Gatekeeping in roleplay is a complex topic. On one hand, maintaining lore consistency is important for immersion and worldbuilding. On the other, excessive gatekeeping can stifle creativity, discourage new players, and create unnecessary barriers to engaging storytelling.
So, where do we draw the line between keeping RP lore-friendly and controlling who can do what? Let’s discuss it.
What is Gatekeeping in roleplay?
Gatekeeping happens when players try to control access to certain types of RP, often beyond what is necessary for maintaining lore or quality. While some restrictions make sense, gatekeeping crosses the line when it:
- Restricts event hosting – “You can’t run this kind of event because someone else already does.”
- Controls character concepts – “Your character wouldn’t be able to do that because I say so.”
- Blocks participation – “Only members of our guild/group are allowed to be involved in this RP.”
- Expects OOC approval for RP – “You need to prove yourself before we’ll RP with you.”
When these restrictions become less about maintaining immersion and more about controlling others, it becomes a problem.
When lore restrictions are justified
Not all gatekeeping is inherently bad. Some aspects of World of Warcraft’s lore exist for a reason, and it’s fair to expect RP to respect those boundaries. Mentioned below comes from my personal opinion.
Examples:
- Dreamtalons & the Emerald Dream – These creatures exist within the Dream and are not meant to roam Azeroth. Allowing them to casually walk through Stormwind wouldn’t make sense within the established setting.
- Void Elves in the Lightforged Army – Given their volatile relationship with the Light, this kind of contradiction should at least be approached carefully within roleplay.
- Dragon RP – Dragons are rare and secretive. It makes sense to question whether there should be so many “hidden” dragons walking around unchallenged in RP.
In these cases, expecting some level of adherence to lore is justified—not because it’s about “ownership” over certain RP types, but because it maintains the credibility and integrity of the world.
However, the key is approach and flexibility:
Bad approach: “Your character cannot exist, period. This is wrong and should not be roleplayed.”
Better approach: “Lore suggests this would be highly unusual—how does your character justify it?”
Instead of shutting people out, ask questions, help refine ideas, and allow for nuance.
Where Gatekeeping becomes harmful
The issue is when lore enforcement turns into controlling who can do what, rather than simply guiding RP to fit the world. Some harmful examples of gatekeeping include:
- “Only our guild can do this certain RP.”
- No one “owns” an RP concept. Multiple groups can and should explore the same themes in different ways.
- “Your character doesn’t belong in this setting, even though lore leaves room for it.”
- If Blizzard has given some flexibility in an area of lore, why should other players restrict it?
- “You can’t create a noble house, because we already have noble RP groups.”
- There are thousands of noble houses in Azeroth. More noble RP only adds more opportunities.
- “You can’t run this event because it competes with mine.”
- The RP scene benefits from more events, not fewer. Let players choose which they attend.
The key issue:
Lore enforcement should guide RP, not block people from participating.
Event Gatekeeping – The unspoken rule that kills RP
One of the most frustrating forms of gatekeeping is controlling event acces. Some players attempt to “claim ownership” over certain event types, discouraging others from hosting their own.
Examples include:
- "You shouldn’t run a crime syndicate event because we already do those.”
- "A dueling tournament? There’s already one, so don’t bother.”
- “This event will take attention away from mine, so I’d prefer you not host it.”
The truth?
- Multiple events can exist at the same time without ruining each other.
- Different hosts bring different styles and experiences.
- More events mean more RP opportunities for everyone.
The idea that one person or group can monopolize a type of event only harms the roleplay scene by limiting activity and creativity.
The Alternative: A balanced approach
Instead of shutting down ideas, let’s create a culture that encourages roleplay while keeping lore consistency in mind.
- Guide instead of control – If something doesn’t seem lore-friendly, help **refine the idea instead of rejecting it outright.
- Encourage more hosts – More events and RP is a stronger and more active community.
- Support Different Takes on Themes – Crime RP, noble RP, tournaments—they belong to everyone, not just one person or guild.
- Respect Different Lore Interpretations – If lore leaves room for flexibility, let people explore it instead of enforcing one view.
The best RP happens when players work together, not when a few dictate who gets to participate.
What do you think?
- Where do you think the line is between gatekeeping and maintaining lore consistency?
- Have you experienced event or RP gatekeeping in the community?
- How can we, as a server, foster a better balance between quality control and creative freedom?
Let’s keep the discussion constructive! RP thrives when we support each other’s stories, not limit them.
Share your thoughts below!
