Roleplaying and Discovery Freelancer

[RParade]

First of all, I'd like to say hello to the Discovery community. I really like the module you've put together, and the server seems great.

A few of you have encountered me in-game as Julian, and now more recently as =LSF=Joolean. I never really got into Freelancer multiplayer (I tried Hamburg City a few years ago, but it sucked to be simple about things), but I always loved the game and kept coming back to it occasionally to check out multiplayer as time passed. I encountered Discovery, and it sparked my interest (especially since it's labelled as roleplay), so I'm here.

Anyway, I've a few questions. Perhaps even a few suggestions, though I realize I'm not exactly fit for such things, having only been on the server for roughly four days. I've not even began to scratch the surface of Discovery yet, I don't think.

1.) I've noticed that Discovery is labelled as roleplay, and the community seems to strive toward this on the forums. However, in-game my experiences aren't exactly as I had hoped; there's alot of OOC chatter all of the time, and it quickly loses it's immersion. Alot of times I've been involved in scenarios that really had alot of roleplay potential, but rather than focus on foregoing a storyline, everything generally results in a mindless PvP dogfight. Is roleplay (In Character interaction) actually enforced here, or do I misinterpret this community's personalized definition of "roleplay?" I've alot of experience with roleplaying online, and I am certainly interested in roleplaying in a setting like Discovery/Freelancer's.

I'm still having fun of course, I simply long for more depth in-game. Currently as it stands, I'm doing no more than I've done years ago in single-player - must it be this way?

2.) I'd like to join a guild with an alternative character, but I would prefer it to be a guild where gaining wealth is prioritized (with or without danger, preferably the latter). I would also hope for this guild's players to be dedicated roleplayers. Might anyone point a hopelessly clueless soul such as myself in the right direction?

Suggestions:

1.) If you truly are looking to create an immersive, persistant roleplaying setting on the server, it's imperative that roleplay is enforced to begin with. Players who refuse to remain in-character (all OOC qualms/complications/conflicts are to be dealt with in an IC manner) should be warned, and then reprimanded if the problem persists. Continuing to break the atmosphere may result in a temporary ban from the server/community, and eventually a permanent one should the problem continue even after all other means are exhausted.

2.) Within twenty minutes of playing Discovery, I was flying a Liberty Avenger with an estimated 18 million credits in my pocket. Not that I'm complaining, but things like this serve to hamper roleplay significantly, universally. All you have to do is launch from Manhattan, be friendly and request to join a guild. You're swiftly recruited in (without anyone even knowing your character, or proving yourself through tasks/training/missions) and flown to the nearest faction area where you're outfitted with powerful vessels and weaponry. Afterwards you can buy a tradeship and mine mindlessly until you're filthy rich. This results in less depth overall, as there is no real challenge to progressing. The only thing that defines a character is it's bank account. Maybe you'll consider preventing "quick buildup" (it's known as "muling" in most roleplaying communities, a form of cheating since it's an OOC action) in order to improve roleplaying atmosphere..?

Just a few ideas, I understand fully if you aren't even bothered reading them, afterall.. I am a newbie to both this server, and this community. These are observations I have made in a little less than a week playing on the server. I still love the server, the module, and the community seems tight enough aswell!

A little about myself:

I do alot of roleplaying on Neverwinter Nights. I play on a persistent world known as Arelith. I'd type out an eternally long post with details, but instead I think I'll just share a few screenshots with the lot of you:

My character is Jillian, and she is an incredibly powerful Sorceress (a Human with a hint of celestial lineage [Aasimar]). She is chaotic good, and follows a Goddess of Tolerance known as Selune. The following screenshots are taken from an encounter between herself and lone Crusader of a Holy Bastion known as Light Keep. Her target is Erik Silverarms, a Paragon of Good and Order who's been tasked with protecting an artifact of unknown powers known as the "Eye of Harmony" from Jillian and others in the world. She is an Enchantress, capable of subduing and bending the minds of others and binding it to her own will:








There's more I could post, but I think that's enough. This post is long enough anyway. It's good to meet everyone, I'll be around when I can be (I work alot). I'd also like to thank all of LSF for their warm welcome, means a ton guys. :D

[bluntpencil2001]

Please....

