Character Stories? Does anyone give depth to their character or just play to play?

[Sotama]

I started around 04' and couldnt help but give my character some meaning. I mean it gets boring for me just leveling a job with no real reason just cuz i think its cool. Little by little it grew to a full scale story (with a beginning and an end lol) mixed with a little bit of game story to make things more official lol ^_^; so now its 06' and still rocking with my character after all these years. Just wondering if anyone grew that sort of attachment to their characters? :eek::thumbsup:

Btw I set up a character journal too >_@
if anyone is interested

[sevenpointflaw]

My LS forum has a section for "backgrounds" as well as a very active general RP section and a special section for our LS's current "RP Event" that we have from time to time.

I wrote a background from mine, and give my character (as well as a my mules) a "personality" of sorts that use from time to time when the mood suits me. Pookapooka for example, I RP when I'm feeling goofy and have a desire to annoy my LS with Taruspeak.

My mules really only have one character trait or two that I mention in passing. Since I don't level my mules, I have them all reason not to level. Chihuahua for example has a fixation for shiney things (thus a desire to adventure and get them) but also has an epileptic siezure everytime he sees something shiney. Magic and Job Abilities alike send him into a fit that makes leveling impossible. Pikkles has stolen his true love (my RL girlfriend's mule, Iscream) to Jeuno in order to get married to the temple... Only to find out you have to be level 20 to get married. So now he's stuck in Jeuno, too afraid of death to journy back to a lowbie zone to level. Finally, Pixiestix (my AH seller mule for crafting stuff) is too hyped on sugar, caffine, and sports a lovely bit of ADD.

Really, only my main has depth, and his personal story is woven into the overall metaplot of the game. Mostly though, its for the sake of the friends I play with that RP hardcore that I"ve come up with this stuff, more than any desire to RP.

[Murphie]

I have in other games, because I played on dedicated Roleplaying servers, so there was a fair chance that the people I'd be interacting with would take an interest in stuff like that.

With FFXI, I don't, but that doesn't mean I couldn't work something out for my character in a short amount of time.

[Ellipses]

I tried a couple times, in my head, just for the hell of it. None of the little stories really stuck. My inner editorial process kept screaming "CLICHÉ!" (which happens a lot re: RPing and fan fiction). I could probably get a little closer now that I've kind of settled on WHM, but then the whole DRG/BRD thing comes out of left field and messes with that idea.

[Sotama]

My LS forum has a section for "backgrounds" as well as a very active general RP section and a special section for our LS's current "RP Event" that we have from time to time.

I wrote a background from mine, and give my character (as well as a my mules) a "personality" of sorts that use from time to time when the mood suits me. Pookapooka for example, I RP when I'm feeling goofy and have a desire to annoy my LS with Taruspeak.

My mules really only have one character trait or two that I mention in passing. Since I don't level my mules, I have them all reason not to level. Chihuahua for example has a fixation for shiney things (thus a desire to adventure and get them) but also has an epileptic siezure everytime he sees something shiney. Magic and Job Abilities alike send him into a fit that makes leveling impossible. Pikkles has stolen his true love (my RL girlfriend's mule, Iscream) to Jeuno in order to get married to the temple... Only to find out you have to be level 20 to get married. So now he's stuck in Jeuno, too afraid of death to journy back to a lowbie zone to level. Finally, Pixiestix (my AH seller mule for crafting stuff) is too hyped on sugar, caffine, and sports a lovely bit of ADD.

Really, only my main has depth, and his personal story is woven into the overall metaplot of the game. Mostly though, its for the sake of the friends I play with that RP hardcore that I"ve come up with this stuff, more than any desire to RP.

whoa nice stuff there ^_^ its good to know theres people who do more then just play the game. Keep up the good work :biggrin:

[Aksannyi]

Aksannyi is a Hume from San d'Oria so I always tell people that her mother was Elvaan and her father was Hume. Her father died in the great war when she was too young to remember him, and her mother moved Aksannyi and her brother back to San d'Oria, where Aksannyi gained citizenship of Sandy. Her brother eventually moved back to Bastok and became a Bastokan warrior in honor of their father.

