The World of Layonara
The Layonara Community => Roleplaying => Topic started by: zerpa on July 25, 2005, 12:38:00 PM
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I am new to Layonara, but more importantly to D&D and role playing in general, so pardon if I sound naive. (I actually don't interact online much at all, save for mountains of email). As I start to develop my own character, I find myself increasingly interested in other peoples' process. I would love to hear folk's thoughts on their character and its relationship to themselves.
Some questions that cross my mind....
How did you choose and develop your character? Is your character like yourself? Or someone you know? Do you feel what your character feels (fear, courage, awe, excitement etc)? Or is it all acting? In other words, is there a clear line between you and your character?
Did you do lots of thinking and planning before developing your character, or are you making it up as you go along?
What is it like when you have several characters?
Also very frequently I find myself wondering what the people behind the characters are like. I often feel the urge to break out in a RL chat, but I know that's a "no-no." Does one get to know the real people behind the characters as well?
This a brand new world to me and very fascinating. I look forward to your comments.
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How did you choose and develop your character?
- I have a two characters. The first one is Owen Lo'Kiar. I had just finished the original NWN campaign and started looking for a PW to jump into. Once I read a lot of the forum posts here I saw that Drow were a playable race. So I brainstormed an idea for a drow. I wanted something different though than the standard, I hate my race and fled the underdark. So I made him a bard that had never been in the underdark. He was originally meant as a character to learn how Layonara worked and to get familiar with the world. Then I got too attached. Now I am constantly developing him.
http://www.layonaraonline.com/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=11967&posts=42
The second character I have is much more thought out beforehand and can be seen from his bio. It is entirely too long :) I want to do some things with Regnus but wanted a solid foundation to build it from. Then I started writing his bio and blew up. If you have a lot of time, his bio is here:
http://www.layonaraonline.com/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=15628&posts=5
Did you do lots of thinking and planning before developing your character, or are you making it up as you go along?
See the links above :) Owen is a developing character that I have a destination in mind but whatever happens in the middle is up in the air. Regnus I have several key events in my head that will shape his life. There is room to manuever between those events, but he is headed a certain direction and it will be up to his friends to either watch or intervene.
What is it like when you have several characters?
It depends on my mood really. Owen is a jokester really. He jokes, messes with his friends, and laughs a lot. He can sit down with certain people and be very serious though. For the most part, he is just fun to play.
Regnus is a cleric of Isare. He is more of a character that is always in a good mood but doesnt put on a show like Owen. Regnus is the guy that walks around town with a smile and an appreciation of all that is good in the world. He always looks on the bright side. For the moment at least. Stay tuned :)
Does one get to know the real people behind the characters as well?
I do. Not everyone, but two of my friends came to Layonara with me. I have met several people that I converse with pretty much on a daily basis from here.
I hope that answers some of your questions.
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I was just thinking about this myself the other day. I just started a new character and I went fighter and a orc I have never played an orc and it sounded like a fun challange. Reguardless of how much people like drow and forget about the war orcs are right out side Hlint and attack anything they see. But I didn't want the generic fighter my partents were killed I was raised by kind humans so I'm a good orc.
Thinking of the character creation process I realized all my characters share common thread. All my characters have been touched by magic, most in a negative way. Even my old magic users were touched by magic in almost a cursed way.
As far as developing my characters I have a simple but indetph method. Ok sort of indetph. I have some basic questions I try to answer that form the basic guiding principles that form a responcive personality. Such as the blank form below
Parents living or dead? One or both:
How did they respond to parents? : .
Family size and age range?: Oldest/youngest
How is he/she viewed by the family?:
How did the family get where they are and how long have they been their?:
How does the community react to the family?:
Liked or disliked?:
Characters response?:
Friends and companions?:
Now the friends and companions won’t matter in NWN just PnP, but even in NWN it lets you think of some characteristics and responces. Do you like animals, are you friendly, antisocial etc.
Then a life shaping event or important event
If I am really stuck for an idea i sometimes turn to the NPC generator and spin it a few dozen times to see what comes up on the wizards of the coast website, it follows the same format as above. Its the format from the "hero builders guidebook" their are also plenty of other random character/npc generators on the net if you search for them. Under articles on the WotC website are some character ideas for each class that can jump start the imagination.
I like to form a concept and background that not only gets me a character and reason to be a adventurer at level 1 but a over reaching goal or story that will carry me to 20 or more. I make sure that it is flexable to fit into the world but strong enough that the storyline will not completly eclipse my personnel goal. My goals may or may not have anything to do with Blood and his war.
