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Phase I of Alpha Two testing will occur on weekends. Each weekend is scheduled to start on Fridays at 10 AM PT and end on Sundays at 10 PM PT. Find out more here.
Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest Alpha Two news and update notes.
Our quickest Alpha Two updates are in Discord. Testers with Alpha Two access can chat in Alpha Two channels by connecting your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.
A Humble Request for an RP Server.
ArchivedUser
Guest
There are far too many times where RPers find themselves being targeted by PVErs or PVPers. It is my belief that an RP server if even just one for each hub (NA, EU, OC) would be very beneficial to the player base because it would rally all of the RPers together on one server. This would make the game far more immersive and the differing RPers could find one another and create a living breathing server.
Another aspect of this is RPers could rally together easily to defend their homes and territories against any outside force that wishes to invade or destroy the immersion.
Please Intrepid think about making an RP server or at least a server that is specified as THE RP SERVER.
Thank you for your time and please keep the hope alive. Remember it is not hype it is HOPE!
Another aspect of this is RPers could rally together easily to defend their homes and territories against any outside force that wishes to invade or destroy the immersion.
Please Intrepid think about making an RP server or at least a server that is specified as THE RP SERVER.
Thank you for your time and please keep the hope alive. Remember it is not hype it is HOPE!
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Comments
This might water down population on each particular server below healthy amount.
PvE, PvP, RP server separation only works if there is large enough number of players playing the game. Large enough not only initially, but that it's estimated it will be large enough in future too.
Because later on as game lifetime passes, you can not just merge PvP, PvE and RP server together. What rule set would merged server follow? Game company would just create problems for themselves, that they do not need.
As such the smart thing is to start with PvX server in each region, and only down the line, after a game goes live (IF player population is extremely large) think about of activation new PvP, PvE, RP specific servers.
Intrepid has stated Ashes is to be a PvX community based game with everything dependent on each groups' participation and actions. All three groups need to knock the chip off their shoulders and learn to get along.
I would like to be able to make different private tabs in our chat boxes where people in your groups can be invited only. This would knock out any trolling via chat and general chat is still available to all.
What is Role play if a Rper can't defend their homes/territory or rally their friends for help? After all that is an important aspect of the game.
What is role play if you don't enjoy PvE also? A Role player should be able to defend, protect or share his resources just like every other player, having that choice. RP is not a group just standing in a tavern or on a grassy hill.
Is Role play playing by a written script as in a scripted theater play? Or is it living your character as an entity and personality of it's own?
As Gothix stated, if separate Rp servers are made then so must PvP and PvE servers be instituted. That is not what this game is about. It's about COMMUNITY. People coming together to work together.
I've played on RP servers because they seemed to have a better atmosphere but eventually tolls would find their way there.
Let it be known I am not against anyone's choice of PvP, PvE or Rp. I see no reason why all three can't be part of the whole. Segregating servers just like people is one way to create or encourage discrimination instead of finding ways to live with each other.
Maybe I'm too optimistic and have hopes for the human race and gammers but that's my problem.
As I said, these are just some thoughts that pop into my mind.
Roleplaying is not a specific game mechanic, it is an approach to playing the game. No different than if someone wanted to play the game with a Pacifist or Ironman challenge.
Roleplayers PvE and PvP. They have only traditionally been given their own servers, because there is a large enough population and they are much happier playing by themselves, not because they want to, but because of human nature.
A Roleplaying server would still be a PvX server. Is there some misconception that Roleplayers only PvE, or only sit around a tavern and talk?
RP is where I think a guild comes into play, You are free to make all the RP rules for your guild you see fit. I have never yet seen a game where the rules were any different on an RP server then the others, I could be very wrong on this point, but I have never seen it. I have seen games show servers to be RP and I have seen games that didn't but the player base that wanted to RP posted on the forums and those interested were free and encouraged to join that server.
What are you really asking for in asking for a declared RP server?
As I see it, IS can't grant one player group special server, and then refuse this to other player groups.
