Imagine you envisage your character as being extremely powerful in X ability. You chug along for a while, waging war and wooing women and flaunting X ability. Suddenly, you get into a fight and you unleash your X ability, totally confident in your ability to destroy the opponent. But your opponent does something odd.
He laughs at your puny trickle of X ability and then proceeds to write five paragraphs of how he is actually the true master of X ability.
When the angry typing settles and the last of the reports have been exchanged, you are left wondering....
where did things go so horribly wrong?
This is a problem I have often seen and encountered in roleplaying. Your view of your character is not necessarily shared by others. There is in fact more to the dynamic of player to player interactions, especially in combat, than just people throwing walls of text at each other. In fact, you may have even wondered how it is that one character might be proclaimed by half the board to be the most powerful in X ability, yet a small sect continues to insist that character W is truly the master.
These are my observations on the components of duel dynamics and interpersonal power struggles. Our very own Star Wars Chaos; Zero Sum Gain.
There are three main facets to the Power Scale - Skill Level, Jackass Level, and Movie Moments. But before we can get into those points there is an underlying foundation to all this that must be clearly defined.
Perception.
Roleplaying, like it or not, is all about perception. If people don't think your character is powerful, they won't treat him like he is. So, how are perceptions formed?
1. Skill level: the most basic building block of the power scale is a writer's skill level. Typically if a writer is not very skilled then those reading will either write the character off, grow frustrated, or attempt to help the writer's character out. It is rare for a writer with a low skill level to have a character who is regarded as a top level duelist.
Usually, an accomplished control of prose garners respect from the audience. They don't even have to like you or your character OOCly. All they have to do is read your post and acknowledge that paragraph Z belongs in a novel somewhere.
Now, this isn't me bashing on new writers, or those who struggle with grammar. When I first started roleplaying I wrote in run on sentences with weirdly placed quotation marks and absolutely no spacing in between paragraphs. I like to think I've improved a little since my days as a 16 year old writing a jocular Scout Trooper, but the point is that we've all been there.
My first role-play post:
Regardless, skill level is an integral part of forming people's perceptions of your capabilities as a writer. The better you are at writing how badass your character is, the more like people are to believe that your character actually is one.
But even skill level can't save you if you go off the deep end. Which is where we get to the second point of perception building.
2. Jackassery
No matter how well you write, or how cool your character concept may be there is a line drawn in the sand very similar to the Hot/Crazy scale. If you cross that line and take ten levels in jackass, nothing can save you.
I've seen many capable writers on roleplaying who start out likable and then when they figure out what they can get away with turn into inflated ego balloons that try to push everyone else out of the room. I know I'm definitely more guilty than most on this account, so I can speak from experience.
If you become too much of a jackwagon it's game over. People are more likely to believe the badassery of the OOC nice guy who sometimes struggles with grammar than the dude who can write 3k per post but ends up monologuing to an empty room about his own greatness.
Again, it's about what you can get away with. Piss off too many people and you'll find out sooner or later that it's your character who is getting #TeamRoflstomped.
That said, if you mix a low skill level with browbeating, stubbornness and unwarranted egotism... well, you're just putting a big bullseye on your back.
3. Movie Moments
Maybe you are a great writer and not a terrible person. Maybe your character is legit. But how exactly do you go from having a sort-of-powerful character to having that character widely regarded as one of the most powerful in X lightsaber form or ability on the board? It's in the movie moments.
If you do something shocking, something truly impressive that the whole board can get involved in or witness.... that's when people start to look up and notice "Oh hey, isn't he the fellow that beat Z and D?" This can get you points in the infamy department even if you don't feel your writing skill is up to par.
So, if you're wondering why it seems like there are two versions of your character (one in your head and the other defined by other players), then take a step back, assess what you need to work on, and then keep an eye out for your movie moment.
