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Arvedui · 05-02-2003, 08:38 AM

Wow, a good discussion of RP characters! the originality is seemingly limited in RP characters if you use a strictly Middle Earth interpretation, especially for women. For men one can write as one of several 'unknown' characters, say a soldier of Gondor, of which there were many, or other armies in Middle Earth. What do women have to write? A healer in the House of Healing? A ranch hand of Rohan? A bar wench in Bree? Wife of a Steward? I mean there is not a whole lot of angles for women to be used in a strictly Middle Earth setting unless one uses their imagination some.

Also, depending on the timeframe of Middle Earth used in am RP, there could very well be orphans galore. The wars between the Easterlings and the men of Rhovanion, or the battles in the north with the Witch-King, or the invasion of Gondor and Rohan by Umbar during the Long Winter. I mean the orphaned girl that becomes a sword-wielding shieldmaiden is not altogether a bad thing, but what would help with that formula is alot of back-story as to the how and why she was orphaned, and how did she get so good with a sword. I agree the half-elven/mixed race formula does get a bit old, as well as the magic powers for the average character thing.

A tip for character-writers... use some imagination in your characters, but keep it within the bounds of Middle Earth possibilities. And write out the histories and such to help give a better understanding as to why the character is the way they are.

As yet, I havent entered into any RP here at Barrow Downs, for I haven't really had the time to work on it. I have been reading some of the stories going on now. Maybe soon I will present a character and join an RP if one intrigues me enough.

Namarie,
Arvedui

05-02-2003, 08:38 AM	#42
Arvedui Haunting Spirit Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Annúminas Posts: 56	Wow, a good discussion of RP characters! the originality is seemingly limited in RP characters if you use a strictly Middle Earth interpretation, especially for women. For men one can write as one of several 'unknown' characters, say a soldier of Gondor, of which there were many, or other armies in Middle Earth. What do women have to write? A healer in the House of Healing? A ranch hand of Rohan? A bar wench in Bree? Wife of a Steward? I mean there is not a whole lot of angles for women to be used in a strictly Middle Earth setting unless one uses their imagination some. Also, depending on the timeframe of Middle Earth used in am RP, there could very well be orphans galore. The wars between the Easterlings and the men of Rhovanion, or the battles in the north with the Witch-King, or the invasion of Gondor and Rohan by Umbar during the Long Winter. I mean the orphaned girl that becomes a sword-wielding shieldmaiden is not altogether a bad thing, but what would help with that formula is alot of back-story as to the how and why she was orphaned, and how did she get so good with a sword. I agree the half-elven/mixed race formula does get a bit old, as well as the magic powers for the average character thing. A tip for character-writers... use some imagination in your characters, but keep it within the bounds of Middle Earth possibilities. And write out the histories and such to help give a better understanding as to why the character is the way they are. As yet, I havent entered into any RP here at Barrow Downs, for I haven't really had the time to work on it. I have been reading some of the stories going on now. Maybe soon I will present a character and join an RP if one intrigues me enough. Namarie, Arvedui __________________ When Elendil fell, Isildur departed to take up the high kingship of his father, and committed the rule of the south in like manner to the son of his brother. He did not relinquish his royalty in Gondor, nor intend that the realm of Elendil should be divided forever.