Ew Speaks! On Powerful R P G Characters
Entry posted by EmperorWhenua
349 views
Theory: Makuta in the BZPRPG are overrated, a simple tool for the unskilled RPing newbie to suddenly have an uber-powerful character with minimal imagination used on the character profile.
EXAMPLE:
Name: TerrymaxGender: Male
Species: Makuta
Alignment: Evil
Appearance: A makuta
Faction: Himself
Weapon: A sword
Powers: Makuta powers
Biography: A makuta who goes around killing people and making chaos
Hey, dude, guess what! That's sooo cool!! You have a Makuta! So what! He's just a Makuta, just an overrated piece of gas in a carapace, just an overpowered and did I mention unoriginal character. And you think you're so kicktooshie with your Makuta, eh? Think again. Doesn't take much to teach you that your Makuta < my Ussal, if I use my crab well enough.
I have nothing against having powerful characters, but it's when there's nothing special about it, nothing that sets it apart from the rest, nothing that makes your Makuta your Makuta, it makes me wanna slap ya.
I have a Makuta character. Am I a hypocrite? Anything but. My Makuta is very much an original being, and... Well, take a look for yourself:
Name: Caedast (or just Caed/Cade)Species: Female Makuta
Moral Alignment: Chaotic Good
Appearance: Being a shapeshifter, she can take up many forms. Her "default" form, however, is deceivingly attractive. She is slender and tall and has a pair of wings on her back that can become completely hidden when retracted. The armor she wears is fluid and aerodynamic, flowing, and her fingers are thin and pointed, painted with blood red tips. Her body is burnt orange with silver armor pieces. Her Kanohi changes shape as she transforms, though she usually makes it resemble a streamlined Jutlin without the ugly cheeks and mouth.
Faction: Bad Company
Weapons: Generally doesn't make use of weapons, since she has enough power to destroy her enemies without one. However, she does carry a set of daggers in slots in her armor which she can use for anything you can imagine a dagger to be useful for.
Mask: Kanohi Gantras, Mask of Power Inhibition. It can target a single power of the target and render it completely ineffective for a limited amount of time. However, it can not negate elemental powers.
Powers: Full Makuta powers and Kanohi.
Biography: Caedast is unique in that she never did evolve past needing a physical body, and as a result, still needs to rest and air. Thankfully, however, she knows how to use her adaptation powers to great effect to overcome these issues, though is not exempt from them. She is regarded as a warrior and an assassin, and does her job very well. She has no loyalties save for herself and delivering pain and destruction, and spends a lot of time hunting the hunters-- bounty hunters, mercenaries and others. While she respects toa for their duty and loyalty, she has absolutely no qualms with tearing them apart.
Lately, however, he has shown some degree of heart and benevolence. How deeply this will affect her in the future, however, is subject to debate.
She lacks a decent backstory because she killed the last person who tried to make a biography of her.
What's special about this character? She 1. Is a girl, 2. Isn't made of antidermis, 3. Has a custom mask power, 4. Has a detailed appearance, 5. Has a nice personality summary, 6. Has some character development, and 7. Features a witty phrase at the end. And she has a mature person playing as her. I use my Makuta carefully, and I know she has limits. Not to mention I'm known for detailed and canonical playing. As such, she, the Makuta, was called one of the best Makuta created, which made me very pleased.
And this doesn't just apply to Makuta. Not in the least. Everybody should learn three things:
1. Make a unique character and spend some time on it. Make it detailed and make it unique.
2. Make sure your character has limits. I have no qualms with an uber-powerful character. I have a friggin reality warper character that could probably kick Haruhi's butt in a fight, but I make sure even she has her limits.
and
3. Pay attention to detail all over. Don't go over the top, listen to your RPing comrades, and if you have doubts about something, don't do it.
I guess all three of these could be summed into one single, Golden Rule of RPing, one which we should all know, or at least know references to. Heck, we're on a site devoted to the stuff. Lego. Leg Godt. Play well.
The Golden Rule of Role Playing is simply and eloquently put: Play Well.
Follow that rule, and your gaming experience, as well as mine and everyone else's, will be a thousand times more enjoyable.
Thanks for listening to this 3-AM rant. xD
~EW~
9 Comments
Recommended Comments