Heroica Theatre

[Sandy]

What do you guys think of Timothy? To me he kind of seems boring to play.

Sorry for the late reply, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed that you threw Timothy - quite an original character, and one of the very few "gentle clerics" we've seen - away so suddenly. And for what? For a third male yeti Barbarian we've had in this game?

I'm not here to judge you on your choices, but if you had trouble roleplaying your character before, then I do wonder how you're going to manage differentiating Blizzard from Avalanche and Nagure? Surely you don't just want to mimic them?

[Flipz]

Sorry for the late reply, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed that you threw Timothy - quite an original character, and one of the very few "gentle clerics" we've seen - away so suddenly. And for what? For a third male yeti Barbarian we've had in this game?

I'm not here to judge you on your choices, but if you had trouble roleplaying your character before, then I do wonder how you're going to manage differentiating Blizzard from Avalanche and Nagure? Surely you don't just want to mimic them?

Yeah, I'm a bit disappointed at how few female characters we've gotten in the latest batch. I think the last female character to join Heroica was Calamity, and that was ages ago.

And also, looking at it, there's a serious lack of Clerics at all levels. Of the active characters in the game, we have a grand total of five healers I can think of: Boris, Matthias, Nerwen, Vindsval, and Althior (by technicality). That's...not enough healers for the several dozen Heroes we have in circulation, and the ones that are there are almost all well into the high levels to boot. Did I miss something? Why is playing a Cleric suddenly unappealing?

Yeah, that thing's totally never hurt anyone. Kid says this having no idea whether or not it's true. Ever.

...okay, that was a really great bit of characterization there.

To those of you who are feeling unconfident in your character: this! Little moments like this, things you just decide to toss out on instinct, can really help to flesh out and develop your character. You don't need to have a grand plan or a backstory behind your characters, and I'd argue that for a PC it's actually a detriment. Just have one or two simple ideas (a good example would be Ezeran with his symbiont) and let everything else come naturally over time. If you put in the time, those moments will come, so long as you're open to them.

Oh, and one final note: if you're worried about your character being too similar to you, don't be; again, as long as you put in the time to play your character and stay active, the events they experience will shape them, and you will find out who they are along the way.

[K-Nut]

Yeah, I'm a bit disappointed at how few female characters we've gotten in the latest batch. I think the last female character to join Heroica was Calamity, and that was ages ago.

I know Kheyli came after Calamity and I think Quintessa came after Kheyli, but even those two came last August.

[MysticModulus]

I have been thinking about letting Ezeran go sage if that counts for something...

[Asphalt]

Clerics have always been my go to character for every RPG that I play. They are a great blend of both hurt and help, and have so much you can do with them personality and belief wise. Meat and Potatoes with any seasoning you want to add.

[KotZ]

Clerics have always been my go to character for every RPG that I play. They are a great blend of both hurt and help, and have so much you can do with them personality and belief wise. Meat and Potatoes with any seasoning you want to add.

What class would you say is the hardest then?

[Asphalt]

Depends on the game.

[dum]

...okay, that was a really great bit of characterization there.

To those of you who are feeling unconfident in your character: this! Little moments like this, things you just decide to toss out on instinct, can really help to flesh out and develop your character. You don't need to have a grand plan or a backstory behind your characters, and I'd argue that for a PC it's actually a detriment. Just have one or two simple ideas (a good example would be Ezeran with his symbiont) and let everything else come naturally over time. If you put in the time, those moments will come, so long as you're open to them.

Oh, and one final note: if you're worried about your character being too similar to you, don't be; again, as long as you put in the time to play your character and stay active, the events they experience will shape them, and you will find out who they are along the way.

Um... Thanks? Not sure what to say other than thanks. I've pretty much roleplayed Kid the same personality of myself but a history living in a fantasy setting, so it makes things easier to respond to naturally. I'm glad that was a good thing to do, because honestly I wasn't sure. Roleplaying is new to me. Let me know when I do more things right or more things wrong.

[MysticModulus]

Um... Thanks? Not sure what to say other than thanks. I've pretty much roleplayed Kid the same personality of myself but a history living in a fantasy setting, so it makes things easier to respond to naturally. I'm glad that was a good thing to do, because honestly I wasn't sure. Roleplaying is new to me. Let me know when I do more things right or more things wrong.

You are doing great!

[Waterbrick Down]

What class would you say is the hardest then?

Barbarians and rangers. It's hard to get away from the uncivilized, outlander, nature loving stereotypes. We've had a few gems of unique barbarians, Kheyli, Quintessa, Miderun, though strangely enough I don't think we've really had any truely doltish barbarians, they all tend to be really intelligent in the end: Eric, Avalanche, Blizzard, Alf, Tesni, Kheliim. I think the closest we ever had to a slow barbarian was perhaps Gorg from way back when. On the topic of rangers, I don't think we've had anyone outside of Matthias, Jeaux, Mhinak start as a non-nature loving bowman. Edited May 30, 2016 by Waterbrick Down

[Flipz]

I'd argue that mages are a tad harder to play; the stereotypes are both weaker and more difficult to play with in the "playing with a trope" sense (as opposed to, say, a civilized barbarian or a generous rogue). The vast majority of Mages we've gotten have tended to follow the "careless and/or power-hungry" stereotype, differentiating themselves mainly through external means (i.e. exotic races, exaggerated personality traits, sidekicks, etc.) rather than by turning the core concept of a mage on its head; even Arthur is no exception.

