Mental Illness in Achaea

Grop

I'm bipolar in real life, and I wouldn't mind RPing something like that with my character. I wouldn't mention it by name, of course, and I'd do it in a realistic and non-sensational or annoying or stereotypical way. It would probably be something most people would never even notice, and never meant to be made a big deal. However, would this make sense lore wise?  How is mental illness (madness, whatever you want to call it) handled in Achaea? Can it be cured like so many other things or are those cures only for forced mental illnesses or magical ones like afflictions. Weird question, probably, but I don't want to RP anything that would be impossible within the rules of this universe.

Grop

figure out how to edit the title

Mannimar

This depends on your character and role-play. Some things can be genuinely played out and pushed through. All RP afflictions can be "cured".

However, some RP is really hard for others to get behind. As an example, thick accents are a struggle especially with people playing who don't speak English as a first language. 

Keep in mind, you can always try something, and if it just doesn't work with your circle no one will judge you for just walking away from it. 

Some extreme RP will be better received in response to certain events in-game, especially if it is something curable or just temporary.

Gaia

You can absolutely play that card. Whether you do it well is another matter, of course. For some prominent examples I would look to Pandemonium on one end, likely Babel as well. 

These are Divine examples naturally - which happens to be the soup I swim in, but the concept should cross over to mortal roleplay as well. 

Like with any individual roleplay, its success will depend upon you and how well you portray the character, as Mannimar alluded to as well!

Melodie

... you swim in soups?

Grop

Who doesn't swim in delicious, delicious soup?

Paux

Paux has a couple distinct mental disorders. Most people don't really notice but they help me keep Paux's decision-making process separate from my own. 

A scary moment of roleplay affirmation for me was when people who suffered the affliction in real life reached out to him because they wanted someone to connect with. I didn't have the heart to tell them that I don't suffer it OOC, though. 

Bipolar would be interesting to play. Just beware that the world of Achaea doesn't soften the consequences of your character's actions, even if you have legitimate roleplay reasons for doing them. 

Boosteya

I have the opposite thing going on, issues - not only mental health ones, but I have got major depression and severe anxiety - that I want to keep out of Boosteya. I have not been entirely successful, but if I'm not playing for a bit, some issue of mine or other is generally why.

Argwin

I'll throw out a word of caution, only because I see a lot of good players leave for the same reason - don't draw too much of an emotional connection between you and your character, no matter how much your character may be like you. You don't want your character's feelings becoming your feelings, or it can quickly become an unhealthy connection. For example, if you're roleplaying a bipolar character and someone starts making fun of your character for it, don't take it personally. They're not making fun of you. If it starts to feel like they're making fun of you, then you may be making too much of an emotional connection. I love having a variety of characters to encounter in Achaea, and I really hate seeing good players leave for stuff like this.

Grop

Heya Boosteya,  I understand that. I'm having bad anxiety right now. It sucks and playing the game can certainly be a nice escape. Thanks, Agwin. I think it will be subtle enough as to not be annoying or anything. I'm pretty critical of the way mental illness is protrayed in most media, so I want to be realistic. That said, if anyone does give the business, I have a thick skin on this stuff in real life, so I will here too.   Thank you all!

Horatio

Be sure to update us on how this goes for you! I, for one, am eager to hear about the experience.

Grop

To be honest, I've not met many people in these games that are 100% "sane."  And that's cool with me.

Boosteya

"Sanity" is, in my experience, a word lauded by the delusional.