Character Creation

Welcome to #Broken_Dagger! If you're ready to join in our stories, adventures, and tales, we only ask that you read the following standards. The first list are the guidelines we set upon character creation, while the second is an optional list of helpful starting-points that may assist you in better constructing your character.

Firm Guidelines

All new players should read the following questions and answers to achieve a preliminary understanding of player expectations in regard to characters. If you still find yourself confused or unsure, please feel free to message an Operator in the channel or talk with some of the players in #BD_OOC, our out-of-character chat room.

Where to start?

The #Broken_Dagger is first and foremost a "low fantasy" milieu. There are fantastical elements, but they are uncommon enough to be generally regarded with awe, wonder and suspicion. For new players, erring on the side of simplicity when creating a character is best. We firmly believe in upholding the realistic tone of our setting, regardless of its fantasy qualities.

What races can I play?

Myrken Wood and surrounding regions are predominantly populated by humans. Other fantastical races - elves, dwarves, halflings, minotaurs, etc. - are known, but present as a minority. As a broad guideline the more strange, exotic or monstrous a race, the more likely they are to receive reactions ranging from curiosity and fascination to fear and loathing. Typically “villainous” races such as orcs, trolls, dark elves or vampires are unlikely to be welcomed with open arms. This doesn't preclude you from playing an antagonistic or villainous character, but we believe that even “evil” characters should have a firm sense of motivation and purpose behind their villainy. Our setting thrives more on profound interaction than outright violence.

WHY IS THIS? Characters in our setting (especially NPCs) are expected to behave rationally, for the most part. When confronted with a character who seems strange or potentially dangerous they will react with wariness, fear or aggression, and players intent on introducing such characters should bear this in mind.

What about power levels?

Our channel has played host to a range of characters at varying power levels, from peasants to masters in their particular field of interest. So that characters with great power do not overshadow characters without, we insist that powerful characters face firm constraints and limitations to their capabilities. The more potent a power, the more difficult or demanding it should be to use. Perhaps it is exhausting or injurious; perhaps it requires very specific conditions; perhaps it requires extensive preparation; perhaps it can only be used in moments of extreme duress; perhaps it has a very tightly-defined effect. This does not mean that your character cannot have amazing powers, only that such talents and abilities should be offset by comparable constraints or consequences.

When giving your character powers beyond the realm of normal human ability, please bear in mind:

• The use of special powers should never be a casual matter.
• The use of special powers should expand story possibilities, not close them off.
• The use of special powers should be considered a narrative last resort; often, when faced with an in-character situation where that power could be administered, consider its consequences and whether or not its incorporation would be suitable.

You will find that most every extant character has an element to them which is uncanny or curious -- but these are not widely stated or commonly revealed in-character except in extraneous circumstances. Of course, characters are not required to have any secret qualities, but we recognize that characters must first be interesting for you to write before they can ever be interesting for others to interact with.

WHY IS THIS? High-power characters pose a number of concerns. In terms of storytelling, characters using fantastical powers for routine applications can dilute the sense of wonder that such powers should evoke, and the incredible becomes commonplace or even boring. Additionally, characters with such powers run the risk of overshadowing characters without, thus denying other players the opportunity for interesting roleplay. Compare “The villain is defeated with the wave of a godling’s hand,” with “The villain is defeated by commoners who rose to the challenge, embarked on a perilous quest and discovered strength and bravery they never knew they had.” Which is the more interesting story?

How will my character grow?

We aim to foster an environment where characters make new friends, develop strong alliances, establish believable rivalries, and ultimately develop through their shared experiences. Your character’s ability to grow or be altered by the events in #Broken_Dagger is perhaps the most essential aspect of your character. Be willing to allow their mindset to change over time; be ready to let the setting and other characters negatively and positively affect them.

WHY IS THIS? Winning is not nor should it ever be the roleplayer's sole goal in this setting: characters make dire, frantic, even destructive mistakes; sometimes they disappoint themselves and those who care for them. Most of all, they are empowered to overcome their fears, their flaws, and their inadequacies, whether for their own betterment, for their survival, or for their personal ambitions.

