(05-07-2015, 02:56 PM)Gegenji Wrote: This seems to be because the standard fallback response to a potential RP situation (that your character might never even come across) is not to ignore it or offer constructive criticism but to argue about it.
Being a mite egotistical and quoting myself here after that back and forth, mostly because it's quite frustrating to describe something like this and then see something quite close too it happen in the same thread. It wasn't full on "you can't play that" versus "I can do whatever I want" like I rambled on about, but it was dang close.
The WHM is a touchy subject because of things that have been mentioned already - as it stands, according to the lore, the only WHMs present in the game are the Padjal and the Derplander/Warrior of Light. The latter gaining this exclusive acclaim due to being chosen by the soulstone of A-Towa-Cant.
Does this mean you can't play a WHM ever, ever, ever? No. Even if there wasn't talk of allowing a new way to access Succor (that we know very little about!), there are ways to work around it! Taught by a Padjal who spoke to the Elementals on your behalf, discovering the soulstone/teachings left by a Padjal or an ancient War of the Magi White Mage, being a Padjal yourself or descended from one/its family, and just being pure enough of heart that the Elementals decide to make a rare exception in your case as a few examples.
All of these are ideas that are neither blatantly 100% confirmed nor denied as being possible in the lore. Note "possible" - as things that could happen as opposed to what did happen. However, this is still playing with that nebulous grey area and bending the lore. Some to a greater degree than the other. Bending that other RPers might not be comfortable dealing with in their fairy tale Final Fantasy storytimes and that is okay!
It becomes not okay when they try to police you and tell you what you can or can not play. It is not policing when they say that it is something they would likely not want to RP with. They are under no obligations to RP with you (no matter what character or concept!) just as much as you are in no obligation to RP with them.
Let's compare this to a more generic style of roleplay, using just a basic pen-and-paper as the format. Some players want to spin exciting stories of great heroism, some like to game the system and make their characters rich by being crafty, and yet others just want to roll dice and watch as their hulking slab of meat suplexes that dragon. Some want to play an elf from a nation mentioned in one of the books. some want to make up their own town that their halfling hails from, and yet another wants to play an ogre. None of these approaches are wrong!
So, what if the Ogre-player wants to join a game? He could find a group that's playing monstrous characters, where such a thing is commonplace. He could find a group that is leery about allowing the ogre in their generally non-monstrous party, but willing to give him a chance. Or he might come across a group that isn't allowing monstrous races at all. In that last case, the player has an option to relent (play a different race), try to seek a middle ground (maybe play a half-ogre or half-orc instead!), or seek another group to play with.
What shouldn't be done is the group yelling at the player that he can't play an ogre since they're not listed as a playable race in the Player's Guide. And just as equally it is not fair for the player to raise a stink and demand that the rest of the table conform to using his monstrous character in their non-monstrous game.
What people need to keep in mind is - when someone doesn't want to play with your character, that it does not immediately mean "your character is bad and you should feel bad." That character just might not be a good fit for the story they are weaving.
In the case of the WHM, perhaps the other player's "headcanon" in the tale they're weaving is that White Magic really is only in the hands of the Padjal, the illustrious chosen few appointed by the elementals. They are free to play that, just as you are free to play as a WHM from a different angle! However, they are not obliged to accept your WHM just as much as your WHM isn't obliged to accept that Miqo'te Dragoon; or that Lalafell who just bodychecked a Roegadyn ten times his size; or Magitek-cyborg Abraham Lincoln.
And guess what? That's okay! As mentioned, there are hundreds of other RPers out there. And somewhere out there is someone who will play with your WHM or your ogre or your Magitek-cyborg Abraham Lincoln! Somewhere out there are people who will cling to the lore just as closely or loosely as you do. Your energy is better spent finding and playing with them than trying to force others to conform to your play style.
Someone doesn't want to play with your WHM? Go find someone who will.
Someone doesn't want to stick to a presented lore bit where all Domans are black-haired Hyur? Go find someone who will.
Or if, for whatever reason, you absolutely need to play with that particular player, be willing to compromise some! Hopefully they will too!
"Could your character just assume my character THINKS he's a WHM but he's just a strong (if delusional) CNJ?"
"Well, nothing in the lore says that someone can't be three Qirin in a trenchcoat. Just be wary that my character is very by the books and will react accordingly to a Beast Tribe trio in the middle of the city!"
But ultimately, do you really need to play with that person? Or convince them you're right about how you play the game and they're wrong? What do you get out of it beyond frustration and a grandiose expenditure of time and energy? Time and energy that could be better spent finding that Primal George Washington who wants to hang out with your Magitek Abraham Lincoln.
~
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