That's about it for the background of my character, (main, though there's elements of my mule, Luzbell, in there too, as the brother, though I don't level him often), but I'd like to actually develop her a bit more.

[DakAttack]

I always disliked people who role play. It always seems to leak into their real life outside of their level twelve neutral evil paladin named Ohlagh and either A) they don't realize it, or B) they think it's cool, while A) people think it's creepy, and B) makes you sound a little bit like a fairy.

I like that they've created the small communities though, where they can RP without weirding anybody out.

[avhmia]

My husband and I have some very rudimentary backstories which all stem from him joking that his mithra mule is his main's pet cat XD.

His Elvaan mule in Sandy is his main's sister. His other Sandy mule, a Taru, is his sister's drop out friend from mage school... it goes on and on like that.

[Raydeus]

My roleplaying is limited to spontaneous roleplay or watching the story and comment about if it was a serious matter.

Things like "what is Eald'narche plotting this time", "Verenaaaaa!!!" or "I want to defeat the Dynamis Lord to free Rao's soul". Also stuff like "yeah, I cought my moogle stealing food again", that's the kind of light roleplay I enjoy.

But creating background stories or playing scripted scenes is something I'll never do. Most of the time it feels way too forced and everyone wants a dramatic/epic story for their character which is kinda too much for my taste.

So I always say (Thanks for the offer, but I'll have to pass.) to any serious roleplayers I find. :P

[Macht]

whoa nice stuff there ^_^ its good to know theres people who do more then just play the game. Keep up the good work :biggrin:

What people going these forums and posting about FFXI related stuff isn't doing more then just play the game? :cry:

[Aksannyi]

Also stuff like "yeah, I cought my moogle stealing food again",

Hehe, that's cute. I hope it was something cheap, like Ginger cookies. :)

[Matera]

Like all Tarus, I climbed out a fruit from the star tree.

Only I drowned in the water after I escaped my magic pear, almost died, and was revived with half of my brain mass. :D

[Legal Fish]

Like all Tarus, I climbed out a fruit from the star tree.

Personally, I like it when people who "RP" or write "fan fiction" know what they are talking about.

[Murphie]

I like it when people understand satire.

[Matera]

I like Aelathir.

But that's besides the point.

No, wait, it's not. I definately like Aelathir.

[dirtyclown]

Once upon a time, back when I first started I had a whole backstory for my Taru. What I used to do was think up a name, and then write a background for that character and then just use the name for whatever game I was playing. I did it when I first started FFXI, but after awhile a friend of mine introduced me to a certain image board. I've never been the same since then, and have allowed my characters' stories to die along with that thing called a soul that I used to have. Legion isn't so bad, though. Being part of a faceless hivemind is pretty fun.

[Wind Adept]

Like all Tarus, I climbed out a fruit from the star tree.

Only I drowned in the water after I escaped my magic pear, almost died, and was revived with half of my brain mass. :D

Hahaha, you're so silly. Everyone knows that tarutarus reproduce through budding!

[Irisjir Callard]

Irisjir's history is in meh journal in green (which for some reason I have decided is her favorite color.

Warning, it's a biggie.

[Shykin]

I feel that it is ironic people make fun of roleplaying in a massively multi-player ROLEPLAYING game >.>;;

EDIT: Oh yes btw, when you RP, know what the hell the history of vanadiel is.

[Mog]

Ae, did you metamorphesize into a tarutaru? You have quite the backround.

"I always had a little tarutaru inside of me, then one day, it finall crawled out and left my elvish skin in a piling heap"

[Aries Black]

Mine has a background too...

Sometimes it just makes things interesting. /shrug

[Murphie]

Ae, did you metamorphesize into a tarutaru? You have quite the backround.

