I enjoyed reading this!
I used to play RPGs the same way as the guy in the video. I wouldn't roleplay blank slate characters. I would just "play as myself" and select choices I thought I would do if I were in that situation. This was until I got super into Dragon Age.
One day I wanted to try playing an "evil" character and finally play out the other options I never picked in my handful of playthroughs (yes, I had been picking the same exact choices each time lmao). Of course I had to invent a character for this scenario. What I ended up with was one of my favorite PCs ever. He didn't end up being completely evil because as I progressed through the game with him he developed more nuance than a "pick the bad option" machine. I really couldn't just be mean to everyone and If I wanted to do "nice" quests I would, and gave him a reason for it, which helped develop his character even more. I loved him and the experience so much that I couldn't go back to not RPing blank slate characters!
I agree about playing set characters being the more passive RP experience. I can make up inner lives for them, but that's something I'd do more outside of the game rather than while I'm playing it. When a character comes into my hands with a hard motive and personality already established the choices I make more affect them than they affect the choices.
And what's a character directory? I'm guessing a masterpost of character biographies? Sounds interesting.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2021-03-07 05:51 am (UTC)I enjoyed reading this!
I used to play RPGs the same way as the guy in the video. I wouldn't roleplay blank slate characters. I would just "play as myself" and select choices I thought I would do if I were in that situation. This was until I got super into Dragon Age.
One day I wanted to try playing an "evil" character and finally play out the other options I never picked in my handful of playthroughs (yes, I had been picking the same exact choices each time lmao). Of course I had to invent a character for this scenario. What I ended up with was one of my favorite PCs ever. He didn't end up being completely evil because as I progressed through the game with him he developed more nuance than a "pick the bad option" machine. I really couldn't just be mean to everyone and If I wanted to do "nice" quests I would, and gave him a reason for it, which helped develop his character even more. I loved him and the experience so much that I couldn't go back to not RPing blank slate characters!
I agree about playing set characters being the more passive RP experience. I can make up inner lives for them, but that's something I'd do more outside of the game rather than while I'm playing it. When a character comes into my hands with a hard motive and personality already established the choices I make more affect them than they affect the choices.
And what's a character directory? I'm guessing a masterpost of character biographies? Sounds interesting.