Poster: Pipsie at 1/6/2006 4:59:25 PM PST
Subject: Roleplayer's Growing Concerns (Caydiem!!) |
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Roleplayer's Growing Concerns
Table of Contents
Introduction
Recent Issues
RP Content
Reaching Out
Introduction
This thread was created in the hopes that I may enlighten the roleplay community to improve its future in general. I feel that the roleplay community has been neglected by ourselves and by Blizzard, but that is not to say we can not do something about it. It is in my opinion that I do not stand alone amongst us when I say that our voice is large enough to merit an improved respect.
Recent Issues
Lack of Blizzard Interaction
The community managers rarely respond to any posts concerning the roleplaying community, and Blizzard has yet to announce any plans to add roleplay-related content. Our population is small, yes, but our voice should not be entirely ignored. A lot of us feel that there is no one on the Blizzard staff who truly enjoys roleplay, and that the only reason we are heard at all is because of profit. Our community only grows thinner with this lack of interaction with Blizzard.
Anyone who was loyal to WoW back in the beta stages will agree there was a greater respect for our community. We received much more posts from people like Katrina back in those days. This decline makes me think that we were appeased only so that we might buy the game in the first place.
Another issue is that we have received no new servers since Kirin Tor. All of our servers are usually full population now, and we endure queues at prime times. I can not believe that Blizzard sees us as so small that we do not even merit a new server after their second Christmas when they released new PvE and PvP servers.
Roleplaying Content
There are a lot of big and small things Roleplayers would desire to see in-game. However, we understand some things are not too realistic any time soon. I know that Blizzard has its hands full with PvE and PvP content at the moment, but we are a part of the WoW community too ya' know, and these are not things we need all at once, but over numerous patches. Here are some things that are possible and we'd hope Blizzard would consider:
More Clothing & Alcoholic beverahes
Roleplayers like to create all sorts of events. Balls, weddings, gatherings etc. Clothing is an essential part of these events, and I know roleplayers would be more satisfied if every patch we got at least one new set of clothing similar to wedding gowns/shirts/dresses/tuxedos.
I also know that roleplayers love to have alcoholic beverages at their events, and it'd be helpful if Blizzard expanded their variety to wines and additional beers with different effects.
Housing & Other Architecture
Housing would take a lot of effort to make it work, and therefore is not something we should expect very soon. However, if Blizzard simply added more empty buildings and such into the major cities, roleplayers would feel they had a larger choice for event-making. Darnassus and Thunderbluff in particular could use some love.
Surnames and Descriptions
This is not a big concern of mine as most good roleplayers I know use FlagRSP anyways, however it would show Blizzard cares. =)
Reaching Out
To end my post I want to reach out to the entire roleplay community, including the RP-PVP servers. I stand firm in the hopes Blizzard will recognize our need for a new roleplay server, but only if we come together as a true community can we make any new server compensate our needs.
The lack of roleplay on certain servers is not created by Blizzard, but by us. If Blizzard does create a new server I encourage as many hardcore and normal roleplayers to come together and take advantage of that opportunity.
Caydiem, or any community manager available, please give us some feedback. I play on a roleplay server because I love writing and literature in general. You'd think a company that spends so much time and effort on lore and story would have more heart for the roleplaying community.
-Pipsie.[ post edited by Pipsie ]
| | | http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general&t=6562641&p=#post6562641 | | | Poster: Caydiem at 1/7/2006 4:53:29 PM PST
Subject: Re: Roleplayer's Growing Concerns (Caydiem!!) |
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Q u o t e:
Lack of Blizzard Interaction
The community managers rarely respond to any posts concerning the roleplaying community, and Blizzard has yet to announce any plans to add roleplay-related content. Our population is small, yes, but our voice should not be entirely ignored. A lot of us feel that there is no one on the Blizzard staff who truly enjoys roleplay, and that the only reason we are heard at all is because of profit. Our community only grows thinner with this lack of interaction with Blizzard.
There are dozens of dedicated role players on staff; I am one. We understand the passion for delving into the lore and acting as your character would. At the same time, we have released quite a bit of role playing content. It all depends on perspective, of course, but honestly, a great deal of what we've added goes a long way towards helping role play communities. Because it is a community playstyle, however, it's up to the players to make use of them.
Q u o t e:
Another issue is that we have received no new servers since Kirin Tor. All of our servers are usually full population now, and we endure queues at prime times. I can not believe that Blizzard sees us as so small that we do not even merit a new server after their second Christmas when they released new PvE and PvP servers.
I'll mention it again.
Q u o t e:
More Clothing & Alcoholic beverahes
Roleplayers like to create all sorts of events. Balls, weddings, gatherings etc. Clothing is an essential part of these events, and I know roleplayers would be more satisfied if every patch we got at least one new set of clothing similar to wedding gowns/shirts/dresses/tuxedos.
I also know that roleplayers love to have alcoholic beverages at their events, and it'd be helpful if Blizzard expanded their variety to wines and additional beers with different effects.