Then I look over the story I wrote based onthe ideas from my outline, and form a basic personality from that, I give myself some traits and responces, think up how I will talk based on race and int. ANd I take that print it off once approved along with my alignment and the alignment breakdown and keep it handy in game to remind me of important things while I get into and use to my character.
I have 3 characters 1 main one pure RP that can't fight her way out of a wet paper sack but is great for chatting up people in town. And my new Orc fighter that I am still trying to get into, but she has been fun so far. I try to stir up a bit of trouble with her because she is not the smartest person you will meet but she is smart for a orc, but distrustful of people unless you follow Az'atta then she will follow you like a faithful hound if you let her. For me the hardest part of multiple characters is remembering who you know and don't know and who each character likes or don't like. ANd staying in character for that character esp if you swap chars part way thry the session.
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When I first made Quin, I wanted to make him like a paladin, without being a paladin, and it worked pretty well ...
All four of my original characters (Quin, Ashley, Barravelve, and Khalid) are sorta exaggerated aspects of me.
Basically, I decided alot of my characters attiudes after the fact of creation. Alot more developement goes on once you've actually played your character.
And as for getting to know RL people, if you spend any amount of time in game with certain players you'll get a peek at their real life. I know I chat with alot of people OOC in tells too, just to see what is up.
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I based Marcan on myself. Therefore, he is really boring, but simple to play. I made him because I wanted to see what this server was like. Then, as a lot of stories seem to go, I got attached to him. I started keeping his journal, and discovered he's more interesting than I thought.
I have been thinking about making a TN wizard, just for something completely different. But that probably won't happen for a while. Not until Marcan becomes the Undead Hunter he desires to be....
As for RL talks, I would use e-mail. Or just look at these forums, which is what I'm doing. Obviously. PMs work, too.
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There's a clear line beween me and any character I play.
The only thing I can think of that a character of mine
inherits from me is a genetical disease. I'm allergic to
-others'- stupidity.
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Oh, talking OOCly with me through tells is all good. And I can
be reached at irc.layonara.com:6667 too.
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Well I have two main characters Buppi Fallenleaf and Bilvikki who's a goblin....Buppi was originally based on three different people, one was a girl I used to know at school, the other was my wife and the third was my younger brother. Then she started to live in the world and experienced new things she started to take on her own characteristics that I'd never imagined her doing at the start but which all followed on from the original character. The same thing happened with Bil. Originally I just wanted a fun character who would tell a few jokes and have a laugh but wasn't very effective. However the same thing happened, as he grew in the world and experienced new things he too took on his own personality and is far from the original idea that I had for him.
So basically although I had ideas for each of my characters at the start they have all developed organically as they experieced new things in the world and so sort of developed naturally and without any sort of plan. I think this is the best way for a character to develop because I'm always suprised by my characters by their reactions to different events and the discisions they make. Sometimes I feel as if they have lives of their own and I'm not really at that involved in what happens or what they do.
Heh weird eh?
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well, may mother was a human and my father an elf. Still searching but he might have been a wood elf. I grew up with my foster parents and they tought me to respect the land, it was our nourishment and all. I ran accross a person who tought me archery. Then one day a giant spider attacked me and a strange wolf saved my life. I had already believed in the teachings of Folian Spea but after that I was devout.
So yes Cole Etinfall is alot like me.
Etinfall
ps-my brother is a sea elf, my dog is a human rogue fighter and my hamster is an elf sorcerer. So thats where Vakha, Oliver, and Nivlac came from.
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Etinfall - 7/25/2005 11:54 PM
ps-my brother is a sea elf, my dog is a human rogue fighter and my hamster is an elf sorcerer. So thats where Vakha, Oliver, and Nivlac came from.
Lol!!
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- My Character Derrick is an revived D&D character.
- I think there is a little bit of all of us in our characters... but you may not nessesarily be like your character
- I think to some extent you are feeling what your character feels.
- I generally have a concept of the character I want to play. Since there are decisions to make as you go... sometimes it helps to plan in advance as far as game mechanics. Everything else I play as it happens.
- I have often felt... and in fact described it like this: The Game is like a play with no script. The DM sets the stage and plays the NPC characters, The players are the actors and help to develope the story and the script as you go.
- I usually will stick with one character. Sometimes I may create a different character to see what its like or to just have fun.
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Rayenoir is a persona from a story setting that I wrote up. Not a character per se, because she was always supposed to be a legend, or half-thought of at best all the time. Playing her on Layonara was the first real concrete establishment of the character (though she was my avatar in Runescape, if you've ever heard of that one...)
