Characters you actually connect to?

[Xander]

I guess in Cantr it's not uncommon at all for a person to get so into their char they see everything from their point of view and just can't let it go though.)

Yeah, the character I became emotionally addicted to would write notes (that I made uneditable so they couldn't be destroyed) that were basically hyperbolic self-pity parties and designed to make a certain group look bad. They actually treated him pretty well, but in the months after his death, and I have to admit even up until the present day (mainly when I'm tired/stressed) I would daydream about him being treated far worse than he really was. I can't remember most of what the notes contained, which is a good thing, and I hope no character of mine ever comes across them.

The sad thing is, I've lost characters who were far more interesting and fun to play than he was, and yet they are barely ever thought of or really remembered.

Actually, one of my characters has read some of them this past week, and they didn't have the negative effect I was worried they would have on me, although I have been thinking about the living character's future because he is on the same island and there are a few similarities. As I described the dead character in a PM, he was a bit of a prick. A self-pitying prick.

Another person also talked in PMs about OOC influences, and pretty much all of my attachment to that character was because of OOC influences.

[Shaderon]

It's really fun to evolve. I realize that - at any time - another character with dark and demented goals could potentially cut my character's life short, but that's part of the excitement.

Yea kinda like real life without the physical risks.

[Joshuamonkey]

One reason Cantr has so many emotions involved at least for me is because even though it's just a game, the players are real people, and that's what I like about Cantr. Even though you can act out personalities different than yourself, your characters still represent you to some extent, even if subconciously or without realizing it. For example, the last time, and I think the only time this past month, that Cantr upset me emotionally was when I had inadvertently upset another character who had known my character for many years, and he swore at my character. I still don't understand why and to be honest I felt bad as a person for upsetting another person and for their response.
Though I'd also be sad for game-related things like if all my character's resources were taken, but I find that that effects me to a lesser degree than person to person issues.

[Pingzite]

Sometimes I allow my emotions to flow into my characters (More specifically my main character) I seem it allows me to create more realistic roleplay with more feeling, longer and more thought out than the normal stuff I see.

[Marian]

No, no, you see, if you're not posting at least twelve lines of text every time you do anything, you're not a good roleplayer. It's just not possible. I know what I'm talking about, I've seen a few of our actually good roleplayers in action and taking turns trying to one-up each other these last few days. And I wanted to kill myself. Or maybe just them...

[Pingzite]

Of course, I do only mean when that sort of thing is required, I don't expect people to write paragraphs detailing how they eat fish for example (Although I have seen that).
I'm just saying that when its a good situation too, letting your own emotions help out seems to do well..

[SekoETC]

In the past I had this feeling like I had to write at least 3 lines per turn in intimate situations or I felt like it wasn't good enough, leading into spending at least half an hour per post, making the whole thing advance very slowly. But nowadays if I don't feel inspired to write that long, I just write what first pops to mind, at least it advances the situation.

But back on topic, I think I currently connect to almost all of my characters, at least on some level. I know their personalities, and they often didn't turn out the way I originally planned them. For example, one was supposed to make no commitments, and be an easygoing person, yet he grew up to be very loyal and occasionally broody, also careful about not hurting anybody's feelings. Another one started out as very timid and cute, but later became very outspoken and sort of ugly. Some people don't age very gracefully.

[Chroma Key]

No, no, you see, if you're not posting at least twelve lines of text every time you do anything, you're not a good roleplayer. It's just not possible. I know what I'm talking about, I've seen a few of our actually good roleplayers in action and taking turns trying to one-up each other these last few days. And I wanted to kill myself. Or maybe just them...

This, lol... and this should go into what annoys/puzzle you thread: When the said 12 line post about... say... making clothes, etc, is posted, then god forbids, every member of the whole town doesn't fall over each other to praise that char's skill or something, then the char has a huge fit about not feeling appreciated.
Back on topic, I have a deep connection with just one of mine, and that's more than enough for me. The rest aren't on the same level, at all.

[NancyLee]

I've seen awesome walls of text and I've seen walls of text that made think that the player probably was bored as hell and decided to write as much as (s)he could only for the sake of typing. Long paragraphs don't imply necessarily good rp for me. There's very good rp'ers who are pretty laconic and can convey things concisely.

I tend to reserve them for private rp with players that seem to enjoy them as well and get more concise when rping in the middle of a town or with a large group, partly because of shyness and partly because there's enough sleepers already to contribute putting people to sleep myself.

As for connecting, I find it was easier for me to connect with my own characters in the past; not only connect but really get into their shoes (I had one I loved to rp when I was having a bad day, because she was so calm and easy going that her mood leaked in me and used to make me feel better). Right now I don't think I have one single character I feel particularly attached to from an "emotional" point of view.

[Marian]

^^^what's really fun is when two of these over-the-top RPers get together. Just standing right there in the middle of town spouting pages and pages of text at each other about whatever resource they're collecting and how sexy they are while they're doing it, and no one else can get a word in edgewise. It's as bad as the radio, and at least you can switch the radio off without hurting its feelings.

I know their personalities, and they often didn't turn out the way I originally planned them.