Why would RP group get special server for themselves? Just because like to play with other RPers only?
- So what it feminist organization requested server for themselves because they don't like to play with men?
- What if Animal lover group requested server for themselves because they don't like to see other people hunting animals in forest?
- What if some religion group requested server for themselves because they don't like to play with other religious groups or atheists.... etc. etc.
You see where I'm going? There is hundreds of player groups with separate preference systems. If IS grants special server to one group, then they would have to grant it to every group that requests it.
It elevates their playstyle only because the average person is, let's face it, a bit of a turd. They see someone doing something they don't quite understand and they decide to make fun of, or actively ruin, that person's experience. Not out of any real malice, but due to a lack of understanding and ignorance for the most part (but some people are just bastards).
Unfortunately the online community is a lot more toxic now than it was 10 years ago.
Have you, or others here, actually played on an RP server? I did for a bit a long time ago, just to see what it was all about. Not my cup of tea, but I have to say, even after the community went to hell on other servers, the RP one seemed to have a much larger proportion of nice people.
Intrepid have said they don't want an RP server. The game is a long way off and if there is enough interest, then maybe they will make an RP server in each territory (or at least in those that will have the pop to support it).
If not the RP community can get together and nominate a server to make their own. It has worked pretty well in other games. It's no big deal at launch, but having a dedicated server by name allows those that join the game in the months and years after launch to easily find their community right off the bat, without having to head to a forum to try and find where everyone is.
Creating an RP server would not have to change the core mechanics of the game in any way. Creating a PvE or PvP would fundamentally change the game and would require work to do so - not so with the RP server.
RP is one of the main things that attracts me to MMORPGs. This game though, the way it's shaping up to be. Seems to lend itself well to RP. That being said. I think one RP server per region is a must, and, to comment on a previous post. That does not mean that you need a pvp and a pve server too. And here's why.
Pvp and PvE are ingrained into the very fabric of Ashes. To a degree, so is roleplay. If you make a character, you'll be that character, to a degree.
Roleplay on the other hand, it's more of a state of mind, an unwritten rule-set. RP'ers often get grieved, or have people do very immersion breaking things. Obviously, not everyone is like that. But traditional RP servers offer nothing to protect RP'ers from this behaviour, as it's not breaking any rules, they are not name calling, nor really harassing. I hate to use the term special. But for once I would like to see an RP server with a special rule-set. One that covers these things, and if you decide to play on one of these servers, you accept these additional rules. Failure to comply, may result in penalties, but, in-game penalties. It would require active GMs but if you just go around grieving, be put in jail. For a certain amount of time.
Or make it an OOC thing and ban them from joining that server for a few hours.
RP servers would also do the normal game, obviously, they'll defend their home, or attack other nodes, this all fits with the roleplay aesthetic. But these things won't happen all the time.
If you feel these additional rules are unfair, don't go on an RP server.
As a final note. This doesn't mean you HAVE to RP all the time. Just don't go around ruining it for others.
PS: I have developed a shield for this behaviour over the years. But it would be nice to not have that be necessary for a change and be fully immersed in the world.
Ashes was designed from the outset to be a Hobbesian Megabuffet where consequences are real and permanent, and Intrepid have been very transparent about it. Roleplayers who wish to get into Ashes need to go along with the idea of growing some teeth to defend themselves, and to be prepared to take some hits just as the direction of roleplay plots can result in in-character consequences.
Apart from the typical suggestion for the RP community to choose one designated server as the server to go to (for example, Balmung in FFXIV), it's up to RPers to decide which node(s) to congregate in, and negotiate with a major power bloc for a security guarantee against hostile PVPers.
1. Lots of folks get screwed. NA server? Sorry, everyone else.
2. "RP" does not mean anti-PvE or anti-PvP. Therefore, you're still going to have those folks playing.
3. Your idea of "RP" and mine could be vastly different. So... who gets to play on the server? Would I be ruining your experience, or would you be ruining mine?