Ars Lifbahn is another from a different world of my mental spawning, but he didn't have as much weird stuff about him. He's very much big on etiquette and rules (lawful neutral... I *never* thought I could play one of those until I realized that's what the character of Ars basically is), and has a definite plan for how he's going to amass knowledge of necromancy until he could take over the world.. though he'll never put such knowledge into practice, he just wants people to acknowledge him and leave him to do his thing, really.
Anita Pultz has a concept but not a very defined characterization yet, which is why I haven't played her much. It's all about being dropped to feeling like nothing, and then climbing back up from that hole.
Yardislan Echron (and for the pronunciation.. it's pretty much phonetic, and I end up saying it differently all the time myself) is the older brother of the elf rogue that I played through the NWN original campaign. Not quite as quick-witted as his brother, but smarter and with more strict morals. Better at direct confrontation and such, but horrible at masking things and sneaking about.
None of my characters are really like me, except in the way that I don't think you can really play a character without having a piece of them in your own person.
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Gloinar is my first character here, a gold dwarf priest of Dorand.
I've been reading and reading, looking at gods, races, maps and a lot of other stuff.
Gold dwarves strike me as the polite dwarves, cheerful, friendly, dwellers of sunlight and air while still feeling the roots of earth that call to them from their racial history. Miners and crafters but at home in the surface world.
Something I wanted to play.
The personality always come from inside for me, it's a construct you can create with or without an element of your own personality. Multiple characters means you must keep the various artificial constructs seperate.
The background of the character is from experience, I know what it is like to delve the depths of the earth but return home to sunlight and air. Gems, rocks, steel, wood and gold I know, the rest I can research or just plain make up on the spot ;)
I imagine there are resources posted on the forums here aplenty for fleshing out a character though I am happy to find some more if there is any particular element of character creation you are struggling with.
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Playing the part of your character is perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of PW's in general. In particular, with this PW server you have the opportunity to create a character with great depth and history which in some respects is rather rare on other servers. I have three characters and each embodies different aspects of me, yet are separate in and of themselves. Which aspects? That's something I'll never reveal ;) But I think for now the actor approach is the best. Play your character taking into consideration how the character type you created should and more importantly would react to a certain situation - not how you, the person sitting behind your computer, would act. Don't play your character and simply cater to everyone. This last statement possibly delves into the realm of the posts regarding racism etc... in some ways however it needs to be said. Many deny they do but I've seen it happen all too frequently - including myself, but I digress - there are certain aspects that are limited by game mechanics. When you play a paladin, act it, don't party with those you know you shouldn't, when you play an elf, don't just engage in a nice chat with a drow you just met about your new outfit unless, though circumstance rare, you play an elf with those traits. Again I've seen characters on this server do those things. Never forget the character you play is an act in a play Leanther created. Keep it that way. OOC isn't just reserved for "//hey bud" or other such comments, it also pertains to doing things, going places, that in all respects, the character type you created would have no part of without due justification that came about from "another scene in the play".
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Interesting topic. I've never really put too much thought into how others RP their charcters. Well to answer your questions;
How did you choose and develop your character?
I imagine it's just like everyone else. Frist I come up with a background of his life before entering the game-world. I just don't come up with where he comes from, but also a full personality. Like how he feels about his life, and events in this life, up to the point he enters the game-world. I also like to make "realistic" characters. What I mean is they come from a common background. They aren't the best at anything they are just everyday people. And, they've had some sort of basic training that led them into the class that they are in now.
Is your character like yourself? Or someone you know?
Yes and no. There's aways a litte bit of me in reach of my characters. I've found that it helps me RP them in a more realistic manner. In all respect tho my characters are their own persons - well as close as you can get anyways.
Do you feel what your character feels (fear, courage, awe, excitement etc)? Or is it all acting? In other words, is there a clear line between you and your character?[/b]
Generally no unless I'm fully immersed in the game. This is a game afterall. It's hard for me, as a player, to develop feels like fear or awe in a game. I do RP my characters with these feelings tho.
Did you do lots of thinking and planning before developing your character, or are you making it up as you go along?[/b]
I would have to say that I do. I have an idea of where I want my characters to go. Getting there is a whole different matter tho. Take my current character. He's basically a commoner that has had a bit of military training. I treat him as a commoner when it comes to RP. He wouldn't risk his life to earn any gold and the concept of killings things to futher his training hasn't accrued to him. Because of this he's quickly finding himself running out of gold without a way to replace it. If things keep going as they are he'll be force to leave Hlint (meaning that I retire him and start a new character) and find work in another town. Now this isn't how I planned my characters life to be. Between my characters personality and RPing with other life for my character has drastically change from how I envisioned it.
