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1.5.1 Character Conception
The first step is to decide what kind of character you want to play.
A character conception that is as specific and unique as possible will
make the resulting character more vivid and interesting, and will also
simplify the choices you will need to make as you allocate points.
The theme of the MUCK will have a strong effect on what kind
of character you should play. On a medieval or fantasy MUCK,
you could be a knight, courtier, witch, merchant, etc., but not a computer
programmer or starship pilot. You could be a brain surgeon, but
probably not a very good one. Not only the theme but also the emphasis of
the MUCK will play a part. A medieval MUCK might
have varied emphases including combat, court intrigue, guilds, magic, etc.,
or it might be more focused: if the MUCK focuses on politics
and court intrigue, a player who spends all his points on combat skills and
physical ability will be ineffective. You'll need to spend a little time on
the world, read the News files, and talk to players to find out about the
world before going through chargen.
Antar explores the MUCK for a while and talks to some players
in the OOC area, and finds that the MUCK has a medieval theme
with quite varied emphases. He decides he wants to be able to fight well,
but not be just a warrior. Knights are more than simple warriors, but he
thinks that he'd find that role a bit restrictive. Being a bard or minstrel
would let him move among all levels of society, but — while a such a
character could learn combat skills — this just doesn't seem to go with
the fighting-man idea. He decides he wants to be a courtier, a nobleman of
no particular rank, active in the affairs of court, and a swordsman of
repute. He knows he will need to make this a bit more specific, but decides
this is enough of an idea to get started.
Nim finds that she has a wide range of choices: in addition to the
society revolving around court and the towns, other groups and areas are
fairly well developed on the MUCK, including `barbarian' tribes
such as the Picts and magical races such as the Fey. There are outlaws in
the Great Forest. She could be a fighter if she wants, especially among the
Picts or outlaws, or a magic-user — either a Fey or a human trained in
the mystic arts. There are also a good many social roles open to her, from
noble woman to beggar. The idea of being a witch catches her fancy, and
something about the character just `clicks': Nim will be a `hedge witch',
widely regarded as a bit eccentric and mostly harmless, someone who putters
around with herbs and philtres and dabbles in minor magic, with lots of
quirky behaviors and disadvantages. Maybe she'll be cross-eyed or short
sighted, very reclusive. She could have a phobia about spiders, but has to
catch them all the time for use in her potions and such. Secretly, though,
she'll be involved in something greater. Perhaps she uses spells and skills
to transform herself into, say, the mysterious Lady in Green, who oftimes
visits court, beguiling the king and setting the knights to amusing quests
(which actually further her own far-reaching plans). Or maybe she works
with a coven of like-minded witches, who covertly recruit young women to
their cause and together work enchantments that topple kingdoms.
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