I've a long history of beating up my characters. I played a character in CoH who I sorely tested; she was committed thoroughly to a positive world view, and that naivete constantly got her punished.
I like to think of a character's story like a great cocktail. It has a basic theme, but it's balanced. You can have a lot of sweetness, but you also need some bitterness and saltiness to keep it from rotting your teeth out. So, even in games where I take a generally positive, hopeful view in the story -- such as XIV -- I add dashes of sadness. It keeps things interesting and realistic, and as even the game says, there is no light with darkness. Contrast is necessary.
That aside, though, in organic RP, I don't worry too much about whether the story is too light or too dark. I do what makes sense ICly and let the chips fall where they may. Since my character is generally a positive person, that tends to make stories turn out positively, but even L'yhta has dark moments. Her lack of self-confidence comes out now and then, she sometimes drinks herself into a stupor over sadness at friends lost, and her temper has been known to cause significant problems.
So, on the balance, I try to strike a balance.
Going too far in any direction spoils the story for me, in much the same way I wouldn't want to drink a whole glass of Angostura bitters.
I like to think of a character's story like a great cocktail. It has a basic theme, but it's balanced. You can have a lot of sweetness, but you also need some bitterness and saltiness to keep it from rotting your teeth out. So, even in games where I take a generally positive, hopeful view in the story -- such as XIV -- I add dashes of sadness. It keeps things interesting and realistic, and as even the game says, there is no light with darkness. Contrast is necessary.
That aside, though, in organic RP, I don't worry too much about whether the story is too light or too dark. I do what makes sense ICly and let the chips fall where they may. Since my character is generally a positive person, that tends to make stories turn out positively, but even L'yhta has dark moments. Her lack of self-confidence comes out now and then, she sometimes drinks herself into a stupor over sadness at friends lost, and her temper has been known to cause significant problems.
So, on the balance, I try to strike a balance.
Going too far in any direction spoils the story for me, in much the same way I wouldn't want to drink a whole glass of Angostura bitters.
The Freelance Wizard
Quality RP at low, low prices!
((about me | about L'yhta Mahre | L'yhta's desk | about Mysterium, the Ivory Tower: a heavy RP society of mages))
Quality RP at low, low prices!
((about me | about L'yhta Mahre | L'yhta's desk | about Mysterium, the Ivory Tower: a heavy RP society of mages))
