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Food for though today :tOn Character Descriptions
16 years ago
Having just bounced around in a few chatrooms a few things strike me. Alot of players use very long character descriptions, tons of abilities, and a family tree of people they are close to that is a mile wide... now before we get started i'm as bad as anyone with this sorta thing, each character I seem to make has a page or two of profile information, writing and so on. I use it to keep track, and more selfishly to try to latch onto some creative recess of a friend or dozens mind. Be that as its may. The fact is few of these characters ever thrive.
What CONSTANTLY befuddles me when writing descriptions is how hard it is to do for my core characters(Leo, Gallows, Pouncer, and so on), and yet by far they are the most regular, the most well known, and in many cases the most fun to play..(ANd don't all have tons of forms, Pouncer is pretty much always pouncer afterall)
I guess in my own mind, the play is the thing, the description should contain a few things sure(species, gender, size, pred/prey and so on, but going into special powers, talents and so on actually seems to limit and rob them of there flow(Not to mention it prevents me from surprising a fellow. Leave the details on a NEED to know basis and you might have a ton of fun(I don't often have scenes where the outcome is in doubt, so a little cheating doesn't hurt)
So what? will i stop writing long involved descrips, nah, I'm to lost in that, but even if i'm corrupted, advice for others, remember to keep it simple, streamlined and effective... details can come later
Well thats food for Thought, Otter Hunger to you all
What CONSTANTLY befuddles me when writing descriptions is how hard it is to do for my core characters(Leo, Gallows, Pouncer, and so on), and yet by far they are the most regular, the most well known, and in many cases the most fun to play..(ANd don't all have tons of forms, Pouncer is pretty much always pouncer afterall)
I guess in my own mind, the play is the thing, the description should contain a few things sure(species, gender, size, pred/prey and so on, but going into special powers, talents and so on actually seems to limit and rob them of there flow(Not to mention it prevents me from surprising a fellow. Leave the details on a NEED to know basis and you might have a ton of fun(I don't often have scenes where the outcome is in doubt, so a little cheating doesn't hurt)
So what? will i stop writing long involved descrips, nah, I'm to lost in that, but even if i'm corrupted, advice for others, remember to keep it simple, streamlined and effective... details can come later
Well thats food for Thought, Otter Hunger to you all
When I RP with someone, I prefer that I know as much about that other character as my character knows. In other words, the first time I meet someone, all I basically know is what they look like. I will learn the other details about the character's past and abilities, as my own character learns them... assuming he survives long enough, that is.
While I have nothing against people who have detailed histories for their characters, these are not things I need to know to RP with them, and when I only have 2 hours or so to RP (even if it's only meeting the character for the first time), I don't want to have to spend 20 minutes of that time reading about things my character will never discover.
Yes, I do believe that RP preferences should be included in a description, as well as some personality details, since some people might prefer to RP with who are evil, or loving, or goofy, or whatever. But knowing that the other character's grandparents were infected with a space virus and killed an entire civilization, while the character themself was frozen in a block of ice in the Antarctic for 2000 years, really has no effect on the RP. If that information comes up during the course of the RP, fine. But I have no need to know about this ahead of time.
So, all I ask is that people who feel the need to include every last historical detail and personality quirk about a character, be sure to separate that part of the description from the physical attributes and RP preferences, so I can skip over them, while allowing those who might be interested, the opportunity to see them.
The "What only the meal.. er other person" Knows about a character has become a conundrum with me at times. There is something to the point that the player sould understand what is likely to happen other than the obvious certain characters i run satisfy certain kinks, they just don't mentally work with other
ones.(Minerva is a perfect example, can't think "Sexual" aspects with her,(among a few other of my earliest characters).
Rather than keeping explaining i probably should put a sentence or two about OOC preferences, style and and general rolls, i do it often but it tends to be intermingled with other stuff. "Stomping grounds" are effective story/plot starters... I am constantly floored how many times i have to actually set up a setting for a scene. History.. well its what most people become after meeting otters... but should you comment about that handsome looking cloak.. well...
actually if i could keep myself focused/not slip up to much it might be best for my own style to write up a "Public" description, then keep the more verbose ones notes handy, that adds a few extra layers though... especially with reoccurring people.. (Which of tricks A B and C have i done to them)
here's to a streamlined character description and a fattened belly on delicious rodents..