Sig

I shall attempt to make an IC appearance, tee-hee.

I object on the record to any objections regarding time-traveling that fall short of gripping a third-party character by the arm and dragging them through time. Time travel is extreme but plausible. Not my cup of IC tea, however. IC, Sigurd would simply think your character was insane and use it as an excuse to make (presumably) unwanted advances. The joys of roleplay.

If they met, Sigurd would consider Chachan an insufferable do-gooder far too obsessed with smashing things, doing excessive amounts of situps, and naive beyond all hope. Chachan would probably not realize this, however, because Sigurd would be too busy trying to offer the little runt drinks or goad him into doing amusing, zany things.

Take my subjective criticism with a grain of salt. I like the overall concept. So please see comments above in red.

I hereby offer this character concept my official seal of approval. DATED: September 2, 2015. - /s/ Sig ((Seriously, I love the culinary-rogue failure mage concept).

Life is a beautiful mystery, so I'll allow the issue of whether the original post is serious to remain unsettled. I will, however, confess that several RP'ers have used similar Hardcore RP'er disclaimers to positive effects in PUGs before, myself included. It usually elicits entertaining responses and is really effective at controlling expectations.

I love tragic roleplay but hate when it devolves into a prolonged parade of miserables. As others have observed, it's about finding well-reasoned balance. Letting the good times roll without the occasional tragedy can become boring. But most of all, allowing RP to organically evolve and accepting spontaneity is important, even if your character gets dragged through the mud. Until about one week ago, Sigurd had been stuck in a cycle where every time I logged on and went IC, Sigurd was thrust into highly confrontational scenes as a result of his zany personality. It was, literally, a parade of going IC to get punched in the face, stabbed, and/or threatened for several days on end. The RP almost became depressing. But then things started to lighten up a bit. As a result of the temporary parade of miserables, recent "happy time" RP has been so much more entertaining and satisfying. Gotta love dat dramatic, awesome RP, <3.

Random thought of the day: Hardcore RP'er Disclaimers > PVE Nubcakes: PVE "nubcakes" saturate duty-finder groups and PUGs. This is not a bad thing and is a simple fact of life. There is nothing wrong with being a PVE nubcake, which is usually defined by a mixture of being under-geared, inexperienced, and not motivated to "pwn" at PVE content. Most PVEnubcakes are off-tanks (hi), random DPS classes (especially dragoons), and a motley collection of MSQ-grinders (hi, again). I'm a proud PVE nubcake, as are many RP'ers who frequent these forums. Unfortunately, being a PVE nubcake can be upsetting at times. Sometimes PUG-mates become frustrated at PVE nubcakes for a variety of reasons. There is, however, a delightful thing PVE nubcakes who RP can do to protect against substantial, unreasonable prejudice: use a hardcore RP'er disclaimer. That's right. Next time you're slugging through Titan HM, give those PUG-mates an express disclaimer of how amazing you are: "...GREETINGS! I am a PVE nubcake because I am a slave to the hardcore, amazing roleplay on [[sERVER]]. I'm grinding through this PVE nonsense for shiny new RP armors, lulz." Even professional poopsockers will be amused and forgive your sins, even after you lose aggro, let both tanks die, alt-tab because your dog jumped across the desk, blow a LB, and/or have to AFK (again) for another beer. The hardcore RP'er disclaimer, when used effectively, will even earn commendations and might refer you to fellow RP'ers back on your native server (hopefully Balmung). Give it a try sometime. The results are amazing.

August 2015 (AT WORK) Update: OOC: Rawr! Amesoeurs continues to grow. We're around 50 strong now and seeking to make that social net grow further. We're looking around for potential meet-up locations and may also consider planning some events in the forthcoming weeks! Stay tuned!

In no special order: FFVI (the first thing that really sucked me into fantasy aesthetics); Baldur's Gate II (best RPG story and characters, ever); Xenogears (excellent story and characters); Suikoden II (so. damn. emotional.); Morrowind (lost myself in it for daaaays); Everquest (the GLORY DAYS).

((*Eats popcorn and lurks* -- this is some good forum RP, <3.))