What is it like when you have several characters?
I wouldn't know. I only play one charater at a time.
Also very frequently I find myself wondering what the people behind the characters are like. I often feel the urge to break out in a RL chat, but I know that's a "no-no." Does one get to know the real people behind the characters as well?[/b]
I'm new to Layonara myself, so I've yet to get to know anyone - be that in our out of game.
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I got into RPG's, both PnP and online, because I dig stories, adventure, and a good mental challenge. However, I am a very logic oriented person and for my first tries at character creation for DnD all I could see were stats and modifiers. Somewhere between now and those first looks at RPG's I managed to procure a degree in theatre arts, which means that I spent the better part of five years studying the how, what, when, where.. you get the picture... of the art of "role playing." As someone previously mentioned, all characters you play will share a piece of you, that is, by their very nature, must share at least some of your traits, points of view, etc. Also, unless you are schizophrenic, you should always, no matter how 'into' your character you get, recognize it is just a character, and that you are not truly that being. It is a fine line, really, between losing yourself in the character and simply playing the character. (There are a number of actors out there who believe you must lose yourself to, completely become, the character you are playing to play it the best. I disagree, believing that one can interpret and actualize another personality to it's fullest extent without losing one's own.) I bring this up because of questions in this thread and because when you are playing an RPG, as the name implies, you are role playing, which is also known as >acting< So, do you consider yourself an actor? If you have ever "stayed in-character" for longer than a few seconds, than you were acting. Granted, a much different stage and much less make-up, but then, "all the world's a stage," right? I have found all the thoughts on character creation, ideas, playing, etc, from this thread to be useful. I definitely have discovered that how a character starts is certainly not and should never be how a character ends. That is, always leave room for, pursue, and expect growth. Stagnant characters grow old fast. Ever read a book where the main character never, ever changes? Never discovers anything? It's plain boring (yes, there are stories like that out there, some just to make the point that such a story is boring *shakes head*). If you're really having trouble with this whole 'role playing' your character thing, there are a slew of books at public (and college) libraries on acting, character breakdown, etc. I encourage you to ask your local theatre junkies which books and ideas they found helpful.
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oh, and forgot to mention, I get to know the players, mostly by use of in-game tells (green text) and PM's, so as not to interrupt the environment, the illusion of reality, in the game. I often find the people that play the characters are more interesting than the characters themselves ;)
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I started playing on Layonara with a friend of mine. We decided to take a character from an old pen & paper campaign. In that campaign, in which we played for over 20 years - yes, I'm getting old! - something happened in the first few days to Amarath (my character) and Thais (my friends character) to make them distrust each other ever since. We thought it would be fun replaying the characters, but then without the bad start. Well, thing certainly are taking a different course here in layonara.
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Sy'Ravenne (RIP) was pretty much self evolving. The basis of her character was a psychotic schoolgirl. She was a fierce warrior, yet sweet and flirtatious outside of battle. She worked out very well. Her personality evolved as she interracted with other characters. Every interaction, romance, etc, that she had was based on in-game responses. Sometimes she upset people, othertimes she got hurt, but mostly she had a good time and was fun to be around. An important thing to consider is alignment. Sy'Ravenne was chaotic and she was played as such. She would change her mind about things quite often, which also caused some fun interactions.
Nim is a different character altogether. She is Rvenne's mother and grayelf. As such, she is more mature and sophisticated. She is a fairly sweet character, but being a grayelf she has a niaive arrogance in the way she talks about non-elves. She is fun to play and is a different role-play experience. But, ultimately, her whole personality will develop as she interacts with other characters on Layonara.
With both characters I believe that the character controls me, not me controlling the character. With Sy'Ravenne this was most definitely true and with Nim, well we'll see ;)
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How did you choose and develop your character?
I always enjoyed the sneakiness of playing a thief. Even when playing a mage, I ensure that he knows how to hide out of harm's way (mostly because I have always played a loner character). Now I mostly play a wilderness-scout type.
Is your character like yourself? Or someone you know?
Somewhat. I try to extend my own personality into an online persona, rather than creating an entirely new persona that takes much effort to get around. I play this game for fun, not to win an Oscar award for Best Lead Actor.
Do you feel what your character feels (fear, courage, awe, excitement etc)? Or is it all acting?
Fear in some situations. For example... last night my fiancée and I came upon a wisp. After realizing that our mundane weapons were useless against it, I realized that we were up the proverbial creek without paddles. So I had to formulate a plan to make our escape not-too-difficult. It was challenging but fun.
