discussion Character Creation: Opinions?

[Amnesic]

EDIT:I did a more clearer summary of this information, but I have left the older post still up here. I put it all in nested spoilers now, so it should be much easier to read than in one giant essay.

  Updated Information (Reveal hidden contents)

 

  Name and Position (Reveal hidden contents)

The Duke of the Isles, with the singular name Rhett, has suddenly appeared from what seems like nowhere into the high society and never explains as to how. Out of a personal preference he does not disclose the reason for; he only likes to be referred to as Duke, Marquise, or simply Duke Rhett- even his servant calls him by this titled name. Underneath, the “Isles” do not actually exist, and as due process, the titles are simply flavor added to his persona. Anyone questioning of their location usually receive a story about a group of uncharted islands, and never receive an answer that really feels satisfactory.

 

 

  Appearance (Reveal hidden contents)

The Duke appears as a Midlander Hyur, with striking violet eyes, and flowing locks the shade of the Southern Thanalan sands in full sun. The eyes are likely enough a sort of glamour, but the rest of his appearance is assuredly real. His facial hair is maintained in the style of a goatee, light mustache, and understated sideburns, but overall he does not seem to primp it all that much in public. His overall physique is quite trim and has a layer of light muscle to all of it, suggesting a balanced and precise military training, but it regardless reflects his care for his own health. His overall wellness seems exceptional except for the occasional rings under his eyes that he claims to be due to a black pepper allergy and is usually followed by the statement “nobody is perfect.”

 

On the topic of fashion, he tends to wear outdated styles of clothing such as Ul’dahn desert robes, but he does wear the current clean-cut suits of the day to some degree of frequency. Oddly enough, rather than displaying his wealth with jewelry, he never wears any for a reason he never gives a satisfactory answer to either.

 

 

  Professions, Skills, and Finance (Reveal hidden contents)

Duke Rhett’s money never seems to end, and as would be expected of such a person possessing this infinite wealth, he does not seem to possess any job aside from living the high-society life. In fact, he simply says that he does “many things.” His court skills are very refined, being an adept ball-dancer and showing great ability in playing the harp and singing serenades. Professionally, he has a very astute knowledge in both minerals and herbs from across Eorzea and further onwards. These, when added to his complex comprehension of finances, give him an easy way into and out of most conversations with the aristocracy.

 

 

 

 

  Language (Reveal hidden contents)

The Duke of the Isles’ language skills are perhaps his most useful and mysterious abilities; without even possessing the Echo, he has at least limited comprehension of a total of six different languages. His two most mastered languages are Eorzean and Doman, both spoken in high levels of elegance and with separate, very precise accents that reflect the communication of a native speaker. With these two, his writing is just as elegant as his speech and just as perfect. Alongside this, he has the ability to write and read Amaljic quite well, rudimentary Mooglespeak, relatively fluent Auri, and another beast language that resembles something perhaps like Ixali. When asked for an explanation of how he managed to learn these various languages, he usually responds that he has been studying them for quite a long time. He has a light tendency to use older words such as “thee” and “gaffe”, and the only profanity he ever seems to use is simply the word “fie”.

 

 

 

  Personality (Reveal hidden contents)

Personality-wise, the Duke seems to be imperturbable and always keeps a polite demeanor towards everyone. He tends to act quite amicable, but any sort of relationship with him seems to never advance very much and he never tells very much about himself. Oddly, the only way one can tell if you are more than just a stranger with him is if he puts you closer to the top of his invitation and reception lists. He never seems to show any hostility towards his enemies, and at most simply loses the friendliness in his voice while still maintaining the gentle attitude. He seems to hold no discriminations, especially against the lower classes, suggesting some level of understanding with them. This respectful attitude seems to carry over into all conversations, and as result, he never seems to make any change in manner when speaking to a male or a female. Regardless of how distracted, the only time he ever seems to lose track of a conversation is when he gets lost in his own thoughts, and nothing else seems to elude his ears.

 

 

 

  Illness, Disabilities, and Past (Reveal hidden contents)

Despite the overall perfection that the Duke shows, there may be a darker past behind all of this or even a darker side to himself that he never seems to want to give any hints as to the existence of. Even his single servant never utters a word that even remotely suggests the existence of something not-so-perfect about him, so there cannot be one, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Older Post (Reveal hidden contents)

I have been considering this idea for a while in my mind, so I have decided to see what you all think about it the idea- I’m open to any suggestions! I decided to be a bit creative with the description and such by putting it into the format of some nosy high-society news association.

