Planning to make an rp character, need help

[Baa3]

Well to begin with I won't actually reveal who my main is on tn. I want to keep it a secret so I can pretty much play the game and still rp. Anyways, how is a good way to start rping? For example, how do you all come up with names for your characters? And then, how do you actually find rp? On my main I never find people actually rping in groups or really anywhere. Is there a specific spot to do it? I heard silvermoon city, anywhere else? It woulid be a bit iffy for me because I would have to think of a motivation for my character to be there. But really, I just want to know how to get involved and a good way to do it. I like to write stories and to read so I think rping in wow might be fun to do for a bit.

[Kiaransalius]

Names I usually come up with from a past of playing tabletop... but there are tons of names sites out there. Do a google search for fantasy names or elven names etc.

As to places to rp... it happens everywhere, you just have to be persistant. In Silvermoon there is alot yes, but it is everywhere. My advice is to come up with an idea for your character, and just stay in character. People that are borderline rpers will usually come around and join in, as long as you are persistant.

You can also download the mod FLAGRSP (I think thats the name) and that lets you put in a bio for your character and some more name details. Plus its a good way to see other RPers (thier tooltip looks different and has more info, plus you can have it set to show thier bios on target/mouseover).

What race are you going with? class? if you need idea help those two things are key to forming up something....

Also, from being here, you have a huge group of RPers to draw on for in game contact.

Oh, and when you have a concept and such, put up a bio in the character bios thread! All those things will help get you going.

[Rand_Shea]

As far as names go... try to avoid anything other than the basic alphabet as far as characters.

Other than that, you can try babynames.com or some other site with a lot of names and their 'meaning' and pick one from there, or create some kind of variation if nothing unique comes to you right away.

Background wise... try to avoid using things like 'dragon', 'vampire', 'werewolf', 'faerie', 'prince/princess', and other typical fantasy elements to describe your character's status or lineage if you're just starting out and aren't sure what you want from your character. A lot of newer people trying to impress others end up using stuff like that in desperate attempts to look unique and seek attention, when it really only serves to make people think they're unoriginal and god-moders.

UNLESS... you have a well thought out backstory for your character to explain why you used a certain 'cliche' element, know the mythology behind it if there is any, and try to apply it in a way that's not a copy of some fairy tale or Disney movie.

As for location... Silvermoon is still somewhat of a hotspot, though primarily for Blood Elf characters as of late since a lot of known orcs and taurens have ICly decided to avoid it due to a certain storyline. I've heard Thunder Bluff has a bit going on in it lately, but you can really find it just about anywhere. RP mods help, but you could also show up at events and interact that way, like that pvp event in halaa that happened recently.

Other than that... interaction wise, don't assume reactions from people, auto-hit, etc. Duels usually decide which character wins a fight, or people will sometimes use /roll for some situations.

[Taknar]

Stranglethorn also seems to be a good RP hub these days.

A good way to get into things might be to contact some well known RPers from the forum and introduce yourself in game. Find reasons to hang out with them, so to speak. I'm sure you'll get caught up in it all in no time.

[Baa3]

thanks for all the help so far

[Sabachthan]

I know it sounds unhelpful, but it's true: you find RP by doing RP. If you run around looking for RP to "join in," you're likely to have some difficulty finding something that clicks. But if you starting doing RP, behaving IC and emoting and speaking to others, you'll find more RP than you have time to participate in.

RP is everywhere.

FlagRSP helps you find potential candidates that would be open to an RP approach, but by no means should it be considered the end-all be-all list of who out there is role playing.

[Amoola]

A nother angle for names is to see if there is a RL cultural equivalent for your race. Say like Tauren are said to be pretty darn native american and I've heard Draenei equated to russian or slovic in leaning. You can google for names that way.

Or you can just get desperate like I did (trust me an hour or so of trying to find a name that you like that isn't taken already will leave you ready to jump on the first name that will go through) you can take what the game name generator gives you with a letter or two added.

For RP if you are into writing and see an open story PM the person heading it up and jump in head first if they say it's cool. Amoola's first big story came from just that. I didn't know where it would go and had a blast with it plus it lead to a kick off for the next phase of her life that I am busy writing up with Swift and Saragone right now for near future posting. The better the social circle of you characters the better in many cases.

If your character isn't shy or phobic of strangers (first one in Amoola's case) then just right out there into the in game RP. *nods*

[Grayslin]

Yeah, the game name generator isn't half bad as a jumping off point for names. Click the button till it suggests something that you kind of like the sound of, then play with the letters in the name until it "feels right."