Just a few off the top of my head.
Through experience I've found attitude of players on them, much more mature and accepting than non-rp designated servers.
Less trolls, more welcoming.
As to people who believe that RPers would make easy pickings in PvP... your ability to tell a story and desire to act as your character, has never had any impact upon your skills at killing, and RP specific servers are as deadly for PvP as any other.
HOWEVER.... Intrepid has been very vociferous in explaining that there won't be a separate RP server, they want everyone and all play styles playing together.
So I'll accept that.
Now you and I @AnduinKayvaan know that roleplayers will designate a specific server for 'unofficial' roleplay, regardless of the 'official' status...
That's the way it's always been... So that 'unofficial' server is where I'll choose to play.
There will still be that segregation, because folks like us want to enjoy the game with like minded 'grown-up' individuals who don't force themselves upon our enjoyment of the game.
So regardless of Intrepids stated, 'everyone together' view, there'll be segregation, it's just going to be forced underground and 'unofficial'.
I'm not chuffed at the moment with Intrepids lack of sight when it comes to roleplayers, they kept on telling us we'd have 'taverns' when we asked about rp, but they now have ensured that the kind of troll that takes special enjoyment at trolling roleplayers will not only be encouraged to hang out there, but have an audience to cheer them on too whilst they do it.
That's fine.
Because we can create our own player run rp taverns and keep the trolls out... by you guessed it... segregating ourselves further.
HOWEVER......
Roleplayers at the moment are doing little to show how much of a community there is, or how much of a call for RP there is...
Now I get that... we are strong, but we're all hanging around waiting for enough Lore to turn up surrounding, not the game lore, but enough back stories of the races, their homeworlds they've come from etc etc to actually being and start adding to the community on these forums.
Sadly I don't believe that we'll get ANY lore prior to launch, and not enough to engage the community correctly.
I believe that closer to launch, about 16 months or so away, the roleplayers will need to bring a huge surge to the forums, to show their face and to clearly indicate their needs.
To me, the server would be good, but if it's not going to happen, then an rp finder would be essential... still waiting to hear on that... or anything more.... *sigh*
We'll do what we always do, struggle on without major consideration of our style of gameplay. Which is odd considering that Steven keeps on pointing out that it is mmoRPg... I'm sure he has his ideas as to how it'll all play out.... but he's keeping that to himself.
To self: Must not be depressed about this. Must not be negative. Be hyped. Be cheery.
IN regards to a RP server, for those of you who know what IS is aiming for, you should understand having one is not what they would consider best for the community. As far as "unofficial" RP servers, you might as well form a guild and require RP in the guild otherwise a portion of the players you deal with daily will likely not hold up to your idea of RP.
I don't understand why RP'ers need a special server. I also don't know what that would gain them unless a GM was actively making sure everyone was RP'ing when logged in. For that matter, as much as I would love a PvE server, I don't think there should be one and I have heard no arguments I would consider worthy of persuading IS to establish one.
I am a great RP'er most of the time. However, I might not want to be on the official RP server for a variety of reasons. The whole RP Server community suffers because I am not there
Let's stop trying to divide the player basis before the game is ever released!
Problem with this is the following:
1. troll player doesn't sign up to "play the game", he signs up for experience of trolling others
2. troll logs into the game and see offered servers A. normal B. normal C. RP.
3. which one you think troll will chose to make his character?
Yeah that's right the RP server!
I hope you see the problem. RP servers don't prevent trolls from creating their accounts there. If anything, I would say they invite trolls to make their characters there.
The point being, RP server does not solve your troll problem. It may even increase it.
The main point of RP servers always was another thing. So that new RP-ers that join in, automatically know where they will find most other RP-ers playing. That's it. But this can also be done by RP community "deciding" on what server they wish to play and designating one "unofficially".
All of the successful RP servers in other games that have strong populations after years and years?
The whole point of it is to rally more to the server. As you have more RPers on a server there is infinitely more possible story lines. When you have an unofficial server there will be confusion and many rp guilds and players will never ever even get in contact with one another.