 

[align=center]~ A current, high-society news report reads: ~[/align]

---

[align=center]“Is There A New Aristocrat About?”[/align]

“Within the last few days, a man around thirty years has been showing himself in various high society congregations, especially upon the Hustings in Ul’dah, claiming to be the duke or marquis of some foreign land. Various investigations have failed to uncover almost anything upon this ‘Rhett, Duke of the Isles’ including what his actual last name is. What has been discovered though is that he supposedly holds a fortune that accounts for his title and more, as well as having a very sophisticated education combined with a masterful understanding of finance, herbs, and minerals. His appearance has been rather sudden, and the high society has been impressed by his bright mind and recent actions.

 

“At a recent ball, he gently took the stage when the band ran into a lull caused by incompetency and recovered the evening with a set of three lovely serenades played entirely upon a single harp. To the despair of the party, he left not too long after, apparently having received a very important message; however, he did apologize profusely, and promised to show himself again as soon as another event was opened. Another two events have promptly been established, reflecting upon how much of an effect this mysterious aristocrat has had on the higher courts.

 

“Quiet rumors have been spread suggesting that he suffers from a severe medical condition or that he is actually a prince from a foreign land; the evidence tends to vary. He has made a statement claiming them to be entirely be unfounded for he is ‘perfectly vigorous’ and that he is ‘simply the duke and marquis of the Isles’. All of this seems to confirm quite resolutely aside from the fact that nobody knows where these ‘Isles’ lie. Some have described his fitness as similar to a military man, but he has declined this as well by claiming that it is just ‘good habit’. Even more questions arise from his display of being fluent in many languages, being capable of writing in two beast languages, supposed ‘mooglespeak’, and Auri while showing a great mastery in both Eorzean and Doman.

 

“Another respectable note is that he seems to take fancy in much older styles of fashion, making the occasional brave take-back to the Ul'dahn desert robes, but he also wears ‘long and fair’ hairstyles as well as the clean cut suits used today. Our elder members of the high society find it to be a ‘respectable and charming choice that brings back memories’, but our fashion leaders do not think it likely to start a ‘throw-back trend’ in the fashion world. What is most peculiar of all of this is that he seems to be around his later twenties and yet he indulges in this older style and refuses the newer, unlike most of our rising generations.

 

“We seek to find contact with this Duke Rhett of the Isles when possible, yet he seems to be very capable of making himself scarce to the public eye. In fact, even his place of residence is unknown to anyone but him and the occasional servant that has shown with him from time to time. This secretive nature raises a few flags as it seems very contrasting to his extroverted personality, but we shall have to wait and see. He is expected to be at both events, naturally, and he claims to plan for an event of his own at a future date. Expect more updates upon our Duke of the Isles soon, he has quickly become quite an entrancing topic in these few days of his appearance.”

 

~ Diamond Eye Insider

---

 

Just to clarify- a lot of the flaws the character holds show more outside of public view and in more private circumstances. So, is there anything specifically wrong with this?

 

 

 

Any comments, opinions, or suggestions on the new stuff?

[GentleGiraffe]

I think it would be easier to judge if you told us about the character from your perspective as a writer, not through the biased reports of a high-society news write-up. If you want us to give you suggestions regarding the lore and the like, we'll simply need more concrete information.

 

Also, I'm not sure if "‘long and fair’ hairstyles as well as the clean cut suits" would really apply as an older style of fashion in any of the three main city-states, never mind Ul'dah. Ishgardian nobles still wear those, and from dungeon drops it seems Sharlayan fashion is heavily based on that as well, so I'm unsure to whose past his clothes are an allusion to.

[Amnesic]

  Quote

I think it would be easier to judge if you told us about the character from your perspective as a writer, not through the biased reports of a high-society news write-up. If you want us to give you suggestions regarding the lore and the like, we'll simply need more concrete information.

 

Also, I'm not sure if "‘long and fair’ hairstyles as well as the clean cut suits" would really apply as an older style of fashion in any of the three main city-states, never mind Ul'dah. Ishgardian nobles still wear those, and from dungeon drops it seems Sharlayan fashion is heavily based on that as well, so I'm unsure to whose past his clothes are an allusion to.

