Private Roleplay Instances - Proposal From Faeblight "THE" Roleplay Server

[Foghladha]

Greetings Faeblight,
With the wedding ceremonies being such a smash hit, it brings to light something that hasn't been done before in any main stream mmo (that I've seen). Invite only Roleplay arena's!

Imagine for a moment that you are hosting a roleplay event. What's your biggest fear? Some jackwaggon coming and trying to derail your event. So whats the solution? How bout buying a pint of ale or some other object that allows you to invite the people you want to attend into an instance of your own. Inside said instance you'll have NPC's which will communicate when spoken too and sell items for use in roleplay.

Using the mechanic already in place by the Wedding system Trion could potentially take existing game world settings and place them within an instance to support roleplay events which can lock out the griefers and derailers. I know I myself can only get peed on at a roleplay event so many times before It kinda kills the fun.

In addition to being great as areas for roleplays imagine a guild being able to use these to enter a private Guild Hall where meetings could be held.

Some suggested settings:
* A Tavern (of Course)
* A Room of A Tavern (Help keep the streets clean of eRP :P)
* A Castle such as Iron Fortress or Hammerknell.
* Rent our Sanctum or Meridian perhaps with Asha / Sylvar / Orphiel / Cyril / Shayla, Borim in attendance
* A Great Hall / Guild House
* A Cozy home (Personal Housing Segway maybe?)
* A Battlefield (Invites for both factions for some Roleplay PvP?)
* A Beach

And the list could go on and on and on. So many great places you could use. I believe the only way we're going to be able to thrive as a roleplay community is if we are allowed to choose who attends our roleplay events. Sure we can open world roleplay still but this would give us the structure we need to flourish as a roleplay community. It would also be an amazing tool for guilds to use as guild meeting destinations. I believe even non-roleplay servers would find use in this and imagine it would be widely well received.

If you think this idea would be nice to have. This is the place to voice yourself. I will be submitting this to Trion and perhaps if we bark loud enough we will be heard .*Ruff Ruff!*

Foghladha

[Blockhead]

This would be nice to have. Then RP players would have a place to have fun all so.

[Briseadh]

As a player that likes to also have some Roleplay in the mix on just about every MMO she plays, I think this would be a great idea. Not just for RP either - it can give people and guilds places to meet without having to go to some remote spot not be griefed or interrupted. Some guilds do like to have roleplayed meetings so everything is done in say and emotes. If you aren't there you miss the meeting.

And if griefing isn't the issue, it would keep some areas from being overpopulated. Some areas could have multiple RP going on and well it gets pretty "noisy" with all those people talking over each other. Of course, the tavern idea would allow for multiple things to go on for those invited if that is what they want to do and keep things quieter in the open public area.

Now this is not to say you can't RP wherever you want, but this would be an option to actually have private areas, as well. It would not take much to pick an area they already have made and pop it into an instance you can select considering they have the wedding now as well as other instance style mechanics in the game. Use what is already made and meld it into an instance.

[Mayuko]

While I think it's a great idea, and could be a nice addition to Rift I have one issue with it.

Why should we role players, on the ONE and ONLY role play shard on a multi-million dollar MMORPG, be forced to segregate ourselves into separate instances to role play on what should be "our" shard? If anything, the role play community should be working together to take back the server - or at least working VERY hard with the developers to once and for all get a proper rule set, non-RP names banned (already a rule, GMs just don't care), and the trolls removed and appropriately punished. I mean, to me this is like crazies moving into a gated community because the "wrong people" moved into their neighborhood.

Personally I just feel that by having the RP take place behind closed doors so to speak, we'd be driving an even bigger wedge between the few RP players we have left and the hoards of raiders and PvPers that have flocked here. At least when it's open world, others can join in if they wish to try. Not everyone wishes to get into the type of RP where you're sitting in an instanced bar for 2 hours; some prefer to have it open world as it can fit their characters better.

