I dunno Kes, that's pretty good! I know it's a bit broad but does RP necessarily need to be narrowed down and classified that much? I freely admit that I'm pretty loose with my line of thinking and my desire for structure is more directed in a lore-directive and if anything a guild oriented setting. As far as specifically designated what RP is and isn't exactly seems dependant on the subject matter and the one doing the classification. From what I've seen haterz be hatin yo, no matter what may be decided and some people have certain images in their mind regarding RP that they won't get out of their head until they decide to. I know this may not be exactly the format that we're looking for but here's my thoughts...
ERP: While not something I particularly endorse or actively seek or really enjoy being privy to, I believe with structure it can serve a purpose. I certainly think that it's a dicey enough topic that it should be done in privacy but I certainly don't condemn it. If that's the particular role that someone has a passion for, so be it. Alot of people get the wrong impression about the RP community as a whole with this sort of thing but that sort of generalization indicates a lack of interest in the first place and I think it's certainly not quite as broad a view as it used to be a while back.
The Random emote shenannigans: For me it's way too difficult to decypher if someone is legitimately poking fun or actually attempting to get into RP, albeit a bit awkwardly, or if they're just being lazy and goofing around. Either or I know it doesn't bother me personally unless it becomes disruptive to what I'm doing. Going back to the first part of this, when I RP'd in WoW there was a guy who came up doing this sort of thing and the two friends I was RPing with were quick to bash in party chat or even say some harsh words in /say. My philosophy (for the most part) is the kill 'em with kindness approach so I did, I treated him like a legitimate character and he actually wound up apologizing and saying he wasn't used to this sort of thing and.....tried to...pay me off....>.> Weither or not he genuinely wanted to RP or he was influenced by my behavior and felt guilty for any sort of disruptive behavior, I'd say it was win win all around!
Defining IC/OOC: This I would actually love a unified designation for. I know I've seen people using (( )) or using * * or what have you but in regards to specific chat, I'd love a general concensus just for clarity. As far as differentiating between player and character, I think making it clear that crossin the IC/OOC line is a huge no no. Which I know for me is very difficult to do just because if I don't enjoy the player's personality I typically don't enjoy rping with them, but I'm workin on it!
Differenciating between different types of RPers: This one I'm not exactly sure how to answer. I've seen pretty varied responses depending on the individual doing the grading at the time. I don't consider myself hardcore, but others have. I prefer party chat to be OOC unless otherwise specified for the sake of group coordination if we're doing an instance or dungeon whatever the nomenclature may be. Other folks are never OOC ever.....which....I think is pretty freaking hardcore, but for me would hinder my ability to socialize and enjoy the game as a player and an rper.
Environment: I've been experiencing quite a few different styles here lately and it seems like my RP experience is a little bit lacking since I don't have the time spent with FFXI as a great deal of you folks do ;D but I know for me I prefer that character created locations, like a base or something like that be handled in channel rp or guild chat. It's only recently that I've come to that preference as normally I prefer face to face than anything, but there seems to be alot of variables that can interrupt an RP that legitimately might have been private or less likely to have disruption, but then again it's all for personal preference! Some of the best RPs I've had have been at our "Secret Base" face to face in game at some random awesome looking ruins for the background. In the end I do prefer face to face just because it helps put imagery with my imagination, so scenery and setting certainly play a big role for me.
Did I get off topic? Was that a tangent or not what ya'll are looking for? >.> either way I apologize!
ERP: While not something I particularly endorse or actively seek or really enjoy being privy to, I believe with structure it can serve a purpose. I certainly think that it's a dicey enough topic that it should be done in privacy but I certainly don't condemn it. If that's the particular role that someone has a passion for, so be it. Alot of people get the wrong impression about the RP community as a whole with this sort of thing but that sort of generalization indicates a lack of interest in the first place and I think it's certainly not quite as broad a view as it used to be a while back.
The Random emote shenannigans: For me it's way too difficult to decypher if someone is legitimately poking fun or actually attempting to get into RP, albeit a bit awkwardly, or if they're just being lazy and goofing around. Either or I know it doesn't bother me personally unless it becomes disruptive to what I'm doing. Going back to the first part of this, when I RP'd in WoW there was a guy who came up doing this sort of thing and the two friends I was RPing with were quick to bash in party chat or even say some harsh words in /say. My philosophy (for the most part) is the kill 'em with kindness approach so I did, I treated him like a legitimate character and he actually wound up apologizing and saying he wasn't used to this sort of thing and.....tried to...pay me off....>.> Weither or not he genuinely wanted to RP or he was influenced by my behavior and felt guilty for any sort of disruptive behavior, I'd say it was win win all around!
Defining IC/OOC: This I would actually love a unified designation for. I know I've seen people using (( )) or using * * or what have you but in regards to specific chat, I'd love a general concensus just for clarity. As far as differentiating between player and character, I think making it clear that crossin the IC/OOC line is a huge no no. Which I know for me is very difficult to do just because if I don't enjoy the player's personality I typically don't enjoy rping with them, but I'm workin on it!
Differenciating between different types of RPers: This one I'm not exactly sure how to answer. I've seen pretty varied responses depending on the individual doing the grading at the time. I don't consider myself hardcore, but others have. I prefer party chat to be OOC unless otherwise specified for the sake of group coordination if we're doing an instance or dungeon whatever the nomenclature may be. Other folks are never OOC ever.....which....I think is pretty freaking hardcore, but for me would hinder my ability to socialize and enjoy the game as a player and an rper.
Environment: I've been experiencing quite a few different styles here lately and it seems like my RP experience is a little bit lacking since I don't have the time spent with FFXI as a great deal of you folks do ;D but I know for me I prefer that character created locations, like a base or something like that be handled in channel rp or guild chat. It's only recently that I've come to that preference as normally I prefer face to face than anything, but there seems to be alot of variables that can interrupt an RP that legitimately might have been private or less likely to have disruption, but then again it's all for personal preference! Some of the best RPs I've had have been at our "Secret Base" face to face in game at some random awesome looking ruins for the background. In the end I do prefer face to face just because it helps put imagery with my imagination, so scenery and setting certainly play a big role for me.
Did I get off topic? Was that a tangent or not what ya'll are looking for? >.> either way I apologize!