Never could make role-play work well.
It's the 'role' part. It implies fakery and pretense, which sabotages the intent and the value, and makes it impossible.
Now, get around that word, and magic happens. The word itself is a blocker, though. If we avoid the word 'role' and instead find a 'real part of ourselves to explore' ('real-play' lol) then all is fine.
