I'm not sure I follow. Are you implying that people's ethics, morals, and choice of profession are random (or genetic)?
I can point you to a staggering amount of research that says otherwise...
Of course not, just as there aren't perfectly good or perfectly evil people in real life.
What I was implying is that same thing with SandBox said. This is not RL after all, it is a game, and no matter what people claim, they do pick their combos for PK purposes and afterwards create the RP idea behind. Yes, sometimes people get really cool RP ideas too, but they often suit them for power combos rather than what the actual RP idea will look best on.
I was trying to pick on your statement when you say this game is not only about PK.
Yes, it is not only about PK, but >90% of it IS.
"I think foxx just got owned." Why? Because I want to know in advance what wereform my beast will have? I feel no shame to admit that I create and play mostly power combos. At least when I make one, I stick to the RP of the combo. If it is lawful tribunal wannabe, it will follow the laws. If it is neutral, it will act as such. If it is evil, it will stomp you for no obviouis reason (for you). If it is savant, it will try to destroy WMs, not get a truce with them wink.
"I think foxx just got owned." Why?
Because after reading Zhokril's post, not only did I hear the sizzle, I could smell burnt flesh. That is why 
What I got out of foxx's statement is that we can choose what we want to play in other aspects (race/class/align/ethos/path-->remort/qrace). It isn't very consistent to make this one character-defining 'rp?' aspect (albeit the werebeast form has enough of a pk impact for me to call it pk) random.
My opinion is to just make it selectable, just like every other major character-defining part of the game.
I mean, by this logic, we could make the berserker paths random--can't really dictate how controlling insanity is---why not make it 'fun' and random? Why don't we just randomly assign the roll stats at the beginning also...and randomly choose gender...
What I got out of foxx's statement is that we can choose what we want to play in other aspects (race/class/align/ethos/path-->remort/qrace). It isn't very consistent to make this one character-defining 'rp?' aspect (albeit the werebeast form has enough of a pk impact for me to call it pk) random.
My opinion is to just make it selectable, just like every other major character-defining part of the game.
I mean, by this logic, we could make the berserker paths random--can't really dictate how controlling insanity is---why not make it 'fun' and random? Why don't we just randomly assign the roll stats at the beginning also...and randomly choose gender...
Bravo. Someone's using their brain the proper way 
[edit] Btw, good example with gender. So, we don't choose our genders in RL, why do we get to choose it in FL? I'll answer this one for you - because gameplay > realism.
Werebeast form should be selectable. In its current design you cannot even really make a well thought out desc until your 15. At which point you delete and remake because you didnt get what you wanted. In this form the random selection of beast form detracts from the game by becoming an exploitable feature that is merely time consuming.
As far as "why you make a character" be it RP or PK I would first point out that in the hands of someone who knows the classes and the game the focus becomes less on making an adequate combo and more about creating a new perspective on the same old song and dance. In truth the game IS relativly balanced with only a few outlandish combinations of Race / Class that fall to the wayside. Some of the classes do need a little touching up, but in the right hands 9 /10 of the combinations of race + class + cabal can be quite potent in the right hands.
Secondly, if you do not have the skills to back up any RP, especially one where you wish your character to have a dominate personality, then your RP will be like a flimsy facade. You talk big, but that lvl 48 just kicked your ***. This is more apparant as an Evil, where you have no real buddies since anyone can typically turn on you very quickly should they detect weakness in your game.
On the random vs selectable...this is a game, not real life. I play it, at least, to have fun and relieve boredom. If you made all paths random then you would just extend the time from creation to peak, since people would roll delete roll delete until they got what they want...Just like Werebeasts are now. 
hmmm so how do you role play a "ranger" i been roleplaying the characters backstory that caused them to pick up the profession, but how do you roleplay a profession. I work in computer security, but once i come home i'm still me, unless someone specifically brings up computers in a conversation it doesnt cross my mind. Anyone have any tips as to how i could enhance the "job" aspect of my rp? please and thanks.
help ranger
Then after evaluating the help file, go through and see how a slith would fit into that rough mold. Anything is possible with proper RP. I have seen Neutral faeries, storm pallies, stone shamans, fae zerks, lawful ferals, undead rangers, demon tribunals. You can do anything if you apply yourself, just do not expect to get all your skills. Classes do not get access to certain things for a reason, the primary example (that I can think of) is as an evil slith ranger, you can "rub" dirt from your eyes and immediately have pets rescue you, and you can do this consistantly. As a goodie slith, you can effectively camouflage anywhere. Now Calandra (1.0 scariest char ever award) proved that any rogue class that can hide anywhere is INCREDIBLY overwhelming.
help ranger
Then after evaluating the help file, go through and see how a slith would fit into that rough mold. Anything is possible with proper RP. I have seen Neutral faeries, storm pallies, stone shamans, fae zerks, lawful ferals, undead rangers, demon tribunals. You can do anything if you apply yourself, just do not expect to get all your skills. Classes do not get access to certain things for a reason, the primary example (that I can think of) is as an evil slith ranger, you can "rub" dirt from your eyes and immediately have pets rescue you, and you can do this consistantly. As a goodie slith, you can effectively camouflage anywhere. Now Calandra (1.0 scariest char ever award) proved that any rogue class that can hide anywhere is INCREDIBLY overwhelming.
haha i don't see how either of those are as bad as certain race/class combos in certain cabals, but i guess you pose a point there. I don't even have a firm understanding of all of the cabals yet but the way some of the skills combo with class skills seems really really op in alot of cases.
I usually took inspiration from characters in movies, history, or mobs in the game. I based one ranger on a Native American warrior, another on Samwise Gamgi, another on a farmer in the Northfields, another on the trolls in LOTR that opened the gates in Mordor. Then you play it out based on your real history that develops in the game, people who attack you, alliances you develop, etc.
Heh cold-blooded ranger = no banes. Fun stuff.
Heh cold-blooded ranger = no banes. Fun stuff.
haha, no banes when piloted by a good player, when u got a scrub like me behind the wheel there's nothing to worry about. I can make a corvette look like a cavalier.
You could just hide from everything except druids and other rangers.
Heh cold-blooded ranger = no banes. Fun stuff.
Cold blooded or not, ranger banes are the same.
I'm grouped with a slith ranger here, and I gotta say...that tail must be terribly useful...
I noticed the slith ranger as well, good job to whoever did it!
Sliths have a LOT more going for them than just that autotrip......
I'd vote no as slith rangers as a perm thing - FAR too powerful on a class that I personally believe has it too easy on all facets of the game atm.
L-A
Nice job.