This is me, every single time I try to make an evil char. Because of course they can't spawn and then immediately start rubbing their hands together and cackling. So I give them traits that can easily be twisted into something dangerous with the right trigger. But then somebody always has to come along and start being really nice and supportive and ruin all my carefully laid plans. And weirdly no one ever seems to be that friendly towards my genuinely good characters.

My best candidate right now I'm having just barely interact with anyone, hopefully they can remain unspoiled by friendships or a conscience while they get together everything they need.

[NancyLee]

^^^what's really fun is when two of these over-the-top RPers get together. Just standing right there in the middle of town spouting pages and pages of text at each other about whatever resource they're collecting and how sexy they are while they're doing it, and no one else can get a word in edgewise. It's as bad as the radio, and at least you can switch the radio off without hurting its feelings.

I always thought whispers were meant, among other things, for that. But I guess I'm not too much of an exhibitionist. In some cities it feels for me like characters there are more interested in playing the prima ballerina and fight hard for the spotlight than in to blend and just add to everyone's rp with their own personalities or quirks and enjoy the group letting the rest throw their two cents. Well, to each their own, matter of tastes.


You two brought something I find very interesting: why is so hard (at least for me) playing a lawful evil character? I am unable of not letting the environment mould their personalities and... bang!, all your plans and schemes for a meanie get ruined and you end with a chaotic good, so to say. I should put this in a "things that annoy you about your own roleplaying" thread.

[Marian]

You two brought something I find very interesting: why is so hard (at least for me) playing a lawful evil character? I am unable of not letting the environment mould their personalities and... bang!, all your plans and schemes for a meanie get ruined and you end with a chaotic good, so to say. I should put this in a "things that annoy you about your own roleplaying" thread.

Somebody really should make a thread like that, I'd definitely have a few things to post.

As for the other issue...I know this term gets thrown around too much, but I really believe it in this case; it's the dolls and their tea parties! Everyone is just too sweet and polite. Or they're a sociopath biding their time, but still polite. But either way, politeness is strictly enforced. Try to play a character that's a little prickly, has a quick temper or is just a good old fashioned jerk, and you'll get shut down by all these horrified biddies before the page even has a chance to refresh. In the current environment the utter sociopath is just about the only type of evil character that will be allowed into a position of power, and...well that's another rant entirely, but let's just say I'd take the porcelain tea sippers over that kind of player any day.

You have to play nice to get anywhere, and in most cases, if your character is capable of emotion at all, everyone being nice in return for all those years will rub off on them and make them as you said, chaotic good, or at best maybe lawful neutral.

[Pingzite]

I've had an experience with a sociopathic character recently and while they pulled off the explosion of evil really well. I really wish they gave some hint of their evil intentions beforehand, I've noticed this is a pretty similar case across most "evil" characters, since the slightest part of evil normally causes heavy rage or odd reactions..

Makes me want to go make a full on evil character, who follows the law until I want him too, but who is a dick to everyone..

[Marian]

I've noticed this is a pretty similar case across most "evil" characters, since the slightest part of evil normally causes heavy rage or odd reactions.

I've been annoyed by that type of character many times, for pretty much the exact same reasons. The instantaneous Jekyll and Hyde impression is just too easy to pull off in a text game where anyone can seem completely trustworthy as long as they type *smiles* a lot.

But at the same time it's that environment of strictly enforced politeness that kind of forces them into it. A single negative facial expression in even the busiest of towns can suddenly put you under all kinds of scrutiny...and the times I've tried to play a completely law-abiding, even helpful character that just happened to be a jerk, they were either threatened with imprisonment or driven out of town within a year. You can't even play an active, involved citizen of a town who occasionally criticizes the way things are run, the slightest sign of negativity and people will turn on you in a heartbeat.

Sometimes I feel like Cantr should be the subject of some kind of social studies paper. It really is interesting when you've played enough that you can sit back and recognize the patterns as a situation develops.

[NancyLee]

I think that depends mostly on the place you spawn in or live. True that the general tendency is the care bear style, but I've seen some jerks, really enjoyed some of them (although my characters not always liked them) and played my share of jerks myself and never got one character killed by another player, that I remember, or imprisoned except one of my most jerkish jerks and he was only a remand prisoner for 3 or 4 days because someone died while being alone with him and they wanted to find out if he was involved. Still, he doesn't count as evil, he was law abiding and pretty hard working, but he had a really big mouth.

The chances of success for a jerk depend, in my opinion, on the place you are and on if the jerk is enjoyable to interact with, most of all. I remember a girl spawning with a really smartass and derogatory attitude in a place with non edible resources and, what annoys me oocly (yeah, I think I have a problem with this), with the "I won't bother in working in anything at all, you all have to feed me even if you're struggling yourselves to eat because I just deserve it" air. Needless to say that she starved.

I'm totally off topic, sorry!

Edit to correct: I remember now I actually had one character killed by another, but he didn't even have time to be a jerk and wasn't intended to be, he just spawned while the only three townsfolks in sight were having sex and he got slaughtered. Without a "hey hello" or a "wanna join us?" Poor thing XDD.