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Post by ✿ TEASONG on May 8, 2015 19:52:00 GMT -8
so i've always been curious, what do you think makes and interesting character ? you know when you get on a site and see that one character that stands out from all the others. something about it just screams "original and interesting" and you're just absolutely infatuated with this specific character ?? what about that character (or any character, really) tips the scales and makes them as unique and fun to rp with as they are ? their personality ? their back story ? what do you think ?
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Post by eggy azoozoo on May 8, 2015 20:19:25 GMT -8
i'm infatuated with all my rp partners characters YOLO
One thing I really love is when the character's personality does an interesting spin on their FC. Obviously, you "cast" according to the general feel the character is supposed to have, that's the basic premise of character design, but an unexpected personality/appearance pairing (that the writer can actually pull off well) is a huge thing for me.
Another thing isn't something the writer themselves can really control for, but: what the character's history or occupation or IC role can do for my character. If a character can unlock certain plots that I would have a hard time getting otherwise, boom, you're now my new favorite threading partner.
The character voice is something that I don't typically see people pull off that much across different characters, so I'm instantly drawn to interesting posting voices that actually infuse a character's personality in it.
Overall it's not so much about a character being REALLY SPECIAL UNIQUE QUIRKY; many of my favorite threading partners have characters that are really well-done versions of common character archetypes that have a "but they're also ____" aspect to them. In the end, if I end up writing well with another person, I'll become more invested in their character(s) and find them more and more interesting too as they continue to develop through plots.
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Post by foxxu ❋ on May 8, 2015 20:23:57 GMT -8
Okay this probably doesn't answer your question, but I feel like it mostly depends on the author a lot not so much a specific character. It is how the writer/author writes the character so it makes the character stand out and you want to know that said character.
When I see a character I want to meet, I look at their personality and their face claim. Sometimes people have really good personalities for their characters and I just want to know that said character. I guess to summarize it; its just good story telling skills?
But it can also be just face claims because I am shallow and I like pretty face claims.
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Post by eggy azoozoo on May 8, 2015 20:41:45 GMT -8
Okay this probably doesn't answer your question, but I feel like it mostly depends on the author a lot not so much a specific character. It is how the writer/author writes the character so it makes the character stand out and you want to know that said character. Omg yes. This is super super critical. How the writer actually makes the character interact in a RP thread makes all the difference. If you can't carry a thread, it hardly matters how intriguing the personality section or character history is, it just isn't helping a thread flow. I can't tag her because she doesn't go on GS but a thread partner of mine has a character who is meant to be a complete average Joe that got tossed into an extraordinary situation- but her writing is so engaging and she brings him to life in such a fun way that he's not boring to write with.
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Post by SALTY on May 9, 2015 3:41:02 GMT -8
foxxu ❋ is exactly right. I've seen people write amazing applications, to the point that I am excited for them to be accepted so I can see where this character will end up. Then they post up a few posts, and after reading them I have completely zoned out. A character is only as good as you're going to write them. And I hate people that say quantity builds character. I've seen people only write 100 word posts and have kept me dying to see their next one.
I also think it helps to avoid overdone faceclaims. It is very rare to own a faceclaim you always see. Take Vocaloid for example, I love the designs, they are such pretty faceclaims. But due to seeing them on every site without fail, it gets bland and repetitive. I think it gets harder to differentiate between originality and just another poorly strung character if they're wearing a face a thousand other characters have worn. I know plenty of people will disagree with me here, but that's just personal opinion for me.
Good plots has to be the key ingredient. A good character becomes amazing with the correct plot. I'm also going to end this here because I am severely hungover and fragile.