 

Thanks for the reply; I have already realized in hindsight that this format is not going to work terribly well on its own. I have been working on a better and more clear summary for this, and it's almost done, but I currently don't have access to it.

 

On the terms the style, that's one of the things I needed to get a check on. I'm not exactly too well versed in all of the lore, general aristocracy of the world being one of my weaker places. I mostly went off of what I can remember seeing in Ul'dah, so I'll definitely have to fix that part.

[GentleGiraffe]

  Quote

  Quote

I think it would be easier to judge if you told us about the character from your perspective as a writer, not through the biased reports of a high-society news write-up. If you want us to give you suggestions regarding the lore and the like, we'll simply need more concrete information.

 

Also, I'm not sure if "‘long and fair’ hairstyles as well as the clean cut suits" would really apply as an older style of fashion in any of the three main city-states, never mind Ul'dah. Ishgardian nobles still wear those, and from dungeon drops it seems Sharlayan fashion is heavily based on that as well, so I'm unsure to whose past his clothes are an allusion to.

 

Thanks for the reply; I have already realized in hindsight that this format is not going to work terribly well on its own. I have been working on a better and  more clear summary for this, and it's almost done, but I currently don't have access to it.

 

On the terms the style, that's one of the things I needed to get a check on. I'm not exactly too well versed in all of the lore, general aristocracy of the world being one of my weaker places.  I mostly went off of what I can remember seeing in Ul'dah, so I'll definitely have to fix that part.

 

Ul'dah is a city of merchants and thaumaturges, descended from the mage city of Belah'dia, so you'll find a lot more desert clothes and mage robes in its pasts thn clean-cut suits. There's nothing stopping your character from wearing them though, seeing that they exist and appear in several quests and NPCs.

[Michaux]

"Duke of the Isles?" What isles are we talking about? There are various isles in or near Eorzea (Sharlayan is an island city-state, for example), but none that would be controlled by a duke.

 

If you want to play an Ishgardian noble, your choices are vicount or baron. There are also counts in Ishgard, but only four of them, and we already know who they are. The higher real-world French ranks of marquis and duke don't exist in Ishgard, or anywhere else in Eorzea, seemingly.

 

Note also that Ishgard is the only city-state we know of that has a true nobility. Gridania seems to have a class of important people who get their own little part of the city to live in (I refer to them as the gentry for lack of a better term), but the city is governed by the Seedseers. Ul'dah is a sultanate, but the wealthy and powerful people there are the monetarists. Limsa Lominsa is led by an Admiral, so the closest thing to a noble class there would be naval officers, I suspect.

 

If you're playing a character from a made-up, faraway land on some other continent, then I suppose you could hold onto the duke and marquis titles, although some RPers might raise their eyebrows at you. I suggest you name his homeland something other than "the Isles" though, because again, what isles? And if your character is from a land far away from Eorzea, it doesn't make much sense that your character would know Eorzean beast tribe languages, especially if his appearance in Eorzea has been "rather sudden." Most Eorzeans don't even know beast tribe languages, because why would they? Beastmen are considered subhuman by most Eorzeans. And note also that we don't have any idea whether these tribes even have written languages.

 

I would study up on the lore a little bit and ask some questions to flesh out your character, if I were you. I think you can make your general character concept work, but if you're going to RP in the gray areas of the lore, it's helpful to be very familiar with it first.

 

Edit: I did some thinking after concluding this post, and it occurred to me from your character concept and the style in which you introduced it that you're going with an almost regency romance kind of vibe for your character. That can work, but it does have to be adapted to the game's lore. I did something similar with Solenne, who is a wealthy Gridanian aristocrat. She has many of the accomplishments and life experiences that a regency romance heroine would have, but she is also shaped by the fantasy-based environment of FFXIV.

[Michaux]

(Duplicate post)

[Amnesic]

  Quote

  Quote (Reveal hidden contents)

"Duke of the Isles?" What isles are we talking about? There are various isles in or near Eorzea (Sharlayan is an island city-state, for example), but none that would be controlled by a duke.