I've gotten more than one character name that way.

[Ryoku]

If you're Horde, Silvermoon can be a bit rampant with the ERP.. Iffen ya know what I mean. But you can find good stuff there if you look for it.

Booty Bay is as well a good shot for you to try for RP.Da Cartel and Raven Cross hang out there quite a bit.

If you're Alliance, well... Cartel sometimes go to Booty Bay. But you'll have some luck in Stormwind if you just patrol around the more reclusive areas in character (though, the RP in trade district with those who don't really... RP at all can be amusing sometimes as well). Ironforge also has 18+ houses with nothing in them.

Oh, and if you want to be unique, don't make a Blood Elf. Not trying to bash, but if you want to roleplay something different... A Blood Elf just isn't your race.

[Rand_Shea]

Elves in general are considered 'unoriginal' nowadays, and that includes night elves. Particularly if it's a druid, or a hunter.

Same with human and draenei paladins, supposedly.

But uniqueness comes from the character's story, not what their model with pasted on skins looks like.

[Grayslin]

But uniqueness comes from the character's story, not what their model with pasted on skins looks like.
Aye - Syl's a night elf, but her character couldn't be less "nelfish" if she tried. Granted, her backstory's not a terribly original one (raised on the streets, used to be a cold-hearted assassin, blah blah blah), but at least it's not the generic night elf persona.

[Gorvena]

Well to begin with I won't actually reveal who my main is on tn.
Heh...hi Kerrala! :p

[Baa3]

Not quite.

[Solenev]

Many of the longest relationships I've had in game for RP reasons... right out of Valley of Trials or Deathknell. Creating an RP characters starts often from level 1. Guilds certainly help, but discovering your character's personality and desires and dreams from that early really makes it interesting.

Think about iconic characters you like from books and also what you would enjoy playing and start from there.

Names? Mostly from stories and characters I created over the years. I love looking at baby name books even though I have no attention of using them in the near distant future. I think of a concept and find a name that fits.

Locations for RP? Undercity has again become a hotspot. Fishing holes in Orgrimmar and Thunder Bluff can find RP. I keep a mental list of most of the RP guilds and will RP some emote when someone from those guilds is around. Once you find a few people it's not so hard after that. Also if you're good at organising things, run an event on a Sunday night. It should get you some arps.

[Alekander]

Welcome to TNG.

[Baa3]

The person who posted this was numdiar. Just thought I'd share.

[Iona]

With your perma ban... you can't come RP with us anymore!

[Baa3]

It was only a forum perma ban. I canceled my account a couple weeks ago so I decided to actually get banned on purpose. I had like, a day left of time on my account and I wanted to leave in an interesting way.

[Swerto]

My names?


Swerto came when I was 12 and needed a screen name to go by on a forum, so I hit the keyboard real fast and came with swert, so I added an O to make it sound better.


Securo I just took 3 cool looking Japaneses letters and put them together (Hirogana Se, Ku, and Ro) I changed it to Securo and started claiming it sounded more Nordic than Japaneses.

The others? Usually just me mashing keyboard to find sounds and then adjusting them necessarily to get a nice sounding name.

[Iona]

It was only a forum perma ban. I canceled my account a couple weeks ago so I decided to actually get banned on purpose. I had like, a day left of time on my account and I wanted to leave in an interesting way.

It was interesting I must admit. Trying to go for the Page o' Offensive. I think you covered all bases.

I don't know what I would do with this game if I couldn't RP. I would definitely have quit a long time ago. I look at my buddy who plays on a PvE server and while she has some great interactions with players through ventrilo, she really only plays the game to progress through raid content. Without that raid content, she wouldn't have a reason to play.

With me... I have RP as my reason to play. PvP gear is essentially so I can do World PvP with RPers. And in a week of dailies and instances and battlegrounds, I will remember those five seconds of RP by the Auctioneer as the highlight of my week.

Those are my "I was there when..." moments.

[Baa3]

Btw, I posted this topic like, at least a month before so this doesn't apply now... I looked for the post and bumped it. But I pretty much just tried to get everything I could out of the game. I pvped, pved, and rped, etc. Once you do everything eventually you have to move on, so I did. I bumped it because for one I wanted to see if anyone would think it was funny that I liked to rp and two because I read dehilda's post and that guy is a complete moron.

[Swerto]

I don't know you and I already lurv you for your hatred of Dehl and you insulting him.