roleplay in deplomacy

[Gummypear01]

Ive noticed a number of players tend to commit to a very roleplay like tone when messaging. While I don't think this is a bad think its a little weird whenever I say "can you support me into x" and get back a response of "Certainly Comrad! I will order my troops immediately! Have a good day! sincerely Moscow" (this is an exaggerated example but you get my point. I don't think it would be a bad idea for people who like this sort of thing to start putting it in the titles or something so that im not being suprised when I join a new game. I might even lean into it more if I knew the whole game was doing it.

[Octavious]

A great thing about diplomacy is the freedom for people to play as they want. If they enjoy hamming it up as a Tsar or Minister of War that's entirely their business, and how it charms or irritates their neighbours is for them to deal with. We had one member of the site who never deviated from his character of a late 1800s American pimp, even in the forums... Whatever floats your boat, I guess.

If you're keen on a strictly role play free game you are welcome to create one. Make the intention clear in the title, add a password if you like. Otherwise, take people as you find them.

My personal irritation is the sort of player who insists on combining their opening message with several paragraphs of diplomacy 101. I know how to play the game, mate, and I don't appreciate an annoying little tit telling me in painful detail why it is impossible for me to ally with Turkey when we've not even exchanged hellos yet .

But you don't choose your neighbours, and you work with what you have.

[Yigg]

I'm gonna echo Octi, here.

Speaking as a player who's done every kind of press except succinct, I respect the effort of anyone trying to roleplay, charactarize, or in any way attempt to make their press more interesting. Sure, when time is an issue, it's not always ideal to write some flowery prose. But when someone makes that effort, I appreciate it. That's just me, and that's just them. I don't begrudge anyone their press style, though. It's your game, play it how you want.

Also, I'd say if roleplay press irritates you, I'd suggest you politely say "hey, if it's okay I'm not a big fan of RP, so don't be disappointed if I don't play along. That cool?" This way you're not alienating a potential ally and you're trying to respectfully communicate how you want to, erm, communicate. I feel like if that were asked of me, I'd honor that.

And oh man. The lectures on how the game is SUPPOSED to be played. I get you there, my old friend! It's a quick way to let me know that I'm gonna have fun subverting expectations. If I get told I need to Zig, then I will Zag. Possibly Zog. I will play as a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, smothered in secret sauce.

[DougJoe]

I like both of the above responses. I tend to RP a little bit because it's nice to keep things from being so darned heavy/serious (and humor is almost always a good negotiating tool) but if someone told me they weren't into it, I'd get it.

The other thing I find is that I think about the other players (if I know who they are) as both the player and the power - it's a weird mindset, but it makes considering (and executing) stabs mentally/emotional easier. (I played a game with a sibling a while back where I had a hard time stabbing Matt but not such a hard time stabbing Turkey). I find that I have almost no hesitation stabbing the gunboat bots when I feel like it's time to do so.

And oh man. The lectures on how the game is SUPPOSED to be played. I get you there, my old friend! It's a quick way to let me know that I'm gonna have fun subverting expectations. If I get told I need to Zig, then I will Zag. Possibly Zog. I will play as a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, smothered in secret sauce.

There's so much info out there about strategy/tatics/openings/alliances/etc that it's hard not to, say, dismiss something like an I/T directly out of the gate (and communicate that). I'd honestly love to be part of a *really* long term I/T someday just because it's said to be so unworkable.

[Sunstriker]

I don't mind it, especially since if they're having fun and engaged with the game they're more likely to remain that way and keep sending messages. Plus - I like mimicking player's style of speech as a way to help draw them into my side of things vs the other. I have a hard time really getting into the RP since there's no clear character for me, but I hardly begrudge people who do.

Nothing makes a person want to ally with me more than another player they're dealing with is an ass and I'm friendly and fun. I've definitely survived in places I shouldn't have or got farther than I should have because I was tolerant of their weirdness, mistakes, and/or just more fun to play with than other players.

All this said, I don't think it's a bad idea to advertise games for RPers if that's what they're looking for. It would be a great way to get more like minded folks into the same game, and hopefully having fun! Best way to get people to play along is to ask. :)