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+--- Thread: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? (/showthread.php?tid=7433)
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - Kage - 06-23-2014
Honestly, it's really hard for me to RP with people and/or characters that I (myself) find annoying. Mainly because my characters do tend to somewhat think like myself. Not always can I figure it out but some peoples' personalities just rub me the wrong way and I'd rather steer clear of that OOCly and ICly.
I try to make my character real. Both in personality and growth as well as his faults. That way he can develop and hopefully, others will love to see that development as much as I do.
I mean really, who -isn't- interested in the lalafell who turned Miqo'te that just recently killed two Brass Blades because they heard his name while under cover? /shot
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - FreelanceWizard - 06-23-2014
(06-23-2014, 03:01 PM)Ckayah Tia Wrote: Now here's an interesting point, in my mind: Just because a character isn't competent in some area doesn't mean that they have a huge glaring weakness that shows up everyday. They might not be aware of this weakness; they might not care about it; they might structure their life such that this weakness simply never comes up. To them, they may be self-contained and capable. Yet when they're faced with a problem that plays to this weakness, they're suddenly faced with something they can't do themselves.
This is always a really interesting aspect of RP for me, both to play out and to watch. "Pride goeth before the fall," it's said, and a very fun part of RP is to have a prideful (or even just confident) character encounter something for which they're thoroughly ill-equipped and where they ultimately fail or have to ask for help. It's a realistic, relatable situation while remaining entirely plausible for characters regardless of their skill level, and in my experience, it always leads to a lot of interesting character development. I always try to write my characters such that they have several opportunities to get smacked in the face by their weaknesses, even if they're not aware of those weaknesses.
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - Maia - 06-23-2014
I like characters who are defined more by backstory and personality than by what powers or skills they have. /personal preference
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - Whittledown - 06-23-2014
I think the keyword form is 'Dynamic'.
A character should be a living breathing entity that adapts and changes as they progress through their own stories and the stories of those around them. Character generation isn't and end in itself, it's a starting point. So long as the characters grow and change there's a good chance we'll get along.
Another thing that I think is very important is this: Can I imagine this character in repose? By that I mean, is your character presented in such a way that it is impossible to imagine them without something going on around/involving them? I love imagining a characters down-time. They can't be busy and active all the time, so what do they do when they're resting or relaxing? What would they do with a day that they have all to themselves and nothing to do? These are very important questions I feel that sometimes get lost in the rush of drama and adventure.
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - K'nahli - 06-23-2014
I lean more towards more "normal" characters or those who are within the realms of realistic capability. I can easily imagine myself turned off by being involved in a scene where everyone is doing the part while being limited by the fact they are human and then someone comes along and clears out a bunch of foes as if it were easy for them.
That said, I have nothing against strong characters... I just don't like when that is a defining characteristic or when actions scenes could become stale because everything is played down as being "not that big a deal" just because they are presnt. I imagine it would also reflect badly on the weaker(i.e normal) characters as being negligible almost.
I also prefer when some people show some respect to, at the very least, the main factors of the lore and don't make up their own rules just to suit their own preferences; that is mostly a thing I would apply to large communities such as this one here.
I also like characters who can gain my interest without having to shove a bunch of exciting things in my face, so personality, delivery and backstory are simply massive for me.
*rushed post* !
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - Dresden Voltaire - 06-23-2014
I like dynamic characters with interesting backstories. Personally, I'm not interested in farmers or average joes, especially not in a Final Fantasy game. Actual scholars discussing the pros and cons about aether or two gladiators having a shouting match over how to take a certain monster down is way more entertaining to read than how the kids are doing or moving furniture. I can get that in real life.
But whether or not you're a farmer or an actual surviving Allagan relic to me is how the character conducts themselves. Some people use these special backstories just for the 'special snowflake' motif, others actually do have something to write about.
If you're going to make a special character, respect mah authori-lore. I'll RP with that last surviving Nymian of yore if they write them really well. (And it actually makes sense.)
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - ArmachiA - 06-24-2014
My favorite type of characters are pretty much normalish in backstory.
I believe very strongly that I don't want an extraordinary character, I want a character where extraordinary things happen around her. She's normal for the world, usually a farmer or a priestess or a pirate, but crazy things happening around her and how she reacts are the most fun.
