Why is it you play forum RPG's?

[Shiki]

I ask you a simple question.

"Why do you play Forum RPG's?"

I know for me, I like creating a character and getting into the mind of that character. Taking parts from my favorite character archetypes and my own personality. I feel like every character I create, has a bit of me in him or her.
By roleplaying, i feel as i can look at situations from different points of view and tell a story. Whether it be one of learning about one self, overcoming a troubled childhood, or breaking out of one's shell. Its something that makes me think and write.

[Midorikawa]

It's fun. You have the chance to be anyone your mind can conjure up. It's a good creativity outlet when you work with others to create a story.

[Heroic Sociopath]

So I can have my characters beat the crap out of other people's. And some stuff about expressing myself.

[Kankri Vantas]

It's fun.

Simples.

[Master of Bad Ideas]

Because... yeah, pretty much it's fun. If nothing else I can will away some more time between cradle and grave. And I like trying the new things, even if that means they gather no interest and quietly die.

[Oblivion]

In addition to it just being fun, I have two other reasons. Firstly, as is most other writing, it's a method of expression. Whether it's subconsciously or not, most characters end up being representative of at least one facet of my personality. While I do my best to make them their own character, that familiarity also helps for me to write out situations better.

In addition to it being a method of expression, it's also a method of communication. I love interacting with both the other characters as well as the RPers themselves. It gives a sense of teamwork that you can't easily accomplish with standard storywriting.

[Master Mew]

Well, the short answer is that I'm a writer, but not all writers roleplay, and not all roleplayers do play-by-post.

I enjoy forum-based roleplaying because, as Oblivion said, writing is an art-form, a method of expression. In "real life" I'm a pretty obsessive artist, and after a while, one begins to exhaust their primary creative outlets. A collaborative writing-session (the way I characterize most roleplays) promises limitless inspiration by allowing you to tap into the unique perspective of other writers. Even if the particular roleplay doesn't pan out, I leave it refreshed and replete with new ideas and concepts to explore.

Also, it's kind of fun to match wits with other egomaniacs on the internet and subtly manipulate them with deceptive statements in the narrative because you know they're secretly metagaming.

[Immortal Sin]

For me its fun, and a fabulous way to expand my creative abilities

[Renewal]

For most of the same reasons Master Mew and Oblivion outlined. First and foremost, I RP to learn more about writing--and more importantly, to share and discuss writing ideas with others. I suppose that's the reason I've never been able to get into writing fanfiction here, let alone original fiction--my own ideas alone seem much too boring.

[Master Mew]

I suppose that's the reason I've never been able to get into writing fanfiction here, let alone original fiction--my own ideas alone seem much too boring.

Interesting, the reason I haven't been able to get into fanfiction is because I think my own ideas are far more interesting (a designated subforum for original fiction would likely become a regular haunt for me, but alas no such paradise can be found in Bulbagarden).

[Renewal]

Heh, I suppose I don't have enough confidence in my ideas and my writing. I think the only reason I post RPs is that the justification of 'fun' makes up for the obvious flaws in my settings and concepts.

[Enzap]

I like having something fun to do with my friends and it's one of the easiest ways to share my ideas with other people.

[Yun]

I don't know, myself. Really, there's a side of me that loves it, and the side that wants to quit.

Hehe, I feel like I've let too many people down (even though I have to cater to real life) with my inactivity. Whether this is true or not, I always tend to just apologize. It's a cycle.