"I always had a little tarutaru inside of me, then one day, it finall crawled out and left my elvish skin in a piling heap"Maybe. It's a mystaru~y!

[Lasswyn]

Lasswyn was found as a baby in a basket on the steps of one of Altana's holy convents in San d'Oria. The nuns tried their best to keep up with the little hellrais--...er, little darling, but when the day came for Lasswyn to venture beyond their cloistered walls and become an adventurer, they weren't just supportive...they were shoving her out the front gate and popping champagne corks, breaking a centuries-old ban on alcohol consumption by holy sisters, and two windows.

Being something of a nature-lover, Lasswyn has never understood why the Elvaan must brick themselves up in stone cities instead of frolicking freely through the woods, wearing wispy chiffon dresses, playing lilting musical instruments, drinking white wine spritzers and making love on beds of moss. Given the chance, she will try to do these things as often as possible, pursuant to her new husband's schedule. She also enjoys the homespun arts, such as baking--ignore Lass for too long, and you may feel the sharp sting of a carrot muffin to the back of the head.

[Islude]

There are a plethora of roleplaying communities scattered across each server. It makes it much easier to roleplay among people who usually know what's going on rather than just randomly out in the streets of Jeuno where people will look at you oddly. While most roleplaying shells do have their own individual forums, there has been a project that's been trying to gather several of these communities together to strengthen the appeal of roleplaying to outsiders. Sadly, this project isn't quite as active as it should be but hopefully it'll get better. You can check it out here: http://www.vanadielunion.com/. There are various roleplay shells registered there (although not all of them).

[tazirai]

I started around 04' and couldnt help but give my character some meaning. I mean it gets boring for me just leveling a job with no real reason just cuz i think its cool. Little by little it grew to a full scale story (with a beginning and an end lol) mixed with a little bit of game story to make things more official lol ^_^; so now its 06' and still rocking with my character after all these years. Just wondering if anyone grew that sort of attachment to their characters? :eek::thumbsup:

Btw I set up a character journal too >_@
if anyone is interested

I do check the video link in my sig for triels Background I dont think you will be dissapointed with her story. Especially since you will experience it^^.

Also check Destiny.. another short bio of me ^^.

[Kirsteena]

I have kind of made up a history, and how Kirsteena relates to those around her, but I have never really done anything with it tbh. Kinda nice knowing it is there though :P

[Jugil]

Well.. I breifly thought of creating a little background story.

Have kind of a small little background for myself, but nothing elaborate:

Being a Taru from San d'Oria, I have always thought that maybe my parents were exiles from Windurst--having been excommunicated for practicing Summoning Magic before the war. As such, they (along with their child) traveled to San d'Oria, asking for refuge in San d'Oria. In return for refuge, my father joined the ranks of the San d'Orian army lending his summoning capabilities to the San d'Orians.

May not go with the whole history thing but.. meh. :).

Never really had time to come up with something elaborate (maybe because I prefer to play :P)

[Ziero]

That RP LS site would prolly do better with more advertising. The makers of it should start trying to frequent more popluated message boards and at least get the word out. If they rely on simple word of mouth between people who know each other it really won't get off the ground.

It's a great idea but lacks the support it needs to really take off.

[ikkleste]

Ky was brought up in San'd Oria. SHe doesn't really know much of her family history, her mother was always a little quiet about it.

When she came of age she decided to track downa little bit more about it, and started training to travel to Windurst. When she got there she felt as though she'd arrived home. This is where she's settled for now. But what the future brings she and I don't know.

Basically i started as a Sandy character, but even though i liked the character and didn't want to restart, i wanted to shift to windy. I changed as soon as i could. I felt so much happier there. The back story sort of developed with my character.

I'd like to role play more, but it seems like a bit of a hassle to organise, i don't know of any Fenrir RP shells, and wouldn't have time to start one myself (i'd barely have time to play in one and spend enough time with my current LS). Still it's nice to kinda think these things to myself, Ky does have a character of her own, and often i base game decisions, on what Ky would do. Unfortunately (in my eyes at least) you have to keep that sort of thing kinda for solo, you start basing your decision on in character principles in an exp party or on a mission, and you're soon going to know about it.