Sigurd hates when his hair flutters over his forehead and despises bangs on people. A terrible figure in his past had long bangs. Sigurd has a weakness for blond/platinum haired women and men - to the point he'll go out of his way to introduce himself to them. He hates red blend wines with a passion, as they are often made from lower quality grapes and cater to simple tastes. He enjoys creating nicknames for certain people and tends to call the person exclusively by the nickname once it enters his mind. He is a very touchy person, even around people he has no interest in, whatsoever - his favorite nervous habit is tapping his fingers across a person's back or shoulders.

This topic is very subjective and semantic. I'll boil it down to a few points -- you can and should: play any type of character that makes you happy; attempt to play that character in a way that is consistent with the character; gauge IC reactions towards other characters based on the character's IC representations; do your best to humor and entertain people who cannot fully convey a critical aspect of their character that should otherwise be apparent; and respect and enjoy RP with others. /thread.

Alcoholic, diplomatic vintner trained in Ala Mhigan close quarters combat, which he refuses to use (right now), and instead fights rather clumsily with any weapon that provides sufficient reach. When not peddling wine, a marketing director of a free company specializing in monster hunting and Magitek. In game class jobs are booorrrrrinnnnnngggggggggggg.

((DOH! Will edit post! Strike -5000 DKRP for me!)) A chuckle escaped Sigurd's lips before he interjected, "...my doctor gets excited, easily. Usually starts from the waist down for a routine examination. She didn't quite finish my last examination, I'm afraid." Sigurd observed the man take a sharp toke from the pipe. Moko grass normally induced a pleasant, airy high that usually helped mitigate stress. Though its potency varied from person to person. After the smoke cleared, Sigurd stated, "Anytime, friend," and accepted the pipe back, tucking it between his own lips, taking a few more draws as the man explained his need for a doctor. Sigurd commented, "...quite altruistic of you. Well, I suppose there is always the old-fashioned way of summoning a doctor." Sigurd then walked towards the door to the tavern, the Highlander cupping his hands over his mouth - projecting that low, booming voice: "IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? ANYONE?! THE NEED FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION IS QUITE IMMINENT." His voice nearly made the creaky wooden boards rattle, nearly.

Sigurd looked like hell. Dark circles rested under his eyes and two bruises marred his face. Yet, the affable grin about his lips did much to conceal his haggard appearance. His cold eyes surveyed the black-haired, bearded man - noting his baggy attire. Sigurd answered the man's question in a low, refined tone: "...A doctor? In this village? No, I haven't the pleasure. And they are usually -quite- expensive. Why, the closet doctor I know is back in Wineport, which is many, many yalms from here - and sadly, she is a bit exhausted from a prior "examination" she performed on me yesterday." Sig pulled the pipe from his lips, fumes trailing from the corners of his mouth, speaking again: "...What do you need a doctor for anyhow, good man? You appear to be in fine health. Perhaps you would care for a natural, herbal remedy for anything that ails you?" Sigurd extended the pipe to the man, offering him a toke - if he desired.

The "village" was a pisshole. The larders were dry and the townfolk were painfully simple. The women were the worst -- they were plain and comely. Sigurd regretted attempting to execute a simple "red blend" distribution contract with the modest tavern tucked in village. The townsfolk favored boring, crass beverages. How disappointing. Sigurd stood perched against a wooden support beam at the edge of the tavern, a pipe tucked between his lips - puffing on a fragrant bowl of moko grass. A brisk coastal breeze carried the scent of the narcotic downwind.

Salutations! Hope you're enjoying the RP on this fine sever. I am envious of your diligence to grind out the MSQ into HW. I've been mired in so much RP as of lates that I can never force myself to grind through the remaining quests. Anyhow, feel free to send a tell my way in-game sometime for some RP.

