City of Arabel

    • Register
    • Login
    • Search
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Groups
    • Search

    So… Character crisis.

    General Discussion
    17
    23
    1968
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • lunatichigh
      lunatichigh last edited by

      Since I've joined CoA, I've been having some major issues with sticking to one particular character. I'm sure many of you have seen them, and I hope it hasn't been too annoying. My character vault is HUGE, and it's really killing me, this problem I have. I was thinking of just making a new account so I don't keep switching, buuut…

      What do you guys suggest? The character I've stuck around with the most is Rikkash DeLuth. He's by far the longest running and highest level character, I just don't know how to proceed with him. I don't want all that time to go to waste, but... I don't know how most of you stick with one character. It's something I've been trying to get a grip on.

      Any suggestions? They are most welcome.

      Current:
      Daren Boldshield
      Notable PCs:
      Wilhem Alun Drakensorrow
      Dawnsquire Amaire Anglemorn
      Paladin Mindira Scalecrusher
      Squire Rei Takeda
      Private Rikk'ash Deluth

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
      • onimisho
        onimisho last edited by

        truth be told, I have had a similar problem. I have found out that tying one of my characters to a plot seems to cause me to play them more. having a character that feels special and other players are getting something from it ya know?

        Death Is An Illusion And So Are Pants!

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
        • G
          games last edited by

          For me, Either plots or personal interaction and close ties to others. Eitehr one makes em alive.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
          • D
            dagonlives last edited by

            I find that people tend to swap characters often if they are more interested in instant gratification. Producing a story, or working towards a goal can take time, rather then moving onto that 'next neat thing'.

            I have a friend who I've DM'ed for years who loved to swap P.Cs (To the table's chagrin) and what it came down to was him realizing that chasing after the next fun thing meant he often left behind existing stories too readily.

            Honestly, just stick with a concept for a couple weeks and see if it grows on you. I know I as a player do prefer to talk to character I know are sticking around, rather then the flavor of the week that someone happens to be using at the time. You only get invested in your P.Cs through time spent, I think.

            @Khamal:

            > I don't need recognition. I just need lewt and levul tin.

            @Fearmoho12:

            > Praise the Creator for I no longer need to write LikE tHi[/si…

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
            • King-Dobby
              King-Dobby last edited by

              I find the toughest for me is also the initial grind. Once I get chugging on something I can run with it. Not really a useful piece of advice, just saying I have a similar problem.

              : What should we do today Conquistador?
              : Same thing we do every night, Thomas.
              : Try and kill Dobby's PCs!

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
              • Thune
                Thune last edited by

                Don't pick a character, pick a plot. Build your character around that plot.

                [19:12] @Puffy: they can burn
                [19:12] @Puffy: burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                • SteveLichman
                  SteveLichman last edited by

                  I get this a lot, and my advice is actually pretty much the opposite of Thune's. At least in how I PERSONALLY deal with it.

                  I make a character, with a very basic concept. Maybe a quirk or two. Maybe one or two long term goals. Someone who can really be part of anything, I then throw myself into the world and see what happens. To date this method has gotten me a werespider who was duke and sole survivor of the Plebian court (or is he…), and a Badass star cultist warlock.

                  Let the world happen around you, and take opportunities as they come. I find that if you set too many goals early on you get disheartened as you realize how long it will acctually take.

                  Ander: The only oath you need to care about is my fist in your face.

                  : SteveLichman keeps winning IRC

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                  • people
                    people last edited by

                    My personal advice is this. Spend ten minutes forming you character's personality. Spend the rest of his career letting the environment form the rest.

                    React to major and minor events. Notice flaws in others (IC flaws) and strive to be not like that, or if bad enough, oppose them openly. Most importantly for me, separate my RL self and desires -entirely- from my PC. Be that little cartoon in his little cartoon world, and the rest comes naturally.

                    -No Slogan

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                    • King-Dobby
                      King-Dobby last edited by

                      I do agree more with Steve, especially on the point of the goals. I would say the app system isn't exactly perfect for that but for lack of better alternative it's what we've got. Focus more on a linear story rather than thinking about goals. The goals will be achieved as the story progresses.

                      : What should we do today Conquistador?
                      : Same thing we do every night, Thomas.
                      : Try and kill Dobby's PCs!

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                      • onimisho
                        onimisho last edited by

                        it's nice if you can get your character into a plot that is going places and doing stuff like the Dwarves of Thunderholm plot. however there a plots that just die because they are going no where and don't get enough attention. The latter I think is why people don't specifically go plot first character second. I personally think that A good plot is worth tying your character down with but there are other ways to get your character.
                        an interesting way of keeping a single character is running your own plot. work up to a goal that requires others to succeed, and then create an outline of how to get there. once you have done that explain how your character is going to do all those things and then, bring it to a DM to help work on it with you.

                        Death Is An Illusion And So Are Pants!

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                        • kittenblack
                          kittenblack last edited by

                          I have honestly just made random characters and /ran/ with them. It's hard to not get involved in plots if you have any kind of desire for social interaction.

