Of course, if you ignore mechanics in your RP, you end up ignoring the lore that's represented by those mechanics. For instance, that magic in Eorzea is spell-based and mediated by tools is largely represented by the mechanics, even if it shows up obliquely from time to time in quest dialogue (such as the level 15 Conjurer quest). Gladiators are trained in one-handed weapons and shields. Garleans are usually pretty tough guys and Coerthas is quite dangerous compared to, say, the Nine Ivies in the Shroud (represented by the levels of the mobs).
It's a delicate balance, I think, to honor what the mechanics tell us about the world and to let people play the concepts they want without having to "put in the time" to get to play them. Personally, in the absence of other factors, I tend to view it as a scale of plausibility. A level 1 character, without agreement by all parties in advance, just isn't going to smack around someone with 20+ levels on them; however, when we're talking about characters within relatively close levels (10 level or less difference), it's a lot less clear-cut. Of course, circumstances vary. An NPC villain in a story line might be low level just because it's an alt, but its "RP power" might be very high for the group involved in the story, because they consent to that. Someone who's very physically strong could easily take down L'yhta by surprise regardless of her level, because she's purely a spellcaster -- her RP power in physical combat is essentially nil, even if she's a level 50 Thaumaturge and you're a level 1 Gladiator and in strict PvP, you'd be incinerated before your first attack.
As usual, respectful discussion in advance is key, but be prepared for a negative response OOC if your RP power far outstrips your level and you don't have a good narrative justification for it and its presence in the scene. This is doubly true in conflict RP, where the resolution mechanic may turn to a PvP duel if all players agree... and level very much matters in that instance.
It's a delicate balance, I think, to honor what the mechanics tell us about the world and to let people play the concepts they want without having to "put in the time" to get to play them. Personally, in the absence of other factors, I tend to view it as a scale of plausibility. A level 1 character, without agreement by all parties in advance, just isn't going to smack around someone with 20+ levels on them; however, when we're talking about characters within relatively close levels (10 level or less difference), it's a lot less clear-cut. Of course, circumstances vary. An NPC villain in a story line might be low level just because it's an alt, but its "RP power" might be very high for the group involved in the story, because they consent to that. Someone who's very physically strong could easily take down L'yhta by surprise regardless of her level, because she's purely a spellcaster -- her RP power in physical combat is essentially nil, even if she's a level 50 Thaumaturge and you're a level 1 Gladiator and in strict PvP, you'd be incinerated before your first attack.
As usual, respectful discussion in advance is key, but be prepared for a negative response OOC if your RP power far outstrips your level and you don't have a good narrative justification for it and its presence in the scene. This is doubly true in conflict RP, where the resolution mechanic may turn to a PvP duel if all players agree... and level very much matters in that instance.
The Freelance Wizard
Quality RP at low, low prices!
((about me | about L'yhta Mahre | L'yhta's desk | about Mysterium, the Ivory Tower: a heavy RP society of mages))
Quality RP at low, low prices!
((about me | about L'yhta Mahre | L'yhta's desk | about Mysterium, the Ivory Tower: a heavy RP society of mages))
