Originality of Character Concepts

Devrah Liioness · Post by **Devrah Liioness** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:15 pm

Something I've had a problem with lately, is that people are becoming less and less original with character concepts - I don't even mean creating stereotypical, bland characters, but copying existing characters. I'm not trying to whine, but there are an awful lot of orcs acting exactly the same suddenly, and there is also an absurd number of adopted children with social anxiety disorders and abusive birth-parents. I'm not even going to touch on "Ayanah Halfmoon" because I am going to assume that the PO did not know about Arynne and Aldriaa Halfmoon and had no intention on imitating the names.

However, that still leaves, besides the large amount of shady assassin/spy/theif/whatever characters that remind me an awful lot of a pre-lich Dravish, numerous other characters that are just plain too similar to exsisting characters.

Personally, being copied annoys me, and I am certain some of the other players being copied feel the same way. Seriously, if you think your character is very similar to an exsisting character...

They probably are. Try to think of something else, please. I'm not trying to be mean, but it's not fair to the people who did think of the character originally.

Fooser · Post by **Fooser** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:31 pm

Yeah, there seems to be lacking creativity all around, like I said before. Similar character types, like children, and different types acting the exact same way. Seems like they are recycling PGed lame villains now too.

Llama · Post by **Llama** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:36 pm

Hmm, most people are trying to get a piece of the ORC VS WhiteFlame and Dravish VS Rest of the World...

And they have no reason to just create chars ready for it...

Cliu Beothach · Post by **Cliu Beothach** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:52 pm

Maybe the subtelties are not being realized. Instead of trying to build a pre-existant character to another, try and view him/her without any comparison.

Dravish · Post by **Dravish** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:06 pm

Hadrian_Abela wrote:
Dravish VS Rest of the World...

.....

I like cheese

Markous · Post by **Markous** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 11:09 pm

My names have been copied many times

I've played Shendariel, Ortac and Randelon Morgental,

Now look at later chars like "Shandariel", "Ortak" or "Ranarion Weidental"

Oh, and my RP has also been copied many times. And I have copied others etc. etc.

It happens. It's normal. You get used to it

Djironnyma · Post by **Djironnyma** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 11:23 pm

I for my part see no problem with copy (so long if it is not to much *g*), but i see a problem if everyone playe the same, that simply boring...

chars like assasines or mages or whatever lost simply there mystic if anybody play one.....

that is sad, sure.... but i play self a mage, so i shouldn't complain me about that *g*

Ziel Oden · Post by **Ziel Oden** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 12:43 am

I agree with every strand of my body to this. Here are some ideas.

Character history in Moonsilver is updated so that races have more.. well here is an example:

Zielianers:
Cute fat children like sub-race of hallfings. A bit taller, and only seen with blue or red eyes. Some Zielianers are warriors for town saftey, some farmers, and others smiths. Tho a growing number participate in Thieving, and mercenary clans. However, no Zielianer can resist a cake or a nice ham- Unless there is a medical reason why.

I put some contrediton in it - so that more doors are open. This isnt a perfect example, but the current description of orc is.. well: "Smash oomies yubba!"

another idea of mine is that some race plots are put into a large thread, and let the players take tid-bits and create their own. None of these should include: "Josh the mage destroys villages becuase he hates paved roads" or "Markous the paladin is good in every way and makes the town happy"

Here is an example:

"Denif Cazor is a women from a small inland village. Her entire town was massacured by Undead monsters, and from then on her hatred for all reliving beast, and anyone who fight beside them, are prime targets for her blade."

"Rupert Onionsmash comes from a family of rich and famous farmers who carry a long line of champion growers in their blood. He has been sent to Gobaith to become the best farmer around, and help bring praise to his family as everyone before him has"

"Jack Doolagin comes from a normal village family. He intends to become a carpenter and do many good deeds for his fellow citizens."

and so on, tons of little ideas and plots.

- Joshua

(ya ya- I posted. But this topic just jumped out to me)

Papoitsi · Post by **Papoitsi** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 3:17 pm

This happened a year or two ago, too. There was a sudden surplus of vampires and werewolves after a couple of players took to playing them

Mempriclus · Post by **Mempriclus** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 6:47 pm

Whatever happened to Bloodhearte anyway, is he still floating around in some other guise.

Japheth · Post by **Japheth** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 6:50 pm

Ayanah?!

I'll gut the player (in a thoroughly pleasant and verbal way) that stole my character name. Oh my god. How annoying.

Sylveria · Post by **Sylveria** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:50 pm

I live from day to day praying that no one else decides to play a mute character

Llama · Post by **Llama** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:54 pm

Erart Ridoc

Benji Goppelfrog · Post by **Benji Goppelfrog** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:55 pm

Hehehe I feel kinda in the same boat as Sylveria sometimes. So many re-churned char. ideas come up these days that you get scared someone else will suddenly take theones that belong to yourself at the spur of a moment. And then when youre not online, they'll get all the credit for it

Maybe sounds kinda selfish in a weird way but doesn't the feeling make sense?

