Roleplay: What is it exactly? - Roleplaying is an activity where the players assume the role of characters (ie: a lynx cub, a fox, etc.), and they perform certain actions based upon their personalities and traits. Actions done by characters determine the path of how the story will go (ie: choosing between two baby lynxes: pick the first one -> prosperity throughout the motherland // pick the second one -> overthrow the Alpha in command!) Just remember, each roleplay experience should be unique and fun! It is your own world, and you can do what ever you like. Roleplay is done on grove 9 (formerly grove 3), or the roleplay grove, which is essentially a survival server where you don't hunt for obelisks.

Not everybody on the roleplay grove wants to have an all-out, ultra-realistic experience. A lot of players like to group up with different species as a break from busting open obelisks just for a nice, relaxing experience.

Players looking for a very survival experience should not attack these players, however, if they do, the non-roleplayer has every right to ignore the attack, and it should signal to the attacker that "oh, hey, this person doesn't want to roleplay. I'll look for someone who does." without much of a fuss.

It also isn't acceptable in the roleplay grove to KOS (kill on sight), which is basically when a number of players (sometimes just 1) decide to purge everyone on the server by running around and roleplay-killing them. This is often very annoying if you're trying to have a nice time then this bumbling lynx goes around killing your family and is being completely oblivious to all attacks. The best way to deal with these players is to:

1) Spam the "X" emote at them, the crying emote if you wish as well.
2) Ask them why they are attacking you by repeating the face they use to attack followed by a "?"
3) Play dumb, ask them if they want to be in a group and do the hello and happy emotes at them until they give up.

Roleplaying is a fairly simple thing to do on Meadow. The only thing you have to do is enter the world as the animal you want and act like said animal! That means no killing goats if you're a badger cub and other implausible things like that. The guide will go more in depth about the basics of hunting later. If an animal is approaching you and is being very friendly, that likely means they are interested in a multi-species family group. It is likely they will sit inside of your den or outside it, either watching the young'ins or helping you chase off enemies. These players are nothing to be wary of and are often a cute addition to the family!
Listed below is a sort of "language" list in the roleplay server, taken from this discussion thread: http://cs2bus.com/app/486310/discussions/0/142261352653915287/ as well as additions suggested to me by people who contribute to the information in this guide!


Emotes

Emote 1 - Greeting
Emote 2 - Sadness/Injured
Emote 3 - Happiness
Emote 4 - Anger
Emote 5 - Playful / Grooming
Emote 6 - Distrustful
Emote 7 - Confused
Emote 8 - Flirting
Emote 9 - Dead/Dying
Emote 10 - Mischevious/Untrustworthy
Emote 11 - Goodbye
Emote 12 - Fear/Shock

Commands

? - Confused
! - Danger Spotted
Arrow - Go further/we need to move
Check - Yes
X - No
Trail - Follow me
Tree - Go to the tree
Cave - We need to find a den/there's a den
Stairs - We need to climb
Group - Want to join us/Wait to regroup / Want to hunt? I'm going to hunt (this one is sometimes followed by Emote 12 or !)
Shard - There's a shard
Flower - Food! (Herbivores will use the essence flowers as food)
Obelisk - There's an obelisk
Water - We need to cross this river/lake / Want to get a drink? / I need a drink
Swap - I'm changing animals or skins, wait here for me
Noise - Make some noise

Actions

Sit - Sitting, keeping lookout, hiding, plus emote 2 = injured
Lay Down - Sleeping, resting, hiding, plus emote 2 = injured, plus emote 9 = dead/dying
Leaping at Someone, or jumping reapatedadly on them plus emote 4 = Attacking
Jumping repeatedly, on/off someone - Plus emote 5 = playful, plus emote 3 = happy, plus emote 8 = showing abilities, plus emote 4 = intimidating
Wave - Plus emote 1 = greeting, plus emote 2 = calling for help, plus emote 11 = goodbye, plus emote 12 = warning

Finding a family is fairly simple on Meadow, considering most roleplayers are usually a lynx or lynx cub or less often a badger. Using the lynx as an example, you could spawn in at the tree and press the "M" button on your keyboard to see the diamonds that signify other players. If you run toward those players, it is likely you will find a group with at least one adult animal or baby. You can ask to join them by pressing the (group) command, followed by the (?) command. If they flash (checkmark) OR if they don't respond, you can join them. In my experience, they never mind if I join unless they press (X), in which you should give them privacy.

In Meadow, some animals are the apex predators while others are prey to higher tiers. Listed below is a list of which animals are considered prey items and which are predators, and everything inbetween.
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Prey- Rabbits, frogs, goats, pheasants

Prey and predator- Fox, lynx cub, badger cub, bear cub, hedgehog (can hunt frogs only)

Predators- Lynx, badger, eagle

The animals on Meadow's roleplay grove have different roles. Some are prey, some are neutral, etc. Here are the roles, or stereotypes, of each animal.



Badger cub- You don't see these very much unless a mother badger is online. They stick close to mother at all times though are sometimes mischievous.

Badger- You don't see these very much on the roleplay grove. Typically, they travel with one or more cubs. The enemy of eagles and foxes.

