Thread: Question about RP and armour sets/traits

First a disclaimer... I don't RP... I played AD&D when I was in school and loved it. But somehow I can't bring myself to RP'ing in LOTRO.

However I got curious about it after reading some posts in the classes forums. Those posts were about which armor set to use for different instances and which traits to equip.

It seems that most players try to optimize their armor sets and traits considering the bosses they are going to find inside each instance. Do RPs also do the same? If yes, how do you justify doing that if in theory we are not supposed to know what we are going to find in each instance?

And a second question related to traits... Do you ever change traits? Traits seem to be related to each character... how would you justify changing a trait of your character? For example, how would you justify that a character would become less charitable and more zealous all of a sudden?

Personally, I classify all that stuff as 'gameplay mechanics' and therefore they do not factor into my roleplaying. When I'm doing an instance/raid/etc, I'm not RPing. Mostly for the fact that it's repeatable and you have to pay attention closely to game mechanics that your character would have no knowledge of.

Originally Posted by Cithryth

Personally, I classify all that stuff as 'gameplay mechanics' and therefore they do not factor into my roleplaying. When I'm doing an instance/raid/etc, I'm not RPing. Mostly for the fact that it's repeatable and you have to pay attention closely to game mechanics that your character would have no knowledge of.

Interesting... never thought about the repeatable thing... You are right... why on earth would a Middle Earth hero run the same instance (or do the same quest) over and over again? :O)

Thank you for the insight.

My personal approach to instancing (am roleplayer) and differing trait sets, armour stats etc...is i simply just mix and match pieces of a few sets, and permanently stick with that, strengthening my primary attack/defence modes rather than specialising every time. Across the board a broad build is probably more effective in a grander scope than nit-picking and modifying every hour to what guy you're about to anger.

But that's just me...hasn't failed yet.

Originally Posted by Lashmore

My personal approach to instancing (am roleplayer) and differing trait sets, armour stats etc...is i simply just mix and match pieces of a few sets, and permanently stick with that, strengthening my primary attack/defence modes rather than specialising every time. Across the board a broad build is probably more effective in a grander scope than nit-picking and modifying every hour to what guy you're about to anger.

But that's just me...hasn't failed yet.

Interesting... I guess sticking with one build and not changing it often is probably easier to justify from an RP perspective. I don't think Frodo changed his armour/weapon/traits before each fight... :O)

Don't forget the cosmetic outfits that LOTRO let you use! If you want your character to have a set of roleplaying armour -- their only set, family heirlooms passed down through etc., etc., etc -- you can equip that to an outfit slot so that it will show even as you swap your equipment around for the gameplay advantage.

This is also VERY handy for when you find a piece of equipment with the perfect stats for your character that happens to be ugly as sin.

Originally Posted by furtim

Don't forget the cosmetic outfits that LOTRO let you use! If you want your character to have a set of roleplaying armour -- their only set, family heirlooms passed down through etc., etc., etc -- you can equip that to an outfit slot so that it will show even as you swap your equipment around for the gameplay advantage.

This is also VERY handy for when you find a piece of equipment with the perfect stats for your character that happens to be ugly as sin.

Wow... That is definitively something I was not expecting... I thought the cosmetic outfits were a NO-NO for rp'ing... How do you justify running around with an outfit that you are not really wearing? I thought RP's would never use cosmetic outfits nor hide pieces of equipment in the character window.

I think you may be thinking to in depth about this. One can not constantly scrutinize every single aspect of the game and wonder how it affects roleplaying. One could constantly ask all day, how you can summon your horse through Angmar, swift travel to Ered Luin and call it back in 5 seconds. Or how your character can be revived after being slain by a troll and some archers without being a splatter on the ground with arrows protruding from the mess.

Don't worry about these minor details and just have fun when you roleplay. Loosen up some. Go out and have some fun and immerse yourself deeper in the game. You will make mistakes, but how else can we learn?

Originally Posted by Robek

Wow... That is definitively something I was not expecting... I thought the cosmetic outfits were a NO-NO for rp'ing... How do you justify running around with an outfit that you are not really wearing? I thought RP's would never use cosmetic outfits nor hide pieces of equipment in the character window.

cosmetic outfits far from being a huge no-no in roleplaying are essential. the thing is that game mechanics and roleplay are two very differnt things. from a roleplay POV that chain shirt is just as good as thew other chain shirt, even though one may have better stats.

Originally Posted by Robek

Wow... That is definitively something I was not expecting... I thought the cosmetic outfits were a NO-NO for rp'ing... How do you justify running around with an outfit that you are not really wearing? I thought RP's would never use cosmetic outfits nor hide pieces of equipment in the character window.

No, not at all, clothes get stinky, need to get washed occasionally, not going to wash them with me in them. Though, when I do change outfits, I find a tent or a private room to change in.

That being said, I only show my cosmetic stuff, I am never showing what I am actually wearing, so I don't consider armour as something in line with my role playing, it doesn't exsist as far as I care.

As for retraiting, I have one thing I do for solo play, no matter the class, and I don't change that. Usually when I go into groups, /rp off... I stop role playing, I retrait for whatever is in the best interests of the group and play for the group, not for role play. The only exception to this would be if it was an actual role play group.

Also, you should try role playing on LOTRO, probably next time you are kind of bored. I find myself always with something to do on at least one character, so role playing is often neglected, too much work to do outside of role play.