Concept
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Character Concepts
There is an enormous amount of opportunity to play whatever type of character you want on Kushiel MUX. This guide is here to help you decide what to play. One of the most common questions to new players to the game is 'what should I play?' or 'what sorts of characters are needed?'
Step One: What do I like to play?
This can be a surprisingly difficult first hurdle. This stage involves some critical self-thought -- what do you enjoy playing most? What sort of character interests you and keeps you busy? What is -exciting- for you? What plans might you consider for this character? Essentially, the most important step is deciding what you enjoy most.
You might wish to consider playing a nationality other than D'Angeline as well. Here are some of your options:
The above links may help you to narrow your focus as to what you'd like to do.
Step Two: What is needed?
There is such a thing as a cliche'd concept. Those are definitely not needed! It's possible to overdo things like Shahrizai or pain craving adepts. Which doesn't mean they are not allowed, just that concepts like those should be approached with lots of creativity! More commoners and middle-class is always a good thing, but it's slightly more difficult getting involved in the majority of the roleplay that goes on. Nobility - particularly lesser nobility - are always a recommended choice, since there's no end of customizability, lots of potential for roleplay, and you can really make up whatever you want about the place you're coming from to boot. Of course, you might want to get to know your province a bit first before doing so -- there are already a few Earls of various provinces, for example, so you should ask first. Things like barons, counts, countesses and so on are all perfectly fine. We do have a great deal of characters playing nobles at the moment (both high and lower ranking) so it is a good idea to think about what you would plan to do within such a populated group, and to contact the pcs in those areas for background and setup ideas. The Duchies of Terre d'Ange page (still in progress) is set up to provide some web based background in addition to what you can learn talking to other players in game.
Go with whatever makes you feel comfortable. There's always room in the Night Court if you're looking for something fairly easy-going rather than political-minded, though even that can be involved in the politics too. Dowaynes are not Feature Characters but you should 1. check if there's someone already there as Dowayne and 2. ask a wiz if it's alright for you to take the Dowayne position.
Also take a look at things like the Tiny Plots board (bb 11) and the player run plots (+plots). These detail plots going on in the game, and could provide great hooks for those who want to join in on a plotline currently up and moving. All the +plots posted have player contact information, so you know where to go if you'd like to set up a character specifically designed for that plot, or if you'd like to work the character you create in there somewhere.
Try these commands: +gov, +census, +census/jobs, and +occs.
Step Three: Playing a Feature Character
Feature Characters are reserved for people who have played at least 200 hours - it's a) a reward for being loyal to the game, and b) to ensure people will stick around to play them. They are integral to the plot and if someone plays for a day and then stops, that's another FC position we have to clear and look to get filled. However! There's nothing stopping you from playing a lesser noble, like a marquis or a count, and then applying to take the FC position when you have enough hours and have gotten a feel for the game.
A feature character is earned one of two ways.
1) You have a primary character. You play for 100 hours. You run an event. Then you inform admin you want an FC, and create an alt to hold the position with background that fits the position you want to hold.
2) You have a primary character. You play for 100 hours. You run an event. Then ICly you earn the position through roleplay. This method is harder. It requires roleplay and political and social support IC by those with the power to hand out the position. (The King or Queen, the Master of Arms, people through election in various cases, etc etc.) Not all positions will make sense for all characters.
The game admin will not put existing characters into FC positions without roleplay. The only way to get an FC character through the admin is by putting in the hours and the event and then creating an alt to fit.
Step Four: What things should I set?
Well, the easiest way is to go through chargen and just set everything it suggests you set. Create an elaborate backstory -- but not TOO elaborate. To give your character some depth, make your character have some flaws and some merits. Give your character an RP hook; an in-character reason to get involved in various things.
In particular, I use the following steps to create a character:
1. Think of a basic overall concept. Sometimes I'll browse idly through an image archive to look for something inspirational. Homeland, social class, and job -- "a d'Angeline noble" or "a middle-class Caerdicci scholar" and so on.
2. Think of a name. There are tons of websites you can use to browse (google "French baby names" for example for d'Angeline ones).
3. Write your desc. I generally write this in notepad in the format '%r%t<first paragraph, describing head/features>%r%r%t<second paragraph, describing clothing>%r' and then paste it into my MU* client (I use SimpleMU). Be creative! And don't powerdesc.. Putting actions in your desc is considered to be rude 'Your eyes travel and see..' etc. We have some blind characters here!
4. Think up a background and +infos. You don't generally -have- to actually write your +background anywhere, but it's a good idea so you can remember what it is your concept is. Infos are easy to write -- they're just short, extra blurbs that people should know about your character or about you, OOCly.
Step Five: Sticking with the Concept
This can actually be tricky. Characters evolve and change - that's perfectly fine in its own right. But remember that your character, like a normal human being, can't just change who it is overnight. Play the character well and you'll find a good groove with it. A good player can have multiple alts and play them each completely differently.
And above all, have fun.
