I'm sure most of us know that most of the characters in Lusternia, mine included, don't follow an overly interesting or strict role. Comparing Laneth to the roles filled by characters such as Guido, Richter and Merloch, well, Laneth comes out looking very boring.

Anyway, my question is thus: Would it be too strange for me to 'suddenly' develop a more interesting role that Laneth will stick to somewhat like Dubyah and his lies about WMD's (couldn't resist)? It would not be a role - well, more of a development - it would not be a huge shift that would make everyone blink, but, well, I'm sure you can all get what I mean without me painting a verbal picture.

Basically, I propose to develop a deeper role for Laneth to fill.

Comments? Suggestions?

I'd slowly build whatever you have planned, but I don't suggest a sudden change (Well, unless something just caused him to suddenly change, which it would then be acceptable). Though.. I guess it really depends on what you have planned. I need to develop my character a bit as well, but his personal circle knows how he acts pretty well.. he just hasn't decided to lash out at the world.. or Trader Bob.

Basically what KidHendrix said. If you want to make a change, you have to have the patience and time to make it slow, so it makes some sense, unless there's a reason for a sudden change.

If you want to have a fairly, hrrm... spicy character in this sort of environment, you'll generally have to take them to an extreme. Extremely smart, nice, violent, insane, hungry, illiterate, stupid, ect.

A bad example of a spicy character would be Munsia. That's like pouring seven pounds of salt onto a one pound pretzel.

Good ones? Jack, Erion, Visaeris... myself. A bunch of others. We're like a tender, honey glazed ham, dripping with succulent juices.

Do you want Laneth to be hated, adored, or just to be more important? Didn't the Serenwilde have a bunch of Ministry openings a bit ago? When you see an opportunity, lunge at it and don't let go. Guido was scampering for commune positions by day ten and hey, he got one! Cool on him.

I like how Laneth mentions me. Strange that Guido doesn't. *glare*

I like to feel important. It may be a flaw, but that's how I am. I don't want to be the kind of person that sits there (especially after buying lots of credits) and does nothing. Consequently, I have some neat things with Richter. Anyone who saw his latest RP, or even looks at me, knows this. Special armour is being processed too. I've gone to some lenghts to make myself stand out, and be unique.

But there came a point that I realized I had a flashy weapon, was getting armour, was a trademaster and a clan head, and I wasn't that important. In other's eyes, I didn't really care, but in my own, I needed to justify my Lusternian existance.

So, my plan is what I offer to you as my suggestion. Write a background. Write that background, and then have a history and some RP to go along with it. Get your friends to help RP, and get someone with writing skills, if you feel you cannot go at it alone, to help you out. I'd help with any of those things, and be willing to RP just about anything.

If you want to be noticed, make yourself a "real" character. Mindless killing machines such as Valek are known for just that, but when someone has put effort into thier character, they can become a legend.

If i'd mentioned you, Richter, it would be far too obvious that only us evil folks can roleplay worth a damn

*Ducks*

Everything needs stimulus. Find one, and your roleplay is justified.

If only you knew the direction that RP is heading...

Imagine me as a good guy in a few years. *shudder*

And I was just getting around to the idea of respecting you...

So true. She is fun just to be silly with, but Laneth is starting to defend her less and be annoyed by her more. It is Laneth that is changing though, becoming more cynical and impatient since the events surrounding the tainted Fae.



I've not decided, to be honest. Known, I want him to be known, but that is about all. where I will take him depends on what happens to him though. Eg. If Serenwilde did something he absolutly was revolted by, he would likely leave the Commune and become a poor little rogue; he hates the cities too much to join them.



Thanks for that. I have a history slowing churning in my head and I've written a few (bad) poems surrounding his past, but that's all at this stage. I will probably start jotting down something more substantial soon, when I've formed it in my head. If I need to RP something with someone, and Richter seems like he fits the job, I will let you know.

Poetry = Instant Failure.

'Nuff said.

Richter was always supposed to go: neutral, bad, possessed fully/freaking evil, and then there was the choice of good or bad. I always thought he would shrug Draest's spirit off eventually, and become good or at least neutral again.

Well, poetry never really works unless it's a dark beginning, and then slowly builds into a story. I.E: Acting as an introduction (Or summary to) a story that follows it. That's just my opinion though.

If Laneth is going to become interesting then I'd make a simple story to go along with your past though, but make sure you live up to it. I'd only use it as a reference though, unless it has reasons in it for you acting the way you do now prior to the change you have planned. (I'd explain this further, but I'm a little tired. I think I'm getting old if food is making me sleepy..)

