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Dargonkin
Aug Member 2019

Dargonkin

Posts: 870 Gold Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Hi, there. Call me Dargon.

A long time ago, I was a pretty active member of the roleplay community here on Runescape. Obviously, I left; at the time, I was frankly an idiot teenager who was brashly impulsive despite my genuine desire to be a member of this community and to be an at least decent roleplayer. I do hope nobody recognizes me as such, and those who are active in the scene would be willing to answer what I hope is a simple question:

How are things around here, these days? I remember when the space just in front of the White Knight's Castle was an active social space for both OOC and IC players, but all activity seems to have died there. Perusing the world for places I remember as being populated hotspots where folks were always in-character, these places are all but empty, and I find myself curious (Morbidly so, perhaps) to learn what the general atmosphere of the RP scene here is like. How active are the clans? Do they interact with each other? Do people still play public scenes open for anyone to come and go as they wish?

Part of me is seriously interested in trying this out again too, to see what it's like and if it's something worth investing my time into. I hope this place is still active enough to at least get an answer from someone. Shameless Dragon Enthusiast - Maxed Since 12/12/17 -10-Year Veteran

14-Jul-2020 21:21:01

Dargonkin
Aug Member 2019

Dargonkin

Posts: 870 Gold Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
And, whoops - accidentally made two of the same thread. Good job, me. And with no ability to delete or edit my own threads, guess that's stuck here now.

Please reply on this thread; I apologize for my ineptitude.

EDIT: I found the forum support thread and issued a request for a deletion of the duplicate thread. Turns out I'm not quite so inept, and doing a bit of digging can go a long way. Shameless Dragon Enthusiast - Maxed Since 12/12/17 -10-Year Veteran

14-Jul-2020 21:24:03 - Last edited on 14-Jul-2020 21:34:57 by Dargonkin

Lord Pyro I
Nov Member 2018

Lord Pyro I

Posts: 4,255 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
These days RP tends to limited to within clans unfortunately with some interaction between different groups. You won't see unscheduled RPs any more for the most part so your best bet is to join a group like the Wizard's Tower or my Zamorakian Empire (probably the two most active groups atm).

Hope that helps! "The greatest endeavors are achieved because of their selfless intent"
#WarIsComing

14-Jul-2020 23:01:16

Dargonkin
Aug Member 2019

Dargonkin

Posts: 870 Gold Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Well, it's certainly a place to start, but I'd love to see responses from more people. Try and get a better idea of what the general vibe of everything is. A single perspective isn't much. Shameless Dragon Enthusiast - Maxed Since 12/12/17 -10-Year Veteran

15-Jul-2020 02:22:39

CrocoNuts
Jul Member 2010

CrocoNuts

Posts: 2,824 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
I could easily give you an idea how the last 1-2 years on the server felt to me personally, but I am afraid it's just going to sound like a pessimistic rant. Just post if you're interested and I'll gather something to post here in case you are still interested. Quickly learn how to Roleplay on RuneScape!

I am bad and that's good, I will never be good and that's not bad, there's no one I'd rather be than me.

17-Jul-2020 10:49:39

Cain Grimm

Cain Grimm

Posts: 172 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Honestly Croco, I'd like to hear your take if that's something you're willing to say? I might be interested in coming back myself again. Life has a funny ebb and flow, but Runescape and it's roleplay will always have a... while perhaps not always special, but a truly unique and memorable place in my mind.

19-Jul-2020 09:28:18

CrocoNuts
Jul Member 2010

CrocoNuts

Posts: 2,824 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
I’ll try to keep it to one A4 to prevent ranting because I am prone to ranting about this subject. Context: I put my thesis on hold that tries to figure out the social science behind online communities.


