How do you feel about the level of character diversity you’ve experienced?

[Idea]

@Idea

Though, I suppose they might not be species, considering in most settings there are half-elves, half-orcs, etc. That means that they can reproduce and stuff, which fills the species definition.

@stone

True, but even in our world there are exceptions- classics like mules- to the species rule. Either way, as long as it gets the idea across it's probably fine.

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

@Idea

Though, I suppose they might not be species, considering in most settings there are half-elves, half-orcs, etc. That means that they can reproduce and stuff, which fills the species definition.

@stone

Technically if you wanna get scientific about it, if Elves, Orcs, and Humans etc. are all separate species, if they were to interbreed their offspring should be sterile, unable to reproduce, like mules for example. Assuming this is the case, given that there are some fairly dramatic physical differences between, say, Orcs and Humans, the chances of an Orc-Human hybrid having actual physical deformities, or developmental differences are extremely high and their lifespans will most likely be shorter on average.

BUT assuming any/all humanoid species can produce offspring that share their parents’ traits but are otherwise physically sound, would mean that technically they all exist within the same species, and their genetic differences are simply the result of some groups developing different genetic traits over time that eventually become the standard for that group. Think Great Danes vs. Shitzus, if we didn’t know all dog breeds are descended from a common ancestor we would probably think those two dogs are entirely different species. Technically a Great Dane and a Shitzu can reproduce viable offspring, making them the same species.

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

To further expand on the assumption that the species are individual species: in a setting where there is the possibility of half-breed characters to occur, those half-breeds would likely be treated very badly (for semi-viable reasons) by their respective societies, even though being a half breed is of course not their fault. It kinda brings a new weight to the trope of half-breeds being taboo but not otherwise suffering any actual genetic disadvantage.

[stone]

To further expand on the assumption that the species are individual species: in a setting where there is the possibility of half-breed characters to occur, those half-breeds would likely be treated very badly (for semi-viable reasons) by their respective societies, even though being a half breed is of course not their fault. It kinda brings a new weight to the trope of half-breeds being taboo but not otherwise suffering any actual genetic disadvantage.

@Raxacoricofallapatorius

I wonder if that's intentional - using the fantasy "races" to explore real world race conflicts and problems (interracial marriage, stereotypes, etc.)

[BangoSkank]

That's always struck me as an interesting idea Stone, but it's something that's hard to do without offending someone. I tried to help a guy do something like that with a "Fantasy Western" here once, but several folks posted just to say there were offended at the very idea and that it couldn't be done in a way that wouldn't hurt someone's feelings and thus shouldn't be done.

Shut down from the start...though to be fair his ideas ended up being a bit troublesome.

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

Oh I just thought of something else: almost all characters I’ve seen are classically handsome/beautiful. It makes me wanna create more unconventional looking characters, even straight up ugly characters.

[Idea]

<Snipped quote by Raxacoricofallapatorius>

I wonder if that's intentional - using the fantasy "races" to explore real world race conflicts and problems (interracial marriage, stereotypes, etc.)

@stone

Sometimes it's intentional, though even when intentional it's necessarily a good comparison. It's very different, say, for racist analogs in something like X-men to be afraid of the people they are being "racist" towards, than for actual racists to show xenophobia and the like. After all, it's different being afraid of someone for the color of their skin, versus being afraid of people who have the power to end all life on Earth on a whim.

At the same time though, I also can't stand it when people start attributing meaning to or interpretation of art, then claiming it is there when it is evidently against what the author wanted to express. It's one thing to point out that Beauty and the Beast resembles stockholm syndrome as a joke or a theory, it's another entirely to claim that is actually what is going on there and that the story is therefore problematic, when any resemblance to that is evidently incidental and not the point, or worse even, start making claims about the writer due to one's own imagined interpretation of the story.

