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So I was curious on opinions as to how deeply a character can be integrated with the game history and NPCs before it becomes instrusive/annoying/objectionable.
Examples:
Character history as the deposed Turamzyrrian Emperor, bad.
Character history as the son of a noble, questionable but certainly depends on how its done.
Character history as a baker's son that knows no one, just fine.
My specific problem...I'm interested in playing an elf ranger (in Plat, so I think it might matter more than otherwise) that received a royal jewel for personal sacrifice. But I'm worried it presumes too much involvement in actual Elanthian history to be a real good choice. Any opinions?
P.S. I think I posted this before, but I came back and it wasn't here. If you see this in another subforum or something I apologize.
I think your good, questionable, bad examples hit was is reasonable right on the nose. I admit that I am not up on what it takes to be awarded a royal jewel or how frequently these are given out. I would say if there is maybe one given out every thousand years or so then it might be a stretch - but maybe workable depending upon the story/history that goes along with it. Likewise, if such an honor demands certain priveledges that go along with it then again it may be questionable. Assuming these are given out with some regularity (at least in the lifespan of elves) and there isn't any over the top status/priveledge assignments required to go along with it (other than the honor of having received such a jewel) then it seems like it should be workable.
Alternatively, if it still seems unreasonable there is still nothing preventing your character from claiming or believing that such an event took place. So possibly another route you could go if the actual honor exceeds some boundry.
Or... maybe the approach could be to try and create a scenario/situation in game where eventually such a thing could be earned.
My two cents.
-- Robert
Alternatively, if it still seems unreasonable there is still nothing preventing your character from claiming or believing that such an event took place. So possibly another route you could go if the actual honor exceeds some boundry.
Or... maybe the approach could be to try and create a scenario/situation in game where eventually such a thing could be earned.
My two cents.
-- Robert
It's been quite a few years, since it happened... but the thing that sets up a red flag in my mind is that jewels have been awarded to characters during events in game. Thus, there is a certain degree of "official recognition" involved with the jewels, much like there is with Knighting and the associated human titles.
Signed,
Raelee and her Strings
>Speaking to Zyllah, Alyias says, "See? Raelee knows all."
Signed,
Raelee and her Strings
>Speaking to Zyllah, Alyias says, "See? Raelee knows all."
<<Just thought I would comment on the gems. These gems are given out in game to pc's when they are deserved through great deeds. There are several gems out there. Their monarch decides who has earned a gem and it is a very rare thing.>>
At the same time, however, the lore documents state that every hard-working elf can hope to earn at least one jewel in his or her lifetime. While they are supposed to be rare, perhaps it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Gretchen
Meeting Nilandia: http://www.gsguide.net/index.php?title=Nilandia
Nilandia's GS4 Info Repository: http://www.nilandia.com
AIM: Lady Nilandia
At the same time, however, the lore documents state that every hard-working elf can hope to earn at least one jewel in his or her lifetime. While they are supposed to be rare, perhaps it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Gretchen
Meeting Nilandia: http://www.gsguide.net/index.php?title=Nilandia
Nilandia's GS4 Info Repository: http://www.nilandia.com
AIM: Lady Nilandia
Speaking from the Plat side, I wouldn't discourage anyone from bringing any of those three characters over. You may need to deal with IC skepticism if your character makes rather more outlandish claims about his/her past achievements and heritage, but that can be part of the fun of it. If you want to play the claim straight -- that is, in your opinion, what he/she says happened absolutely did happen -- I'd just make sure that your claims don't directly contradict established knowledge and experience. For example, if the honour you're going to claim has been distributed ICly in-game during the instance's history, then simply claim that your experience was far enough in the past or physically far enough away that you aren't flying in the face of the lived experience of other characters.
If the story you construct is credible, you can get away with it. Believe me, I make some pretty outlandish claims with my own Plat characters. =) Just be internally consistent, and ready to respond ICly to doubters, and you'll be fine.
Pop in and say hello if you give Plat a try!
Dave, Brandain's Bard
If the story you construct is credible, you can get away with it. Believe me, I make some pretty outlandish claims with my own Plat characters. =) Just be internally consistent, and ready to respond ICly to doubters, and you'll be fine.
Pop in and say hello if you give Plat a try!
Dave, Brandain's Bard
Er. Minor postscript: I apparently didn't read the original post quite as thoroughly as I thought I did. For some reason, I thought the first example (deposed emperor) had the words "claims to be" in there somewhere. So, uh, colour my response accordingly. That one would be very, very difficult to play straight, but everything else I wrote still applies.
Whups.
Dave, Brandain's Bard
Whups.
Dave, Brandain's Bard
Just, because I like how this discussion is going...
To me there is a difference between what a character claims and what actually happened. And as a player you can make that distinction. So yes, while someone can definitely have a character that claims to be the deposed Turamzyrrian Emperor, if you as a player actually think you're roleplaying the deposed Turamzyrrian Emperor and not a madman or someone with amnesia or something, then there's a problem.
So I really do think there's a line there. And I suppose the comeback is, well isn't it all the same, whether I think it is real or not, no one else ever knows that? That sort of advocates RPing your way in, i.e. if I can really make this deposed Emperor come off really well eventually everyone will accept it and I'll actually be that guy. That's imposing yourself too roughly.
Anyway that was really tangential to my main problem but I wanted to chat because I'm enjoying my first week back.
