It seems like you’re a few different questions, all revolving around the topic of “How do I get involved.” We’ve talked about it here frequently, but my search-fu is weak. Still, categories like tips and tricks and character development may have more thorough answers.

The very clever folks at Hearthstone Tavern talk about this in their podcasts as well. A lot of their advice tends to focus on the “more advanced” RPer; specifically, they are very clear that so-called-advanced RPers need to be more welcoming to “newer” RPers. They also have a lot of good character development ideas for RPing at low levels.

If you know where the RP happens, I’d say start there. Look for RP events on the guild forum, hang out in RP spots and approach established groups without demanding their attention. Interact with people in the way you want your character to be treated. Don’t sit like a log at the story fire or alone at a distant table. Interact. RP.

(as an aside, I really need to stress this point: Do not expect folk to RP with you if you sit alone, are quiet or you’re an out right jerk. Being a jerk takes time. )

Think of it this way. Do you identify yourself by your career? Some people certainly do – “I am a lawyer,” “I am a baseball player,” etc. On the other hand, lots of others – even those with interesting jobs – primarily identify themselves by their hobbies, ethnicity, political or religious allegiance, or would-be careers. So you could easily have a warlock who presents herself as a scientist (in very sketchy fields), a mage who identifies as a nobleman that happens to do magic, or a rogue who’s a “businessman” foremost and a guy with a knife/axe/etc second.

One person’s speshul snowflake is another person’s really intriguing character. Personally, I think that it is acceptable to push the boundaries of character class and race. I’m not sure what you mean by station–there is no rank in WoW per se, unless one counts the old PVP ranks–but I do understand the desire to RP with people who have similar tastes and styles.

Classes and races are not cookie cutters. There is dissension in the ranks of all the “classes.” I personally think it limits a character’s development to stick too closely to cannon. I’m not saying one should throw the lore out the window. I am saying that it is worthwhile to explore the grey areas of lore, class and race. That’s where brilliant RP occurs.

Penkii, nice to meet you!

It’s not a weird dilemma at all. The meaner a character gets, the harder it is to stay in character. This is especially true if you are not, by nature, a mean person.

This is where OOC communication comes in. Talk to the people that your nasty wee elf has issues with and let them know that this is coming from her, not from you. A whisper here, a mention in an ooc channel there, and you might find it easier to stay in character.

I can speak from experience that RPing a person that has a mean streak is a bit difficult to continue. But stick with it!

Basically, in an MMO, I prefer not to roleplay with anyone who’s acting outside of a class, race, or station that could be concievably assigned to a PC. Yeah, I like death knights, but if you tried roleplaying a death knight before they were created as an actual class in game, I pretty much shoved you off. For the most part, I no longer RP in MMOs except among friends I already know and trust. I think it’s better for my mental health, though, so most of the time I don’t consider myself having a problem. But it’s there.

My Night Elf can come off as pleasant if she needs to. But usually shes an argumentative, snobby, bitch. And thats the way I want it! But sometimes it can get hard staying in character and shes just constantly nice. No more Mrs. Nice Elf! Weird dilemma, huh?

First, let’s clarify: What do you mean by “sell?” Getting people to participate? Getting people to take the story and run with it? What went wrong with the DK–whose name is escaping me, though i followed what I could from Twitter–Story?

As to inspiration, One might think it was the outside media–books, comics, music, TV Shows and movies–that influenced most of my RP ideas. The other media is a good source, but it isn’t the primary stuff. I’m lucky enough to have four or five people who I can reliably count on to discuss story ideas and RP progression. I blog with two of them. The inspiration comes simply from talking with them about “where do we go from here.” We talk about it over gTalk, in our OOC channels and whenever we hang out IRL (after the beer and food, of course).

Another source of inspiration, one that a lot of people will not know about, is my buddy Will. Back when he lived in my town, he ran the most amazing RP sessions. We’d spend hours talking about setting, pacing, characters, development and mechanics. He laid a lot of groundwork for all the other stories.

So my first suggestion: Talk to people about what you want to do. Talk characters, themes, plots, twists and how you can pull it off. Bring up the nuggets of awesome you have mined from your own media of choice and discuss how you can incorporate that with your RP.

*for the Records, the media that inspires me: The Lies of Locke Lamora, Red Seas Under Red Skies, Michael Chabon, Irish Fusion music, Aaron Sorkin, Alias (Naiara’s tentative future is pretty much right from Alias), Marvel Comics (street level characters, not cosmic ones or mutants), Irish mythology, Fritz Lieber, Mikey Carey and Hellblazer.*

Getting people involved in the stories is a bit more difficult. One trick I have learned is give everyone an opportunity for a moment of awesome. Give the people in the story something to do . Something that will allow them to develop their character. Challenge them–but do not railroad them–and give them a moment to star in the spotlight.

If we think of RP as a play, TV show or a movie, we have to recognize that we are dealing with an All-Star Ensemble cast. All-Stars need a reason to participate, and the reason has to be beyond, “Helping X person find Y thing.” That being said, I think it is perfectly acceptable to start off a story with X and Y; however, the results of that particular chapter have to incorporate the other people. For instance, say Shizu was helping someone locate a lost relative. They find the relative in an unsavory place and do the heroic rescue. The Villain has to go after Shizu in some way, shape or form to keep your interest. If the Villain only focuses on the person Shizu was helping, the motivation to help is limited to how much pull Shizu’s better nature has on her decision making. One has to give their audience something to do that makes them feel important.

There is a difference, however, between feeling important and BEING important.

Let’s examine the DK plot more in depth and see what we figure out?