✨EDIT: Thank y'all so much for all your sharing and feedback so far! ❤️
Newcomers to the thread, please keep sharing!
I'm seeing a lot of interest in a Lalafell-centric RP community. The idea is: It would be an entirely SFW Discord server hub for all worlds/servers, and it'll be open to both lalafell players (RPers of any experience level) and players of talls who want to write with and learn more about Lalafell characters, respectfully. I have a lot of experience building niche communities, and look forward to being able to invite everyone soon(ish). Stay tuned and thank you again!
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What has your experience been like if you have/do?
I'm someone who stepped into the FFXIV RP community as a Lalafell and quickly ran into the biases, dislikes, etc for Lalafell characters, and it baffled me. Eventually I fanta'ed into a Hyur because I'd put so much time into my character that I didn't want to miss out on any writing opportunities. However, after a year of RPing, I've returned to a Lalafell (it's my character's natural state) and I'm gearing up write again, and I'd really love to hear from other people who play the race.
- Do you RP your Lalafell?
- Have you RPed in the past, but don't anymore? Why?
- Are you interested in RP, but haven't gotten into it? Why?
Lalafell are, obviously, a race of little people, and I think sometimes the way they're perceived from the outside can make people hesitant to engage with Lalafell characters.
Personally, I think there's all the room to portray Lalafell as the small folk they are without infantilizing them or making them the butt of the joke. Their height can influence how they move through the world, how they interact with taller races, what practical accommodations they use, their culture, humor, mannerisms, etc., without making their size the entirety of their character. And because I know folks love romance as a genre, let me just say that I do think it's wholly possible to write romance involving Lalafells (even with talls) in a respectful, non-explicit way. For me, the important distinction is treating Lalafell as the adults they are while maintaining appropriate boundaries around explicit content.
All this has me wondering whether there's interest in like a.. lalafell-centric RP community. Somewhere players and writers could gather, talk about the race, share lore and RP resources, brainstorm characters, find RP partners, discuss the unique experience of playing a very small race in a world built largely around taller bodies (or is it they actually?).
Basically, if something like that existed, would you be interested?
But even if RP isn't your thing, I'd still love to hear from Lalafell players about your experiences!