I think that, in the debate of OP/Underpowered characters it heavily depends what you're basing your perception of Overpowered on.Â
In itself, Overpowered is more of a term that could apply to a game rather then storytelling. being 'above the common level', to the point it seems rigged. In RP terms, this only because valid or important if these characters carry a degree of 'power' they can exert over your character Icly. It implies a degree of 'unfairness' towards other players. 'That dude is OP' or 'That character is OP'. Most times it reffers to a singular characters proficiency, or ability to inflict damage upon another character/exert control over another character.
That being said, since an Open RP setting doesn't have a common 'power roof', or a limit a character can reach, there's no 'bar' one can pass to be officially labelled op (ATK skill over 50, a limit how much your character can own in terms of NPC's / subjects), therein, OP is a purely subjective term.Â
Another interesting point ; There's also another degree of OP, and that is when your characters status / setting makes him, compared to his conflicting party, untouchable. Syndicate members come to mind. Compared to a street-thug a Syndicate member can be entirely OP, as he can recruit the help of everyone in the Syndicate (NPC's etc) to shank you, or ruin your business on the basis that the Syndicate own the market you're in.
Then there's ofcourse the 'snowflake' argument. The Sephiroth esque sub-troupe in which your character is imbued with the immortal power of seven dragon souls and twenty echo's simply to 'appear' untouchable should he end up in conflict. It's an indirect attempt to enable god-modding on your behalf, and I treat it as such.
Peronoally, I've always maintained one stance in this regard when it comes to 'Overpowered characters' ; You need to keep in mind that, if you wish to help create a nice story, or RP world, your character from a certain level/proficiency onward has no place amongst common folk. And I believe this is the core issue. There's nothing wrong with playing an almost demigod, but you need to keep in mind that such figures don't just mingle with the common, 'lower' folk.
For a real life example ; You probably wont meet Bill gates hanging out in a pub in Africa. If he will be there for some ungodly reason, he will certainly be there for perhaps a day, and then return to his ivory tower of Microsoft.
For a relevant RP example ; Your created demigod wont sit around the quicksand and throw back whiskeys. He should/will probably be entirely absorbed in using the power he acquired for what he needed it for in the first place. The Hero you play in the MSQ is busy traveling the entire world and saving it from evil and it's impeeding demise, he wont have time to chill out at a FC house and throw back whiskey shots and pester your common trader with his powers.
Infact, even the sadistic, mean spirited evil figures usually wont give two bits about 'peasants' so to speak, they will focus their Ire on those that have slighted them in their personal past or bigger behemoths they seek to conquer.
My point in the end is ; Playing powerful characters is not wrong, but you need to keep in mind that, the higher you push this bar, the further you isolate yourself, because your perceived place amongst the 'common' folk dissappears. That's why Powerful characters make for amazing driving forces in plots (The Hero to lead the Party, the Villain to destroy a city, The Rival to overcome), but they have absolutely no place amongst the common folk.
Now again, this 'middle-ground' where one starts crossing into this or that territory is entirely subjective. Personally, given the setting, I believe there's little we could consider OP. Aslong you create a character, truly stick to his core root and ensure that there's OOC communication between those involved, no one will ever be forced to suffer the 'OPness' of another character in a confrontational situation.Â
Now, if you're upset/annoyed over the fact that some people play characters in a goofy, snowflake way; Always keep in mind that other people can't 'force' their characters upon you. in an Open-RP setting you do have more or less the liberty who to involve yourself with, who to play with, and so on. I personally stopped entering 'Out of the blue' confrontations, and much rather discuss such things beforehand.
Now..I've written almost a sermon on the topic of OP here, but to approach the Openings post initial point;
What you're essentially raising as a question isn't about 'Overpowered / Underpowered' But in the quality of writing. You wrote the initial 'Overpowered' example as if it was executed by an 11 year old who just started roleplaying, replying in illogical one liners and when asked who he is will reply 'Demigod and Ifrit slayer.'
In regards of what is more 'fun' to play; entirely subjective, people preffer their own tropes. Some like to have a 'badass' vybe to their characters, others enjoy the sense of playing a 'calm, calculating figure'. It really depends on the individual.
