IMM Poll: Backgrounds and Background Checks

This closely parralels an idea i put up awhile back and got shouted down by the PB - I strongly strongly support this...

IMO there are far to many characters who exist for PK purposes - without any real depth of character to them.

People have already said that we have to do this for Qraces and Cabals etc..this is true, and is a good thing, but why should it be that people only have to have RP, and a background, if they are going for a Qrace or a Cabal. Every character out there is playing in a RP ENFORCED mud. If people don't want to put the effort in to develop a background this should be a restricting factor imo - just like descriptions. Also I know from experience that I found it much easier to RP and to generate RP when I had something like this drawn up.

I like it, but I write a background for every character anyways.

Kyzarius - I think it shows that you do this. Your characters always have strong RP and believable characteristics. The fact that you do not need this to be coded to do it is admirable, but i think history tells us that not everybody will do things unless they are made to - or given a bonus to (like cabals and qraces etc..) Putting in a little extra effort in this fashion will benefit the game soooo much imo, and i'm glad Malch is considering it.

Issue: "I dont like to write."

Answer: This is a text based game. Writing is pretty much a pre-requisite.

there is a big difference between typing "w, w, dirt 2." or "tell so-and-so 'you suck'" and writing descriptions/applications/etc. we already have descriptions and applications which are a required part of the game, and tomes and heralds for those who really feel the need to share their thoughts with the world.

i just don't see that there is any reason to implement this. if you really want to learn more about a character's background, change the application requirements to include a paragraph about your character's background (regardless of character's mental state). this way we're using whats already available in game and it still keeps these required writing projects to a minimum.

i just don't see that there is any reason to implement this. if you really want to learn more about a character's background, change the application requirements to include a paragraph about your character's background (regardless of character's mental state). this way we're using whats already available in game and it still keeps these required writing projects to a minimum.

Which is essentially what this is, seeing as it only applies to cabal/qrace/qclass applicants. Just instead of putting it in your app as in your example, you're seperating it and putting it in a 'background'. Makes more sense to seperate the two, as if my application was written in first person as a complete and utter insane liar, then had a bit on background in it written from third person, it wouldn't really work.

Dey

Which is essentially what this is, seeing as it only applies to cabal/qrace/qclass applicants. Just instead of putting it in your app as in your example, you're seperating it and putting it in a 'background'. Makes more sense to seperate the two, as if my application was written in first person as a complete and utter insane liar, then had a bit on background in it written from third person, it wouldn't really work.

Dey

i'm against this whole 'required background' thing in general. i just offered that as a more tolerable alternative to what was suggested. easier to write all your required stuff in one application and send it and be done with it.

if background info isn't already included in a character's application, or isn't hinted at in his description, it probably isn't that important to the character to begin with, and can be made up on the fly. that's whats great about roleplaying, being able to improvise and play things by ear. an immortal can still roleplay as 'all-knowing' without having specific background info written down before him.

I think the general idea is to make people actually put a bit of thought into a character and its RP - and making it optional in anyway would mean that people who don't bother to put much effort into their RP ( the I R L33T types) won't both with using it.

Its just an extension of making people write a description to make them think about their characters.

Come to think of it, I don't care if it is required or not. Like Kyzarius, I have a background/history for all of my characters either way. Having a way to write it down in game would definitely be a plus.

I had to vote no. I've been tooling around when I actually have time to log on, and realistically, it seems like it would take time away from me actually playing, which in and of itself is much less than I had before when I used to play this for hours upon hours on end with dark knight after dark knight.

Besides, I'm not the same PK demon I used to be. Sides, it's a lot harder to kill people when everyone else in your PK seems to be decked out. :-p

It hasn't been keeping me from having some fun with it when I can log on, and despite already loosing 1 con, I haven't deleted. Amazing, I know.

But yeah, if I get more involved than I have been, and actually put together a character with a lot of depth like say, Xefrodor/Terragant again, that'd probably irritate me, because it would detract from the time I put into the game itself.

I just can't believe that you are back!!!

Oh and I voted unsure, and I did this because I am unsure. It sounds all and well but is it really what we need? That has yet to be answered for me in either aspect.

TDP doesn't like the idea because he always deletes a day after hitting 50 anyway.

Only sometimes, historically. I usually just have my 50s quick, and then last 3-5 months. A few longer, but not a ton. Longest was probably either Xiquaziousk from 1.0 or Xefrodor/Terragant from 2.0...

I'm not actually trying to do anything super special with this character. In fact, I'm purposely staying away from cabal stuff so I don't get too sucked in. :-p

Besides, like I said, I can't PK like I could before. Nearly two years away now since the last time I rolled one up, I think.

xefrodor/terragant was definitely 1.0 because I remember fighting him a lot with seri, a mid-1.0 justice ranger

Fair 'nuff. Guess I've really only had two 3.0 chars. May have only had 1 2.0 char now that I think about it, and that was Orianna.