Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

[Ghostraven]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

Gah! Will you guys stop picking on Xhaztol? If you don't want to or like to RP in a mmorpg, why berate him (dare I say troll?) or tell him "no you should do this or that instead?" It's gonna be hard enuf for him to find ppl who wants to rp as it is, let's not make it harder for him.

He knows the kinda ppl/community he wants to have around him. We should stop trying to change his mind and encourage him.

I met a rp'er in Dunes in November of '03. The only one I ever met in game. He was lvl 7, but was making a supply run to Dunes "for the sake of his Kingdom." He was a riot and everyone enjoyed his presence even if most thought he was weird. ^^ There was another rp'er on a forum. I forget his name but his character was a galka who thought he was a taru. He was very funny.

Not everyone enjoys the xp grind, hnm drama, etc. Some ppl would prefer to make this game fun on their own terms.

I wish you luck finding ppl Xhaztol. ^^

exactly what I wanted to say.

Good luck finding people, I've always wanted to try this but never found enough people...

[Draco Dagon]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

Good luck to you, Xhaz. I'm going into trial period along with a friend pretty soon here, and meeting up with another friend who already plays, so we'll at least be RPing with each other, whether or not we can find a larger group to interact with. Kumei will definitely be on Midgardsormr, though, but I might see about getting Emie onto Remora. (Taru-F4A WHM)

On the topic of FFXI storywise, I'm wondering if anyone could talk to me about their impressions/opinions on the culture in Bastok, particularly as concerns races other than Hume and Galka living there, and perhaps on what they've observed or speculated about moogles and their role in Vana'diel. I'm trying to tighten up some details on Kumei's background (including adoptive parent) to help explain the situation she's in now. I haven't seen too much yet outside of what's in the FFXI manual and the wiki, so what I know is mostly that the economy relies on mining and engineering, and living conditions are rather less than stellar, perhaps moreso for Galka than Humes.

Bastok is basically the most technologically-advanced country in all of Vana'diel. But more than that, Bastok is for economists and the likes. Industrial would be a decent word to describe it. If we were to compare it as if it were a real country, Bastok would be a country bent on mining and having the best of the best. IMO anyhow...

Edit: As to not go off subject (I kinda forgot the title ^^), I will say I tend to RP all the time.

[Lunaryn]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

Bastok is basically the most technologically-advanced country in all of Vana'diel. But more than that, Bastok is for economists and the likes. Industrial would be a decent word to describe it. If we were to compare it as if it were a real country, Bastok would be a country bent on mining and having the best of the best. IMO anyhow...

So, would it be fair to say that there's a fairly affluent, predominantly Hume upper class of business/resource owners at the forefront of Bastok's growth and prosperity, a working/middle class, again predominantly Hume, that can afford a decent standard of living with some comforts, but perhaps feel disconnected from the nation's overall prosperity, and a predominantly Galka lower class that tends to have the worst jobs and struggles to get by at all, despite belonging to a wealthy nation? If so, where do the minority Elvaan, Mithra, and Tarutaru populations tend to fit into this picture?

I guess I should ask, should I take this discussion to another thread? I'm hoping basically that those who RP in FFXI will have some insight on the cultural and political situations from developing their own backgrounds and RPing with others who have worked out such backgrounds, but if it's a bit too off topic perhaps it should be moved.

[Xhaztol]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

Sorry I haven't been able to keep totally up with this thread, school started. You know how that can be.

I'll try to answer this question as far as the view of my character, Luna.

I come from a very different standpoint, being that I'm a taru taru, and essentially a Windurstian by generational rules. Before the massacre of my parents, I was predestined to be a citizen of Windurst. Having been kept a secret to the general public or any records as an infant, I was sent to Bastok and registered there, growing up under the care of a family friend, and in all legal issues, grew up as a Bastokan. So BEING Bastokan and looking at Bastok from a standpoint are two different things. Growing up, the relational conflicts between the Humes and the Galka were almost transparent to me. The Galka have been in their own way oppressed, but as far as I knew, that was life. That was normal. It wasn't until coming of age and becoming a young man did it ever occur to me the difference. It wasn't until travelling to Windurst for the first time, by myself, did I notice the cooperation of different races.

In coming to Windurst with childhood friends of mine, I immediately noticed my kind interacting with the Mithra in VERY different ways than the Humes and Galka. Vibe and social rhythm stuck out indefinitely. There was an incredible difference with the way they treated and regarded each other. I cannot say who I am when I travel to Windurst, for the family name I fall under has forever been tarnished (for reasons I may or may not go into publicly) and shunned. But I can say that when I return home and see the oppression and the non-cooperation, and the discrimination, I can tell you that it varies by race and it varies by place. I have reason to suspect that had the Humes and Galka settled the Sarutabaruta ranges that is now modern-day Windurst, their relationships would be quite different.

But travels to San d'Oria have also offered some insight. The Elvaan and Humes are very closely related. Not only in appearance, but psychologically. It is clearly evident they evolved from the same ancestors, and even more evident that they think similarly. Modern day Elvaan citizens, however, have so extremely isolated themselves from anyone since the war, that they have become more extreme in their discrimination and prejudices against other nations. Case in point, this is why I believe there are strained relations between Humes and Galka. There is a psychological bond that sets Humes JUST far enough outside the boundaries of tolerance that things happened the way they did within the nation of Bastok.

In summary, it's clear to see that Tarutaru and Mithra have a friendly, almost sisterly love towards one another. No one race puts itself above or below the other. Despite it's lower corruptions (which are opinions of my own), Windurst is a harmonious society.

