How to Write a Character Story on this Game

Took the words right out of my fingers....
I recently wrote a bio 4 times over, in different styles, until I felt it conveyed the character emotionally as well as informatively. I ended up using every bit of space that stupid box would let me (but not as a wall o' text)... re-wording and strategizing spaces/returns. I also ended up winning a bio contest for it.

Also, I will join those calling for the text box to be fixed.
Please.

.

Don�t say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary. - R.W. Emerson

Here's a short story for you: YOUR OPINION IS NOT FACT.

Also, those examples you gave as "good" are genuine crap. If I saw those in the game, I'd roll my eyes and think, "Amateur."

Why don't you show us screenshots of your character bios and we'll tell you all the ways they are fundamentally broken. Trust me, if the examples you've given there as "Good" are really what you consider to be exemplary storytelling, all of your bios are junk.

Oh look, someone else trying to tell me how to RP and write my characters.

Can you cut the crap and let me play the game, please? I don't come to your house and tell you how to put your socks on.

lol dont be mad cause you do not know how to start a character summary.

My examples were the mere first sentence or two of the bio. The dots (......) represent that more content will come after.


No one reads your bios Mr. professional. No one cares about your creative writing abilities. They may care about what superhero you made though..pity they will never know cause they fell asleep after the first line.

Examples? Most examples of actually god-moding canon tend to rightly get shouted down as the tripe they are...

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Aha! AHAH! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-hhoooAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Yes. Yes I just sat and typed out mad laughter. Because that hypocritical statement is deserving of nothing less. Hoo boy...

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Methinks he means "abdomen"... Which is 3 letters shorter, too.

Villain or not, shouldn't 8-Ball sell cocaine to children instead of crack?

Possibly may be talking about Samuraiko's The Course of Superhero Romance, which is non-canon but highly regarded among forumgoers?

Fair enough. However, there is a major, major difference between creating your own distinct character and a 'what if' interaction with a canon NPC while trying to keep as close to that NPCs personality as possible going off official writing ('Riko herself said she'd be making sure that it worked out with the now canon relationship between Posi and Numina) and what was mentioned, namely commandeering an actual canon NPC name and acting how that player thinks that NPC should be, rather than what the Devs write for it.

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Commandeering a name? Odd way of putting it to say the least. Especially since I have actually been complimented in game by a dev for one of my lore based characters. Is what name I choose or how I take pride in it any different then those who high and might it for having grabbed various popular names in that first year?

I can easily admit that one of the first things that made me look to lore was finding most typical names long since taken. Hell BETA players got most of the good general ones.

Had a friend who never gave COX a chance for example because he couldnt be named Greed. Not a big deal really but it was for him because it had been his game handle on muds for years. He infact plays CO now days just because of thier name freedom.

For me it was Dusk of Virtue who gave me the itch. The first time I saw him around month 3 in year one I was like "Damn that was a good ******* name!" I started to think how silly all my current D&D based concepts where and how I wanted to be more a part of the world we played in rather then my old table top universe that had nothing to do with the game beyond some abstracts I can see here and there due to Jacks own years of tossing dice for D&D.

My first lore based character was T'Keron Valmaz. made to both mock and set an example to all the wannabe demons out there who had 0 grasp on what a demon was in coxverse. Since then he has helped many new players better understand that demons are not just some mindless force of chaos and evil, but in fact thoughtful and patient beings who uphold fairness when dealing with mortals, who sadly only have flesh,blood,soul, and life in terms of worthy trade goods. He also was exactly the kind of character who was in need of the alignment system as he was even in lore pretty much written to be one who was torn by two sides.

I think the problem is you cant seem to accept its not about me or my ego, its about the desire to play a role. You know roleplay? It actually has nothing at all to do with creating your own character. Fact is when I run sessions of d20 or hackmaster these days I always pre make the characters for the group. When those characters die during the adventure then I let them use current locals and even NPC allies as sources for new characters so they make sense in the scope of the story we are creating together.

here is an exmple of a so called original player concept I encountered in the D last night that I view as the epitome of god mode.

A lvl 50+1 tech based electric wielding stalker. well IOd and old enough I would certainly tolerate a high lvl of ability being RPed from.

