OOC : Helidor in Turmoil - Still a WIP!

[Knerd]

Feel free to use this thread in order to discuss everything that's happening within the country of Helidor.

[Maneki Neko]

With regards to features determining someone's fate in life, how many of the features determines what one does? And how specific is the job description?

For example: If a person had roughly equal amounts of "farmer" and "doctor" features, would they get to choose between the two? Or would they by default become a veterinarian (since it has aspects of both) or whichever of the two there was more of a need for?

Is it as specific as, "You have mostly these features, so will be a scientist. Specifically studying plants." or would it be more of a, "You have the features of a scientist. But it's up to your personal interests whether you study plants, animals, chemicals, etc."

Mostly curious just for understanding how the religion works. :3 I'm also curious about the clergy and how they are set apart from the other citizens. Or if there are specific clergy and it's not all just set into the customs of the culture.

I'm considering playing the king, but I'm dithering between the king, a clergy member, or some sort of merchant/craftsperson.

[Knerd]

If a person had roughly equal amounts of "farmer" and "doctor" features, would they get to choose between the two? Or would they by default become a veterinarian (since it has aspects of both) or whichever of the two there was more of a need for?

I think that the second option there is most likely. That way all of a person's features would be considered. So "good with healing" and "good with agriculture" would turn into a veterinarian or apothecary. Something that works together to combine all their skills. The person won't have any choice in the matter, so it's more about where there is a need for them and how the elders choose to assign them.

Clergy are still open to debate, so they can move in nearly any direction that you want them to. I figure that at least one portion of the clergy is assigned to vigilance and policing in order to keep an eye on the population, while others dedicate themselves to studying the human body and being trained in the art of identification/assigning.

[Maneki Neko]

Super interesting. >o<

I'm going to sit on it at least until I get home from vacation, because the setting sounds cool but I won't really have the opportunity to give it proper attention until I get home. :3 I mention that mostly in case someone else expresses interest in playing the king - I don't want to call 'dibs' if someone who's able to play sooner wants to take on the king. xD The world is full of interesting options and it'll be hard to choose even with a few days to let ideas turn in my head. :3

[Knerd]

Well jump in whenever you're set! I'd like this role-play to be rather large-scale, so the more people the better.

[Maneki Neko]

I'm adopting the King, since no one else has grabbed him first. :3

I'll work on a bio draft for you sometime tonight. If you have anything you'd like to suggest to me for him, let me know. xD I have a few ideas, but nothing really that I'd be disappointed if you suggested something else over. xD

[Knerd]

I only ask two things - Keep him albino and limit him to the castle for the beginning of our game. All the rest is up to you.

[Maneki Neko]

Easy enough. xD Happy with both things.

My concept is based on your comment (...somewhere. I'd have to re-read the information provided tonight <_< ) that the king was taken away from his parents when he was young. That, paired with them having little or no contact with the outside world has sparked the idea of "The Palace of Scions" where candidates (albino children, which would be rather more frequent in a closed off society the way Helidor is) are taken to be raised as possible kings and queens and their heirs if they don't end up with children of their own.

When I was thinking of where I'd take the king's story, if I got to snag him, was a stray 'comment' in my head about the king leaving to visit "the alabaster garden", which I thought would be his little slightly bitter joke. I didn't quite know what 'the alabaster garden' might be, but thinking it over, it made sense that there would be one or two children a generation that would also be albino, if we assume that the king being albino is a physical quality that makes him eligible for the throne.

(I also had the idea that in the cases where there were no albino candidates, a regent who had the darkest skin possible would be put in place - sort of to emphasize how the regent was there only temporarily.)

Just my thoughts. xD If you have any thoughts on those, I'd love it. xD I've got several tasks on my plate before I'll be able to get to bio writing. @_@

[Knerd]

Sounds like you've got it all under control.

I like the idea of a regent or advisor having the darkest skin in the country. That gives a nice contrast for power and would be fun to play around with, especially if you would want to explore having them both be opposite personalities. Maybe someone else will want to take up that character!

I've created another character for when more people join up and we get a plot moving. His name is Adir and he'll be the owner of the Neckwood Tavern in the city center. Treat him like an NPC - If you're not sure what you're doing or if your character needs more information about what's going on around the country, stop in the Tavern and talk to this guy. He'll gossip with you and give away the right info when you need it.

