Backgrounds
I prefer simple backgrounds that are adequate to provide reasons for why the character is the way they are. Every reaction should be explainable, even if it is that the character has unexplainable fits of rage (due to ___ in childhood, or something). This creates a character who feels more real and reacts consistently. A simpler background gives a lot of room for growth and development (positive or negative), too. Why have a ton of stuff happen in your character's past, when you can RP stuff and actually work through it IC?
I see nothing wrong with your character having that special relationship with the elementals. When I was introducing the white mage deal into Aysun's story I made her think she was just 'hearing things.'
IC = IG?
I personally try to RP IG = IC as much as possible as far as physical appearance for my own character. I can't remember all the uniqueness of people I RP with, and I'm sure they'd get tired of typing it up, though I do try. Just try to get as close to what you'd want them to look like as possible (use a longer hair model, even if it's in a pony tail or braids, if you want a long haired character, that sort of thing) so it makes it easier on us to remember that 'hey, this person looks different.' Gear is an exception usually in IC battle situations because your gear does effect your performance (and I will never wear those bard tights IC). Bottom line: if you look different and want people to know it, get used to typing it up for us, and don't expect people to remember! Especially if you play a male miqo'te before 2.0 (which there are some, and most people hopefully accept them by now...). Just make him look as manly as you can and role with it. Just avoid wearing gear that is revealing on female models ICly..
Of course, not being able to change our physical appearance at all makes it kind of hard. Hair grows, people get hurt, scarred.. so yea. It's certainly acceptable that IC =/= IG.
Roles/Jobs
You could think of it like this: Class/Jobs we level are your roles in combat situations, and crafts can be just trade life skills learned. You can have an occupation outside of your leveled classes.
Applying game classes to a character is fun: Aysun was an archer due to upbringing (I started as archer), and it helped her survive for hunting and defense. She had certain crafts that would make sense also due to her upbringing (she is weaver, leatherworker, and carpenter IC, dabbling in alchemy and a poor cook). She applied her knowledge to leves to make gil. Conjurer/white mage she learned out of necessity to deal with injuries, and she does not fully understand it. Bard came naturally IC; due to her love of dancing she was able to understand the concept of a bard as more than just a performer.
People are liberal and creative with their walks of life and I encourage it!
Posting
It's style. Be flexible. I have always adapted my play style to who I am playing with. If they make short posts, I do too, so I don't bore them. If they gave me thought-out long posts, I try to return the same amount of effort in mine.
In combat, I don't expect posts other than the occasional order or shout or something. I think we're all pretty realistic that it's hard to fight Ifrit and post about it. If your character walks and draws his bow, you don't need to type that up, I just saw him do it! That part applies in normal RP too, for me. What your character does on screen is what I accept as their motions (so be careful with /emotes! xD)
Some people have commented about placing thoughts and feelings in posts. I do that. I enjoy it, because I enjoy writing. It had never offended anyone before, so I was unaware that people didn't like it. So when I play with the person who has informed me that he doesn't like it, I try to limit it.
Icebreakers
Acceptable yes of course, but just remember that your character had to have grown up somewhere and should have a grasp on certain things they grew up with. As long as there's a reason that they don't know about x or y, then it's fine. (Amnesia gets really old, though...). Some reasons: sheltered as a child; raised in Ul'dah and never had left; raised in a hamlet; raised at sea (mine); and of course many people say their characters were raised in some of the inaccessible areas. They take a risk with this, as the lore of those areas may change and suddenly their back story is invalid.. I would hate for that to happen!
Consistancy
Many people make their own story lines, using the lore discovered from the main story as a base to start from. They invent their own NPCs and create story RP for their linkpearl to participate in, with it's own conspiracy and battles.
The Echo is something we all start with in this game. Whether you chose to have your character have it is your choice. Aysun has the Echo, as I began her story when she took the chocobo-cart into the city of Ul'dah. The parade happened, for her, she heard the voice. The fact that she knows this skill is not a normal one to have and shouldn't be something she brings up or uses, implies that I have taken some of the main storyline ICly. Will it ever come up in RP? Doubtful. I have only used it for the language aspect, and even that Aysun will not admit to understanding generally, because she doesn't wish to be exposed as having the Echo.
The job storylines complicated all this too. From the sounds of things, DRG was kind of bad for soloing you out as special, like WHM was. Be creative, try to think of another reason your character could be that desired job, or use the storyline and modify it a little to make it fit reasonably. I would never bring up the fact that there should be only 'one' of anything in RP. Or something else I've seen, just ignore it. Maybe you can become a white mage the same way you can anything else, by learning it and practicing it. You don't have to work for the little horned child to be deemed 'white mage.'
Also, just because you're rank 50, doesn't mean you're a master. It simply means you have nothing else they can teach you at the moment. You're not good enough to learn the next, more complicated step... This prepares us for the inevitable raise of the level cap.
