So I am looking for ideas of how to roleplay with friends who haven't roleplayed before. Any ideas?
Roleplay tips?
- Thread starter dogguy218
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Pre-decide on one or two strong core strategy, but also identify one you won't leverage and don't optimize the rest.
An issue a lot of people have with role play is that players naturally want to play well, but playing well leads to well-trod paths of min-maxing everything you can min-max. Rather than try and cold turkey everything, focus only on one core strength that corresponds with your role play.
Want to play an uber-capitalist? Do a CG-trading strategy with the AI, but have a limit of you don't conquer anyone who buys from you.
Want to play a vassal spammer? Okay, but don't steal the pops into your own empire when releasing sectors.
etc. etc.
An issue a lot of people have with role play is that players naturally want to play well, but playing well leads to well-trod paths of min-maxing everything you can min-max. Rather than try and cold turkey everything, focus only on one core strength that corresponds with your role play.
Want to play an uber-capitalist? Do a CG-trading strategy with the AI, but have a limit of you don't conquer anyone who buys from you.
Want to play a vassal spammer? Okay, but don't steal the pops into your own empire when releasing sectors.
etc. etc.
- 2
Yeah. THIS.
One of the most important things that can instantly help people get into RP mode is to decide what your culture's genuine weaknesses are. If you understand why your people are their own worst enemies, the flavor of your RP will naturally go a lot deeper with little effort. What are the things that just won't usually occur to them?
If they were a Precursor...
What would be the tragic flaw that caused their beautifully heart-breaking downfall?
- 3
Have them create goals for their empires:
"I want to make a lot of money as a megacorporation with lots of corporate holdings."
"I want to maximize the happiness of my people. Xenos need not apply."
"I want to establish a multi-species empire with lots of like-minded allies."
Then encourage them to make empires and play based on these goals. You can still pursue meta strategies like tech rushing, building battleship mono-fleets, and so on, but your players should ultimately be using these strategies to pursue their roleplay goal.
I'm sure somebody could come along and come up with a goal with minimal "downsides" and try to win conventionally, but if this is your friend group, you should be able to trust them to create empires and play in good faith.
"I want to make a lot of money as a megacorporation with lots of corporate holdings."
"I want to maximize the happiness of my people. Xenos need not apply."
"I want to establish a multi-species empire with lots of like-minded allies."
Then encourage them to make empires and play based on these goals. You can still pursue meta strategies like tech rushing, building battleship mono-fleets, and so on, but your players should ultimately be using these strategies to pursue their roleplay goal.
I'm sure somebody could come along and come up with a goal with minimal "downsides" and try to win conventionally, but if this is your friend group, you should be able to trust them to create empires and play in good faith.
Think of a period in history or culture, and use places and mythology to name stars, colonies, sectors and fleets, stations etc.
Rename captured colonies from friends just to rub it in.
Rename captured colonies from friends just to rub it in.
- 1
I would take a look at the Paradox roleplay multiplayer discord server for inspiration for starters, its nice and generalised to suit different types of role-players and abilities.
They have an empire signup sheet document which expects a player to fill out in detail, aside from the usual thing like ethics / origin etc. They also ask for things like "Respected ethics" - "Disliked ethics" - "Agenda" as well as the roleplay story someone's creating for their empire that fills the background.
I'd do something like that between your group. From that you should be able to quickly create some rules and expectations of how far you all expect each other to go with roleplay.
For immersion, writing up "after action reports" can be nice - with pictures to keep you all going between sessions. Like a monologue of each of your empire but very summarised.
Hope that helps - have fun!
They have an empire signup sheet document which expects a player to fill out in detail, aside from the usual thing like ethics / origin etc. They also ask for things like "Respected ethics" - "Disliked ethics" - "Agenda" as well as the roleplay story someone's creating for their empire that fills the background.
I'd do something like that between your group. From that you should be able to quickly create some rules and expectations of how far you all expect each other to go with roleplay.
For immersion, writing up "after action reports" can be nice - with pictures to keep you all going between sessions. Like a monologue of each of your empire but very summarised.
Hope that helps - have fun!
- 1