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Post by Gambit on Aug 1, 2006 19:22:34 GMT -4
Wonderfully put, Callie. And I had this written up, but seems I got beat to the punch. Figured I'd post anyways.
When it comes to multiple characters, it really depends on the player, like Beast said, as well as many other factors. Some people can make each and every character they play deep and distinct from all the rest, while some people may struggle. Some people find one character enough while others wanna get more involved, maybe wanna challenge themselves with a character type completely different from what they're used ta playin', or what people are used to seein' from them. At risk of repeatin' what's already been said, it depends on the individal player.
And Kenny, while it's good and logical that characters learn how to better control their powers, if you're talkin' about upgradin' your power level or powers in general, that's more somethin' that need to be discussed with the mods.
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Post by Guido Carosella on Aug 1, 2006 19:36:35 GMT -4
There've been some great comments in here on getting started. I'll just enter in my experience for my first few posts, and see if it touches upon any of the aforementioned methods for getting started.
First off, I remember there was a problem with my logon for about a week or so after I registered, so I had plenty of time to read the site and see where the main story was (research!). I then had time to plot and plan and muse about how Guido would fit into this game, whose side he was on, and how he interacted.
My first post was the old standby of showing up on the front door, but I think my reading and research was reflected in my post, and judging from the comments I received (some of them I still have) most people appreciated the effort on my part.
Early on I was pretty much content to hang in the background, as Guido was never an A-list character that really drove plots along. When I ventured into starting my own threads, they were usually the silly and light-hearted variety such as the Spatula of Doom and the Rash of Devilry. In short, what worked for me was to make myself the always-counted-upon-Man Friday, not really a major player but still there to throw some irreverence into the world of mutant angst.
Any complaints about my participation and/or performance from that point onward may be addressed to Beast. It's his fault I'm here.
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Post by Kitty Pryde on Aug 1, 2006 20:51:35 GMT -4
I think it is a very lovely swimsuit and fits Kitty well. Very sexy my dear. Kurt had better take a cold shower. ^_^ Funny, I think Kurt had a similar idea. Oh... mygosh... *stares*
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Desperado
Training Mutant
Former teacher. Former husband. Former agitator. Former slave.
Posts: 29
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Post by Desperado on Aug 1, 2006 21:14:14 GMT -4
My only helpful hints are for OCs, because I have always enjoyed the concept of creating and playing a character who was from my own head. Hence why I play games like Oblivion, which allow for class creation.
As far as OC histories go, don't do what I did when I made Jacob. I repeat that: don't do what I did when I made Jacob.[/b] By that, I mean give him a sob story filled with hardship and blood and murder and all of that bullshit. If I could do it all over again, I'd get rid of all of that and just play him as the normal kid who didn't do well in school and fought too much, whether because he felt he had to or just because he was belligerent would be up to him to find out. He would still have his strange personality (from suffering one too many headshots), but without the "hold me I'm emo" angst going for him, which, over the five years I've had this character, I've come to hate. That's how it works. You make a character at fourteen that you hate at nineteen. I still love the concept of the "Desperado", though, the recklessly bold outlaw who manages to come out of scraps some kind of way.
Once you've made the nice, normal, non-angsty history , you will find it's much easier to bring him/her into the game. If he's just a normal kid who suddenly developed powers, he would react like a normal kid: scared and frightened and panicked, not "YEAH! I'm a mutant, baby! Time to destroy the world!" That's how Magneto and Xavier recruit: from the scared and the frightened. They both have the habit of picking up on a person's fears and using it to bring them to their cause. Also, try to make your hometown somewhere in New York, preferably somewhere near the Big Apple. It'll just make things easier in the long run as far as jumping in.
Lastly, my favorite topic in all OCdom: powers. A wise man once said "with great power comes great responsibility." I think it was Sun Tzu. Not quite sure. Anyway, as far as creating your power goes: remember the Engineer's favorite acronym, KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid. When the lovely moderators here gave me my shadow powers, I thought, "Alright, this is pretty sweet."
And then I learned. Not having explanations or limitations to what it is I'm doing is my bane. My power explanations used to be very simple until I learned enough about how Physics worked in the universe I was in to manipulate it to my whims (which is why I'll never join a DC RPG, I already know how to have a normal human fly). Right now, I can explain to you in Marvel terms just how Jacob's Shadow Powers work and what he is limited to doing.
The true goal of an OC is not creating an uber-powerful character who starts off at Omega-Tier (The Desperado currently is estimated as being at least Alpha Tier, which makes me uncomfortable), but making them Beta or Gamma Tier mutants and figuring out how and if your power can help you in the current situation.