Shandariel el Lysanthrai · Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:57 pm

I play since more than a year now an elfess who is a follower/priestess of Sirani. How should I feel?

. I started when there was no other similar character around, or active.

Dr. Avogodro · Post by **Dr. Avogodro** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:57 pm

I'd like to think the concept of Dr. Avogodro is original, I just haven't had alot of time lately to play.

Benji Goppelfrog · Post by **Benji Goppelfrog** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:59 pm

The only problem in originality that I see is that "Avagadro" (only a letter different) is the name of the famous scientist who developed the idea of the scientific measurement "mole"

6.022 x 10^23

Dr. Avogodro · Post by **Dr. Avogodro** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:01 pm

I know thats why I said Concept not name.

Also the Mole was named after him with respect, He proposed that Two different gasses at Equal temperatures and Pressures, with equal volume, will have the same ammount of molecules.

Lahela · Post by **Lahela** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:11 pm

Well anyway I like the concept of Avagodro but it is very irritating sometimes *giggles*

Talaena Landessi · Post by **Talaena Landessi** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:10 pm

ALL MY CHARCTERS SUCK! NONE OF THEM ARE ORIGINAL! *CRIES*

Any how yes im very depressed...*sniffles then continues sawing at her flesh with razors* (joke -_-)

Dr. Avogodro · Post by **Dr. Avogodro** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:13 pm

Yeah I can picture that...That accent is alot harder to say then Write.

Sylathen · Post by **Sylathen** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:24 pm

Well, no one really knows my characters Enough to know the really BIG background that they work on, Syla is actually a "Villian" but he promised Stephen not to lost his anger. Tiklian is such a womaizer, but he does care about people and he changed professions so he could live in Vanima.

There are a few others, but if i put them Here people will mix ooc

Shandariel el Lysanthrai · Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:25 pm

Tiklian is such a womaizer,

*laughs* oh...sorry

Alfred Corvane · Post by **Alfred Corvane** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:25 pm

Shandariel el Lysanthrai wrote:
Tiklian is such a womaizer,
*laughs* oh...sorry

yeah, we all know shandariel is the real womanizer.

Llama · Post by **Llama** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:09 pm

When she's drunk ;P

Moathia · Post by **Moathia** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:14 pm

Not really.

Faladron · Post by **Faladron** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:28 pm

Agreed.

Moirear Sian · Post by **Moirear Sian** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:45 pm

In social studies, it's a common subject that youth suffers a certain amount of pressure of not being able to come up with any new and original concepts or inventions that haven't been introduced to our world before. If you make music, write, produce artwork, invent; there's always good chance that you'll be reproducing something already similarly executed. The margin for untapped originality is rather small and narrow, and variation these days is found more in the microscopic minute details, rather than within the big macroscopic pictures.

I mean, just go and try comparing any fantasy MMORPG and Illarion. Same genre, similar controls, similar concepts, etc.

Considering this, I personally couldn't care less that there are, say, always at least 4 "wannabe-Sians" around in Illarion. At least this game doesn't have a character class system.

Pendar · Post by **Pendar** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:31 pm

Originality is more that difficult in a fantasy setting as we all know all the stories have already been told.
Sometimes original character ideas don’t come off at all as what appeals to you does not appeal to the masses. I speak of the masses as if you are actively trying to be original to be good or to be anything. You’re also playing for other people.
I like this though funnily enough I have often said and will again Illarion is a collective experience we all build it tether’s i certainly play at times for others, stepping back and saying well that action would be "better" or add more to the game.

For me the trick is not being original so much as finding a character one can convincingly portray. Being able to act the part of a warrior, priest, crafter with what i would call due respect to the role. Any character who can achieve that will always stand out in my eyes.
Be fresh and play with concepts you haven’t before. If you can do the concept justice your own mind, emotion and rp style will make a unique character.
Because unless you come up with a truly unusual concept some one has played the character before in some way. A warrior we have so many one can only hope to add unique features by there own rp.
Another good way to have a unique character is by allowing them to truly alter to the world around them. Let them grow soft, bitter, sad and happy all the while staying true what you created. In doing this you have just broken your own stereotype even if you made a "clichéd" character type.

Mostly have fun with your own characters, best plan.
Brian

Llama · Post by **Llama** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 6:39 pm

Here is my suggestion... give him invented [RP] attributes, and consider the situation carefully

Example Selisidour isnt very brave, but he's intellegent.. so when he's scared he doesn't show it but bluffs his way out

(example last time I faked that i couldn't read)

Invent your own attribtues, and then change him to the situation... example Eliron isn't very trusting... he doesn't trust anyone, so if a person is acting suspiciously... however he isn't brave at all...

JUst apply your char's personality