Yo'za! Welcome!
I'm Tony (AKA "Rina")
Sorry I didn't see this earlier. Just saw it on the 27th. We're in the process of a soft-ish reboot/retcon just to change some things around a bit, so I've been tunnel-visioned on the areas that I'm editing around. And some of the confusion may have come from that, since some info from the important topics may or may not have changed while you've been here, and some info still may need to be changed even now. So there's a mix of old and new info around the place that I'll have cleaned up properly (hopefully) once everything's done.
If you - or anyone else - has any questions or concerns, going forward, you can DM me [Rina Kasakura#2144] on Discord and you'll be more likely to get a faster response during this time.

Now, I'm the resident wall-of-text guy - and I drone on a bit - but with all of that, I'll try to answer your questions as accurately as I can. I'll try not to get too technical... - but I make no promises >;j


Is this that kind of environment?
Somewhat (Yes and No)
The community as a whole may answer this better than I will, but here's my response to it:
We try not to play to the level of the meta. There is some holding back and the community as a whole decides what is suitable for the RP. In our Site Rules topic, we talk a bit about a few things:
- the kinds of cards we discourage but don't outright ban - like some floodgates, "Kaijus" and the like.
While you can play some of those types of cards to a degree, it's probably best to ask the community about any specific cards that you may wonder about. Everyone's answer may be different, so in those cases, using the card depends on who you face in a duel. But if pretty much everyone is against it, it's a card to pretty much stay away from.
- Then there are the types of cards that are too powerful for the RP that the community does, in essence, ban, such as "Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon."
These are the cards that, in an RP setting, don't really allow for much - if any - interaction between players and are just OP in and of themselves in this kind of environment where some of the card's counters are discouraged or banned.

Our motto is basically "don't be a d*ck," so that people kind of get the idea after reading through the Rules info.

THAT SAID, this doesn't mean that there aren't strong decks being used. Within the limitations given by the Rules and the community, people are free to make their decks as strong as they can. Now..., before the soft-ish reboot, dorms were based on summoning mechanics which, to a bit of an extent, may-or-may-not have added a sort of limiter to how their Extra Deck would be built. Now that it's gone, that specific limiter is gone, as well, leaving only the Rules and the community opinion to determine what's too much and what isn't for the RP. Some may want to shift things closer to the meta; I, personally, would like it to NOT go further in that direction.

So as far as your own deck is concerned, I would suggest asking the community for help on strengthening the deck and letting them know what you're aiming for - or any conditions on their suggestions. I'd also suggest dueling people with their RP decks to gauge things in a more practical way, if they have time.
That would be the best way to know what you're in for when dueling.
For RP duels, they're usually conducted as matches, OOC, and then the winner decides which of the duels to use as the "script" that you'd play out in the forum RP.
Alternatively, if both of you agree, you can script out a complete duel yourselves instead of actually dueling.
In the end - and I often say this - as long as your RP partner is okay with it, the two of you can duel and RP how you'd like, as long as the ProBoards TOS isn't violated and it's kept within the RP's rules and/or lore.


Do duels take place via RP or a gaming platform?
Both.
I explained it briefly above, but I'll go into more detail here.
We use a "gaming platform" to play out a Match using our RP decks. The default program is "Project Ignis - EDOPro," (EDOPro for short) an automatic duel simulator that you download - but you and your opponent can use whatever you two agree to. Some may like the manual, browser-based "Dueling Book;" some may prefer "YGO Omega." But yeah, generally, we all use EDOPro.
After the best 2/3, the winner generally decides which of those duels will be used as the "script" for the duel that gets roleplayed out on the forum.
Sometimes, the players may instead choose to work together to write up a script of the duel's moves and actions, themselves, in advance of the actual RP duel instead of actually dueling using the program.


Where or which thread do RPs take place?
RPs take place in any of the location-based parts of the forum, such as:
- Liberta Duel Academy >>> Main Building
- Liberta Duel Academy >>> The Grand Courtyard
- Liberta's Dormitory Zone >>> Uniteal Dormitory
- Silvershine >>> The City of Silvershine

You and your RP partner would usually discuss plans for the RP a bit prior to you two deciding who will create the thread to roleplay in, in the location your characters are going to interact.

A non-canon area will be coming soon for same-such RPs where you can do whatever you want (within PB's TOS) as long as it's obviously still Yu-Gi-Oh.


Are there any character profile restrictions?
Only what may be mentioned in the Site Rules.


As a new member, what would be the process/steps to get setup and situated here?
(Not really sure if I'm supposed to do something before submitting a character profile)
The only "something" I'd like every new member to do, prior to submitting a chara profile, is to read up on the Site Rules, "The Setting" and any other information in that area. Some of the rules are pretty standard, but some are unique to this site and should be read carefully to avoid problems after the fact.
Browse around and check things out, too.
Not everything is finalized - as said, doing a soft reboot/retcon - but as of January 26th, most of the key info has been set.
Once you've got a general understanding of the site, you can begin to craft your character profile.
Head to the "Character Index" board where we have our "Character Profiles and Templates"
Check out the "Profile Templates!" topic.
Check out some of the "Approved Profiles" so that you have an idea as to how they look, or how much detail is required. You're free to create your own layout if you'd prefer - as long as all of the info is still presented.

(When all of the site info is finalized - or as close to it as I can get without delaying things for a long time - I'll let everyone know on Discord.)


Is there a main storyline?
Not at the moment, no. We have a plot we were getting ready to start, but it was suggested that it might be saved for later (or dropped) in place of something geared more for the active roleplayers we currently have rather than a plot that would be better with a bigger cast. This will be further discussed at a later date.
This site also allows roleplayers to make their own main plots/storylines/arcs (dubbed "Community Arcs [C-Arcs]") at the cost of a potentially rebate-able 8,000 DP (which isn't too much - a few completed threads with some duels involved).


Does each individual make up their own story as they please?
Essentially, yes. Everyone here has their own stories that they want to tell for their characters. RPs are collaborative efforts in helping to tell one's story, or telling a story for both parties involved.

How active are things here?
(I saw something about waiting for more profiles, also saw something about waiting for Rina, also see some threads dated mid-last year)
At the moment, it's very slow. That's partly my doing, a small number of active RPers that I want to grow, but not too quickly before we're ready, and the soft reboot/retcon is likely also contributing to that.
In a normal/regular scenario, it's fairly active, but speed-wise, it's "average;" It depends on who you're posting with. Some responses to posts can be a quick as the same day or the next; some could be a few days; others could be as long as a week, as people do have IRL commitments, too.

Once a newcomer is 'situated' what would be the next steps to take here?
Once your character profile is approved, you are free to roleplay with that character.
Seek out other roleplayers on our Discord - either directly contacting one through DMs (can't hurt to ask, right?), or publicly in #roleplaying using the "@" tag to notify ("ping") them, -OR- you can ask the community as a whole and see who bites, using the #roleplay-requests.
Through experience, DMs are the better way to go, as it also lets you plan in private and you don't have to worry about your discussion getting lost in a sea of other messages - but #roleplay-requests might yield results to begin with, too.

Keep in mind, again, that the soft reboot/retcon is occurring, and people may not want to start anything until it's done and their characters are re-adjusted for the change.
That said, I have no problem with anyone RPing while its going on. People can even do non-canon RPs in the meantime, if this transition, among other things, is what's holding them back.