Playing Another Character's Class

[Script Wrecked]

Please be aware (and mindful and considerate) that when subsuming knowledge of another character's class (or race or alignment for that matter), that the other player is being denied the opportunity to play those components of their own character.

Certain things about the different classes/races/alignments are common (character) knowledge, but when their own doctrines/dogmas/creeds/racial outlooks are quoted at them, well, that component of that character has just been rendered superfluous and impotent.

Regards,

Script Wrecked.

[s0ulz]

Word.

[Nehetsrev]

Well, let me play devil's advocate here a bit, sorta. I don't know exactly what prompted this post, or even who all was involved, but I'll post a general statement that I hope will be helpful for diffusing any bad feelings amongst our players for future encounters.

First off, a character's class in my opinion shouldn't even really be directly brought up in-character, in-game. We should always try to remember that our characters don't see themselves quite as starkly as the 'cookie-cutter-molds' that the class names/labels infer. They see themselves as individuals with certain talents and proficiencies, and their own unique ideas about the world around themselves. For instance, a character who wields a short-sword isn't nescessarilly a fighter, they could be a rogue or any other class (except druid because of their oaths) if they have devoted their time to learning how to wield martial weapons. Our characters remarks to or about other characters in-game then should reflect our observations, but not nescessarilly label outright a character with a class name.

Now, another thing that's likely to come up in-game (as the above post seems to hint at) are questions about how our characters associated with a given faith are viewed. As we play our clerics, paladins, or whatnot, we should keep in mind that the world in general has a certain view of what a typical member of any given faith is like, and some characters are likely to notice when our own vary from that generalization. Some might be very vocal about their opinions, especially if they're negative and/or differ greatly from the distinctions that make our own characters unique.

For an example, I play a cleric/fighter/bard of Xeen who's views on Xeens doctrine are different than the 'common' interpretations of Xeens doctrine as they've been played by other characters following the same goddess. On more than one occasion I've been told by a non-Xeenite (in-character) that I wasn't worshipping Xeen properly and that I'd soon find myself bereft of her blessings. Instead of getting all bent out of shape out-of-character about it, I've chosen instead to respond in-character, firstly by pointing out how my own character's interpretations are not only valid, but are actually the 'true' and 'proper' interpretations of the dogma. Then I also point out that if they weren't I'd already have lost, or never would have had in the first place, Xeen's favor as the other character has suggested would be the case.

The bottom line comes that if you clearly outlined your own character's interpretations of the dogma of their god/goddess in your original character submission, and it was approved by the Team of character approvers, and you're sticking to that outline as you play your character in-game, then no one can really have a leg to stand on in trying to tell you to play your character elsewise in an out-of-character way. The possible exception to that being that the character approvers made a mistake and approved an interpretation of the dogma that wasn't actually in-line enough with the Lore & vision of Layonara's creators, in which case a member of the Layonara DM team will bring that to your attention and under review by the Team, the Loremaster, and Leanthar.

Let other characters try to tell you how to be a proper reflection of your characters faith, and then turn it around and do your best to convince them of how your character's interpretations are actually more valid than what they think is.

PS Edit - It might also be good to note here that any character who is devout enough to have the diety's name in their diety field should be doing almost everything they do in the name of, and for the glory of their god or goddess. Obviously certain worshippers of certain dieties will wish to internalize such attitudes out of nescessity, but those attitudes should still be there and perhaps hinted at, and even probably explained later in one's CDT so that the DM team knows your characters motivations for doing something that might've looked out-of-line with your character's chosen god/goddess while happening in-game.

[Script Wrecked]

Originally Posted by Nehetsrev

For an example, I play a cleric/fighter/bard of Xeen who's views on Xeens doctrine are different than the 'common' interpretations of Xeens doctrine as they've been played by other characters following the same goddess. On more than one occasion I've been told by a non-Xeenite (in-character) that I wasn't worshipping Xeen properly and that I'd soon find myself bereft of her blessings. Instead of getting all bent out of shape out-of-character about it, I've chosen instead to respond in-character, firstly by pointing out how my own character's interpretations are not only valid, but are actually the 'true' and 'proper' interpretations of the dogma. Then I also point out that if they weren't I'd already have lost, or never would have had in the first place, Xeen's favor as the other character has suggested would be the case.

...

Let other characters try to tell you how to be a proper reflection of your characters faith, and then turn it around and do your best to convince them of how your character's interpretations are actually more valid than what they think is.

In my opinion, I believe you are (graciously) handling IG an OOC situation that has been raised IG that shouldn't be, probably to keep the IG experience flowing along nicely for everyone.

This is what I believe happened:

Player X: *thought bubble* "I don't think Nehetsrev is playing a Xeenite cleric properly."

Player X's Character: (paraphrased) "I don't think you're being a proper Xeenite cleric."

My response to that is Player X's character shouldn't care whether your character is being a proper Xeenite cleric or not, unless A) they are a Xeenite cleric, or B) they are a Xeenite follower and your character is their priest.

Just think about the real life situation for a moment. If, as a non-believer or member of a different faith, you came across a member of clergy from another faith who didn't fit the typical view of that clergy, would you go up to them and tell them how they are "supposed" to be?

No, I didn't think so. Neither would your character.

It would be beneficial to remember to place a degree of separation between us and our characters, even when we are playing our character as ourself (personality-wise). This is simply because our characters do not know everything we know. They haven't read LORE, or people's Character Development Journals, or for that matter, been to high school or college, let alone university (but that's another matter...). This separation allows us to ask the question, "Would my character (not me) do this?"

There is alot of OOC information out there that we are privy to that our characters do not know. The only people who know what a "proper" Xeenite cleric is are the Xeenite clerics. They're the ones who attended the seminary for umpteen years (or whatever it is Xeenites do), not your character.

So, essentially, when this statement was made in-game about your character, they were meta-ing. However, in this case, they are probably doing it for all the right reasons, viz, they are concerned about the consistency of someone's roleplay (a good thing).

What would be beneficial to realise is that this is an OOC concern, so it should be raised in a OOC fashion, and not brought in-game. Now, I'm not sure of the OOC path for this sort of thing, but if you are feeling brave, perhaps a tell, something along the lines of, "Can I ask you about how you are roleplaying your cleric?" Be prepared for a "No" response, but I'm guessing, most people would actually be quite pleased to talk about how and why they are roleplaying their characters the way they do.

Remember to ask questions though, and not make judgements, otherwise you are just going to have an argument. Not, "You're not playing your Xeenite cleric properly," or "I don't think you're playing your Xeenite cleric properly," but more along the lines of, "It seems you are playing your Xeenite cleric quite differently to other Xeenite clerics. Would you care to share a bit about this?"

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Script Wrecked.

[Link092]

Plus... can't you use tells to inform others (Out of Character) where they might need to clean up their "act" for better RP? just a thought...

[xiaobeibi]

Originally Posted by Link092

Plus... can't you use tells to inform others (Out of Character) where they might need to clean up their "act" for better RP? just a thought...

In 99.9% of all cases if someone told me I was playing MY character wrong I would find it offensive.

If you stay in character and you behave within the overall guidelines of the server then others really have no business telling you to clean up your act.

How can you know their motivations, background and basic character? I dont think you can...ever.

When we critise the roleplay of others we are critising the player. Again I would argue that in 99,9% of the cases what we are actually doing is presuming our private view on good roleplay is the only way and judging others by that.

If you think others roleplay are lacking instead critising or making "suggestions" via tells spend time with them. Teach by example and be willing to learn from example. In most cases you will end up not having changed their roleplay but appreciating it.

Tolerance of other players go a long way in making a friendly server.