[Maneki Neko]

I also like the idea of advisers having dark skin by way of one of their necessary qualities. That would leave it open for anyone wanting to play a character actively seeking power... Oh ho. That would be wicked fun. :3 But not something I could play out myself as it'd just be me playing against myself and since I can anticipate my own actions and rarely miss my own cues, it'd be pretty one-sided. 8D

But I'm glad you're cool with the idea. xD I sort of lurked around without editing his bio without knowing you were down for it. xD So since I woke up at omg in the morning (not really), I'll work on it now. :3

Adir looks awesome. :3

---------- Post added at 04:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:35 PM ----------

Updating to say that I've written in his profile... practically babbled, actually. D:

[Chalice]

Hello

I was just wondering if there's a guide that says what a person's features would mean or could we put whatever features we want for a character with a job that isn't as important as those found in the castle?
I'd really like to join this..uh..game/rp and I'm hoping to make my character a messenger who came from a family of farmers =3

[Maneki Neko]

Chalice - I'm not Knerd, but so far it seems pretty open insofar as what the features mean/do.

I know so far that dark grey eyes are meant to mean you have great hearing.
Freckled skin is one of the indications you'll be good at farming.

In my character's bio, I've stated that albinos with red/pink eyes are meant to be thoughtful/gentle rulers and albinos with amber/yellow eyes are meant to be active/energetic rulers (though it's possible that amber/yellow eyes may just be an indication of an active/energetic personality).

Albinos are scions/potential monarchs of Helidor while having extremely dark skin is one of the qualities looked for in a regent when there are no albinos to choose from.

I think that's all that's established so far, though. xD But I'm sure Knerd could give you more information. :3

[Knerd]

Welcome aboard Chalice !

Yep, Maneki Neko is right - We'll make a guide up as we go along, so you have a pretty good amount of freedom right now. Use pretty much whatever features you like and just let us know what skills/talents you want them to be associated with. If your character is going to be a messenger, that means you'll pretty much be able to decide what characteristics are associated with things like speed or memory.

In fact, I'll start writing up a basic guide now. We're starting to get more people and interest, so it might be time for an easy-to-read table, haha.

My character is guard in the castle dungeons who has grey eyes (for good hearing), pale skin and straight dark hair. Someone who lives their life in the village or farmland might look quite different, but feel free to expand on any of those traits if you can find a way that makes sense for both our characters.

[Knerd]

And a basic guide is up! Just look at the Overview tab in the "Helidor in Turmoil" RP: http://www.wtfrpg.com/forum/showthre...pgtab=overview

It's pretty basic, but maybe it will give everyone ideas about how to plan their characters.

[Maneki Neko]

Looking good. :3

[Aerion]

Bwa ha ha, I come bearing questions as people will likely learn I most often do. Any way first thing, This is my first post ever, wee! This rp was so intriguing that I couldn't resist jumping right in with several questions. As I was reading, I came up with a TON of questions, so these are going to come rather free flow and I may miss some and ask them later. I'm going to number them, though, to make answering them easier. Let's see, where to begin:
1- In reading the current character bios, I have seen several traits already taken with no specifics about them yet. This may need to be answered by the other players, bt before making my own character I'd like to know what, for example having black hair means. I only say this because I don't want to upset some one by making up 'fated traits' of my own for existing physical traits.
2- How do 'affected' physical traits change things if at all? That is say some one has naturally pale skin darkened by the sun or dark hair bleached blond by the sun. Even more drastically, could some one use say ash to darken their hair or pinch their cheeks to give them a rosy color to aim for particular jobs? This concept brings to mind such practices as asians who bound feet for beauty or the practice of using make up for politics in the real world to give a better idea. Would there be penalties if they were caught intentionally changing things?
3- Approx what is the age of maturity? I was considering playing a character who's future job was just assigned and was uncertain from what I had read whether that would happen close to twelve, sixteen, or older.
4-What happens if as above some one shows multiple traits, but they are contradicting? Say some one who shows signs of being good at both an inside job like record keeping and an outside job like hunting.
5- gosh I know I had more questions, but in elaborating on the above I seem to have lost the others lol. Sorry about that, but thanks for considering what I have so far ^.^! I don't want to make a character until I have a thorough enough understanding of the world and setting, but I'm generally excited about the concept and already considering a wealth of characteristic possibilities.

[Maneki Neko]

1 - Knerd just posted a brief guide on character traits (click on "Overview" and then click the "Click here to view more info" button and scroll down to "Characters").
Right now, black hair isn't associated with anything in particular, so you can make it up if you wanted to say people with straight, smooth-textured black hair are this or that or that it's one of the traits associated with being good at something. :3

2 - 4 - Interesting questions that I can't personally answer. :3 But I'm sure Knerd will be by tomorrow. :3

5 - Excited to have another player interested. :3 I've been hanging off on making my first post so I could see what other sorts of characters signed up so I could put the king somewhere he might be interacted with for a bit. xD

[Knerd]

Hooray for first posts! Welcome aboard.

