I've had my characters be kidnapped for up to three months before for plot purposes. The three month character was brutally tortured and came back missing a few toes, missing fingers, only one eye, and his appendix and gall bladder carved out (removed while he was awake to scream just for the sake of torture). He spent the next year and a half coping with post-traumatic stress so severe that he wasn't able to leave his "Safe place".
So yes. I've done kidnappings, and I've done them pretty serious and nasty. I've also done them amusing and lighthearted where it turned into a week-long drinking binge and joint spirit quest between kidnapper and kidnappee in order to subvert the trope.
Just not all in FFXIV, and not in the span of a year.
The key thing to all storytelling is to do things in moderation. Kidnapping? Sure. Just don't overdo it.
The issue I see with kidnappings is that they become VERY common. One person has it done very well and someone else wants to develop their character a bit, flashes back to the well-done kidnapping, and things "Hey! I should try it too in my own way!" There is absolutely nothing wrong with it except for that it can slowly turn into a fad, and then it loses impact.
And then somebody gets a little hurt OOC because their plot, instead of giving a huge impact, is met with eyerolls and a "Not -another- kidnapping!" attitude.
My suggestion would be to look for inspiration and other ways to develop your character that don't fall along the lines you've seen before. A lot of the time, looking at other genres entirely can bring you some huge ideas! Watch a western! Read a biography on a famous person! You'll be shocked to see what you can adapt into your story.
So yes. I've done kidnappings, and I've done them pretty serious and nasty. I've also done them amusing and lighthearted where it turned into a week-long drinking binge and joint spirit quest between kidnapper and kidnappee in order to subvert the trope.
Just not all in FFXIV, and not in the span of a year.
The key thing to all storytelling is to do things in moderation. Kidnapping? Sure. Just don't overdo it.
The issue I see with kidnappings is that they become VERY common. One person has it done very well and someone else wants to develop their character a bit, flashes back to the well-done kidnapping, and things "Hey! I should try it too in my own way!" There is absolutely nothing wrong with it except for that it can slowly turn into a fad, and then it loses impact.
And then somebody gets a little hurt OOC because their plot, instead of giving a huge impact, is met with eyerolls and a "Not -another- kidnapping!" attitude.
My suggestion would be to look for inspiration and other ways to develop your character that don't fall along the lines you've seen before. A lot of the time, looking at other genres entirely can bring you some huge ideas! Watch a western! Read a biography on a famous person! You'll be shocked to see what you can adapt into your story.
Characters: M'sato Tia (Lost Soul Seeker), Soren Walker (Ishgardian Midlander Pilot), Solomon Laguerre (Elezen Mercenary/Bar Manager)
Send me a PM if you feel like RP!
Send me a PM if you feel like RP!