(01-01-2015, 02:09 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: Focusing in more on your specific character, I believe the backstory is believable with the exception of him already knowing White Magic. And I'm not saying this because "White Mage taboo GTFO" but because you said your character's family is wealthy and Ul'dahn. So I think that particular point needs more fleshing out? Did your character grow up in Ul'dah and get sent to Gridania to learn Conjury... somehow become a White Mage in the process, and then up and leave to return to Ul'dah to become a playboy?
This post is exactly what I'm looking for! Thank you! Very knowledgeable stuff!
He's a 5O-6O year old guy now, so it's hard to sum up his life in one short paragraph. I'll go a bit more into detail with what I have so far. The mage's family was originally from Gridania. His father liked to plan yearly trips because he thought having knowledge about the world was important. His childhood was full of fond memories getting to see the world and he was taught to embrace and respect other people's cultures. I haven't been able to research too deeply yet into what was happening before patch 1.O, but I know the Garlean Empire was moving in on Eorzea up until the first primal was summoned (which was a little less that 2O years ago from my understanding). The mage is too old to have been involved with the Carteneau Flats 5 years ago, but I have been assuming he would've been involved with the fights over 2O years ago back before the Empire pulled out and stopped fighting Eorzea. I've been assuming I can say when he was traveling with different soldiers and meeting all sorts of people from different lands, he went from your average healer, to meeting some people who taught him the craft of being a real white mage. He would've had all his years protecting his homelands to master the discipline. I felt as though white magic would've been important for him to learn asides from the average CNJ for two reasons that I feel would help with his character development as a whole.
1) He would've learned all the beautiful uses a banned magic had. He would've seen it's good put to use so that concept would be very dear to his heart that not all laws and rules are right. It would've opened his mind to decide himself what's good or bad and to make his own opinions.Â
2) White Mages need to pull their magic from nature, just like black mages need to pull their magic from the void. I want him to feel as though he's already able to relate to the discipline like a fool and lull himself into a false sense of security which makes him so eager to try and find the good in the new form of magic. I want the concept to seem familiar which makes him very attracted to it.
When it's finally time for him to settle down with his wife (He's around 3O at this time), he returns to his family who is now in Ul'dah, his father opened up his business while he was gone for so many years. Ul'dah is the 'city of oppertunity' where the 'streets are paved with gold' and all. I figured it's the ideal place where someone would want to open up a business. He helps his father's business expand, his wife gets pregnant. Everything is getting in place and all.Â
It's then when he meets that black mage who was messing with the void trying to resurrect loved ones. After being able to have a long conversation with the mage and relate to the man on a personal level, that seed is planted in his head. I figured at first he'd always be trying to pick up rumors, read texts, and gather any knowledge people have on the style but ultimately have a very difficult time getting the facts on black mages. After this continues for another 5 years or so, he finally has a breakthrough and I'd like him to meet with someone working in the black market, or an actual person who practices the art where he finally comes in contact with a soul stone. Soul stones in this game contain the memories/teachings of the previous owners. I want this to be the very first piece of the puzzle he has, it giving him the ability to pick up on some of the skills much faster than a person learning from scratch. That is where he makes his mistake of trying to use what little hints he's learned from the rumors/soul stone/asking around in the cirminal world of Ul'dah. That is where his family up and leaves immediately. He doesn't even get a warning. The first time he attempts to do anything as a black mage is the second he loses his wife and kids. That is where he sort of falls into a depression and a dark place.Â
He finds his peace in researching more and more about black magic, now feeling a bit determined to have a reason for losing everything he had in his life. He feels like it all has to be for something, which is where he starts to cloud on where his morals stand. He's now got something to prove instead of his pure intentions that fueled his curiosity. It's personal now.Â
It's over these next 2O years or so, which bring us to current day. He's got 2O years to hunt down black mages, talk to criminals, start squeezing himself into the illegal scene and building up his presence. I really like to believe having so much time to focus on a second job makes it possible for this character to be able to be involved with both. I also thought it would make for fun discussion as to the effects it has on him.
Black mages need to be interacting with the void, and you said in your post that WHMs were denied by the elements in a fit of rage. Does this mean that as he gets more involved with the void and black magic that his white mage abilities would start backfiring on him? Would the black mage style mess with his healing abilities and he'd begin pulling energy from bad places? Would he be hurting himself or others when if he tries to heal now? Maybe anytime he went outside tree branches would be falling on his head. Or he'd have to straight up stay away from nature because it's he's so unbalanced and he has the rage of Greenwrath directed at him (I actually dunno if any nature outside of Gridania would be able to be influenced). You know? I was hoping people would get into discussions about how the two would clash if someone tried to learn both jobs. I'm a little upset everyone keeps saying it's an idea that should be avoided because it really sounded interesting and fun to me.Â
UGH I TYPED WAY TOO MUCH. SORRY SORRY.
