Why do I roleplay? I would I roleplay? Well, for the adventure! People seem to peg roleplayers as someone who wants to explore the minds of their characters, who want to escape life, who do it because they feel inadequate. Me? While I probably fit those last two categories fairly well (there are just things I can't do, have failed to do, and simply want a break for a couple hours a week from the stress) I more so love the feeling of exploring, and this is something I share with my real life self as well.
Within RP boards, it's a little more difficult as locations are generally centric. However, I still like to explore every facet of them, understand the cultures, the scenery, every nook and cranny that has been created so tediously. If it has yet to be discovered, you can bet I'll discover it.
Within MMOs, I'm the first guy to always run off and see the sights. Whenever I party, the proposition is always "let's go on an adventure!" Whether that adventure consists of exploring a place I've never seen, hunting a monster over the vast scenery of the world (no flight masters or mounts for me!) or simply going and grinding in an exotic location, it's always some sort of adventure when I play.
As for real life? I've just gotten out of my shell and let this sense of exploration bleed into my true existance in a full blown passion. While I have always enjoyed hiking, canoeing and orienteering with my trail blazing style of thought, long distance travel has been non-existant until recently. I made a trip to England and it was absolutely exhilirating! The sights were just boggling for someone who comes from a small city, especially when somewhere like Sheffield (of all places) seemed so daunting to me. I know that'll sound silly for some of our U.K. members, but it truly was for me!
And so we come to the final and most exciting step for me: pen & paper! D&D mostly, but really any fantastic setting is fine in this regard. I just adore exploring the world that's been created and revel in a Dungeon Master who can weive vivid explinations into their craft. From the rainbow mysteries of the Feywild to exploring the sulfery ruins of Bael Turath, it gets my blood pumping all the same. I find I'm generally the catalyst, which sure is a God send to DMs for groups that like to overthink their options. I despise standing around and I always push my party to go over the next horizon or face the next villain or do whatever it is we need to do so I can hit the trail once more!
So as you can see, though my roleplaying is robust, it shares a state of mind with my actual self. I just enjoy discovery and it's no different if I can imagine it in my mind or see it with my own two eyes. The feel is just breath taking and adrenaline pumping for me, though obviously more so in real life than sitting at a table. None the less, hearing the colourful expressions coming from a DM is still energizing and a beautiful thing to behold and I suggest that if you don't want to contect yourself to someone different, simply play yourself and enjoy the game for other aspects!