[ayzrules]

........you know I definitely have a very distinct "type" when it comes to writing characters - all except one of my characters that I've felt are worth the time to save and re-visit are girls, and to quote my friend, I "makes either really really REALLY soft gorls OR like "imma rip you apart with my bare hands" badasses, there is no inbetween". Of course, there are outliers, but I think the majority of my characters can be classified as one of the two in some way, shape, or form, with a 3rd smaller but steadily growing category of girls who are "super extra/girly & sarcastic & spiteful"

Oh I just thought of something else: almost all characters I’ve seen are classically handsome/beautiful. It makes me wanna create more unconventional looking characters, even straight up ugly characters.

@Raxacoricofallapatorius

Also, I am very much guilty of ^^^^, because I get all my FCs from high fashion models who are usually considered good-looking (or at least interesting-looking) in some way

I think in general, though, it will depend on a combination of the RP setting and the players themselves. I think some settings might be more pre-disposed to having angsty loners, while others can encourage more variation. Like, if it's a mercenary RP, I wouldn't be surprised to see so many orphan/loner types, but if it's a SOL modern royalty RP, I think the nature of the setting in general lets people expand on character ideas more.

I'd like to see more ethnic variation

I think an interesting concept from another RP site that I'm on is how people make "pre-made characters" and assign FCs, to ensure diversity. The GMs aren't usually against people changing their FCs from the suggested/assigned ones, but they do always make a note that people shouldn't white-wash the RP. I'm not totally on-board with pre-made characters 100% of the time, but I don't mind being assigned an FC while also having the option to change if I want to

[pugbutter]

Oh I just thought of something else: almost all characters I’ve seen are classically handsome/beautiful. It makes me wanna create more unconventional looking characters, even straight up ugly characters.

@Raxacoricofallapatorius

The plainer/uglier the cast, the better the RP, every time, without fail. The ugliness directly improves immersion a lot because it builds a world where people look like people and not everyone is a 10/10 demigod Adonis, but it's also a big green flag: the players willing to suffer a little in the sex appeal dept. are almost always also giving their characters interesting flaws and quirks elsewhere. (Real quirks, not teehee snarky one-liners!!!) They're decidedly not there to play out a power fantasy or to expand their spankbanks, either, making for more balanced spotlight time.

Take care of the dudes playing goblins in your High Fantasies and old grandmas in your slice-of-lifes. They're the ones breaking from the three or four stock character molds per genre and actively trying to keep things fresh.

[Carlyle]

The plainer/uglier the cast, the better the RP, every time, without fail. The ugliness directly improves immersion a lot because it builds a world where people look like people and not everyone is a 10/10 demigod Adonis, but it's also a big green flag: the players willing to suffer a little in the sex appeal dept. are almost always also giving their characters interesting flaws and quirks elsewhere. (Real quirks, not teehee snarky one-liners!!!) They're decidedly not there to play out a power fantasy or to expand their spankbanks, either, making for more balanced spotlight time.

Take care of the dudes playing goblins in your High Fantasies and old grandmas in your slice-of-lifes. They're the ones breaking from the three or four stock character molds per genre and actively trying to keep things fresh.

@pugbutter

This tbh. I've been wanting to get into SoL more than I usually do yet I can't help but to groan when everyone winds up with "hot smoking/sexy magazine model #590458" as their FC. Yeah, yeah, escape from real life, I know, but I just struggle keeping interest in RPs like that.

[POOHEAD189]

Oh I just thought of something else: almost all characters I’ve seen are classically handsome/beautiful. It makes me wanna create more unconventional looking characters, even straight up ugly characters.

@Raxacoricofallapatorius

If you're beautiful irl though, it's all you know

[stone]

I wonder - does anyone else have a character archetype (so, something that is somewhat defined and common in media) that they rarely see in RPs?

I feel like I almost never see "Big Burly Manly-man with Family they love to talk about" at all.

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

<Snipped quote by Raxacoricofallapatorius>

If you're beautiful irl though, it's all you know

@POOHEAD189

U know I can relate to this ;o

Also, I am very much guilty of ^^^^, because I get all my FCs from high fashion models who are usually considered good-looking (or at least interesting-looking) in some way

@ayzrules

Oh I am 100% guilty too don’t get me wrong. It just never really occurred to me before that I could or would want to do make a character that wasn’t attractive less than visually perfect.

