John Spiegel

I am bagging on ancient Highlanders to have a Gaelic-esque language just for the shear connection of "Highlander" to the Scottish Highlands. I have no proof of this just shear speculation. What I AM sure of is that Highlander forenames have "Germanic or Normandic roots", so one could argue Danish/Norwegian languages to compliment the naming convention.

I don't mean to be a jerk or anything but there's a pretty detailed Role-Play Handbook stickied on the RP forums some month back. I will applause your enthusiasm, though. :thumbsup:

TL;DR -- As long as you have a good attitude, most folks are willing to work with you on developing your character. So here comes walls of text. So you're new to RP, eh? There's a variety of linkshells and free companies out there with a wide array of styles and varying levels of immersion and intensities. It is true a lot of RP takes place in /p chat but even more takes place in /say. Unless I am getting heavily griefed, I stick to /say regardless of the topics talked of. So I encourage you to hang out at a tavern, eating a meal or something and just go with whatever happens. If someone approaches your shy character, you can just be shy and scurry away or what have you. You could also eavesdrop on someone else's thing. A very common pitfall I see are folks in one of the adventurer's guilds just emoting, thinking that would get them attention. Depending on what they're doing it might, but a lot of folks think that if they're emoting that they're eating a sammich, that warrants all attention to them... when in reality roleplayers are just like NPCs to other roleplayers... they're people that exist. People that pass each other on the street. When I'm just hanging out I sometimes walk laps around whatever city I am in just to scope out RP elsewhere and perhaps eavsedrop in some fashion (I do a lot of lurking OOC that turns into IC if they poke me ). My three characters are: John Spiegel, Alex Silversheath and Grace Silversheath (John and Alex I am on much more). I am only able to play a few days out of the month due to my job, so in about ten days (I think) I should be in-game. If you want to lay down RP just holler sometime. I'll go easy on you (maybe).

Due to my job, I only get to play a couple of days out of the month and aside from my linkshell, yet I see RP at every city-state and scattered throughout the wilds in pubs and the sort. Peak hours for Balmung are noon EST - midnight, depending on the day of the week. It's harder to find RP out in, say, La Noscea not in a sanctuary as if you run by a few folks fighting mobs you might not know they're RPing unless they speak. RP is everywhere and no one is obliged to include your character if you're just sitting there emoting to yourself or somesuch. Usually when I am eating IRL and just hanging out I go to a pub and have my character (usually JJ) chow down on some food which sometimes sparks people marveling at this ugly sod nomming. I don't ask for it, nor am I miffed when I am ignored. I'm going to sound like an echo and say if you're having a bad experience across the board... maybe it's you. We've all been in on some poorly-constructed RP or downright OOC-RP (use of LOL and other shorthand and such) which could very well have branched to OOC bashing or whatnot. It comes with the territory. Not everyone RPs the same nor tolerates the same. Just chill and take a step back. JJ won't share his sammiches.

I have seen a few Roe around, them and lalafells are outnumbered in the RP community by the other three races though. I actually had full intention of rolling a seawolf man as a clean slate character but he got shelved due to my limited time I can play at this current junction in time.

JJ = born in Ala Mhigo 1515, ran away 1527. Returned some 15-20 years later to the surrounding areas. Wife and wife's family were straight up Fists of Rhaglr, raised their two kids up as monks. JJ + kids fled Ala Mhigo (too many things even for JJ to smash). So I am very interested in Ala Mhigan lorez. While JJ does not have much Ala Mhigan pride (he was an orphan in a military camp), he's no fan of tyranny and meany butt faces, so liberation of Ala Mhigo (again) is in his interest. His kids were raised in the region and while never in Ala Mhigo proper, they have much more pride/Highlander pride that is more akin to normal Highlander folk.

