Cormyr and the Dalelands

I've been having a Hell of a time trying to meet people, in that it's terrifying and I'm not at all. I walk circles around the groups that hang out outside of the inn, and my only real interaction with anyone in two days has been when they came upon me in the sewers while I was leveling and couldn't bolt. Even writing this post is taking effort, as I'm convinced it's not in the right section!

So how do you all do it? Help pls.

EDIT: To clarify, it's not that nobody is interacting with me. It's that I'm not interacting with anyone, because I don't really know how to get that ball rolling.

Well to relieve your worries, this is a fine place for this thread, so you're good there. =)

The Square is kind of the go-to place for running into people, almost all the time you'll find someone hanging out there unless the server is near-empty or you just have bad luck with the timing. If you're avoiding the Square (which many do - for some it's too crowded or confusing, for others it's just not their kind of place), your next best bet is to join in on an announced quest or event and meet people in the context of an established story being run by one of our DMs.

Otherwise, it's just a matter of luck running into people in dungeons, and a willingness to engage with people when you encounter them anywhere.

Best of luck, and welcome to the server. =)

I think I saw you earlier, and I apologize in advance for not being as responsive (there was some bad timing). It is also appreciated when you do voice when this bad luck hits, so that we can keep an eye out for you and get you on your way. :-)

Welcome to the server! Hopefully my schedule will let me at least RP with you a little before it gets too busy!

Best,
Arya

As many people are not aware of it, there is a command /listpcs that allows you to show PCs locations, providing they are not set as hidden. It may really help with locating people in dungeons, cities and other places.

I've always been the sort to let things happen on their own. I've always found that when RP is forced, it seems unnatural, and not fun....for me. Only my opinion. My character is naturally awkward around people, but development is evolving, and that has been great fun for me. Since coming to the server, I've been very very fortunate to have had the RP heaped on in spades.

So, for my part....roll with it. Be your character, and let things happen. You'll be surprised how it goes!!

Please feel free to say hello Nya is a chatter box once you get her going!

I like the idea of signing up for an event to meet people, and the locate players command to find people out and about and in dungeons. The latter is metagamey but I don't think it'll matter if it's just so I can run out and "happen" to be out in the same area as someone else. A lot more fun than just solo killing things.

That's pretty much exactly what we added the command for. Yes it's a little meta, but there's definitely a "good metagaming", such as partying up with people or using a server resource like /listpcs to find people, especially with a server the size of CD, that's separate from "bad metagaming" like using OOC information against people or to acquire an unfair advantage.

If your character comes by an elven fella in a white cloak and hood, named Hydaro, there's a good chance he's organizing a trip somewhere. He may be grumpy and seem tired most of the time, but he doesn't judge or make fun of people. As the player of that character, I like to include as many people as possible into the trips I organize here and there to give folks a chance to meet with others as well as show off their talents, so just speak up when that's happening.

I have the same problems and have played here for years; honestly, I get shy.  The majority of my characters hide away until approached as well, except for my one crazy one who awkwardly interjects himself into any conversation in a nonsensical fashion.  Mostly, I just wanted to commiserate with you to let you know that you aren't alone in this!  Don't be afraid to send out a tell or two OOCly to chat with people; more often than not you'll find yourself invited into RP that way too.

I also feel awkward wandering into places, but sometimes you can come up with a quick IC reason to be there with a chat with another player!

Also, welcome!  I hope to see you around in game soon!

I'm not an enormous fan of the square. What I prefer to do is just wander up on people and start chatting with them if they're aren't engaged in any intense RP or anything. I like to involve as many people as possible.

It's like photobombing, but with more philosophical conversations.

I offer to buy them a drink in the Tavern and slip a psychotropic drug or two in there, it explains a lot of what happens in the square!

usually for me, if its either a new Pc or one who is in an area with those he/she does not know, i will generally have them give a wave or nod as he enters the area. That alone will sometimes spark a greeting from others which can then lead to conversation. If it doesn't I usually will have them take a seat nearby listening to the conversation and then ad a comment to the conversation where I see an opportunity.

Emote doing something! Either reading a book, or biting a thumbnail, twirling hair, looking for something or for a place... people usually jump on that.

We met briefly the other night - Lena is Hyde's wife. She's loud and obnoxious most of the time, but her heart's in the right place. Feel free to reach out to me, even ooc, when you see me log on. I'm either topside as a dm, or there's Priya, Tindra, Amolyn and ... a lot of others... that I have around regularly. The only really shy one is Priya - but you'd like her! She's part time Violet Flame, full time Diviner for the Travelling Shield, and part time her own magic school.

Like Hyde, I'm happy to help out.

"Have avatar, will travel."

