To RP or not to RP, that is the Poll question

[The Tourist]

If this is a dupe, strike me down with furious vengeance (and lock the thread). If not?

PinballWizard's comment elsewhere got me thinking. Simple question: will you RP/role-play your character?

[Dlarsh]

First character is always a roleplay, start to finish. If I lose my motivation, I kill the character in a sufficiently epic manner and start over.

[PinballWizard]

PinballWizard's comment elsewhere got me thinking. Simple question: will you RP/role-play your character?

Lol thanks. I think you know my vote anyways (yes).

In case the other thread goes down and the discussion of roleplaying moves over here, here's what I said in the original topic.

*sigh*... Why you pick a race shouldn't be dependent on whether you like the spells or perks behind it. It should be relevant to your character, not the gameplay. What I mean by this is that you shouldn't shy away from being an imperial because their default spells are useless, you should shy away from them because your character is a barbarian that smashes people to bits rather than talking. Or the opposite, if you want your character to be a smooth-talking charismatic merchant, you should be an imperial even if it doesn't give you any advantage. Why? It's roleplaying! Sure, you could have the same setup on an orc or an ugly beast, but it doesn't make sense. You should take the gameplay disadvantages / advantages in stride because (in my opinion anyways) your character's personality / story is more important than if you can resist magic or have a weakness to poison. For example, say I'm some sickly old vampire mage that can barely walk. If I have a weakness to poison then that makes sense because a poison would send me over the edge as I have magic shields and walls to protect me from physical attacks. Or something like that, I didn't really think it out that much. Now, if you picked a breton because they didn't have a weakness to poison and they have more magic or something, you're missing the point of roleplaying. Gameplay factors shouldn't be the deciding factor in your character's development. Your character's personality should.

[Spiney]

I've RP'ed the same character from Morrowind through Oblivion. I intend to do the same in Skyrim and continue on my split personality Argonian Madgod/Treasure Hunter. It's fun to find new ways to evolve his character to keep him interesting. And I guess if I loose interest, I can just play the game normally.

[Kestral]

I probably won't, not because I don't like it, but because I just will lose the motivation too. "My name is Kestral, I hail from Morrowind," will degenerate into, "Gimme my damn quest."

[heratik]

I haven't tried this approach fully on any of my many Oblivion runs, but I may try first time with Skyrim. This will probably give me more of an incentive to just explore and stay away from the MQ for a while. What usually happens with me is I start off very into my character and then all of a sudden the MQ grabs me and next thing I know I have lost sight of my original intentions lol

[Taters]

I'm going to RP at least my first run-through. I find what makes it difficult to RP later in the game is that you know so much that your character isn't supposed to; it's like reading the last chapter of a book before the first. But starting out, I know nothing, and my char knows nothing, so we're good.

[Cactus]

I dunno. My first runs through games tend to just be ME playing, not my character. I just do what seems interesting, explore what I want to see, and respond to situations in whatever way catches my attention at the time. I might be a total git one moment and act like a holy paladin five minutes later depending on my mood. I always try to roleplay, but it always just ends up being me exploring the game. I usually roleplay starting with my second playthrough when I'm more familiar with the game mechanics, etc. I tried RPing with New Vegas when it first came out, but failed after about 10 minutes. Same thing, I made an RP character my second playthrough. It was still new as I was responding to a lot of quests differently, but it was familiar enough that the roleplaying was more enjoyable for me. I suppose it'd be more natural doing it the first time through when I truly have no idea what will happen, but I usually give it up.

That being said, I'm going to try. At least once I'd like to play a game like this RPing a character where I really have no idea what's going to happen, which will really add weight to my decisions in the game. I actually have a vague impression of how I'll play the first time through. A little bit of what I'm familiar with mixed with a little bit of the new stuff being added. Specifically a basic Nord warrior, except I duel wield because I can. Imagine a big tall Nord with heavy maces in either hand. That'll be me.

[RogueMarksman]

I'm quite sure I will, at least the first time. I try to still RP in Oblivion sometimes, but I lose interest because I've played through the game 25+ times, and I already know most of the game, except from lore. I'm hoping with the new quest system that will be resolved.

If not, then oh well, it'll still be an amazing game to play.

[ch00_bakka]

I never rp. You may stab me in the face and throat if you wish, but I just don't. My idea of roleplaying is sitting around a table with dice and dr pepper talking about what my half-elf ranger is doing. Roleplaying is not an individual activity!

[theo1170]

I will have a Dunmer native to Skyrim!, and he can stand the cold more then a Morrowin native Dunmer.

[The Tourist]

I've loosely RP'd the same character in every fantasy game I've played, which is a homage to David Gemmell's iconic character, Druss the Legend (aka Captain of the Axe, aka Deathwalker). Simply, he's a big hulking axeman (with a black beard and eyes the colour of steel); honourable to a fault, who never passes by a good cause - no matter the chance of victory. A flawed, conflicted, short tempered heroic character who spurns status, reward and glory, fated to die in a hopeless defence of a certain fort, as the once mighty Drenai empire falls.