1. Check out the Overview link that Maneki Neko posted - Several traits haven't been explained yet, so you're pretty much free to expand on them however you like. It'll be fun to work out how they're incorporated into each character and shared by everyone. As long as you don't claim a trait as something completely ludicrous, then feel free to design your character however you like. I'll update the guide once you've settled on an appearance/personality and we'll all build the character guide together.

2. Every citizen is originally evaluated at a rather young age, so it would be based upon their appearance then. If certain traits are emphasized by their works (muscles, skin tone, hair, etc), then that would be associated with their work/personality too. Let's say you're a farmer - You'd probably have tanned skin and freckles from working in the sun all day. Even if you were only barely tanned and freckled as a kid, everyone would know that you were rightfully assigned your job when those traits became even more prominent as you get older. It isn't as if someone would completely transform with age. Even if they did, that would be an exception to the rule.

And I love your idea of using methods to alter your appearance! It's not something I thought much about. It's logical that a person would be shunned and possibly taken away if this were discovered, but someone might be able to keep up with the ruse for quite a long time without it being noticed. That sounds like a fun concept to play with, especially if anyone here wants their character to be a rebel or spy.

3. Puberty is going to be a bit different for everyone, so think of as the time of a girl's first menstruation and when a boy's voice changes. 12-14, perhaps?

4. That's when it's handy to have a well educated clergyman doing the evaluations, haha. The official religion would say that there are no contradictions, only complements. A person with all different traits would be assigned a job that either manages to incorporate them all (a hunter and record keeper could work in the military as a scribe or battle specialist), or they would be chosen to work in the field that they are most leaning towards (which would probably end up being the place that needs them the most, like if there is a shortage of hunters that year).

5. Questions are fun! I love talking this stuff, I enjoy world building just as much as roleplaying itself.

[Maneki Neko]

With question 4, I have the idea that the tiniest of details would be the deciding factors too, perhaps? Like how in the original write-up it says things like nostril width and fingernail strength play into it, I'd expect that it'd be "tie-breaker" more than the cornerstone of someone being placed somewhere. xD

But I'm speculating. :3

[Knerd]

Everything little thing would be taken into consideration. The largest and most obvious things, like hair color and skin tone, would be the first things that are evaluated, but every feature would come into play somehow. It's likely that the tie-breakers would just be final little deciding factors.

[Aerion]

I was considering playing a character who's hair was some how colored, possibly from birth by his parents to sway the judgement of his placement in life. I was thinking it would me much easier to go darker with thinks like ink and soot and the like worked into the hair from and early age, but I noticed a few characters with black hair already. I read the traits that have been listed but also read all the character sheets and want to give people a chance to claim all the existing traits first >.> he he. Any way my concept is a young character who's assignment is based on a falsehood about his physical appearance from early life. He knows that what he has been tasked to do is a lie and yet, it does fit his personality and so may make him question the current standards. I plan on giving tons of trait details once I know what is accounted for is out there and I won't ruffle any feathers.

[Knerd]

Hair can also be naturally lightened with things like lemon juice and sunlight, or maybe even turned red with beet root. If you don't want to have another black haired character, do one of those other changes sound appealing?

Don't even worry about ruffling feathers. We'll just do it first come, first served, haha. Claim whatever you like and I'm sure there will still be more than enough to go around.

[Aquaticus]

Ideas ideas ideas ideas! Green eyes, deceptive; white hair, clever; thin frame, bad for heavy labor? These okay?

[Knerd]

Sure, your plans for green eyes and white hair sound great. But for thin frame, instead of "bad for heavy labor," can we turn that into something positive? How about a thin frame indicates something along the lines of upper class, intellectually motivated, or cerebral? Someone with those qualities probably wouldn't be forced into manual labor.

[Aquaticus]

Sounds good!

[DaCheneySpecial]

Questions... Questions everywhere...

1. When it comes to "Distinguishing Marks", how much detail are you looking for? I'm thinking my character will have several tattoos and over a dozen scars. Do you want me to describe the tattoos now and let the other characters try and incorporate them? Or would you prefer that this information was added in as the story progresses?

2. How specific are you wanting traits to be? Is it mixed? Are some traits very specific when looking at jobs whereas some are more general and discuss personality traits?

