(09-24-2013, 11:53 PM)Siobhain Wrote:(09-24-2013, 09:57 PM)Naunet Wrote:(09-24-2013, 09:34 PM)Siobhain Wrote: Basically, one of the down points of it for a player is that playing an older individual sort of denotes that they are set in their ways. It's not really character development for the player anymore so much as helping others develop -their- characters. Romance, which isn't all that important, is probably no longer a viable option or interest. Conflict, being evil, rivalries all seem like they would be beneath a wiser, older individual.
I would be careful here, because old(er) certainly does not necessitate grumpy, or even wise.
That's true.
And age really doesn't equate to much except that with age, there are usually some inescapable physical changes. Slower or faster for some than others. So you two are right, I concede that point, but I still stand by my statement that older people usually have a highly developed personality, view, and history compared to their younger counterparts. It's not only how a player chooses to portray their character but also how other characters view that character. If you're going the route of Gandalf or Saurfang, your mentality is fairly set from everything you've seen and your knowledge, compared to the younger characters, is usually considerably more advanced for a reason.
Those two also happen to be unique in their worlds, as I'm sure more 'senior' Eorzean characters would have to be if they're still running around swinging battle axes and getting involved in the drama and rivalries of younger folk, no? If young 'teenage' adventurers who are highly skilled have an issue with perhaps seeming a little too prevalent then wouldn't advanced-aged characters who know a lot and can still manage extraordinary feats of strength, courage, and/or magic also sour somewhat if there are too many of them?
But who says that ICly the older characters have to/are running around with axes in the thick of battle? There may be a some like that, even in the real world my old dance teacher who was in her late 60s was far more nimble and athletic than a vast majority of the populace because she has done it all her life and taken good care of her body.Â
That aside though, simply because their body/minds/power may not be at prime, doesn't mean that they don't still have new challenges and change in their life to make RPing with interesting and fun. And even if the character is set in their ways, all the change in the Eorzea over the past years is more than to fuel RP of their being confronted with such and their being forced to adapt or break.
One of my primary RP characters is an ex-sailor in his 50s, who has recently had to come to terms with his body no longer being able to take the toils of constant seafaring due to his age, and having to semi-'retire' onto the land. He has very few connections there but for his son, with whom has never been around for long. And yet he is a pretty gregarious personality. There is plenty of room for development, in all pretty much all areas. Just because someone isn't young and spry, doesn't meant they stop living. They don't need to act as an fountain of information, i.e. an NPC. In fact, relegating them to that singular role seems rather disrespectful to them as characters.
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