I don't want to play that I'm super powerful. At the end of the day, it's boring. Where's the conflict if I can beat anyone who come across my path? Where's the drama if I can't train to get better because I'm already the best? I once played a special snowflake character when I first got into MMO RP, the worst part was people LET ME. She was one dimensional and uninteresting and used her power as a crutch to make her interesting. Never again.
This normalcy never makes her boring! It's Final Fantasy, for instance. She's fought Garleans, Got skipped ahead in time at Carteneau, looked for ancient Allagan artifacts, been possessed by a Voidsent. These aren't grand things about her, but they happened TO her and made her grow.
In general, I tend to lie to play confident, snarky, flirty types. Those are the most fun for me, though I will admit playing Armi the exact opposite of that in this game has actually been a lot of fun. I still have Loki for my snarky girl
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - Zhavi - 06-24-2014
I mean, besides the general what-I-consider-good-development-vs-bad-development thing that has mostly been covered, there's some things that will almost always catch my attention and get my interest. Things that appeal to me, if you will.
These are almost always superficial and generally tacked on things to that which I consider necessary to interesting and well-rounded characters. Someone used the word "dynamic". That's a good word.
But, when it comes down to it, the superficial is what appeals to me.
I ain't perfect.
Ugly
I love ugly. There is a place for beauty, but I have a thing for gross. Give me the rough and tumble, give me the walleye, give me the imperfect and I will be watching everything you do. It takes a special kind of fortitude to play the truly ugly (Zhi doesn't count, she's like ugly-lite or diet ugly), and I have nothing for respect for those who pull it off. There was this guy who once made this character who was a horrible, grotesque, pus-oozy sort of dude. Sores, a cripple, disfigured: dude had a super rough life, and it showed. And I was in love. End of story.
(as a side note, perfectly plain characters who are not hiding beauty behind a pair of glasses or waiting for a makeover also earn love. I think those characters are, in some ways, hardest to portray -- so seeing them done well makes me giddy)
Eccentricity
Show me a character whose eccentricities make sense and are well thought out, and I'll be humping your leg. Example: dude made a sailor who was about as superstitious as was possible to get. Oh yeah, I mean, this guy wasn't a badass by any means, but the sheer amount of portent-reading and paranoia made him a badass. From an ooc perspective, at least.
Special Snowflakes
Did you just cringe? I'm sure one of you did. Before you recoil too far away in horror, keep in mind it's part of the whole thing. Neko-vampire-dragon-love-babies aren't what I'm talking about. Characters that do things that I, at least, consider to be daunting or undesirable in a general sense? Yes, please. Like, um, taking an unpopular race and making sweet, sweet love to its generalized culture and habits to the point that I want to make one, like, yesterday. Or putting a spin on the established culture that is still believable. Doing something out of the ordinary in a way that doesn't scream LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME will, oddly enough, make me look at you. And then maybe hump your leg. Quietly.
Gimmicks
Having your character have a thing that they do that becomes what they're known for without it being obnoxious. I'M GOING TO DO A TERRIBLE THING AND NAME NAMES. Gus Pumpkinweed with pumpkins. Verad with the selling and acquiring of junk. Quick, easy to identify, and made to be interesting. (I need to rp more with Verad, really) You get a feel for the character like that while still being able to see depth -- you know there's more to the character while still being absolutely fascinated with what's on the surface. Grabby hands all over. (this might look like eccentricity, but it's not, I swear. Just trust me)
Boring
Mostly because it's made interesting. Some of these characters I have a hard time pinpointing of why I find it interesting, but essentially it's something dull and trite that has become absolutely magical. Generally when I see this it's because the person doing the writing either has some idea of what they're doing or they're just naturally talented and either way I fall to incredible envy and admiration.
Sense
People who have obviously taken pains to have their character make sense, no matter how outlandish the concept might be, are wonderballs. Like I don't care how freakish your character is. If I can take a glance over the history or whatever and see 'oh wow, this fits in while being freakish' -- yeah, I'll swallow just about anything. It goes along with everything prior in this list. I mean, the preceding are great on their own, but making it make sense will earn you my slavish rp devotion.
There's probably more, but those are my main ones. Highly opinionated, and therefore ultimately useless except in regards to me, personally (and those who express similar opinions, of course).
