[RP Help] What Do You Want from The Twisting Nether?

[Ellsbeth]

Two questions:

1) What do you want from Twisting Nether (server, not lore location)?

2) What can you give to Twisting Nether?


As an aside: I am shamelessly ripping everything I see that is awesome from the Wyrmrest Accord forums. Also if it's not appropriate a discussion (though I'd like it to be RP orientated) then throw it over to the WoW section.

[Bahura]

What do I want? An enjoyable environment where I can role play my character and enjoy what this game has to offer.

What can I give? I can give anyone who quests, delves or simply interacts with me a fun playing experience. I can contribute a bit of writing as well and finally, i'll try to give some alliance a foe that makes their experience much more interesting.

[Cristok]

1.) A commitment to being an RP-PvP server. We should take this realm back from the masses!

2.) A path toward this goal. Join the Grim or any of the dozens of RP guilds out there and help MAKE THEM BETTER. Thats what I try and do. Its what we all should do.

[Aphraelle]

I'd like to see all kinds of guilds, smaller as well as larger - sort of an RP ecosystem, with bigger more generalist guilds and smaller more specialized ones. Little race-based, class-based, story-based, etc., guilds along with the big ones. More guild alliances. More publicity given to the /rplevelassist channel, which I don't think many people, and especially newer RPers, know about. People giving discounts on trades when the other person RPs the transaction (basic principle: if you want people to do something, make it benefit them materially).

What I offer: RP wherever I happen to be, and contribution to all of the above.

[Agnarr]

I personally am against lots of smaller guilds, because it tends to segment the RP population too much. Everyone has their ooc channels and the community channels wind up lacking because of it. You wind up getting two people from Guild A wanting to do something, but noone else wants to because you have three people from Guild B doing something else, and two from Guild C doing something entirely else, meanwhile Guild D is doing arenas and half of guilds E, F, and G are doing raids completely separate from each other.
And then the poor sucker in Guild H is like "hello? I think I just heard a pin drop."

[Taknar]

1) I want a group of friends, nay a community, that I can interact with IC and not feel like I have to work my way into that situation. A group of people that will let me RP with them not because I'm awesome, but simply because I want to get better.

2) I like reporting stupid people.

[Vales]

1) I want a creative outlet, where I can get the thoughts from my head to paper, text, or chat rather than being cooped up in my mind for too long. People who respond when you do something different and subtle. (Like tearing down flyers in-game rather than just here in a post.)

2) Someone to help Taknar report all the twits around. I'm gonna need a new mouse, my right-click is wearing out. Someone who will stop, smile, talk and listen.

[Aphraelle]

I can't speak to the lack of RP in channels because I don't much RP in them, I like my RP either "live," so to speak, or in guild channel. I'm one of those people who finds it difficult to RP in the pixel-flesh and simultaneously be in a channel RPing in a bar somewhere.

As far as smaller guilds go, I think Agnarr does have a point, but I think that that can be offset by the smaller guilds allying themselves with each other or with larger guilds - which in itself can generate some good RP. It does place the onus on the smaller guilds to go out and mingle and form connections - *gasp* work! - but I think that's perfectly fine.

As I personally am in at least one OOC channel belonging to a guild I'm not in and usually get my instance PuGs from one or other OOC channel rather than in the guild channel, although there are often other guildies with me, I think it could work.

That's not to say it necessarily would work every time - it would require the smaller guild's RP to be somewhat concerned with politics - but I think the right smaller guild could actually benefit the community by acting as conduits between the larger guilds.

For example, as a member of Raven Cross I have little direct contact with the Pale Heart or the Grim, but if a smaller guild were allied with the Raven Cross and another of the larger guilds, that contact might become more likely.

I dunno, just my $0.02.

[Ryoku]

Now, Aphraelle, I think your idea you mentioned is great. Though, I too am not a fan of smaller guilds for the reasons Agnarr mentioned, if one could coordinate the guilds into a sort-of big community all connected somehow, it could work really nicely to strengthening the RP community. Though, personally I'm just a really big fan of political/tactical RP.. So it might not be so great of an idea to the eyes of some people.

But what do I want from TN? I would love it if more roleplayers took initiative to make RP instead of waiting for RP to come to them.

What am I willing to give? I'm willing to make some RP.