The Elvaan are, for the most part, stuck in the past, singed honor keeping them from cooperating with anyone. Burnt pride.

The Humes and Galka are interesting because it is a symbiotic relationship. No work could get done without the might and strength of Galkan workers, but no organization or progress would heed from it, had Hume intervention not taken place.

Hopefully this will provide some insight to you, but please take in mind that I'm a severely different case, and there are things in my past that alter my view of the world, of Vana'diel in general. I hope to provide a non-biased view, but one can only do so much after 24 years of predominantly Bastokan culture.

[Lunaryn]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

Thank you very much, that was very insightful, and gives a good feel of the social dynamics in play. As I am also going to be playing a Tarutaru raised in Bastok, it's quite helpful to hear an account from such a perspective.

[Draco Dagon]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

So, would it be fair to say that there's a fairly affluent, predominantly Hume upper class of business/resource owners at the forefront of Bastok's growth and prosperity, a working/middle class, again predominantly Hume, that can afford a decent standard of living with some comforts, but perhaps feel disconnected from the nation's overall prosperity, and a predominantly Galka lower class that tends to have the worst jobs and struggles to get by at all, despite belonging to a wealthy nation? If so, where do the minority Elvaan, Mithra, and Tarutaru populations tend to fit into this picture?

I guess I should ask, should I take this discussion to another thread? I'm hoping basically that those who RP in FFXI will have some insight on the cultural and political situations from developing their own backgrounds and RPing with others who have worked out such backgrounds, but if it's a bit too off topic perhaps it should be moved.

I would say it's more like this... due to Bastok's growth and prosperity it is hated, but even loved by the same mouth even-moreso. On one hand, they hate Bastok with a vengeance but when counting the other hand they do want to move to Bastok for the economic livelihood of how the Galka and Humes prosper under an organized workforce which benefits everyone else who allies themselves with the Hume/Galka Bastokian economy.

[Lunaryn]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

Well, I'm on my free trial, and even had a nice RP session last night using my secondary character (San d'Orian Hume WHM). I'd be interested in joining up with this RP group on Remora, but I'm still working on a character idea, and I'll have to look into getting a World Pass once that's done.

[FlyingFantasy]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

Hm, well the only limit we got is our imagination, so if you think RP is impossible then, hehehe. ^^ Anyway, I could roll a character on Remora, since I'm in search of a Server... But first I'll need to know more information about the Server itself, like what is the level ratio, how much players Min. & Max., (I hate the "lonely" feel in MMORPGs, I mean, it's a "massive" "multiplayer" 'online" "Role-playing" "game" or is it?) So yeah, I could of just P.M. you but let's consider this as a two for one ^^

[Lunaryn]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

BTW, actually getting into the game and seeing Bastok is also pretty enlightening. You can see the class divisions pretty clearly. I don't think I even saw a single non-Hume residence outside the Bastok Mines area, and the residential parts of the Bastok Mines area are clearly slums. Most of the Gil Kumei gets through quests I ICly count as having 'stolen' from NPCs, but any rewards I've gotten from those who live in the Mines region I pretty much have to count as exactly what the quest says it is, because Kumei just isn't that ruthless. (She mostly goes after tourists, actually.)

Koren's starting to take shape, too. She's had some philosophical discussions with Kamiel, talked about her father some...

[Ziero]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

A few friends and myself recently started a part time RP static group. We all switch to different job with similar lvls and RP together as such. IMO that's the bst way to RP in this game, because trying to RP full time would bother any one else outside of your specific group. But getting a small group of friends and setting aside a predetermined date and time to do so makes things flow much smoother.

[countbulb]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

While I don't mind playing a new character, I would really hate to see all my craft-skills and items go to waste. If only I could find someone who RP in Shiva...

[phunk]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

I'd do it, if I could find a linkshell on Fairy to join.

[MasterTaco]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

I've roleplayed in many other games, such as SWG, EQ, EQ2, and a few others, but I also have noticed there aren't that many people who do the active roleplaying in FFXI. Both ways of playing are fun, so I definately tend to switch back and forth, but if someone is actively role-playing, I'd be more that happy to go along.
However, I'm in the same situation as many others, if I could find a group on my server, sure, I'd love to do it, but I have yet to find one.

[Lunaryn]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

Thanks to Aoi here, I'm on Remora now. No time to do anything yet, but I'll get in touch with you when I can, Xhaztol.

Also, any Middy RPers in Bastok I can try to hook up with? Sherinmir is still offline and Kamiel hasn't made his way to Bastok yet, so I haven't gotten a chance. In fact, aside from people on my friends list, I think I've only really even chatted with JP players so far, and I definitely don't speak nihongo well enough to RP in it.

...also, thinking about it, if I could get an escort to Jeuno, that'd probably help. Kumei'd have an even easier time looking for marks there, so it'd be a reasonable place to set up the initial scene I had in mind...

[Lunaryn]

Re: Bringing Role-Playing Back to FFXI

Okay, it's been an extremely long time I know, I actually deleted/recreated (bought myself a WP, transferred belongings), then cancelled the content ID for a while, because I was far too busy to worry about a character on another server. I'm starting to get back to my Remora char now, though. Mithra WAR, eventually aiming for DRG main. Name is Nyamohrreh, nationality is Windurstian. Now that I'm experienced in leveling low jobs I probably shouldn't take too terribly long to get her to partying levels, and additionally I do know how to aggro-dodge my way to the other main nations, and perhaps even Jeuno (Jugner/Batallia seems the safest route).