Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jansteenstra 04-05-07, 04:16 AM	Hi, I am playing a monk/sorceror and i got a decent background story and character concept. The only problem I have is to make my character a bit more explicit, IE interacting with the world. I seem to have a rather introvert character, of which the backside is that i developing his role play i find rather difficult. IE it results in me describing what actions my character is performing. To sketch the character: Concept: Jared is a Lawful Neutral monk1/sorceror4 (enlightened fist to be). Jared is trained in martial arts, but in addition also has the innate ability to cast magic spells. He tries to combine these two optimally. He wears flexible clothing (arms uncovered) and usually in a robe over it (which he usually drops in "grande finales"). Background: Jared was dropped as an orphan in a basket in front of the monastary of Eris. The monks of the order took him in and raised and trained him in the ways of the monk. Jared recieved meditation training and martial arts and was taught lessons of wisdom. However, jareds innate ability of spells sometimes uncontrolled manifested itself. The monks, who really didnt know what to do with it, choose to ignore it and taught Jared how to control himself and minimize the manifestations. As Jared grew up the manifestations grew more powerfull to the dislike of his teachers. This made him feel less and less accepted in the monk order and as he felt lost he realized that his enlightenement would not come from meditating, training martial arts and learning lessons of wisdom ad infinitum. He had to discover his real self and embrace and use the magic his order disliked. The monk order disapproved this viewing and told him that if he wanted to continue to go down that path the monastrery was no longer his place. And so Jared set out into the wide world to discover himself in search of enlightment. Character: Jared is rather simple and has leads a strict life. In his constant seek for enlightenment Jared sees every oppurtunity in the world as a challenge. He is convinced that only the toughest challenges will force him to expose his true self and gain the insight required for enlightenement. However these toughest challenges (usually adventurting) require jared to optimally use both his martial arts and develop his arcane spellcasting. Since his arcane nature does not follow his strict code of life this often leads to internal conflict. Altough Jared, in some sense, hates this arcane nature, he realizes it is something that he must accept and that he must solve his internal conflicts to reach enlightement. Back to the discussion: The problem with this character is that he his really an einzelganger. My roleplay additions to our group are usually: "Jared wakes up at 6pm strict and starts, takes breakfast, and practises his martial arts." I cannot really find him reasons to do explicit or fun behaviours, to develop his character, in short to make him iconic. He really hasn't much he cares about. He does not relies on any equipment. I tried searching a mentor to develop my arcane side but since there are no explicit goals it is hard to do. IE i found a mentor, we trained a bit and then i left and gave me the advise, train more. Its not really entertaining quest: "i train" Thats my problem. Does anyone has some suggestions how to make the character more entertaining? Maybe some nice traits or mannerisms or anything to make my character a bit more explicit or give him some reasons to do anything, besides accepting ever diffucult or insane idea becease: "its a challenge"
Westbound 04-05-07, 10:04 PM	Just because your character class is "Monk" doesn't mean that your character has to be trained at a monestery. What if your character was trained by an army, or an assassin's or thief's guild. Or by a specific mentor? If your character was trained by a monestery, was enlightenment necessarily a goal of the monestery? I am playing a monk/sorceror and i got a decent background story and character concept. The only problem I have is to make my character a bit more explicit, IE interacting with the world. I seem to have a rather introvert character, of which the backside is that i developing his role play i find rather difficult. IE it results in me describing what actions my character is performing. Going with the background you provided, perhaps by venturing into the world at large has a profound effect on your character. Traveling to new places and meeting new people, having new experiences can change a person. Perhaps he learned to laugh, learned to love, and learned to like it rather than the boring introspective life in the monestery. Did your monestery have a strict policy against drinking alcohol? If so, why? And even if the monestery was such a place that put the quest of enlightenment through a tough and regular diet of meditation, practice and chores, who says that you have to follow those strictures once you leave the monestery walls? For instance, a common misperception is that Monks, particularly those in Medieval Europe, lived chaste lives according to faith. This was often not the case, though they were supposed to. Monks regularly drank wine, had concubines, and indulged in luxury just as the nobility did. To help you break out of the monk mold, you mentioned enlightenment. That's a Buddhist/Taoist concept that might not have any relevance to anything in the game world your character lives in. Even if your character is based on Asian concepts, that doesn't mean your character is Buddhist. What if your character simply desires to seek Perfection, rather than Enlightenment? Perfection, for you, means physical perfection, and your sorceror powers are merely applications of your pursuits. Separate the classes from what your character to be in the role-playing game. The classes are only a representation of the training, skills, and abilities of your character. Does the Sorceror class mean you have dragon blood in you? It doesn't have to be. It means that you don't have to read a book to cast a spell. The nature of your magical ability is up to you and your DM. Play with your character's background a little. You don't have to be Caine from Kung Fu.