The loudest complaints I've been hearing about the degradation of the RP scene in Rift is griefers. What we need is a proper way to deal with these types of people (more than just /ignore). If all else fails, maybe what the community needs to start doing is just keep shouting until someone listens. When you come across players with names like br0sk1e or xXrOLoLolOgueXx or when some kid does something silly like /me farts when you're discussing the politics of Telara over some ale, report them and keep reporting them until the GMs are annoyed enough to finally pass the message along.

Ultimately you have to also see it this way. Once upon a time Faeblight WAS the main RP destination for this game. RP took place everywhere and it was always on going. Greifers were quite rare, and you could RP anywhere and - usually - no one would interrupt unless they wanted to join in. We CAN return to the past where this occurred, we just need some form of moderation to ensure it can remain proper.

[Parth B]

I think invite-only private instances--that are free from mobs killing everyone--are a great idea. And they don't need to be relegated to a RP server. Make them available across all servers.

[Donaliam]

I think this is a well though out idea the will allow RPers to have place de-void of Griefers.

[Razoreddie]

Said it on the other thread, Fog has really got something here. I hope Trion is listening! Neat-O idea if ti's feasible. Don't really care about player housing, but an instance for Guild meetings and straight up RP opps would certainly add to the game

[Foghladha]

While I think it's a great idea, and could be a nice addition to Rift I have one issue with it.

Why should we role players, on the ONE and ONLY role play shard on a multi-million dollar MMORPG, be forced to segregate ourselves into separate instances to role play on what should be "our" shard? If anything, the role play community should be working together to take back the server - or at least working VERY hard with the developers to once and for all get a proper rule set, non-RP names banned (already a rule, GMs just don't care), and the trolls removed and appropriately punished. I mean, to me this is like crazies moving into a gated community because the "wrong people" moved into their neighborhood.

Personally I just feel that by having the RP take place behind closed doors so to speak, we'd be driving an even bigger wedge between the few RP players we have left and the hoards of raiders and PvPers that have flocked here. At least when it's open world, others can join in if they wish to try. Not everyone wishes to get into the type of RP where you're sitting in an instanced bar for 2 hours; some prefer to have it open world as it can fit their characters better.

The loudest complaints I've been hearing about the degradation of the RP scene in Rift is griefers. What we need is a proper way to deal with these types of people (more than just /ignore). If all else fails, maybe what the community needs to start doing is just keep shouting until someone listens. When you come across players with names like br0sk1e or xXrOLoLolOgueXx or when some kid does something silly like /me farts when you're discussing the politics of Telara over some ale, report them and keep reporting them until the GMs are annoyed enough to finally pass the message along.

Ultimately you have to also see it this way. Once upon a time Faeblight WAS the main RP destination for this game. RP took place everywhere and it was always on going. Greifers were quite rare, and you could RP anywhere and - usually - no one would interrupt unless they wanted to join in. We CAN return to the past where this occurred, we just need some form of moderation to ensure it can remain proper.

Because realistically, Roleplayers are the minority. Even if we staged a mass walkout it would be a hundred maybe two hundred people. We don't dictate the margin line. I agree that it sucks that we should have to take this step but in the same it's not Trion's fault that people have to be jerks. It's also not in Trion's licensing agreement to be kindergarten teachers. If Trion did away with all the jackwaggons in the game they would be left without a game. I'm sorry but there are more of them than there are of us and financially that would not be a smart move by Trion.

What I'm proposing is something that CAN be done, and most likely wouldn't take too much work to do it. You'd still be able to roleplay in the open if you like but if you want more control over the situation then you can instance it. If this was a perfect world we wouldn't need it. Trion's not the enemy here, they are doing what they can but they also need to keep their product afloat. It does roleplayers no good if Trion bankrupts the product because people weren't playing nice.

We're in a world filled with idiots and jackwagons. You can't expect a company to boycott them when they out number the common good. The problem isn't with Trion it's with people. And right now People are not only the problem in game but their the problem out as well. No Honor, No Respect, No Integrity, Do what they want to whoever they want. It's a free country.... Freedom without Respect is Chaos.

