i think that rp'ers themselves are actually part of a community that has its own micro forms of what each person views as rp'ing. Some rp'ers think that sitting around talking ic about events outwith the narrative and plot, are one sub group. Others like to play the game ic using plot as a basis for rp'ing. Others will use the games areas to conduct rp events, having formed their own, usually guild based storylines. What appears as a seemingly trivial point made by the op actually opens up an entirely new topic. What kind of rp'er are you? Personally, i have not tried the game yet, but was hoping that a company famous for adopting the traditional form of rp games, and making excellent solo crpg's, should be bringing rp into the mainstream. I thought that this game would start to remove us from the bland nature of most mmo's, and begin to introduce strong storylines, and envirnments where traditional rp'ing would be welcomed. The concern of your character due to a certain storyline, area rich zones where random rp could take place. I thought this game should cater for the rper. Chat bubbles can make rping a lot easier, as it gives your character an easy to identify a voice. I'll be dismayed if they have actually put your character in scenes where they make them talk. However, the best result would be for chat bubbles to be the players decision. Sometimes, certain rp'ers can be the most cliquey of players. We all have our own taste in what gives us that sense of verismilitude. When there is a big rp event, it can be confusing to follow what everyone is saying and doing, and chat bubbles do help this. However, when a small clique forms and are busy 'rping' about things not relevant to anyone else, bubbles could be an annoyance. Especially as they usually are not friendly to strangers entering their rp. Personally, my idea is for ppl to stay ic, and act as though their character would. If on a quest, why would a pc go to a zone and 'rp' about trivial conversations not to do with what their character would really be thinking. For example, you have an important quest in say lotro, but your character is in bree, in the tavern 'rping' about often silly conversations. Too me the game is then an irrelevance, just an envirnment to act. Whereas, if people were concerned, implented what is happening in game to reflect their characters mood, it would add to my game. I pass someone who is concerned. I can if it's my pc's nature ask what is wrong. Dismayed, they tell me about the details of their quest, i can offer my services. We remain ic. We can remain in sync and go onwards, using the game's npcs and quests to remain ic, meet others with a similiar predicament. Before long there's a group of us. We're rp'ing through boring quests, and grinding without it seeming like such, as we're ic. Learning about each other, forming friendships ic. We take breaks to unwind, learn background, etc. Perhaps a non game plot begins, etc. So i'm playing the game, rping through quests, which rarely happens, and advancing. We all have our traits, and side stories form. But it all started because i noticed some comment made in a chat bubble. That's my way i like to rp, but like i say, we all have our own preferences. So rp'ers themselves could be split into different categories. However, i thought this game would not be like a solo crp. I thought it would take us closer to meshing a dynamic world, with original and exciting plots, ripe for rp'ing. Is this not true? And does my pc or toon, talk for himself during cut scene?
I thought I read somewhere that they were planning on bringing them back. Aha, found it: