Character Theory Stop making "finished" characters.

[Jet]

Over time I've noticed the quickest drops are usually PCs who are "full", "complete" etc. No room to grow. There's no variance between post #1 and post #100 with such a character, so the writer gets bored.

Ironically it's the writers desire to have the most put together, or most badass character that leads them to this boredom, it's self inflicted. If you find yourself bored of writing a character, the culprit might be you. That you made a character devoid of arc.

No development of personality available. No development of powers or skills available. Nothing to look forward to. So its boring and then the writer quits...

Stop killing RPs by making these characters.

And no, I'm not saying everyone needs to be a nervous wreck who can't control their powers or shoot a gun straight, but don't write yourself into a corner by having a monolithic object of badassery as your character.

It's not always a question of Stus and Sues, many times it is but not always. Its repetitive writing with nowhere to expand. It occurs most with flawless power fantasy characters but I've seen it done often with the opposite, the ultra weak ones that are just helpless balls of emotions without a back bone. It can also be done with personality type even if the powers/abilities are balanced. Personalities grow and change but I see these types of character that have no growth potential and it always coincides with a quick bail.

I'm just rambling now so I'll cut myself off.

 

[Chief]

Whole site needs to read this.

 

[final girl.]

We need writers and creators to take a step back for a moment, because that was very well said.

 

[loveablelorrie]

some of my are develpoped but thres always room for them to grow if given the chance where does anyone get roleplay on this site anyway

 

[Jet]

some of my are develpoped but thres always room for them to grow if given the chance where does anyone get roleplay on this site anyway

As long as there's somewhere for a character to go after initial creation I have no complaints.

Best way to find RPs are the interest check sections of the site.

 

[KenKafka]

This is kinda up to the writer though, and by that I mean, you can have any character grow, right? Personally, I have done this a lot with canon characters so it seems one should be able to do it more easily with their own. Everyone can change, you just have to let it happen and have the world effect them.

That being said, I remember feeling this way about D in Vampire Hunter D. He's so old and powerful, he really doesn't have room to grow. So maybe I am completely wrong after all.

 

[loveablelorrie]

i tried that no luck ive tried the searching for partners no luck ive tried the writing a fiction sample no luck. argh

 

[Jet]

This is kinda up to the writer though, and by that I mean, you can have any character grow, right? Personally, I have done this a lot with canon characters so it seems one should be able to do it more easily with their own. Everyone can change, you just have to let it happen and have the world effect them.

That being said, I remember feeling this way about D in Vampire Hunter D. He's so old and powerful, he really doesn't have room to grow. So maybe I am completely wrong after all.

It certainly is author choice, my main issue is that many RPs die because people get bored of their character and one reason for that is the lack of opportunity for growth.

 

[rae2nerdy]

i tried that no luck ive tried the searching for partners no luck ive tried the writing a fiction sample no luck. argh

Patience. You have only been looking for a few days. It might take you weeks to a month to find a partner. I think the best thing to do is not stress out about it. Maybe find something to do offsite (reading or watching tv). Reading might also help you grammar skills as well, it will give you a good template to start from.


As to the point of the thread I think it’s only relevant if a story is meant to focus on the characters. If the story is more of a mystery (for example) than the narrative is more about uncovering clues than the characters themselves.

In most of my roleplays the primary focus is actually the setting and exploring the world. So the characters don’t need to grow or be particularly in-depth because they aren’t the selling point.

I would say then that the key to longevity is to just make sure your roleplay is interesting. Whether that means coming up with an interesting world, a clever mystery, or just well rounded characters will depend on personal preference.

 

[loveablelorrie]

well i dont have patience that much everyone else has luck why can't i get lucky why do i get a bunch of loose ends and false promises and failed attempts to get dumped. why should we wait a month to weeks t find partner ive applied a dozen times someone just commits already. my grammer skills are fine they can all learn to accept me as i am or help me improve quit being grammer snobs.

 

[Jet]

Fair counter points.

rae2nerdy

 

[Jet]

well i dont have patience that much everyone else has luck why can't i get lucky why do i get a bunch of loose ends and false promises and failed attempts to get dumped. why should we wait a month to weeks t find partner ive applied a dozen times someone just commits already. my grammer skills are fine they can all learn to accept me as i am or help me improve quit being grammer snobs.

