Note: I want to make it clear that I am not your traditional role-player. In fact, if you are serious about RP in LOTRO, I won’t be offended if you are annoyed by my character. This is by no means intended as a guide on how to RP, it’s just my personal experience with an aspect of the game that sometimes amuses me.
A couple years ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with a song stuck in my head. At the same time I was l pretty seriously focused on leveling my Lore-master, Sortof, and things kind of snowballed from there. I ended up writing an in-game bio for Sortof based off this song (or rather, the version of the title that got twisted in my head). Since then, the character has grown and well, maybe you should read the bio first…
Sortof dreamed of being the first “Lore-Minstrel” of Middle-earth. Sadly, her lack of talent and odd selection of songs led to her being laughed out of nearly every tavern she performed in. She still can’t understand why nobody appreciates her unique musical style, and has taken to drinking far too much ale in an effort to dull the pain of rejection.
Sortof’s song list:
Looking for Lore (In all the Wrong Places)
Stop! In the Name of Lore
Lore is a Many Splendored Thing
Power of Lore
Lore Will Keep us Together
Lore Makes the World Go Round
Can You Feel the Lore Tonight?
Can’t Buy Me Lore
All You Need is Lore
Crazy Little Thing Called Lore
What’s Lore Got To Do With It?
Now, Sortof’s “back story” has influenced every visible aspect of the character. Since I envision her as a down-on-her-luck wanna-be singing star, she doesn’t have fancy clothes and her backpack is bulging with her most precious belongings (her greatest passions are music, ale and food). The name and title she displays changes upon her mood. She currently goes by “Sortof Offkey, Same Old Song”.
Her “drinking far too much ale in an effort to dull the pain of rejection” has led her to join the Inn League and generally chatter a way in kin chat about ale and the drinking thereof. Her bags are usually full of ale and, like any good lore-master, she also carries a good supply of pipe-weed.
Sortof’s closest friends are her pets and her horse, Guzzler. She has also been known to associate with a fellow lore-master and kinmate, Abiyo, who also appreciates the many fine qualities of ale. He does seem to have a disturbing fixation with acquiring “Fancy Hobbits” for reasons he won’t elaborate on, so Sortof isn’t always so sure what to think of him…
As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, I don’t claim to be a traditional or serious role-player. I generally keep my in character chat limited to the occasional comment in kin or fellowship chat, and more often than not, I’m talking out of character. I don’t seek out other people to role-play with, and I don’t attend RP events. RP for me is more of a spur of the moment desire to behave in a way that I normally wouldn’t. I have fun with it in my own way, and I try to avoid interfering with people who have their own, perhaps different, views of RP. Well, I guess my names and titles might interrupt someone else’s immersion, but I’m sorry, that’s one of my favorite things about LOTRO… being silly with names! Anyway, I just wanted to share my limited experience with RP. I hope you at least got a laugh out of it!
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February 16, 2011 at 10:05 am
That’s Sortof awesome!
February 16, 2011 at 10:24 am
Hey, I think this is awesome. I’ve very intimidated by RP so I’m in awe! Reading this makes me feel like I should try harder – give RP a fair shake.
February 16, 2011 at 11:09 am
I would not consider this roleplaying and I am kinda tired of the oh-so-funny stupid names people give their chars.
February 16, 2011 at 11:47 am
Just as I am kinda tired of those that harp on others strictly for the point of being mean. But, we can’t have everything perfect can we?
February 16, 2011 at 12:20 pm
I kind of have to agree that I wouldn’t really consider this roleplaying. As for the name: Yes, of course, there are some really stupid names that bother me, but I like that in this instance you have a well thought out reason for the name! And it’s definitely not as bothersome as some names.
February 16, 2011 at 6:57 pm
sortof is at least workable in terms of trying to explain it, I think this is fine.
at least its not a name like superhealer (which I admit I once had before I undertsood that not all mmo’s need to have silly names)
I would say that this is great star to rp and ketani is fine in her choice to make her character have some character even if its not official or typical rp.
February 16, 2011 at 1:08 pm
I suppose it depends on your sense of Role-playing. If the group she role-plays with all have silly names and just do it to have fun with no real serious lore story behind it – then go for it.
I’m on the other side of the RP card. All my girls have lore appropriate names and I’ve been trying fairly hard to keep them in thier own character while playing them (when I am role playing). To do this I’ve been emersing myself in LOTR and the Silmarillion to get a sense of different personalities. When I am not role playing my girls are just me – in my own odd & sarcastic silly way.
The difference here is that Ketani has created a whole back story as to her character’s name, including dress and appropriate cosmetics to go along with it. That’s a tad more than just having a silly name with no intent to expand on it.
February 16, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Loved this, always create some sort of bzckstory for my characters.
February 16, 2011 at 5:45 pm
Funniest character… ever! Cool!
February 16, 2011 at 7:00 pm
That is great ketani, so funny. even if some people say its not rp I think that if you are at least trying to have some sort of story for your toon, then you have at least started to rp, it may not be perfect but it is fine to me.
February 17, 2011 at 4:45 pm
I love rp and don’t hold with snobbery about it. Names unless totally out of order don’t bother me. I can see a story about Sortof’s name and why. I love the shape the char is taking, but mostly I commend the pleasure it brings you. Sometimes my chars seem to take over my intentions altogether. They go their own way because of who they are and how strongly they make me feel their personality. Welcome to a whole universe of rp from lite to heavy from high to low and from fun to boring.
March 7, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Brilliant! Love it