http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fey0wl5kS64

Some of the best game experiences are in character!

Hello. I am new here, but I think I know a game you might be intrested in. Its a game focused entirely on roleplaying and has just recently been brought online in an open beta. The game, Underlight: Shades of Truth, has gone through several versions before this most recent release. It started out a pay to play game, and after the community took over management of the game, it became a free open-source game. Now, its graphics aren't top of the line like WoW or SWG, but its not like runescape.
 

In addition, it has a completely unique combat system that mirrors Oblivion in that it integrates both leveling up certain "attributes" while doing the actual fighting in a real time twitch based combat model, allowing even new players to effectively fight against vetrans if they practice.
 

The leveling system is also completely unique to any game in the RPG Genere. In this new leveling system, the players seek out "Teacher's" (whom are both Game Moderators and actual players) and who give out certain tasks to complete in order to gain "Power" (experiance), "Orbits" (levels), "Spheres" (basically the allowance to progress from a certain set of orbits to another. If you reach say, orbit 10, you need to complete a sphere task in order to move on from orbit 10. These generally tend to be very involved and difficult, but also very fun), "Arts" (which are basically special abilites. I'll go more in depth on them later), and many other things.
 

Arts are unique as well in comparision to most other games, more because of the abilites themselves. Most games involve spells such as "Flameball" or "Lightening" or "Heal", but in Underlight, there are also a number of very unique abilites, some of which you start with, which make the game easier and more fun. Some examples of starting abilites (I don't want to take all the suprise out of the game) include:
 

1) Locate Dreamer - This is a buddy list and a tracker rolled into one. By searching for the name of a person on here, you're able to tell if they're online and where they are. As you train this ability further, your able to search for individual players and find out "very speciffically" where they are.
2) GateSmasher/SoulReaper/etc. - This ability allows you to summon the primary weapon of your class (see this link for the classes: http://underlight.ixios.net/focus.asp)
3) Sense Dreamers - This ability allows you to see the three most populated areas of the Dream (as the world is reffered to).
 

And many more.
 

And now, for roleplaying itself in the game. Roleplaying in the game is enforced in-character, therefore you are expected to always be "In character" or acting as your character would. This and the fact that the game has only been brought online very recently has lead to a rather small gamer population, but it is a very close knit community whom is very open to newcomer's regardless of their rp experiance. The Game Masters, or GM's, are very involved in the game by providing both random events and furthering the main storyline of the game. The game isn't just for hardcore rper's though. The game is equelly suited to both casual and hardcore roleplayers.
 

Even with everything I've said here though, I've only barely begun to scratch the surface of the game. So please, come check it out, you might like it ;).
 

Here is the forums for the game (feel free to post here if you have any questions or comments or just feel like talking to any of the players): http://underlight.ixios.net/forums/default.asp
 

Here is some other general links you may find intresting or necessary to play:
 

Game Guides: http://underlight.ixios.net/guides.asp
 

Character Creation Page (requires a forums account): http://underlight.ixios.net/account/login.aspx
 

Full Client Download Page: http://files.filefront.com/Underlight+Client+16412exe/;9857856;/fileinfo.html
 

I am very much into roleplaying myself but that is the main reason I am playing a MUD right now over a MMO. You just can't get the same amount of detail in a visual game that you get in text. You certainly use more imagination but it is also nice to see hundreds of characters that all totally look different than everyone in the same high end gear.