I still don't feel like I know what kind of character you want...

Imagine that our setting, in regard to themes, tones, and form, lingers somewhere between Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones (but do keep in mind, these are only potential inspirations; we do not allow copyrighted material here). Characters should not exist merely to be the vessels of flashy powers; they should live, breathe, laugh, suffer, be challenged, challenge others, and seem realistic and believable.

Charater Creation Advice

Freeform roleplaying has as much in common with writing fiction as it does with roleplaying games - as such, try to consider your character not so much as a list of traits and abilities as an actor in a story. Their path is not determined by the roll of a die, but by choosing a direction that offers the most narrative satisfaction. The following guidelines are not strictly-enforced rules, but provided to help you create a character who will be enjoyable to play in the Broken Dagger.

Pick an archetype

Fantasy literature is full of archetypal characters: cunning thieves, grizzled soldiers, proud barbarians, and downtrodden peasants. Usually these archetypes can be summed up in a couple of words, and can give you (and other players) a handle on your character’s basic identity. Is your character a talented tradesmen, an adventurous warrior, or a clever con-artist? Have they lived a simple life, an eventful one, or is their past littered with traumatic experiences? Develop a firm foundation for your character’s basic identity. This may change depending on your character’s race (are they human, or are they something more fantastical?). Consider how your character fits into the setting, and what role they occupy that may not be otherwise filled.

Give it depth

Archetypes are a start, but don’t have to be the entirety of your character. Give them traits beyond the immediately visible that either support or subvert the archetype. Give them a trait that’s not immediately obvious - a secret, or something about them that would be surprising to learn.

Decide on an origin

Is your character from the local area? Are they from a neighbouring province? Are they from further afield, a true foreigner? While the setting around the Broken Dagger - Myrkentown, Myrken Wood and the Amasynian Peninsula - have been defined by player activity over a span of years - the world beyond the Peninsula has been left deliberately vague. There is room for all sorts of homelands, from the prosaic to the truly exotic. Whatever your character’s origin, be sure to establish how they found themselves in Myrken Wood, and why.

Establish strengths and weaknesses

Because the pulse of roleplay in #Broken_Dagger is driven by written interaction, incorporating flaws and weaknesses into your character is essential. Flaws give depth to a character’s struggle against adversity. Perfect characters are perfectly boring; characters with prejudices, negative idiosyncrasies, or elements that detract from their wholeness are far more exciting to play and observe. Check out a few of these websites if you need help generating a flaw for your character:

• http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CharacterFlawIndex
• http://tokyocentricity.webs.com/generators/character.htm
• http://www.springhole.net/writing_roleplaying_randomators/character-flaws.htm

Likewise, characters should always offer some kind of value to the setting around them. Strengths and talents do not need to be overt - not every character needs to be a prodigious swordswoman or a powerful spellslinger. Understated strengths often provide more nuance to the setting and bring more uniqueness to your writing. As a general rule, avoid thinking in extremes. People as we know them are not all fearless knights or cruel villains. If your character lands somewhere between those two, you’ve likely found an effective starting point.

Determine motivations, drives, purposes, and secrets

Based on your character’s origins, racial predispositions, cultural influences, and history, other motivating factors will begin to naturally appear during character creation. Does your character have an ulterior goal or purpose? What makes their figurative clock tick? Do they harbor a secret they fear might damage their reputation?

Quickly summarize

When introducing a new character, defining them to yourself - and others - using only one sentence is a good guideline for knowing you have just enough. If you find it difficult to reduce your character concept to a lone sentence at their inception, consider cutting needless fat from their persona to better complement the collaborative quality of the channel.

One last reminder

Remember to avoid playing the all-powerful and all-knowing. Be willing to compromise your character’s morals and motives. Likewise, expect to inspire the same for other players, If you’re looking to more specifically define your character for your own knowledge, fiction-writing tools such as character sheets (http://www.epiguide.com/ep101/writing/charchart.html) are extremely useful, but not necessary. If you have any further questions or concerns regarding character creation, don’t hesitate to talk to other players or ask for guidance and assistance.