Somebody give this new player a medal.

Very few new folk coming in come to roleplay as advertised. Lots of folk come here and ruin the roleplay of the server. It's good to see positive people.

RParade... thank you. If you are looking for roleplay opportunities, 'Queen Carina's Own' are a nw Bretonian Armed Forces Fleet (created to promote roleplay in new players) looking for rookies to fly standard-issue Templars and Hussars (not optimal ships, but 100% roleplay.). Standard-issue means we'll pay for your fighters (which are easily afforded, thanks to Her Majesty's Inland Revenue)... but we won't pay for the expensive capital ships like gunboats, destroyers and battleships, which we severely limit.

EDIT: Also, I should promote a money-making faction, like you're after. The only real money-makers that like their roleplay are the IND and RepEx. RepEx are hiring.

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[P*Funk]

There are a few very good RP factions. But if you want to make money as a primary goal as well as RP then you can try out RepEx or the Black Lotus Syndicate. The first is a legal trader faction with ambitions while the second is an Outcast Cardamine smuggler's guild which has a VERY strong RP element and a whole background story. I'm 2nd in command of both factions so I can give you a quick interview (but your first post seems to make you an instant winner).

No matter what you want to do on Disco you'll find that people who make the effort to RP as you do will be very well received.

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Out of hibernation. Gauging the winds.

[RParade]

Hey, you guys rock too!~:D

Thanks for the tips, and again, the warm welcome!~

I look forward to approaching all of you in-game very soon.:)

[Jinx]

i agree, - most of the roleplay happens offline on the forum. and thats mostly good roleplay indeed.

ingame, there are certain limits ( which shall not be an excuse for a bad roleplay ) - but an explanation.

firstly, the chat system sucks. you can t write down more than 1.5 lines and you can t easily PM a target. instead you either have to make a system call, which is stupid most of the time, or you have to search a long list of cryptic names manually, - letting time pass which does not enable a proper conversation. and its hard to chat with several people at once, unless you form up a group , wich - in a roleplay sense makes no sense sometimes.

secondly, each players roleplay is different. and to put it like that - roleplaying in a fantasy setting is indeed easier, cause it comes with very certain stereotypes usually provided by the hollywood movie indurstry or other shows. - in other words, in "most" ( not all ) fantasy settings, there is a much broader understanding on how certain factions act.
in freelancer, we re confronted with a science fiction setting, which is rather unusual. most science fiction settings only know war of two or more sides, but rarely deal with societies or believable societies. there are some, but its not close as well known as the common fantasy settings.

furthermore, freelancer the game is a rather small and cramped universe. the space is very very limited, there are no real barriers at the borders of each faction. the npcs are mostly a joke or an annoyance and have no value when it comes to roleplay. there are no VIP NPCs like the singleplayer campain that puts us into the world of freelancer with believable missions and characters, we just see the usual default npc, that spawns and despawns - but doesn t at all affect the enviroment.

whats left is some sort of dogfight game - and for what it provides us, i still have to say that the discovery community makes a great efford in roleplaying it, and succeeds pretty well.

we do have good factions ( allthough i m not part of any ) - there are claims of territory, there is diplomacy, there are very FEW ( yes, i really think so ) pvp whores for a server of such a big active population.

in other games, people seek power ( wow, everquest, etc ) in freelancer disc, there s no gain to be highest level, as it can be achieved within a minute with a bit of cash transfer. also the equipment is balanced enough so there is no need to brag about flying a huge battleship. there are enough people that fly a fighter and are happy with it. - try to find that in other online games. - compared to that, the discovery server is a bright example of non power gamers.

all in all, i have seen less roleplay in games that came with easier settings. there is allways room to improve roleplay, and yes, sometimes its hard to roleplay, cause ppl just ooc chat ( and then - at least i feel strange when i started to talk in role, - happened in tau-31 once, where ppl told me to basicly shut up with my gaian propaganda, cause it disturbed their ooc chatting - )

anyway, the general picture of the server is quite positive.

