Restrictions on character names? (And Skill Rolls)

[ipsissimus]

Can you use the name of a character that you created and had published? Granted it may be a very minor NPC in a module, I work with Sean K. Reynolds.

[Aux]

Again, if your that creative why not just think of a new name?

My new char is going to be called Sollevyn Discourager.

[ipsissimus]

Meh.

Fair enough.

I think my next character will be called "Syll Aux'oven the Discourager'er" (snickers)

[Aux]

Do it!

[GodBeastX]

One thing that annoys me is obvious evil names. If people have obvious evil names, I think they should automatically be subject to random evil searches.

For example:

Be'Elzebub <-- Random search
Alucard Deathkiller <-- Random Staking
Nemesis Darksword <-- Yeah, you're on the list too buddy!

etc etc

[Blue_Wyrm]

On the other side, I like putting in the Examine info of my characters if Paladins and Blackguards can detect Evil/Good into them (because it's an on-sight ability in P&P, thought it would be fun to mention). Up to now I haven't seen anyone metagame on this (as in, reacting without having the class). Or maybe nobody does Examine. I know I do it on everyone I see! ^^

[GodBeastX]

On the other side, I like putting in the Examine info of my characters if Paladins and Blackguards can detect Evil/Good into them (because it's an on-sight ability in P&P, thought it would be fun to mention). Up to now I haven't seen anyone metagame on this (as in, reacting without having the class). Or maybe nobody does Examine. I know I do it on everyone I see! ^^

This is bad practice and likely people are saying you shouldn't do that.

Paladins AND Blackguards both have detect evil/good as feats in Sundren. Alls you are doing with this is giving Paladins/Blackguards reason not to use them, or people who aren't either the ability to know your alignment stuff which encourages metagaming.

In fact, I think I should make a post reminding people.

[Blue_Wyrm]

Oh, well I didn't know Paladins and Blackguards really had a Detect clicky on their bars. Ah well. I'd edit my description except I think it's permanent once written?

[sparkeh]

I know that this is going a bit off topic but just picking up the Bio point.

I've seen other things in Bios that (personally I think) shouldn't be there. Things along the lines of 'Her presence intimidates you' or 'You cannot fail to recognise that she is a Paladin' or perhaps worse of all 'Has a CHA of xx.'

I mean if you want to intimidate me then lets roll for it and we will see if you do.

I think that Bios should be restricted to physical traits that are apparent, eg scar on face or a limp or something, not things that you have no idea whether others will think or feel about.

[GodBeastX]

I think CHA XXX is perfectly fine in a Bio. In fact, I wish I could force everyone to put CHA XXX in their bio. I noticed alot of people use CHA as a dump stat, and don't do even a bit of work to show people "This character has a social stigma." Since Cha is many forces at work, placing it in description makes sense to me.

What I don't like to see in Bios:

* RP for more info <--- This is the worst one, I might deduct XP for it.
* Background stories <--- How would anyone know this?
* Default Description <--- Yawn!!!!
* Blank Description <--- Closes eyes and goes to sleep
* How the person thinks <--- Cuz we can read minds?
* Things he often does "Bob loves to go out tracking" <--- yeah, we know this because?

What I do like to see:

* Charisma. People can react how they want to this. I think it's important personally. Sometimes people have trouble RP'ing Charisma, sometimes people take Jerky characters' actions OOC. If they can see the why, they can better react. "Ohhhh, he has a scowel, and charisma of 6 in his description. I see why he treats people like dog crap now."
* Outward Personality Traits like "Often seen with a scowel" or "Has a Julia Roberts Smile" Works for me!
* Physical Defects or things that are very noteable. Scar above right eye, walks with a limp. Has bad breath, etc.
* Tattoos, people complain "But I can't see them with armor on!" Durrr, when he is shirtless you might see them! Do I gotta hold your hands?
* General Features

[undeadsteak]

I know that this is going a bit off topic but just picking up the Bio point.

I've seen other things in Bios that (personally I think) shouldn't be there. Things along the lines of 'Her presence intimidates you' or 'You cannot fail to recognise that she is a Paladin' or perhaps worse of all 'Has a CHA of xx.'

I mean if you want to intimidate me then lets roll for it and we will see if you do.

I think that Bios should be restricted to physical traits that are apparent, eg scar on face or a limp or something, not things that you have no idea whether others will think or feel about.

I once remember on a server a player walked around with emotes of the such:



*Has 18 cha.*



*Gives 18 cha smile to man.*



*Seems beautiful because she has 18 cha.*

[sparkeh]

I think CHA XXX is perfectly fine in a Bio.

