Popular MMOs will naturally form their own roleplaying communities. I know for a fact that WoW / RIFT / SWTOR have fairly substantial communities, especially on the servers that are labeled as RP servers - if you choose one of these games, find an addon that lets you see extra info of players with the same addon (MyRolePlay for WoW, and Merisioux for RIFT), so that you can find roleplayers in-game easier, or simply search the official server boards for leads on where to go for roleplay. SWTOR has no addons from what I see.
LotRO has a sizable RP community as well, mostly on Landroval and Laurelin. The game comes with a built-in 'Roleplaying' flag but other than that, no extra details.
And of course, RIFT / SWTOR / LotRO are free to play.
The most important advice I can give though is JOIN AN RP GUILD. It will probably make or break your experience with any game.
Other MMOs may have RP communities but these are probably the most prominent.
Other games that you may want to look to are:
MUDs. MUDs are basically text-based MMOs without graphics. Many are roleplay-enforced by their admins and have a whole lot of support for roleplayers by extension. Not many people like losing the graphics, but if you're interested in these, let me know and I can point you the right way.
Some game called PlaneShift supposedly is a roleplay-based MMO but I've never tried it and I don't know if it's dead or not.
MUDs. MUDs are basically text-based MMOs without graphics. Many are roleplay-enforced by their admins and have a whole lot of support for roleplayers by extension. Not many people like losing the graphics, but if you're interested in these, let me know and I can point you the right way.
If you know the Wheel of Time books you can always give wotmud a try and see how it works out for you. It's a completely free game with enforced RP. It's although classified as a PK mud (PvP) and the learning curve is brutal and steep.
3 faction PvP with same side killing and implemented Darkfriends/remort system. No safe rooms, you can be killed everywhere in the world. Full loot and so on and so on.
But roleplay wise peeps stay, most of the time, in character, especially on Light Side (the good guys). LS has also three build in RP clans with bonusses at the usual ranks.
Wisdoms (Sisterhood of healsters)
Illuminators (fireworks)
Gleeman (storytellers)
The White Tower has also a lot of RP requirements as you start as Novice -> Accepted and so on.
LotRO has a sizable RP community as well, mostly on Landroval and Laurelin. The game comes with a built-in 'Roleplaying' flag but other than that, no extra details.
Other games that you may want to look to are:
MUDs. MUDs are basically text-based MMOs without graphics. Many are roleplay-enforced by their admins and have a whole lot of support for roleplayers by extension. Not many people like losing the graphics, but if you're interested in these, let me know and I can point you the right way.
Yep, LotRO has a great RP community on both the RP servers (if you're in the US timezone, Landroval may a better fit to you, they're active on the US timetable). Beside the flag there are truckload of emotes, cosmetics, and a relations system, plus the music of course.
If you go text-based, I'd suggest finding a MUSH, those were the RP-heavy ones. MUDs can be rp-focused as well, but MUSHes got more options for roleplay. Sadly I can't direct you to any, those of which I played actively are all closed their doors back in the end of the '90s...
I am surprised no one has mentioned Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. I do not play the game, but when I did from September to November, I was in a very active roleplaying guild. There were tons of RP events and inpromptu roleplay meetups, usually at city taverns.
A games # 1 requirement for decent roleplay is an immersive atmosphere. That counts out every MMO made in the last decade. Sorry but if you want to roleplay, every current MMO's is the worst option to do so. You're going to have to look at Neverwinter Nights 1 or 2(not the MMO lmao). Or just hook up with roleplayers on forums like roll20 site, etc.
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Popular MMOs will naturally form their own roleplaying communities. I know for a fact that WoW / RIFT / SWTOR have fairly substantial communities, especially on the servers that are labeled as RP servers - if you choose one of these games, find an addon that lets you see extra info of players with the same addon (MyRolePlay for WoW, and Merisioux for RIFT), so that you can find roleplayers in-game easier, or simply search the official server boards for leads on where to go for roleplay. SWTOR has no addons from what I see.
LotRO has a sizable RP community as well, mostly on Landroval and Laurelin. The game comes with a built-in 'Roleplaying' flag but other than that, no extra details.
And of course, RIFT / SWTOR / LotRO are free to play.
The most important advice I can give though is JOIN AN RP GUILD. It will probably make or break your experience with any game.
Other MMOs may have RP communities but these are probably the most prominent.
Other games that you may want to look to are:
MUDs. MUDs are basically text-based MMOs without graphics. Many are roleplay-enforced by their admins and have a whole lot of support for roleplayers by extension. Not many people like losing the graphics, but if you're interested in these, let me know and I can point you the right way.
Some game called PlaneShift supposedly is a roleplay-based MMO but I've never tried it and I don't know if it's dead or not.
If you know the Wheel of Time books you can always give wotmud a try and see how it works out for you. It's a completely free game with enforced RP. It's although classified as a PK mud (PvP) and the learning curve is brutal and steep.
3 faction PvP with same side killing and implemented Darkfriends/remort system. No safe rooms, you can be killed everywhere in the world. Full loot and so on and so on.
But roleplay wise peeps stay, most of the time, in character, especially on Light Side (the good guys). LS has also three build in RP clans with bonusses at the usual ranks.
Wisdoms (Sisterhood of healsters)
Illuminators (fireworks)
Gleeman (storytellers)
The White Tower has also a lot of RP requirements as you start as Novice -> Accepted and so on.
Yep, LotRO has a great RP community on both the RP servers (if you're in the US timezone, Landroval may a better fit to you, they're active on the US timetable). Beside the flag there are truckload of emotes, cosmetics, and a relations system, plus the music of course.
If you go text-based, I'd suggest finding a MUSH, those were the RP-heavy ones. MUDs can be rp-focused as well, but MUSHes got more options for roleplay. Sadly I can't direct you to any, those of which I played actively are all closed their doors back in the end of the '90s...
I am surprised no one has mentioned Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. I do not play the game, but when I did from September to November, I was in a very active roleplaying guild. There were tons of RP events and inpromptu roleplay meetups, usually at city taverns.
Here is the website most roleplayers use to coordinate events and activities: http://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/
I was on Gilgamesh server. You want to get on Gilgamesh or Balmung to get the best RP.