[Shopee]

I always disliked people who role play. It always seems to leak into their real life outside of their level twelve neutral evil paladin named Ohlagh and either A) they don't realize it, or B) they think it's cool, while A) people think it's creepy, and B) makes you sound a little bit like a fairy.

That's scary.

You must meet some bizarre people. I'm around people who role play a lot, and it has never leaked out into real life. Character personas are character personas and tend to stay there.

I don't have a background for my character, largely because in a game like this, my mind is always reminding me it's a video game (graphics and all), my actions would be severely limited when attempting to roleplay (which is the only reason I'd make a background), barring custom emotes which would be bothersome to type, and also because all the non-RPers would be ripping me out of character constantly.

Simply put, it's not conducive to Roleplaying for me, so I can't be bothered to make a background.

P.S. Since when can Paladins be Neutral Evil? You speak of blasphemous things.
>.>

[Murphie]

I could RP in D&D, but I do find it harder in an MMO. Man, I miss D&D sometimes. :(

[Shopee]

I could RP in D&D, but I do find it harder in an MMO. Man, I miss D&D sometimes. :(

Well, there's always Play by Post.

It's no where near as awesome as sitting around with some pals and playing out a damn good yarn, sipping on mountain dew and munching on cheetos, but it's not nearly as time consuming and deals with the issue of finding a good group to game with.

I know a good community where I'm in two games, if you're interested.

(It's D&D, on a forum if that wasn't clear.)

[Murphie]

I've considered giving Play by Post a try, but I've never found a place where I felt like I'd fit in. Or something. It's certainly worth a try, I guess. I sincerely doubt I'll find any local friends to game with (I mean, I'm sure there are locals who game, but I don't know them, and vice versa).

[durecellrabbit]

P.S. Since when can Paladins be Neutral Evil? You speak of blasphemous things.
>.>

PrC maybe? I don't have a background or roleplay for the same reasons you mention. I don't particualy like roleplaying online although I have friends who do in NWN. I do roleplay with them irl though, currently Savage Worlds, 50 Fathams setting although I'm hoping on starting a Conspiracy X campaign soon.

[Sotama]

I do check the video link in my sig for triels Background I dont think you will be dissapointed with her story. Especially since you will experience it^^.

Also check Destiny.. another short bio of me ^^.

yeah i saw ur video @_@ :eek: its too awsome lol if i had the means to do such things i would but instead im aiming for flash comic with my drawings. Keep up the good work with the vids and i'll make sure to watch each episode :thumbsup:

[Murphie]

I gave it a good try in EQ2 (which I intially left FFXI for) and later WoW. Neither really worked out. The folks on Antonia Bayle in EQ2 seemed more interested in "sexy" RP, which...not my thing. And the RP servers in WoW were often overrun by powergamers looking for an easy path to 60. :/ Plus, I hate over the top RP, which MMOs seem to attract.

[Shopee]

I gave it a good try in EQ2 (which I intially left FFXI for) and later WoW. Neither really worked out. The folks on Antonia Bayle in EQ2 seemed more interested in "sexy" RP, which...not my thing.

I made the mistake of choosing that server too.

; ;

*shivers*

Plus, that's what initially showed me the folly of myself trying to RP in an MMO. Outside of the "sexy" RP, there were the non-RPers (as usual) using phrases like "do u want 2 do teh quest?" that made it pretty much impossible.

[Shykin]

Oh, Shykin's story
http://bismarckcommunity.com/viewtopic.php?t=915

[Irisjir Callard]

Outside of the "sexy" RP, there were the non-RPers (as usual) using phrases like "do u want 2 do teh quest?" that made it pretty much impossible.