We keep adding clothes all the time, though a lot of people don't think of it as such. Two words can solve a lot of problems: Dressing Room. With this tool and a little work I've created countless outfits that look snazzy and work for a variety of situations. We add new clothes with our world events -- I believe there's one coming up in the next couple of months that is an example. There is far from a dearth of snazzy outfits out there that you can use for role playing purposes.
To the second point, I would not expect to see different effects from booze anytime soon. The effects already are many from getting drunk, and you tend to react to alcohol in the same basic ways. We've added booze along the line that's given statistic changes, but I don't believe there are any plans -- nor is there any need -- to add different booze with more aesthetic or otherwise non-gameplay-affecting effects.
Q u o t e:
Housing & Other Architecture
Housing would take a lot of effort to make it work, and therefore is not something we should expect very soon. However, if Blizzard simply added more empty buildings and such into the major cities, roleplayers would feel they had a larger choice for event-making. Darnassus and Thunderbluff in particular could use some love.
While player housing is something we would like to do eventually, in the meantime, I'm afraid there's little room for growth in the cities to add empty houses and such. Again -- there are many, many places in the world where events can be held without NPC interference.
Q u o t e:
Surnames and Descriptions
This is not a big concern of mine as most good roleplayers I know use FlagRSP anyways, however it would show Blizzard cares. =)
This is not planned in the near future to my knowledge.
Now that I've answered specific concerns, I want to address this in general, from the standpoint of a role player and loremonger.
There is a veritable ton of items, content, and places just perfect for role play use. There are empty inns out there. There are loads of picturesque locales that are perfect for faires and other activities. Now, it's not solely for role play use, necessarily -- it might have stats on it. It might drop off monsters. But the fact remains that it's out there and available.
We're adding new small things into the game all the time. They often come with World Events, so make sure to check those out whenever they're around, but we add new things in all the time. Since launch, here are some things that have been added that have little practical use but tons of role play potential:
Heavy Leather Ball/Happy Fun Rock
Snowballs
Eggnog
Holiday Hats
Easter Dress/Tuxedo
Many non-combat pets
Hallow's End masks
Hallow's End wands
Darkmoon Faire -- cannon, booze, and the general atmosphere
Dressing Room
This is not a complete list, just a few of the things I could name off the top of my head.
This world of Azeroth is wonderful for someone who wishes to role play, particularly for one who knows the story. The history of Warcraft is everywhere. I can't tell you how many in-character tours I've led around Azeroth for small groups, explaining the history of the given location. The world is rich, the lore is there, and it's not difficult in the slightest to role play within it. The world supports playing a role within the Warcraft world.
What you've mentioned are extra trappings that, while they'd certainly be nice to have, are not in any way necessary or even necessarily strongly desired in order to play that role. We'll continue to add such tidbits as time permits, but to say that we have not added roleplay-related content is quite simply untrue.
My heart is locked away in Glastonbury Tor.
| | | http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general&t=6562641&p=#post6574492 | Poster: Caydiem at 1/7/2006 5:06:33 PM PST
Subject: Re: Roleplayer's Growing Concerns (Caydiem!!) |
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Well, to be blunt, I doubt that there will be professions or classes added that are primarily role-play oriented. Such massive undertakings need to have a practical use in game as well.
Also, official weddings are a whole other ball of wax, particularly since this game is sold internationally. You can get married in the game anyway -- a tux, a bridal gown, a ring. Why do you need a tag that tells you you're married when the people are the important thing? ;)
My heart is locked away in Glastonbury Tor.
| | | http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general&t=6562641&p=#post6574595 | Poster: Caydiem at 1/7/2006 5:06:33 PM PST
Subject: Re: Roleplayer's Growing Concerns (Caydiem!!) *edited post* |
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Well, to be blunt, I doubt that there will be professions or classes added that are primarily role-play oriented. Such massive undertakings need to have a practical use in game as well.
Also, official weddings are a whole other ball of wax, particularly since this game is sold internationally. You can get married in the game anyway -- a tux, a bridal gown, a ring. Why do you need a tag that tells you you're married when the people are the important thing? ;)
EDIT: There have been some incredible weddings performed in game. All the trappings you need are there. There is, in fact, support for weddings in the game. All that is supposedly "lacking" is some tag that would flag you as married in some nonexistent description area, but honestly? As a role player, I don't need that to hold a wedding.[ post edited by Caydiem ]
My heart is locked away in Glastonbury Tor.
| | | http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general&t=6562641&p=#post6574595 | Poster: Caydiem at 1/7/2006 5:10:52 PM PST
Subject: Re: Roleplayer's Growing Concerns (Caydiem!!) |
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Q u o t e:
Do you have any information on new roleplaying realms, Caydiem?
I already responded to that in my initial post here, Asharia.
My heart is locked away in Glastonbury Tor.
| | | http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general&t=6562641&p=#post6574632 |
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