The point of this proposal was to DO SOMETHING that we CAN do. Ridding the world of bad people is not something we CAN do. We can HOPE to do it, but really until people start changing their own lives and attitudes theres not much we or Trion can do about it. We CAN however have an avenue to preserve our peace and put things in our own terms. Invite who we want much like most real world social groups do. You don't go throw a random LARP event in the middle of Oakland or Chicago. You plan it in a park where you have the least chance of getting trolls. You choose the bar to go to with your friends, you choose the church you attend or don't attend, you choose the restaurant you dine at, and you choose the gym your a member too. You do these things knowing that you should be able to have a nice time with the people that are there, who are all there to do the same thing you want to do. More specifically this is like renting a room for a birthday party, or a wedding, or a business meeting. Can you imagine a board meeting in the middle of time square. No i don't think that would work well. This allows you to meet in privacy which allows you control of your events. I for one would welcome it and would likely start roleplaying again if we had this type of function. Being "peed" on at my roleplay events really was not the highlight of our night. It usually disrupted events and we ended up changing locations.

Baby steps. Lets give our roleplayers somewhere they can have peace and quiet and run their events the way they want. If you don't want to run private roleplay events you can easily run them in the open world. This would merely give you the option. In my opinion having A option is better than NO option. This option uses Tech they already have in place, they don't have to change anything, or hire anyone, or police a bunch of kindergarteners. It could easily be worked into a patch with minor development time and we can have A solution now rather than never. The worlds not perfect but we have an opportunity to give ourselves a little peace.

Fog

[intrinsc]

Trion has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, from supporting RP. I am not even an RPer and I can see this as plain as day. There is one server left with the RP rule set and I am damn proud to be a part of it. Reality is, however, that RPers are constantly harassed in open world hot spots. Whenever I come across RP I can not help to be immersed in the world more and be reminded that there is more to Rift than just pewpew.

I really respect the RPers that have stayed through all the harassment and the "baddies" invading their lands. They are truly dedicated. Weddings is a nice step. Take it another step further, Trion. Your wedding experiment worked. Time to expand.

[Immauri]

* A Tavern (of Course)

There was a discussion about this when the Devs came for an in person visit on the Sanctum steps not too long ago.

While I think taverns are a great place to Role Play - it isn't the only place to get boozed up and enjoy great RP.

I can see how this could be a tantalizing option, but I think it would be far more interesting to have instances such as:


- Farmer's Market - much like the Bazaar of EQ but a way to lay out "items" that are for sale.

- A wooded area with a pond, much like the one in Moonshade Highlands that is infested with Fae and apparitions.

- Wild hunt - A way for people to compete in a "fox hunt" scenario complete with a way to start it and finish it.

- Boating events like races, or a casual drifting around the waters that can be player navigated.

- Jungle adventure perhaps an Indian Jones event or a tropical oasis like that in shimmersand only more.. tropical.

- Gloamwood Pines Spooky type setting for murder mysteries and the like.

- Racial specific type homes that you can decorate, for example Delves for Dwarves.

Don't limit Role Play to taverns, the Devs had the right idea (in the Defiant ceremony instance at least) to give people an option between drinks that were served.

Don't misunderstand, drinking is fun! But there are far more interesting things to give to Role Players than just another tavern...



PS - Can we PLEASE have interactive furniture already?

[Andelor]

Well, they have said that they plan on adding things we can do that doesn't involve stabbing or blasting things. The Gathering area was just implemented with the weddings, and it has SO much RP potential. A instanced place where there can be items to trigger, VO to listen to, and is invite only with a 200 person cap? That just screams potential.

[Foghladha]

There was a discussion about this when the Devs came for an in person visit on the Sanctum steps not too long ago.

While I think taverns are a great place to Role Play - it isn't the only place to get boozed up and enjoy great RP.

I can see how this could be a tantalizing option, but I think it would be far more interesting to have instances such as:


- Farmer's Market - much like the Bazaar of EQ but a way to lay out "items" that are for sale.

