I tend to like to play what I like to call "Commissars." They sometimes do or don't have that rank. I don't know but I have a certain love for those types of characters. Very-by-the-book, stuck-up, even arrogant but are stalwart, unflinching, uncompromising, and never tolerates cowardice...
My first RP and I'm still using this forum was NationStates. Most notably their PT2M which really does have everything. The community is much smaller than this but it allows for better interactions and moderation. Does mean a small player base though.