[Aphraelle]

So what we would need to do that - hypothetically speaking at this point, of course, and if it were seen as a good idea - is a small guild with a somewhat political RP focus whose leader and/or officers would be willing to RP brokering alliances between guilds. Hmm...

*ponder, plot, scheme*

[Athin]

For communication purposes via the guild channel, there are addons that allow that to happen. My PvE guild, taint on proudmoore is actually 8 or 9 different guilds together, and we use a addon called Guild2Guild to allow all members of the various guilds to talk together using the /g channel.

I'm finding it hard to meet other people for RP. I think it took me months before I had my first RP experience on the server. I'm with Aphraelle, I prefer to RP in-game, rather then via chat channel or by forum. (Although I don't mind the occasional story).

What I would like to see: more open rp. Things tend to get pretty cliquey, people have their preffered RPers and go off to do their own thing.

What I bring: I'm a pretty cool guy, open to various situations, and just and overall fun time.

[Svetlaena]

1. More open RP, spontaneous RP, and bolder RP where people are more proactive about making things happen. I'd also like to be able to initiate spontaneous RP without 80% of my responses being "EWWW RPer LOL". It gets discouraging.

2. I bring an open mind and reactive RP, treating all situations as if they're IC (getting better about this one lately), and hopefully a little dose of philosophy and thought whenever I can work one in.

I felt like I had to find and worm my way in to the RP community. I agree with Athin completely on the fact that RP is too cliquish, but I realize the reason for this is something I already stated in my first answer. When I first started trying to RP this happened to me a lot, and I nearly threw in the towel a few times. It's easy when you have people in front of you that you KNOW will RP. But with the way the server currently is, the spontaneous thing is kind of tricky.

[Aphraelle]

My PvE guild, taint on proudmoore is actually 8 or 9 different guilds together, and we use a addon called Guild2Guild to allow all members of the various guilds to talk together using the /g channel.

Hrrr? I must look this one up!

I'm a pretty cool guy, open to various situations, and just and overall fun time.

I don't know Athin well, but this is truth from what I've seen.

[Bellsa]

1) What do you want from Twisting Nether (server, not lore location)?

I want a community that is more than just welcoming. I want a community that is energetic and alive. I would love to see more events and gatherings held in places where anyone could stumble across them and participate. It bothers me to see good events tucked away off the beaten path where newcomers will never find them. I'd love see more of what this community offers out in the open. So we might be griefed, big deal. It's an rp server after all, just report, ignore and move on with (in character) life. There's no need to hide such a great community of people on islands off the coast of Durotar (or wherever else it is we tend to go).

2) What can you give to Twisting Nether?

My time, my effort. I'm glad to be on this server and glad to come across the good rp'ers that I have. I'm willing to do my share to play the game, help others and keep it fun. That's why we're all here, right?

[Ellsbeth]

Great answers! I see a few central themes - more interactiveness with the community, less clique-ishness, and trying to cut down on the Eww You Guyz RP of the server.

1) What do you want from Twisting Nether?

I want to group up with complete strangers and have everyone roleplay the instance. I want people to not be afraid of /say and the Server Forums. I want TN to be the PvP-Rp server of choice for roleplayers when they consider transferring their characters or rolling new ones. I want the kind of atmosphere I found on Wyrmcrest, but back here at home where the awesome folk still are.

2) What can you give to Twisting Nether?

A bit of sass, but definitely a changed point of view about the purpose of roleplay in WoW. I also have surprising patience for people mocking my characters for roleplaying. And while I haven't been creating any giant arcs, I will always be willing to interact with anyone in character. Anytime. Any place. Anywhere. Just whisper me on Ells or my alts.

[Qabian]

1. You know what I'd like? Some sort of regular relatively well publicized frequent RP event or even just an agreement that at a given time of day/week, RPers can show up in a given location and expect to find someone RPing or willing to RP, without any more organization than that (see the Hidden Palm's weekly event, which as much as I'd love to crash with fire on occasion, I'm usually conveniently busy at that time, heh).

