[Dolston]

From the "On to Game Theory" thread, this was the one point that came up the most often. I would like to build on this. I want to know what you all - players and STs - think makes a good and appropriate character for Mind's Eye Theatre. Please be specific and detailed. Examples are always welcome and entertaining.

[zenten]

Ok, a good and appropriate larp character is one that is designed to make everyone have fun. It also must have a good reason to attend game about as much as the player will be attending game sessions, and fits within the guidelines/rules of the game.

As to the everyone having fun, it should be one that will actively engage in appropriate activities that will draw other players in, and will not engage in activities that will draw away fun for the players, such as "solving" plots that could have had a number of players involved with, or killing PCs.

[PsiMalkavian]

I believe that a good character must have set goals. I have seen many characters that have no goals to persue (i admit some of my earlier characters are included here) tend to be cookie cutter characters. It is not to say that they are not played well, or can be a big player, but they seem to go around doing whatever the group does.

A second point is making a character that does not hole up and never socialize. I can only see this working if it is a very small game. If the character doesen't like others, they will just sit to the side, and the St will be forced to leave them be. They have to keep everyone in mind, and cannot always go to this loner.

[serial_experiments]

I believe that a good character must have set goals.  I have seen many characters that have no goals to persue (i admit some of my earlier characters are included here) tend to be cookie cutter characters.  It is not to say that they are not played well, or can be a big player, but they seem to go around doing whatever the group does. 

A second point is making a character that does not hole up and never socialize.  I can only see this working if it is a very small game.  If the character doesen't like others, they will just sit to the side, and the St will be forced to leave them be.  They have to keep everyone in mind, and cannot always go to this loner.

This is also true for non-larp characters, I must point out.

[jadedeath]

The in's:

Characters that have a great deal of interactivity to them, a hook, a character that can seem engaging in an environment where there will be alot of others around... This can be a secret that they want to maintain while attempting to carve out a niche in the environment that they're playing in {be that werewolf vamp or others}
It's not necessary that your character have a secret... but it definately makes things interesting... Now this goal need not be "the most powerful elder in the city/prince" it can include a large group of other activities... example: my current character wants to completely control one particular University in the city that he is in... these goals can be small large or even varried {preferably more than just one} but interaction is key in trying to make sure that you achieve these goals... but a definate good point brought up by PsiMalkavian...

It's always good as well that your character have a backstory... it's not necessary for you to become Shakespeare when writing it... just a few good points about your character are good... Something that both you and the ST can work with in order to not only work your character into the story... but to possibly throw a minor roadblock or two in the way of your character... ST's take note too however throwing two many roadblocks in the way of your players tends to make them think the ST is against them unless you've talked things out with the Player first...

That's all I can think up now as it is rather late... I'll probably think up more later...

Logan

This post has been edited by jadedeath: 13 August 2006 - 06:05 AM

[OffWhite Knight]

I would say that it boils down to having a goal for the PC that doesn't involve messing with/screwing over a bunch of other players.

Within that, have multiple goals, big and small. I mean, in my game, I just accomplished my major goal and one of my secondary goals. What else might I do if I didn't have other goals, including goals that arise based upon the actual gameplay (i.e. Carthians went from being ignored to being a prime enemy right now).

That also means not messing with other players. And I mean players, not characters. It's a given that a political game will have "winners" and "losers" in the sense that someone has to be Prince and someone has to be in the gutter. I mean players. Two examples, two different games, same player, both PCs are now removed and the player is being talked too. Requiem, he played a Morbus that just went around using his powers randomly. Masquerade, he played a Malkavian that just did the same thing, with no apparent purpose. Both times, he just pissed people off. Both PCs could have been cool, if they had a reason for screwing with other people.

Am I being clear or vague? I'm not really awake and I'm out of practice posting, so I'm not sure.

[Dolston]

Perfectly clear.

[PsiMalkavian]

Good point.

But in some players like that, sometimes it cannot be helped.

My brother falls into that catergory, but he tries. He tend to make goofy characters that can easily piss of players, and most do not have and goals. But he keeps coming back, full of energy. The St have said on many occasions that they wish all of there players had his energy.

We have tried to help him, even built characters and backgrouds he could relate to. That was probably his best character to date, because he understood the character. Sometimes those people need a guide. And of corse you can get those people that are just annoying.

So I agree with the statements of goals that will allow you to stay around, but for those that have trouble, I would just say see if they need help.

[Dolston]

So I agree with the statements of goals that will allow you to stay around, but for those that have trouble, I would just say see if they need help.

But make sure they get that help. And if they can not play within the conceits or the game then the player needs to be uninvited to the game. It is harsh but required if the player is harming the game.