Roleplaying

[BaconSoda]

Sometimes we ask ourselves, what is Roleplaying? Well, Roleplaying, as defined by Wikipedia, is the changing of one's behavior to assume a role, either unconsciously to fill a social role, or consciously to act out an adopted role. Though we can all agree that we fit into the second category, I do believe delving deeper into the definition of Roleplaying is necessary to understanding what it is we really do here.

In reference to Wikipedia, a Roleplaying game is a game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional characters. Participants determine the actions of their characters based on their characterization, and the actions succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines. Within the rules, players have the freedom to improvise; their choices shape the direction and outcome of the game.

But what does that mean? An explanation would be nice, I know. So, lets delve into it.

...participants assume the roles of fictional characters. Participants determine the actions of their characters based on their characterization...

We assume the roles of fictional characters. This simply means that, as Roleplayers, we should always be in the role of our character. To imply something outside of Roleplay would be breaking the first fundamental rule of Roleplaying. This is rather simple. The second part of the definition is what causes some problems.

Participants determine the actions of their characters based on their characterization. This means that there are things we know as our characters, things we don't know as our characters, things we would generally do as our characters, things we would never do as our characters, things our characters would want to feel that we should be aware of, things our characters wouldn't want to feel that we should be aware of, etc.

This thought brings up a definition we should probably know. This definition is metagaming.

Roleplaying is defined as follows on Wikipedia in reference to Roleplaying Games: In role-playing games, a player is metagaming when they use knowledge that is not available to their character in order to change the way they play their character (usually to give them an advantage within the game), such as knowledge of the mathematical nature of character statistics, or the statistics of a creature that the player is familiar with but the character has never encountered. In general, it refers to any gaps between player knowledge and character knowledge which the player acts upon.

But what does this mean? It means that unless our characters know something, we shouldn't pretend that they would. Lets apply some examples to Freelancer.

An LPI Officer wouldn't claim to know Planet Malta's exact whereabouts or the name of a head Don.

This seems rather obvious, doesn't it? Liberty Police stay in Liberty and deal with internal issues. Common sense, right? How about this one, though?

The Navy knows about Alcatraz Base in California, and the Jump Holes, too! The Rogues are being watched!

This isn't so obvious. The Navy might know the general area of the bases of criminals, but, would they really know exactly where they were? No. Lets remember back to vanilla...

In mission 2, Trent find the exact location of a Rogue base in the Pittsburgh Asteroid Field. Very soon, it is overwhelmed and destroyed. This leads us to two conclusions:

A. Police and Military are physically stronger than Pirates
B. Pirates build bases in places that Police and Military logically cannot operate, be it because of sensor inadequacy or inability to operate capital ships, Pirates build where Police and Military cannot operate in full force because of some elaborate reason.

So, if a Military or Police were to camp, say, Niverton or the Pennsylvania Jump Hole in California, this would be a minor form of metagaming, as the character wouldn't logically know about the jump hole or base, based on vanilla information.



Lets continue on in the definition.

...the actions succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines.

The actions succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines. This means that actions within RP on the server result in RP consequences on the server. Though it might seem like common sense, this rule is often found to come into question on the server. Lets take the common example of a pirate encounter.

The LWB met a trader today who was carrying Luxury Foods. Synth Foods, being a food conglomerate, may have produced this food, as they produce most (if not all) types of food in some form or another. As LWB, we questioned this trader accordingly, and he was abrasive, stating that he doesn't care about the LWB or Synth Foods, and was generally uncooperative. The In-RP consequence, as LWB, was to conclude that this person was in cahoots with Synth and demand the food. The man refused, and he was destroyed. The following conversation ensued:

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj139/K..._Censored-1.jpg

Now, what was wrong about what happened? This person concluded that the In-RP consequences of his actions were not, indeed, based on Roleplay. He assumes that, just because we blew him up, we had some intention to do so in the beginning and baited him into getting destroyed for a sadistic pleasure only sad, malignant people can understand. There is apparently no Roleplaying intention within the interaction.

For some reason, this rule of Roleplay is forgotten. However, whatever happens, in RP, it is simply a consequence of Roleplay. If you are destroyed, it is a consequence of Roleplay.Iif a pirate gets cargo, it is a consequence of Roleplay. If a trader gets away, it is a consequence of Roleplay. No matter what occurs on the server, it is a consequence of Roleplay.

This is, at least in my opinion, the most important rule of Roleplay to remember. No matter what happens n the server, it is a consequence of Roleplay. In every interaction, there is some means, for either of the participants, to escape the situation in a positive manner, whether it is by talking, bartering, or fighting. In every possible interaction, a positive way of escape is possible.

In the above example, the result of this Roleplay is that the trader was destroyed. He lost his cargo and almost lost his life.

One of the most important things to remember while on server is to never take something personally. If a positive means of escape is not achieved, then it is simply a result of the roleplay that occurred, meaning that the characters involved have learned from this experience. In the above example, the character should learn at least two things:

A. If (a) Pirate(s) has a means to destroy you, being abrasive and confident may not be the best means of escape.
B. The LWB are wary of people shipping any type of food.



Moving on in the definition...