 

If you want to play an Ishgardian noble, your choices are viscount or baron. There are also counts in Ishgard, but only four of them, and we already know who they are. The higher real-world French ranks of marquis and duke don't exist in Ishgard, or anywhere else in Eorzea, seemingly.

 

Note also that Ishgard is the only city-state we know of that has a true nobility. Gridania seems to have a class of important people who get their own little part of the city to live in (I refer to them as the gentry for lack of a better term), but the city is governed by the Seedseers. Ul'dah is a sultanate, but the wealthy and powerful people there are the monetarists. Limsa Lominsa is led by an Admiral, so the closest thing to a noble class there would be naval officers, I suspect.

 

If you're playing a character from a made-up, faraway land on some other continent, then I suppose you could hold onto the duke and marquis titles, although some RPers might raise their eyebrows at you. I suggest you name his homeland something other than "the Isles" though, because again, what isles? And if your character is from a land far away from Eorzea, it doesn't make much sense that your character would know Eorzean beast tribe languages, especially if his appearance in Eorzea has been "rather sudden." Most Eorzeans don't even know beast tribe languages, because why would they? Beastmen are considered subhuman by most Eorzeans. And note also that we don't have any idea whether these tribes even have written languages.

 

I would study up on the lore a little bit and ask some questions to flesh out your character, if I were you. I think you can make your general character concept work, but if you're going to RP in the gray areas of the lore, it's helpful to be very familiar with it first.

 

 

 

Ah, apologies! This was something I meant to have clarified: the "Isles" are not exactly really anything but flavor with a little bit homage to how he obtained his fortune; the title of Duke and Marquis are entirely made up by him and serve only to enhance his appearance to the public. It's a bit confusing in this format, I really do apologize; I'll get the more clear summary up as soon as I can. It is somewhat a mix of regency romance with a little inspiration from The Count of Monte Cristo, but with less of the imprisonment, dishonor, and revenge.

 

On the terms of beastmen languages, I know that at least Amaljic language is written because I remember there being a step of a quest where you have to get someone to translate for you. He has had this fortune for a while, but he has only decided to publicly show himself now, would it be too unlikely that he spent some of his time studying it and the other languages? In the meantime, I need to find myself some information on the various aristocracies.

[Sounsyy]

  Quote

If you want to play an Ishgardian noble, your choices are vicount or baron. There are also counts in Ishgard, but only four of them, and we already know who they are. The higher real-world French ranks of marquis and duke don't exist in Ishgard, or anywhere else in Eorzea, seemingly.

  Quote

The "Isles" are not exactly really anything but flavor with a little bit homage to how he obtained his fortune; the title of Duke and Marquis are entirely made up by him and serve only to enhance his appearance to the public.

 

Your story, even down to the name of your Duke, actually reminds me of an actual existing npc and his story from the 1.0 version of the game. It gave me a good laugh the first time I read through this. Allow me to introduce to you, Ishgard's Duke Brett V:

 

  Quote

As he does once every moon' date=' Ishgardian noble Duke Brett V will soon be arriving in Limsa Lominsa to conduct a routine inspection of the many export and import warehouses he maintains in the thalassocracy. And, as always, he has requested the Bismarck to prepare three servings of his favorite dish, braised bream with aurelia cream sauce, for each day of his one-week stay. To prepare for this unorthodox order, the Culinarians' Guild is seeking adventurers to travel to Bloodshore and procure several of the extra plump Bianaq bream that the duke craves.[/quote']

 

  Quote

Before this speculation continues further, I must share with you certain developments regarding the man once known as "Duke Brett V."

 

The structure of Ishgardian nobility is not widely known, especially in lands so distant as Limsa Lominsa. Moreover, given the nature of Lominsan society, even well-to-do merchants may know little of such things. So it was that a lowborn Ishgardian, who through a series of events fortuitous and fantastic had built a profitable import and export concern, affected the trappings of nobility and convinced his peers in Limsa Lominsa that he was the esteemed "Duke Brett V."

 

Why he felt the need to adopt such a guise is anyone's guess, as his numerous eccentricities were met with widespread bemusement. Indeed, it was his penchant for ordering the same unusual dish every moon at the Bismarck that proved his undoing, as during one such visit he was confronted by traveling scholar, who declared with authority, "There's no such thing as an Ishgardian duke!"

