I ran into this conundrum when I first started RPing and doing combat RP in particular. Lemme start with I never intended Sounsyy to be a "powerful" character, just an experienced one. Like Kale, she has about 20 years combat experience. She started as an Ala Mhigan Resistance grunt soldier fighting the Garleans. She eventually joined the Corpse Brigade, where she learned to fight dirty. Then she became a Noxius (slave gladiator) for a few years buying her freedom to return to the Resistance. After the Resistance was crushed she left the Aldenard mainland altogether to retire in Limsa by the sea, only to enlist as a Barracuda when tensions between the Garleans arose. So from Garleans, to Gladiators, to beasts, to pirates - Sounsyy has seen some shit, but as much as that defines her personality, I didn't want all that to define her RP.
I kind of came to that realization after Sounsyy got her arse handed to her a few times in combat RP and Grindstone. Initially, I handwaved it as she was still recovering from her near-death experience at Carteneau, which I still treat as a factor, but then I realized Sounsyy's story isn't about winning. It's really the opposite. She's been on the losing side of just about every battle, but after 20 years experience losing, she hasn't given up yet. She's still got that drive, and that's what make her a strong character in my opinion. So if she wins, great, I hash it up to experience, if she loses, I get to explore why she might have lost.
Granted, that's all very specific to my character and may not fly with yours, but I've always felt that a character who doesn't get what they want or expect to get (ie. winning Grindstone) offers more avenues for character growth than a character who never struggles with something they think they're good at. That said, if another RPer recognizes my character is a seasoned veteran and thinks there's no way their peasant could best her in a fight, I try to have fun with that sort of pre-arranged combat as well and let Sounsyy maintain a little bit of her pride.
I know this post has gone on pretty long, but in short I agree with what everyone else has added. Kiht made some excellent points about varying combat styles per region. And also that a lot of factors go into combat besides just experience. In my own experience I know this to be quite true. I have nearly 10 years experience with a Korean self-defense martial art style called Kuk Sool Won, which teaches techniques to disarm and deflect real world attackers or "street fighting" as opposed to martial artist versus martial artist. I also have one year experience with MMA. Despite this, when I was in college I got mugged by three guys outside a bar. "Experience" says I should've been able to defend myself pretty easily. "Real Life" weighed the element of surprise, superior numbers, and superior body mass over experience in that instance.
Also,
I see what you did there Warren. ;P
I kind of came to that realization after Sounsyy got her arse handed to her a few times in combat RP and Grindstone. Initially, I handwaved it as she was still recovering from her near-death experience at Carteneau, which I still treat as a factor, but then I realized Sounsyy's story isn't about winning. It's really the opposite. She's been on the losing side of just about every battle, but after 20 years experience losing, she hasn't given up yet. She's still got that drive, and that's what make her a strong character in my opinion. So if she wins, great, I hash it up to experience, if she loses, I get to explore why she might have lost.
Granted, that's all very specific to my character and may not fly with yours, but I've always felt that a character who doesn't get what they want or expect to get (ie. winning Grindstone) offers more avenues for character growth than a character who never struggles with something they think they're good at. That said, if another RPer recognizes my character is a seasoned veteran and thinks there's no way their peasant could best her in a fight, I try to have fun with that sort of pre-arranged combat as well and let Sounsyy maintain a little bit of her pride.
I know this post has gone on pretty long, but in short I agree with what everyone else has added. Kiht made some excellent points about varying combat styles per region. And also that a lot of factors go into combat besides just experience. In my own experience I know this to be quite true. I have nearly 10 years experience with a Korean self-defense martial art style called Kuk Sool Won, which teaches techniques to disarm and deflect real world attackers or "street fighting" as opposed to martial artist versus martial artist. I also have one year experience with MMA. Despite this, when I was in college I got mugged by three guys outside a bar. "Experience" says I should've been able to defend myself pretty easily. "Real Life" weighed the element of surprise, superior numbers, and superior body mass over experience in that instance.
Also,
(02-09-2015, 11:11 AM)Warren Castille Wrote: ICly he's only had to draw his weapon with any seriousness a small handful of times.
I see what you did there Warren. ;P
