Help for a new RPer

[lem]

Okay, so I'd like to get involved in some RP for the first time in my life and I have some questions.

1) I'm working on a char sheet, and it's not coming very easily. In particular, I am having trouble describing my character. Specifically, his clothes are a problem to me. I have no idea how to describe what he's wearing. Here's what I picture it looking like (no this is not the character, but the clothes are about right): www.clydecaldwell.com/large_images/wyverns_spur.html (The guy, not the girl. No dragon on the chest)

2) My character isn't a noble, but his father's job was basically to act as a mediator and sometimes representative for nobles. Is there any job that that sort of duty describes? It's a little important to my character's back story, and I want an easy way to sum that job up.

3) I want my character to exist in the Dragon Court world. That brings up a couple issues:
i) Where do I say he is from?
ii) Is it okay for him to just have the magic powers he has in game (use of gems, mandrake roots, f;ash powders and panic dust, hypnotize, and resistance to mind control)? I want him to be a fairly weak magic user.

4) Is a Rapier an acceptable weapon? I want him to know how to fight "honourably" as his father would have taught him from his time with nobles, but don't want him to be a great warrior or anything. However, I'm a little afraid this will leave him with a broken sword all the time facing down guys with broadswords.

5) I want him (and his entire family line for that matter) to have access to a magical "device" called the Shadowgate (that's also his family name). I want it to be something he actually has to travel to to use, and all it allows is for him to communicate with all of his ancestors (good and bad, powerful and weak, important and unimportant) from the last few thousand years for advice/ solutions to problems. It will be helpful to him, but not infaliable (as his ancestors can still be wrong). Can I give him access to something like this, or is it too much?

Thanks for any help.

[Raistlin]

1) Best description I'd say: Tan pants, white tunic and black cape. Any other items are to be added as sub weapons, or special items. The design of the cloths is mostly left to the imagination of the reader. Don't want to be to detailed, or it won't be as fun.

2) His father could be titled as a Royal Liason, or Royal Court Confidant. Anything that would lable him as trusted by nobles. Not many peasants are.

3) Home towns can be made up. To reference to the game you can state that the town is just beyond the forest, or on the other side of the mountains. For your abilities you can have whatever suits you. RP is all about imagination. You want to stick to DC? You won't be the first, or last to do that. If you check some of the char sheets you will see players basing their char sheets after TV characters and even some that have DC related gear. However you want it to look is fine.

4) You can either have an enchanted rapier that won't break, or you are skillful enough to avoid attacks instead of block them with your sword. You just have to use what you have properly. Everything works.

5) Everything is accessible. One thing to keep in mind though is if you have something that you go to and use others in the RP might follow you there, or drop in and mess with it. It'd be best to have it hidden somewhere difficult to find, or have a way that only you can get to it.


Hope all that helps. If you need advice again just ask. We're all here to help. Look forward to seeing you active and playing. Have fun.

[lem]

Dec 16, 2008 14:43:05 GMT -5 Raistlin said:

5) Everything is accessible. One thing to keep in mind though is if you have something that you go to and use others in the RP might follow you there, or drop in and mess with it. It'd be best to have it hidden somewhere difficult to find, or have a way that only you can get to it.

Thanks for the help.

As for point 5, unless the person to find it were extremely powerful, it wouldn't really matter if they found it. It is tied to the Shadowgate bloodline (and only then to those with the family name), so for it to work for anyone else is highly unlikely. Then, even if it did "work" for them, the ancestors of the Shadowgate family would hardly give advice to someone not of their line.

I suppose a very powerful mage could somehow bring it under his/her control, but that'd have to be a very powerful mage. Then I would have to wonder why so great a mage would be interested in doing that, when it would be easier to get the information they need by influencing a member of the family.

[Raistlin]

So you trying to say something? Like I'm gonna want to take over your little Shadowgate! I have the vision of the ages. I wouldn't..... wait... you just was saying...... oh, never mind. HAha I was just kidding there.... I.... wouldn't...... so anyway, glad to help. Just wanted to make it clear that you might have someone follow you, or mess with things. Thought it would be good to let you know the best way to figure in this gate you should put a twist to the gate so that you are able to control the access better. Just to let you know I'm probably the greatest mage that will RP. I would be glad to help you get through an RP if you'd like.

[Chaos Creator]

Yeah, as Raist has pointed out, pretty much anything goes in our RPs.

Also, going back to your weapon of choice, a rapier is perfectly acceptable. And it's not necessary it be enchanted, either. There are particular parries designed to break the incoming force of larger heavier weapons. Not only that, but your character could possibly wield a second weapon to suppliment the rapier, though I'd say it would need to of a shorter length to prevent the blades from hitting each other. Either a dagger or short sword...