 

The "Duke" has since grown rather reclusive, as one might expect, and his tale is now largely forgotten. Yet on occasion, in certain corners of Limsa Lominsa, in response to a dubious claim, some locals are heard to exclaim, "Hah! And I'm an Ishgardian duke!"

 

My personal pet theory is that the reclusive resident of The Hermit's Hovel in outer La Noscea is the selfsame "Duke" Brett V. No evidence of course, but I think it'd be a fantastic throwback if they ever did implement a quest for it. Most people miss it, but there's actually a subtle nod to our good Duke Brett in the 3.0 Hildibrand questline wherein our expressive investigator knocks over a priceless antique vase that reportedly once graced the house of an Ishgardian "Duke."

 

 

___________________________

  Quote

Note also that Ishgard is the only city-state we know of that has a true nobility. Gridania seems to have a class of important people who get their own little part of the city to live in (I refer to them as the gentry for lack of a better term), but the city is governed by the Seedseers. Ul'dah is a sultanate, but the wealthy and powerful people there are the monetarists. Limsa Lominsa is led by an Admiral, so the closest thing to a noble class there would be naval officers, I suspect.

 

Beastmen are considered subhuman by most Eorzeans. And note also that we don't have any idea whether these tribes even have written languages.

  Quote

On the terms of beastmen languages, I know that at least Amaljic language is written because I remember there being a step of a quest where you have to get someone to translate for you. In the meantime, I need to find myself some information on the various aristocracies.

 

A few things. Ishgard has(had) a more traditional version of nobility, but it was far from the only place which had nobles. Ul'dah, for example, has nobility by royal bloodlines and merchant empires who gain nobility through affluence. Gridania possesses a gentry, or psuedo nobility, but beyond the Padjal and exceptional individuals it's not immediately clear who this gentry includes. Limsa Lominsa has self-styled Pirate Kings, but no true nobility as the people firmly believe in personal freedoms and that no one person's blood runs redder than the rest.

 

As for the beastmen languages, we do actually have solid evidence that at least three (Amalj'aa, Sahagin, Moogles) have their own written language, with lore which strongly suggests that the Ixal and Vanu also have their own written languages also. As for how Eorzeans view the beast tribes, that depends greatly on where they're from and which beast tribe. For example, Lominsans are friendly and accepting with most beastmen (Qiqirn, Goblins, Mamool Ja, and kobolds at one point) and are only bent towards war with the Sahagin. Ul'dah, on the other hand, has a sultanate decree banning all beastmen from the city-state. Whereas Gridania is somewhere between. They have amicable relations with the Sylphs and Goblins, but so much as treating a wounded Ixal is grounds for exile from the sylvan city-state.

 

In any case, here's a few links that answer the above in greater detail:

-Bellworks FC's Ishgardian Nobility and Title Lore Compilation

-Lore Overview on Eorzean Nobility

-Languages of Hydaelyn Lore Compilation

 

 

Hope this helps! ^^

[Michaux]

  Quote

  Quote

If you want to play an Ishgardian noble, your choices are vicount or baron. There are also counts in Ishgard, but only four of them, and we already know who they are. The higher real-world French ranks of marquis and duke don't exist in Ishgard, or anywhere else in Eorzea, seemingly.

  Quote

The "Isles" are not exactly really anything but flavor with a little bit homage to how he obtained his fortune; the title of Duke and Marquis are entirely made up by him and serve only to enhance his appearance to the public.

 

Your story, even down to the name of your Duke, actually reminds me of an actual existing npc and his story from the 1.0 version of the game. It gave me a good laugh the first time I read through this. Allow me to introduce to you, Ishgard's Duke Brett V:

 

  Quote

As he does once every moon, Ishgardian noble Duke Brett V will soon be arriving in Limsa Lominsa to conduct a routine inspection of the many export and import warehouses he maintains in the thalassocracy. And, as always, he has requested the Bismarck to prepare three servings of his favorite dish, braised bream with aurelia cream sauce, for each day of his one-week stay. To prepare for this unorthodox order, the Culinarians' Guild is seeking adventurers to travel to Bloodshore and procure several of the extra plump Bianaq bream that the duke craves.

 

  Quote

Before this speculation continues further, I must share with you certain developments regarding the man once known as "Duke Brett V."