                          Tara - healer bard to test out Celestial Crescendo
                          Maria - paladin of the goddess of magic (to support WW Labelle, but he died and I kept running with her)
                          Syclya - ARCANE TRICKSTER DAMMIT
                          Valor - protodruid

                          Cara Steel, Lindandey Violet, Rose Faerahrn, Justine Thyme, Areru Andan, Valor Pyrre, Syclya Ferelle, Maria Flats, Tara Esmurla

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                          • Cadiz
                            Cadiz last edited by

                            my most successful characters by my own definition have been those that had a personality and were dropped in the world with vague plans at best. The ones i have ended up applying for seem to have had less success as they are often more contrived and less real i think.

                            A character that reacts to the world rather than a concept that has preconceived ideas is often better imo.

                            Zool's rule - don't be a dick.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                            • SinisterPlank
                              SinisterPlank last edited by

                              the only way to break out of a character rut is to rack up as many low level throwaways as you have time to make, until something sticks. That's always worked for me. The best way to make sure you -never- break a rut, is to find your highest level longest running PC and play it.

                              <@Gmork> [17:01] <sinisterplank>Chand Ashweed saved all your asses by being awesome! >_> || This is the truth</sinisterplank>

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                              • Hominid
                                Hominid last edited by

                                Group concept ftw

                                Having others depending on you, in addition to always having folks to interact with can help

                                stevelichman: When i get in pvp… I just generally don't even bother with my consumables, I just use my time more efficiently to come up with a witty one liner to use after my inevitable defeat.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                • Paramour
                                  Paramour last edited by

                                  A lot of the advice in this thread is good advice. I’ll throw in my two pence.

                                  Manage your expectations. I particularly agree with the advice about building the character, first, and working on its personality, but be aware that the character is more or less its own reward. You created a character, and now you get to play it. People have fun in different ways, so try to pick a character that you think you’re going to have fun with, but understand that sometimes even the best characters can get stale and that it’s a normal part of the process of playing characters.

                                  For me, when a character is getting stale, I look back at my character’s personality and find something that I can do that’s drastic or off the deep end. We’re playing heroes and villains, after all, and mediocrity doesn’t make it into books or movies, so it won’t make you feel like you’re really accomplishing anything if you’re not taking chances, sometimes huge ones. Find something BOLD to do, even if it’s a little (or a lot of) crazy. Even if you fail, chances are it’s going to be fun as hell, and having fun on a character is one of the main reasons we stick with them.

                                  Nobody creates your fun but you, and so you can't expect other people to make your characters fun- rather, you should find fun things to do with your characters. Once you're doing fun things, the rest of it just clicks into place naturally.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                  • C
                                    CaptainFantastic last edited by

                                    CoA takes patience to get the most out of it. I would echo some of what was said in this thread, and completely disagree with other things, but the reality is that there are many angles to approach the game from and none are more right then the next. The only universal thing that is important is doing something that is fun for you. If you are having fun, you will be more into it, and other people will be drawn to your character because of that.

                                    But you do have to stick with it for a little if you want to get any where, that's where the patience comes in. I know as a player personally I would be less inclined to get involved with a player that I have seen on 4 different characters the past week, because often said involvement takes time that seems wasted when you show up with someone else the next day. It was never anything personal against the player, especially since most new players start that way and end up settling on one character at a time with coa experience, but hobby time is limited and I always wanted to feel like I was doing shit that would continue to matter 2 days later.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                    • SpiffyMeister
                                      SpiffyMeister Builders Guild last edited by

                                      As a DM, I am definitely less inclined to do anything for a player that I See playing a dozen diff pcs in a day as well.

                                      Puffy's bumbling Scum-goblin minion.

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                      • RabbitTRK
                                        RabbitTRK last edited by

                                        Putting my two cents in here as well.

                                        i found whats been working for Asellus is the fact that I built the character not the plot. It may sound against the norm. But I really dont think of a plot until I get a feel for the character. To me what is more interesting then the plot is the person I am making itself. I play people that seem real. They have hopes and dreams. Wants and hates. I get to know this person before i play them. From there I have enjoyed letting people influence how my character grows from there. Because then others get invested in this person more then it would if you were just setting up a plot to shoot for.As for goals. I never set myself out for a goal until I have a feel for that person. How the are… How they act. from there I tailor goals that fit what that person would do and work from there. If you make a person rather then a character you are going to have a lot more fun. However opinions are like assholes everyone's got one and they all smell.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                        • King-Dobby
                                          King-Dobby last edited by

                                          I agree Rabbit, I don't know my PC too well until I have a chance to play them and get to know their quirks a bit better.

                                          : What should we do today Conquistador?
                                          : Same thing we do every night, Thomas.
                                          : Try and kill Dobby's PCs!

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                          • S
                                            Swifty Willownall last edited by

                                            @King-Dobby:

                                            I agree Rabbit, I don't know my PC too well until I have a chance to play them and get to know their quirks a bit better.

                                            The DMs have been really helpful with helping me flesh out my character more lately. It's definitely easier to think of things to do once you have a person to go with them.

                                            One of the biggest pieces of advice I always get is "do what your character would do" instead of trying to fit them into a pre-scripted role.

                                            Scott Keellip - White Knight, killed by Drow
                                            Sir William the Fearless - Fearless! and nice.
                                            Vardix - Black Dragon cultist. Also killed by Drow.
                                            Nihlos Carver - Fear the Reaper
                                            Argun The Dawnhammer - Strongman of Lathander

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                            • 1
                                            • 2
                                            • 1 / 2
                                            • First post
                                              Last post