Where's the RP in MMORPG?

[tefda]

Log into Runescape, go to seers village, Ardougne, or Varrock. What do you see and find there? People buying and selling goods, people leveling up their skills, people doing quests, and people chatting. You'll see all of that and it's all a part of the game in which we play. But there's still one part missing. The Role Playing, I mean the acting as a character that actually exists within Runescape who's life is in their own hands as they battle epic beasts and struggle to survive, a person who has solved mysteries, explored worlds unknown to the common man, seen creatures that were buried underneath the sands, and communicated with Gods! Where are these good men and women that put the RP in MMORPG?

 

 

 

I myself played Pen and Paper Dungeons and Dragons back in Middle School (a good six or seven years ago) and ever since then have played games that are considered to be RPG's such as Baldurs Gate, Spellcraft:Aspects of Valor, NeverWinter Nights, etc. Not only have I played games that were RPG's but ever since I created my first halfling thief on my parents coffee table before dinner my mind has been filled with glorious events and dangerous foes. I've read fantasy books such as the Sword of Shanara, the Lord of the Rings, and most especially the DragonLance Series. To me Roleplaying games are second nature. When I was younger I would run around my house in my father's bath robe and take out the wooden sword I had gotten from Medieval Times and pretend I was a War Wizard and cast out imaginary Fireballs and Magic Missiles at imaginary undead beings.

 

 

 

As time went on I didn't run around in bath robes instead I played with Lego's and had amazing battles of grand proportion set out before me (using only ten or so Lego men). Still I pretended to be a Wizard and as I walked around the house I would still cast out magic spells or ignite a mystical flame around me but only when people weren't around to see me. Following this trend I fell out of playing with Legos as people came by my room and eventually I stopped pretending I was a wizard or a warrior. This was during early High School primarily when I was no longer playind D&D but I was playing Runescape.

 

 

 

During High School I never once played D&D. I did play the games I mentioned before. But these games were not played as my own little adventure it was more so a game for me to gain levels and get powerful and take on bigger and badder monsters. I still read the story and it was intriguing but the fighitng was most important to me. This now holds true for Runescape. During RSC I would walk around and tell myself "I am King of these Lands, I must route these fouls monsters that dwell here! Look a house full of these beasts I must go slay them!" But now in RS2 I say "Hey look a Fire Giant, I could use a little bit more XP."

 

 

 

I'm not saying that it is a bad thing I just think that it is taking away from the game. The game tells a story, you are a citizen of Runescape, an Adventurer. You stumble across mystical runes and weapons from another dimension almost every day why not have a story about it? I will say that I do not Roleplay in Runescape all too much and probably will not as it is just not my forte anymore. I want skills in the game and that's all I want, I don't know why or how but I know that's what I want.

 

 

 

Roleplaying adds a whole other depth to the Runescape world. That way you have three inputs into your game time, your own abilities that you've earned, your own story that you make as you go, and the stories given to you by Jagex and the quests. Runescape can be much more than a power driven skill hunt.

 

 

 

To me I think writing your own story of your exploits in Runescape is an amazing way of seeing what you do as something more than just sitting in front of a computer for hours at a time. Just think about how amazing a story of battling Six Undead Brothers with ancient armor that holds magical properties to them would sound on paper. Experience it, expand it, write it! Give your character a conscience about the monsters he kills or a malevelolent lust for power and hatred of all monsters. Make your character into more than just pixels and mouse-clicks controlling it, make it into an extension of yourself or the exact opposite of you. I think you'd enjoy the game more when you've got guidelines to follow.

 

 

 

Those of us who have played for a long time know that it is difficult to keep interest in the game when quests that are simple or are very short are released and you've already accomplished so much and thus you set goals to make the game more interesting. Why not play a character for a time being and walk through the worlds of Runescape as a roaming mercanary in search of work or a wizard who is fresh from the wizard tower? Despite your incredible strengths already you could limit yourself in using only the lesser of your equipment and make things more difficult for you.

 

 

 

Now Roleplaying will keep the world more interesting as what changes happen can have great effects on a citizen of Runescape, including you, if you deem yourself as a servant of Ardougne and you find that the King si corrupt, what are your actions? Are they to smite every Knight of Ardougne or to continue to serve the King despite your knowledge of his evil deeds?

 

 

 

I think that roleplaying in the game is integral in playing the game to it's true calling. The drive for skills and higher combat level is purposeless, it's just pixels after all. The story that you weave in your mind or on paper is something unique and something that can be both fun and a building block for creativity in the future. Roleplaying is important, but it is also important that you experience all of the game, don't slack off on any one skill because it's not what your character would do, if you're really going to roleplay than you should know that it IS all in your mind and gaining some levels in one skill won't affect your character's persona if you don't want it to.

 

 

 

Play the game for skills and play it for coins but also play it for the adventure that you make it can be the best one you'll ever know and you won't know until you try it.

