industrythirteen

@Unnamed Mercenary Oh hey thanks! Also, I remember you from years ago. Nice to see a familiar name. Hope all is well!

Hey folks. It's been a while since I've dropped in (4 years?!) and advertised my commission service. The links in this thread still work, even if the images/code are broken. I'll fix up my commission prices and post some new sample work for those in the market for getting some art done of their character. Some recent samples:

I haven't had the urge to RP in a few weeks now. I'm anxious to get over that ambivalence, but I can't force it. That said, what's always caused me to hesitate to go out and get RP are a few things. When I played a Roe, I was constantly sent unsolicited tells for ERP, and very specific types of ERP just by virtue of playing a femroe and standing idle in the Quicksand. While YKINMKATO, it got to a point where I had to forgo going to public spaces, or seeking out RP altogether outside of my then FC. I could not escape it, even when I was not RPing. It was very discouraging. After I race-name-changed to my Au Ra, I was a lot happier with her concept overall, and that non-sense stopped altogether. I don't get creepy ERP tells anymore, but I still feel a little residual cringe when I RP in public spaces. I like playing characters with carnival mode elements. It's a good way for me to get over my introverted nature and engage, rather than wait for what I think is an appropriate moment, and continue to waffle. I have to force myself out of my comfort zone, and lucky for me, RP is one of the best ways I can do that. What worries me the most about playing this type of character, even though it suits me, is that I do not want to burden other people unnecessarily with her non-sense, especially if they're not game for interacting with a character with sometimes ridiculous behavior, or even reading it in scrolling chat. I worry that I'm being obnoxious, or others may think I'm weird for the sake of being weird. I'm more concerned as to whether I'm entertaining the other person. When I hit my groove with my character, I tend to know how they will react to just about any given situation. I can rattle off reactions super fast, I'm super confident in my posts, I'm very consistent with the character, and I worry about stealing a scene. I've done it before unintentionally. For this reason, I tend to opt out of participating in events, and prefer to make brief appearances, deferring to others even when it may go against how I think my character would behave. I'd rather cooperate and compromise. While having the attention of one person at a time is all well and good, and giving that person my undivided attention in return, I don't want to create moments where I even perceive that I may have killed the chat (and/or RP) because people are watching (and of course, in my mind, judging me and my roleplay.) It seems to me that a lot of these anxieties are just that, and in my head most likely. I find myself none the less bound by them. The only way I ever really discourage these thoughts and feelings of mine is to shoot people a tell to ask them if they're having fun. If I think I've offended someone, I want to address it immediately and apologize.

http://41.media.tumblr.com/62c19178b606349008dd4ffe0387d445/tumblr_nz7x3y6LaZ1rue9d8o1_1280.jpg[/img] Portrait I did for Ayu. I am also always open for commissions! Pricelist on first post updated to reflect work from 2015. No changes to prices.

https://36.media.tumblr.com/fc048cb868b8667cf7321fd8ca699a08/tumblr_nyyteuHJRq1rue9d8o1_1280.jpg Commission for Isla complete!

Two new commissions done this week! https://36.media.tumblr.com/174d4e9de3fc15fa84d808e5d8b6dfe8/tumblr_nvoazmnR5U1rue9d8o1_1280.jpg and a [NSFW] Au Ra commission!

To me, OOC and real life always come first. Hands down. RP is a collaborative effort out-of-character before it is in-character, and requires working with other players to entertain one another. First and foremost, the player in question, usually, is our friend, or soon will be, and we should make every effort to include them, to work with them, to meet them halfway if there is ever a character or roleplay-based storytelling issue. It is still an out-of-character issue that should first be addressed. I personally think that a solid OOC foundation makes for a much better RP experience. That said, sometimes there just isn't a good fit between new member and FC, and that's okay. I personally don't subscribe to the idea of absolute guild loyalty. I think people know what is best for them, and they should trust themselves to make the right decisions for them. It really is okay to just say 'this isn't working for me, thank you, but no thank you,' and leave on good terms. It is also nice to give the FC leadership a heads up as to something that might be an on-going problem. While that may require an uncomfortable exit interview conversation, no one is under any obligation to have that conversation. For me at least, as a co-leader of an FC, I'd at least like to know what I could have done better. What I don't necessarily think is an ideal approach is to isolate or hold back during the initial trial-run of joining the FC. I think new members should be as active as possible, and established members too should help those new members adjust. That trial period is just as much, if not more, for the new member to figure out if the FC will work for them, as it is for the leadership to assess whether the new member is a good fit for the FC.