To start with some more rational ranting then. In my opinion a reason that the rapid decline of RuneScape as an appealing MMORPG to RP on has severely hurt our RP opportunities and has near halted the influx of new blood completely is because the story has gone stale and events have changed. The Gielinor Games (2012), the Bird and the Beast (2014), the Invasion of Port Sarim (2016) and many events akin to these three I used as an example were often a moving force to both draw old and new people into and back to W42. Sadly, these types of events are hardly produced at the rate as they used to in the past. The Song of Seren briefly gave hope to some in 2019 but we’re a year further and there is still nothing much done to follow up on it.
I am often unsure how much credit we should and could give Jagex for enabling RP but to name a few examples, the turmoil in Morytania between all the factions, the increase in Mahjarrat/Elven roleplayers and our character developments as they entered a new age would have never been possible without the moderators continuing to expand the lore of RuneScape through quests, events, Q&A’s and lorebooks. They clearly had influence on what we did on W42.


That being said, I personally think stomping your feet and saying ‘ the game sucks ’ is only part of the reason people no longer show commitment to the server like they used to. As before, the people who’ve been around for longer get older. They pick up a study, join the army, land a job, meet a partner, start a family etc. So it made sense for people not being able to literally be on 48 hour lasting skype calls, have weeks of daily roleplay and meaningful interactions with groups all over the world. But.. Quickly learn how to Roleplay on RuneScape!

I am bad and that's good, I will never be good and that's not bad, there's no one I'd rather be than me.

19-Jul-2020 14:27:26

CrocoNuts
Jul Member 2010

CrocoNuts

Posts: 2,824 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Added to a game on the decline, a community growing up, another part of our community wanted radical changes back in 2017 and again in 2019. The last 3 years of W42 felt like the foundation of the W42 we see in 2020 . Intergroup relations took an extremely hard hit in those beforementioned years, like I’ve never seen before and I personally feel like they have never recovered afterwards.

Now, the people of W42 mostly stick to group based roleplay organised out of a Discord group and prefer a series of private roleplays over setting out a broader narrative due to worse than usual experiences had. We pick and choose even though the server is nearly empty because after endless bickering people realised the public narrative is too fractured, unappealing and stale to be a worthwhile investment of their time. Most, if not all, POK based roleplays are incredibly inactive and often occupied by 1-3 roleplayers as a result of things added to our mindset during the 2017 and 2019 community racket. Community initiatives were branded as powerplays by people who opposed them, new people were hounded till they were proven not to be an alt and clique forming picked up steam fast to name a few things. I personally feel that 2017 and 2019 defined what W42 is today and if you want to hear more rants about my ideas do ask.


The people that still roam the Discord groups, forums and log into the game for RP are each happy within their own group and it’s probably a nice way to sit out the ride for now as we enjoy the many friendships and bonds we’ve made along the way. All I can say to new folk or outsiders is that there is still something for you to enjoy on your own way but given that most groups consist of people who’ve known each other for years it can be intimidating to jump in and try to mingle. Just know that W42 now is staler, more fractured and more paranoid than it ever was.

But hey, one man's trash is another man's treasure, right? Quickly learn how to Roleplay on RuneScape!

I am bad and that's good, I will never be good and that's not bad, there's no one I'd rather be than me.

19-Jul-2020 14:32:12

Lord Pyro I
Nov Member 2018

Lord Pyro I

Posts: 4,255 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Cain Grimm said :
Honestly Croco, I'd like to hear your take if that's something you're willing to say? I might be interested in coming back myself again. Life has a funny ebb and flow, but Runescape and it's roleplay will always have a... while perhaps not always special, but a truly unique and memorable place in my mind.

Hi there Cain, it's good to see you again.

I know Croco paints a pretty bleak picture (in which he helpfully absolves himself of any personal responsibility) but the Zamorakian Empire has other plans. Plans we hope you will be willing to get involved in as we try to find a new narrative for W42 that is not all doom & gloom.

So if you're up for that send me or my deputy Poseidon_55 a message in game. "The greatest endeavors are achieved because of their selfless intent"
#WarIsComing

20-Jul-2020 11:55:51

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