It is also important to remember that there are a variety of cliques on the board, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Cliques are a group of writers who have found like-minded individuals and prefer writing with them more than others. Boohoo, we all do it. Our entire board is based around factionalism for crying out loud. I'll take that level in jackassery, thank you. Anyway, cliques really do exist and perceptions over one character's abilities can greatly vary from one to the other. But it tends to be that if you satisfy all three of those perceptual components the ebil clique on the other side will at least give a smidgen of grudging respect in between dark mutterings and threats of reports.
However, keep in mind that even if you achieve all three perceptual components, you might go against someone who is simply more well-respected, a better writer, or had more movie moments.
In conclusion, these are just my observations on the reasons for the jeers and cheers of OOC onlookers when two characters of a similar rank fight.
Let's hear your thoughts and opinions on the matter. What is your perception on... perception?
He laughs at your puny trickle of X ability and then proceeds to write five paragraphs of how he is actually the true master of X ability.
When the angry typing settles and the last of the reports have been exchanged, you are left wondering....
where did things go so horribly wrong?
This is a problem I have often seen and encountered in roleplaying. Your view of your character is not necessarily shared by others. There is in fact more to the dynamic of player to player interactions, especially in combat, than just people throwing walls of text at each other. In fact, you may have even wondered how it is that one character might be proclaimed by half the board to be the most powerful in X ability, yet a small sect continues to insist that character W is truly the master.
These are my observations on the components of duel dynamics and interpersonal power struggles. Our very own Star Wars Chaos; Zero Sum Gain.
* * *
Shorn's Power Scale:There are three main facets to the Power Scale - Skill Level, Jackass Level, and Movie Moments. But before we can get into those points there is an underlying foundation to all this that must be clearly defined.
Perception.
Roleplaying, like it or not, is all about perception. If people don't think your character is powerful, they won't treat him like he is. So, how are perceptions formed?
1. Skill level: the most basic building block of the power scale is a writer's skill level. Typically if a writer is not very skilled then those reading will either write the character off, grow frustrated, or attempt to help the writer's character out. It is rare for a writer with a low skill level to have a character who is regarded as a top level duelist.
Usually, an accomplished control of prose garners respect from the audience. They don't even have to like you or your character OOCly. All they have to do is read your post and acknowledge that paragraph Z belongs in a novel somewhere.
Now, this isn't me bashing on new writers, or those who struggle with grammar. When I first started roleplaying I wrote in run on sentences with weirdly placed quotation marks and absolutely no spacing in between paragraphs. I like to think I've improved a little since my days as a 16 year old writing a jocular Scout Trooper, but the point is that we've all been there.
My first role-play post:
2nd Lt. Tycho Shorn sat in the ship, going over the briefing in his head
'Eight men.....dead or alive. Recover any evidence. Don't let anyone see you kill or capture them. Easiest way would be to.....well there isn't going to be an easy way to this. Pose as the officers during an interview?....that was a job for Arkin'
He smiled and looked over at the man sitting next to him, Rick Arkin. Rick was Shorn's best friend and the best Melee combatant Tycho had ever seen, it was natural that Shorn should bring him along.
Arkin was twirling those wicked looking beskar blades he had " Whats up sir?"
" I was just wondering how best to deal with the targets." Tycho replied sighing. " This Isn't going to be an easy mission. Besides they have already jumped planets, things are already going wrong."
" You got that right sir." chuckled Rick, his crooked grin spread across his face. " I have a feeling they won't come out with their hands up and be good little prisoners." Arkin threw a blade up in the air, and caught it by the pointy end, his twin cybernetic fingers unharmed " Well, at least they're good for something."
" I hope you brought your blaster too?" Shorn jokingly questioned.
" Elek, Ret'ini sir." Arkin replied. Tycho chuckled, the cold grip of ice on his heart unclasping for a moment. He looked over at the other troopers on board. Young PVT Nikolis Sigovich was busily cleaning his gun and Corporal Spyker Katarn was on board too, in fancy new armor.
'Where'd he get that? Must be for the mission.'
Seargent Martin, Pvts Lu, Mac, and Aner were also there. His face lit up with the usual cold smile.
