Synthetic

Chuckles still slaying the Irish-American crime scene after all these years - you love to see it.

That would have to be something I'd love to see a one-day reunion and return to.

Genuinely thought you'd died at this stage, won't lie.

I'm going to offer an alternative viewpoint upon this discussion, primarily surrounding the quality of roleplay itself. This point is offered upon the basis that people who engaged with each other - regardless of whether it was on one occasion or regularly as a faction - remained entirely IC at all times and did not have any OOC interaction. A lot of comments in discussions such as these across many servers indicate OOC interaction (forums, OOC in-game chat, DMs, Discords) as wholly negative impacts upon IC developments and immersive roleplay. The viewpoint? In other communities over the last decade and a bit I have encountered numerous types of roleplay, from legal and political roleplay to varying criminal organisations from street gangs to OCN organisations. As much as I feel as though I am a good roleplayer - I most definitely do not obtain the knowledge and ability to roleplay each of these differing genres to a high level without any form of guidance. That is the case for a lot of players from those new to roleplaying as a whole, to dedicated roleplayers trying a new genre (e.g. Legal roleplayers trying their hand at gang roleplay.) If there was no OOC communication, roleplaying standards would be pretty low. Factions would develop a closed off, internal mindset where only the experienced members are able to access their genre due to no opportunity to offer guidance and support to the development of skills on an OOC level. Members would not be able to ask for support on what aspects of their character are realistic and beneficial - something really key to the develop of high quality roleplay enjoyable for all on an IC business. Equally, the lack of shared knowledge and development of high-quality roleplay within specific genres would damage immersion with unrealistic behaviours and activities impacting upon your own individual roleplay. Example Scenarios You are a legal roleplayer, having spent your time focused upon police roleplay. You're interested in joining a Latin-American street gang. How do you seek support in the development of a character without any OOC interaction? Guides are only useful to an extent, with prompts from members of your faction provided through DM on a regular basis on appropriate language and activities for your character. You are brand new to roleplay and have never participated in roleplay, never mind on a Grand Theft Auto server. How do you receive support in the basics surrounding actions and behaviour? How do you receive support in the development of a realistic character? You are a faction leader for a niche Jewish organised criminal syndicate. How do you support the development of your faction? How do you support the development of realistic characters with the necessary experience required to fulfil roles in a natural and organic way? OOC interactions can be negative upon roleplay, without a doubt. I'd make the argument, however, that roleplay would be heavily impacted if we were to remove OOC interactions altogether with the ability to share knowledge and experience removed.

A lot of old, familiar names in this thread. A different username due to my normal one being taken on here, not an issue considering I'm a background lurker in communities these days. LS-RP folk - it's me, Ashley. Some of the older people from LS:RP may know me from my moniker KEG that I used prior to returning a few years ago.