I'm going to echo these thoughts. While I am an 'Actor' and on rare occasion a 'Driver' when in my own group of people, and enjoy doing that for people I know enough about their characters to work with them, I am rarely ever anything but an Introvert when out in public. Mostly because I feel like joining RP out in the world is intrusive, and frankly none of the my business. I am happy to go out in a group of folks I know, but it takes a pretty big effort on my part to put myself out there when alone. The difference for me is that I know I am a textbook introvert, and I know that in order to get RP I have to go make it. These are things not lost on me. It is whether I have the social energy to go and do it because I only have so much social capital I can spend on these things, and I should spend it wisely. There often isn't something going on that catches my attention, and that is on me. If something doesn't stand out to me, I move on. Whatever. I didn't get random RP that night. Maybe I'll screw up my courage another night and try again later when I have my energy back. That said, I had an epiphany a few months back. As a player, I am an introvert. As an introvert, I can't play introverted characters. It simply doesn't work for me, and I end up feeling isolated and aimless. RP gives me a safe space to extrovert. The question isn't whether wallflowers, and by extension introverts, need to be 'eliminated,' which I feel is an awful choice of words. I think it is recognizing that everyone needs to meet each other at least half way in roleplay. No one player can do all the work. That isn't fair to anyone. For the wallflower, as stated, a hand likely needs to be extended to them, and someone needs to extend that hand, whether it is the 'Introvert' wallflower, or the 'Driver,' or 'Actor.' The wallflower can extend that hand first, too. All it takes is a tell to someone 'hey, can I come over and RP with you?' which is the least someone like me, an introvert, can do, and probably to good results, too.

I'm going to echo what a lot of folks have said here. It's a crap shoot, and it's work. It's a lot of work, and it can take an emotional toll on the player playing the 'bad guy' if they're not prepared for it because there will be miscommunications, and there will be times where players are on the defensive. The good news is there are few behaviors that can help. They certainly won't negate the potential for out-of-character drama, but they could minimize it. Two things, and these are going to sound very contradictory, but bare with me. Do not tell people OOC that the character is a 'bad guy' or a criminal, or up to no good. This is something that can be discussed with good friends for a laugh, or people that want to tell a larger story; players that are on your side, that can help you play a better villain if they're down for it. Your own personal hype-man, so to speak. Telling people you are not familiar with, immediately, up front, like that is going to color the way people treat the character right off the bat without them ever interacting with them. I don't think this can be helped under most circumstances. This is roleplay, show me, don't tell me, basically. Let the behavior of the character speak for the character. Criminals rarely ever announce "I am a criminal!" either, so that is something I'd avoid in-character too. The character will gain a reputation through actions and behavior, so be prepared for it. Even keep a list of players and their characters that you interact with in a villainous way. Take notes! Whomever is playing the bad guy, however, does need to communicate with people. I recommend OOC contact with players at all stages, saying what you'd like the character to get up, ask what the other person if they're like to get involved, and what they are or aren't comfortable with, because this is basically setting up a scene for not only entertaining yourselves, but other people around you. If you both can't agree on how you want things to go, what the goal is, then walk away. Walk away from anything that doesn't make you, the player, feel comfortable. This allows both players to engage in behavior that is choreographed and controlled, but without the other players (and their characters) around you knowing. Super mysterious! This is good for general brawls and fights, too. If for some reason a bunch of characters, or players, come up to you and are all up in your face about something, and you're very confused, send them a tell first. Ask them why they are doing what they are doing so you know what to expect. A roleplayer on the defensive is a very, very ugly thing, and frankly it sucks all the fun out of the roleplay if someone is feeling attacked, in-character, or out, and whether they think it is or isn't justified. There is no fourth wall because while we are all playing characters, there is a real person behind that character, and their leisure activity should not be a source of distress for them, whether they are playing a villain, or not. Some players like torturing the shit out of their characters, others don't. The key is to just be up front about your intentions, what you want, and depending on the type of villain your'e playing (examples in others posts) be prepared to either adapt and evolve, or shelf the character for good.