Look G.

I have set up group RPs with detailed NPC charts, maps, character sheets, hours of reading and writing, plotting, brainstorming etc.

Just to then get five posts from "highly interested" people and never hear from any of them again. That's just how this website is.

I don't want to be a "Whataboutist" but the experience of this website is 75% disappointment, 10% false hope and 15% hitting a jackpot and being part of something really cool. If that's not acceptable then try to find another website lmao.

 

[loveablelorrie]

see thats the problem you take forever getting everyothing ready when you could be just winging it and making it as you go well this site needs to be redone to actually let people play and they need to lower their expectations a little

 

[Jet]

see thats the problem you take forever getting everyothing ready when you could be just winging it and making it as you go well this site needs to be redone to actually let people play and they need to lower their expectations a little

Erm, being a good GM and establishing a well thought out forum for people is the only way to run an effective RP. Sandbox RPs, aka winging it, have a lower success rate than curing acne with an all bacon diet.

 

[loveablelorrie]

i have no clue what GM means anyway God mode or what? well that right there shows your an elitist snob at least we get roleplays unlike those who wait around forever to start

 

[Jet]

i have no clue what GM means anyway God mode or what? well that right there shows your an elitist snob at least we get roleplays unlike those who wait around forever to start

GM as in general manager you nonce. How the fuck am I elitist

 

[Jet]

i have no clue what GM means anyway God mode or what? well that right there shows your an elitist snob at least we get roleplays unlike those who wait around forever to start

If you'd like you can go in the OOC of my current RP that's been going for a month and you can ask them how elitist I am sheesh there is absolutely no reason for you to be confrontational in this situation.

 

[loveablelorrie]

well then just write out general manager cause you belittled us who just go for the roleplay without much planning

 

[Jet]

well then just write out general manager cause you belittled us who just go for the roleplay without much planning

Belittle?

I'm telling you my perspective as someone who has GMd dozens of RPs and been a member in almost 100.

Sandbox RPs fail every time, all the time, never seen one pass a page. That's experience, not me roasting.

For some reason you take everything in the most hostile way possible. Maybe take this as advice from an OG rather than someone calling you stupid.

 

[rae2nerdy]

well then just write out general manager cause you belittled us who just go for the roleplay without much planning

No he did not. He used a common name for the person who starts the roleplay. It’s a very common term on this site.

Maybe instead of getting defensive and lashing out when you don’t know something you could just ask. Maybe see if you could make a thread asking for a mentor to show you around the site.

So you don’t get so upset every time you don’t know something.

 

[loveablelorrie]

ill leave you boys to your civilized conversation im tired of this

 

[rae2nerdy]

A lady actually

Although the sandbox talk did get me thinking about slice of life roleplay. Those definitely seem to fall into Jet original point. I know most of the groups I entered with a slice of life story failed because the characters got stale.

Which interestingly enough they do better in one x ones because I shift the focus from relationships to the setting

 

[NeonFlow]

Jet
This whole thread is the reason more people should want to join your rp's aha
I certainly do. If you have one link me and I shall read that bizness.

 

[Idea]

I might object that there is no such character. Or, better put, there is no character that has this trait and isn't bad for reasons outside of this trait. If you designed a character that can no longer develop their skills or personality, you just plain designed a bad character, a character that is almost certainly overpowered and/or overskilled for the start of the story and with a personality that is just perfect.

If that is not the case, then I would argue you can always develop the character. It's all about the angle at which you take it. Every personality, every form of behavior has some flaws in it. If yours doesn't, then it's just poorly designed to begin with, and even then there is such a thing as negative development, where a character sinks deeper into particular flaws by means of the narrative. Then there are those who don't feel like they need to change, like they already reached a solid conclusion...for those you just have to explore the consequences of that, some positive and some negative, and figure how the character deals with the problems there arise and changes even slightly accordingly.

Lets say that maybe you just can't see how a character would do so- then find some interpersonal relationship you can build up and change over time.

So while "complete" characters are an issue, I would say you're attacking the petals when you should be trying to pluck out the roots.

 

[NeonFlow]

When you post somewhere all the numbers at the bottom of the page increase by at least three