How Do You Start to RP in SL

I'm fairly new to SL and only recently discovered the possibility of RP in SL. I have some experience roleplaying in RL. However, my attempts to explore different roleplaying sims have left me very intimidated. First of all, almost every RP sim seems to use a different combat system (What? Are they all that different that you couldn't standardize a combat system across SL?) I can't even figure out how to use one combat system, no less 15! Then, while I want to be respectful to the integrity of their respective milieus, many owners expect you to read like 20-30 pages of rules and background materials before you even enter their sim. I don't mind throwing on a free outfit at the gate, but I want to go in and look around and get a basic taste of their sim before I commit hours to learning every bit of minutia about their game. And I really can't tell you what kind of character I want to play, before I even know what your storyline is all about. (By the way, what the heck is a Neko? Do these cat people come from anime or what?) Some games are nice enough to let you put on an observer tag and look around, but the only place I found people allegedly roleplaying everyone was just standing around talking like everywhere else in SL until they all started shooting at each other. I am sincerely interested, but floundering. Where do I start?

I'ld recommend that you go to Galaxy and take a look at the trekkies RP'ing. I'm not one, but two of my friends are and they get very into their "away missions". They take their RP very seriously. Those who weren't part of their RP were ignored (you didn't exist) or were considered natives of the planet they were visiting.

Now, as for combat systems, different groups have different goals in mind. In the trek RP, they seem to favor a non-push related system, with a "shield" that detects incoming damage, and renders you "dead" when you've run out of damage. While some of my Gorean friends favor a much more damaging system. And some of my Star Wars RP friends want and expect push (as in the blast knocks you back).

I would advise that first you sit down and think about what you want to RP. There is something for everyone in SL, if you look hard enough. Once you've decided what genre you wish to RP, seek out and speak to the group leaders of the RP groups. If they had you a bunch to read, then read it; you might find that the group you are talking with doesn't suit you. If it does, and the rules allow for observers, check with the group. Perhaps they have an RP event scheduled (the trekkies do... my friends there had days that they met to plan their RP session as well as days that they met to do it). If a group wants to know what kind of character you want to play, work with them... they are trying to figure out how to fit you into their story (which is also why reading the story & rules is important). And, it might be that the character you would like is already taken.

Lastly, don't judge RP in SL by 1 or 2 bad events. There are good RP groups as well as bad ones. Some of the bad ones wouldn't know RP if someone went out and dropped a How-to-RP book in their laps. Some of the good ones, live it here in SL (Caledon springs to mind).

Good luck with your RP

NoR seems ok if you like Vampires, Werewolcves, Humans & Demons. The god thing about it is you earn XP by just being in there. So there's no XP to earn from killing anyone so therefore any fight starts for good RP reasons, not just for XP.

I am right now setting up a RP based on a story I wrote in 2005. The name of the RP is RYGEON. Set in 6th century. We looked at all of the battle systems out there and chose the one that would best work for our RP. I know what you mean about the back story and people not wanting to invest the time into reading it. Mine is on a notecard - It is ten pages typed when printed - and I have to actually read it over a shoutcast server for folks to listen to it (everyone wants the cliff notes or they will wait for the movie to come out) I have the character classes and powers on a excel chart I made a texture and imported into SL so everyone can see it. You just have to make some allowances for the lazy gamer if you want to get folks into your RP. When you enter the sim you are in our Out Of Character area - there is a super prim stone wall blocking you from ebetering the RP area. You can go into the StoryTeller's Pub to get all of the information about the RP. And you may also find some characters in there telling their tales of RYGEON next to the fire.

I have people who want to check it out buy a backpack that puts a title over their head and limits their abilities. Then they can wander through RYGEON (the safe areas) to see what it is about. I charge only $3L for the backpack - Just to keep the place from crawling with tourists. If they decide to wander into the swamp and a warewolf kills them then they are going to be teleported home.

A NEKO - is a half cat/half Human character from Japanese folklore. Wiki.com is your friend.

99% of places will have an OOC titler allowing you to explore the sim unbound by the rules as long as you don't interact with the people around you, watch and listen silently.