rpg research question

[lobelia321]

I'm not online much. I feel more robust than I have in a while because of chemical help. I'm working on my academic book again (!) -- first time since December. We finally booked our Australia holiday: we're there all August. How we will fit in all our obligations into those 31 days is yet to be discovered... Alice Springs, safari tour to Uluru, possibly Perth, Canberra, Blue Mountains, visit to t'dad-in-law in the outback of NSW somewhere, and about three-score long-time-no-see relatives and friends.

Also, I have a question. A research question. What is it like to be inside an rpg? (This is 'research' for my orignovel.) And if I wanted to try it, as 'research', what would be a good rpg to try out? I have in mind something really geeky, 'questy', with elves and magic tokens in it, and names like Thorilien and Morg the Mighty. How addicted does one get? How cathected a site is it? Anything at all!

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

You could ask yakalskovich about it, she's been doing milliways for years and might know other people who could help you.

[ook.livejournal.com]

The thing I've always enjoyed the most in RPG (participating as well as observing) is when people do not reveal who plays which character. It makes the characters more "real" in a way, not knowing who the person is behind that character. It makes the RP more mysterious since you're never sure exactly how a character might react.

Of course, to plan out really elaborate RP, you often have to speak OOC to some of the other players, but I like it when the observers aren't sure who is playing which character. :)

You have to figure out what sort of RP format you might enjoy the best. There's RP on Yahoo groups, forums and journals (where people post back and forth, but sometimes it takes hours/days to complete a scene). Journals have the added bonus of Character Profile and personal journals. And then you have what I call "real-time" RP using chats (MSN, AIM, Skype) as well as MUCKs and MUDs (text-based worlds with various places you can go and visit and interact with). And then there's the graphical interface RPGs that require software or a web browser. So many options! You have to decide what format you'd prefer.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thank you, all very wild and wonderful. I am somewhat spooked by rpgs but determined.

[junalele.livejournal.com]

Still yay for the academic book. Double YAY! for the orignovel. And Australia holiday sounds very nice, too.

Oh God, I so want that job at the Academy. Holidays...bigger flat...*sighs dreamily*

[sheldrake.livejournal.com]

I have taken good care never to have been inside an RPG (well, I flitted very briefly into one once, took a picture and left), so I can't tell you about that.

I'm very happy that you are feeling robust, though! Robust is good. :) Also, orignovel, hooray! I actually sat down and sketched out a sort of skeletal plan for mine the other day. I've moved it to Ipswich, because I find Ipswich so fascinating with its utter lack of any sort of identity. I hear there was a new Lonely Planet guidebook published recently in which tourists are warned never to come here. Anyway, I veer constantly between 'you know, I think this could actually work...' and 'AARRRGH HOW DOES ANYONE EVER DO ANYTHING THIS DIFFICULT IT IS DOOOMED!'

That's when I go and write some fanfiction.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

I am always impressed with what you do. Since my nano, I am now in the 'planning stage'. That is, nothing written. *cough* I spent an hour just now in a virtual environment called 'Second Life'. In the name of RESEARCH. It was frustrating. My avatar looked stupid and I couldn't change it, and nobody could spell.

[ook.livejournal.com]

I've heard people say that if you get involved in "Second Life" that you'll soon have NO life! ;)

A LJ- or forum-based RP might be easier on you and your time. :)

BTW...you might like watching this...

[ook.livejournal.com]

It's the South Park episode that spoofs MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game): "Make Love, Not Warcraft."

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xyeto_south-park-1008-make-love-not-warcr

It's accurate at depicting online RPGs. They even hired the World of Warcraft animators to create the 3D gaming footage. :)