Do you role-play in MP games and why or why not?

[Omnirizon]

I always roleplay, though it usually just figures into the flavor of my posts and diplomacy.

When forming a theme or personality to roleplay, I usually utilize how I feel the direction of my nation is going in the early game; rather than having a personality in mind from the outset. This is only natural, since culture is formed through historical events/accidents/black swans, whatever. In this way, the roleplay becomes usually intrinsic in my diplomatic and sometimes even military strategy.


EDIT:

I also hate when players metagame. they send communications relevant to game while referencing things outside of the game, or saying things that would be non-sensical given a nations position as an existing entity in the imaginary game world. They act outside the illusion being created for the game to take place within. I think metagaming is also very dangerous for the integrity between game and RL and between two different games; what Sheap discusses in his tips. In this way I suppose everyone should roleplay to the extent that they avoid metagaming. So roleplaying is not only fun, but necessary for the game to function.