I would like to offer a few disclaimers before I post here.
#1 I am an advocate of Role Playing.
#2 You need a sense of humor to roleplay imo.
#3 I role play plenty, just not on HZ.
#4 I never force it on people. Nor am I ashamed of it.
Now to post.
I have run into hardcore RP'ers who demand their character name be used for immersion not their name. I have run into people who only date gamers, or refuse to date gamers. As a rule, role playing is dramatic acting, that you don't get paid for. RL drama has always folled in LARP groups i have belonged to ( Live Action Role Playing). Always. RL gets pulled in or OOC stuff in the case of internet games. Period. The trick is minimizing it. Good luck.
I like White Wolf roleplaying (older stuff) it is dark, very dark, Cthulu also. I like D&D, Star Wars, Mech Warrior, Shadowrun come in second but I enjoy them all.
LARP is the stuff htat brings drama, similar to a small game like HZ. Everyone knows everyone, drama developes, it ruins games...very sad fact of life. Or such is the opinion of a pessimist who has seen the cycle over and over.
My advice...find a new group to hang with or a new group to RP with.
For those who cant deal with dark plots...don't RP it. Though I must ask why... RL is plenty dark, dark in a fantasy world adds a touch of realism that draws me in personally.
The initial post makes me feel that the game staff is being recommended to cease darker plots? I could be misreading/reading too much into it.
People all have their own role play fashion. Keep this in mind and dont be so strict. Some are plain goofy, not my style, but best not to tfault folks over it.
I'm going to use the "n" word here...*ddep breath* that word is nerd.
I am one. Most people who play video games are to some extent, some refuse to admit it. My gf tells me I'm not a nerd. I have fun outside the fantasy setting. "Nerds are folks who don't get that some people don't care if you can shoot a magic missle, don't care what level you are, and don;'t care if they are newbs. People that exclude new people from gaming groups, or worse yet alienate people's gf's." Her words not mine. Though I don't completely disagree.
'Ew girls have cooties!" Sorry if I offended anyone. I have actually met people that way....rarely, thankfully.
Point is, its a game...if it stops being fun...play something else, or make your own fun, or associate with other people for a time.
In the end...roleplaying is the same game we played when we were 4 or 5 ( assuming we werent already rolling for initiative and killing goblins 0 yes folks I refer to playing house, or doctor (no I'm not being coy or dirty with that doctor bit), cowboys and native americans, etc. We just hapopen to be older nad tackle more mature matter, marriage, murder, slaying the rival tribe or monsters, looting graves for treasure. ( see my sig for examples of adventurers ) can't forget that. its all in fun. When it isnt, and its clear... /ignore "this jerk". Can always undo it. ( ruin immersion? my bad, better than stressing out and quitting no?)
I hope this helped someone. I do empathize, but I don't let it get me down.
have fun.
From your fellow nerd, "wind to thy wings" etc.
I'm out.