How do you RP a craftsman?

[sugarfrosted]

Hey everyone!

 

The question is in the title. I'm just wondering how knowledgeable of the subject we need to be in order to RP that character well.

 

Thanks!

[lady2beetle]

Do you mean, like, do I need to know woodworking IRL to RP a carpenter?

 

Hmm... I dunno. I don't think it's a hard requirement. But I do think that a little experience or research can help if you are RPing a full-time craftsman (as opposed to an adventurer who crafts). It just would offer a little more flavor for you to work with, though, I think.

[FreelanceWizard]

I agree that no OOC knowledge is really necessary, as you can speak in generalities and mechanics in most cases. That said, it makes your character more "real" to be able to "talk shop," so to speak, about your craft. So, I'd say it's commendable and beneficial, but not necessary, to do a bit of research on your chosen craft; it can only make your character seem more knowledgeable and realistic, in much the same way that knowing a bit about RL practices of magic and metaphysics can make a spellcaster character seem more flavorful and "real."

[Asyria]

Even as a member of a crafting FC, I'm not sure how to answer that question!

My Gilgamain is a Weaver and last time I've done any RL weaving was about 15 years ago in home economics class. o_O

 

I think it's more important to know the mats in game than to have any real life knowledge. There's a lot you can pick up from your chosen craft's guildmaster NPC dialog, too. Like the carpenter on loves to talk about the qualities of the different woods and why they're used in one thing or another.

[LilMomoshi]

Some of the finest, most enjoyable casual RP I've ever had was while fishing.

 

That is all.

 

... okay, really though, I love the idea of RPing a craftsman. I once RPed a cook for no reason other than to just RP a cook. I even gave away cookies to passerby. It was wonderful, and I had a lot of fun with it. If you plan to venture into dangerous places, though, I highly recommend your character has a hobby that involves using pointy objects in a violent fashion. You never know when that will come in handy.

[allgivenover]

I wouldn't expect anyone to be extremely proficient in carpentry IRL just so they could RP a carpenter in XIV. Having said that, a little google research couldn't possible hurt your portrayal.

[Chisae]

If youre gonna RP any of the crafting classes, I would at the very least, learn what the Eorzean measurement system is, so you're not using inches and feet and so on. You can also BS a lot of stuff, since I doubt the majority of players are gonna know what you're saying anyway. lol

 

Cooking and Weaving are two of the easiest crafts to go on about though... at least I think so. Most everyone has cooked at some point. Weaving is more of making fabrics than it is making clothes, but they are linked. I probly would have called the craft Tailor - even though that is used in every other mmo.

[LeCard]

 

 If you plan to venture into dangerous places, though, I highly recommend your character has a hobby that involves using pointy objects in a violent fashion. You never know when that will come in handy.

If they are doing Amourer, Black Smith, Carpenter, Leather worker(maybe others too) You could use the idea of testing the goods before you sell them as a reason to level any number of Melee classes.

Weaver, alchemist(others?) could use the excuse of testing if the magical Items do their job or not.

 

just an idea if your looking for a reason to have a Primarily Crafter Character know some, or alot about the weapons. After all a master Smith would know everything there is about the swords he makes.

 

Edit: and because I think the crafting method is so similar to FF crafting, Just look at "sacred blacksmith" anime for a sword smith that is also a master swordsman.

[Dubs]

*In Bill Cosby silly voice* "You puts da ingots on da anvil and use the touchy touch touch, then the flashy mendamend goes zoobity zip zop and you gets da rivety rivets!"

 

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_les8q6c42H1qa1xnko1_500.gif[/img]

 

http://seasidetentrentals.com/wp-includes/images/wlw/bill-cosby-meme-i18.jpg[/img]<------- Crafting Failure Sound Effect.

 

Crafting in nutshell, according to Cosby.

 

Actually I agree with Freelance. You can use the following tangents to help facilitate crafter RP.

 

• The quality / difficulty tier of the material
  
• The location of where the material was acquired / gathered
  
• The types of dangers associated with the profession (Splinters, smelling like alumen, the joys of actually skinning and gutting the animal for LW)
  
• Using NPC as harsh taskmasters to relate to other crafters
  
• Have crafting contests within the same level range / crafting tiers. Profession nemesis.
  

As for CRP roleplaying I sometimes look at Norm Abrams and watch This Old House for good references. In all honesty I'm not going to sit there and ICly point out that your chamfering is horrid and your miter joints need work, or will I?

[LeCard]

*In Bill Cosby silly voice* "You puts da ingots on da anvil and use the touchy touch touch, then the flashy mendamend goes zoobity zip zop and you gets da rivety rivets!"

 

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_les8q6c42H1qa1xnko1_500.gif[/img]

 

http://seasidetentrentals.com/wp-includes/images/wlw/bill-cosby-meme-i18.jpg[/img]<------- Crafting Failure Sound Effect.

 

 

ROFL! I could totally see a Lala useing those exact words.

[Shae'ra]

One thing you can always do if there comes a time when you really need information about something: play windowed and pull up a how-to guide/wiki.

 

I play a character who does fishing, and while I have fished in real life, I have never cleaned one. _{(Only seen it on TV, thanks Chopped)} So if there comes a time when I am asked to clean a fish or feel the need to roleplay doing so: I will pull up a wiki on how to and then follow it generally from there. I might not describe it perfectly or in detail _{(I'm pretty sure most people don't want this in full detail anyway...)}, but people will get the idea.

