Roleplays
Hubs
Knowing as little as I do at the time of writing, this wiki subcategory probably still represents the biggest "hub" that's given me a relatively broader view of VRChat's roleplay communities.
Past Journeys
Good Stuff
Getting to attend an "Intro to Roleplay" panel by the managers/veterans of several larger roleplay groups, at least in the western VRChat community.
Hosts: Satchi (Purple Lotus), Luna Kasai (Cafe la Aqua + Black Ram Pirates), Meathamski (Meat Rack), Artleck (Dark Ether + Nepi's Wonderland)
Had the most insight into the appeal and tips for beginners I've heard yet!
Led to a portal world I'll place in future journeys!
A one-off conversation with a friend who'd been to Purple Lotus, describing the appeal of roleplay to them as engaging with VRChat's worlds and the people in them with a fresh spin. I understood what he said as being "part of" a world rather than just "using" a world. For example, your community might meet up at a campfire world to hang out normally -- but roleplayers would actually be campers at that campfire. It's going beyond the surface-level in a way I find interesting, on top of just general opportunities to express yourself creatively that I personally don't necessarily think necessitates a roleplay character to achieve in VRChat.
This primer which I think is a nice, succinct explanation from someone without any idea what the title of this page even refers to in the first place:
Messy Stuff
Wandering in on a vaguely titled and described event that turned out to be a single individual in-character as a magician while establishing absolutely no ground rules or prior explanation that they were doing so... not really a grand impression, as much as I respect the self-confidence to do something like that by oneself.
Viewing a stream of a military-simulating community, which while the world was very impressive, behaved with such austerity and strictness that I felt honestly a bit uncomfortable as a spectator. Having some personal family history mixed in with the armed services, I appreciated them acknowledging that what they teach isn't applicable to real life, that they keep it to online and to VRChat very consciously. They were transparent about past drama and efforts to reform by removing problematic past staff, too. But just, yeah, a lot to process. Entirely nice interactions with them and the other milsim group or two I encountered outside their event as individuals though, so I wouldn't want to write them off in a negative light personally either. My favorite part was hearing them talk about how they have people from all over VRChat and at all levels of ability, playing games or watching videos together each week... working through life's ups and downs under a shared interest they clearly care a lot about.
So really still none so far that clicked with me to the degree that interested me in that panel talk! - Please reach out if you happen to know anything about this scene you'd be interested in sharing with me.
Raw panel notes:
Future Journeys
Investigate that portal world for roleplay communities!
Right now, it's looking like Purple Lotus will probably be the best starting point?
In hindsight adopting an additional layer of a "character" that I'm comfortable with has kept me from feeling compelled to do it sooner rather than later.
I bring that up because I've had a discussion with a friend who suggested seeing it instead as the shift from "passing through a world" (e.g. say a campfire hangout for a meetup event) to "grounding yourself in that world" (so you're less detached, actually there as a camper for whatever motives the roleplay might involve).
Possible alternative: the interactive narrative group that go by "VRTravelers" focusing on lore-ridden tours of particular worlds they've staffed with a select few guides (sounds a lot like tabletop DMs). Being in the world with you, these lore tour guides can then actually adapt the evolving story based on the actions of your group!
For personal reasons, I'm having to generally keep roleplays themed around a military and/or police motif at arms length. Mostly just reading up on the documents, mission statements, and secondhand stories from people who have participated in or encountered them.
Section Credits
Thanks to the one or two acquaintances and friends so far that have shared their experiences with me!