Most of the RP-PvE servers have something like that, sometimes even several such "open meeting times" a week. I was a little surprised when I came here that there was no such thing, and there never has been such a thing in all the time I've been paying attention, other than the occasional people who regularly plan larger open events, at least Horde side. My very first post at the TN official boards had me pointed towards TNG and a couple guilds, but my question about regular open meetings was answered with a strong negative. Seemed odd to me to find this community with a clear focus on RP lacking what I had come to recognize as a basic staple of RP servers, when I was coming from a place where while finding any kind of large scale organized guild RP was very difficult, every Sunday at 4:00 at least two or three people would show up in Crossroads or Stormwind and just interact (tavern setting, or bazaar/market setting, or diabolical scheming setting), and even without any guild/community support, I could roll up archetypal alts for the sheer entertainment value of crashing such weekly get-togethers.

Am I willing to organize such a thing? Heck no. Do I know anyone who would be? No, not really. Would I even attend? Completely dependent on my distraction level. It would be a nice option to have open, though.

2. What am I willing to give? Guaranteed response to any and all direct contact (provided it doesn't get lost on its way to me, and it may require time depending on my distraction level). Although a lot of the time it might just be /blink and run like hell on the IC surface, I'm always up for possibilities or at least discussion, especially when organized OOC allows me the time and creativity to manufacture ways to get around the fact that Qabian hates almost everything.

[Villayna]

1. You know what I'd like? Some sort of regular relatively well publicized frequent RP event or even just an agreement that at a given time of day/week, RPers can show up in a given location and expect to find someone RPing or willing to RP, without any more organization than that

TNG use to sponsor a monthly event in Booty Bay. But then more people reached level 60 and figured out they could 1shot low levels and kill any aggravated guards without getting killed themselves. As the alliance TNG population dwindled down, I sort gave up on it because there were too many asshole Hordes who couldn't resist the pack mentality of there's 20 of us and 5 of them, let's mess with them!

I think I tried once or twice to have something in Shattrath so there wasn't any way for PVP to happen, but the trip to Shattrath proved too much of a barrier for lower levels.


That being said, I think the weekly gatherings that I experienced while playing Warhammer where there wasn't really a "host", just a premise that people gather together to tell stories worked out great.


Faelen and I think Solenev tried valiantly for a while there to keep something going, but it's hard to do all the planning all the time and no one else is willing to help out.

[Qabian]

Yeah... I wasn't really thinking crossfaction. I've never seen it done crossfaction. (Well, there was that one crazy Draenei lady in Ratchet, but that's a whole different kettle of fish.) I more meant both sides should have their own such things. I did always see them in low level bluewall friendly areas for lowbies, such as within the cities themselves or Crossroads/Ratchet/Goldshire type places. And since Ells brought up Wyrmrest and they have this: http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=14498473441&sid=1 ...it made me wonder why we don't. *shrug*

Host-less would be preferable, yes. The events I did hop into were just events. They had regulars who would almost always be there in some form, but no real regular hosts trying to keep things in line or having real life interrupt them and the whole thing fall apart when they couldn't make it. Gatherings without an instigating force or rationale can end up kind of... boring, but if they're still happening, boring is better than nonexistent? I could be wrong on that, heh.

[Ellsbeth]

And since Ells brought up Wyrmrest and they have this: http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=14498473441&sid=1 ...it made me wonder why we don't. *shrug*

They have Owakeri. Owakeri keeps a really consistent schedule and enjoys updating things like that. Great roleplayer. But really that's the crux of it initially. When I came here, there were roleplay posts on the regular forums and some would become stickies. Then the people in charge of the stickies would lose interest. It's really up to them to continue writing it.

Also, people are afraid of gankers at their events if they aren't in bluewall zones or sanctuaries. There was a wedding advertised on the regular forums, back when I had an alt in <Da Cartel> and they were hired for defense. There was a mini raid of Horde who came to eff it up. People love that video of the PvPers ganking the funeral so much that they want to emulate it all the time.

[Bellsa]

1. You know what I'd like? Some sort of regular relatively well publicized frequent RP event or even just an agreement that at a given time of day/week, RPers can show up in a given location and expect to find someone RPing or willing to RP, without any more organization than that
I would love this. Does it realy even need a host? Does it really even need much planning? Let's just say, for the sake of an example:

RP Happy Hour, every Friday at 7pm st. First meeting will be help in ThunderBluff, next week in Org, then Silvermoon the following week, and Undercity the week after that. Soak up the rp, lather rinse repeat. The Bluff, Org, SM, UC. The Bluff, Org, SM, UC. You could decide on an order and post it on the forums for all to see and guild masters can mark calendars. This musical chairs of large cities gives us a constantly changing setting to play in each wek, it gives newcomers who are keeping their eyes open for events a chance to find us no matter what race they start as.
Agree to an order, show up, bring a covered dish of yummy plots.

