In any RP community there are different kinds of players who prefer different kinds of play, and, of course, different levels of power in their characters. Â Some people like playing all powerful superdudes with aether powered abilities that make them the equal of gods while others might prefer playing dark, gritty, down to earth types who might get casually shoved off of a tower or have their throats slit at their son's ill advised wedding.
In the interests of clarification, I'll narrow the categories down into seven distinct powerlevels.
1. Buff van Darkblade
You are the main character of the story, no matter who else is in it. Â Wielding your unique levels of power and often holding a magical weapon of untold strength, you are untouchable in combat. Â Those below you in power level don't stand a chance, and you like it that way. Â You scoff at the puny mortals and wonder why anyone even plays them. Â You never lose a fight unless it's scripted.
2. Over 9,000!
Aether is your bread and butter, and you drink of it with relish. Â Maybe you were cursed with uncontrollable power, or you're the last heir to a forgotten legacy, but you brawl like a boss and cast spells at 9th level. Â Up against powerful foes you get beaten and bruised, but usually come out on top. Â NPCs are no threat, however, and you swat droves of them like flies.
3. Unrivalled Master
You're the best around, nobody's ever gonna get ya down. Â You've mastered a martial art, or a sword style, or a magical style, and you're a total badass, the best at it that there's ever been at what you do. Â Eorzean SpecOps teams recruit you to train them. Â Yeah, you may get hurt, but you ain't got time to bleed. Â NPCs are a minor nuisance, but enough of them might prove troublesome, and PCs are something to watch out for.
4. One of Seven Samurai
You're not just good, you're damn good. Â You've been doing this for years, and there's not a a hell of a lot of people who can compare. Â Whether you're fighting a mounted mountain with your trusty spear or standing with your friends to defend a village troubled by bandits, you're as good as five or ten NPCs easy. Â Other PCs can prove an issue, but you're pretty sure you can hold your own, one on one.
4.5 Ooooorrrya!
You're a pretty tough type. Â Yeah, you've seen your fair share of scuffles, and you've probably got the scars to prove it. Â People who know you don't mess with you, that's for sure. Â Anybody'd be lucky to have you in their gang, just as long as they don't count on you to pull through when that quiet guy you've never seen before takes offense at how you're treating that waitress...
5. Basement Exterminator
Maybe you're just starting out, or you're just not particularly skilled at combat, but you're a bit of a bog standard adventurer type. Â Momodi asked you to take out some marmots once, and you proved your worth, though maybe with a few bite marks and a torn pair of pants to show for it. Â You're not going to change the world, but you can hold your own against most NPCs, though somehow PCs tend to get the better of you in most circumstances.
6. Times are Tough...
You're an average type of person with no special fighting skills to speak of. Â You might have gotten into a barroom brawl once or twice, and you scuffled with other kids back in the day, but you kind of fade into the background, preferring sitting around in bars talking to going out and murdering things for their loot. Â You don't consider yourself boring, but for some reason all the cool kids in the shiny armor won't talk to you...
7. Do You Even Aether, Bro?
Fighting? Â Ha! Â Oh man, you remember that time you got into a fight! Â You still have nightmares about it, actually... Â And you still limp a bit. Â Whether combat's not your forte and you prefer the political intrigue of putting your incestuous bastard lovechild on the throne, or you're just kind of a wuss, you avoid fighting whenever possible and tend to drop like a sack of potatoes when it happens, no matter who's making you hit yourself in front of all your friends.
For those interested, my characters are at Basement Exterminator and One of Seven Samurai levels.
In the interests of clarification, I'll narrow the categories down into seven distinct powerlevels.
1. Buff van Darkblade
You are the main character of the story, no matter who else is in it. Â Wielding your unique levels of power and often holding a magical weapon of untold strength, you are untouchable in combat. Â Those below you in power level don't stand a chance, and you like it that way. Â You scoff at the puny mortals and wonder why anyone even plays them. Â You never lose a fight unless it's scripted.
2. Over 9,000!
Aether is your bread and butter, and you drink of it with relish. Â Maybe you were cursed with uncontrollable power, or you're the last heir to a forgotten legacy, but you brawl like a boss and cast spells at 9th level. Â Up against powerful foes you get beaten and bruised, but usually come out on top. Â NPCs are no threat, however, and you swat droves of them like flies.
3. Unrivalled Master
You're the best around, nobody's ever gonna get ya down. Â You've mastered a martial art, or a sword style, or a magical style, and you're a total badass, the best at it that there's ever been at what you do. Â Eorzean SpecOps teams recruit you to train them. Â Yeah, you may get hurt, but you ain't got time to bleed. Â NPCs are a minor nuisance, but enough of them might prove troublesome, and PCs are something to watch out for.
4. One of Seven Samurai
You're not just good, you're damn good. Â You've been doing this for years, and there's not a a hell of a lot of people who can compare. Â Whether you're fighting a mounted mountain with your trusty spear or standing with your friends to defend a village troubled by bandits, you're as good as five or ten NPCs easy. Â Other PCs can prove an issue, but you're pretty sure you can hold your own, one on one.
4.5 Ooooorrrya!
You're a pretty tough type. Â Yeah, you've seen your fair share of scuffles, and you've probably got the scars to prove it. Â People who know you don't mess with you, that's for sure. Â Anybody'd be lucky to have you in their gang, just as long as they don't count on you to pull through when that quiet guy you've never seen before takes offense at how you're treating that waitress...
5. Basement Exterminator
Maybe you're just starting out, or you're just not particularly skilled at combat, but you're a bit of a bog standard adventurer type. Â Momodi asked you to take out some marmots once, and you proved your worth, though maybe with a few bite marks and a torn pair of pants to show for it. Â You're not going to change the world, but you can hold your own against most NPCs, though somehow PCs tend to get the better of you in most circumstances.
6. Times are Tough...
You're an average type of person with no special fighting skills to speak of. Â You might have gotten into a barroom brawl once or twice, and you scuffled with other kids back in the day, but you kind of fade into the background, preferring sitting around in bars talking to going out and murdering things for their loot. Â You don't consider yourself boring, but for some reason all the cool kids in the shiny armor won't talk to you...
7. Do You Even Aether, Bro?
Fighting? Â Ha! Â Oh man, you remember that time you got into a fight! Â You still have nightmares about it, actually... Â And you still limp a bit. Â Whether combat's not your forte and you prefer the political intrigue of putting your incestuous bastard lovechild on the throne, or you're just kind of a wuss, you avoid fighting whenever possible and tend to drop like a sack of potatoes when it happens, no matter who's making you hit yourself in front of all your friends.
For those interested, my characters are at Basement Exterminator and One of Seven Samurai levels.