Also, I may have to keep that Underlight page bookmarked as I am curious about it.

while i've never been an RPer, i kind of did in Warhammer (to a small extent). but only on my witch hunter, i know its basicly a rogue class but didn't feel that way to me. because he wasn't just stab stab stabing people. his hits he was accusing them for being heritics when he hit, like he hit for a reason.would build up the accusations then rememer thinkin "burn ass&^%"..lol idk why that class and only that class in any mmo for me i felt like i was taking on the role of my class.i don't pla warhammer anymore but deffinitly my only rp experience even tho i know a WH wouldn't be calling people an ass&*^%$..lol

i did try an rp server once on WoW but just because a friend of mines cousin played on the server. i had no intention og rping just went over while our server had a HUGE que at the time and i didn't feel like waiting an hour + to play. ran into my first rper there he was very nice( think it was a he, was a female character but i just assume everyone is a guy easier that way), creeped me out a lil but he was nice (not the cousin) came up to me gave me some money and a bag and a lowbie weapon said "take this valiant warrior to aid you on your journey" i was like umm "cool thanks" im sure it wasn't the response he was hopin for but i did do the /bow thing atleast..lol i was jsut taken back by it a lil was all or i would've came up with something better to say >.<

i do wish there was more rpers in games they seem to be to more mature and friendly than the average gamers i've ran into.

Ok…..great question for OP to post on the RP forum. Here is one for the 'Pub at MMORPG' Forum:

“I personally think playing MMO’s is a complete waste of time.”

Definitely not a trolling, pointless question. :)
 

Originally posted by xusheng2

I personally think roleplaying your race or character in a game is a complete waste of time.

So then don't play.  You cant fully get into the game without roll playing a little bit. I dunno, thats just wierd.

although i myself haven't try it, i still appreciate the roleplay. And i always see such an activity in the Chinajoy.

a female classmate of mine really do that .

she looks so cool

Some MMO's are built for RP, while some are not.

I RP pretty hardcore in LotRO, I am in an RP kinship and it is the best MMO experience I have had.  We really get into making up our own storylines to go along with the game quests it's awesome.

I played FFXI, and the RPing just wasn't there, you can't do it in a game with no real lore to it.  AoC is a game that is great for RP, I just can't seem to find many people to do it with haha.

I roleplay. It is why I play MMORPG's. For the fact I can openly roleplay with other like minded individuals from halfway across the world. With PnP games you need to find those around who you enjoy your hobby, and when in a small town that's more concerned with pretending to be a thug, that's damn hard.

Roleplaying is as much a waste of time as grinding for the next level is, but do you enjoy wasting that time? That's what truly matters. MMO's were born on the roleplaying belief, with Ultima Online, and open ended game driven by player choices. WoW took it and slapped shackles on it, set you in a hich chair, gave you a bib, and spoonfed everything to you in a monotonous, linear way.

And if you really wanna get technical, you are roleplaying whether you like it or not. You are ploaying in the role of a human warrior or elven thief, even if you don't act out their personality, you are in essence, playing a role. Roleplaying IS pretending, but it's not JUST pretending. It's acting out the role of your character in some defined way you come up with, interacting with the world around you beyond the mundane clicking.

And I disagree about someone saying EVE has little roleplaying capability, it by far, has one of the larger roleplaying communities out there. It's strong, deep, mature, AND it's not tied to a story, as we are the story. EVE's story progesses with our help, not the other way around. EVE being a sandbox actually opens the possibilities of roleplay, unlike WoW, which coddles you and holds your hand.

And as the poll suggests, roleplaying seems extremely popular, and even though you may think it a waste of time, we are enjoying wasting it. Just as you are playing games.

I Role-play as well. I started with WoW, and was absolutely horrible! I Burnt through all the cliche things right off the bat. My Ninja/Dragon/Demon-Hunter was feared throughout Azeroth. Then I took a long long long break from Role-playing, and when I came back, I was much better. I had learned how to make a believeable character with flaws and weaknesses instead of being an annoying god-modder. Eventually I made some RP friends, and had a great time. I think Roleplaying is great in that it adds just that much more fun to playing an already great experience.

Forgive me for my pitch, but--

The free MMO I GM for, Shades of Truth, is 100% Role-play Enforced and available to play. Role-play is required, period. OOC conversations are kept to whispers by enforcement of our Three Rules and excellent roleplaying is rewarded with XP. In fact, it is impossible to advance your character statistically without engaging in active roleplay with Teacher characters, experience players like yourselves who have the ability to Task players in new abilities.

