This is a subject I've been thinking about a lot while I've been developing Solenne. She has two very different branches of skills - conjury on the one hand, and skills associated with her background in espionage on the other. So even though most of the world knows her in her capacity as a healer, she is also proficient at lockpicking, pickpocketing, acting, and to a lesser degree, assassination. She can wield a pair of knives in combat if she has to, but it's certainly not ideal - poisoning, or creeping up behind a victim and quietly slitting their throat, would be much more her style. I don't think that's overpowered - combat is a last resort for her since it's not her forte, and she doesn't really have any other major skills - but it is something that I've been chewing over a lot.
I have a history of creating aggressively ordinary, underpowered characters. I assumed that this gave me extra RP cred, but it backfired when I realized that I was getting bored with those characters. Solenne is my first major attempt to develop a character who is a little out of the ordinary, and I'm more enthusiastic about RPing her than I have been about any character in a long time.Â
So anyway, I think a balance is necessary. Characters need plenty of room to grow, but they also need a chance to shine. As an RPer, I want to interact with characters that are fascinating in some way, whether it's because of a diverse skill set, an unusual personality trait, or creative background story elements. I don't mind if people want to make their characters a little exceptional. Most of us aren't trying to play average citizens, after all.
I have a history of creating aggressively ordinary, underpowered characters. I assumed that this gave me extra RP cred, but it backfired when I realized that I was getting bored with those characters. Solenne is my first major attempt to develop a character who is a little out of the ordinary, and I'm more enthusiastic about RPing her than I have been about any character in a long time.Â
So anyway, I think a balance is necessary. Characters need plenty of room to grow, but they also need a chance to shine. As an RPer, I want to interact with characters that are fascinating in some way, whether it's because of a diverse skill set, an unusual personality trait, or creative background story elements. I don't mind if people want to make their characters a little exceptional. Most of us aren't trying to play average citizens, after all.
Michaux Vidal - Oyuna Qestir - Tatsu Kaisuri
Arnvi Sunblade - Noriyasu Kuroda - Lucien Lemaire - Bren'li Arhys
(See Tumblr for Character Profiles)