First, how many of you guys play WoL? Also, how would you guys (the community, not just WoL players) feel about someone roleplaying a WoL even if they didn't technically play 1.0? I did not play 1.0 but two of my characters were at the battle. A Warrior of Light isn't anything SUPER rare as that any of the folks (mainly adventurers since the GCs pulled their people out but could be just folks that are like cooks or peasants that went to fight) have the tattoo. Second, where the heck is Cartneau? Also, which of the 3 main cities is farthest away from it/closest to it/took the most or least damage? In Mor Dhona, which is directly north of Thanalan; west of the Shroud, south of Coerthas. Third, how long does the community as a whole feel it would take to get from a major hub city to another without special means of transportation. Lets say the only method they had was one chocobo. That's a little subjective. Eorzea is supposed to be massive and each nation, especially Ul'Dah, has massive populations... but due to hardware/software limitations and that sort, each nation looks lively, but much is lost in translation. I'm sure someone else can give a better explaination. I just play it by ear for the moment. Fourth, how expensive do you think a chocobo would be? Would it be akin to buying a car in our world? Or would it be plausible that a breeder may give a deal to someone based on a variety of reasons? And are there any naming conventions for chocobos? If you are part of a GC you could argue your bird is a Company Chocobo... otherwise I'm not sure. Fifth, because we can (in-game) be any class or wear any armor, how do you guys feel about a character's fighting style being a mix of classes? For instance, a paladin who also has skills with a lance, or a puglist/monk who can use basic healing magics, ect, ect? I'm a firm believer that just because you're in a mage robe doesn't mean your fists don't work (granted your IC character is capable). Example, if JJ wears a robe he's surely as hell not about to cast Blizzardagaza XXII32, but merely just wear a robe!

IT IS 20, GUYS. CAPITAL LETTERZ! If you listen to the FMV after getting your airship pass, it's been '15' years since Silvertear Lake (2.0) and five years before that was when Ala Mhigo fell. 1572 was the last year in the 6th Astral, we are in the 5th year of the 7th Umbral at 2.0 start. I'm sure of my math and lore-mongering. By like 10 months ago when I first came round. >.>

20 years ago from the start of ARR (2.0). I am not sure where you're getting 40. There was a pretty good summary of Ala Mhigan lore that someone compiled some time ago (try forum searching for it) There's a timeline in the wiki section of this site with a brief outline of 1552 - 1557. The last king of Ala Mhigo, Theodric, came into power and subsequently started killing all worshipers of Rhalgr (the Fists of Rhaglr had a lot of pull in the city state; Theodric didn't like that). Over the course of five years, the internal war made the once mightiest nation on the continent rather vulnerable to the Garlean invasion which was in 1557. One could argue the downfall of Ala Mhigo happened in 1552, but 1557 was the year Theodric took his own life as opposed to being killed by his court and people on the onset of Garlean invasion.

1557 of the 6th Astral Era (15 years prior to start of 1.0; 20 years prior to start of 2.0, 5 years prior to the Battle of Silvertear Skies where the Garleans and dragons battled over Silvertear Lake in Mor Dhona)

I have three characters. There's a three-part story arc of John "JJ" Spiegel's post-time jump journey to find his daughter, Grace. Parts of this encompass members of my linkshell but was done during P2-P3 in terms of interactions. Due to getting a new job, I was unable to be in P4 (and thus Early Access) and Balmung was closed. So I rolled JJ on Midgarsomr and leveled there until World Transfer.

Subligar isn't good enough for you?

Regardless of your level, a frying pan to the face hurts like hell.

Characters that are completely unique are impossible and just sound unrelatable. What makes good characters is relatability. Whether you have a rich character whose woes of being betrothed but in love with another person or a grizzled soldier whose seen a lot over their years -- their plights are relatable, though not unique! If you want your character to be unique, develop personality quirks... whatever feels natural. Example: One of my characters, JJ, is extremely extroverted and talks all the time. BUT he NEVER talks of a good chunk of things (things he never told his best friends or even his WIFE) nor does he EVER boast his considerable skills at fighting. Did I mention he's one part insane five-half parts JJ? Another example!: JJ's son, Alex, is more of an every-man... in that he's not so much of a fighter despite his upbringing and he has issues as a result of surviving the siege of Ala Mhigo AND the Calamity and its fallout (he was not at the battle). His story isn't unique but I have been praised for Alex's relatability to those that have read the journal (which I so selflessly plugged earlier).

Ten points for quoting Lovecraft. Great read too! (one point for that )

Two of my characters (brother and sister) are both monks raised as Fists of Rhaglr but have not taken students ever. There would be an interesting IC angle (for either of the characters) for their motivation to teach so win-win. Alex = working on not being such a conundrum (long story) Grace = Working on coping the pre-Carteneau things that happened as well as losing five years. If you're interested, PM me here or somesuch.