In other words, is there a clear line between you and your character?
Not really. I treat the in-game character as a 'residual self image' of what I'd be like in a medieval setting. I find immersion more enjoyable as such.
Did you do lots of thinking and planning before developing your character, or are you making it up as you go along?
The application I submitted was more of a general guideline. It's in my own personal nature to change my mind at will, so I decided to play a character free from the bonds of society, so that anything erratic he (e.g. I) does is more or less acceptable because of his class. :)
What is it like when you have several characters?
I rarely if ever play several characters. I 'get into' one character and enjoy it for as long as I humanly can, which can be years.
Also very frequently I find myself wondering what the people behind the characters are like. I often feel the urge to break out in a RL chat, but I know that's a "no-no." Does one get to know the real people behind the characters as well?
Sometimes the desire to get to know people is there, but in the long run, I like having the anonymity and just treating the game as a game. On the other hand, the only time I play the game is with my RL fiancée. We meet lots of different characters in-game, but we're there to play online for fun.
This a brand new world to me and very fascinating. I look forward to your comments.
Enjoy :)
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How did you choose and develop your character?
I chose Honora partly because I think there is an overabundance of really pretty people in fantasy, and partly because a half-orc monk has so many RP possibilities.
Is your character like yourself? Or someone you know?
Honora is the part of me that is childlike at times, in awe of the world for the right reasons, idealistic. So she's part of me in that sense but I make choices for her that I would not make for myself (for that reason, likely).
Do you feel what your character feels (fear, courage, awe, excitement etc)? Or is it all acting? In other words, is there a clear line between you and your character?
Sometimes. In a really good fight, in a tense or exciting RP situation, the line can blur. But I don't forget that my pixels are toned, fighting muscle and my self is oozing in my chair from too much sitting :).
Did you do lots of thinking and planning before developing your character, or are you making it up as you go along?
Initally I think we all have a pretty good concept, especially for Layonara which requires it. If the RP is good with the friends you meet, things kind of take on a life of their own after a while though...I never imagined I'd start an RP relationship with her, but there ya go. It's like writing a story at times. It just comes to you that, Hey, that would be cool to do!
What is it like when you have several characters?
I have two but I really only play one. Can't answer that with certainty...I tend to be loyal to one char at a time.
Also very frequently I find myself wondering what the people behind the characters are like. I often feel the urge to break out in a RL chat, but I know that's a "no-no." Does one get to know the real people behind the characters as well?
Yes, but it depends on the player. I would hope that a tell to an individual that prefers total immersion would be met with a polite remark, but not always so. But I really like meeting the player and the character; I've been RPing interesting situations with Honora and chatting in tells to the people I'm RPing with simultaneously. Fun...but helps to be a good typist. I am okay with personal tells and I will let you know if I am too busy to chat.
Hope you enjoy the world!
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How did you choose and develop your character? Is your character like yourself? Or someone you know? Do you feel what your character feels (fear, courage, awe, excitement etc)? Or is it all acting? In other words, is there a clear line between you and your character?
I think there are three reasonable approaches, in order of increasing difficulty:
1. Your character as a respresentation of yourself. Consider what your own personality quirks and general abilities are (or would be in the Layonara environment), and decide on race, class, alignment, etc., that most closely matches your own profile. As far as RP goes, you can just be yourself, though as your character develops, who knows? :)
2. Your character as an (idealized) aspect of your personality. Similar to above, but in this case you are focusing on a part of your personality and using that as the essential nature of the character. For RP purposes, it is essential to remember how much of your own personality to use, and how much the character has a life of his/her own.
3. Your charatcer as a "stranger". This approach really requires the ability to dissociate your personality from your character, and to truly RP in that your playing a role that is defined, though evolving through choices. I would personally recommend this for experienced role players (or those with acting experience) only.
In cases #1 and #2, there is going to be a strong personal identification to your charatcer. In case #3, the character will likely be more like a familiar companion. If you ever start disliking your character, it's going to be hard to play him/her, unless it is a "fun to hate" type of character, so some sort of personal stake is preferred.
I play three characters, though two of them get much less time than the other. All of them fall into case #2 I presented above, where they each reflect some aspect of my personality, though curiously, they all lack charisma, even though in real-life, I am usually seen as a strong leader. Zug is my brash, impulsive, impatient side who just wants to do "good" things without worrying about over-thinking them. Aeoleth represents my preference for working behind the scenes, along with some of my more anarchistic nature (classic CG), though much more idealized (I'm more NG in RL). Vorian is my bookish, introverted, anti-social self, but unlike myself in RL, he lacks any kind of defined ethos or morality.