[Chisae]

Crafting, taken to the next level by RPers. lol

[Dravus]

I used to role-play a character in a different MMO as a blacksmith which proved to be quite a bit of fun. It's worthwhile to do a bit of research into your chosen role in order to add depth and flavour, especially in regards to learning the basic process of creating each main component - such as a hilt, sheathe and blade - as well as figuring out how they fit together.

 

I also found it useful to travel to and from various cities, settlements and outposts in order to offer my character's services to those he encountered along the way. In turn, this led to him hiring a mercenary to protect him on his travels (which served to provide me with long term role-play) and quite a lot of satisfied soldiers/adventurers who had their armour and weaponry repaired by him.

[Chisae]

I used to role-play a character in a different MMO as a blacksmith which proved to be quite a bit of fun. It's worthwhile to do a bit of research into your chosen role in order to add depth and flavour, especially in regards to learning the basic process of creating each main component - such as a hilt, sheathe and blade - as well as figuring out how they fit together.

 

I also found it useful to travel to and from various cities, settlements and outposts in order to offer my character's services to those he encountered along the way. In turn, this led to him hiring a mercenary to protect him on his travels (which served to provide me with long term role-play) and quite a lot of satisfied soldiers/adventurers who had their armour and weaponry repaired by him.

That is SUCH a cool idea. I wish alchemy was more of an apothecary, so I could play Taijha as one; instead of just being a bookworm, which is what I really wanted her to be. I suppose I could have her mixing up herbs to make medicine and just have her craft health pots, but that just seems so blah... And I have never ever seen anyone in all my years of RP, play being sick. And why would they when they can just get  finger-wiggler and heal the instantly... >.<

 

And I don't really think there are any herbs in the game is there, besides Lavender (which really isn't medicinal)?

[LeCard]

That is SUCH a cool idea. I wish alchemy was more of an apothecary, so I could play Taijha as one; instead of just being a bookworm, which is what I really wanted her to be. I suppose I could have her mixing up herbs to make medicine and just have her craft health pots, but that just seems so blah... And I have never ever seen anyone in all my years of RP, play being sick. And why would they when they can just get  finger-wiggler and heal the instantly... >.<

 

And I don't really think there are any herbs in the game is there, besides Lavender (which really isn't medicinal)?

the Alchemist quest line does talk about taking poisons and turning them into healing item( aka using the snake to make an antidote). You could go along these lines, and if your looking for something a little more sinister or "adventurers aid" type of stuff there are potions that give the effect of sleep/paralyze etc. also, don't forget Ether potion, Hi potions and the like. So really you could do quite a bit in RP as a potion crafter. and I'm sure if there was a RP vender of such items there would surely be a few Melee characters willing to buy your wares. (at least I've seen a number of people on here talk about not being able to use magic(or being very poor at it) so RP wise it would make sense for them to keep a few first aid items on them.

[Chisae]

Hrmm... yes, I suppose that could work.

[Naunet]

And I have never ever seen anyone in all my years of RP, play being sick.

 

Haha, this is a little off-topic, but I helped run a server event in TERA recently that revolved around a disease outbreak. One of my own characters got sick and very nearly died (only a single dice roll saved her ). That said, it was horrifically difficult to find people who were willing to RP as infected. I don't understand why, though. This was an amazingly life-changing experience for my own character!

[Shae'ra]

And I have never ever seen anyone in all my years of RP, play being sick.

 

Haha, this is a little off-topic, but I helped run a server event in TERA recently that revolved around a disease outbreak. One of my own characters got sick and very nearly died (only a single dice roll saved her ). That said, it was horrifically difficult to find people who were willing to RP as infected. I don't understand why, though. This was an amazingly life-changing experience for my own character!

Off topic of the OP so I am replying in a spoiler:

 

 

 

I'm a bit surprised people would not take up that, in GW2 there was the Blacklung Plague run by a player as an epidemic that went world wide, bombings of the disease in different places. There were four levels of it ranging from minor symptoms to laying on your death bed and many among the community were roleplaying being infected/sick from it and spreading the disease accidentally to friends or family. Eventually, a cure was released.

 

[Belvisa]

Considering my own personal experience, and personal choice to always level cooking, in every MMO i play i figured i'd offer some advice of my attitude towards this topic, it is one thats quite close to my heart .

 

Though IRL i'm an abysmal cook, i get by on the most basic meals if i'm cooking for myself, (A lot of ready meals, or packet meals, or take it out of the freezer and whack it in the oven meals) I do have a love of cooking, i watch loads of TV shows about it, i once dated a chef, i've read recipie books and have a few (specificially cake ones) even though i've never tried to make them.

 

What i've always found when RP'ing a craftsperson, is to always be enthusiastic about your craft, even if you lack knowledge about that certain craft or its components, enthusiasm wins out.

 

I suppose another factor to keep in mind is how much of a busy body you want your craftsman to be, i like mine to be busy, chatty, and generally active which is why i plug for enthusiasm, if however you'd rather a quietly confident artisan, one who knows their own skill limits but doesn't give away their secrets, or their inner-joy at making things anew, then theres a lot of RP potential there too, to quote a famous movie :

 

"When Pope Benedict asked Giotto for a drawing to prove his worth as an artist,

Giotto drew a perfect circle - freehand ... perfection is a powerful message".