In itself, Overpowered is more of a term that could apply to a game rather then storytelling. being 'above the common level', to the point it seems rigged. In RP terms, this only because valid or important if these characters carry a degree of 'power' they can exert over your character Icly. It implies a degree of 'unfairness' towards other players. 'That dude is OP' or 'That character is OP'. Most times it reffers to a singular characters proficiency, or ability to inflict damage upon another character/exert control over another character.
That being said, since an Open RP setting doesn't have a common 'power roof', or a limit a character can reach, there's no 'bar' one can pass to be officially labelled op (ATK skill over 50, a limit how much your character can own in terms of NPC's / subjects), therein, OP is a purely subjective term.Â
Another interesting point ; There's also another degree of OP, and that is when your characters status / setting makes him, compared to his conflicting party, untouchable. Syndicate members come to mind. Compared to a street-thug a Syndicate member can be entirely OP, as he can recruit the help of everyone in the Syndicate (NPC's etc) to shank you, or ruin your business on the basis that the Syndicate own the market you're in.
Then there's ofcourse the 'snowflake' argument. The Sephiroth esque sub-troupe in which your character is imbued with the immortal power of seven dragon souls and twenty echo's simply to 'appear' untouchable should he end up in conflict. It's an indirect attempt to enable god-modding on your behalf, and I treat it as such.
Peronoally, I've always maintained one stance in this regard when it comes to 'Overpowered characters' ; You need to keep in mind that, if you wish to help create a nice story, or RP world, your character from a certain level/proficiency onward has no place amongst common folk. And I believe this is the core issue. There's nothing wrong with playing an almost demigod, but you need to keep in mind that such figures don't just mingle with the common, 'lower' folk.
For a real life example ; You probably wont meet Bill gates hanging out in a pub in Africa. If he will be there for some ungodly reason, he will certainly be there for perhaps a day, and then return to his ivory tower of Microsoft.
For a relevant RP example ; Your created demigod wont sit around the quicksand and throw back whiskeys. He should/will probably be entirely absorbed in using the power he acquired for what he needed it for in the first place. The Hero you play in the MSQ is busy traveling the entire world and saving it from evil and it's impeeding demise, he wont have time to chill out at a FC house and throw back whiskey shots and pester your common trader with his powers.
Infact, even the sadistic, mean spirited evil figures usually wont give two bits about 'peasants' so to speak, they will focus their Ire on those that have slighted them in their personal past or bigger behemoths they seek to conquer.
My point in the end is ; Playing powerful characters is not wrong, but you need to keep in mind that, the higher you push this bar, the further you isolate yourself, because your perceived place amongst the 'common' folk dissappears. That's why Powerful characters make for amazing driving forces in plots (The Hero to lead the Party, the Villain to destroy a city, The Rival to overcome), but they have absolutely no place amongst the common folk.
Now again, this 'middle-ground' where one starts crossing into this or that territory is entirely subjective. Personally, given the setting, I believe there's little we could consider OP. Aslong you create a character, truly stick to his core root and ensure that there's OOC communication between those involved, no one will ever be forced to suffer the 'OPness' of another character in a confrontational situation.Â
Now, if you're upset/annoyed over the fact that some people play characters in a goofy, snowflake way; Always keep in mind that other people can't 'force' their characters upon you. in an Open-RP setting you do have more or less the liberty who to involve yourself with, who to play with, and so on. I personally stopped entering 'Out of the blue' confrontations, and much rather discuss such things beforehand.
Now..I've written almost a sermon on the topic of OP here, but to approach the Openings post initial point;
What you're essentially raising as a question isn't about 'Overpowered / Underpowered' But in the quality of writing. You wrote the initial 'Overpowered' example as if it was executed by an 11 year old who just started roleplaying, replying in illogical one liners and when asked who he is will reply 'Demigod and Ifrit slayer.'
In regards of what is more 'fun' to play; entirely subjective, people preffer their own tropes. Some like to have a 'badass' vybe to their characters, others enjoy the sense of playing a 'calm, calculating figure'. It really depends on the individual.
![[Image: afvXOt2.png]](http://i.imgur.com/afvXOt2.png)