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Post by ✿ TEASONG on May 9, 2015 11:43:23 GMT -8
One thing I really love is when the character's personality does an interesting spin on their FC. Obviously, you "cast" according to the general feel the character is supposed to have, that's the basic premise of character design, but an unexpected personality/appearance pairing (that the writer can actually pull off well) is a huge thing for me. oh man yeah, i can totally relate. i think one of my favourite characters i ever had the pleasure of rping with was a mako FC from kill la kill who was this super buff, hard as nails gang leader. the author wrote her beautifully and every time you got to interact with her, it was just so much fun and such a cool character to write with -- in fact, it was that specific character that inspired me to post this thread. i've also noticed that (personally) i'm very attracted to characters that, like SALTY said, have unusual face claims. however, it's incredibly difficult to find a rare FC nowadays. sure you'll find the odd FC that you don't see every twist and turn, but it's truly difficult to find one that's a true rare gem (in my opinion, anyways). that being said, i've also found that characters that don't fit the average norm of an rp character (in their 20's, white, binary gender, etc.) tend to have a lot more feedback from the community. i find that rare middle-aged characters -- especially well written ones with interesting plots (as mentioned a few times on this thread) can often be a fun and eventful to rp with and be a really good way to see how your own character interacts with someone else that you typically wouldn't run in to on an rp site (if that makes any sense lmao)
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Post by eggy azoozoo on May 9, 2015 12:18:01 GMT -8
that being said, i've also found that characters that don't fit the average norm of an rp character (in their 20's, white, binary gender, etc.) tend to have a lot more feedback from the community. i find that rare middle-aged characters -- especially well written ones with interesting plots (as mentioned a few times on this thread) can often be a fun and eventful to rp with and be a really good way to see how your own character interacts with someone else that you typically wouldn't run in to on an rp site (if that makes any sense lmao) Oh my god yes. More older characters please, and not just the ones who use the "eternally youthful supernatural creature" loophole. We have several ~45-50 year old cops on BRSW and it's always great to see them being RP'd as being grizzled veterans with decades of experience who literally have a different worldview compared to younger characters as opposed to.. you know... the 20 year old angsty detective. And they do get mobbed with plots exactly for that reason.
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Post by Jacob on May 9, 2015 13:14:34 GMT -8
Much of what foxxu ❋, eggy azoozoo, and SALTY have already said parallels my thoughts apropos this discussion. That in mind, I take to thoroughly researched characters. If one chooses to give their character, let us say, a mental illness, then I'll want that backed up as best the player is able; both application wise and threading wise, I will sooner write with connected figures than not. It's subjective, but I am a man who has always delighted in diligent fact-finding. Atypical, yet plausible concepts often catch my eye. I see so many repetitive personage types, I begin skimming as opposed to reading over associated facts more closely; it troubles me because that is beyond my nature. I've a revised male character who is apparently the sole one of his kind in the role-playing world. Used for example, people have either beheld him with fascination, or, regretful childishness. I don't possess a home to finally set the boy up; the combined ani-manga face claim and the historicity haven't garnered mature enthusiasm thus far. Yet another factor is out-of-character behavior. I shall avoid members who act like nettlesome kids, no matter how amazing their ideas may be. It has occurred plentiful times in my personal experiences, regardless of the numerous fictional souls I hope I might have plotted with. Oh, and composition styles equally moment. Mine maintain a form described by some as formal and poetic. Should the in-character posts mesh, or, at least get treated indifferently, I'll desire thread(s) of my accepted "children" and those penmen's.
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Post by ● ULLA on May 9, 2015 19:12:00 GMT -8
i agree with p much everything that's been said already in this thread. the only thing i might like to add is that i usually judge someone else's character based on reading their application rather than reading through posts - usually i am plotting with said character, or i'm trying to get a first impression of them. what makes a character truly interesting to me is when i can see the voice of the character within the writing of the application, not just the voice of the writer. i like to believe that each muse takes on its own personality that builds off of the one authoring it, and when you can see that character come to life in the description of said character, i almost feel that it says more than the words in the application themselves.
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Post by Raziel on May 9, 2015 20:29:17 GMT -8
that being said, i've also found that characters that don't fit the average norm of an rp character (in their 20's, white, binary gender, etc.) tend to have a lot more feedback from the community. i find that rare middle-aged characters -- especially well written ones with interesting plots (as mentioned a few times on this thread) can often be a fun and eventful to rp with and be a really good way to see how your own character interacts with someone else that you typically wouldn't run in to on an rp site (if that makes any sense lmao) Oh my god yes. More older characters please, and not just the ones who use the "eternally youthful supernatural creature" loophole. We have several ~45-50 year old cops on BRSW and it's always great to see them being RP'd as being grizzled veterans with decades of experience who literally have a different worldview compared to younger characters as opposed to.. you know... the 20 year old angsty detective. And they do get mobbed with plots exactly for that reason. I feel like you're taking a shot at my 20 year old angsty detective Japh, like I'm rly feeling attacked rn I'm a lore nerd, so any character that makes full use of the setting and it's history, as opposed to being a generic cookie-cutter character concept that's shuffled around for reuse on site after site, will be interesting to me. Characters that feel like they could be NPCs. Characters that end up being the wheels for plot movement because they're so involved and have their hands in everybody's pockets.
