Very nice post. I feel the same way, but my focus is role-playing. There are RP elements in SWTOR just as there are HC elements but I do not feel the game is built for either, nor will it ever be. Even the RP servers are not built for RP, but at least we do have a server with a label, which is more than the HC crowd has. Perhaps when the game settles in for the long haul Bioware will go back and look at creating a truer RP server and maybe introduce an HC server type for those who enjoy it. If an idea has the potential to boost profits I have no doubt it will be looked at.

When RPing in public we're involving everyone around us either directly or indirectly. There was a time when the simple fact of RPing in public made your RP open, but that is no longer the case. People are very protective of their RP and many have adopted the attitude that RP means doing what you want, how you want, when you want, and no one should question what they do no matter how far outside the parameters for that setting their RP may be. And note, "questioning" can be IC or OOC, and in this case it was IC because of how the OP approached the other players. RP is not a sacred cow that cannot be questioned so there is good and bad RP. There is a basic foundation for what is good RP that branches out into personal preferences, but that foundation should stay the same from engagement to engagement. I agree, if you are going to RP in public you should be ready for the consequences of your IC actions and you should not try to control how another RPer IC'ly responds to your IC actions (and that goes both ways here). But, given the sensitive nature of many RPers, and the prevailing attitude I'm seeing more of that says RP is now about doing what you want, how you want, when you want, I would send the group a tell first saying I wanted to contribute and how. And if they were annoying enough I would have ignored them, but ignoring them brings up a conflict in RP for me because how do you resolve ignoring IC actions that your character should respond to? *shrugs* Also, it seems to me these players may have been using their OOC knowledge that there really would be no consequences to their actions because the game mechanics do not support it, and that OOC'ly your character is powerless to do anything so they can say and act however they want. All that just smells of god-modding to me.

This should be carved in granite and preserved in the RP Hall of Fame for new and old RPers alike.

Was there any discussion on more consistent CSR support for naming issues on RP servers and such? I've been away for a bit so unfortunately missed all this, but my main interest outside of SGRA is with CSR's and how bad CSR support has been on RP servers. And who was actually there for RPers?

Can you tell us what Bioware is planning that will increase the quality and level of enjoyment of the game for the RP community? I'm talking about support in areas like improving CS support for naming policy violations on RP type servers. Considerations for making a new RP server type with strict policies that would attract many in the RP community. RP content such as the ability to sit in not just Cantinas, but other areas as well. Things of that nature.

Is there some limit, or some max that one must reach before it's deemed an acceptable attempt to find spontaneous RP? And why must any amount of attempts to find RP be defended as you seem to imply? In performing little ticks to attract RP is one not also looking out for other RPers, and also advertising oneself as an RPer? And as I noted saying hi was how I encountered some really good spontaneous RP experiences, but here there are very very few nibbles (Read: Close to no responses.) RP is what we are here for. Cantina RP gives me a headache after a while, but I won't pass it up if available. Whether one likes spontaneous or planned is up to the individual, but I would rather see both see involvement on an RP server rather then just one, which is apparently what is happening now with planned and scripted RP. We've delegated our RP to "I'm waiting 'till I'm 50" and go to this spot or that spot for RP. So if one leaves this area RP comes to a stop? These are RP servers. There should be as much potential for RP to happen anywhere, as well as for it to happen with planned or scripted events. The more RP everywhere, whether it's planned or spontaneous, the better for any RP server.

