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I wanted to pick up this theme for a moment.
<<Sometimes, when something "bad" happens to your character it can be a little hard to separate your emotions from your character's.
Most people end up on the boards complaining or upset because of the above statement. Let me give you (collectively, you) my thoughts on "bad things".
In my opinion, the "bad events" to your character and the flaws of your character are what give your character depth and make people around you notice and take interest in your character. The summary of my point, which I make in more depth below is that the "bad events" are really the best possible things that can happen to your character because they create (i) history upon which to build your character's traits and (ii) establish RP opportunities that you can simply not get (most times) from GMPC's or in the training fields.
NOTE: I credit this outlook and approach to my good friend Drexella who raised this to my attention about seven years ago. Because of her post on this very topic, I have enjoyed much more depth with my character.
Background (bit lengthy) and Examples:
I created the character Madigan with the thought of playing "the knight in shining armor that always saves the day, kisses the damsel and rides the white horse into the sunset". Seriously, this was the concept when the character was rolled up. Guess what, it didn't really work out that well in the beginning. My first "save the damsel" situation, I ended up getting smoked in rock trolls by three people, they camped me, graverobbed anything of value and basically rubbed my face in the fact I got pwnzed.
Yeah, I was pretty upset on a personal level that the game just was not fair and why could I not "play the white knight"...you know, everyone knows the "white knight" always wins. Then, I read Drexella's post on flaws and bad things. With this concept in mind, I moved my character to Therengia and decided to dedicate the character to creating/continuing/enhancing a group of people dedicated to "a higher good" and "service to others". Although this was not the beginning of the Theren Guard, this was the time period when the Guard enjoyed some of its many successes.
Now, my character had a purpose, that being to be a part of a group dedicated to helping others....and I used the "robbery" of Rock Trolls as the inspiration. The character Madigan and the Theren Guard enjoyed much success and much acclaim for its future endeavors in Theren (and still does I should add). Ultimately, the character Madigan became known as a leader in Theren. So, just when I think I have the character figured out....bamb, a roleplay event has Madigan dismissed from the Guard (his lifelong love) and he is banned, in shame!
Wow, as a player, that was a blow! My perfect little character, who I thought so highly of...disgraced. Yet, from the roleplay, Madigan...heart broken, turned to the Paladin Code and helped (with many other great people) form the Northern Watch...a military unit. From this event, a great distrust of "politicians" and "paper pushers" was created in my character and a sense that "serving a higher purpose" must be removed from the hands of "politicians"...therefore he turned to the Paladin Code.
From this history (among much more history) has evolved my character. Obviously there is much good history, but I use the examples of particularly bad things to draw you to the overall point. The bad things formed my character much more than the good things.
Sorry for the length of this post, but thought some examples would help.
Madigan
Free the Paladin Guild in 2009.
Excellent post, Madigan.
When I look back at my character's history, I love telling people how I was killed and graverobbed at 4th circle by Thieves. It transformed my character into an anti-thief Barbarian. Even now I'm pretty sure I have the most perception for any Barbarian my circle or below.
Even now, some of the things about general events in DR have disappointed me, but I've decided to allow it to have an impact on my character. Now he's going in a somewhat new direction.
Anytime someone does something negative to my character, I turn it into an RP event. If it runs deep enough, it may have an impact on my character.
The only thing that will bring me to these boards whining is when a critter lands an open roll. GRRRRRRR
Vinjince
When I look back at my character's history, I love telling people how I was killed and graverobbed at 4th circle by Thieves. It transformed my character into an anti-thief Barbarian. Even now I'm pretty sure I have the most perception for any Barbarian my circle or below.
Even now, some of the things about general events in DR have disappointed me, but I've decided to allow it to have an impact on my character. Now he's going in a somewhat new direction.
Anytime someone does something negative to my character, I turn it into an RP event. If it runs deep enough, it may have an impact on my character.
The only thing that will bring me to these boards whining is when a critter lands an open roll. GRRRRRRR
Vinjince
That was very well thought out, Madigan. Its difficult to do sometimes, but if more people approached negative situations as you did in your examples I think we all collectively might have more fun. I know next time something happens to my character, I'll think back to your post. That is if I ever get past the first step of getting past my own emotions to that my character's. ;)
- George, Player of Foresee
- George, Player of Foresee
Couldn't agree with you more, Madigan. The enemies a character makes can drive him or her to actions which will influence that character for the rest of his or her career.
Bad things that occur to your character, and your the flaws your character has or gains, makes him/her all the more believable in an RPG.
I could give long, drawn-out stories from other RPGs to share experiences which support this but I'll merely cut to the chase and add my voice to the : Madigan is Truth factor.
Bad things that occur to your character, and your the flaws your character has or gains, makes him/her all the more believable in an RPG.
I could give long, drawn-out stories from other RPGs to share experiences which support this but I'll merely cut to the chase and add my voice to the : Madigan is Truth factor.
