The way I see it in an mmo and you want to roleplay, is that you can not avoid meeting a player that you dislike because the player is out of place story wise or the player is behaving poorly in chat, but that is the same as in any other situation. Picture yourself not understanding what they write in chat or that you saw another lunatic, plenty of those in tes

Why would everyone be tied together in a web of destiny leading to the same end?(If I understood that correct) Are you not tied together when you play together, If you work or go to school are you bound to your classmates or workmates for an overlapping bigger purpose?

As arieste said alot of games are dumbed down yes absolutely agree, but one can still find the rp in it if one want to. see mmos as a big time rp compared to more strict small rp where everyone has a set character that everyone know. It is more about how you portray your character, not about how you will affect everything around you.

Think smaller in the beginning then it may grow, maybe you find a guild to rp with along the way or you find one before you start to play that want to have set characters/story and know about the other players. Or you forever rp in random groups you find along the way.

I am a solo player, for the most part. I have made several character concepts for ESO and all are lone wolves with no interest in the war effort. I am part of a small RP guild. Alas, it may be abandoned due to the recent changes of characters and alliances. I will seek out others. Chances are they will come along as a natural part of playing. My characters need to interact with others as if they were any other NPC that they meet.

If the other characters remain IC, as I always will be, and a relationship evolves from that then I will gladly join up with them. Who know's where that will lead? I'm not exactly actively looking for groups to play with outside of the gameworld but if I come across one then fine. Otherwise, my characters will allow random relations to evolve as the events of that character's life.

Okay, so what I am hearing from people is that MMO Rp is, basically, a tavern simulator? Doesn't sound like it's for me.

I suppose I'll play ESO how I always play ES games - roleplaying by myself and writing my own story in a journal.

Then don't do it. There are plenty of role players that do other stuff. I like to go to a tavern after a day of cracking skulls, but I like adventure role play better.

Yes when it comes to modern MMOs rp is basically a tavern simulator. Harsh truth.

It could be different if AAA MMO developers had balls to craft a real sandbox and leave the world to us.