- A wooded area with a pond, much like the one in Moonshade Highlands that is infested with Fae and apparitions.

- Wild hunt - A way for people to compete in a "fox hunt" scenario complete with a way to start it and finish it.

- Boating events like races, or a casual drifting around the waters that can be player navigated.

- Jungle adventure perhaps an Indian Jones event or a tropical oasis like that in shimmersand only more.. tropical.

- Gloamwood Pines Spooky type setting for murder mysteries and the like.

- Racial specific type homes that you can decorate, for example Delves for Dwarves.

Don't limit Role Play to taverns, the Devs had the right idea (in the Defiant ceremony instance at least) to give people an option between drinks that were served.

Don't misunderstand, drinking is fun! But there are far more interesting things to give to Role Players than just another tavern...



PS - Can we PLEASE have interactive furniture already?

The possibilities are endless, but first we need to get Trion on board ;). Then we can ask for more

[Kaderin]

I love this idea. As a player that doesn't have a big background in roleplaying this would make me alot more likely to try it in a newbie friendly area!

[Gotty]

I think this would be a marvellous idea. With the introduction of the wedding system it shows that Trion can already do it and, imho, it should be expanded. I like the idea that both factions could be invited to an RP-Instance but perhaps without the risk of accidental PvP deaths (similar to the WF Mercenary system) although duels could be allowed. However the system is implemented, I feel that it would be well-used and add another layer of interaction to the game.

[Laeris]

Segregated role play is not something I practice or support. The reason why is because if a person wants to hide away from everyone and RP in closed channels (guild chat, message boards, blogs, private instances), then the RP is stale, stagnant, and often predictable. It's also very limited. I think good RPers like to not only involve new people, but we also enjoy the give and take from outside sources because it brings a sense of unpredictability and freshness to the experience. If RP is going to be sequestered away from public consumption, there's really no point in paying for a sub because you can just as well do that on a guild forum.

RP, in its purest form is an expression of a player's character when acted out in a realistic environment.
This means it is at its most believable when it is unchained and available for public view. Two people quarreling in a bar with several non-related participants makes it all the more real. Now, some guilds and RPers do like to ignore everyone else in the bar and/or never talk outside of private chats. That's fine and their prerogative, but I think for RP purists its not a very realistic form of RP.

It is fine to use private instances for things that need them. Private meetings between guild members when they need to discuss certain things is fine... however, to the RP community at large... if a guild only RPs away from the rest of the community, they're not really a part of the community. The more RP is done in private, the less of a presence the RP community has.

The best way to ensure that RP dies is to start RPing where nobody sees it. Intra-guild RP is all well and good but a guild that does not participate with the community isn't really being a good steward of that RP community. Think of it like a neighborhood block party. If most of the households meet up on the weekends for a BBQ, but one house never joins in... you can't really say that the people in that house belong to the community. RP works the exact same way.

A guild that maintains privacy is one that everybody else sees but knows nothing about. They might have the world's best RPers and the most intriguing plotlines... but nobody knows. In my opinion, it just wastes a lot of talent that the rest of the community would be better off for experiencing it with them.

From the outside looking in, a new player who comes looking for RP might say, "Wow, there's no RP on this server at all." That person could be both right and wrong. In a place where all the RPers are hidden away and segregated, it is very easy for new players to miss out. This is what happened in Age of Conan. There might have been some wonderful RP in the end, but nobody knew really because they were grieved and forced into their private city instances and RP in public was just not done. Because of that, Funcom killed the RP ruleset because, and I quote, "Roleplay is something our community at large does not participate in."

In summary, RP adds to the game's social ambiance. It adds a depth of play that doesn't deserve to be locked away in a closet. It deserves to be experienced and set free on the world for others to take part in as they see fit. RP at its best is free and open and not bound by artificial constraints. Segregating RP from the population is like discovering a valuble shipwreck... but instead of displaying the treasure found within, it is placed in a hole on dry land and covered back up with a sign placed on top that reads, "Great treasure here."