creative rut


8baller

 

Posted

How do you guys get out of a creative rut

I've been playing this game for little over a year now and (save for one) I have never had a character I can really get into playing.

This game has ruined other MMOs for me because most MMOs you are always a variation on the same character (I.E lotro ...all guardians are the same)

point being because I've played those games I can't seem to get my mindset to settle on an original character..I'm tired of tank blaster and archer...but that's all I seem to be able ti make. It feels like hardening of the thought arteries.

I'm a little lost and need some guidance on how to create a character I can get into, So I can actually write something decent instead of knock-off junk that I feel guilty for writing.


Volt Sentinel Reference

Thunder is good, thunder is impressive, but lightning does the work.

 

Posted

Well... I don't know. There's no one answer. Sometimes a name or concept will pop into mind, and I'll work at fitting powersets to it. Or a backstory. Or I'll get with friends and make a set of pacted, themed characters. Or set an overall goal (one of each AT to 50, one of each X primary, etc.) Or a costume piece, or...

Well, inspiration can come from anywhere.

Not sure that's the most helpful answer, but it's mine.


 

Posted

Have you tried Villain side yet?

You haven't lived until you play a VEAT!! (and you can't play one of those until you have a lvl 50 villain ;P


Craft your inventions in AE!!

Play "Crafter's Cafe" - Arc #487283. A 1 mission, NON-COMBAT AE arc with workable invention tables!

 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
Have you tried Villain side yet?

You haven't lived until you play a VEAT!! (and you can't play one of those until you have a lvl 50 villain ;P

[/ QUOTE ]

no I can't play bad guys..never could (even in Overlord for the 360..I took the least villainous ending :P) I always feel guilty.


Volt Sentinel Reference

Thunder is good, thunder is impressive, but lightning does the work.

 

Posted

I like reading things about other cultures and religions. I usually get an inspiration from some ideology or folklore. This particular passage helped create Ethergreen

I was made from the ninefold elements -
From fruit trees, From paradisiacal fruit,
From primroses and hill flowers
From the blossoms of trees and bushes,
From the roots of the earth was I made,
From the broom and the nettle,
From the water of the ninth wave.
Gwydion created me with his magic wand.
From five fifties of magicians like Math was I made -
,And I know the star-knowledge from the beginning of Time.


Sometimes music helps me come up with interesting creations as well.


Actions speak louder than Vets.

 

Posted

I throw myself challenges ...

- I pick a costume part and build the toon around that
- I pick a power and look for a concept
- I impose a difficulty (ex: no black or must use 5 colors or ...)
- I take a well know persona (not necessarily a super hero) and ask myself how I would design a super hero that fit their powers/personality.
- etc ...


Arc: A Little RnR (17523) - Poster
Char Site | My DeviantArt
Global=@Thornster

 

Posted

well the punisher is more or less a villian type.. so would wolverine...

I say play a Thug MM ... you WILL turn to the dark side


 

Posted

LATE night movies are always a great source of character inspiration. Or...instead of working from the general to the details, work in reverse. Find a power you think is really cool, or a certain costume piece....and work backwards from that fine detail to the high level backstory.

It can be fun.


"Scumball in the side pocket." - 8 Baller

 

Posted

I was thinking of deviating from my norm abit and maybe making a sword/shield scrapper or a a wizard-is type..any suggestions?


Volt Sentinel Reference

Thunder is good, thunder is impressive, but lightning does the work.

 

Posted

If you do choose villain-side, be sure you're on the right server because it can be extremely dead in the Rogue Isles at all hours if you're in the wrong one. Unless you prefer solo-play...

Personally, I can't stick to a character because I'm usually inspired to make another one after ten levels or so. My advice is similar to those above:
1. Choose a couple of powersets that make you tingle inside with excitement
2. Make a costume that has its own unique flavor where the pieces smoothly compliment each other
3. Pick a name; I prefer keeping it to one or two words that are easily recognizable and isn't a joke (ex. Morale or Pyrefox). It's difficult playing a character named the Pink Cheerleader, unless that's your thing.
4. Get a feel for your powers and play through several levels, do you like how they work? If so, then build an in-depth backstory to lay the foundation of the soul. If not, avoid the backstory, because nothing is worse than coming up with a completely original story for a character you'll get bored with playing. If you're pulled out of your rut, you'll find this foundation continues to grow on its own as you play.

Just my 2 inf, some will agree, others will disagree.

P.S. Heh, now is the time to make wizardish characters with the new booster pack :P


 

Posted

I actually kinda like the dark sets but I'm not really sure

it's there a place I can go to see the different set or is it just trial and error ingame


Volt Sentinel Reference

Thunder is good, thunder is impressive, but lightning does the work.

 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
I was thinking of deviating from my norm abit and maybe making a sword/shield scrapper or a a wizard-is type..any suggestions?

[/ QUOTE ]

if you haven't tried a scrapper yet, i can make two suggestions.

Broadsword/Willpower.
Dark melee/ Regen.

both dish out the damage in a big way and are hard to kill.
although it does take time to get there.

my biggest advice is never create a character that has to be what you initially write story for him to be. cause lord knows there is always rename tokens .

How far level wise have you actually gotten?


 

Posted

on jutsice I have a level 50 named Volt Sentinel but I wanted to RP some so I am making a story-writable toon on Virtue


Volt Sentinel Reference

Thunder is good, thunder is impressive, but lightning does the work.

 

Posted

sweet so you got the stones to stick it out with a character (level wise), definitely try a scrapper. some people find writing a character that fits into the city of heroes world good fun, like an ex malta/longbow/arachnos member. or someone who got there powers due to experimentation on the creys behalf, so that's an option. or you can make homage characters if your in a uncreative rut.. so yeah that's pretty much all i got.


 

Posted

okay im starting to come out of it but I need some help

I've decided to go with a tanker but give him a magical background

something to do with a mythological item but I need help deciding which one

1.The Shield of Lancelot, given to him by the Lady of the Lake, it instantly cured him of tiredness and gave him the strength of three men. this I was gonna do one of a few things with
1. give im "the spirit of the sword (arondight) and shield" making him and inv/SS tanker. Back story is that they are something he obtained through as of yet unknown mean and when together they make the wielder into a hero that is needed
2. make him a shield/SS tanker and give him the actual shield (maybe add on an enchantment that lets it change shape so story-wise I can use different shield types)

2.The Hide of Leviathan was supposedly able to be turned into everlasting clothing or impenetrable suits of armor. again an inv/ /blank\ tanker




and after thats chosen I need to decided what the costume looks like but that comes later.


Volt Sentinel Reference

Thunder is good, thunder is impressive, but lightning does the work.