Lynx cub- Lynx cubs are very common on the roleplay grove and are always seen travelling, usually in a litter, with one or more adult lynxes. They are fairly disobedient and like to try to attack predators though they can't do anything, since they are tiny kittens. Often targetted by foxes.

Lynx- These are very common on the roleplay server and are often seen with a cub or a litter of cubs. They tend to hang around in dens and are very protective of their cubs. Enemy of eagles and foxes.

Bear cub- Bear cubs are almost never seen in the roleplay grove, though when they do appear they either tend to stay in the den or try to protect it, though they are small and can't do much. No known enemies.

Eagle- Eagles are sometimes seen on the roleplay grove and love to hunt. They target lynx and badger cubs primarily, though they sometimes hunt rabbits and adult badgers. Eagles will not hunt you in the tall grass, though are ruthless when you are running from grass patch to grass patch. They attack by swooping down and emoting on you and flying back into the air. Enemy of all creatures except goats and pheasants.

Frog- Simply a prey item. They can be hunted by everything and can hurt nothing. Hide if you are a frog.

Rabbit- Another prey item though they can slip away from potential predators. They tend to just hang around on high alert for any animal. They are the enemies of lynxes, eagles, foxes, badgers and anything large enough to hunt it.

Goat- Fairly rare on the roleplay server. They tend to either walk around avoiding lynxes or joining a multi-species pack with them, though they rarely go in the den and are often lookouts. When a prey item, their enemies are only lynxes.

Fox- They are very common on the roleplay server and hunt whenever they get a chance. They are very patient, hiding behind bushes and ducking in for an attack whenever they get a chance. They are fairly annoying but some players like to join a mixed-species family. The enemy of lynxes, lynx cubs, badgers, badger cubs, frogs, pheasants and rabbits.

Pheasant- Pheasants are rather rare on the roleplay grove. If they ever join, they either just wander around taunting predators or pecking kittens to death, though they are very bad at doing so. The enemies of lynxes and foxes. They can also kill foxes in 6 hits. They also may hunt small game, like frogs.

Hedgehog- Similar to frogs, they are prey animals. However, they can defend themselves and can hunt only frogs. You will know when you can't attack a hedgehog when it does the sleeping animation, as that signifies that it is defending itself (hedgehogs will roll up with their quills out to deter anything from biting them). Hedgehogs should remain neutral in most situations. If you catch a hedgehog, they die in one hit from large predators and in two from baby forms. They can kill frogs in one hit as well.

Herbivores are the main prey item in the roleplay server. They often just wander around foraging for food and avoiding predators that try to catch them. Flowers scattered around the map, as well as small grassy tussocks, are food for smaller herbivores (you can simulate eating by nodding at said plant). Larger herbivores, like goats, can eat off of bushes.

Goats may defend themselves by attacking their pursuer (if cornered), though will run in any other situation like other herbivores when faced with an attacker.

Goats- May be hunted by only lynxes which kill them in 2 hits.

Rabbits- May be hunted by lynxes, badgers, foxes and eagles. Die in 1 hit.

Pheasants- May be hunted by lynxes, foxes and eagles. Die in 1 hit for lynxes and eagles, 2 for foxes.

Hedgehogs (technically omnivores)- May be hunted by anything larger than it, however if they do their sleeping animation they will be untouchable. Die in 1 hit for adult animals, 2 for baby animals.

Carnivores are quite common in the Meadow, although most serve to be prey items despite their meat-eating tendencies. They are fun to play with, though it may be hard to figure out what you can and cannot hunt for your size. So, here is a list to help you out!

Badger cub (technically an omnivore)- Can hunt frogs or foxes (3 hits), though hunting foxes is very rare.

Badger (technically an omnivore)- Can hunt frogs, foxes, lynx cubs and rabbits. Apex predator.

Lynx cub- Can hunt frogs.

Lynx- Can hunt goats, badger cubs, rabbits, frogs, pheasants and eagles. Apex predator.

Bear cub (technically an omnivore)- Can hunt lynx cubs, badger cubs and frogs.

Fox- Can hunt lynx cubs, badger cubs, rabbits, bear cubs, frogs, and goats if there are 2 or more foxes.

After getting a successful hunt, you should stay with the body as a sort of way of "eating" it but not going back for another hunt right away. Wait a while before killing again, to simulate hunger being filled and the going down again. If you eat a steak, you probably aren't going to eat another steak in 5 minutes. Of course, to keep interest for carnivores, you don't have to wait an hour to digest food. Wait at least 5 minutes.

Dens are often used in roleplay as a place for families to sleep and play and are also used as protection against predators, making them a valuble asset to have. Dens may be difficult to find around the map but luckily, another user named Nemo made a rough map of the meadow that includes where dens are located. The guide can be found here: https://cs2bus.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=802358207 if you also would like a map for where you can find certain resources.


(art credit to Nemo)

Roleplaying is a fun way to spend time on Meadow if you don't want to run around collecting essence or just are in the mood for something more realistic than the normal Meadow. This guide has gone over how you can roleplay and the correct manners for roleplaying, and I hope it has helped other players better understand this playstyle and allow others to roleplay, too! Please share your thoughts and how you roleplay in the comments below, I'd love to hear!