[ /example]
My neighborhood used to do this every Friday, except with retirees instead of orcs and fruit salad instead of war plans. A different house each week and a good way to relax and spend time with others.
Just tossing this out there.

[Taknar]

I am really confused by this freeform open RP thing. Without an IC reason to continually have meetings, the purpose of many people getting together is foreign to me.

[Bellsa]

Our characters don't need a reason to relax in a safe place, catch up on news with others and meet people they may need to help or need help from in the future?

I sometimes catch an in game glimpse of noteworthy plots and events, but if they aren't in my guild I rarely have any reason to participate in the role play unless I were to rudely invite myself or shove myself into their project. Getting the chance to be involved in bigger better things means you need to be seen and known, and a great way to do that is by getting to know others through a casual meet up, at least that's the way it feels to me.

[Qabian]

Usually there's a setting of some sort -- an open market theoretically for selling crafted, black market, or hard-to-find items that you wouldn't want to put up at auction, or to seek out regular buyers for goods both savory and unsavory (usually pure RP, but occasional actual items as well, and if open to lowbies, can be used to help set up new characters); a tavern setting more evocative of an actual casual, reasonless gathering; a regular storytelling session that would bring together performer-types and audience-types; something like that. As long as it's something that doesn't require maintenance and that people could instigate on their own in the absence of a host, that's generally what I was getting at. Just a time and a place where you know you could go and everybody knows your name -- I mean -- *cough*

And it of course depends on the characters themselves who might have the capacity to get involved. Some people just aren't social. Avidly social characters would probably steer the thing just by their personalities, but depending on the locale if it were central enough, even anti-social characters could have their own reasons to occasionally be in the vicinity and notice what's going on.

It's just something I see elsewhere and not so much here, possibly because there isn't a niche for it here? But all I know is I haven't seen it. It's certainly possible I missed previous attempts to create such a thing.

[Naheal]

I'll bite.

Two questions:

1) What do you want from Twisting Nether (server, not lore location)?

2) What can you give to Twisting Nether?


1) I want a fleshed out RP server seeped in its own consistant lore. I'm not particularly against non-rpers hanging out on the server (every group needs redshirts.) and I'm not against clique-ish RP groups (it happens IRL, it would happen in game, too)

I'm also looking for MORE cross faction coms and some recognition for those of us who are trying (unsuccessfully) to RP as members of neutral factions, as well as the added dynamic of conflict between these various neutral factions.

2) I'm always in character. I roleplay in instances, arenas, raids, ect. I'm spontanious with my RP and am more then happy to RP with new people, on either faction.

[teutelquessir]

I'm finding it hard to meet other people for RP. I think it took me months before I had my first RP experience on the server. I'm with Aphraelle, I prefer to RP in-game, rather then via chat channel or by forum. (Although I don't mind the occasional story).

What I would like to see: more open rp. Things tend to get pretty cliquey, people have their preffered RPers and go off to do their own thing.

I've also noticed a clique mentality on the server and I hope this changes.

1. I'd like to see more role play, more interaction among role players and less exclusivity.

2. I try my best to share my love of role play with others.

[Cabriel]

1. I'd like to see more world RP, events, parties, and people taking their srsbzness RP a little less seriously. I hate that I'll never get to interact IC with certain characters because they limit themselves through their RP.

2. I'm fun. :) At all times, I can be counted on to lighten an RP situation when needed, participate in any storyline (be it dramatic or comedic), stick to character, and be playful. I'm easy to RP with, and that's something I don't see a lot.

[Tarrus]

Honestly? I just wish it was easier to find a story line. I can't join an RP guild because I'm dedicated to my raiding guild. I've posted personals and I actively try to engage RP whenever I see it. I'm just waiting for someone to message me saying "Hey, I saw you on the gazette and noticed you wanted a little RP. Up for any?"

What am I doing to improve it? Keep approaching RPs (with permission of course) to meet friends.

