SL is a game, we all know that. But most see it as a really detailed visual instant messenger. It's mostly a social network. Sort of like MSN Messenger with cool looking simslike people to look at.
But there are many who have in fact turned SL into a proper game, as there are hundreds literally of Role-Playing sims, in various settings, where people go to dress up, become someone or something else, and weave interactive stories or do valiant battle.
Roleplaying is big business on SL. In fact the CCS, or Community Combat System, is actually going to be integrated partially into SL itself so players can have their stats in their title windows. RP sims tend to make decent money in rentals if they're done well and run well.
There are 6 major RP systems used on SL, though I'm sure there are lesser ones in use here and there. The above mentioned CCS is the most predominant, being used in well over 300 different sims, and keeps it's creators very comfortable financially as one must pay rent on a ccs server placed on their sim. CCS sims generally tend to be set in post-apocalyptic worlds where vampires and werewolves struggle for power, though a few such as Silverleaf or Crossroads have adopted a medieval setting. CCS started in a single rp sim called the City of Lost Angels not long after SL itself was launched, and has grown exponentially, remaining one of the few stable economies within SL. It;s an experience based system that allows you to choose race and class on the cola website, and level up like in a normal rpg.
Next up are DCS and WARPS. WARPS is popular and common but I've never played on a WARPS based sim nor did I have time to research, but if this article is well-received I'll do a full series of rp articles and research WARPS for it. DCS on the other hand I have played in, mostly on Little Mos Eisley, a Star Wars based rp sim. DCS, or Dynamic Combat System, is similar to CCS but not as full featured. The system is customizable by sim owners to give skills sim specific names, such as Force Heal, and you gain xp and level up as in CCS, but your race and class options tend to be very limited. DCS Sims vary in settings much more than CCS sims do, ranging from Sci-Fi like Star Wars to D&D type fantasy to post-apocalyptic.
On the next Tier down are Bloodlines, Spellfire, and Gor. Bloodlines is purely Vampire based rp, and like WARPS I haven't had time to explore it but will for future articles. Gor I'm completely disgusted by, but thankfully our own gorgeous and deliscious Joan Sweetwater covered that base for me in recent articles here on SLN. So that leaves Spellfire. Spellfire is probably the simplest rp system on SL, and mostly popular on D&D fantasy styled sims like the Realm of Terabithia.
Spellfire is simple, you choose a race, and it sets your stats. Easy-peasy. No levelling up is involved, no servers need to be rezzed on a sim, no websites to set up a character. Just set your race and go. Spellfire races range in the fantasy gamut, like elves, fae (fairies), humans, goblins, orcs, drow (dark elves), dragons and centaurs.
So what's the catch to all this fun? Same catch as everything else online or on SL; assholes. RP sims, while mostly populated by cool people who just want to share a story and pretend, have the nasty habit of attracting bullies and assholes, who like the ability to use scripted weapons to kill other players and the chance to use an evil character as an excuse. I've personally dubbed this kind of RP'er a Sparmonkey, a term I'm pleased to know is spreading. Basically meaning someone whose sole rp goal is to spar, fight maim, kill, capture or rp rape, and who do very little actual rp to justify it beyond "Oh my character is a jerk, I'm just rp'ing my character by raping and murdering you". On CCS there are entire clans of players like this, such as the Hell Vikings or Orange Crush.
Fortunately the good players outnumber the assholes, and there are so many sims and styles to choose from that the asshats can be avoided easily enough. And it's pretty much a universal rule that no matter what sim or system you're playing on, if someone forces an rp on you that you aren't comfortable with you can redlight it, and erase it from continuity, most often called a Fade To Black.
Some of these sims have devoted a lot of work into some truly beautiful builds, such as the 12th Dimension Castle in the sim Folkvang, or the Drow Underdark in Lizzy Leominster's Thralldom sim. And many have spent a great deal of time creating deep nuanced backstories for the sim. Many players write extensive bios for their characters, creating full vivid histories.
If you're new to RP there are some sims you should probably avoid, either because they're poorly managed or because the GM's (General Moderators) or Admins don't pay enough attention to thug players' behaviour, and a noob rp'er will get eaten alive. The City of Carpathia is among the worst run sims in CCS with a high player turnover due to poor management and free roaming bullies. Another sim, Cathage, has attentive GM's but very liberal rules about what kind of rp is okay, and rape rp is commonplace in Carthage and may be too much for new players to cope with. Malka is a fun sim but is populated mostly by players portraying Malkavian Vampires, known for being unpredictable and insane, and many new players there may find themselves killed for insane reasons. I was once killed there because my shadow was making fun of my killer.
In the end, if you're into roleplaying, SL has a rich and varied tapestry of choices for you, all with their ups and downs. Explore them and see if you feel right with elf ears and a tail, questing to kill the drow who murdered your sister in cold blood lo so many years ago.
Just have a decent cashflow, the best rp gear can get pretty pricey.
We now return you to whichever life you're living.
Penance Sautereau
