How do we measure roleplay quality in-game and on the forums?

[Commissar]

In my opinion, as long as everyone involved in the interaction has fun and agrees with what's going on, it constitutes good roleplay. People look for different things in their interactions, and that's okay. Personally, I enjoy the collaborative storytelling aspect, so I tend to lurk on the forums. Different strokes for different folks, and as long as someone doesn't try to force their roleplay on my characters, life's good.

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May you live in interesting times.
| Sarah McFarlen | Jane Hartman |

[Papa Oomaumau]

For me, I look for departure and exploration.
Much like when, halfway through a movie or show, I have to remind myself that the person playing that role is 'so and so', because the character is so much their own, so believable, and such a departure from the actor themselves.
Think Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight, or Hoffman's Capote in In Cold Blood.
These actors explored egos and psyches that were far outside their own motivations.

When I interact with a character, I want to have no clue whatsoever whom it is on the other side of the keyboard, in game or on forums.

I am in no way like any of my characters, in real life.
Many of my characters have attitudes that I deplore, or strengths that I admire in others, but that I do not effect myself from day to day.

That is the kind and style of RP I look for here.
I don't like to get a pm during an interaction saying; //hey dude, it's Boris!
I want immersion in a fantasy world.
I can meet friends for a pint or call a friend if I want to interact with a real person, I have no lack for that.
I want to feel like I walked onto a galaxy sized stage, in game or on forums, where everyone is such a consummate actor they refuse to break character.

But that's just how I measure quality RP, and well, you asked

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[Twentyfour]

RP quality isn't as subjective as some people say. Here's a list where anyone can give themselves (or another player/character of their choice) +1 or -1 if a point applies and calculate their RP quality score.


Good RP:

(+1) Being entertaining to other players and to yourself

(+1) Realism

(+1) Originality

(+1) Accepting that PvP is part of RP, and accepting that it's RP to shoot you without your consent

(+1) RP that lets other players fullfill their logical RP roles without leading them into OORP conflicts; being aware of what reactions your RP/IFF/ID/gear will trigger from players surrounding you (new and old).

(+1) Being motivating and inspiring to other people's RP (for example by creating new concepts, activities, or subfactions)



Bad RP:

(-1) IRP-categorizing (or choosing your behavior towards) other characters through the players behind them (as a person you know or dont know, noob/vet, or member of some player group like official/non-official faction) rather than through IRP information or their IRP behavior

(-1) Trying to annoy, belittle, or humiliate not only characters (which would theoretically be ok), but the players behind them. Example: IRP-mocking the choice of ship and skills in PvP, RP, english, or typing

(-1) RP that seeks to portrait oneself as a better/higher player without consent of the "underlings". Example: Abusing or assuming a commanding role over other players/characters based on rank, ship type, or official faction membership, without the consent of those players/characters

(-1) Flying to enemy bases/territory expecting not to get shot for reasons like OORP "fairness" or "courtessy". Apart from being unrealistic RP, trying to get people to not fullfil their RP roles for your benefit is neither fair nor courteous.

(-1) Camping within radar range of enemy bases for kills or to taunt people, if the base should either be secret (for example lawfuls going to a secret pirate base without having been lead there) or able to realistically send forces that could easily deal with you (for example unlawfuls camping capital planets or military bases)

(-1) Abusing game mechanics, for example trying to get other players hostile to their own NPC faction (and more things which are against server rules)



p.s: This should be pinned so more people invest thought into it.

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User was banned for: Karlotta
Time left: (Permanent)

[Ironwatsas]

A person Roleplays (E.G. plays pretend that he's in Freelancer) or does not.

You, attempting to quantify it and judge it according to narrow and closed minded means is simply making you look like a bunch of ding-a-lings who are simply attempting your ideas down the throats of others.

That being said, what quantifies -good- RP is that a person uses words. They use words to tell a story. They cause people to feel warm and fuzzy inside from participating in that story. -Bad- RP is simply RP that does not do this, or "RP" which is merely a guise for incessant trolling or self satisfaction.

If it may as well not be RP at all, it's bad RP. Anything else, no matter how contrived, as long as it is amusing, is good.

Mark my words.

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All that begins must end.

[Papa Oomaumau]

Iron,
Man, someone got up on the wrong side of the bed today!
The gentleman asked a question, and a few people answered it....

You, attempting to quantify it and judge it according to narrow and closed minded means is simply making you look like a bunch of ding-a-lings who are simply attempting your ideas down the throats of others.

No one is attempting anything down anyone's throats here.
Funny you think that, though.

Funnier still is how you then proceed to do the same thing you called people 'ding-a-lings' for doing.

If it wasn't so patently defensive, it'd be even funnier.

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[Ironwatsas]

You obviously haven't been here long enough to understand the subtext of that missive.

Whatever I've said stands.

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All that begins must end.

[|nfrared]

The answer to the OP is - Potential.

We all perceive potential in different ways. Potential is "that which is yet to occur" and that is why we find it so hard to quantify roleplay ability or story awesomeness. But it pretty much boils down to how you feel about it when you read it, and how great its potential is in that persons eyes, how good it could be with that particular individuals brain working with that idea. This is what determines the measure of potential from that person. Forum and ingame RP do differ, but the same principal applies.

This could also be the reason that the community has differing opinion on some issues. But that's another story.

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Shard - The Faceless One