...players have the freedom to improvise; their choices shape the direction and outcome of the game.

Players have the freedom to improvise. Choices shape the direction and outcome of the game. A bit redundant, isn't it? But, to explain, within Roleplay, characters can do whatever they will within the game. These actions shape the outcome of the game within Roleplay.

In game terms, if a trader sights a pirate at 12k away down a lane. He breaks out of the lane early; not a usual thing an NPC would do. His cargo sells in two places: the planet one trade lane back, for less profit, or the planet in the next system, for more profit. He may improvise many things now.

An NPC would run right through the pirate, and engage in a basic encounter. This human trader, though, may go 15k above the plane, as the captain knows that his scanner works at 15k. This human trader may turn around and head for the planet he just passed, sacrificing his profit for missing an encounter with a pirate. Of course, the human trader may do just as the NPC does, and move right through the lane to the pirate, but, he doesn't have to.

The outcome of this improvisation may also result in several things. The trader may miss the pirate by flying above and get his profit. He may miss the pirate and get less profit by going back. Or, the pirate may also fly up and catch him. The outcome is determined, as stated before, by Roleplay, and nothing more.

Within the rules...

Within the rules. This is very simple. Anyone Roleplaying must follow two sets of rules:

A. Rules of the Game
B. Rules of Roleplay

For us on Discovery, our rules are the Discovery Server Rules. As long as we play within these rules and Roleplay, we can do whatever we want.

Isn't that neat?

---

[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.

[Camtheman Of Freelancer4Ever]

Yeah it is.

Its especially neat that NOBODY can restrict our buying of ships or RPing of characters except for admins. (w/ exceptions, like those transformers RP'ers a while ago, thats pushing it)

That is VERY unusual in MMORPGS and non existant in others.

[Canadianguy]

Yeah it is.

Its especially neat that NOBODY can restrict our buying of ships or RPing of characters except for admins. (w/ exceptions, like those transformers RP'ers a while ago, thats pushing it)

That is VERY unusual in MMORPGS and non existant in others.

Well, the leaders of your faction can ask you to get one or an other ship.

Still, a really nice post bacon.
It really says what metagaming is and what we should do for RP instead of whining when we get killed for RP.

Also, you forgot to censor the name of the guy once in your chat.

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[Sprolf]

I prefer Synth Paste.



Your points are those which should be jammed into the head of every player on the server. Since they aren't, I appreciate your well structured and well thought out and well intentioned jamming.



The real point of this post, however, was to tell you that there was one spot in which you did not blank the trader's name out.
And to say that I prefer Synth Paste.

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[farmerman]

Isn't that neat?

Yes, yes it is! :)

It was pretty neat when that one guy RPed along and we pirated him for 2 polymers (though he was generous and gave us 10, yay!).

This is, at least in my opinion, the most important rule of Roleplay to remember. No matter what happens n the server, it is a consequence of Roleplay. In every interaction, there is some means, for either of the participants, to escape the situation in a positive manner, whether it is by talking, bartering, or fighting. In every possible interaction, a positive way of escape is possible.

That's very true. Outcomes are the results of the RP actions that went into them. Earlier was a great example: the ships that randomly fire on you without anything happening first usually don't get anywhere, but that Clydesdale led to all sorts of interesting RP.

Well, actually I lost my train of thought, but your original posts sums everything up.

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Faction info links: Samura Heavy Industries : LWB : Watchers

[Quorg]

Yup- RP good, Powergaming bad.

---

ATTENTION SMUGGLERS
The Midnight Express: A Slaver <strike>who doesn't completely realize what he's doing.</strike> (video)

Quorg, you're officially a moron.

...mongs like Quorg being like a malignant little cancer...

Way to be useless, Quorg.

[chovynz]

Now... THIS is a COMMON SENSE NOTICE. Well done Bacon.

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Seek fun and you shall find it. Seek stuff to Q_Q about and you'll find that, too. I choose to have fun.

[Barrier]

Well, that was probably the best explanation of RP I've ever seen. People should post the link to this in welcome threads (although most of the newbies will probably quit reading after a paragraph or so:P)

Good job dude :)

EDIT: Forgot to add that this needs to be Pinned.

[Michael Trenton]

I Roleplay!

Cow: Moo!
Pig: Oink!
Cat: Meow!
Censored ship that was carrying food and was destroyed by LWB: I'm leaving!

*Runs out of the room and slams the door behind him*

Seriously though, well done!

---

Founder and Executive Consultant of
Universal Shipping Incorporated

[DarthCloakedGuy]

I would like to say that you now officially win at Life, Bacon.

---

HISPANIANS, FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF HER PEOPLE
A Plea to the Outcasts (PG)
CHARACTERS:
LR-I.Got.Nothin', LR-Empty.Pockets, and LR-Dead.End = &quot;Lash&quot; McDaggit of the Liberty Rogues.
SMUG~Eat.My.Exhaust = Jane Terraman and Bob McAdams, smugglers of the Liberty Rogues.
[H]Cj.Martino.Perez = Martino Perez, self-declared Counselor of the Hispanians.
AVATAR MADE BY SPIRIT! THE AWESOME.