Room for improvement (also seeking critique)

[CrimsonMars]

Does anyone else feel like they need or is trying to improve their character to make them more interesting or believable? I'm not necessarily talking about there personality in itself, but in terms of forming that kind of personality and their background, as well as rp etiquette in general.  

 

As for me, I don't consider myself a professional so I'm constantly trying to better my character profile as well as lurk in the rpc for tips and connections.

[Gegenji]

I constantly worry about doing something wrong or overstepping the "boundaries," as it were. As such, I tend to avoid doing things like implying things in my emotes and stories and such unless I'm absolutely 100% positive it is something that they might maybe possibly do. Or I take the easier path and avoid writing for someone else's character at all. :blush:

 

It's why I always try to look up the lore and see if my ideas are at least believable or explainable given the circumstances. I had a bit of a... bad first start on Balmung when I got called out ICly and OOCly for playing a Doman Lalafell. I managed to twist it into a character-developing moment, but OOCly it only helped reinforce the idea that I needed to be able to explain myself properly.

 

My ultimate goal, of course, is that both the person I'm RPing with and myself have a good time. When I write a story or RP post on the forums, I hope that the reader is enjoying it. I've been able to keep myself from constantly pestering with "is this okay?" or "am I doing anything wrong?"... but the thoughts are there.

 

Makes me sound like a bit of a nervous wreck, really. But I'm also always looking for ways to improve both my RPing and writing skills... and this is kinda-sorta my roundabout way of seeking it out. Like a nervous dork.

[Dimona]

If it makes you feel any better, I am a writer (and editor) by profession. I try very hard to put out of mind what other players think about my character. I think she's the right blend of what I'm going for, and that's really what matters most! I have fun! If other characters think she's bitchy or crude or fun or opinionated or whatever, that's great! Other people, just like other characters, are different. Everyone's going to have differences of opinion.

 

So to simplify things a little bit, maybe the question you should be asking in improving your character isn't what would make other people like your character more, but what would make it more enjoyable for you to continue role-playing him or her.

 

I have had a lot of fun with Dimmy by letting her get swept up in a lot of different sorts of things. I had something in mind for her early on since she had experience from her backstory as a bartender, but that very quickly got sidelined as she got yanked into some other storyline happenings and it has been a lot of fun ever since! Having a plan is wonderful and gives a good place for a character to land their feet when those sort of winds die down, but having that willingness to allow the character to get swept up into others' adventures and happenings is what really has brought a lot of joy to my experience in Final Fantasy.

 

I hope this helps a little.

[Nebbs]

Hmmm..

 

Well some basics..

• First go for simple and mundane over flashy and uber-power
  
• Have a rough outline of their past and fill it in as you RP. Some like to have a really detailed past but that will lock you in and requires you to be certain.
  
• Check the lore and if in doubt claim ignorance IC, characters that seem to know everything are in the same camp as uber-magics
  
• Fudge over cracks in your knowledge
  
• Ask questions that need more than a yes/no answer
  
• Don't give yes/no answers
  
• Ask others about them self, engage them to talk about them self
  
• Fail at tasks.. honestly there is more RP in failure