[bobby1167]

Basically your saying that Runescape has levels (Not combat, but rather levels, like level 5, level 6, ect)

 

 

 

Its roll playing because there are always things to do, unlike other games where its only level 3:Get the stolen treasure, then once you get it, theres another thing that you HAVE to do, Runescape, you can waste your time doing nothing, or you can train, do quests, chat, or just stand there.

[Bloodveld]

=D> Very nice piece of writing.

 

 

 

But I would have to say that I definitely role play quite a bit. ;)

[math_le_gogo]

1st-

 

you can't really make runescape a RP game because every day there is some people joining the game and they don't read the rules ( personally i didn't read the rules) so people wouldn'T know it is RP ...

 

 

 

2nd -

 

 

 

this game is full of 8 years old kid that often ruin the game ( some are mature some are not ... those that are not ruin the game ) they woudn't do RP and ruin the game again...

 

 

 

 

 

but

 

 

 

i already though about that like 1 year ago and i though about RP world ... but kid would still come only to ruin it... so they could do world with access and you have to write a story ( add MOD oonly for those story) it give your account an access to the rp world :? i dont know if you htink it's a good idea i don't really know so if you think it's a good idea tefda you can add this idea to your post... and if your not tefda tell me what you think

[Artie_900]

I don't want to do any of that. I want to sit there and watch my numbers go up and the pile of gold in my bank account get bigger. If I wanted a story, I would read or play a game that was well-written; I don't remember slogging through any quest that was engaging, entertaining or otherwise kept me from just wanting to get it over with so I could get to whatever feature Jagex keeps you from using until you finish the quests.

 

 

 

The drive for skills and higher combat level is purposeless, it's just pixels after all.

 

hurrrrr pixels

 

 

 

I am so sick of people using this one word to express the concept that "lol everything in runescape is imaginary so people who play for skills/money/items/levels are dumb lol" Not only is it a stupid idea, it sails right past the concept of MMOGs (you oftentimes the "RP" dropped from the acronym these days, since you're right- nobody wants to RP anymore), the central idea of which is to make your character better in a quantifiable way.

[Y2g2003]

You're playing as a character doing things you would probably never do in real life otherwise... How is that not role playing?

 

 

 

You just want the role playing to be at a higher degree. You can't expect there to be a whole lot of role playing to a game that is basically free to play (even with a membership). If you want a real, full blown, role playing game... go play Star Wars Galaxies or something that is of a higher age range.

 

 

 

There is absolutely no way RS will become a full blown role playing game. Some people just can't be bothered with that stuff. And especially since it really is only an option and nothing else. I myself am not a fan of it, because I don't see how role players can be taken seriously... but hey... thats just me.

[HeatMaker]

Maby the theme is the RP.

[math_le_gogo]

You're playing as a character doing things you would probably never do in real life otherwise... How is that not role playing?

 

 

 

 

i played a free RP game...

 

 

 

to subscribe we had to send a sotry about our future character...

 

 

 

IT WAS FREE you don't have to pay for a RP game you just have to change it a little or add some stuff...

[Y2g2003]

You're playing as a character doing things you would probably never do in real life otherwise... How is that not role playing?

 

 

 

 

i played a free RP game...

 

 

 

to subscribe we had to send a sotry about our future character...

 

 

 

IT WAS FREE you don't have to pay for a RP game you just have to change it a little or add some stuff...

 

 

 

Why you quoted that part is beyond me... Especially since it seems you were responding to a different comment that I made.

 

 

 

My point was, RS was never billed as a Role Playing game. I've played the game for the longest time and am lucky if I've even seen someone trying to RP. And the number of players is so large now that you can't possibly change what RS is or has become.

 

 

 

SWG was a mere example, and I'm by no means suggesting you have to pay a lot to RP. I'm just well aware that SWG costs more and opted to point it out.

[tefda]

 

this game is full of 8 years old kid that often ruin the game ( some are mature some are not ... those that are not ruin the game ) they woudn't do RP and ruin the game again...

 

 

 

I'm glad you brought this up, Kids aught to be the ones imagining their own worlds and whatnot, that's why I mentioned how I used to be. Did anyone notice how I progressed from full out running around my house to mulling about on my computer? Little Kids are more imaginative. You ask any little kid what he wants to be when he grows up, it could be a Fireman, an Astronaut, anything, the realm of possibilities for that child is limited only by what he's been exposed to. Now look at me, I'm 17 and I want to be a Graphic Designer, what ever happened to the little kid who wanted to be an Astronaut? Did I do research into the career and decided it wasn't for me? No! I grew up which isn't always a good thing, I started looking away from the world of limitless possibilities and more towards reality. But that happened as I got older and was forced down by the world shaping me and moulding me into what I am, it's happened to every one of us but we accept it which I have too.

 

 

 

hurrrrr pixels

 

 

 

I am so sick of people using this one word to express the concept that "lol everything in runescape is imaginary so people who play for skills/money/items/levels are dumb lol" Not only is it a stupid idea, it sails right past the concept of MMOGs (you oftentimes the "RP" dropped from the acronym these days, since you're right- nobody wants to RP anymore), the central idea of which is to make your character better in a quantifiable way.