 

The structure of Ishgardian nobility is not widely known, especially in lands so distant as Limsa Lominsa. Moreover, given the nature of Lominsan society, even well-to-do merchants may know little of such things. So it was that a lowborn Ishgardian, who through a series of events fortuitous and fantastic had built a profitable import and export concern, affected the trappings of nobility and convinced his peers in Limsa Lominsa that he was the esteemed "Duke Brett V."

 

Why he felt the need to adopt such a guise is anyone's guess, as his numerous eccentricities were met with widespread bemusement. Indeed, it was his penchant for ordering the same unusual dish every moon at the Bismarck that proved his undoing, as during one such visit he was confronted by traveling scholar, who declared with authority, "There's no such thing as an Ishgardian duke!"

 

The "Duke" has since grown rather reclusive, as one might expect, and his tale is now largely forgotten. Yet on occasion, in certain corners of Limsa Lominsa, in response to a dubious claim, some locals are heard to exclaim, "Hah! And I'm an Ishgardian duke!"

 

My personal pet theory is that the reclusive residence of The Hermit's Hovel in outer La Noscea is the selfsame "Duke" Brett V. No evidence of course, but I think it'd be a fantastic throwback if they ever did implement a quest for it. Most people miss it, but there's actually a subtle nod to our good Duke Brett in the 3.0 Hildibrand questline wherein our expressive investigator knocks over a priceless antique vase that reportedly once graced the house of an Ishgardian "Duke."

 

 

___________________________

  Quote

Note also that Ishgard is the only city-state we know of that has a true nobility. Gridania seems to have a class of important people who get their own little part of the city to live in (I refer to them as the gentry for lack of a better term), but the city is governed by the Seedseers. Ul'dah is a sultanate, but the wealthy and powerful people there are the monetarists. Limsa Lominsa is led by an Admiral, so the closest thing to a noble class there would be naval officers, I suspect.

 

Beastmen are considered subhuman by most Eorzeans. And note also that we don't have any idea whether these tribes even have written languages.

  Quote

On the terms of beastmen languages, I know that at least Amaljic language is written because I remember there being a step of a quest where you have to get someone to translate for you. In the meantime, I need to find myself some information on the various aristocracies.

 

A few things. Ishgard has(had) a more traditional version of nobility, but it was far from the only place which had nobles. Ul'dah, for example, has nobility by royal bloodlines and merchant empires who gain nobility through affluence. Gridania possesses a gentry, or psuedo nobility, but beyond the Padjal and exceptional individuals it's not immediately clear who this gentry includes. Limsa Lominsa has self-styled Pirate Kings, but no true nobility as the people firmly believe in personal freedoms and that no one person's blood runs redder than the rest.

 

As for the beastmen languages, we do actually have solid evidence that at least three (Amalj'aa, Sahagin, Moogles) have their own written language, with lore which strongly suggests that the Ixal and Vanu also have their own written languages also. As for how Eorzeans view the beast tribes, that depends greatly on where they're from and which beast tribe. For example, Lominsans are friendly and accepting with most beastmen (Qiqirn, Goblins, Mamool Ja, and kobolds at one point) and are only bent towards war with the Sahagin. Ul'dah, on the other hand, has a sultanate decree banning all beastmen from the city-state. Whereas Gridania is somewhere between. They have amicable relations with the Sylphs and Goblins, but so much as treating a wounded Ixal is grounds for exile from the sylvan city-state.

 

In any case, here's a few links that answer the above in greater detail:

-Bellworks FC's Ishgardian Nobility and Title Lore Compilation

-Lore Overview on Eorzean Nobility

-Languages of Hydaelyn Lore Compilation

 

 

Hope this helps! ^^

 

So basically everything I said in my post was wrong. Well, I guess that will teach me to weigh in on lore threads.

[Amnesic]

  Quote

Snippings!

 

Alright, I have a more concise setup of information up there now. I'm still a bit too unsure on what would be considered old-fashioned, aside from Ul'dah's desert robes, but I think I can take a look around in-game and see if I find something.

 

I have actually never heard of Duke Brett V. before; it is quite hilarious how much of a coincidence this is. I mean, I only chose the name Rhett because it is a seemingly rare name. I may have to go pay this hermit in La Noscea a visit sometime soon!