RP Methodology: 1
By Bricu | April 16, 2009
With the flood of posts about 3.1, how the content will affect RP, how the features will affect RP and WoW Insider’s post on “Running an RP Session,*” it is important to look at how RP occurs in World of Warcraft. I am not discussing the distinctions between Hardcore or Casual RP, nor am I talking about using WoW to RP outside of the setting.** I am specifically discussing RP in the World of Warcaft and Ficced RP.
In Game RP orNew School RP
For many of us who transitioned from Pen and Paper RPGs, this is the most common form of RP. The most common examples are: gathering in a non-combat world area (like a Tavern, Cathedral, or a zone without a lot of mob spawns), an RP instance run, or RPing PvP objectives.
Within the new school format, RP can be planned or impromptu. Given hectic and mismatched schedules, allotting time for RP (for events or just to RP) maybe the easiest method to generate the most consistent RP for you and your group. It is not necessary to have an encounter/plot moving encounter every session. Creating these encounters will require someone in the group to play “Game Master,”*** the individual who will design the encounter and ensure that there are NPCs to interact with.
I am a big fan of the New School Format. It is a derivation off of my favorite hobby, allows for developing some fascinating players and strong friendships with my fellow WoW players. It is also a target of Griefing–but that’s a whole post in and of itself–and it is a difficult thing to arrange. As much as I love RP, I also realize that we play wow for the content it provides–PvE or PvP–not just to RP. One should not be expected to RP all the time. Sometimes you just want to kill monsters/farm/explore the world. RP maybe my top priority, but I know my fellow WTT:RPers have more than RP on their minds.
Channel RP
Channel RP–dedicating one channel on your UI for RP purposes–is another In Game method of RP. This method is extremely popular with super busy players. RP between pulls, down time, after your toon is downed by a mob or during tedious pre-raid farming. Once you’re logged in, you can RP as much to your heart’s content without fear of griefing.
There are concerns with this method as well. First and foremost among these issues are how does this channel work. On Feathermoon, I’ve seen: chat-channel “Taverns,” buzzbox/hearthstone channels and “telepresence” channels (channels were you see and hear other RPers). Ground rules for the channel need to be established for how the interactions occur. Having people constantly type out what characters see on channels that work on Buzzboxes will frustrate channel mates.
Secondly, Any event run in Channel RP severely limits any and all interaction. The extent of these interactions are limited to writing back and for to each other. There can be no duels, emotes, block of doors are cool uses of in game spells. In short, its a RP via text. This isn’t an inherently inferior form of RP. It is different from what a lot of RPers are used to, and it will take some time to adjust to this new format.
IRC
Internet Relay Chat, or IRC, is another method of RP frequently used. It is similar to Channel RP in that it occurs through text; however, IRC assumes that all of the characters are in the same setting. IRC also allows emoting to describe character interactions. Some channels allow for scripts to conduct special events (like combat or magical effects). The primary drawback with IRC: No graphics and it occurs outside of WoW itself.
Ficced RP, the other RP method, involves posting written accounts of interactions between characters. This form of RP isn’t limited to WoW. Pen and Paper RPers have used ficced RP on USNET groups, forums, Play by Email and LiveJournal for years. Within this method, there is:
Forum RP
Forum RP, either open or closed, is RP set up on a specific forum (Realm, Class, Guild) where individuals write up their interactions and events. Forum administrators sometimes even act as GMs for these environments.
Team Writing
This method is story writing. Some would argue it is fan fiction, others would just say it is writing. In this method, players write up their stories with their NPCs and other PCs. I call it team writing because I feel strongly on using other PCs i your fiction. If you are writing up a story involving another character, you have to work with that player to ensure you are faithful to the character. Even if you have a “Fic GM” (otherwise known as “The Editor”) you need to work with the player to ensure you portray the character accurately.
Ficced RP, like Channel RP, limits direct interaction with characters. This limitation is more pronounced given that the writing occurs outside of the game environment. Also, this form requires people to a) write a lot b) publish their writing and c) be comfortable with said criticism. It takes time to be comfortable with all three requirements: Time you may not have in regards to your RP.
Ficced RP, however, can be a long term reminder of fantastic stories. Ficced RP that is well written can put help develop a character just as much as a well run RP event. Ficced RP also helps one develop their writing skills (Dialogue, plot, setting, sub-plots). To be honest, before I met the WTTRP folks, I would not even dream of posting anything other than a snarky blog. Now I try to blog one creative story a week.
It’s been my experience that guilds use a combination of New School and Ficced RP to tell their stories. One may favor one form of RP over the other–RP can be personal thing–but neither is more valid than the other. Both are attempts to a characters story. That’s what we at WTTRP are interested in hearing. Are you a new school RPer or a forum ficcer? Share your methods with us, please!
*WTT:RP will be working on our own feature regarding this topic.
**Not my cup of tea, but I’ve seen it before.
*** Storyteller, GM, DM, whatever term you want to use. Interesting nerd note: You can often figure out what Pen and Paper system an RPer played by seeing what term they use for, “person responsible for playing an NPC and designing encounters.”
1 Comment
falconesse on April 17, 2009 at 11:40 am.
I’ve done a little bit of everything, though IRC is usually limited to cross-faction stuff for me, or when I have two characters in the same place, since a) I only have one account and b) I think running two instances of WoW would make my machine explode.
I used to post more of my stuff on the Feathermoon forums, but it’s been a while — too many stories that would seem to be starting in medias res for people who don’t know the backstory. Also, the last time I posted a story on there and didn’t specify that it was closed RP, someone tried jumping in and, uh. Sueing it up all over the place. Liiiittle bit awkward, there.
In-game is my favorite kind of RP, because it’s real-time interaction with the other people. You might make a statement that gets a strong reaction from another player — one that you hadn’t even realized was going to set them off — and suddenly you’re off on a whole new tangent or subplot.
Ficcing is nice for exploring a character’s reactions and motivations that other players wouldn’t otherwise see (unless you’re emoting thoughts, which will set Bricu’s teeth on edge). It’s also useful to take care of things that would otherwise happen off-camera and to fill in backstory.
On your nerd note: I’d like to offer a bit of an amendment. You can often figure out what pen and paper system an RPers original gaming group started with by their term. You know my gaming origins, but to this day I say GM instead of Storyteller. I didn’t learn the term from the system, I learned it from the people I played with. Though, after asking Greg where they started, even that isn’t their original term (they started with D&D, so, DM should be it, but as their adventures moved out of dungeons and as they explored other pen and paper systems, they moved from calling him/her a DM to calling him/her a GM.)