This week's episode asks you what you think of the different server types. It appears my opinion of what types of people different servers attract is the minority.

To see previous episodes, head over to: http://alanshotfirst.com

I hope you enjoy!

- Alan

Moonguard certainly has the biggest server base and longest history for RP, but at the time of Wrath, Wyrmrest Accord drew a lot of the quality RPers away from MG if I recall correctly. I spent a little bit of time on Cenarion Circle as well, and while the RP wasn't nearly so big, the amount of maturity in even Goldshire impressed me.

After reading this back I thought it important to just begin by saying I am not an RPer in MMOs and never have been, however I have RPed in other mediums and base most of my theories off of those experiences, combined with a lot of what i learned as a communication major.

To RP generally requires an extra investment by the player towards their gaming experience. By creating a character there is additional incentive to foster positive relationships with people as negative ones would result in no one to roleplay with. I also believe that the actual character creation process carries a bit extra weight with the RPer than those that just zip through the process purely based on aesthetics. And to have to repeat said process because they've developed a general dislike of the RP community means a bit more than just having to re-level, an inconvenience in itself already to be sure. Secondly, roleplaying is an active process. The actual playing of a role outside of yourself is not just whatever spews from your fingertips; it is calculated, thought out - it has to be, because it is not supposed to be the player but a creation of the player. This additional thought into everything that you do has a tendency towards more informed decision-making. Also, a role-players general goal is immersion (yes, I said it). Immersion by definition is the state of being deeply engaged or involved; absorption. This means role-players generally go into these games with a greater degree of focus than say PVP/PVErs in order to achieve this "immersion." I would say the number of rpers that are affected by significant RL distractions (i.e. TV, telephone, other persons) is significantly less than their non-RP counterparts. It would make sense that an RP player would make sure that they had eaten dinner and made relevant phone calls before logging on in order to not have to break out of character and their story, at least moreso than the non-RPers. Lastly, people play roles that they look up to and want to play - who wants to roleplay a character that is petty and a complete douche-troll.
Even Sith have Standards.

-Gank

Of course there are always the exceptions... there always will be, but in general I believe that as an ideal the assumption makes sense.

-Gank

Alan, in Ohio, we have laws about talking on cell phones and driving. Now, I am not certain about you Texans, with all your seceding from the US talk and supporting Sarah Palin and all those other Texan things, but I have a feeling that driving and recording yourself for a vidcast should probably be against the law.

I have said it a thousand times. Simply having RP in the server will immediately turn away a huge number of people. They will assume 'well, thats not for me' and go somewhere else. Generally, those types are less mature, younger folk, especially since RP was a lot more popular 'back in the day' with table top. While age =/= maturity, it certainly helps. (*Note* I am not saying you guys are not mature. I am saying the general public is. I do not bite my thumb at thee. )

Also, I think the 'evil' faction isn't neccesarily the case. Like a lot of people, when I was first looking at wow, I was thinking 'I could be the typical, goody too shoe human knight or elven archer... or I could be a badass orc warrior covered in spikes or a freaking minotaur carrying a totem pole! Horde it is!' Depending on who has better looking gear can really affect that, I think.

What a load of balderdash! Poppycock is American in origin as derived from the Dutch who settled there! Server types in my general experience rarely seem to stick to rules when it comes to RP, and that any RP there is is usually enforced only by guilds themselves and not necessarily restricted to specific chat channels. As for the eejits who insist on ruining others enjoyment of an MMO, regardless of what ruleset a server uses, they can be found there. Death, taxes and idiots in MMOs are the 3 great certainties in life!

I feel like a total nerd. Some one asked me "Do you even know who is is the World Series" and I replied of course the cardinals and the rangers. I have to admit that I only knew due to watching this episode

Well then my job is done! Consider it a public service announcement.

By the way, as I type this, the series is tied 1-1 and the 3rd game is this evening.

- Alan