I sort of did this last night. I walked in to the trade shop everyone seems to go to and just said "Good evening." and that got things rolling, though the conversation did end up feeling a bit awkward. 





I probably would like Priya, and I'm betting she and Myv would get along great. Myv's a slightly eccentric researcher type that wants to be Violet Flame and is looking for a magic school, and likes to Divine things for private investigative services that I haven't gotten around to doing anything with yet.

She might be interested in talking her for sure!

I'll also have Iy keep an eye out for your char one of the advantages of Iyanna is... she's the type of person who really will just walk up to anyone and talk to them. I did you spot you yesterday when I was on as Valar but she's far more reserved. Of course it might be a bit disturbing to have a crazy Wild run up to your char but.... heh.

remember, starting conversations with strangers in RP world is just as awkward as  it is IRL But usually I soften my characters up if a new player starts talking to me. That being said:
Thira is a bit of a grump but she's not a-social, if you talk to her she'll talk to you.
If you ever see me playing Dayre, he will probably talk to you regardless of what you want him to do what timezone do you play in mostly?

Central time, usually in the evenings except on weekends where I can go all day, except in the evenings when I play D&D.

Is there a list of features here (like the / commands, crafting steps, etc.) in the forums?

Slash commands are in the journal in-game.

Yup, check your log to reveal all the secrets.

Don't worry, friend! As a lot of people have said, you aren't alone in the RP shyness, and I'm going to throw my hat in with that pile. I have a lot of trouble even posting on the forums because I always wonder if it's even necessary, or if it's bothersome.

That said, I've found that the dread beforehand always feels a lot worse than the actual interactions that follow - if you can just push past that first initial anxiety, then you'll be great! Everyone on the server I've met has been a great sport. We've got a bunch of good eggs, here.

Yeah, it wasn't as bad as I was making it out to be once I actually plunged in and got interaction going. One problem that I'm seeing arise again, though, is that persistent feeling of anxiety and fixating on worst-case scenarios. For example: I'm constantly convinced that everyone hates me, regardless of truth, and if that feeling gets too strong I mostly just sit in silence around people. That's the current hurdle!

I honestly suffer this constantly on an OOC basis, I am known well for contacting people to ensure that nothing I do upsets them oocly...so I understand!

Just remember, no one hates you (the player), although characters might have feelings for or against your character personally, those never reflect on you the player. also remember that some times OOC issues effect responses, like if I'm semi-afk I might be slow to respond, or my responses might be minimal. But we don't have any problems with you as a player, regardless.

I am quite shy IRL, especially around strangers. NWN is a good therapy to overcome such issues.

Be nice ;-)

Sounds like me, except replace 'everyone' with 'the admins.'  

I also have a tendency to go silent in busy conversations, most often because I can't keep up with the conversation quickly enough to formulate a relevant response before someone else says something.  But everyone here will tell you I'm also very easily distracted and they'll also tell you I might randomly space out of a conversation to go get a drink, read a news article, or yell at people on Skype.  I'm really sorry about that, but I'm working to control it better.

Oh yeah, I know nobody (probably) actually hates me. It's just one of those doubts and insecurities that pops in to your head. I think it's just insecurity trying to subconsciously undermine what I want to do. I'm definitely not the only one, too! Which is another reason why I posted that; so those people that aren't quite as open as I am about it would know that other people are also feeling it. I know it helps me to know there's others!

See thats where you all go wrong.  

If everyone really does hate you, embrace it, become one with your inner C U Next Tuesday and run with it.  Be the massive bell end the world believes you to be and use it to fight back at the system that keeps you down.  Eventually you will transcend it, and people will start to find you funny, because its a natural reflex of defense.  They think to them selves "Nah they cant possibly be right, they must be trolling" to make them selves feel better, meanwhile you will know the truth, You are simply very mean, and they just think you are joking.

Also understand that no matter what you do, some one will resent you for it, in a microworld like nwn, that is even more likely to be true if some one thinks you are taking their spotlight, so just dont let it hold you back, the people who are worth knowing will make them selves known, and those who are not will shine through just as quickly and just as easily.

I hate you Kothoses!! I mean yeah what he said!!

Just as a side note, we (the Admins) generally don't hate anyone on CD. Anyone that's obnoxious enough to be "hated" by the Admins generally is asked not to come back (usually because of the things they've done to get to that point, because it takes a lot to reach that).
Our more usual reactions of negativity track more along "exasperation" and "irritation," and that's because someone did something dumb or caused trouble. We don't like having to deal with problems, and would rather there just not be problems in the first place.

I dunno.  We all hate that Kothoses guy though.  

Honestly, personal conflicts are the nature of interacting with other folks.  We're not all going to get along, but we can all decide how we react on those conflicts.  

+2 to what Bella said.


Sincerely,
Arya