Post by Nauloera on Oct 4, 2007 17:36:21 GMT -5
So some friends and I were sitting around one Tuesday night watching people hustle by with RSPs that said they were looking for contact but they didn't seem very open to it when we tried to make contact. We decided to formulate a plan to help do our small part to help encourage roleplay again. Here is what we came up with.
The RolePlay Alliance
The RolePlay Alliance is based on the concept of many small guilds or individuals banding together for the purpose of raiding. However this is not for raiding, this is for the purpose of bringing yet another tool to the roleplayers of our server to find each other more easily. This is to bring roleplay guilds and individuals together for the purpose of roleplay; of opening us up to new people and encounters.
How often have you seen an RSP description that read "Looking for Contact" but didn't know how to start the conversation? I've come to think of this uncertainty as "First Contact Fear". The questions that run through one's mind like "What can I say to make contact?" "Will they really be receptive?" "I don't know that person at all. Will they really talk to me?"
The RolePlay Alliance is an attempt to remove First Contact Fear from the equation.
How it works.
For those that use ImmersionRP or FlagRSP just simply add a note at the end of your description that says (( Member of the RolePlay Alliance )). That is the first step. For those that don't use either of these simply post your name or your guild name (if your entire guild is on board) in this thread and that will let other RolePlay Alliance members know that you are part of the group.
On Alliance side, Stormwind has recently seen a large increase of roleplayers mulling about. So lets call this our "Central Location" on Alliance side. If you're part of the RolePlay Alliance, and you're in Stormwind, you are fair game for contact. Though as a member of the RolePlay Alliance, if you are flying a Looking for Contact tag in your RSP, you will be considered fair game where ever you may be.
I am not as familiar with Horde side congregation points for roleplayers, so if someone knows of the best place to call the Horde side central location, please post it here.
What does all of this mean?
Unlike raid alliances, the RolePlay Alliance doesn't have a bunch of rules or a complex membership process. Flying the RolePlay Alliance note or signing up on the roster simply means that if you have Looking for Contact up in your RSP or if your name is on the RolePlay Alliance list, you are fair game for ANY form of contact. It means that if someone wants to RP with you, they are free to send you even a whispered OOC saying (( Hey! I would like to roleplay with you, but I'm not sure how to initiate contact. )) It is flying a flag that says "Yes! I really want to roleplay with you! Talk to me! I will be receptive!"
I know what you're thinking. "Doesn't having the Looking for Contact flag up mean you're fair game anyway?" Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I've attempted contact with a number of random strangers who have Looking for Contact up. Many times I was simply ignored. On other occasions I was treated downright rudely. The RolePlay Alliance is our promise to treat other roleplayers well. Yes, there are times when RP doesn't work or when the characters don't mesh. That's okay! But don't let the fear of this or the fear of being snubbed scare you away from trying entirely. Those in the RolePlay Alliance are agreeing that even if it is a quick exchange and the mailbox, they are happy to engage in RP contact.
However it is more than all of this. It is a promise to also try to initiate roleplay. It means you too will sometimes send that random whisper that says "Hey! I would like to roleplay with you!" It means being encouraging to new roleplayers. It means being supportive and patient to those that are at least attempting roleplay. It means not just ignoring someone that reaches out that tentative hand. It means when you see someone that looks like they might want to play, but are unsure how to go about it, make contact and bring them into the fold!
It would also mean doing simple things to help encourage contact, such as walking when you are in a city. Pausing on occasion to give others a chance to see that you are looking for roleplay. Anything that helps others to see that you are receptive to contact. That person who is cautiously considering talking to you may be brand new to roleplay. Lets not discourage them!
Too many people are just waiting for RP to fall into their laps. I've been guilty of it too. However with the dwindling number of roleplayers on the server, and those who are just disillusioned that it even exists anymore, we no longer have the luxury of waiting for it to happen. Sometimes, you have to make it happen.
This is neither for just Alliance, nor Horde. It is for both. It is meant to be available for ANY roleplayer who is unsure how to make that first contact.
The RolePlay Alliance is not a cure for all that ails the server. It is simply another tool to help bring everyone looking for RP together. It is a way to help the less bold players know that the person they are looking at will be receptive, no matter how they choose to make contact.
Lets open our roleplay circles. Lets announce to the rest of the server "I am proud to be a roleplayer and I will make the effort to make contact, remove the First Contact Fear factor, and do my part to bring roleplay to the forefront of our roleplay server again!"
First step is either put your name here or put (( Member of the RolePlay Alliance )) at the bottom of your RSP description.