As far as attributes go, pay very careful attention to INT, WIS, and CHA in the respect that it's far easier to play a character with lower values in these stats than you have in RL than it is to play higher. In simpler terms, taking INT for example, it's easier to play dumber than you are than to play smarter. :)
Did you do lots of thinking and planning before developing your character, or are you making it up as you go along?
I think a good character needs to have a good baseline plan going into things. The submission mechanism here helps enforce that, by requiring a background and personality traits. But just as no battle plan survives contact with the enemy, no character plan is likely to completely survive contact with other players and events unfolding around them.
What is it like when you have several characters?
A lot of it comes down to how much time you have to play... I'd love to play Aeoleth and Vorian more that I do, but I barely play enough to get Zug to advance much. The other two are secretive enough that long absences work for them in RP terms, so I don't worry overmuch about them not being around much. In many ways, Aeoleth was a "trial run" character, to get a feel for the world, and Vorian is around just when I need a change of pace from Zug.
I think you're likely to develop favorites, for whatever reason. Zug's mine, because I just *like* the big, dumb guy.
Of course, it is always important to remember that, when playing multiple characters, your characters do not share friendships, knowledge, or experiences with each other.
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In my experience, in both PnP and Layonara, complete detatchment from your character is nearly impossible, except with concepts you find particularly intruiging. In any flavour of D&D, I find Paladins and the LG alignment in general a little hard to swallow simply because it isn't the way I operate. I realize that alignments are flexible, but I've known far too many holier-than-thou individuals who would fit Lawful Good to feel comfortable RPing in it. A paladin may be in my future, therefore, to overcome this weakness.
Similarly, Chaotic Evil occurs to me to be both pointless and boring. Good for cannon fodder, to be sure, and good enemies when they're made powerful, but hedonistic massacres of everyone in your path get old very quickly. I'm sure a chaotic evil character could be mercurial, and possibly even a solid adventurer, but it's not for me. (I prefer the intrigue of LE *grins*)
Regardless, Kell was planned out at length - I started with what feel I wanted to roleplay - stealth specialist - and went from there. Why the obsession with stealth? What in his upbringing would make him particularly talented at it? What drives him? Then, I was intruiged by the Tiefling subrace (I always had a soft spot for Haer'Dalis in the BGII cast), but I needed to explain why on EARTH a Tiefling would be CG. Naturallement - he received his demonic blood not through heritage, but through incidental divine intervention. After that, I let his character develop as he interacted with others - and we have Kell: reserved, obsessively stealthy, friendly, but struggling at times to control the voices in his head that scream for blood. Stealth and manner of speech, as well as appearance, are my contributions to Kell's character - I've never seen any sense in the direct approach, and if I were a D&D character, I would NOT be the avenging hero type.. I would far rather eliminate my opponents without them ever seeing the hand that did them in.
My currently-in-the-works character contains other aspects of my personality...with Layo's clever death system, it's the only way to go. You need to feel attached to the character, or there's no bite to permadeath - just roll up another character.
Just my two coppers.
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I didn't read everyones post on this because there are so many. But this is about my view toward my character.
I first thought up some basic ideas about my characters past. With that in mind I started to create the background or there past if you wanna call it. I read the background several times to see if I got everything. If i feel like i need to give extra information I put that below My characters background. Like info on the home town, family members and so on.
When playing the character I usualy try to stay in the characters line of thoughts. But I do find myslef doing things the way I would have done. thats why my characters are a little bit like me. I find them easier to play that way.
I'm also new to RP like it is done here on layonara. But I do like it and have learned alot. I have 2 characters but right now only play the last one I created. She can defend herself much better than my first character.
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Thank you for all of the responses. I too am working to try to develop a character to apply to Layonara with, and being relatively new to this kind of experience, I have found these posts very useful.
s.
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>I am new to Layonara,
WELCOME!!!
>>How did you choose and develop your character? Is your character like yourself? Or someone you know? Do you feel what your character feels (fear, courage, awe, excitement etc)? Or is it all acting? In other words, is there a clear line between you and your character?
I have two characters, Supin and Roduna. Supin I play like myself. if ya ever want to know who I am and what I'm like, thats me!!!! Roduna is all an act. friendly, but aloof, not boy crazy, and helpful to others-ok, kinda like myself, but not like Supin is. Maybe Supin is me, and Roduna is what I want myself to be
>Did you do lots of thinking and planning before developing your character, or are you making it up as you go along?
Supin, I do as I go along (I was gone during the changes, so I am RP'ing memory loss... spur of the moment thing) Roduna I have to think and think and think about what a paladin would be like, and its challenging!