But then again, things that appeal to people are like that.
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - 岡本　秀樹 - 06-24-2014
A lot of leg humping going on here...
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - Zhavi - 06-24-2014
Well, I mean, I have to express my appreciation somehow.
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - Berrod Armstrong - 06-24-2014
I enjoy pretenders.Â
There's something engaging to me about a character who has to play a character, whether he's/she's a murderer trying to blend in or a Tia pretending to be a Nunh. I have a fun time watching the character portrayals, particularly when the player drops subtle hints or uses excellent foreshadowing in their posts. I've played a few pretenders in my time and I've had a blast managing the intricacies of it all. On the side, it's amazing to see other characters figure out things (or continue to be fooled by things) as the relationships develop between them and the pretender. Such good stuff!
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - FreelanceWizard - 06-24-2014
One thing I'd add that I really like, which sort of echoes the comments about characters that one can envision having a life outside of adventuring, is the superb doing the mundane. You might recall the X-Men comics where the mutants are playing baseball, or the scene in X-Men 2 where Logan is getting a drink in the kitchen, or the scene after the credits of Avengers where they're going out for shawarma -- these sorts of scenes of powerful heroes doing completely mundane things are something I absolutely adore. Characters that go back to the Bismarck, have a drink, and shoot the breeze about "normal" things (the weather, the harvest, the latest gossip) then hop up in response to a call on their linkpearl to go take down a ritual to summon Garuda have a realism to them that I rather enjoy.
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - ArmachiA - 06-24-2014
(06-24-2014, 10:39 AM)FreelanceWizard Wrote: One thing I'd add that I really like, which sort of echoes the comments about characters that one can envision having a life outside of adventuring, is the superb doing the mundane. You might recall the X-Men comics where the mutants are playing baseball, or the scene in X-Men 2 where Logan is getting a drink in the kitchen, or the scene after the credits of Avengers where they're going out for shawarma -- these sorts of scenes of powerful heroes doing completely mundane things are something I absolutely adore. Characters that go back to the Bismarck, have a drink, and shoot the breeze about "normal" things (the weather, the harvest, the latest gossip) then hop up in response to a call on their linkpearl to go take down a ritual to summon Garuda have a realism to them that I rather enjoy.
So much this. I hate when people think the only good RP is when you're being a badass in a dungeon or something. There's so much more out there! I love plotlines and dungeons crawls and primal fighting, but not enough can be said for character and relationship building as well. It's all important.
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - Melodia - 06-24-2014
(06-24-2014, 07:26 AM)Zhavi Wrote: UglyI think I play my character Ruru with a more inward ugliness. He's depressed, angry and as was pointed out in his rp once by said player I am quoting (lol) he's a spoiled brat who tantrums at the drop of a hat. Though he wears a weak mask of control and calm. I love this kind of character....conflicted and trying hard to mask who s/he really is. Why shows like Dexter and Breaking Bad appeal to me. When I rp I wonder when Ruru's inner ugliness will be seen by others. Some have seen glimpses, and others have called him on it a couple of times. Makes playing him fun.
I love ugly. Â There is a place for beauty, but I have a thing for gross. Â Give me the rough and tumble, give me the walleye, give me the imperfect and I will be watching everything you do. Â It takes a special kind of fortitude to play the truly ugly (Zhi doesn't count, she's like ugly-lite or diet ugly), and I have nothing for respect for those who pull it off. Â There was this guy who once made this character who was a horrible, grotesque, pus-oozy sort of dude. Â Sores, a cripple, disfigured: dude had a super rough life, and it showed. Â And I was in love. Â End of story.
(as a side note, perfectly plain characters who are not hiding beauty behind a pair of glasses or waiting for a makeover also earn love. Â I think those characters are, in some ways, hardest to portray -- so seeing them done well makes me giddy)
RE: What is the most appealing kind of character to you? - Crisiet - 06-24-2014
I play "broken" characters because it allows me to explore my own issues in a safe environment. Similarly, I enjoy interacting with characters that know their limits and are, well, normal! If I can take the setting into account and meet a character and believe that this character fits into that world, I enjoy meeting them.
The most appealing type of character to me is a character that's just trying to get by from day to day, even if that's a monumental struggle.