Lets remove "First Contact Fear" from the equation and make RP more accessible to everyone!
Edit: Replacing some text that was removed to make this post fit on the Realm Forums.
The RolePlay Alliance
The RolePlay Alliance is based on the concept of many small guilds or individuals banding together for the purpose of raiding. However this is not for raiding, this is for the purpose of bringing yet another tool to the roleplayers of our server to find each other more easily. This is to bring roleplay guilds and individuals together for the purpose of roleplay; of opening us up to new people and encounters.
How often have you seen an RSP description that read "Looking for Contact" but didn't know how to start the conversation? I've come to think of this uncertainty as "First Contact Fear". The questions that run through one's mind like "What can I say to make contact?" "Will they really be receptive?" "I don't know that person at all. Will they really talk to me?"
The RolePlay Alliance is an attempt to remove First Contact Fear from the equation.
How it works.
For those that use ImmersionRP or FlagRSP just simply add a note at the end of your description that says (( Member of the RolePlay Alliance )). That is the first step. For those that don't use either of these simply post your name or your guild name (if your entire guild is on board) in this thread and that will let other RolePlay Alliance members know that you are part of the group.
On Alliance side, Stormwind has recently seen a large increase of roleplayers mulling about. So lets call this our "Central Location" on Alliance side. If you're part of the RolePlay Alliance, and you're in Stormwind, you are fair game for contact. Though as a member of the RolePlay Alliance, if you are flying a Looking for Contact tag in your RSP, you will be considered fair game where ever you may be.
I am not as familiar with Horde side congregation points for roleplayers, so if someone knows of the best place to call the Horde side central location, please post it here.
What does all of this mean?
Unlike raid alliances, the RolePlay Alliance doesn't have a bunch of rules or a complex membership process. Flying the RolePlay Alliance note or signing up on the roster simply means that if you have Looking for Contact up in your RSP or if your name is on the RolePlay Alliance list, you are fair game for ANY form of contact. It means that if someone wants to RP with you, they are free to send you even a whispered OOC saying (( Hey! I would like to roleplay with you, but I'm not sure how to initiate contact. )) It is flying a flag that says "Yes! I really want to roleplay with you! Talk to me! I will be receptive!"
I know what you're thinking. "Doesn't having the Looking for Contact flag up mean you're fair game anyway?" Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I've attempted contact with a number of random strangers who have Looking for Contact up. Many times I was simply ignored. On other occasions I was treated downright rudely. The RolePlay Alliance is our promise to treat other roleplayers well. Yes, there are times when RP doesn't work or when the characters don't mesh. That's okay! But don't let the fear of this or the fear of being snubbed scare you away from trying entirely. Those in the RolePlay Alliance are agreeing that even if it is a quick exchange and the mailbox, they are happy to engage in RP contact.
However it is more than all of this. It is a promise to also try to initiate roleplay. It means you too will sometimes send that random whisper that says "Hey! I would like to roleplay with you!" It means being encouraging to new roleplayers. It means being supportive and patient to those that are at least attempting roleplay. It means not just ignoring someone that reaches out that tentative hand. It means when you see someone that looks like they might want to play, but are unsure how to go about it, make contact and bring them into the fold!
It would also mean doing simple things to help encourage contact, such as walking when you are in a city. Pausing on occasion to give others a chance to see that you are looking for roleplay. Anything that helps others to see that you are receptive to contact. That person who is cautiously considering talking to you may be brand new to roleplay. Lets not discourage them!
Too many people are just waiting for RP to fall into their laps. I've been guilty of it too. However with the dwindling number of roleplayers on the server, and those who are just disillusioned that it even exists anymore, we no longer have the luxury of waiting for it to happen. Sometimes, you have to make it happen.
This is neither for just Alliance, nor Horde. It is for both. It is meant to be available for ANY roleplayer who is unsure how to make that first contact.
The RolePlay Alliance is not a cure for all that ails the server. It is simply another tool to help bring everyone looking for RP together. It is a way to help the less bold players know that the person they are looking at will be receptive, no matter how they choose to make contact.
Lets open our roleplay circles. Lets announce to the rest of the server "I am proud to be a roleplayer and I will make the effort to make contact, remove the First Contact Fear factor, and do my part to bring roleplay to the forefront of our roleplay server again!"
First step is either put your name here or put (( Member of the RolePlay Alliance )) at the bottom of your RSP description.
Lets remove "First Contact Fear" from the equation and make RP more accessible to everyone!
Edit: Replacing some text that was removed to make this post fit on the Realm Forums.