3. For traits, do they all need to be positive? I saw the conversation above and realized I may need to nix some of my ideas. I'll just post them here and see what your thoughts are.

Dark Brown= Fighter. (Not really happy with this one. I'm trying to figure out how to word it. I think you get the idea though.)
Tanned, Naturally= Outdoorsmanship.
Hazel= Impaired or lack of emotions.
Tallest= Superior physical aptitude.
Strong Jawline= Gifted with animals.
Tongue-Tied= Lack of academic ability.

If you don't like any of these, I'll be glad to adjust them as desired.

[Jinx]

I am in love with the idea of this roleplay...
I'm working on a character idea... It's going to take some time for me to develop it the way I want to. But I just wanted to say hi (so hi there!) and let you know I'm floating around.

[Knerd]

1. That's entirely up to you. I just added that into my character's profile as a sort of "Anything Else?" detailing. You can always let us know where the scars and tattoos are and let their shapes come out along with the story, or vice versa. Whatever feels more comfortable.

2. The larger or more noticeable the physical trait, the larger and more noticeable the character trait will be. Skin color, for example, will most likely have the greatest impact on your character's personality. Eye and hair color would be next on the list. These will probably be more general and broad descriptions. Things like the shape of your thumb knuckle will just be a tiny detail that may not even be discussed, so they can be very very specific if you want them to be.

3. The only reason I say "positive" is because you can't define a person based upon what they are not. If a long nose means "not artistic," for example, then that doesn't tell us a whole lot about what the person is actually like. They could be a potato and not be artistic. But if it were to mean "rational thinking," then we've got a stronger description to go by.

You plans look really great, but maybe we can tweak the skin tone and tongue tied a bit better. Instead of fighter, maybe have that become "aggressive" or "hot headed"? Or "vigilant"? Their career could end up being some sort of fighter, but we want to be able to find some sort of adjective that a fighter could be described with.

And what do you mean by tongue tied? Does your character have a stutter? I think that would be a pretty awesome addition, but not so much of a physical characteristic. Maybe you can pick something more visually apparent and have that mean their academic ability.

And hey there Jinx! Don't feel rushed, take as much time as you need in order to plan out your character. I think that planning is going to be the toughest part here, haha. It'll all be smooth sailing once we work out this physical/character religious guide.

[Psymoski]

hey, liking the rpg...just a quick question...i was looking at all the ooc posts and i see a lot of things that are asking what one trait vs. another trait could mean, but i was wondering if we made the character, would we already know what they are, i.e. their job, or would we make a character and then we would then be told what they do?

[DaCheneySpecial]

Thanks for clearing that up. I'll be sure to keep that in mind as I continue.

NEW NUMBERS! WHOO!

v2.1 I had written all of this out when I accidentally hit the backspace button and the page refreshed itself and logged me out. Stupid gorilla hands...

1. I'm trying to make "tanned skin" a characteristic of Hunters, Rangers, Lumberjacks... Boy Scouts basically. Is there a preferred way you would have me describe it? Since there is a very limited number of skin tones, I'm also trying to gather similar occupations together. Currently attempting to find the link between woodcraft, carpentry, metalworking and mining...

2. Tongue-tied in this sense is referring to the medical condition of "Ankyloglossia". Depending on severity, the tongue is limited in mobility or stuck to the floor of the mouth. Maybe the "Guidelines" state that if you couldn't speak, you had nothing intelligent to say because you're stupid? Something along those lines. Ankyloglossia can sometimes be fixed with a quick snip, which is what I'm planning on doing to my character. I'm thinking this would cause a change in his "Fate", which in turn affects his opinion on the religion.

3. Originally I said, "Tallest= Superior physical aptitude." However, what if I switched that definition to "Athletic/Muscular"? I know it seems obvious, but I will explain that in 4.

4. I was thinking about the religion itself. Freckles = Good farmer. That seems pretty off the wall, but if it's true, that bolsters the religion. However, if they said, "Athletic/Muscular= Superior physical aptitude", that's pretty obvious. A persons physical aptitude is strongly based on their biological capabilities and their mental capacities(proprioception, CNS, etc.) However, an athletic person will generally be able to develop skills in physical activities faster than their out-of-shape counterpart who has an aptitude for it. So it would make sense if someone looked at a child and said, "Hmm, he has a strong looking musculature, he'll be good at hard labor." It doesn't take "Fate" to figure that out. Which could lead to questioning the religion.

I'm starting to ramble, I'll end it here.