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2015 20:33:56 GMT -8
i always find power an interesting trait in a character. whether it is because they are indeed powerful in terms of magic/energy/strength or even political/royal. idk, i guess i just love power.
c:<
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Post by eggy azoozoo on May 9, 2015 20:40:49 GMT -8
I feel like you're taking a shot at my 20 year old angsty detective Japh, like I'm rly feeling attacked rn I'm a lore nerd, so any character that makes full use of the setting and it's history, as opposed to being a character that's reused for site after site, will be interesting to me. Characters that feel like they could be NPCs. Characters that end up being the wheels for plot movement because they're so involved and have their hands in everybody's pockets. OMG NO YOU KNOW I LOVE CHRIS EVANS URIEL K HIS INNER CONFLICT IS THE ACTUAL POIGNANT SIGNIFICANT KIND /////////////FLAGRANTLY BIASED okay also chiming in about interesting characters = a character that actually interacts deeply with site lore. I don't do plain old slice of life boards, so there you go. This is also obviously incredibly biased speaking because I always make a brand new character for each board's universe, but someone who adds to the lore and/or is an interpretation or extension of a concept laid out in lore = mega interesting. Also mega points to the writer for actually demonstrating that kind of interest and commitment that I can assume means that they'll be a reliable threading partner as well.
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gloria luciferis in excelsis
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Post by THE LEVIATHAN on May 9, 2015 20:46:17 GMT -8
Oh my god yes. More older characters please, and not just the ones who use the "eternally youthful supernatural creature" loophole. We have several ~45-50 year old cops on BRSW and it's always great to see them being RP'd as being grizzled veterans with decades of experience who literally have a different worldview compared to younger characters as opposed to.. you know... the 20 year old angsty detective. And they do get mobbed with plots exactly for that reason. I feel like you're taking a shot at my 20 year old angsty detective Japh, like I'm rly feeling attacked rn I'm a lore nerd, so any character that makes full use of the setting and it's history, as opposed to being a generic cookie-cutter character concept that's shuffled around for reuse on site after site, will be interesting to me. Characters that feel like they could be NPCs. Characters that end up being the wheels for plot movement because they're so involved and have their hands in everybody's pockets. I love how you post in here because Japhy posted, but you never post where I post! Who do you really love?!
Joking aside, I love playing older characters. 40+ please. I hate characters that feel generic and that could fit in anywhere. Adaptability is always a plus, but I feel like an interesting character stands out from the rest. I shouldn't be able to pick up one character and play them exactly the same on another site.
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Post by eggy azoozoo on May 9, 2015 22:25:11 GMT -8
Joking aside, I love playing older characters. 40+ please. I hate characters that feel generic and that could fit in anywhere. Adaptability is always a plus, but I feel like an interesting character stands out from the rest. I shouldn't be able to pick up one character and play them exactly the same on another site.
"Joking aside, I love playing older characters.""I love playing older characters." COMPARING OUR CHARACTER ROSTER. ONE OF US IS PLAYING A 47 YEAR OLD H00MAN AND THAT'S NOT YOU. One thing, for people who do prefer playing a more introverted, to-themselves type of character who doesn't necessarily want to meddle with other people: I definitely believe that the writer's own willingness to let these kinds of characters get caught in extraordinary situations is one thing that makes them fantastic to even just thread stalk. Creativity in plotting and in threading situations is where people can really shine even if their character isn't meant to be flashy-flashy-look-at-me-strut. Unless they're a complete hikkikomori-type individual, they're going to have to literally step out and interact with people. The most annoying thing is when people app a loner type, and then shoots down thread suggestions left and right and afterwards complains that nobody wants to plot with them. THE LEVIATHAN's fantastic at driving dramatic plots with his characters, while I'm the RPer that prefers playing support and helping to flesh out that sort of thing. The important thing is to actually want to hop along for the ride and challenge yourself and your character to grow instead of always being like "oh no they'd be too scared or hesitant". Crazy shit happening to unlikely wallflowers is literally a staple of storytelling.
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Post by edward on May 12, 2015 9:17:23 GMT -8
I think that the most important aspect of any character is that they reflect reality. No matter what kind of character you're making or writing, I should be able to believe that this person could exist within the context of their own universe. So obviously if you're playing a werewolf or something, they don't need to literally be realistic. But I should still believe that they are a realistic, well-rounded individual that is shaped by the conditions of the universe in which they exist. If a character seems like a caricature, they're not going to be interesting. They're just not. Even the simplest people in the world (and I play a lot of characters that are simple people myself) have levels. They're not one-hundred percent predictable.
One thing that bothers me with a lot of roleplayers is the treatment of characters with anime FCs as if they're literally in an anime. It's one thing to have antics and silliness, which can be great. But when your character is literally involved in physics-defying slapstick (and again, "physics" within the context of the world in which the roleplay exists) and things like that, it immediately makes them less believable and less interesting.
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