That's why I'm a grammar nazi in and out of character. I'll whack your wrist with a ruler as Iris tenderizes your skull with her hammer. We make a good team.

[Sotama]

That's why I'm a grammar nazi in and out of character. I'll whack your wrist with a ruler as Iris tenderizes your skull with her hammer. We make a good team.

lol grammar nazi :eek: ::thinks of soldiers with a G symbol on their uniforms shooting down people who say words like "Uber L33t Pwnage"::

[Telera]

I always disliked people who role play. It always seems to leak into their real life outside of their level twelve neutral evil paladin named Ohlagh and either A) they don't realize it, or B) they think it's cool, while A) people think it's creepy, and B) makes you sound a little bit like a fairy.

I like that they've created the small communities though, where they can RP without weirding anybody out.

o.o

I've roleplayed in some form since I started on forums and MMO's. And I'm safe in saying it doesn't leak into my real life. At least, last I checked, I didn't try casting Raise on my cat when I had to put it to sleep...

Nor did I run around declaring myself to be the Lady Summoner, blessed of Altana, etc, etc, etc.

Only very... special... individuals would allow their personas to leak into and become part of their 'real world' selves. Me? I'm contemplating a career in writing, so it's no problem for me to create a character, be a character and yet have it be only a character and mean nothing outside of the story. I do it all the time. And forsee my doing so for some time yet.

In answer to the OP: My character does have a very basic background. Some friends and I discovered we had a mutual taste for RP, so we began a LS to do the story in. It's not scripted or preplanned we simply go with the flow and it's actually not as forced as some people believe. After a while it's like acting to an actor. You just go and it seems to flow. And when you turn off the flow, it's off. Easy. ^_^ I enjoy it. It makes the downtime more fun and gives me something to do besides grinding and quests.

[Shykin]

lol grammar nazi :eek: ::thinks of soldiers with a G symbol on their uniforms shooting down people who say words like "Uber L33t Pwnage"::
I'd vote for them...

[Irisjir Callard]

lol grammar nazi :eek: ::thinks of soldiers with a G symbol on their uniforms shooting down people who say words like "Uber L33t Pwnage"::


*loud bang*

[hexx]

mines got a story im working on, but since i jsut started playing i need to get my facts straight first LOL

[Aksannyi]

lol grammar nazi :eek: ::thinks of soldiers with a G symbol on their uniforms shooting down people who say words like "Uber L33t Pwnage":: So instead of a swastika, would they have a big red flag emblazoned with a big question mark on it?

Or do you think a comma would be better?

? or , ...

Wow, if you were to read just that last line, you'd have to call the Grammar Nazis on me!

[Shopee]

Nazional Sozialist Grammatik Partei?

Nazigra?

[Raydeus]

Grammar nazis are fun to watch, specially when they try so hard. :biggrin:

[Aksannyi]

I like the Grammar Nazis who can't spell, personally. They're picky as hell about a capitalization, or not using "U R," or placing an apostrophe somewhere, but they can't spell simple words, and usually misspell something while correcting another. It never fails to get a laugh from me. :)

[hexx]

theyre funny up the ass, i actually had one of those getting on my case, i just laughed...... BTW i like ur sig (^_^)

[neighbortaru]

please do get back on topic :rolleyes:

[Mog]

get back on topic, or i will be forced to steal gil from Neighbortaru.

[Raydeus]

get back on topic, or i will be forced to steal gil from Neighbortaru.

Kupo kupo...




And I've always found e-mail sims and stuff like that way too slow for my taste.

(Aha! that was on topic!)

[Mog]

Kupo kupo...



kupopo?

[dirtyclown]

Well, there's always Play by Post.

It's no where near as awesome as sitting around with some pals and playing out a damn good yarn, sipping on mountain dew and munching on cheetos, but it's not nearly as time consuming and deals with the issue of finding a good group to game with.

I always cook chicken fingers or make a giant pile of sammiches for D&D night. Cheetos fail. Speaking of which, I have to get working on my campaign.