 

 

 

I only used the phrase because it's broad and most people have heard it, it was to get a point across. I play the game, I enjoy the game, I love making coins off of a great trade. But when the day comes and Jagex closes the doors on Runescape (not that it'll happen anytime soon) those coins that you save, and all that work you've done will be gone for good but the fun times you had will still exist. I don't think that anyone who plays for a certain objective (i.e. Coins, Skills, items) is stupid I play for those reasons, there's no other reason why I play the game. I even said that I do not Role Play often in the game. I simply am wondering where did all of the Role players who spoke in Middle English and played as kings and men of mystery go?

 

 

 

You're playing as a character doing things you would probably never do in real life otherwise... How is that not role playing?

 

...

 

There is absolutely no way RS will become a full blown role playing game. Some people just can't be bothered with that stuff. And especially since it really is only an option and nothing else. I myself am not a fan of it, because I don't see how role players can be taken seriously... but hey... thats just me.

 

 

 

The reason why I don't conisder it to be Roleplaying when you simply log in and do stuff online is because you're not playing a character, you're simply clicking and advancing levels to try to move up even further. The reason why playing D&D was Roleplaying is because you were forced to use your imagination, to see the landscape that was painted by your Dungeon Master and to see yourself hacking away at a Kobolds head. When your character is no longer you, meaning you have made it's own way of thinking, it's own moral standpoint on issues of the game, then it would be considered Roleplaying.

 

 

 

I'm not asking for Runescape to become a complete and total Roleplaying game, then I couldn't have fun just killing monsters for the heck of it. I am simply giving those who had not explored this avenue a chance to experience it even if they did not know how to begin it.

 

 

 

To me story telling is a wonderful gift that anyone can use and probably master to their own level. With Runescape as the backdrop for your own adventure you already have a world, races, religions, and all that is involved with a world, now all that is left is the one adventurer that changes it all and affects everything in that world, that adventurer is you if you so desire.

 

 

 

Don't Roleplay just because I said so, you don't have to read a single word that I have written, you can forget everything I've put down. I think it'd be better if you decide you want to add another level to the game. If you're happy with the way things are now, great! If you're bored with the game and setting goals is not bringing you back into the game then try making your own story out of this game. I just think that it's important to us all that we create something out of nothing.

[i123i]

I did the same things you did when I first started in RSC. I always would go outside when my mom needed the computer and develop a story of my character though the names were changed sometimes of my friends characters and whatnot since normal people don't have numbers in their names :P. To this day I haven't finished the story, it's almost done with the roleplaying but I remember every detail of my story that I had started to write it down. I have only gotten about....8% through the first "book" or part of the story and a little bit over 12% of the 2nd part of the story.

 

 

 

As the years progressed I did drop a few runescape aspects and the landscape mainly deals with the RSC world but in the third book the world turns topsy turvy when Zamorak destroys most of the good beings in the world and rules with evil. It's a great storyline in my eyes and I'd continue to write it if anyone was interested. Just PM me if you'd be interested cause I don't want to write it and no one read it.

[Y2g2003]

 

You're playing as a character doing things you would probably never do in real life otherwise... How is that not role playing?

 

...

 

There is absolutely no way RS will become a full blown role playing game. Some people just can't be bothered with that stuff. And especially since it really is only an option and nothing else. I myself am not a fan of it, because I don't see how role players can be taken seriously... but hey... thats just me.

 

 

 

The reason why I don't conisder it to be Roleplaying when you simply log in and do stuff online is because you're not playing a character, you're simply clicking and advancing levels to try to move up even further. The reason why playing D&D was Roleplaying is because you were forced to use your imagination, to see the landscape that was painted by your Dungeon Master and to see yourself hacking away at a Kobolds head. When your character is no longer you, meaning you have made it's own way of thinking, it's own moral standpoint on issues of the game, then it would be considered Roleplaying.

 

 

 

 

Sorry, but thats the biggest load of crap I've ever herd. So you're saying D&D is Role Playing when RS isn't? Why? Because you have to "imagine" a landscape described by your Dungen Master? Please... The only reason why you don't have to imagine a landscape in RS is because one is already there for you.

 

 

 

And anyone who personally connects themself with their runescape character has issues. You are playing as a character. Thus, it is Role Playing to at least a certain degree. If people can't see the quests as telling a story, then thats their problem really.

 

 

 

You can't just say that something isn't a Role Playing game for the simple fact that it doesn't fully meet your expectations.

 

 

 

On a side note D&D was well known for making the weak minded actually believe that they were someone who they weren't. So much so that it actually led to people getting killed.

[tefda]

I'm not going to debate any further, what's said is said and I have really nothing more to say and I'm tired of defending threads and my opinions/ideas. I now say, let this fade into oblivion.

[misterxman]

Locked by author's request.