The needs of an active RP community,

[Terrance]

Something I feel is a key ingredient to having an active, enjoyable RP community on a shard is the presence of the "evil", or darker players or guild.

Napa players might remember the Vampire of Carafax..or the Cult of the Midnight Wraiths..or even the player village of Grimoire.

Darker groups allow for those of us who choose to RP "good" or virtuous-aligned characters to have counterparts. Those who we can interact with but with opposing viewpoints. They also double the available choices for those who might wish to join in on roleplaying.

I use the term "evil" lightly. There have been characters in the "darker" guilds who were roleplayed brilliantly as actually having good souls. Likewise, some of us who play what people call "good" characters have given our characters little journies down darker paths...

What am I getting at? Napa needs another "opposing" RP guild. A group of people who will be at odds with "good" guilds.

Here's another idea as well: Two "good" guilds, with radically different viewpoints of what is "good" or "virtuous" who come into conflict with one another over those ideals.

We're still here, we players of this great shard. And Napa is a great shard. A little dead right now, but we're still here. Let's get something going again like we use to have, where clashing roleplayers could be found in public places. These things drew in other people who, even if they didn't care to interact or RP themselves, still enjoyed seeing it.

Again, thoughts? Ideas? Some of you have some ICQs waiting for you... *grins*

[Deraj]

This is going to sound incredibly negative, but I speak only in honesty: the first need of an active RP community would actually be any roleplayers at all. I say this at risk of sounding like the stereotypical, snobby roleplayer, but I don't see really, anyone, outside of Terrance, that actually roleplay at all. And when I say that, I'm not trying to put down anyone, nor do I claim to have seen every single person on the shard, but that's just my view.

But I do agree with this point. Every good guy needs a bad guy. Otherwise it's just, "Onward! Let us kill the evil!" *Looks around* "What evil?"

I agree that we need it. But I agree with Deraj, not many are just so into the evil anymore heh. Like he said, we cant just all be for good, and not have any evil. heh

[Terrance]

Originally Posted by Deraj

This is going to sound incredibly negative, but I speak only in honesty: the first need of an active RP community would actually be any roleplayers at all. I say this at risk of sounding like the stereotypical, snobby roleplayer, but I don't see really, anyone, outside of Terrance, that actually roleplay at all. And when I say that, I'm not trying to put down anyone, nor do I claim to have seen every single person on the shard, but that's just my view.

But I do agree with this point. Every good guy needs a bad guy. Otherwise it's just, "Onward! Let us kill the evil!" *Looks around* "What evil?"

Well I mean, there is you, me, Elbryan...we're the remaining "hardcore" RPers on Napa. But there are a lot more players whom I think would jump right in if they saw it going on, as well as some others who have RPed characters in the past but don't anymore because of RP being more or less dead on Napa right now.

Look at those who joined [\+/] who weren't initally roleplayers, yet were really integral, active members of the guild (I'm basing this on outside observation).

It's like anything really..we need to put effort into it beofre it gets going.

Here's a thought... Imagine your guild and mine clashing over conflicts of ideals. Would be fun for us, and doing it in the streets of cities would draw people in, like when you (the wraiths) warred the bear clann and would fight in the streets of Britain in Trammel. That drew people in. It made people curious and helped up the awareness of RP on the shard.

[Deraj]

I have no doubt that putting together interesting RP situations (especially battles) would attract many a player to our adventures. Based on my own personal experience, though, I have definitely met my fair share of hardships in trying to recruit people, so I have a somewhat pessimistic view on the quantity of roleplayers out there.

And having worked with some of the former roleplayers of Napa Valley, one might also come to understand why I have a pessimistic view on the prospect of a future community.

As for our guilds fighting, it's difficult for me to imagine that ever happening based on in-game circumstances, but I do see your point. If done properly it could be fun for everyone (even people who do not normally PvP).

[sir TEDLEY]

i try with my blacksmith

[Dain Bramage]

I'd love to try to RP again. My schedule doesn't permit me much time to do anything anymore though.

Still would like to try.

[Deraj]

Sir Tedley and Dain Bramage, you have my respect and gratitude for doing so.

Without roleplaying, this game would just be another grinder with no direction. Really, it's the spice of the game; it's what makes the game interesting (for me, at least).

[sir TEDLEY]

i like to try and roll play with my blacksmith , he makes obnly weapons etc no armor rweason is i feel back in this tim,e and age there was 2 blacksmiths , 1 being a weapons maker hence where we came up with the name weapons maker LOL and the other a maker of armor = armorer lol im so on drugs right now LOL great pain meds woot woot but im sure u get the picture

[Pistia]

You ever tought about asking rp-ers from other shards to assist in boosting the community for a short while to attract more shard-native players?