Well there's got to be a difference between normal jewels and royal jewels. (If you don't know the difference I'll briefly say normal jewels are handed out by representatives and royal jewels, i.e. solid hues, are given out by the monarchs themselves)
I can't imagine there would ever be a problem saying normal jewel, i.e. the flecked kind, since there's tons of representatives, and seem to be rather common. I only try and make this distinction because it seems like a couple people lumped them in maybe because they have read the lore doc. There can't be a valid argument for no jewels whatsoever, correct?
I didn't know royal jewels were handed out in game. Which is fine, I'll revert to the normal jewel, it doesn't change too much really, but that cool factor is nifty. Of course it makes the ones handed out in game even cooler.
I think there might be some lore descrepancies, then. Where did you get your info? Here is where I get my info that royal representatives are common.
Layman's Guide to Elven Heraldry
http://www.play.net/gs4/info/tomes/elven_history/heraldry.asp
Jewels may not be displayed in a crest unless they are awarded, and jewels may only be awarded by an elven monarch's designated representative.
Any strongwilled, hardworking elf can hope to earn at least one jewel in his lifetime, for virtually every practice and pasttime approved of by elven society is overseen at some level by a royal representative, though many of those levels are painfully far away from the common elf's day-to-day routine. An act worthy of receiving a jewel is considered to be a once-in-a-lifetime achievement.
I think you have some solid ideas there but I also should have clarified that all gems that have been officially handed out have been done so by an elven NPC and are very rare. Should it be that way? Maybe not. It is one thing I would like to do where earned. Over the weekend several plat members were honored for their part in recent quests. If they had been pure elves I would have looked into honoring them with gems.
Should someone shy away from rping an elf that has earned one, maybe, or maybe not, it is up to the player. If there had never been gems awarded it may not be a huge deal, but some characters may be skeptical. It could lead to come interesting rp.
In the end, go with your heart and have fun, but be ready for any rp opportunity that comes your way because of the story choices you make.
See you in elfland!
~ Valyrka ~
Ta'Illistim
Elves
Dark Elves
Forest Gnomes
I think it all depends very much on how you play the character. If you start with an unknown character and shout at everyone you see about your royal gem, you are likely to face incredulousness if not outright hostility. However, if say the gem was awarded 30 years ago (before the actual in game history and before GM run NPC could have been here to hand them out), and it's revelation is handled appropriately, I personally would have no problem with it. Of course, even the most non-offensive play of a character like that is going to catch flak from some people. You will have to weigh those issues against how true to the character idea you want to play him.
You will also have to deal with some official issues, depending on any physical "proof" your character may need. For instance wearing spurs (a similar item of official award) has caused some issues for my character. Although it is now considered OK to make and wear them, in the past I was pulled in by SGM's to discuss if I could even own the pair I purchased. I expect any crests with gems on them would be either denied at the merchant or fixed away after the fact. I am not sure if anyone has a royal gem for sacrifice now, and it is rather doubtful they would give you their crest to use. If that isn't an insurmountable obstacle for your RP, then I vote you trudge on with it.
Other possibilities spring to mind. The nature of the sacrifice itself (or some other event) might require your character to have given up his crest or otherwise be unable to produce the gem. Being awarded one by a now deposed royal line (seems like something a nalfein back story could involve), or during a now disavowed military expedition where to show the gem openly would disgrace/alert some foe in the court or enemy agents... If all of that shapes how you play the character, when it is revealed to people he interacts with months or years down the road, everything will still fit nicely with all that in game time to give some gravitas to the history you wrote.
If you play the character well and really develop the story, you may find at some point a GM willing to fold it into an actual storyline in game (where perhaps that disavowed expedition comes to light and you can now have the gem returned). Just remember this is a game of characters with years and even decades of in-game played-out history (not to mention backstory), so don't expect it to happen next week.
Anyway, just my point of view.
AIM: GS4Menos
>Here lies the formless world we´re living in
>Gravity is finally giving in
>High altitudes and still upward we go
>I was never meant to lead but to follow
You will also have to deal with some official issues, depending on any physical "proof" your character may need. For instance wearing spurs (a similar item of official award) has caused some issues for my character. Although it is now considered OK to make and wear them, in the past I was pulled in by SGM's to discuss if I could even own the pair I purchased. I expect any crests with gems on them would be either denied at the merchant or fixed away after the fact. I am not sure if anyone has a royal gem for sacrifice now, and it is rather doubtful they would give you their crest to use. If that isn't an insurmountable obstacle for your RP, then I vote you trudge on with it.
Other possibilities spring to mind. The nature of the sacrifice itself (or some other event) might require your character to have given up his crest or otherwise be unable to produce the gem. Being awarded one by a now deposed royal line (seems like something a nalfein back story could involve), or during a now disavowed military expedition where to show the gem openly would disgrace/alert some foe in the court or enemy agents... If all of that shapes how you play the character, when it is revealed to people he interacts with months or years down the road, everything will still fit nicely with all that in game time to give some gravitas to the history you wrote.
If you play the character well and really develop the story, you may find at some point a GM willing to fold it into an actual storyline in game (where perhaps that disavowed expedition comes to light and you can now have the gem returned). Just remember this is a game of characters with years and even decades of in-game played-out history (not to mention backstory), so don't expect it to happen next week.
Anyway, just my point of view.
AIM: GS4Menos
>Here lies the formless world we´re living in
>Gravity is finally giving in
>High altitudes and still upward we go
>I was never meant to lead but to follow