Q: What makes good RP? A: Having JJ around * puts sunglasses on * 8-) Deal with it. But really, what makes for a good RP session is realizing you're not the center of attention all the time. Sometimes someone barges into your scene or something else happens, to ignore that or quickly revert attention back to whatever you were doing/saying is selfish and bad form. Of course, if your character is one that doesn't like to be ignored, disregard this! There's also a significant amount of give-and-take on many levels. If your character is supposedly a chatty type but you can't carry on a conversation, there's something wrong there. If the past few sessions with your friends have revolved around one of your stories (forced or otherwise), try to lighten it up with something from theirs or nothing at all! One can have a general idea of what they want their story arcs to consist of, but I find it boring when someone has each step delicately planned. Good RP isn't so much a play as it is improv (without Drew Carry yelling directions at you). That being said, my characters -do- have a set idea I want them to follow but they've either fell behind my rough idea or are blazing in another direction due to IC things that spurred them.

UPDATEDDDDDDDDDD Never made the "JJ-Roeg" (yet), main reason for update are my three characters: John Spiegel Alex Silversheath Grace Silversheath If you see them, they're meeeeeeee!

The people of Balmung are not ready for JJ, too bad for them.

This still cannot come soon enough. I am eagerly awaiting to bring JJ to Balmung to rain down hell eat everyone's food rain down on hell with food JJ it up.

You have forgotten six years after Ala Mhigo was the Battle of Silvertear Lake where Midgarsomr opened a can of woopass on the Garlean's mightiest flagship.

That's pretty much my reason to have JJ still kicking ass: Aether (and being too damn stubborn and not returning death's calls because death is a needy jerkface) Some characters have naturally high capabilities with such as you said (magic, kicking Ifrit in the junk, and magic again). I do know of some PCs that are older and not as spry as their younger self, but would be capable of getting the slip on someone. Then there's others I know that have long since retired. Having aged "badasses" is just another category of old! (And I just really, really, really enjoy JJ >.>) You also see the same gambit in younglings, those that suck at everything, those that do nothing, those that don't suck at one thing and those that don't suck at something else.

Alex Silversheath (Spiegel) [balmung]

Character: John Spiegel Primary Weapon(s): Any two-handers, his fists if he must, occasional one-handers (mainly greatsword and scythe... leave me alone >.>) Class-equivalent: WAR/very weak BLM! (DRK DRK DRK DRK DRK!) Style: Survival / Fun! Offense/Defense/Versatile: Offense, baby. Strengths: Strength, stamina, stubbornness Weaknesses: Agility, magic resources, one eye Summary: As stated above, John's fighting style is survivalist-ic. He's effectively been on his own since he ran away from Ala Mhigo at the age of twelve and he has quite the habit of getting into trouble (singed his scalp, lost an eye, got a buttload of scars...). He really never had any actual combat training outside some basic stuff in the Ala Mhigan military orphanage before he ran away. He's usually clad in darksteel armor, resulting in poor agility. If his opponent gets in close, he drops an elbow. If his foe is using ranged weapons, he tries to close the distance and uses terrain to his advantage or whatever is laying around (pots, rocks, whatever). One may call this cheap, but survival isn't always about "playing fair". On the lighter side, he does enjoy fighting even moreso than eating at times. He can view even a pretty rough fight as being fun. His lost eye and years of adaptation has forged him to keep his senses on his blindspot, but this can be circumvented if he's highly distracted. Extra: It turns out a good bit of the fighting method of JJ is similar to that of Guts from Berserk, which I didn't know of until years after JJ first came about.

My main, John "JJ" Spiegel is in his mid 50s (57 if I recall.. too lazy to look at my timeline) and still kicking ass. His life has been rough and he keeps rolling. He's one part stereotypical badass, five parts insane, six and half parts JJ, one part pumpkin and two parts pinwheel. That's how you make a JJ. His mostly nonsensical speech contained wise words at times. Part killing machine, part adorably hideous-looking manchild. That's JJ! Since Ala Mhigo fell (his kids were grown, wife was killed), he returned back to adventuring, was at the battle in Mor Dhona and is continuing to cause trouble and have fun all over the place. His son, Alex, my other main, is 38 but isn't much of a fighter and nowhere near his father's caliber. He's a botanist, alchemist and purveyor of rum. Oh, and he's also a monk, but as I said, nowhere near his father's caliber. Alex also has a twin sister.