In the meantime, there is an endless selection of fantastic worlds to dive into day after day. There we participate in our raids, farm our buff food, and craft the best equipment. It hardly makes a difference whether we wander through Azeroth in WoW or fly through the vast galaxy of Star Wars; the basic principles differ only slightly.
But wouldn’t it be great to take on a real role within this game world? To be more than just a controlled avatar that “spams skills” and “loots epics”? What if I am not just playing the mage – but actually am the mage?
What sounds absurd at first has already become everyday life for many people, albeit slightly toned down compared to the initial description. We are talking about so-called role-playing (RP). In essence, this word is already contained in “MMORPG”, but very few see more behind it than distributing skill points or filling an experience bar. Role-play offers the perfect opportunity to get to know the “cute night elf” next door or to witness an exciting cantina brawl up close.
The Story Behind a Character
The main goal in role-playing is, of course, fun, as with almost any leisure activity, but there are still some things to consider if you don’t want to bump into trouble everywhere. Trying to portray a character in the world is most successful when you are already somewhat familiar with the backstory and know what exists in that world: No one will believe a vampire in WoW, and an arcane mage would probably be laughed at rather than welcomed in SW:TOR.
However, if you know the backstory well enough, it becomes easier to create a coherent character – keeping in mind that less is often more. A poor craftsman is much more interesting to other players than the ultra-evil lord of the Sith with incredible powers. In some games, like Neverwinter, it is even possible to write a suitable biography – which is then also visible to other adventurers in the character menu.
Almost every current MMO has one or more role-playing servers; sometimes they are specifically marked by the developers, and there are special rules in place, such as extended naming policies. If there is no such server, the community chooses one for themselves that will serve this hobby.
Three Reasons for Role-Playing in an MMORPG
But what exactly draws role-players to an online game and makes them settle into the game world? Here are the main reasons that make RP players spend a large part of their leisure time in an MMORPG.
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The Virtual World Itself
This may sound trivial, but the world with its backstory is the most important motivating factor. Why does the continent look the way it does? What races are there and why? How long ago was the last great war, and what triggered it? These and many other questions want to be answered, because just like with a good book, role-players need background information to develop a character that fits into the world and is attuned to the many small details.
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Customization Options
Every role-player loves their character and wants them to be something special – this does not necessarily mean having extraordinary abilities, but only that their appearance is unique. The more buttons and sliders available in character creation, the better. But it doesn’t stop there: A role-player doesn’t care if their character’s pants are enchanted with “+17 agility”, as long as the pants are blue and match their shirt. A variety of different clothing pieces is enough to make an RP player’s heart race.
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The Community
Role-playing is something incredibly social. Unlike “Looking for Raid” groups or PvP battlegrounds, where everyone does what they think is right, the RP player relies on others. Their portrayal is worthless if they have no audience and no one to interact with.
Only the experiences with others make these experiences so valuable and enjoyable. It is always exciting to meet new characters and see how they interact with your avatar, but it is always important to remember: A character can call the Twi’lek dancer in front of them “cheap piece”, as long as they don’t forget that behind others are also people, and you can and should be friendly to them – no matter how much the characters may hate each other.
Conclusion
Of course, there are many other factors that make an MMORPG a good gathering place for role-players, as they also enjoy farming a bit or checking out the latest raid instance – just not as intensely. If someone wants to try their hand at RP, they should simply ask nicely for help on the appropriate servers; newcomers are often gladly introduced and guided into the subject. So what is there to lose?
Further articles on role-playing in MMOs:
