Roleplaying » Discussions


Discussion: To plan or not to plan?

Tags: #ZonnoSpark  #RP Guide 
  • Member
    November 19, 2016

    I'm sure many members of this group plan their characters to perfection - using some of the many resources available here to make the perfect charcater. And a lot of the time, in fact the majority of the time, I'm with you.

    But sometimes writing can be long and tedious, and you lose interest in your character. This is why a second option, rarely explored, at least in this group, is great - just letting your character flow. No planning, very little or no backstory, just bung a character, a template, in Skyrim, and develop it along the way.

    Both of these options have merit, and I for one find both very enjoyable. But which is your favourite and why? Never tried one option before? Well people, get persuading! Everyone should try both options at least once, as both offer a unique RP experience.

  • Member
    November 19, 2016
    I have done both many times but ... The planning is the best part! Sketches, drawings, outlines, drafts of backstories, reading lore ... I do these almost more than I play the actualt game. I love conceptualizing a character and then executing. That way I don't feel like I am wasting time.
  • Member
    November 20, 2016

    Henson said: The planning is the best part!

    I think that's the problem I have - I spend so much time conceptualising a character and reading lore surrounding it, that'll I'll stumble upon an idea or article that makes me want to play something else, and there I go again! It's strange, but not planning a character is sometimes the only way I'll actually play it.

  • Member
    November 21, 2016

    I faced a huge problem in that I had a character all planned to perfection. Ancient Nord in concept, a volva-type. Went Stormcloak for that Nord vibe, hunted an ice wraith to prove might and all that. Then kept the crown for a while. Did Burning of King Olaf. Then The Wolf Queen Quests. Saw Elisif's position in a new light, felt affinity for the people of Solitude. How then does she now hand the crown over to Ulfric? In the face of all that spirit on display, all that humanity exemplified in the Jarl of Solitude, Ulfric's cause no longer seems as just.

    Do I now go with a conflicted character, someone who realises they may have been mistaken? Or scrap and start over. Play an Altmer?

  • November 21, 2016

    One of my most played characters was a young Nord Thief. Until that point, I had never tried a pickpocket so I just made the character and chose he was Erik's friend via Alternate Start mod, then jumped right into the Skyrim. After a while, I was already amazing at pickpocket and sneak so I was thinking yeah, maybe I will join Dark Brotherhood why not. Then I started to play Rigmor of Bruma mod which I literally thought payment is good and maybe I will get to assassinate few people. I was so wrong. After that, the story of gameplay turned to how Eden became a legendary hero from a thief. 

  • Member
    November 21, 2016
    All of my favorite playthroughs have ansolutely no planning whatsoever. Problem is i have a habit of creating interesting characters and then i drop the character after 5 minutes.
  • Member
    November 22, 2016

    Then I started to play Rigmor of Bruma mod which I literally thought payment is good and maybe I will get to assassinate few people. I was so wrong. After that, the story of gameplay turned to how Eden became a legendary hero from a thief.

    Cool that you went with it, Ryo. That's how it's done! What's Rigmor of Bruma, though?

    All of my favorite playthroughs have ansolutely no planning whatsoever. Problem is i have a habit of creating interesting characters and then i drop the character after 5 minutes.

    You should get that sorted Mirric. Maybe even share some of these characters as profiles or screenshots :)

     

  • Member
    November 22, 2016

    Phil said:

    I faced a huge problem in that I had a character all planned to perfection. Ancient Nord in concept, a volva-type. Went Stormcloak for that Nord vibe, hunted an ice wraith to prove might and all that. Then kept the crown for a while. Did Burning of King Olaf. Then The Wolf Queen Quests. Saw Elisif's position in a new light, felt affinity for the people of Solitude. How then does she now hand the crown over to Ulfric? In the face of all that spirit on display, all that humanity exemplified in the Jarl of Solitude, Ulfric's cause no longer seems as just.

    Do I now go with a conflicted character, someone who realises they may have been mistaken? Or scrap and start over. Play an Altmer?

    Conflict of interest is always hard for me, but it always makes a more interesting character that's easier to relate to, at least in my opinion, so I'd definitely keep going. And being a Nordy Nord who loves Solitude is quite refreshing but not unrealistic considering it's importance in the province. The question to ask is will Solitude be better off with or without Stormcloak control? Because if it is, taking it over might be a necessary evil for long term prosperity.

     

    Mirric said: All of my favorite playthroughs have ansolutely no planning whatsoever. Problem is i have a habit of creating interesting characters and then i drop the character after 5 minutes.

    This is where the planning argument comes in I think. Giving your character interesting quirks and a reason to play is a really good way to stop rerolling. But if you don't want to plan a character much, keep an eye on this group. Me and Sparks have something in the works that should be just the thing.

     

    Ryokoichi said:

    One of my most played characters was a young Nord Thief. Until that point, I had never tried a pickpocket so I just made the character and chose he was Erik's friend via Alternate Start mod, then jumped right into the Skyrim. After a while, I was already amazing at pickpocket and sneak so I was thinking yeah, maybe I will join Dark Brotherhood why not. Then I started to play Rigmor of Bruma mod which I literally thought payment is good and maybe I will get to assassinate few people. I was so wrong. After that, the story of gameplay turned to how Eden became a legendary hero from a thief. 

    Can't claim to know much about that mod, were you planning to play it or was it something that developed your character in game (assuming that you played the mod with the same character).

  • November 22, 2016

    Phil said:

    Cool that you went with it, Ryo. That's how it's done! What's Rigmor of Bruma, though?

     

    It's a very heroic mod fits so well in Skyrim. Some people doesn't like it because of controversial scenes now and then. To me, it was the most amazing gaming experience I have had. 

    Can't claim to know much about that mod, were you planning to play it or was it something that developed your character in game (assuming that you played the mod with the same character).

    Not at all. Pickpocketing was a skill I have never mastered before so my only goal was to make a pickpocket. I found the mod midplay through and it was a great challenge. Mod's creator used normal Skyrim person for war limit to its fullest. I was not even combatant so I had to make my pickpocket and sneak legendary and used those perk points. 

     

    It's Skyrim SE edition coming up I think and mod author said the fights are going to be even bigger.

  • Member
    November 22, 2016

    I mostly develop my characters while playing. I only plan the name, appearance (in both I put A LOT of time) and armor/weapons but the personality and backstory is developed afterwards. I also have that 'ritual' going on, where I would change the appearance of my character one last time with the 'showracemenu' command when I arrive Dragonsreach. I would add scars if the character had a tough fight (ex: in Bleak Falls Barrow), change the tattoos or change the hairstyle.

    A good example is my Wood Elf Glaenriel Greenleaf. She had a green tattoo covering her face but when I arrived at Dragonsreach I removed the tattoo. Originally the tattoo symoblised her faith in Y'ffre and the Green Pact but she abandoned Y'ffre and so she removed the face paint as symbol of being free of the Green Pact.