What's up with RP lately?

[KanjarVero]

Hi, I was wondering what happened lately: I started noticing a lot of toons with fancy names, styled in the fashion of "Haxorfrag666" and similar.

Is there some transfer feature that is brining "new" but already developed characters into Laurelin from other servers?

Also: I don't know why but someone has been disrupting quiet into /world chat by constantly spamming silly things like "bee boo bop bee boo"; even if /world is not a Role-Play channel it's certainly silly and strange that a theoretically "RP Server" should host those behaviors, not to mention certain strange names I've been noticing lately...

[Erthallan]

I am not a RP guy meself but i agree with you - it kinda breaks the immersion. GM should and would normally contact those with weird names , just guessing they are not online as often due the pandemic.

luckily , we have the 'ignore' option on chat at least

[HunterGreen]

Ever since server mergers, the RP rules have been far, far more lax, and OOC names have become the norm. But the actual roleplayers scene remains about what it was before that. We just have to ignore the immersion-breakers around us just like we always did on Landroval.

[Seregrian]

Mara Aure, mellyn nin...

I am trapped on Crickhollow, due to the permanent disabling of server transfers (yes, it's permanent, change my mind...)

RP on Crickhollow is not simply dead - it's frowned upon with open hostility. And the OOC character names are things I expect on WoW or Skyrim - especially the scatological and erotic pseudonyms...

I was hoping to move to Laurelin and engage in a true immersion: that dream died a slow death.

I am loathing the idea that I must create a Laurelin character out of whole cloth, and start all over again. I have invested too much time and treasure, especially now that I am documenting my journeys across Middle-Earth.

Sadly, I have only one option: keep slogging away on Crickhollow until my storyline has run its course, then shelve the characters, pull up stakes and start all over again on Laurelin.

I want to join the good folk. But until then...

[Halphast]

Mara Aure, mellyn nin...

I am trapped on Crickhollow, due to the permanent disabling of server transfers (yes, it's permanent, change my mind...)

RP on Crickhollow is not simply dead - it's frowned upon with open hostility. And the OOC character names are things I expect on WoW or Skyrim - especially the scatological and erotic pseudonyms...

I was hoping to move to Laurelin and engage in a true immersion: that dream died a slow death.

I haven't noticed open hostility to RP on Crickhollow- what have you been experiencing? I think RP is not easy to find anywhere, but I have met a few great roleplayers on Crickhollow over the years and have done some fun plot-lines together.

As for Laurelin, I haven't found it to be the perfect place either. When I tried going to Laurelin for more serious RP, I saw people questing, zooming through Michel Delving on war-steeds, running over people, ignoring each other, ignoring attempts to RP. When I have been to "RP" events they're all the same as concerts on Crickhollow- musicians perform and everyone just /dances and /emotes for hours. Fun and community-building but very little indepth roleplay. The two servers are a lot more similar than you might believe!

So yeah, it's been disappointing as someone who really would love to roleplay more. What is it you're looking for in RP?

[dselden]

Mara Aure, mellyn nin...

I am trapped on Crickhollow, due to the permanent disabling of server transfers (yes, it's permanent, change my mind...)

RP on Crickhollow is not simply dead - it's frowned upon with open hostility. And the OOC character names are things I expect on WoW or Skyrim - especially the scatological and erotic pseudonyms...

I was hoping to move to Laurelin and engage in a true immersion: that dream died a slow death.

I am loathing the idea that I must create a Laurelin character out of whole cloth, and start all over again. I have invested too much time and treasure, especially now that I am documenting my journeys across Middle-Earth.

Sadly, I have only one option: keep slogging away on Crickhollow until my storyline has run its course, then shelve the characters, pull up stakes and start all over again on Laurelin.

I want to join the good folk. But until then...

Sadly, even if server transfers were open, you wouldn't be able to transfer to Laurelin. There's no cross region transferring and Crickhollow is a US server while Laurelin is an EU server.

[Mirhaen]

As for Laurelin, I haven't found it to be the perfect place either. When I tried going to Laurelin for more serious RP, I saw people questing, zooming through Michel Delving on war-steeds, running over people, ignoring each other, ignoring attempts to RP. When I have been to "RP" events they're all the same as concerts on Crickhollow- musicians perform and everyone just /dances and /emotes for hours. Fun and community-building but very little indepth roleplay. The two servers are a lot more similar than you might believe!

Yes I guess there is no perfect place for anyone really. I am not a RP player but I also get annoyed when people run over me on a horse and such. I however very much appreciate RP community and would love to see more of it. I have wish to go to some events but would not like to intrude so to say. I support, sometimes take part, sometimes just watch The Harnkegger Games. It's a great fun, open to all players. There you can see RP community and games would be less fun without them really. I think more serious RP on the server is mostly organized and you would need to get in touch with the RP community. Hopefully some of them will see this post and give more relevant information and answers than myself

[Seregrian]

I haven't noticed open hostility to RP on Crickhollow- what have you been experiencing?

At first I thought it was just open shunning - until I learned second-hand that people on Discord are openly mocking my RP attempts and invitations. In-game, I'm a pariah - on Discord, I'm a laughing-stock.