I even name the character Druss. Do I carry it through? Almost never.. The homage to a great fantasy character is a touchstone, a starting point. Eventually, I do 'a Cactus';

I always try to roleplay, but it always just ends up being me exploring the game

But without that reference for decisions or where to go, I would've got bored of Oblivion much quicker. The character of Druss will always be fascinating, and as my character build was always (obviously) a Nord with a big axe, it'll be a natural fit for Skyrim. Hopefully, I'll be able to find light-yet-not-rubbish armour, and simply carry the best axe I can find - which should look fairly close to this!


Snaga the Sender, Druss's [once cursed] axe

Playing on PC would be great, as a mod for that axe would be the first thing I did (I know Snaga's been done already on Oblivion, but it didn't look that great).

[gamermanblue]

I usually just start off a character, explore the game world, create another character, explore other parts or quests, create a third character, do anything i haven't done yet and than after i have figured out the skills i like or use i will finally roleplay. I have 5 Morrowind characters still hanging around and 9 from oblivion. Skyrim 13? Time will tell

[Eltee]

Yeah, my firs characters in morrowind, oblivion, fallout 3 and new vegas were pretty much me and what i'd do. After that I always try to roleplay. (Llela, Dunmer rogue, P.S.)

[Incarnal]

My first character is me and my personal rules and morals, but the rest of them are role played characters. It's just the right way to play the game for me.

[Fist]

Yeah, I usually make one who would choose the options I would choose.

I usually start with a base personality and try to add on it from there.
I also make a character that kills anyone I find annoying.

[Rariow un Irskand]

My first character is going to be the same first character as my first character in all other Elder Scrolls games: A Dunmer Explorer named Rariow un Irskand (Yeah, that's where I got my username). He's pretty much me. I just go with whatever I feel is cool, and just because I've just gained a bajillion fame in becoming the honorable Fighter's Guild grandmaster this minute, it doesn't mean I'm not going to go murder someone and join the Dark Brotherhood the next.

I'm guessing after that I'll continue my Nord Spellsword's Pyotr (from Morrowind) story. He was expelled from his family due to his interest in "Weakling Magic", and went into a power-seeking exile in Morrowind, and is now (Or will be at 11.11.11) back, seeking to show the Nords the power of Destruction Magic coupled with the traditional trusty steel. I'm interested in how that'll turn out myself.

I generally try to 100% the game with my first character (If it's possible), to get to know it, and then I pick up the appropiate quests for my character's personality on my second run.

[henkk]

I never really gotten into the whole roleplaying stuff, I have tried it a couple of times, but its just to "serious" for me : P

[Elune]

Playing on PC would be great, as a mod for that axe would be the first thing I did (I know Snaga's been done already on Oblivion, but it didn't look that great).

You know thats kinda why I said (in another topic) "TES will always be primarily aimed at PCs because of mods"
Because mods, well they let you fix what you dont like, add stuff etc...

Anyways I answered yes.
I "RP" myself (Imperial Female who helps people and does the "good" guilds and etc.) and I RP characters for the "bad" guilds i.e assassins or thieves who only do those things specially, they're whatever race/gender I feel like at the time.

[The Edgy Redguard]

Once the game becomes stale, thats when I know its time to start RP'ing. When I lose that feeling I get when playing any ES game for the first few weeks, that feeling of "This world is huge and magical!", I then begin to roleplay.

[The Tourist]

I'm surprised so many would choose to run amok in the game first, then RP another playthrough. Way I look at it, is that RP'ing your first run always feels more consequential: you have no idea what effects your choices and actions will have, or where the plot will lead you. If you've already seen one side of the story, nothing's on the line - you're just left with the alternative course.

In theory, that's how I see it. In practice, RP'ing fidelity is nigh on impossible regardless, as even TES forces you to break RP for the main quest (which inevitably follow a fairly altruistic, do-gooder path).

[JJSmart]

Yup, i RP on my 1st run, then do a 100% play on my 2nd run

[the Savage Hippie]

I plan on roleplaying a lot...
I've already decided race and class and name,
race: Breton
class: jew (will do anything for money)... nah, joke... class: Nightblade

[azuarc]

I don't roleplay. I just play the game. The only bit of roleplaying that factors in is that I lean toward certain tenets. However, no matter how much I may try to play a different type of character, I end up falling back on my vices. Every one of my Oblivion characters ultimately plays about the same, regardless of what they do up to level 3.

As for getting a headcount on role-players, I have a feeling the number of people who claim they roleplay will be inflated for two reasons: one, people are going to want to believe they roleplay more than they actually do, and two, this is a dedicated TES forum where the most dedicated fans play. (How many fleeting TES players are going to look up a fansite?) The more dedicated people are more likely to get deeply into the game, and thus UESP will have a higher percentage of RP'ers than will the entire populace of people who ever play TES.

[MARS]

Role play aaall the wayyyyy