'Looks like this is gonna be fun'
'Eight men.....dead or alive. Recover any evidence. Don't let anyone see you kill or capture them. Easiest way would be to.....well there isn't going to be an easy way to this. Pose as the officers during an interview?....that was a job for Arkin'
He smiled and looked over at the man sitting next to him, Rick Arkin. Rick was Shorn's best friend and the best Melee combatant Tycho had ever seen, it was natural that Shorn should bring him along.
Arkin was twirling those wicked looking beskar blades he had " Whats up sir?"
" I was just wondering how best to deal with the targets." Tycho replied sighing. " This Isn't going to be an easy mission. Besides they have already jumped planets, things are already going wrong."
" You got that right sir." chuckled Rick, his crooked grin spread across his face. " I have a feeling they won't come out with their hands up and be good little prisoners." Arkin threw a blade up in the air, and caught it by the pointy end, his twin cybernetic fingers unharmed " Well, at least they're good for something."
" I hope you brought your blaster too?" Shorn jokingly questioned.
" Elek, Ret'ini sir." Arkin replied. Tycho chuckled, the cold grip of ice on his heart unclasping for a moment. He looked over at the other troopers on board. Young PVT Nikolis Sigovich was busily cleaning his gun and Corporal Spyker Katarn was on board too, in fancy new armor.
'Where'd he get that? Must be for the mission.'
Seargent Martin, Pvts Lu, Mac, and Aner were also there. His face lit up with the usual cold smile.
'Looks like this is gonna be fun'
Regardless, skill level is an integral part of forming people's perceptions of your capabilities as a writer. The better you are at writing how badass your character is, the more like people are to believe that your character actually is one.
But even skill level can't save you if you go off the deep end. Which is where we get to the second point of perception building.
2. Jackassery
No matter how well you write, or how cool your character concept may be there is a line drawn in the sand very similar to the Hot/Crazy scale. If you cross that line and take ten levels in jackass, nothing can save you.
I've seen many capable writers on roleplaying who start out likable and then when they figure out what they can get away with turn into inflated ego balloons that try to push everyone else out of the room. I know I'm definitely more guilty than most on this account, so I can speak from experience.
If you become too much of a jackwagon it's game over. People are more likely to believe the badassery of the OOC nice guy who sometimes struggles with grammar than the dude who can write 3k per post but ends up monologuing to an empty room about his own greatness.
Again, it's about what you can get away with. Piss off too many people and you'll find out sooner or later that it's your character who is getting #TeamRoflstomped.
That said, if you mix a low skill level with browbeating, stubbornness and unwarranted egotism... well, you're just putting a big bullseye on your back.
3. Movie Moments
Maybe you are a great writer and not a terrible person. Maybe your character is legit. But how exactly do you go from having a sort-of-powerful character to having that character widely regarded as one of the most powerful in X lightsaber form or ability on the board? It's in the movie moments.
If you do something shocking, something truly impressive that the whole board can get involved in or witness.... that's when people start to look up and notice "Oh hey, isn't he the fellow that beat Z and D?" This can get you points in the infamy department even if you don't feel your writing skill is up to par.
So, if you're wondering why it seems like there are two versions of your character (one in your head and the other defined by other players), then take a step back, assess what you need to work on, and then keep an eye out for your movie moment.
It is also important to remember that there are a variety of cliques on the board, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Cliques are a group of writers who have found like-minded individuals and prefer writing with them more than others. Boohoo, we all do it. Our entire board is based around factionalism for crying out loud. I'll take that level in jackassery, thank you. Anyway, cliques really do exist and perceptions over one character's abilities can greatly vary from one to the other. But it tends to be that if you satisfy all three of those perceptual components the ebil clique on the other side will at least give a smidgen of grudging respect in between dark mutterings and threats of reports.
However, keep in mind that even if you achieve all three perceptual components, you might go against someone who is simply more well-respected, a better writer, or had more movie moments.
In conclusion, these are just my observations on the reasons for the jeers and cheers of OOC onlookers when two characters of a similar rank fight.
Let's hear your thoughts and opinions on the matter. What is your perception on... perception?