I understand the OPs point. He's more or less talking about spontaneous RP outside of known hubs like cantinas. If he isn't seeing spontaneous RP that indicates to me that it is something he's looking for. How he's looking for it is for him to say, but I get that he's available for spontaneous RP, but has yet to find the opportunity. If people are not open to spontaneous RP, or are rarely open to it what more can a person do? RP is meant to be a participatory activity. It's not a one man or one woman stage, and there is really only so much one person can do to make it known they are available for spontaneous RP. The question remains, why is it so difficult to find spontaneous RP, and furthermore why should one have to find RP on an RP server? Statements like that raise a flag for me that indicates a problem. RP should hit us right in the face, so to speak, as soon as we log in. And yes we get that individuals can create RP opportunities for others to participate in, but outside of what one can do as an individual, why is RP seeming to become such a closed activity in the RP community? Do we not enjoy spontaneous RP anymore? I remember a time in past MMOs when just riding a mount and saying hello to someone I passed on the road could lead to a very enjoyable RP encounter. Now I can stand and converse with my companion, or do something else to encourage an RP comment from someone nearby and get nothing. So do those of us who still enjoy spontaneous RP a favor. If you see someone talking to their companion, or walking, or making gestures or doing something you think indicates they are fishing for an RP encounter take the bait. If you're really shy or unsure just send them a tell.

The same people that determine what name is unacceptable are the same people that determine whether the rule you quoted is also broken. Lesson? Players report. They do not decide what other players should, or can report, and CS decides what does or does not meet policy requirements. The major weak link is the apparent lack of attention and inconsistent nature with which CS attends to naming policy reports, which allows the entire system to break down.

Some really interesting approaches! Thanks for sharing. Sotof, I don't think I could have been as proactive as you were. I bet that was a lot of work. Hey, there's a program called XMind http://www.xmind.net/ that will let you create and manage your characters, and more, so would be helpful in managing legacy characters.

I did get a question in http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?p=2750607&posted=1#post2750607, so I encourage other RPers to please add their own questions to the thread before it's locked, and hopefully one of our questions will make the cut.

Can you tell us what Bioware is planning that will increase the quality and level of enjoyment of the game for the RP community? I'm talking about support in areas like improving CS support for naming policy violations on RP type servers. Considerations for making a new RP server type with strict policies that would attract many in the RP community. RP content such as the ability to sit, in not just Cantinas, but other areas as well. Things of that nature.

Bioware is supposed to be putting up another Q&A thread like this one, so get your RP questions ready and please post them to the new thread when it opens. Please pass the info along to your guild mates and friends in game so we can get our RP related issues out there and hopefully have some RP questions answered.

I understand your point, but all we can do is report what we (individually) think does not fit with the policies. We can't debate every name with the community because, as you point out, everyone has their own definition of what is appropriate. Apply that to the naming policies and you may find that while some think the policies are straightforward and clear some others may see gray areas. The only way this can be sorted out is by each person reporting what they see fit and letting CS be the point of final determination. That is the way it should be. There should not be peer pressure from groups in the community to not report anything (I'm not saying the OP is doing that), or to report Jim but not Joe because supposedly Joe is a really nice guy, or a great RPer, or because we haven't taken the time to get to know poor little Joe. If they really were nice guys or great RPers they wouldn't disrespect the RP community for a shot at a lol, or whatever to begin with. And yes, there are always situations that are at the edges. I'm just talking in general. On a side note there's another Q&A prep thread coming up Friday, so I hope we all make a point to ask our questions to see if we can get a response from Bioware on some RP issues. Unfortunately, I missed this thread but I plan to catch the next one.

Nicely said. I never understood why some people have the attitude that it's the RPers fault for reporting what's in the policies for us to report and never the fault of the dufus who choose to make the bad name in the first place. Everything is always blamed on our "elitism", or lack of a sense of humor, or <insert another excuse here>. The bottomline is the only one at fault for a player being reported for bad behavior, or a bad name is that player. And as someone else said if we don't report them that ultimately sends a message that making stupid names on RP servers is acceptable. Not reporting these names may also let us see who not to group with but I think the larger issue it presents outweighs not reporting in favor of reporting.

If on an RP server the guild I'm in would allow someone named Spiderman in the guild I'd shun the guild. And though I may shun stupid names, if I find their name unacceptable according to the policies I report them first. As a general comment, I think the OP is simply looking for stricter naming rules. I can't say as I agree with the entire position he or she is taking, but there is no excuse for some of the petty belittling some of you are dishing out. Everyone, whether you agree with them or not, is entitled to an opinion, but no one is entitled to be a dick. Being a dick is a choice. If you can't post a mature response do the RP forum a favor and don't post.