Posted by Amaranthe(IMM) on November 5, 2000 at 11:02:01:
In Reply to: Is roleplay still appreciated by the average player? posted by Lucktey on November 5, 2000 at 04:48:44:
I myself was first introduced to Carrion Fields back in 1994, and believe you me, the roleplaying has nothing but consistently improved as far as I am concerned. And even back in 1994 - a good roleplayer who never pked was always preferable to a good pker who never roleplayed. I think the posts you're seeing on the subject reflect two things. First, pking ability is objective and concrete, while roleplaying ability is subjective and visceral. It's much easier to put your finger on an excellent fight, whether it be a miserable defeat or a stunning victory. Even I will admit such things can be exciting and fun even if the person you are engaged with isn't necessarily a good roleplayer. The characters that are memorable in the end however, are those with the most intriguing stories and distinct personalities. Another thing you have to remember is that here, on Dioxide's forum or any forum for that matter, it isn't appropriate to discuss the nuances of in-depth roleplaying scenarios. It would be nigh taboo to post such things as the quirks, motives, and agendas of the wonderful characters we may interact with in the game. Fight logs and strategies can be posted endlessly, but individual roles and conversations are usually kept in the game, as they should be. The forum just isn't as condusive an environment to discussing roleplaying as it is to discussing playerkilling - and those that are the most dedicated roleplayers are, in my observation, are less likely to consistently get involved in discussions on the forum unless it's more in the scope of a general discussion of issues involving the game at large, as opposed to individual criticism or pats on the back. It would be to the detriment of Carrion Fields if players who frequent the forum are coming the the conclusion that pk ability is somehow more respectable than roleplaying ability. Such conclusions would be fairly baseless, since whatever discussions occur here, it is, after all, Dioxide's forum - not the game itself. The most 'elite' players, if you care to use the term, are those that can excel not only in their roleplaying AND playerkilling ability, but other areas as well, such as observational skills, participation and involvement in Thera events and quests, and a willingness to play a variety of roles. I've known some fantastic playerkillers that also are able to play non-aggressive roles just as gracefully, and that's something I've always admired. And in any case, even players that are not 'elite' can be well respected - but roleplaying is always required.