I think RP is not easy to find anywhere, but I have met a few great roleplayers on Crickhollow over the years and have done some fun plot-lines together.

The number of RP'ers I've met on Crickhollow I can count on three fingers. Everyone else is the stereotypical foul-mouthed P2W "gamerboy" who lives on Xbox but comes here for the trolling and the LUL'z...

As for Laurelin, I haven't found it to be the perfect place either. When I tried going to Laurelin for more serious RP, I saw people questing, zooming through Michel Delving on war-steeds, running over people, ignoring each other, ignoring attempts to RP. When I have been to "RP" events they're all the same as concerts on Crickhollow- musicians perform and everyone just /dances and /emotes for hours. Fun and community-building but very little indepth roleplay. The two servers are a lot more similar than you might believe!

As of two days ago, I pulled the trigger and created a new character out of whole cloth on Laurelin. I'm questing/deeding like a mad thing trying to level the Laurelin char as rapidly as possible. In the last two days, my first impressions of Laurelin dovetail with your account: same as Crickhollow with different names. But I'm willing to invest the time and effort into making the Laurelin project work.

So yeah, it's been disappointing as someone who really would love to roleplay more. What is it you're looking for in RP?

As a writer, I'm looking for the immersion experience: I want Middle-Earth to come alive for whoever interacts with me, because then Middle-Earth comes alive for me. Even though practically every player I meet is jaded, vulgar and cynical, I still get those "magic moments" when I'm in-game, when the landscape and the soundtrack and the experience combine to bring me to that place of wonder. And through RP, I can bring others along for the journey.

[Seregrian]

Sadly, even if server transfers were open, you wouldn't be able to transfer to Laurelin. There's no cross region transferring and Crickhollow is a US server while Laurelin is an EU server.

And THAT is something I didn't know - but now that I've taken the plunge and started a character on Laurelin, it's a moot point.

[Seregrian]

I think more serious RP on the server is mostly organized and you would need to get in touch with the RP community. Hopefully some of them will see this post and give more relevant information and answers than myself

That is an excellent idea - now I just need to find them.

[Khalis_Laurelin]

That is an excellent idea - now I just need to find them.

Send an in game message to my character in game called Khalis or an IM there and I will put you in touch with the core of the RP community.

[Mirhaen]

That is an excellent idea - now I just need to find them.

Good starting point is definitely The Laurelin Archives - https://laurelinarchives.org/

Also Laurelin RP Group Discord server - https://discord.me/laurelinrp

I just saw you got message from Khalis, so yeah, that's great! Safe journey and have fun

[KanjarVero]

And THAT is something I didn't know - but now that I've taken the plunge and started a character on Laurelin, it's a moot point.

Come to Laurelin, I bet is not as bad as other servers RP-wise <3

[Seregrian]

Good starting point is definitely The Laurelin Archives - https://laurelinarchives.org/

Also Laurelin RP Group Discord server - https://discord.me/laurelinrp

I just saw you got message from Khalis, so yeah, that's great! Safe journey and have fun

First, thank you for the links.

Second, I took a look at the archive homepage. Why is my first impression, "new applicants need not apply"?

[Khalis_Laurelin]

I took a look at the archive homepage. Why is my first impression, "new applicants need not apply"?

I am not sure what you mean, why is your first impression new applicants need not apply?

The Archive is a record of roleplay past and present on the Laurelin server.

[KanjarVero]

Yesterday I saw lots of people with names in the likes of

"Happypuppy"
"Lordofswag"
"Cutiepie"

et cetera...

Usually those are real noobs and sometimes they are not english speakers, so I am under the impression they basically do not even understand what they are playing and they are not aware of the difference between an RP server, a Roleplaying Enocouraged one and a non-RolePlaying server...

[KanjarVero]

First, thank you for the links.

Second, I took a look at the archive homepage. Why is my first impression, "new applicants need not apply"?

I've found most people are very willing to role-play; others are SOMETIMES too much involved into pre-determined narrations in which they absolutely do not want anyone to interfere, sometimes it almost looks as they are doing a single-player fanfiction in group and would only accept an audience and in those cases it could even happen you can get some harsh OOC warning not to interfere or else you would spoil their recitation which is kinda frustrating because we're there to roleplay but I can understand someone would sometimes use the game in order to stage a private show.

[SophieTheEnchantress]

Greetings, Seregrian!

The key to role play is finding like minded people sharing the same schedule. You can play on a server with a very high percentage of role players yet feel isolated because no one shares your schedule or role play sensibilities. Or, you can play on a server with 10 total role players, but those role players share your schedule and sensibilities such that everyone in the group feels engaged as they play out great stories.