We're recruiting! Roegadyn, Elezen, Highlanders and Lalafell all strongly encouraged to apply!

We've still got room for growth! PST Ayushiridara Khatagin for an invite!

http://41.media.tumblr.com/0a54762dee7c59bf0783b9a22f01dfb0/tumblr_nu3lipYVH71rue9d8o1_r2_1280.jpg[/img] Commission complete!

As a commission artist, I always have mixed feelings when I see these threads. On one hand, not giving a delivery date, and not staying in constant contact with your client is really unprofessional. Really, really unprofessional. On the other hand, contacting the artist directly is the best way to go. I understand that you are new to getting work done, and you want some feedback. I get that. I was in a situation once where a client talked to just about everyone else but me when they had an issue, and it could have been resolved asap if they had just contacted me in the first place. My personal policy is to keep my clients informed at every stage. Sometimes I have something to show them every week, sometimes its every 12 days. There is no point in updating them unless I have significant progress to show them. But, I give a delivery date of 4 to 6 weeks, depending on what I have going on and what I have on my docket. Balancing five or more commissions, depending on how fast an artist works, or what their time allows can be a real challenge. I have my limits. That doesn't excuse a lack of contact. That is something that is learned with experience. So, please do email them and tell them, in a calm and clear manner, what you would like; whether that is just asking about an update, or asking for a refund.

If you are feeling that your RP, or your character, is in a rut, may I suggest pulling your character out of a situation that you, or she, is familiar with, and putting her into a place that is extremely foreign to her? Interact with folks that are not nobility, that are not high society. Could be a fun experiment! I mean, really, what could go wrong!

Food for thought about putting a lot of emphasis on backstory: Have you done so much work on the backstory, given your character so much history that their story has already been told? Has so much happened to the character already that you may not know where to take it because the character has already, in your head, lived such a rich life? If the answer is yes, I'd go in and take out the weakest aspects of the story, and then see what happens if you take out the strongest, as a mental exercise. I like to refer to my character's background as just noise. That is what it becomes for me, personally, because while I need to know where she came from, my interest is where she is at now, in the present. So, I need to know what makes the most mental noise for her to move her forward into the present. Is there simply too much information to choose from, and you're feeling overwhelmed? Take one aspect you like the most from Mongolian culture, or the SENIX tribal canon lore, and build around that one thing. After that is comfortable, branch out to something related to that. Do you know who the character is, do you know how the character would react to several different situations, or does this feel forced, and you are unsure? If that is the case, consider this, figure out a core consistency to the character. That isn't to say there won't be variation, or a situation may crop up where you do not know just yet how the character will react, but at the core, I would say, in my opinion, there should be a set of parameters. These are all mostly rhetorical questions that I ask my friends when they are having trouble coming up with a character concept, or running into trouble playing the character. I just ask questions, and they answer those questions for themselves. There is nothing that says you have to have the character pat down, figured out when you start RPing. My final suggestion is that you may just need to put the character into practice, and hone the character based on your interactions, what feels right, what doesn't feel right, and cut the things that aren't working, or just feel unnecessary. Like Coco Chanel said: "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off." On an Au Ra specific-level, I invited you to Scales of Othard. Just talk at people. Seriously, just start laying out the character to folks, if you want specific opinions on Au Ra things. People will answer, promise! Feel free to hit me up in-game, too, if you'd like to chat, or RP. I co-run Remnant (remRP) with Bearcave/Ieyasu Ryushin and we have a ton of Au Ra RPers with all different types of personalities and histories. (Hi Kaiz!) We have so many in fact I feel like we ought to put a cap on recruiting Au Ra RPers XD