people who attack me work for it as much as the next guy. If they catch and kill me, they deserve it, and if they choose to charge more when someone surrenders, like I do, then I'll gladly pay it. Losing is a part of the game and a part of life. Being comfortable with it is a good skill to have.

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[8:32:45 PM] Dusty Lens: Oh no, let me get that. Hello? Oh it's my grandma. She says to be roleplay.
[12:49:19 AM] Elgatodiablo: You know its nice that you have all that proof and all, Bacon... but I just don't believe you.