I prefer simple backgrounds that are adequate to provide reasons for why the character is the way they are. Every reaction should be explainable, even if it is that the character has unexplainable fits of rage (due to ___ in childhood, or something). This creates a character who feels more real and reacts consistently. A simpler background gives a lot of room for growth and development (positive or negative), too. Why have a ton of stuff happen in your character's past, when you can RP stuff and actually work through it IC?
I see nothing wrong with your character having that special relationship with the elementals. When I was introducing the white mage deal into Aysun's story I made her think she was just 'hearing things.'
IC = IG?
I personally try to RP IG = IC as much as possible as far as physical appearance for my own character. I can't remember all the uniqueness of people I RP with, and I'm sure they'd get tired of typing it up, though I do try. Just try to get as close to what you'd want them to look like as possible (use a longer hair model, even if it's in a pony tail or braids, if you want a long haired character, that sort of thing) so it makes it easier on us to remember that 'hey, this person looks different.' Gear is an exception usually in IC battle situations because your gear does effect your performance (and I will never wear those bard tights IC). Bottom line: if you look different and want people to know it, get used to typing it up for us, and don't expect people to remember! Especially if you play a male miqo'te before 2.0 (which there are some, and most people hopefully accept them by now...). Just make him look as manly as you can and role with it. Just avoid wearing gear that is revealing on female models ICly..
Of course, not being able to change our physical appearance at all makes it kind of hard. Hair grows, people get hurt, scarred.. so yea. It's certainly acceptable that IC =/= IG.
Roles/Jobs
You could think of it like this: Class/Jobs we level are your roles in combat situations, and crafts can be just trade life skills learned. You can have an occupation outside of your leveled classes.
Applying game classes to a character is fun: Aysun was an archer due to upbringing (I started as archer), and it helped her survive for hunting and defense. She had certain crafts that would make sense also due to her upbringing (she is weaver, leatherworker, and carpenter IC, dabbling in alchemy and a poor cook). She applied her knowledge to leves to make gil. Conjurer/white mage she learned out of necessity to deal with injuries, and she does not fully understand it. Bard came naturally IC; due to her love of dancing she was able to understand the concept of a bard as more than just a performer.
People are liberal and creative with their walks of life and I encourage it!
Posting
It's style. Be flexible. I have always adapted my play style to who I am playing with. If they make short posts, I do too, so I don't bore them. If they gave me thought-out long posts, I try to return the same amount of effort in mine.
In combat, I don't expect posts other than the occasional order or shout or something. I think we're all pretty realistic that it's hard to fight Ifrit and post about it. If your character walks and draws his bow, you don't need to type that up, I just saw him do it! That part applies in normal RP too, for me. What your character does on screen is what I accept as their motions (so be careful with /emotes! xD)
Some people have commented about placing thoughts and feelings in posts. I do that. I enjoy it, because I enjoy writing. It had never offended anyone before, so I was unaware that people didn't like it. So when I play with the person who has informed me that he doesn't like it, I try to limit it.
Icebreakers
Acceptable yes of course, but just remember that your character had to have grown up somewhere and should have a grasp on certain things they grew up with. As long as there's a reason that they don't know about x or y, then it's fine. (Amnesia gets really old, though...). Some reasons: sheltered as a child; raised in Ul'dah and never had left; raised in a hamlet; raised at sea (mine
); and of course many people say their characters were raised in some of the inaccessible areas. They take a risk with this, as the lore of those areas may change and suddenly their back story is invalid.. I would hate for that to happen!Consistancy
Many people make their own story lines, using the lore discovered from the main story as a base to start from. They invent their own NPCs and create story RP for their linkpearl to participate in, with it's own conspiracy and battles.
The Echo is something we all start with in this game. Whether you chose to have your character have it is your choice. Aysun has the Echo, as I began her story when she took the chocobo-cart into the city of Ul'dah. The parade happened, for her, she heard the voice. The fact that she knows this skill is not a normal one to have and shouldn't be something she brings up or uses, implies that I have taken some of the main storyline ICly. Will it ever come up in RP? Doubtful. I have only used it for the language aspect, and even that Aysun will not admit to understanding generally, because she doesn't wish to be exposed as having the Echo.
The job storylines complicated all this too. From the sounds of things, DRG was kind of bad for soloing you out as special, like WHM was. Be creative, try to think of another reason your character could be that desired job, or use the storyline and modify it a little to make it fit reasonably. I would never bring up the fact that there should be only 'one' of anything in RP. Or something else I've seen, just ignore it. Maybe you can become a white mage the same way you can anything else, by learning it and practicing it. You don't have to work for the little horned child to be deemed 'white mage.'
Also, just because you're rank 50, doesn't mean you're a master. It simply means you have nothing else they can teach you at the moment. You're not good enough to learn the next, more complicated step... This prepares us for the inevitable raise of the level cap.