Wolverine's one. You know you want to be like the Wolverine.
Take that last part seriously, though, the part about "And if". If your powers can't help you, then they can't help you. Don't force them to. That's what we call "Munchkining." Though Munchkining is fun in games like Oblivion where it can't hurt anybody or in WoW where everyone expects you to do it anyway, in Online RPG's like this one, it's not good.
And here's my final thought to the new peeps: don't try to be perfect. And by "perfect" I don't mean god-modding "I can't be hit" perfect. I mean the perfect roleplayer. No one expects you to be at first, so don't try. I guarantee that your best stuff will come from you not giving a flying rat's behind about what the other people think of your roleplaying. Such has been the case with me the few times I've actually done it, and I can honestly say that I woefully lack in my roleplaying skills when I do care about how the other people will enjoy it. You're writing for the reader's enjoyment, yes, but you roleplay for yours.
EDIT: Christ Almighty this is long.
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Post by Guido Carosella on Aug 1, 2006 21:25:00 GMT -4
This, boys and girls, should be enshrined in the Help for Newbies section.
I've been meaning to post in Desperado's feedback thread for a while now, but his last post pretty well summed up everything that I love about the character. The man is probably in the running for my favorite active OC due mainly to the maturity shown in his posts, especially the limits he places on himself.
I'll save the gushing for another time, heaven knows I shan't be blamed for derailing another thread. Just a shout out props to the peeps. Or something. Keep it up, anyway.
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Post by Hank McCoy on Aug 1, 2006 22:13:17 GMT -4
It's not derailing to give what Jacob's saying the credibility you just did. And boiling this stuff down to "Help for Newbies" is exactly why I started trying to bribe people to contribute. I miss the Guido's School and the energy that had before Creed made Christine mad. Hence why I play games like Oblivion, which allow for class creation. Oblivion's cool. I have a level 26 Dunmer (Dark Elf) Assassin. That's how it works. You make a character at fourteen that you hate at nineteen. I still love the concept of the "Desperado", though, the recklessly bold outlaw who manages to come out of scraps some kind of way. There isn't any reason Jacob couldn't relaunch like any of the others if there's something you want to fix. Once you've made the nice, normal, non-angsty history , you will find it's much easier to bring him/her into the game. If he's just a normal kid who suddenly developed powers, he would react like a normal kid: scared and frightened and panicked, not "YEAH! I'm a mutant, baby! Time to destroy the world!" That's how Magneto and Xavier recruit: from the scared and the frightened. That's true...but they also recruit from the well-adjusted and/or successful. (Angel and Wolverine are two I can think of who were definitely not frightened. Okay, so maybe Logan wasn't well-adjusted either.... ) I don't think it's the angst so much...it's the loner/disaffected angst that makes things really difficult. A wise man once said "with great power comes great responsibility." I think it was Sun Tzu. Not quite sure. It was the great philosopher: Stan Lee. Anyway, as far as creating your power goes: remember the Engineer's favorite acronym, KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid. Bravo. Less is definitely more...and as far as playing goes, it turns out to be a LOT more fun to have your character stumble, learn, and fail than it is to win all the time. Ask anyone. Well....anyone who's been successfully playing for a while. My power explanations used to be very simple until I learned enough about how Physics worked in the universe I was in to manipulate it to my whims (which is why I'll never join a DC RPG, I already know how to have a normal human fly). You, my friend, have a prejudicial (and arguably incorrect) notion about DC characters. Both major companies have characters with issues. Not that I'm in any way trying to get you to join a DC RPG. And here's my final thought to the new peeps: don't try to be perfect. And by "perfect" I don't mean god-modding "I can't be hit" perfect. I mean the perfect roleplayer. No one expects you to be at first, so don't try. I guarantee that your best stuff will come from you not giving a flying rat's behind about what the other people think of your roleplaying. Such has been the case with me the few times I've actually done it, and I can honestly say that I woefully lack in my roleplaying skills when I do care about how the other people will enjoy it. You're writing for the reader's enjoyment, yes, but you roleplay for yours. Bravo, again. If it isn't fun...you're doing it wrong. (Or somebody's dragging you into too many crummy scenes. ) EDIT: Christ Almighty this is long. Boy, if I had a nickle for every time I've heard that. Nobody likes a bragger.
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Post by Kitty Pryde on Aug 1, 2006 22:20:45 GMT -4
You said it, Guido.
