Ardney Wolf
Amarr
CCCP INC
Curatores Veritatis Alliance
   |
Posted - 2007.10.19 02:46:00 -
[1]
Read the entire thread, plenty of good points. Grey Scale's posts were excellent. And I also agree with many of the points people have made to the effect that if there is a problem with EVE RP, POS warfare isn't to blame. I've seen posts here to the effect that RP is dying because small independent groups have no chance of having a meaningful effect on 0.0 on their own. I would submit that this is only a natural progression of things and actually contributes to the "realistic" atmosphere that EVE RP necessarily implies. Your RP corp can't lay claim to this area of space because some larger faction established POS's there? Then find an RP justification for allying yourself with them or perhaps with some of their enemies (they're bound to have plenty, after all).
I have never been in an RP corp but I have RP'ed the majority of my time in EVE. In the very beginning I set out a short backstory (nothing epic, just a bit of credible history)and have played the game accordingly. Set personal standings toward individuals and corps based on my char's beliefs, decided to treat certain groups a certain way at all times, etc. I joined a corp that had goals in line with my character's ideals and though it wasn't an RP corp, it has not prevented me from roleplaying within the EVE universe.
It seems to me (and I will acknowledge that I may be somewhat off) that many people have false assumptions about what EVE RP should be like. I've read many posts here bemoaning the apparent loss of relevance of the individual as if this were somehow counterproductive to the cause of RP in this universe. This couldn't be further from the truth. Take a step back and think about what EVE simulates, what it represents. Everything about EVE is meant to impress upon you the importance of scale: from the size of starships and stations, to the distances between gates, to the scope of the galaxy itself. EVE is an enormous universe that dwarfs every one of us by comparison. Is it any wonder that our individual characters can do virtually nothing on their own to affect the course of events in the galaxy? In the universe of EVE, the individual is nothing. This is how it is meant to be as it makes absolutely no sense for it to be any other way. You are not the lone hero whose destiny it is to drastically change the world around him/her with every action you take. How many people make the news during their lifetime in our world? Why would it be any different in the world of EVE?
And yet, at the same time the individual is of enormous importance because corporations are made from individuals and alliances, in turn, from corporations. The point of EVE RP, IMO, is to chronicle the story of the individual as he works his way though the galaxy and, by his presence or absence from situations, subtly changes the universe around him. I am as much roleplaying my character when I camp a gate or siege a POS as when I'm offering to fly (a likely superfluous) escort for OBSA or questioning the concept of inherited Amarrian superiority. I do not need an event to be centered around me, or an article to feature me, or any other sort of intervention by CCP to RP in the EVE universe. Would it be nice if it happened? Sure. But unless I've done something truly worthy of notice, it would be out of place and actually detract from the credibility of the ingame universe and make suspension of disbelief that much more difficult.
I guess what I'm really trying to say is that RP in EVE is far more independent of external factors than many people seem to want to acknowledge. POS warfare and large scale fleet battles are, IMO, a natural progression of the universe that has been created here and actually contribute to the lore rather than minimize it as some seem to think. Perhaps not everyone has come to terms with the fact that the universe does not have to revolve around you for you to be able to effectively play a role.
-Just doing my job |