Dear reader,

this Topic is about the possibility of "Role Playing" (RP) in ESO. Or should I say the missing possibility of RP?

Some of you may ask theirself: "What does he want to mention?" - It′s kind of easy to understand.

Most of the people who read "Role Play" will have the Role-Playing from "MMORPG" in their mind. Of course MMORPG means "Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game", but there is another meaning for "Role Play" and "Role-Playing Game".

This Topic will always apply to the "Role Play" (RP) wich means:

- "Being the character"

- Giving him a background story

- Generate some characteristic attributes

- Interact with other Role Players to build a "living world" to play part in

- ...

So, why do I say "failed potentiality"?

I'm representing the opinion that Bethesda didn't consider the gigantic potential for RP in ESO wich they create with the Megaserver-System. ESO is the only game I know yet, wich has this technology. Additionally it has a great graphic and a fascinating world. But there are some failures I see in realise RP in ESO:

1. You won't be able to have RP without beeing interrupted by houndreds of other players on your layer who realy don`t care or even notice what you are trying to do: Role Paly
   
2. Even if all players want to respect the RP in ESO, how can they quest/craft/... unhindered, without beeing interrupted by the Role Players. I wouldn't embrace if other players always had to look if someone is doing RP in the close environment and feeling forced to spread away because they don't want to disturb the RP.
   
3. How to find other Role Players on that huge number of layers. It is nearly impossible! - To arrange meetings in a forum? NO! I don't want it! This is not real RP. RP is improvise not planned (except of plots)
   
4. I' sure there are some points more that I didn't consider yet...

After reading up to here you may ask now: "Yeah fine.. but do you have any ideas about realise RP without disadvantage one of the two sides?" - Yes I do:

I wondered myself how to solve that problem by using the given technology. There's an easy way to prevent that problem. The cue is "Megaserver-System-layers". As I mentioned there are a lot of parallel existences. Why not make a own layer for people who want to do RP? If you can join the layer of friends/guild members/... , why not join a RP-layer by giving the command "/join Roleplay" e.g. . (to go back on a normal layer you could use "/leave Roleplay". Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, when I think that it wouldn't be a huge complexity to perform this.

Furthermore the layer will nearly operate at full capacity, because there are a lot of players who could join from every country (because of the Megaserver-system). Even if it won't do, where is the problem to run one layer wich is not full in charge in a game you pay for?

I hope you agree with me, even if you won't play RP yourself. Please feel free to discuss with me and other players and maybee Bethesda will think about it, if there is egnough response of the commuity.

Thanks for reading

Nothreon

(please excuse my english, it's not perfect )

Going by one of the old interviews, I was under the impression that you join a shard/layer based on preferences you set when starting the game. So joining an RP-prefered shard/layer should be possible...

Well I intend to join a RP focused guild. That way I'll be put in the same instance as other members of that RP guild, hence lots of RPers to RP with.

At least I think that's the way guilds will work - guildmates get placed together?

They can always add more options for role-players, but role-playing for one person is different for another, it's good you've made those suggestions, for most games role-players have improvised in these aspects, I expect this to be no different.

There's not really any potential fail here, just suggestions for additions.

Yeah but as I said: There are a lot of other players on the layer... kind of disgusting in my oppinion. I don't want to have xXNightbladeXx jumping infront of me and my rp mates, because he want's to show us his supercool new armor. (Just an exaggeration but I think the message is clear)

for reply

So its a little unclear whether it'll show up or not (inconsistency from devs) but they've mentioned a player survey that would determine which channel/layer/shard you show up in. If you like to roleplay, say so on that survey and you'll get into the game with other RPers.

there is also another topic - for European players it would be extremely useful the option to choose their language shard. Not that there would be some negative, but for the chat to be understandable and much more easier to make friends etc etc. So smaller nations could group few on the shard, but sill not spread all over.

That doesn't become an issue if you simply look at every character as just another NPC. You remain IC and they are written off as a some deranged idiot that's hopped up on Skooma.

It is an issue sir. Because true role-play is an exchange between two or more people. You can't really have that exchange if everyone is an npc, or you treat everyone like an npc. I support RP wherever it is found, and am hoping to be placed on an RP shard or section of the mega server. I will also be forming an RP guild for those who are established RPers or who want to learn and who are mature and considerate people. I will be playing on the Daggerfall Covenant side of things.

(If people recognize the name, yes I'm the same Ras from Elendilmir server of LOTRO, former leader of the Gathering of Laurelin and founder of Valacirca - an RP Alliance of all the prominant RP guilds on the server. I would be more than happy to talk to people about building a great RP Guild for Daggerfall if people have suggestions)

I view the masses of other avatars roaming the Tamrielic countryside to be akin to wandering through the streets of New York City (as far as my RP is concerned). Though there may be hundreds/millions of people around my character, I don't have to interact with them. Just as I could keep on doing what I was planning to do whilst they mill around the streets of NYC, in the same way my avatar will be able to do his thing even if there's caravans of other avatars going off to do their thing,

So no, it won't affect my avatar, his backstory, or any other part of my RP one bit. If others are wanting good RP, then I'mm be happy to chat it up in game. For those who're just wanting a grind-fest, it will be as if my character does not exist to them, and vis versa.

I'm fortunate enough to be part of an amazing RP guild, myself. I heavily RP all of my TES characters. I didn't mean that in influencing the RP between the inter knit group. At that point it's all audible exchanges, with headsets, headphones and mics.

The NPCs communicate through text. Other players are text based as well. That grants you the power of who gets to communicate with you on the general level. Then you just have to deal with the physical character. That RPs as them being an idiot. They exist in world and realm.

Brilliantly put.

sorry... double post

Good point.

FRom what i can gather, MMO's are just not your thing and that you have SERIOUSLY hard time immersing yourself and RPing.

the idea of an "RP" shard is great BUT for some reason it becomes an RP player bash zone on most games as you have non RPers playing there then all upset because (gasp in shock) there is RPing going on.

Every game is the same for this and I doubt there will be any differences with ESO nor for any game till the universe ends

I am going to say it's gone. I have a neighbor who's cousin has a dog that's friends with another dog that is in the same suburb as a guy with the same name as a dev, and he said his dog (etc) said it's gone.

That info could be old and out of date, but I'll bet ya 10 gold pieces I'm right!

Well I think ESO will be allot better to RP in then for an example WoW.

Thank you.

I thought he might need a different perspective. The only time other people being in the game should ever mess with your RP; is if your RP isn't very well thought out or very strong to begin with. It's be like just wandering the streets of a major city in RL (as I already mentioned). I certainly feel no requirement to interact with every soul I pass on the street, why should my avatar feel that he has to talk with every digital body wandering around?

If they can pass me by as if I'm not even there, doing their own thing; why cannot/should not my avatar do the exact same thing?

?Won't affect my RP one minuscule bit.

I agree with you guys, though I would like to see an RP layer. If they won't give it to us, then we will just have to make Layer #1354 the unofficial RP layer!!

Pretty much my entire plan since I started reading the released documentation on this game.

My priority is my RP, coming in a distant second is the Campaign (such as it is).