To be honest, the game is a bit dated, but hey! Those who are in it for the roleplay aren't too concerned with glimmery graphics and particle effects. They play with their imagination as well as their computer.

Come check us out! Our player base is still small but is quickly expanding. http://underlight.ixios.net

I find it increasingly hard to roleplay in MMORPGs that lack houses and various cosmetic items. It can be done, but just isn't as enjoyable for me.

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Originally posted by xusheng2
I personally think roleplaying your race or character in a game is a complete waste of time.

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Personally, I see your argument very one-minded. Now to argue your opinion with my own.

I love role-playing (I've always preferred in-game RP as well, compared to posts on forums or chatrooms and the like because I can immerse myself into it better). That's my opinion on the matter.

To argue your statement, I say: Do you not consider acting pointless? This is what role-playing is. Actors get paid to role-play and the grade A actors get paid well. All of them, they role-play. They are essentially playing a role, doesn't matter what the theme of the movie is, they are role-playing. With a script.

I like improvisational theater. I've never done it though but it looks incredibly entertaining and fun because you never know what's going to happen. People get paid to do this, people get paid to act.

In a game, some may say role-playing is a complete waste of time. But then, playing a game is a complete waste of time anyway because that's basically why you play games: to waste time and entertain yourself while doing so.

But I see it as a game enhancement. Not everyone has to like it or participate in role-playing but for those who do role-play it can enhance the game that little bit more when they find other like-minded people to do it.

/endargument

I think roleplaying is an important part of enjoying a game, for me anyway.

You should forget about it in WoW. Too many people obsessed with levelling and not enjoying the content and themselves.  You have to think about it but once it comes naturally it's really rewarding.

I've found LotRO is the best so far that I've tried for RPing, with such a rich lore and world it is fairly easy even for novice RP'ers to get into and this seems to be the case as about 99% of the people on the server RP too which helps you to get into it. I couldnt imagine playing on anything other than an RP server now.

I play an uptight upper class lady in LotRO and my friend is my butler, Its a good RP set up and can be really funny. RP rules

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Originally posted by lord_bison
I think roleplaying is an important part of enjoying a game, for me anyway.
You should forget about it in WoW. Too many people obsessed with levelling and not enjoying the content and themselves.  You have to think about it but once it comes naturally it's really rewarding.
I've found LotRO is the best so far that I've tried for RPing, with such a rich lore and world it is fairly easy even for novice RP'ers to get into and this seems to be the case as about 99% of the people on the server RP too which helps you to get into it. I couldnt imagine playing on anything other than an RP server now.
I play an uptight upper class lady in LotRO and my friend is my butler, Its a good RP set up and can be really funny. RP rules

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LotRO is a game I want to try out, but I'm not going to buy it until I've played the trial or someone how played it because I wouldn't waste my money doing so.

You CAN find good role-playing on World of Warcraft, but it's very rare because like you said, most of the people on the game just want to level (I am also like this which is why I tried finding a decent Heavy RP guild which RP's in their guild chat... I'm still looking). That or you get all these pathetic ERPers (for those who don't know, ERP means Erotic Role-Playing).

Not true. My experience of even RP servers is of people just sprinting from quest to quest

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Originally posted by Jay_NW
Not true. My experience of even RP servers is of people just sprinting from quest to quest

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Yeah, see I do that often on WoW. But then, at level 80 I'll probably RP most of the time.

It's funny, because ever since I've left WoW I haven't found the kind of casual RP that it offers.

It's usually only confined to guilds or events...

no constant Inn RP like on Moon Guard.

I only roleplay in games where i'm supposed to roleplay in.

What i mean with that is, I Don't roleplay in Counter Strike Source lol but seriously guys, MMORPG Stands for Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Play Game which is based on Roleplay! So why not roleplay in an MMORPG?