1 Reply by Zhiroc

(4 replies, posted in Panel Discussion)

I think the reason why there ends up being friction between RPers and non-RPers is that they are often thrust together in a game where RP really isn't the primary feature of it. It would be like RPing during a game of chess...

And not only that, most games have little support for RP--a static story, little ability to influence events, rote, repetitive quests or activities...

No wonder that RPer's look strange in most games...

That's why I've just about given up on the MMOGs, and play exclusively in text MUSHes these days.

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2 Reply by Zhiroc

(15 replies, posted in EVE Online)

Mecha wrote:

All in all, i would say the game in general provides a nice setting for RP, where as games such as WOW doesnt. Its true that on the 1v1 level, RPing might be minimal(thats up to the individual), but the grand Corperation domination and conflict is unmatched, with plenty of room for politics, schemes, betrayel and drama.

Frankly, I always felt the opposite--that Eve had just about no real RP. There's no storyline to integrate into--it's all just an excuse to release new technology. You can ignore it. The corp/alliance wars are just that--wars. No purpose except to control space, so you can get rich. And you use the wealth to fight better. It's just a hack 'n slash.

But then again, I don't think any MMOG has much RP potential. Text MUSHes is where the RP is. Easily 10x more RP going on there than any other MMOG, which is why I gave them up.

BTW, I think I had 53mil SP when I quit Eve, just behind Dr. Caymus smile

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3 Reply by Zhiroc

(54 replies, posted in Games Discussion)

The problem I find with most MMOGs is that if you do find RP in them, you are usually limited to doing things that have no impact on the world. So, while I like social RP as much as story RP, I have to have both these days (and trying to fit RP around some lame quest or mob spawn isn't the same). And this is why I'm in love with my text MUSHes--they give me this in a way I've only once come close to in my PnP RPG days (and that was mostly because we players RP'ed by email and chat to develop the social aspect--I'm too self conscious to act out a role in a face-to-face session).

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4 Reply by Zhiroc

(54 replies, posted in Games Discussion)

To me, this question is like asking whether you like movies/TV or books. They are different genres, with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Graphical MMOGs/MUDs are like movies. Very much focused on the "doing" rather than the "thinking". MUSHes/et al. are like books, heavy on the characterizations and introspection. And this difference is often why turning a book into a movie fails so badly. You can't take the 1st person aspects and the narrative into the 3rd person world of a movie easily.

For me, a novel can be as engrossing as a movie. It used to be that a movie could never duplicate the imagination, but that is less true these days. But given this, I've found I don't need the visual aspect of these games anymore. That's why I only play MUSHes now. I decided to not play Seed because I didn't want to spent any time in the mini-games of hatches or whatever. I want to leave those duties to "off-screen" activities that could be assumed my character was doing.

In the end, I want to play games that make me feel like I'm in an interactive book (or movie), not actually in a "game".

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5 Reply by Zhiroc

(54 replies, posted in Games Discussion)

If you are into extremely strong RP, I would suggest you consider the online text games (MUDs and MUSHes/MUXes/MOOs). I find MUDs are more similar to the MMOG genre (with automated content, like MOBs), while MUSHes/etc. tend to be more focused on RP and story.

A good place to start is at the MudConnector.

My favorite right now is called Chronicles of Amber, which is a world based on Zelazny's Amber series of novels. There's a LiveJournal page for it, that has a lot of play logs and character diary excerpts, to give you an idea of the RP there. Another one with extensive player logs is Into the Black, a MUSH based on Firefly. (Click on the Community Forums link.)

I've said it before--there is NO graphical MMOG that comes close to the immersion I've experienced with a text game.

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