As for the topic, I can't seriously RP on this game. My old LS tried it one night though, it went something like this:

<Z> Hail, fellow Linkshell members! Tonight let us travel to Altepa and acquire a gate crystal. While we're there, we might enjoy some fishing and Galkan hospitality.
<Darkie> lol, fag
<Z> NO U
<Lenee> OH SHI-

It didn't work. I'm aspiring to be a writer at some point, and for whatever reason I've created a little background for every character I've ever made in different games. Even my mule Debauchery has a background, even though it's completely silly BS. By the way, if you ever see her in Windy, I suggest running. She'll molest you.

[Shopee]

I always cook chicken fingers or make a giant pile of sammiches for D&D night. Cheetos fail.

Well, I was mostly calling on the cliches of the D&D geek subculture, although I do like cheetos, they don't go too well with D&D in practice.

I mean, I'd hate to see my dice after a few sessions of cheeto eating.

Even my mule Debauchery has a background

I'd hate to know what it was like for her in school with a name like that.
And I was thinking Archibald would've been a horrible name to have. (No offense to anyone with that name)

[dirtyclown]

She's a diabolical little creature filled with hate, taking great glee in the discomfort of others. She didn't grow up, either. She's a manifestation of my main character's hatred and humiliation. Debauchery is win.

[Murphie]

/wrists?

I never ate cheetos while playing either. That's just a mess and a half.

[dirtyclown]

/wrists?

We'll go with that, sure. Wrote the original draft when I was 16, so..Yeah. I laugh every time I re-read it.

[Murphie]

We've all had our emo moments.

[Shopee]

I fail to see the emo-ness of what is essentially an evil sadist.

Most villainous, hateful beings I've watched/read about aren't in the habit of self-pity or cutting themselves.

They aren't in the habit of pity at all, and they enjoy cutting others.

[Murphie]

Well, villany is rarely spontaneous. It's generally because a person is taking out their aggression/anger/depression/whatever on either themselves or others. So, I still say emo.

[Shopee]

Well, villany is rarely spontaneous. It's generally because a person is taking out their aggression/anger/depression/whatever on either themselves or others. So, I still say emo.

I'm not sure how anger or aggression are emo. Emo is usually characterized by whiney, unjustified, self-pity.

Call it what you want I guess. I think emo is about as over-diagnosed as ADD nowadays.

[Murphie]

Well, I guess it all depends on why they are angry and/or aggressive. I'm not really a fan of the term emo anyway, as it's really taken on a rather specific conotation. In my day we just called people like that goths (which didn't really work either) and we were happy about it.

I'm not saying that you can't RP someone who is dark and brooding or whatever, but it's just such a terrible cliche most of the time.

[Shopee]

I'm not saying that you can't RP someone who is dark and brooding or whatever, but it's just such a terrible cliche' most of the time.

Oh, it most certainly is. Which is why I'm not much for dark and brooding characters unless they're fully evil.

I just wouldn't necessarily call them "emo". I dunno, I guess I just reacted because anything dealing with a negative emotion nowadays is labelled emo. While I'm a positivist, this just strikes me as irritating.

[Murphie]

Well, words only have power that we give them. I'm at a lack for adjectives at the moment, so I went for emo. I'm sure there is a better descriptor.

[dirtyclown]

I'm not saying that you can't RP someone who is dark and brooding or whatever, but it's just such a terrible cliche most of the time.

More like completely batshit insane. >.>

[ikkleste]

More like completely batshit insane. >.>

now thats always fun to RP ^^

[Irisjir Callard]

now thats always fun to RP ^^

Indeed it is...

*thinks about her wildly phsycotic avatar of chaos she RPs...*




My FFXI character can best be described as "aggressive". For a whitemage (And a female one at that), she enjoys beating the shit out of everything that looks at her the 'wrong' way.

She's also a little bit desperately lonely, which manifests itself by her habit of always surrounding herself with outgoing people.