Now this is a huge problem in the RP world. Getting in touch with other RPers and organizing events because RPers are scared to say they are RPers because they will be mocked for it. My example would be when I asked if there were any guilds or individuals out there interested in RP and immediately on the Discord people jumped on the idea that someone could enjoy the game differently than others.
I myself play PVE and love PVP so at the end of the day I can say I love all aspects of the game. I am just looking for a way to have all the RPers together and looking for a little help from the studio to make that happen.
RP is very different from the other factions of the game such as PVP and PVE. In RP you need other people to create story lines or it gets dry quickly. And unlike the other factions RP is very scattered where the other factions such as PVP and PVE you can find all over the place. So why make it harder for an already scattered group to get more scattered when all the studio would need to do is recommend players that RP to go to one server.
If not, would Intrepid be ooen to one, and if so, how much money or extra players would the rp community need to bring to the table for one to be considered?
Or whats the current position on user created game mods?
With the mention of Discord immediately jumping to everyone can enjoy the game differently, I agree but I can imagine Discord chatter wasn't on the friendlier end of that statement - as it was stated. Sorry to hear the lack of discourse available to you on this subject there.
Just because other's aren't roleplaying that doesn't mean you can't. If they are rude and being hateful please, for the love of all players, report them. How do you think performers at Renaissance fairs feel when only half of the attendants are comfortable LARPing while there? They have to stay in character even when trolls point to a plane and ask, "What's that?"
then again in one of the cases the non RP-guild was happy to keep to their own bubble and a few even tried to RP some themselves. but yeah some trolls did appear as well to just spam annoying stuff while people tried to RP and would follow them around to continue to troll since it's "clearly" more fun to not play the game you're playing if you can ruin someone else's enjoyment instead.
I personally wouldn't mind if they did have a separate server for RP but in some ways an "unofficial" RP server would work better since the non-RP guilds would be busy keeping up with the rest of the non RP guilds to be concerned with the RP bubbles and the trolls would have a harder time finding the ones there to RP.
ok there's my couple of the lowest coin type in game thoughts on the subject
Also the reason I stay off open discord servers or other voice applications for the most part. Between the racism, homophobia and rp, public voice areas are just generally not my cup of tea.
Also there are those who refuse to do core game mechanics or wear appropriate gear because it does not fit their rp or macro in insane amounts of text for each skill.
Then you get the open world erp ppl, no thanks...
I know you want to enjoy the game, and that's cool, you do you, but so do I. So I feel giving rp players their own servers is generally a good idea. Maybe I have gotten the bad rp since my main mmo exp is ffxi-xiv and the cutesy, jp obsessed, cat girl lovin rp that's been my experience, but I just don't wanna be around it personally.
Seems like closed group chats would solve a lot of that though.
I, of course, want everyone to have the best time they can. I like to RP some and trolls will always try to ruin my fun because trolls troll, it's what they do.
But having a specific server for a group of players because they don't like the way other players interact with them doesn't seem appropriate. As others have posted, players that don't want to engage in PvP will have to deal with PvP being a thing. So it would only be fair to give them a server too. I have not read any arguments I would consider valid for only allowing one of the two groups a specific server.
It would make alot of players happy and unhappy to have a bunch of different/specific servers so everyone can focus only on the experience they want. Unfortunately, that's not how IS is leaning at the moment.
It is more along the lines of having a specific server be for RPers as it will bring those like minded individuals together easier. So instead of having RPers scattered across unknown number of servers we would have a specific Server that the RPers could see as the RP hub. Now this is not to discourage other types of gamer to join this server but to encourage RPers to join the same server to make sure the community and population stays high.
What it would do is make it so players can enjoy a far more immersive game if they wish it. Knowing that they are likely to find others of the same mindset. Again this is not against Trolls or any other kind of gamer but simply for organizing and bringing a community together that otherwise may have almost no options to rally together through.