Thier bio though well written and even interesting however is where it all falls down. They specifically mention they can feed on the power of and control any source of tech, this implies and when asked even in thier view includes beings like Citty and Lumi our well loved talos talking toasters. As well as even the arms of Recluse himself...That btw to me is what god moding entails. implying you have control over other characters or even ICON class NPCs just because.

Now you may then say well isnt T'Keron Valmaz the exact same implying lordship of all demons? Not at all, because I am again using Lore. Valmaz was torn from his plane by a binding never meant to be cast, and then througha cosmic accident sent from that variant of earth to primal earth and fused to that very upstart mortal mage in the process.

I rp him as just that now possibly mortal, which is why he is SR, he avoids on being touched rather then trusting in and risking his now compromised demonic nature. I always treat him more as the king in exile now dealing with many would be rivals who seek to lay him low during this window of vulnerability. I also treat him as an ally to those factions of the COT who still keep to the old ways rather then those who have given into body theft and taking up the unethical practice of demon binding.

Really hate to tell you this but RP is about playing a role, and has little to nothing to do with if you helped to create the character in the first place. I mean does christian bale have to go write batman comics to be able to play batman in the films? Names are first come first serve, if you felt you could of done better as Bentley Berkeley for example, maybe you should of made him first? Or at least taken the name and kept it on a holder to deny others if it pisses you of so badly.

Since I never said I do you literally made a post with no point. But to answer you, good for you that you are happy making meaningless characters that strangers wont ever look at and say hm that looks familiar, have your bio read, then recieve a tell saying " damn man that is like a perfect bio, you got it all, didnt miss a thing, and your build, the way you dress, the way you sit there at the bar telling stories of the old days, its just so right on man thanks for making my day"

You see I get tells like that often, my friends lists on my characters are all long full of fellow players who enjoy such a style. I still fondly recall meeting Hero One at the D once. we had a nice long chat about the good old days( keep in mind we where total strangers in truth) but thanks to our love of lore we could easily interact, and soon others came up to join in the lively discussion.

Something alot seem to forget is pocket D is not on primal earth, that is the reason there is a still flesh bearing witch lady standing around having a drink. I could for example if I so choose be a variant berkeley, or one from earlier or later in time. I love playing him largely like doctor who as its great fun and fits BB very well.

however to be on topic, I myself rarely compliment bios that are very short, or are just a sum up of obvious physical traits. or a list of fictional RP powers like lust auras and the like

Id rather read a decent little story bite, be it a recent news report, a file from one of the many factions, a interview with the character, etc.. then a quick sum up of powers I can as easily get looking up the powers tab instead.

...

So .. basically, if your character isn't Statesman or some other NPC character, they're "meaningless"?

Wow .. just .. wow ..

Allow me? WHo the **** am I asking for allowances from to play the character I want to play exactly? I dont need to be in a group of RPers to RP my character I am always partially IC even in pugs. No one ever has to be allowed by another player to do anything.

All I keep hearing is oh no you thought of using that bit of lore first and now I am sad I cant from every one who argues with me. When someone can point out how it is actually WRONG which it isnt since I long ago made sure each name I used was ok by reporting it myself and waiting a few days while I exchanged email with admin to make sure a given name was not potentially at risk of being genericed.

Each time I not only was given an ok, but actually personal compliments by the admin for making such good use of the game lore. I never came to the forums looking for any OK from my fellow players, I came here to try and share a fun way to interact with the game world. If it doesnt appeal to you great, but making these endless attacks on a fellow player for just stating how they prefer to RP. its just disgusting.

I also already said i know I am not the only Bentley Berkeley out there, I am the one on virtue, and it is one of my accounts global's. I also know there is another demtrios vasilikos on virtue using the upper case i trick for the L in the last name. Never met the guy but I put him on my friends list in case I do ever see him on. I once did that with Dauntless until I met the real Dauntless and couldnt stomach that trick anymore. See I do recognize first come first serve. Id made the mistake of assuming dauntless was blocked out and the upper case i was the only option. But nope there is a real Dauntless on virtue, claims to predate the history badge and lore to. Maybe he does.

That must be in your head, because i'm sure as heck not crying about it.

It must be because I come from Union, where anything like that is frowned upon, then laughed at, in that order.