Oh I don't plan to actually use the poetry, I am not that dramatic (inept). I was just saying that I have written some poems that give me a feel for Laneth's past, let me form stories in a short condensed way. Basically, it's a way for me to jot down some notes until I can write a propery history for the guy.

I am trying to think of Laneth as being totally distinct from me. Not my creation, but someone I am learning about. If you know how Tori Amos talks about the songs she writes, well, that is how I am trying to think of Laneth and the stories I am forming about him.

I seem to get lots of fan posts about my RP. All I did was put on an accent, decide to be a loyal follower of leadership, and not know how to read or write.

I havn't been possesed or done anything I think is really that far fetched or extreme.

I have added aspects to my charachter and history over time. I did not do it slowly, I did it very suddenly, as the ideas came to me. I think the only requirement is that it does not contradict what has happened before.

I have switched my last name 3 times so far. First it was Smith, then i'xiia then Treeripper. Now that I have a history, it will not change from Treeripper though. However, I found good, legitamate reasons for those changes, and made them up as the game became stale or something.

I find the secret to good RP is not deciding where you want your Charachter to go, its comming up with where they came from. Pick something your charachter is good at (Daganev is loyal to his leadership above all else (having leaders in guilds and city that sometimes conflict, makes this interesting)) Then pick something your charachter is really bad at/afraid of/has problems with. (Daganev can't read) Then, whenever possible, remind people that you have this problem, and that you have this really good quality. Others will treat you this way, and you can RP from there.

I find that whenever I RP a goal I end up having to change my charachter and personality traits to achieve that goal. Lets say my goal is to be Administator of my guild. When my guild likes sneaky people, I'll have to be sneaky, when they want honest people, I'll have to be honest. (this tends to make you lose credibility as time goes on) But if you just know your charachter is sneaky, or honest, then as the world changes and turns you will be suprised and excited by what things you can accomplish.

Thats just my experience, I could be wrong.

Writing a background helps a lot, and if people wonder why you have suddenly changed, its simply because they did not know you as well as they thought they did. Just make sure nothing contradicts. (i.e. If you told people you were from France don't now say you are from Germany. But you can say you were born in france, but lived in germany for many years and that is why you suddenly seem more German)

Charachters, like real people always change and grow, and very rarely are these changes done slowly or are they planned. For example, many people change when they go to College, or even change majors many times durring college. Its rare I think for people to change slowly, finding themselves taking one less Bio class every semester untill suddenly they are an English major. Normally, they take one or two bio classes, decide they hate it, and now switch to English since they think it will be better.

Ok, I'm babbling to much, I'll stop.

I would certainly think of Daganev as a sort of extreme; he is, after all, quite different, and quite noticible. He's just doing it at the other end of the spectrum, in my eyes.

Interesting this post Laneth. Some of you may have noticed, but Elessar has gone to Magnagora now. I was bored with Serenwilde, and frankly disgusted. I also felt I wasn't roleplaying to my fullest, and missing out on a lot of rp experiences that would be fun. This is my first big step to becoming known all around the world.

Though I suppose a lot of people know me for my stupidity, lack of rp ability (which is just what it seems like, I am actually a really good roleplayer, just when I want to be.) Anyway, its things like that thet get your character noticed.

Same with Nicodemus, my other character.

Daniel

PS I am proud to say, Nico and Elessar have never been on at the same time, and won't ever be.

Yeah, quidgyboo, totally just do what you want. I got bored OOC in Celest and just took my character in a brand new direction. I got really involved in my family development, went rogue, and am trying to start peace activism groups. As long as you justify it IC and maybe lead up to it in an IC sense, it makes everybody's lives more fun and spicy

If your alts are around at the same exact time, then you're in trouble (HELP SECONDS) even if they're ignoring each other :-)

And to stay in-topic... Just try not to do such an RP change that your own parents wouldn't recognize you, and look around for environment reasons that could help you justify that change of RP. For example, you're a very pacific person who now decides to go and be a big warrior. If you do it right away, people will wonder what did you smoke. If you show interests in warriors of your city/commune and their ways, then when you decide to be one of them you can say you saw good in their ways and so followed them. Slow, but more realistic.

Pardon my saying so, but anyone who thinks of his character as "evil" isn't role-playing worth a damn.

A sociopathic character? Sure. Even psychopathic. Cruel, cold-hearted, viscious, Machiavellian, hateful, spiteful, petty, self-centered, vengeful, sadistic... All valid adjectives to hang a personality on. But despite many decades of RPG tradition (*growls testily at Gary Gygax*), "evil" is not a personality trait or motivation in any useful sense of the word. It is a label we slap on others as a justifcation for hating them without ever understanding them. And if you can't take the time to understand your own character, you aren't role-playing.