Shevat - the Wind is Calling. Weeeeeeeelcome! Balmung is an outstanding RP community - most definatly the Shevat of MMORPG right now. Hope you enjoy the stay! Feel free to look me up in-game sometime! - Sig

A note penned in simple hand had been stuck to the bottom of the flyer: "Amateurs. Let me offer a kindness. In the vintner trade, we usually segregate the weakest cultivars at the end of the season. We crush those sh---- grapes in a single press, and then slap a pretty label on the bottle, usually hand-drawn. We market it as an "exciting new red blend." It sells like wildfire. Now let me offer you the kindness and the secret behind any s----- red blend, no matter how its marketed - you need to water the actual product down. That's the real secret - no one can taste or detect the difference, I assure you. Give it a shot, and you'll watch the margin claw up. At 5 gil, you're probably sucking in around 1-2 gil a pop. I know street urchin who reap better margins. If you're already doing it, put more water in the mixture. You owe me a glass of wine sometime, friends. And make sure it's not watered down. I'll know the difference. - Sigurd Sund-ste-i-gen." Sig huffed under his breath, blowing a few strands of blond hair off his brow, fingertips affixing the note to the flyer, and then scooping the hair back behind his ears. Amateurs were almost annoying as bangs.

Looks like a lovely LS. I'll happily hop aboard the bus. Please add Sig to any wait list. I'll keep an eye open in-game.

I'll try to reach out to a LS leader sometime soon for an invite. Looks like a find RP-finding mechanism! If not, slap me on the wait list, please.

I came up with the general concept for Sig while drinking an imperial IPA, watching BoJack Horseman, and listening to the four songs linked on his RPC wiki profile. The music really guided my inspiration for the character on an emotional and aesthetic level. I performed some basic online research to confirm his background lore. Sig is extremely difficult to RP at times because he can be highly volatile and alienating, likely as a result of the initial brain storming session. But, it's been just as enjoyable thus far, because he's slowly stomping out various inner demons IC in-game and turning into a better person. They'll probably never go away fully, and he'll never be a saint (or "good" in any sense), but he's already tipping much closer to neutral. Good times!

Give me that delicious cake. I'll stuff it down my throat and bake another. However, perhaps my point was not clear - a character is not powerful because they adhere to a certain style of combat, per se. Ultimately, the RP'er will dictate the power of the character, and then with the luck of the dice gods (in most instances), hope that raw luck will translate into sensible combat performance. Of course some RP'ers will ensure their characters kill them all or blow off their own foot - that's the magic of RP. What does this boil down to? Well, an experienced combatant bearing a knife with a crazy look on her face should be just as terrifying and challenging, although in different ways, than a dragoon exercising a thirty foot vertical while in full plate. The confusion arises from assumptions about power and skill based entirely on a very aesthetic derived from the most fanciful of in-game lore. It's a pleasant aesthetic that is over represented. And I confess, this is all awfully subjective. I suppose the point I can't seem to get across is that - plain, boring [aka: awesome] combat and aesthetics are a major part of the game, too! Hell, I'd go so far as to say that most of Eorzea (in a holistic sense) bathes in this style. We PC's simply don't gravitate to the themes as strongly, for a number of reasons. But it's a beautiful, lovely part of the game. Try it sometime, if you haven't already (not just you, Caspar -- thanks, little buddy, it's been a while since I've traded forum posts like broadsides) Regardless, remember to stab them with the pointy end. Love you all.

Hence the subjective disclaimers slathered on the OP. This whole rant is entirely subjective. BUT AMAZING. Proportionality is an important part of the point I was trying to make. We see a very narrow, fantastic conception of Eorzea through the MSQ. It certainly exists and there is nothing wrong with it. But I'll be bold and make the guess that the vast majority of Eorzean soliders and citizens, aren't casting advanced spells, performing back flips in combat, or mowing down folks by the dozens. You can't really blame people who want to play powerful, fanciful characters that are consistent with the vast majority of the MSQ quest lore we digest. The problem is that such characters exist among PC's in proportions that are not found in NPCs. For every one badass back-flipping ninja, there should be some arbitrary number of "gritty martials" to lend to a sense of proportion (10, perhaps)? Yet we see no such proportions. Some love this. Others yawn at it, including me. And I don't really see a dichotomy or inherent weakness in a "gritty martial." The Ninja is flipping around too much? That's fine - hold an axe overhead and let him skewer himself on the blade. A caster chain-casting fire magic? Sure. Hide behind a large rock, peak out, and throw a dagger at her squishy face. Heavily armored plate knight got you down? Drop a rock on his head. The "gritty martial" high-powered possibilities are practically endless! And highly effective. ...Annnd... subjectively amazing, <3!