<Snipped quote by Raxacoricofallapatorius>

The plainer/uglier the cast, the better the RP, every time, without fail. The ugliness directly improves immersion a lot because it builds a world where people look like people and not everyone is a 10/10 demigod Adonis, but it's also a big green flag: the players willing to suffer a little in the sex appeal dept. are almost always also giving their characters interesting flaws and quirks elsewhere. (Real quirks, not teehee snarky one-liners!!!) They're decidedly not there to play out a power fantasy or to expand their spankbanks, either, making for more balanced spotlight time.

Take care of the dudes playing goblins in your High Fantasies and old grandmas in your slice-of-lifes. They're the ones breaking from the three or four stock character molds per genre and actively trying to keep things fresh.

@pugbutter

The direction of this thread made me change my newest character’s FC from

this

To

this

But all the personality traits are gonna still be the same. I already like him so much more.

[stone]

@Raxacoricofallapatorius

That's so cool that you changed up the FC!

I feel like this discussion has already helped me think more deeply about what I'm saying indirectly about each character.

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

Bye only being ugly, awkward, lovable characters from now on.

[pugbutter]

I wonder - does anyone else have a character archetype (so, something that is somewhat defined and common in media) that they rarely see in RPs?

I feel like I almost never see "Big Burly Manly-man with Family they love to talk about" at all.

@stone

Guilty as charged, I like the typical edgelord archetypes a lot. Namely sneaky-sneak assassin rogue thief bastards when they're played well, so basically when the "jerk with a heart of gold" emphasizes the JERK and isn't just an excuse for prettyboy romancebait to wear black. But I've played everything from a warlord who conquered an empire (and promptly got fat and cheated on his queen with busty elf maidens despite her being a wonderful person who didn't deserve it and their marriage being perfectly stable), to a cowardly history buff who fangirled over his favorite figures while said conquest happened around him, to a Minnesota Vikings fan who got contracted into hitman work entirely by accident, to a grumpy stoner who kept back-of-house running smoothly at a cringey maid cafe, so I guess I'll try anything?

I do wish more RP's accommodated non-combat roles. I've been denied before when trying to apply as another character's grandma who worries over his health and embarrasses him in front of the rest of the party and feeds them cookies. And that just makes me sad.

[ayzrules]

Oh I am 100% guilty too don’t get me wrong. It just never really occurred to me before that I could or would want to do make a character that wasn’t attractive less than visually perfect.

@Raxacoricofallapatorius

I feel that - I think that with this whole 'using-professionals-as-an-FC-business' (which tends to be a rule on the other RP site I'm on), it's impossible to find people who just look plain. There are plenty of high fashion models who wouldn't count as traditionally beautiful (Lili Sumner comes to mind), but they all have some aspect of their visual appearance that is interesting, because why else would they be models lol

And consequently, I feel like all my characters who look just kinda average came from before I started paying attention to the fashion industry

I wonder - does anyone else have a character archetype (so, something that is somewhat defined and common in media) that they rarely see in RPs?

I feel like I almost never see "Big Burly Manly-man with Family they love to talk about" at all.

@stone

I love that trope so much in books omg!!! But I agree - I don't see it as much in RP

I guess for me personally I love confident, bubbly girly-girls who also know their own self-worth, because in general I can't think of many examples from TV barring like, Elle Woods (I think? I've never seen Legally Blonde, which is a travesty, I know LOL)

[Dion]

To be entirely honest, why would I play an ugly bastard when I can play a really handsome dude? Live out the things you can't in real life, right? ... right?

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

@Odin It’s really just about preference, I think. There’s nothing wrong with beautiful characters. My take is that everyone makes beautiful characters and it’s just gotten boring for me.

[spicykvnt]

My thoughts, if you're playing an 'ugly' character chosen from a faceclaim to simply go against the grain, you're doing it for the wrong reasons.

Play the character you want to play. The one that's running around in your brain begging you to bring them to life in a story - whether they're a trope, beautiful, ugly, an alien, a microbe idk. Play the character that makes your soul sing, and write them well.