The Nature Of The Beast, AKA: What constitutes roleplaying

[Drider-man]

I prefer my character "normal", it preserves the suspension of disbelief. You can only meet so many scythe-wielding-high-inquisitor of Kelemvor-half-celestial-amnesiac PCs before it becomes more of a bother than an interesting story point. Most of these freaks will give you their entire life's story at the drop of a hat nayway, so you'll know just how beautiful and unique a snowflake they are... *groan*
As someone mentioned in this thread, why not start out ordinary and see where the game takes you, rather than writing up 10 pages worth of uber-epic backstory you'll babble off to anyone you meet, even though they really aren't interested in hearing it?

[sparkeh]

Just to take a step back for a sec and go back to the OP:

I don't think that Sundren is advertised as a Hardcore RP server so your disappointments may be a result of your incorrect expectations?

[Peridan]

actually it's scythe-wielding-high inquisitor-of JERGAL thank you very much =)

[Sammael]

I prefer my character "normal", it preserves the suspension of disbelief. You can only meet so many scythe-wielding-high-inquisitor of Kelemvor-half-celestial-amnesiac PCs before it becomes more of a bother than an interesting story point. Most of these freaks will give you their entire life's story at the drop of a hat nayway, so you'll know just how beautiful and unique a snowflake they are... *groan*
As someone mentioned in this thread, why not start out ordinary and see where the game takes you, rather than writing up 10 pages worth of uber-epic backstory you'll babble off to anyone you meet, even though they really aren't interested in hearing it?

You really seem dissatisfied with this server. I'm not being funny, but if you're that put off from the moment you start playing, maybe it's best to find another server that suites you?

[nickbeat]

Sam, I don't think he is unhappy with the server. He is just making a scathing point about how our characters often wear their heart on their sleeves. "Hello, I am an escaped convict from another PLANE! Nice to meetcha!"

He has a point there. Of course we could all be tight lipped brooding antiheroes that don't say anything and that would be boring. I'd agree we need to create as much realism as we can here in Sundren.

[Subal]

Sundren is not a Hardcore Rp server but it does have some very hardcore Roleplayers, that is what he is talkin about i imagine. Granted all servers have those who wish too Roleplay and those who wish to hack and slash, The hack and slashers dont stay long on Sundren as it would get quite boring quite quickly

[Sammael]

Sam, I don't think he is unhappy with the server. He is just making a scathing point about how our characters often wear their heart on their sleeves. "Hello, I am an escaped convict from another PLANE! Nice to meetcha!"

He has a point there. Of course we could all be tight lipped brooding antiheroes that don't say anything and that would be boring. I'd agree we need to create as much realism as we can here in Sundren.

If you say so. I've not encountered this myself. Most characters are reasonably open - they'll tell you a bit of their background after a little conversation, for example - but no one will jump into their life story without provocation, at least not as far as I've seen. Frankly most of the characters Sam's interacted with have been normal enough that hiding their backgrounds hasn't been necessary.

[Kangleton]

Karthus may be an unstable and mildly chaotic person, but nobody on the server really knows his background. Hell, nobody even really knows his family (sur)name. However, while playing him, I have indeed encountered people who were a little too eager to spew forth their epic dialogues and histories... but that was so rare that it never bothered me.

If people do that, though, approach it IC. Have your character laugh at the person for being so open, or be in disbelief, assuming they must be lying if they were willing to share such personal things for no reason. Thats how I would handle it. Or, if you really want to teach them a lesson, have your character shrug and say "I dont care, as it turns out", and proceed to walk away.

Ha. Thats priceless.

[rustediron]

I tend to make character backgrounds and detailed personalities after they've roleplayed a bit... it makes it a lot more flexible.

[Aries1918]

I find that if you want to explain your character's life history to death, type it up here on the forums. That way you won't be tempted to do what Kangleton was talking about.

[Drider-man]

What nickbeat said.

I like this server. It's a good fit between casual and hardcore, and in general people are doing a good job. All the same, I see a lot of the usual signs of people cooking up epic backgrounds and spilling their lifestory at a moments notice or thinly veiling their grinding (in this case more items/gold than xp) with something that resembles roleplaying, if just a bit.
Mind you, I'm not saying I'm completely innocent and infallible in this case, that is the nature of the beast.

I've played on plenty of servers and most had "issues" like this, some didn't and that was due to a concerted effort, perhaps even more on behalf of the players than the DMs, since the players are the people that define the server after all.

Short version: I like it here, I'm not trying to accuse anyone, I'm merely playing devils advocate to maybe see if we can make it even better

[Peridan]

Well, you have to admit though, the one thing that makes this server good and not a mess is the simple fact that people are trying. Sure they spill their life stories at a glance, but at least they took the time to make them. With the few exceptions of random grinders who take no time to even say hello, I think the people here can make mistakes, but they are always trying to better themselves and their role-playing.

At least I do, I hope I'm not talking out of my ass here =)

[rustediron]

What's wrong with grinding? And I don't mean EXCESSIVE grinding, that's powergaming, against the rules, but so what if you're 'RP Reason' for mashing a bunch of orcs is pretty crap? It's a game.

[Jaeram]

Yeah, not to mention that there could be so many different reasons to encompass just about any character, I'm protecting the forest, I'm helping the guards, these creatures are scum, etc. Although I have to say excessive grinding does bother me. Kinda like when you use the find other players option and see that some guy has been apparently 'stuck' in the goblin caves level 2 for the last 2 hours, I mean he must be stuck, exactly what else could he be doing down there?

[Peridan]

By grinding, I meant excessive