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Shipdesigns made for DiscoveryGC

[RParade]

Quite true, mate. I understand.

The Chat system does suck. As far as area limit goes, Neverwinter Nights is also restricted in that department. It took alot of scripting and overhauling of fundamentally flawed systems in order to make it as immersive as it is. The DM and the toolset that comes with Neverwinter Nights allows for alot of versatility aswell, in that department.

And yes, I must agree that a fantasy setting tends to come easier to people in general than that of a science fiction setting. Very accurate. It's understandable, afterall it took a server like Arelith five years or so to get to where it's at now.

I only meant to propose a few ideas, and introduce myself. Rules such as no OOC would further the community's cause I think, very much so. In reality though, the only true way to inspire others to roleplay is to play by example. From there it's their decision to make, and it really shouldn't be held against them (not personally, atleast) if they don't find roleplaying enjoyable.

I'm feeling right at home already, thanks abunch.:)

[P*Funk]

Well you know there are rules about OOC in system chat. In fact the rules are there basically how you outlined them. The last few months there has been a community campaign (sort of) to get the rules more well known. But it is still gonna be a problem since there are quite a few players on Disco who never even visit the site. Just read the Player Sanction forums to see how busy the Admins are with enforcing the rules.

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Out of hibernation. Gauging the winds.

[RParade]

Ah, yes. Well you see, this community appears to be substantially larger than that of what I'm used too.

This forum apparently has over 10,000 registered users, whereas ours only contains 400 or so. Our server will only hold 60 players (though it's usually full; NwN becomes iffy and unstable beyond 75 players it seems).

It would definitely be quite an endeavour to lock everything down, as it were. I imagine Admin Tools in Freelancer aren't as thorough as those in other games either, sadly.

Ahwell, there's definitely hope, though.:)

[tfmachad]

Congratulations, RParade. I believe it is newcomers like you that make the other players feel all warm and cozy when pushing the 'connect' button to enter this amazing universe.

I figure you must be operating chiefly in the Liberty area, and for that you probably have to cross NY a lot and that can be a real turn off when it comes to role play, since that is one area where the players are not obliged to RP. Not only that, that's where the newcomers spawn and a lot of people there won't have a clue of what's happening.

Take the word of another newcomer (myself). The server has a lot, and I do mean a lot, of excellent RPing going on. Hope you find your share real soon.

Fly safe.;)

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Meet the Kriegers - The story of a family and of two men that shared more than just a name
Fantasmas de la Nube Siniestra
I Mon'Star: The Strange Case of Elizabeth Wallace

[LancerZero]

I'm going to join everyone else in saying that it is great to see another dedicated roleplayer joining the server. Yes, regrettably OOC chat does prevail in some systems - including Tau-31, presently the most-spammed trade route in Sirius - but I think you'll find there are some fine roleplaying factions here.

For making money and not getting shot at, I recommend the TAZ. Yay Zoner neutrality! You can do lots of exploring and trading, and not get attacked much except by NPCs. There's also the OSC, though I'm the only active cruise captain in it...

For good roleplay, as blunt suggested the QCO is a good place to be, though it's still new and just finding its footing.

There's a faction for your preferences, whether they be lawful or unlawful; just look around, dig through the pages. I've found several factions that I enjoy a great deal, regardless of the mood I'm in. =P

Also, as others have said, using the system chat for OOC is quite against the rules. Unfortunately, the admins can only be in so many places at once; they work very hard to ensure the rest of us have a good time on the server.

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