I am happy to read that you made the plunge on Lauralin as that will provide you with far more opportunities to find like minded role players. Role players do not organize like a hive mind hegemony. They organize as small groups. Individual players may share contact with multiple groups. Occasionally, whole groups come together, typically for events with very low story development. Most music events fall into the latter category. Put in the effort to contact a number of small groups and find one that meets your schedule and sensibilities. Yes, some people and groups have long running stories. Joining such a group may feel very restrictive. Personalities may clash, especially when two story drivers come head to head. However, in my experience, far more players and small groups will entertain the idea of starting a new story arc and many players actually long to meet a talented story driver. Do not give up if the first two or three groups fall into the first category, especially on Lauralin. Find a group looking to spread story wings and get involved at the ground floor as a major contributor. Everything you wrote in this thread suggests that is what you are looking for.

Places like the Prancing Pony and regular events serve as platforms to meet new role players and learn what small groups exist. Do not expect detailed stories to develop in such places though exceptions do occur. A typical introductory role play focuses on descriptions and back story--what does the person across the table look like; where did he or she come from; what is he or she looking for. When two or more people with similar sensibilities and schedules meet, a story begins to develop and they typically move elsewhere. Expect to exchange many greetings that never go anywhere due to conflicting schedules, mismatched goals, or personality clashes.

Good luck!

[Seregrian]

Greetings, Seregrian!

I can understand someone would sometimes use the game in order to stage a private show.

The Archive is a record of roleplay past and present on the Laurelin server.

I'm attempting to include everyone in this, so here goes...

FIRST: Thank you all for your courteous replies! This goes a long way to calming the opening-night jitters.

SECOND: As Kanjar pointed out, I have (almost) fallen into that trap. "Narn i Seregrian" has been a solo act, with a few RP's from other players salted in, but the lion's share of the story is mine. It's going to be a new exercise to become more inviting.

THIRD: As Khalis reminds me, it's the archive of Laurelin's adventures, and as such is the work of many hands. I have been alone in the wilderness for so long, this is like starting all over for me.

I attended the Friday Edoras RP last evening, and it was VERY enjoyable. Only a half-dozen RP'ers were present but the ones that were, engaged with me masterfully.

I am going to like my new home!

[Seregrian]

Yesterday I saw lots of people with names in the likes of

"Happypuppy"
"Lordofswag"
"Cutiepie"

et cetera...

Usually those are real noobs and sometimes they are not english speakers, so I am under the impression they basically do not even understand what they are playing and they are not aware of the difference between an RP server, a Roleplaying Enocouraged one and a non-RolePlaying server...

Rest assured, I have seen more vulgar names than those.

They are English speakers. They couldn't care less about the game, the lore, or simple decorum.

The P2W PvP pwn-the-noobz cockroaches of the Web have invaded LOTRO.

[Halphast]

At first I thought it was just open shunning - until I learned second-hand that people on Discord are openly mocking my RP attempts and invitations. In-game, I'm a pariah - on Discord, I'm a laughing-stock. ... on Crickhollow... Everyone else is the stereotypical foul-mouthed P2W "gamerboy" who lives on Xbox but comes here for the trolling and the LUL'z...

I'm kind of at a loss as to how you even found players like that on Crickhollow, much less how you got the impression EVERYONE is like that... I've never met a single player who fits that description, so it's bizarre to me how your experience is the total opposite of mine, unless we are just looking in complete opposite places. How exactly are you going about soliciting roleplay?

I look for roleplay in-character, in-person, by interacting with the other players I meet. I don't advertise, but I try to interact with others. Most are just questing/deeding and don't respond; I'm good with that. But lots of people return a /wave or /hail, and once in a while I meet someone who's actually interested in roleplaying. I've met travelling musicians eager for an ear, met a travelling scholar dwarf who wanted to recite old verses to an inquisitive hobbit, met a few players who wanted to roleplay out their questing and our fellowships have been really wonderful, and on admittedly rare occasions have met players who want to develop plot-lines together outside of the quests in the game, and to write our characters as part of a world that's bigger than quests and deeds, or even concerts and festivals. This positive experience is why I wonder if you and I are just looking in different places on the same server.

Are you soliciting roleplay in the general chat-channels in game? As a roleplayer, I have world-chat, trade, and LFF turned off at all times, because it's constantly OOC spam and nothing else. Some people relegate those channels to a different tab they check rarely if ever. So if you're using those channels to seek out roleplay you may not be reaching your target audience effectively.

Same for Discord. If there's a Discord for crickhollow, then apparently it's not for me, if people there are just making caustic comments about players they encounter in game. But honestly, I wouldn't expect to find roleplayers participating in a channel like that anyway- you'd have to have two windows open, and be switching back and forth to check what people are saying. I can't see how players could do all that while trying for immersion or even actually playing the game. Again that doesn't seem like the place to find roleplayers.

Crickhollow has large kinships full of people devoted to helping others enjoy the game. "Frodo's Friends," "Quendenosse," "Second Breakfast" and more- it's hard to play the game and NOT see at least one of those names attached to players you meet. I know for a fact (being an officer of one of the above) we don't accept trolls/gamerboyz (not that we even get applications from them). We're about music, roleplay, events, being helpful and friendly out in the world, and in general making Crickhollow a good place to play. As a representative of friendly kinships and of the server itself, I'm terribly sorry you've had such a bad experience- and it's honestly mind-boggling since I've never seen a single instance of that kind of behavior myself.