Characters Aren't Forever

[carlo aggaruzzi]

To quote myself:

Develop the character and the character’s relationships. Have an arc.

Over time, a character should evolve. The character should care about some things or people, positively and negatively. Conflicts should arise and be resolved, positively and negatively. A character should grow or contract somehow. Face fears, overcome doubts, mature, gain strength; or accumulate fears and doubts, regress, become weak.

It follows that a role-player might reach a point when he feels he has done all he can or all he should with a particular character.

I have known some RP campaigns to fizzle out because people lost interest but did not know exactly what they had lost interest in. I think this happens in DG sometimes. It might be a weariness with DG itself, or with people, but I think sometimes it is a general malaise that results from having exhausted angles of a favorite character. The source of the dissatisfaction might not be recognized as such though.

I have known when to call it quits on a couple characters, and I have known others who recognized that their characters had run their arcs. In one instance, one player said that the time was right for him to stop playing a character but that he would make a new character that could make sense for the group. The rest of the playing group not only understood, they realized that the arc of the entire group had drawn to a natural conclusion. The game master went into a sort of mourning because he had enjoyed the campaign and characters. He was consoled by the players' agreement to play the characters in cameos from time to time for their own new group of characters. Together they worked out the projected futures of their former characters, rather than a generic "happily ever after" ending. They all (including the GM) said that it gave them satisfaction.

I present this because it might provide useful perspective to someone along the way.

[Albell Nox]

hmmmm *Scratches his head* intresting indeed

[Maji]

well said as always.

[Doyle]

We should compile these and call it "Thoughts of a Roleplayer"

But yes, characters don't last forever. I often find myself horribly guilty of getting too attached to some characters so when I finish using them I try to make sure I can never go back and retire them in a rather final way.

On the other hand I do like it when a character take a little place of my mind to inhabit. Doyle was orginally only made to be played on DG but has since popped up in other games I play, from just the name to personality traits showing through depending on the setting. Will never be the same Doyle as is here though as a character is mostly defined by the people that know them and how they interact.

[Hayate]

Roleplayers have to think? Darn

[Jessa Starlight]

well not too much.. luckily for you Hayate

[Taladorn Padasha]

Having just read the above post I understand that completely, Taladorn Padasha has been around in a few other worlds, but he was born here in DG. I suppose I don't think I could ever get rid of Tal for ever, I would keep him around somewhere. I have become very attached to Tal...rather like an actor becomes attached to his or her character. Even if Tal reached the end of his playing days in Valorn, I would still keep him, maybe let him appear every now and again.

[rikm]

I understand.
I do not play other on-line games, partly because of lack of extra time but have become attached to a few of my characters. Though each is fun to role play in thier own rights. I have developed them each as seperate individuals, they all have developed thier own manerisms, phobias, friends, likes and dislikes. Luckily I am able to separate friends fairly easily (they have few of the same freinds). I think it would be hard to rid myself of them.