>What is it like when you have several characters?
see above... but I barely play Roduna. I like Supin more, and its more interesting RP wise, since I've created a great story around her
>Also very frequently I find myself wondering what the people behind the characters are like. I often feel the urge to break out in a RL chat, but I know that's a "no-no." Does one get to know the real people behind the characters as well?
I got to know a few people. Go ahead and use the MSN messenger, or yahoo, or whatever if you REALLY want to get to know people. otherwise, tells can kinda get you to know the other person. But sometimes not knowing can be more fun!
oh, and my picture on my character is like me-I have 2 cats, and reddish hair (usually-its dyed)
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Hmm, This looks fun
How did you choose and develop your character?
Well Rhynn was originally well developed as your run of the mill hardcore lucindite wizard-ress. She was supposed to be nice to everyone, in turn with the Weave, peaceful, somewhat, but not overly studious, and very naive.
And then influence (From myself, from quests, and from the world and characters around me) kicked in. I developed my character through my interactions with the other characters. I play Rhynn as heavily influenced. Sometimes those influences are good, sometimes those influences are not so good. Rhynn’s past is my past now though, so the backstory was really easy to “develop” (Had to change it a bit but)
Is your character like yourself? Or someone you know?
My character is a carbon copy of myself (minius looks, Rhynn looks nothing like me) Who wound up being influenced in the way I would have been influenced if surrounded by the people Rhynn was and is. If that makes sense. Rhynn’s feelings towards situations are mine. And Rhynn’s reactions to those situations are a reflection of my own.
Do you feel what your character feels (fear, courage, awe, excitement etc)? Or is it all acting? In other words, is there a clear line between you and your character?
Line? What line? There’s supposed to be a line? Opps.
No. The line between fantasy and reality with me is all but non existent…It results in me feeling what my character feels as strongly as she feels it. Which isn’t always a good thing
Did you do lots of thinking and planning before developing your character, or are you making it up as you go along?
Well..I tried to keep her steadfast and planned…It didn’t work. I interfered with my character and then Rhynn was influenced by the goings on of the world around her and the different people in her life and no its more of a making up as I go kind of thing.
What is it like when you have several characters?
I tried a couple times to make new characters, but can’t get into them like I play Rhynn, so I wind up abandoning them….
Also very frequently I find myself wondering what the people behind the characters are like. I often feel the urge to break out in a RL chat, but I know that's a "no-no." Does one get to know the real people behind the characters as well?
I know a lot of the players behind the characters, through tells and then on MIRC and other instant messengers as well. This place is filled with a lot of great and interesting people.
So Feel free to drop me a line in game whatever, I won’t mind. Sometimes nothing’s happening, and I have Rhynn just sitting somewhere so its nice to talk to people. *grins*
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How did you choose and develop your character?
I dunno, I had plans when I created him and I just went with what people did to affecet him. Jet may not be the way he is today had it not been for a few key people in his life. On the other hand, I didn't want Jet to change too much, as too much change too fast isn't realistic at all.
Is your character like yourself? Or someone you know?
God I hope not. Jet can be cold, mean, and at times very close-minded. He's also a bit more determined than I am in most things. The one thing we do have in common is that we can both be very stubborn when we want to.
But I think its a good thing that we are so different, as half the fun of Rping for me is to actually RP someone who isn't you.
Do you feel what your character feels (fear, courage, awe, excitement etc)? Or is it all acting? In other words, is there a clear line between you and your character?
If Jet, or any of my characters, gets into an arguement I can get worked up over it. Same with him giving some sort of motivational speech. But there's always that line there. There's only so deep into the game I can see myself getting, because it is, afterall, just a game.
Did you do lots of thinking and planning before developing your character, or are you making it up as you go along?
When i made Jet, I got a mental image of the warrior in the armor he has, all red and cool-looking. Overtime (about a week or so) I came up with a story for him. That helped me create a personality. And eventually, the Jet we have today was born.
What is it like when you have several characters?
You develop your favorties of those characters quickly. The opther ones tend to sit and collect cyber-dust.
Also very frequently I find myself wondering what the people behind the characters are like. I often feel the urge to break out in a RL chat, but I know that's a "no-no." Does one get to know the real people behind the characters as well?
I speak to some people OOC via tells or other forms of communication. Just spend enough time with someone and your bound to break into chat in tells.
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Now, I've only skimmed a few of the other posts here, so... I'll just jump right on into this without being too influenced by others.