[Waterbrick Down]

I'd argue that mages are a tad harder to play; the stereotypes are both weaker and more difficult to play with in the "playing with a trope" sense (as opposed to, say, a civilized barbarian or a generous rogue). The vast majority of Mages we've gotten have tended to follow the "careless and/or power-hungry" stereotype, differentiating themselves mainly through external means (i.e. exotic races, exaggerated personality traits, sidekicks, etc.) rather than by turning the core concept of a mage on its head; even Arthur is no exception.

I disagree, if we look at your two categories, I'd argue we get the following split on overarching traits:

Careless:

Terry

Warlen (Though he has transitioned more to stoic)

Power Hungry:

Calamity

Arthur (Though he began focused more upon friendship)

Althior (Though I'd argue he grew into this naturally as opposed to being defined by it)

Other:

Heckz (Vainity)

En Sabah Nur (Fun/Trickery)

Ezeran (Freindship)

Namyrra (Comradery)

Purpearl (Knowledge)

Siercon (Enlightenment/Trickery)

Thalion (Understanding)

Even in all of these we have a diverse set of backgrounds that these characters come from, as opposed to Barbarians and Rangers who it's very difficult to avoid the "I grew up in the wilderness fending for myself," or "my tribe sent me out to adventure and discover myself."

I'd say for Heroica RPG at least, the Clerics and the Wizards seem to be the most diverse.

Edited May 30, 2016 by Waterbrick Down

[StickFig]

Why is playing a Cleric suddenly unappealing?

We've had this discussion before I think... there are always too few healers in Heroica. I don't think there is anything sudden about it. Matthias is (secretly) a response to that trend - he was originally supposed to go Warden, but it seemed like that had been done plenty (Docken and Em come to mind).

Clerics have always been my go to character for every RPG that I play. They are a great blend of both hurt and help, and have so much you can do with them personality and belief wise. Meat and Potatoes with any seasoning you want to add.

I think that might be part of the problem... clerics don't have a great blend of hurt and help. Matthias has an incredibly offensive-minded build, and has barely done any damage in any of his last 4 quests/fields runs. So, since he became a cleric. At the Prophet level, you do offensive damage on Shield, but if Matthias tries to shoot, he has a 1/3 chance of getting smushed, a 1/2 chance of doing fairly ineffective damage, and a 1/6 chance to blow a chunk of ether healing a bunch of slightly bruised party members. He's a great help, but his damage output isn't. That's not a bad thing necessarily - he's a cleric! - but it does mean that the class is a narrower support role than most others.

Barbarians and rangers... On the topic of rangers, I don't think we've had anyone outside of Matthias, Jeaux, Mhinak start as a non-nature loving bowman.

It's because everyone thinks of Rangers in the LotR sense: Aragorn and his buddies. But "Ranger" means someone who fights from a distance, not necessarily someone who hugs trees.

[samurai-turtle]

It's because everyone thinks of Rangers in the LotR sense: Aragorn and his buddies. But "Ranger" means someone who fights from a distance, not necessarily someone who hugs trees.

Does that mean my character is a power"ranger". Because that all I seem to do is fight from the back row.

While I am here is their some way to "talk" like a mono tone robot without having to type out in a mono tone voice all the time.

Plus NPC characters could one make some based on known or famous characters.

[StickFig]

While I am here is their some way to "talk" like a mono tone robot without having to type out in a mono tone voice all the time.

YOU COULD USE A MONOSPACE FONT LIKE THIS.... 1010011010111

[Waterbrick Down]

Does that mean my character is a power"ranger". Because that all I seem to do is fight from the back row.

While I am here is their some way to "talk" like a mono tone robot without having to type out in a mono tone voice all the time.

Plus NPC characters could one make some based on known or famous characters.

You mean heroes as NPC's? If so I'd tend to ask permission first, especially if they're still active on Eurobricks.

[samurai-turtle]

You mean heroes as NPC's? If so I'd tend to ask permission first, especially if they're still active on Eurobricks.

What I was thinking is they originally come from TV shows. I will us Skeletor from He-Man for example.

YOU COULD USE A MONOSPACE FONT LIKE THIS.... 1010011010111

Part of the problem is I am using a cell phone, so I am not sure that might work. What I was thinking of is using was some symbols before and after the statement.

[Asphalt]

What I was thinking is they originally come from TV shows. I will us Skeletor from He-Man for example.

I would say, loosely inspired by is ok, but actually being that character, no.

[Enceladus]

What I was thinking is they originally come from TV shows. I will us Skeletor from He-Man for example.

Sounds fine by me, after all most characters round here are inspired to some extent by what we see, hear or read...as long as it isn't actually said character transplanted into the heroica universe

[Zepher]

Yeah we have lots of references!

[samurai-turtle]

Well it sounds like I would have to make some adjustments if I would use Skeletor and his goons. Personally I would think that making some of them in LEGO should be easy enough.

But what if I use someone with a common name i.e. Oscar, because I would think that most people around here would not even know who he is in the first place.

Plus I was thinking of using =-= (at the start) for a mono tone voice. I would like to hear other opinions with this topic.

Edited June 1, 2016 by samuraiturtle

[Lind Whisperer]

But what if I use someone with a common name i.e. Oscar, because I would think that most people around here would not even know who he is in the first place.

Whoever he is, he sounds rather grouchy.

[samurai-turtle]

Whoever he is, he sounds rather grouchy.

No, he doesn't have green fur. But, their was an episode call "Oscar the Couch".

[Kintobor]

Can someone please make Oscar the Couch an enemy encounter? That sounds utterly hysterical!

[StickFig]

Can someone please make Oscar the Couch an enemy encounter? That sounds utterly hysterical!

Bonus points if Oscar is a double-decker.