Desi, I could just kiss you for that post. It really outlined all the issues I have with OCs, especially the "omg, emo!angsty past!" thing that seems to be quite the trend. I'm not knocking anyone's characters or anything, and there are some angsty pasts in canon (though that's a different thing altogether) but I'd much prefer to play a scene with someone where I don't have to worry about it turning into some angstfest about their past.
It's different for canon characters because these are all characters we know. We already know who they are, so they aren't just this walking ball of angst with no other traits, you know? Not all of them are that way, though. Take Kitty for example. The main thing that makes her so easy to play, and such a blast, is that she's a fairly normal person. Her biggest tragedy before joining the X-Men was that her parents got separated. She's easy to relate to, which is a lot of the fun for me. I never have to struggle to write her.
The same interest goes for OCs. Again, this is only my opinion, but I'd much rather read about some normal kid that suddenly has these extraordinary powers and has to learn how to use them than about someone who has this super tragic past that they constantly dwell on, and has complete control of their powers. I like your average Joe characters, because, like I said, they're easier to relate to. When it comes to OCs, this is a draw for me because I don't know them. I don't know who they are or understand them like canon characters, you know? I hope I'm making sense.
Another little tidbit to avoid: The One-Trick Pony. Sure, some characters work (sort of) like this. Like if someone is the comic relief, that's all well and good. But really? Characters need layers. Like an onion. ;D How many people would really care about Kitty if I played her like an airhead whose sole purpose was to bake horrible food? It would get old real fast, and nobody would be interested in any interaction. Make sure you flesh your character out. I think Bobby was a wonderful example of this. He was a total jokester, but once in a while he'd just throw in this scene that really showed depth to his character and made you wonder how much of the carefree attitude was real. Sabretooth is another one. He's not just some psycho killing machine. He kills without reservations or guilt at times, even enjoys it, but he's not a total monster. There's so much more to him which makes him way more interesting than just a brainless killing machine.
anyways, if I made no sense, blame it on lack of sleep. Which I shall go and attempt to remedy. Again.
Oops, I'm all slow and posted over you, Beast. Sorry! I'd edit, but your last little comment kinda left me speechless.
Which I'm sure will earn another comment... ;D
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Post by Hank McCoy on Aug 1, 2006 23:42:41 GMT -4
NOBODY PANIC! I found us a lifeguard.
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Post by Guido Carosella on Aug 1, 2006 23:49:19 GMT -4
EDIT: Christ Almighty this is long. Boy, if I had a nickle for every time I've heard that. Nobody likes a bragger. Me, too. I'd have about 15 cents. EDIT: Booyeah. Check out tha guns, ladies.
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Post by Hank McCoy on Aug 2, 2006 0:33:57 GMT -4
Hey, I was comparing the number of times people have read this thread to all the other Help ones.
We really knocked the pants off of....
Wait. Let me rephrase that.
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Post by Callie on Aug 2, 2006 6:43:18 GMT -4
No, the pants are still on, luckily. As far as a British person would think it anyway.
*applauds* to everybody who's posted stuff, they're all some really good hints and tips. My brain's currently dried out but I'll get back to you if I think of anything
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Post by Hank McCoy on Aug 2, 2006 13:27:51 GMT -4
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Aug 2, 2006 13:42:12 GMT -4
looks like Remy wants to be any place but there
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Post by Callie on Aug 2, 2006 14:19:45 GMT -4
mm sexymoody
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Desperado
Training Mutant
Former teacher. Former husband. Former agitator. Former slave.
Posts: 29
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Post by Desperado on Aug 2, 2006 15:26:58 GMT -4
I think I'm flattered, Guido. I can't really tell through all of the stress I've got right now from school, but I definitely think I'm flattered. In fact, I probably shouldn't be posting this right now and doing my homework, but for Christ's sakes I need a break! Finals is next week, I had two tests in the same class yesterday, and I have a project due in the aforementioned class tomorrow. Luckily, all I have left to do with that is come up with a presentation. Hence why I play games like Oblivion, which allow for class creation. Oblivion's cool. I have a level 26 Dunmer (Dark Elf) Assassin. Ah, yes, the Sneak/Alchemy/Blade skill combo is insane. I've done the math, and by the time I become a Master Alchemist/Sneak/Bladesman, I'll be popping off something like 5000 damage to things. The class I made is a variant of assassin, but with things like Alteration and Illusion instead of Acrobatics and Marksman. Currently, he's a Lvl. 23 Breton Ninja (that's what I call the class) with the Thief Birthsign. Oh, and Superman flies by the sheer force of his will. Not sure if you knew that. He doesn't even require sunlight to fly, just to survive flight at high speeds. I realize that both systems have broken characters, but for some reason DC just seems to have more than their fair share from what I've seen.
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