- Location
- doing invasions in Irithyll Dungeon
Back in the day...When I was in (art) school, one of the first things we were taught in acting classes was the principle of the 5 Ws: Who, What, Where, When, and Why.
Asking yourself these questions helps you live inside the mind of the character you're portraying, and bring them to life in a more authentic way.
The other night I was going through the suggestion forum when this concept came to mind again, and realized how relevant this also is to RP -especially when fleshing out your character's backstory or determining their reactions in a given scenario.
I thought it might be useful to share it here as a thought exercise, and hopefully help inspire some new stories or even venture into different territories you hadn't considered before.
Your Character and You
There's one very common rule in roleplay that is often joked about; you are not your character, and your character is not you.
This simple principle is supposed to keep RP fresh and engaging. If you start playing your character as yourself, then it's easy to fall into the same daily routines or default behaviors. -- The RP becomes less dynamic, and stories start to feel repetitive or stagnant.
I've noticed a lot of people in the community fall back into their own real-life personas, especially when there's no active RP scene happening. That's totally normal to a degree, but it can start to bleed into real RP situations if you're not mindful, causing people to act more like themselves in serious RP sits. When your character reacts the way you would --or at least think you would-- IRL, it can sometimes dull the experience -not just for you, but for everyone around you as well.
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The 5 Ws:
While many people have a good grasp of the Who their character is, there's so much more to consider when building depth and consistency in your character's backstory.
That's where the other Ws--What, Where, When, and Why--come in. Each one helps you further develop how your character thinks, feels, and behaves in different situations, and together create a foundation for a rich backstory.
Here's how each of the 5 Ws breaks down:
-Who
=> Who is your Character?
Most people know this one well and have thought about this to some extent. It covers your character's core identity; their name, general backstory, job, personality traits and general demeanor. But "Who" isn't just about listing off a bunch of facts. Ask yourself: What events shaped your character? How have their experiences made them who they are today? Are they naturally optimistic, or more guarded and cynical?
-What
=> What does your Character do?
This is more than just their job, it's also about their purpose. What drives them, what they spend their time on, and what their goals are. What is your Character working toward? What motivates them day-to-day? What do they want, and what are they willing to do to get it? Whether it's personal growth, wealth, revenge, or finding a sense of belonging; understanding what drives your Character helps give you a sense of purpose and direction, keeping RP more proactive than reactive.
-Where
=> Where is your Character from?
Geography and background play a massive role in shaping your outlook on life. "Where" can refer to both where your Character was born and raised, and where they are currently. Did they come from a rough upbringing in a bad neighbourhood? Or perhaps they had a comfortable life that didn't prepare them for all the harsh realities of the city. Where your Character has been influences where they are going, and how they respond to different challenges that get thrown at them.
-When
=> When does your Character's story take place?
Is your character living in the moment -always chasing the next high-, or are they someone deeply rooted in their own past, haunted by some things they can't forget? Are they planning for the future -making future plans-, or are they worried about what lies ahead? "When" can also refer to your outlook on time itself. It adds yet a whole other layer that can explain your emotional responses to different situations. Eg: receiving bad news at a bad time is worse than receiving bad news at a time when things are going well for your character.
-Why
=> Why does your Character do what they do?
This is, in my opinion, THE most important question, and often the one that gets overlooked. Why is your character the way they are? This is, in many ways, the heart of your character. Why do they make the choices they do? Are they driven by a certain deeply rooted emotion? Is it revenge, love, power, insecurities, fear? Why do they keep pushing forward, or at times decide to give up? Despite being the most neglected, this is the key to creating a character with real depth. Knowing their "Why" and keeping it in mind within RP should definitely help you make more consistent and meaningful decisions.
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Why I'm bringing this up & Why it matters for RP quality
Lately there's been a lot of discussion in the community about what needs to change on the server--people feeling like there's not enough content or that the quality of RP has declined.
While I personally understand the desire for new jobs, minigames and updates, it's important to remember that these things take time. The developers are hard at work, balancing IRL and multiple other priorities, and new features I'm sure will come when they're all ready. But until then, there's something we can all do to enrich the RP experience right now--and that's making sure we're at least all trying our best to play an interesting, well fleshed out character and providing the roleplay that comes along with it. As crazy as that may sound.
Too often I see players defaulting to boredom when there's no structured scene happening--standing around, saying they have nothing to do. But here's the thing: that's you being bored, not your character. Your character doesn't need a new minigame or a scripted event to come to life. They exist in a city full of possibilities, with countless stories waiting to unfold. If your character is truly bored, ask yourself, 'What would my character do to entertain themselves?' If they're an adrenaline junk, maybe they'd go looking for some fun, innocent trouble. If they're more introverted, maybe they'd retreat to reflect or scheme.
But--and this is key--if you feel bored or uninspired, don't feel pressured to force yourself into action just for the sake of doing something. Sometimes, it's okay to take a step back. Take a break, play something else for a bit, and come back when you've got fresh ideas or stories you want to explore. The RP will be richer for it, and your character will feel more alive when you return with renewed energy and a clear sense of direction.
The problem comes when players let their own lack of interest bleed into their character's actions. If you dismiss a newcomer as "just another baldie", that's more than likely your own first impression. You're not bothered, but is your Character? Does your character react with disinterest, or could there be an opportunity for some fun interaction or conflict? The moment you start seeing things from your character's perspective, rather than your own, is when a lot more avenues for RP start to open up.
In the meantime, while we all wait for new updates that the devs are already hard at work on, we should all take the time to flesh out our characters backstories and explore stories that don't rely on new content. That way, when updates do happen, we'll already have a bunch of fresh new storylines going that will only get enhanced from there.
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RP doesn't need content updates--It needs Characters
At the end of the day, roleplay is about creating stories. You don't need an update to make something happen. You just need to remember that you're not playing as yourself, and your character has their own set of motivations, experiences, and outlooks. The 5 Ws help you develop that depth so your character reacts authentically in every situation--whether you're pulling off a heist or simply chatting with a stranger.
I really do encourage everyone to take a moment and think about this. You might find that answering these questions gives you a fresh perspective. It's a simple but effective way to keep your RP engaging--not just for you, but for everyone you interact with.
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Thank you to everyone who's taken their time to read through this. I want to make very clear this isn't meant as a rant of any sort, but rather an incentive to hopefully spark some new ideas and get people thinking about the fun positives rather than focusing on the glooming negatives all the time. At the end of the day, this is still just a game--one we all love and has brought together an incredible community. But lately I've felt like the essence of roleplay has gotten a bit lost with people getting too comfortable being themselves in character.
So let's get back to what makes RP special and fun in the first place--stepping into someone else's shoes, embracing the story, and seeing the world through a different set of eyes. As long as you stay immersed, the richer the experience becomes for everyone.
much love to you all,
Leroy