Well I can see where you are coming from but having any stat in a Bio makes me cringe. Just RP it. But hell its not my server anyway

What I don't like to see in Bios:
...
* Blank Description <--- Closes eyes and goes to sleep
...

Ouch, guilty as charged, and now I think about it I have no idea why I do this! Shame you can't change the Bio after (but that would be cool to alter your Bio as you go along).

...
*Gives 18 cha smile to man.*
...

I just love that one!

[dashminus]

What I don't like to see in Bios:

* RP for more info <--- This is the worst one, I might deduct XP for it.

Ouch. Of all the things that one could be docked points for, this one seems pretty harmless.

* Background stories <--- How would anyone know this?
* Default Description <--- Yawn!!!!
* Blank Description <--- Closes eyes and goes to sleep
* How the person thinks <--- Cuz we can read minds?
* Things he often does "Bob loves to go out tracking" <--- yeah, we know this because?

Agreed on all of the rest.

What I do like to see:

* Charisma. People can react how they want to this. I think it's important personally. Sometimes people have trouble RP'ing Charisma, sometimes people take Jerky characters' actions OOC. If they can see the why, they can better react. "Ohhhh, he has a scowel, and charisma of 6 in his description. I see why he treats people like dog crap now."
* Outward Personality Traits like "Often seen with a scowel" or "Has a Julia Roberts Smile" Works for me!

Would have to disagree here. I would rather see a person try to their best ability to RP what they think their stat is, rather than list it for all to see. The problem I always end up seeing is the difference of opinion on how a certain ability score should be represented. I RP my 10 CHA a certain way. You come along, look at my Bio and see I have a CHA 10 and dont think I am RPing it right. What then? In your case, you might just god-zap a persons score to fit what you feel it should be. It is your world, you can do that. But a fello player would have to accept it or avoid that person. Either way, I agree that some people have trouble RPing CHA as well as WIS, but more becasue we all have our own ideas of HOW it should be played.

* Physical Defects or things that are very noteable. Scar above right eye, walks with a limp. Has bad breath, etc.
* Tattoos, people complain "But I can't see them with armor on!" Durrr, when he is shirtless you might see them! Do I gotta hold your hands?
* General Features

In general, I agree here. Though the comment about tattoos might be iffy. If my character has a Tattoo, maybe for a secret organization or a family crest or whatever on his chest, when is anyone going to see that? My characters do not run around shirtless, much less without their armor on. So unless I am in an Inn in a room or the bathouse, noone is going to see it. But forearms, face, neck, and hands are reasonable. Otherwise, a person could RP it in the RARE event they are running around Sharannan Hills without their shirt/armor

[Poor_Otis]

This is bad practice and likely people are saying you shouldn't do that.

Paladins AND Blackguards both have detect evil/good as feats in Sundren. Alls you are doing with this is giving Paladins/Blackguards reason not to use them, or people who aren't either the ability to know your alignment stuff which encourages metagaming.

In fact, I think I should make a post reminding people.

You should also remind people about leapfroggin. I witnessed it again today without any RP or acknowledgment of folks ahead of the froggers. I've also seen other times lately. It's great the server is full again, but sometimes you get the good with the bad. Maybe folks need gentle reminders every so often...

[edit] And oh yeah - is there any way for players to edit descriptions? if not, is such a thing possible?

[Rhifox]

I think CHA XXX is perfectly fine in a Bio. In fact, I wish I could force everyone to put CHA XXX in their bio. I noticed alot of people use CHA as a dump stat, and don't do even a bit of work to show people "This character has a social stigma." Since Cha is many forces at work, placing it in description makes sense to me.

Personally I don't like it. I hate being forced to react to a *stat* instead of the character. In my opinion if you want to play a high-Cha character, then you should be able to act it. Just because someone has super high cha doesn't mean I'm going to act like they have 'presence' if they don't know what it means to have 'charm'.

I personally consider Alignment, Cha, Bluff, Diplomacy, and maybe Intimidate as pointless stats in an RP world where the characters are directly speaking to one another. In direct dialogue, you either are charming or you're not, it's not something you can convey one way with a stat and another way with your RP, and personally I'd ignore any bluff/diplom/cha rolls a person makes if they aren't able to convince me by their actual words and actions. It is bad RP when one uses a stat to make up for their lack of ability to roleplay.

There's also the fact that cha encompasses a lot of things and that a character with high cha may not always be in their 'comfort zone' where that cha actually plays into effect. My own character is like this, in that most often she's very quiet and observant, but when she really gets going can be quite persuasive... the same person can seem like a low cha person or a high cha person depending on what kind of situation they're in. I made my cha score based off what I believe I can do, and hope that my score matches what I do, rather than make a cha score first and then try and fail to meet it.