How did you choose and develop your character? Is your character like yourself? Or someone you know? Do you feel what your character feels (fear, courage, awe, excitement etc)? Or is it all acting? In other words, is there a clear line between you and your character?
To answer your paraphrase first, yes. There is a very clear line between myself and my character(s), and I like it that way. Involving yourself too much with your character can lead to some issues OOC that just aren't fun; Layo's been the best place I've ever seen about keeping a clear division between player and character, for the whole playerbase, but other places I've RPed... Well, let's leave it at the statement that getting too involved with a character (and other characters) can be unhealthy.
How did I choose and develop my character(s)? Well, generally speaking I start off with a basic archetype, add a few personal spins, and go from there. With Pyyran, my current primary character, I originally played him in PnP as your typical cowardly, greedy thief. From there he eventually developed (over playtime) into the swashbuckling hero that he was in epic levels. For Layo, I took that concept, and turned the dial back, keeping his general personality traits from later years, but having him just start out. The backstory's the same, too; I came up with that as I went (a mistake on my part).
Pyyran is actually a very great deal like me, in his general attitude towards life. Makes him easier to play. ;)
Feeling what the character feels... This goes back to (or rather, is the basis for the paraphrasing into) the thing about the line between player and character. I'd have to say that the only three emotions I share with Pyyran are frustration, amusement, and weariness; the former less than the others, as often as not. If I allowed myself to indulge in Pyyran's emotions, I'd be much less able to accurately portray him. For example, if he's trying desparately to catch some taverngirl's eye and perhaps heart, it's probably a good idea for me to remain detatched from the situation. After all, we're here to have fun, and a good half of that fun is at the expense of our own characters. *He grins.* Sure, this may be something born from years of PnP, but it's valid enough in NWN.
Did you do lots of thinking and planning before developing your character, or are you making it up as you go along?
Generally, I don't spend much time planning out a character; most of mine start as relatively basic archetypes with whatever spin I want to put on them. From there, they develop out. With the character I'm working on now, though, I'm obsessing over every little detail, and the truth is that I probably won't have as much fun with him as a simpler character who I can play better. Also, big to remember is that a simple character never stays that way long. Hammer out the backstory, though. Definately hammer out the backstory.
What is it like when you have several characters?
Well, for me, as I keep myself more or less detatched from the characters, it's just a variety in the RP you can pursue, and in how you play the game. My two active characters, Pyyran and Tyeaan, are a human rogue and an elven wizard, respectively, with very different personalities. When I don't feel like dealing with Pyyran's perserverance in spite of his awful, awful luck, I play Tyeaan, and get to have fun with languages and spellcasting. When I get bored with that, I can play my higher level, Sneak Attacking character, who knows more about the world as a whole.
Also very frequently I find myself wondering what the people behind the characters are like. I often feel the urge to break out in a RL chat, but I know that's a "no-no." Does one get to know the real people behind the characters as well?
I, for one, do my best to get to know those players who are willing. Having a good working relationship (at least) with another player, especially players behind characters your character interacts with on a regular basis, can smooth a LOT of things over, particularly the more complicated RP situations. Also, the people here are a lot of fun. This isn't just some random PW where everyone runs around looting this, that, and the other. This is Layonara; a community of roleplayers who need to feed thier addiction for D&D. *He chuckles.* Key word there's community.
If I'm not in the middle of something, I'm usually up for a random chat in Tells, or on any one of the instant messengers I use. I've met some very interesting people that way.
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I was big into Theatre and Acting in High School, and I find it loads of fun to play someone completly unheard of in Earthly life. I tend to develop stories through Brain storming, and alot of go'en with the flow'en.
Take Vershanon, In my bio it says she is working on her right of passage, however recent events concerning Mith and Sa'kura Ingame have changed her direction from seeking to appease her Coven to seeking to join a large Magic Organization. Just like in life, your aims change, and I like this go with the flow method of character development.
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i do drama GCSE, so getting into character is pretty easy (coursework is the difficult part).
but also i tend to play character with a sprinkle of my soul in them (they can get arrogant, patronising) but also i give them a past which dictates SPECIFICALLY how they react in certain circumstances (Roggin's family was eaten by a dog, so he reacts to any type of canine like a dwarf does to a drow)
(Goldbeard was raised by fundamentalist dorandites, being agnostic or athiest or whatever the layo equiv is, he patronizes all religious people and think's they are all a wee bit.......erm.....what's the word.....PERCULIER).
also i pay lawful or neutral alighnments, try to play characters with similar alighnments to you (helps judge how your character reacts to something if you know how you would in that situation).
and last of all, make sure you can enjoy playing the character, it's the best rule for an RP server.