To me it all comes with IC age and IC experience.
A 23yo mage who has been practicing since she was 15 (8 years) should not claim to be more skilled than a 56yo wizard who has been practicing magic since he was 20 (36 years). Sure, she started earlier than him and maybe that is a sign of talent, but he still has over x4 her experience, and thus, to me, should be more skilled than her.
With physical skills it's a bit more technical, since unlike magic, physique matters, and such while you grow more experienced with age, you also grow weaker. A middle-aged warrior who has been practicing since his twenties should rightfully be more skilled than the young one who just grabbed a sword and the old war veteran who could be his dad (though the war veteran would know more tricks, maybe some that could let him win despite his old age). As I said, more technical.
My general rule of thumb is that you shouldn't claim to be young and yet a MASTER at well... anything. Mastering comes with experience. Ane experience requires age. Sorry, but young-super skilled works only in anime.
A 23yo mage who has been practicing since she was 15 (8 years) should not claim to be more skilled than a 56yo wizard who has been practicing magic since he was 20 (36 years). Sure, she started earlier than him and maybe that is a sign of talent, but he still has over x4 her experience, and thus, to me, should be more skilled than her.
With physical skills it's a bit more technical, since unlike magic, physique matters, and such while you grow more experienced with age, you also grow weaker. A middle-aged warrior who has been practicing since his twenties should rightfully be more skilled than the young one who just grabbed a sword and the old war veteran who could be his dad (though the war veteran would know more tricks, maybe some that could let him win despite his old age). As I said, more technical.
My general rule of thumb is that you shouldn't claim to be young and yet a MASTER at well... anything. Mastering comes with experience. Ane experience requires age. Sorry, but young-super skilled works only in anime.
To be an interesting, intriguing, well-written character, there needs to be something to allow the audience to relate to them. That is what the problem is with who wants their character to be "perfect". Perfect characters will never be strong, and strong characters will never be perfect, because WE (those who read, who watch, who RP) are not perfect.
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." -- N.C.
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." -- N.C.
