(10-31-2015, 04:14 AM)Graeham Wrote: I just don't let negative stereotypes reinforced by player characters dictate how my character views the other playable races. It's a stance I urge every role-player to embrace because whilst it can be nice to shape a character's judgement of other races based on actual in-game interaction...a lot of the time it is a completely jarring contrast to how that race is actually perceived within the game world.
In other words, just because a lot of lalafell may be role-played as being like children it does not mean that it's the norm. It's always kind of jarring for me when I find myself enthusiastic about a particular race (in my case, Au Ra) but I end up having to wade through some very silly stereotypes at almost every turn just because the majority of Au Ra are portrayed a certain way...even when the NPC's that we encounter don't act that way.
Exactly the point I was trying to make, myself. A lot of the stereotypes are driven by OOC behaviors more than IC, too (or, again, enforced by how the character creator/gear options will make us look). That is how Lalafell become cutesy little thing, Au Ra become anime girls, and Miqo'te become slutty toys.
I'll also add this in so that I don't get told I'm being off topic again. In my linkshell there is this Lalafell RPer who does often OOCly put himself down BECAUSE he is a Lalafell. For example, when we once RPd our group being attacked, he stepped out saying "no one would take <my character's name> if he tried to do something anyway". And he does this a lot, (even though we have never given him a reason to be that way, we are all ICly very aware of Lalafell strength and of the miner twins throwing a Roe out in that cutscene and blah blah blah, so it is likely that he is depressed about the open RP he gets out of the LS) and we don't really know what to do with him other than inviting him to try RP something.
To be an interesting, intriguing, well-written character, there needs to be something to allow the audience to relate to them. That is what the problem is with who wants their character to be "perfect". Perfect characters will never be strong, and strong characters will never be perfect, because WE (those who read, who watch, who RP) are not perfect.
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." -- N.C.
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." -- N.C.