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[KAM42]

A great bearded man once said that "Life is not determined by consciousness, but consciousness by life." I think this could be important here.

I think it's a really bad idea to try and decide who your characters are going to be before you experience their environment.

"This character is going to be a mass murdering thief, and a lunatic to boot. He will be desperately attracted to stealing vehicles and bitch-slapping anyone he sees." --> And then the character spawns somewhere on Aki - where if you don't co-operate, you die. Character and personality develop in response to the environment. Sure, if you want your characters to have history - that's fine (well, not according to the rules - but for discussions sake). However, it's hard to determine that history prior to seeing where your character is going to spawn. Using Aki again - "This character has grown up a vegetarian, as she adores animals." --> Yeah, good luck with that.

[Nosajimiki]

not everything done in character should be in your characters best intersts. If you preconcieve a vegitarian somewhere there is not edible plants, then she should be erked by and perhaps even refuse for many days apon spawning to eat meat, and never actually hunt for herself. Mybe this could lead to a strong desire for your charie to want to leave, or dislike her fellow citizens for excessive hunting or killing particullarly cute animals that she has a strong affinity for. I would personally love to play that kind of charie in a place that would likely kill her. I'd rather kill a charie in character than have them live by breaking it.

Also, keep in mind there are such things as genetic predispositions: homosexuality, retardation, speach empediments, violent compulsions, etc. IRL that are provably connected to your genetic make-up (and yes they are all provable). Sure, your inviornment determines how these things manifest themselves, but they will be there if you have them no matter what life you are born too. Cantr IMO is best played with this in mind, it is a society simulator and societys are on the whole, a reflection of genetics (look at lions vs. leapords).

For me, a proper character's preconceptions should be how he feels about things or what manner of handicaps/strengths not defined by the Cantr engine he might have. Starting off with relgious beliefs to me is OOC, but starting off with a strong interest in the devine nature of the universe or since of sceptisism about it, or even supernatural possesion is good. If i do change my preconeptions of a charie b/c of location, it's never for the welfare of the character; rather, it is b/c of a rare feature of his enviornment that would allow me to do something with him/her that I would not have otherwise been able to do (ie: join a religion, become a pirate/bandit, etc).

[Jos Elkink]

Yes, I really think it's a combination. If I start a new character, I know that character is going to be more business-like, or more military-like, or hungry for power, or very peaceful, or very hard-working, I usually know whether they will be kind or rude, etc.

But then when I play it depends on the environment, of course. You might have a power-hungry char who then experiences something so violently in the game that (s)he because totally anti-violence, and this totally changes how (s)he tries to get powerful, etc.

But some basic idea is, I think, nice, otherwise you really do get all those nice cooperative communities where everybody is the same .

[Phalynx]

Also, keep in mind there are such things as genetic predispositions: homosexuality, retardation, speach empediments, violent compulsions, etc. .

Way to go putting those things together!

I try and determine beforehand the base characteristics of a character before spawning they will respond in accordance with what is necessary to survive. EG my character that spawned on Aki (Alan Partirdge) was externally a paragon of virtue but murdered two people behind closed doors and stole nearly half the salt in storage in AJS before waltzing off with a boat, - getting the town's folk to help him drag the captain off after he had had a copy of the key made. He was a bad'un but had to superficially cooperate from day one.
This is in keeping with realliffe of course - the best sociopaths are never caught - and probably go into politics.

[Mykey]

In my opinion you commit an error. Let's discuss it. Write to me in PM.

[Jos Elkink]

I try and determine beforehand the base characteristics of a character before spawning they will respond in accordance with what is necessary to survive. EG my character that spawned on Aki (Alan Partirdge) was externally a paragon of virtue but murdered two people behind closed doors and stole nearly half the salt in storage in AJS before waltzing off with a boat, - getting the town's folk to help him drag the captain off after he had had a copy of the key made. He was a bad'un but had to superficially cooperate from day one.

Yup, that story really underlines my point - and is pretty much the kind of characters I really like. Including those that are really good of course, not just the bad guys ...