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by Ylanne on Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:23 pm
Some people will do this perhaps to make up for a perceived lack of 'dominance', 'acceptance', or 'attention' in their real world lives. I can sympathize with the many people who do feel as though they are not respected or accepted among their peers, family, or others whom they come into regular contact with. This has been, all too often, a cause for Mary Sue or Gary Stu type characters, idealized self-insertions intended to elicit sympathy from the skeptical, bored, and unsympathetic reader.
For very casual roleplayers, and very casual writers, these things are usually just fine. But, speaking as a crime writer and editor, in more serious roleplaying and definitely in more serious writing, these things are very unacceptable. No one other than the writer (or like writers) likes to read a Mary Sue character, or an already done a million times plot.
For myself, personally, I try to write and develop roleplays with plausible scenarios, and encourage creation and development of dynamic, depth-ful characters who interact consistently and plausibly with others, their environment, and the situations they are placed in, slowly developing meaningful relationships (rivalry, romance, friendship, mentoring, etc.) with the characters around them. This is a natural instinct for me, as a writer.
As an editor, I can appreciate creativity in all forms, including in those stereotypical Mary Sue characters and already-done-a-million-times plots, when roleplayer writers attempt to create an idealized character and place them in some kind of action-invoking situation, such as trapped on a desert island, living in a group residence, locked/detained in a prison/lab/mental hospital, living on the streets, attending a high school for similarly 'gifted' individuals. . .
As a crime writer, and modern, realistic roleplayer, none of my characters are 'technologically enhanced', or possess any sort of 'superhuman' power, including 'magic', chi, psychic, clairvoyant, or psiotic type ability. Few have Japanese names (actually, only one, and she is mostly Japanese, and a rather minor character), only some carry a weapon (criminals, terrorists, law enforcement), most simply have a name typical of their ethnic background (Neldeen Ayvazian, Armenian; Shasta Wadiri Almontaser, Uighur; Kami Nobuko, Japanese; Natalie Elisabeth Schultz, German; etc.), and most change clothes daily and dress to suit their own style (although I rarely mention a character's clothes in a roleplay, unless it is significant, which it usually isn't).
I try to write realistic, believable characters who are full of depth and dynamic, and who may or may not elicit sympathy from the audience, whomever happens to read my work.
I try to do the same when writing collaboratively, otherwise known as roleplaying. For me, it adds depth and clarity, as well as deeper meaning, to roleplay. That is when roleplay becomes collaborative writing, in my view.
--Ylanne
“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”
― Arundhati Roy
“The only way to survive is to take care of each other.”
― Grace Lee Boggs
“every day is another chance to practice living out the values that matter most to us. to be our best selves. to be the legacy we want to leave.”
― Mia Mingus
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