[Tiraline]

1. What do I want from Twisting Nether?

Having played on The Venture Co. a while back, I have to say that this server is actually pretty darn good and open-armed about "new" folks. Also, I've seen fewer vampires and ninjas. (Although I've seen some samurai...:confused:)

We've also never really encountered a lot of difficulties about the "lots of small guilds" issue. We've had people defect to Dunamis (now approaching 60 members) from larger guilds because they felt lost in the shuffle. The 20% who are outstanding (great or terrible) tend to drown out the 80% who are good but don't dabble in high drama. In fact, the guilds we've had problems networking with are the big guilds; they kind of give us a distant recognition when we first approach them, then ignore the heck out of us.

Beyond that, many of Dunamis' members find it a bit difficult to RP with some groups of people because we officially hold to lore. We don't tell our people NOT to interact with those who bend it too far or break it, but it can cause problems because we can't really recognize the weird, un-canon things some of our members are encountering. It can result in a fragmentation of the character, isolation, and hard feelings. Ignoring canon can also result in people wondering why nobody accepts their half-dragon half-hobbit Jedi, because without reference to lore, there's really nothing to forbid them.

I guess what I'm driving at is that, much as I've seen people doing so, I'd like to see even more folks at least bobbing their heads in respect to canon before launching their stories. (I know someone out there probably thinks I'm talking about her, but I'm not, really; I'm speaking in general terms.)

2. What do you have to offer to the server?

Apropos of the above, I'm a lore freak. There are many of us. Those who think that making their stories fit neatly with the WoW universe would be a chore, can always talk to crazy people like me who enjoy doing so. I have testimonials. Generally, if you want something to happen that doesn't really work in the game universe, I (or others like me) can come up with several good alternatives that come close; some of my clients even say the ideas were better. And it also opens the door to more people being able to be involved.

I offer my research skills and advisory faculties.

Also, we offer Dunamis--which is pretty awesome if you're into your tradeskills or like to socialize. /brag /lapelnailbuff /can'thelpherself

[Keraph]

Honestly? I just wish it was easier to find a story line. I can't join an RP guild because I'm dedicated to my raiding guild. I've posted personals and I actively try to engage RP whenever I see it. I'm just waiting for someone to message me saying "Hey, I saw you on the gazette and noticed you wanted a little RP. Up for any?"

What am I doing to improve it? Keep approaching RPs (with permission of course) to meet friends.

On this vein, I have a fun idea. What if every one of us RPers around here picks a target, someone they've NEVER RPed with before, perhaps even at random, and either set up an RP, or send them and in game letter either requesting their services, chasing them down, I don't know, RP varies greatly. Just a way to randomly connect with other RPers and get some RP going.

[Ryoku]

Storylines are boring and scripted.

Spontanuity is where RP shines.

I have more fun randomly bumping into someone than playing out some BS storyline where I already know the outcome.

[Keraph]

Storylines are boring and scripted.

Spontanuity is where RP shines.

I agree and disagree. The most memorable events on the server, the most remembered RP moments have often been from some of the big storylines and events we've had, or were spawned off of them. Storylines are an overarching plot, a backbone to our characters stories. If we focus only on incidental spontaneous RP, we don't really move forward with our characters, at least not as fast.

At the same time, I agree that there's far too much of an emphasis on storylines. Like events, you don't NEED to have them going on every week or RP dries up and dies. Random RP meetups and situations are the bread and butter of RP, with storylines and events being special occasions, not mandatory. I think the most enjoyable RP includes a good balance of the two.

[Sifar]

1. What do I want?

More of the same with an added dash of purpose.

Not being in an RP guild has forced me to reach out more than I did before. So, in the past week or so I have: chatted up a mage who was fishing (and getting her to bug me ooc for making her RP after a year of not), attended a roaming tavern night and plotting a nasty message after catching up with an old friend, had Sifar's ass examined, met a naive mage, and overheard a Rohan rant with half a guild. I guess I say all that to mean, my RP is random and I'm happy with it. I have a growing "purposeful" RP that will be coming up, but it just should add to the random fun.

2. What can I offer?

Sifar's the "straight man" to anyone's comedy. You want someone grounded in the here and now, she's your gal. I try to be IC, but she keeps to herself IC. She's also available for translation service or to reach out to some of the more peaceful Horde guilds (or, RC, apparently).