Heroica RPG Rules & FAQ

[Flare]

Was a specific reason ever given for the rule why the second character needs to be "related" to the first?

Yeah, I don't see why its necessary. I could come up with a much more interesting second character if this limit wasn't in place.

[Scubacarrot]

It forces you to think a certain way about it, it may help some people come up with some creative ideas. Don't think of it as a way of it has to be an old friend, child, sibling or parent, but rather, the first character is the reason the second character joined Heroica. Does that make sense?

[Cutcobra]

Was a specific reason ever given for the rule why the second character needs to be "related" to the first?

It's not that big of a deal though, you can make your character Skrall's father 's doctor or something like that.

[Waterbrick Down]

It forces you to think a certain way about it, it may help some people come up with some creative ideas. Don't think of it as a way of it has to be an old friend, child, sibling or parent, but rather, the first character is the reason the second character joined Heroica. Does that make sense?

It would make more sense that it be offered as a suggestion or idea rather than a mandate then.

It's not that big of a deal though, you can make your character Skrall's father 's doctor or something like that.

Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of ideas, I'm just curious as to why it's a rule as it seems to limit background choices.

[Kintobor]

It forces you to think a certain way about it, it may help some people come up with some creative ideas. Don't think of it as a way of it has to be an old friend, child, sibling or parent, but rather, the first character is the reason the second character joined Heroica. Does that make sense?

It's still very limiting. The only real route I could go is business associates of Maxwell Alderflask, or the relatives of said business associates. The problem is I don't want my first PC to predetermine who my second PC is going to be. I want to create a new character, with a new story to tell.

[Sandy]

I am willing to reconsider allowing the second character to be taken into play when the first one hits Level 40, but since nobody is even near to that point yet, I won't make that decision now.

Was a specific reason ever given for the rule why the second character needs to be "related" to the first?

I want to keep the world as cohesive as I can, and like Scuba said, it forces everyone to be creative with their second character, and not just have another "I'm a nobody aspiring to become somebody"-type of character. The two characters don't need to be related by blood, but there needs to be some sort of bond between them, so that their personal stories intertwine and are not completely separate.

I'm sure you all can cope with the rule, even though it might feel limiting right now.

It's still very limiting. The only real route I could go is business associates of Maxwell Alderflask, or the relatives of said business associates. The problem is I don't want my first PC to predetermine who my second PC is going to be. I want to create a new character, with a new story to tell.

You are ignoring the fact that the second character doesn't need to be someone from Karie's past - she's perfectly capable of making new acquaintances despite being in Heroica, isn't she?

It's totally alright for everyone to create their potential second character right now, you just cannot start playing as them until the designated level is reached. For example, Professor Flitwick's second character could be Hoptet, if he so wishes (although he would have to start from Level 1).

[Kintobor]

I can work with that. I still don't one hundred percent agree to the decision, but I can at least introduce my secondary character and tie it with Karie, which I'm already working on. :thumbs_up:

[Flare]

Now I'm not sure who my second character will be. I had an idea at first but now I'm thinking that I should consider it more. I guess I have time, anyways!

[Waterbrick Down]

I want to keep the world as cohesive as I can, and like Scuba said, it forces everyone to be creative with their second character, and not just have another "I'm a nobody aspiring to become somebody"-type of character. The two characters don't need to be related by blood, but there needs to be some sort of bond between them, so that their personal stories intertwine and are not completely separate.

I'm sure you all can cope with the rule, even though it might feel limiting right now.

I doubt that anyone pursuing a second character will be in it for the average "I'm a nobody aspiring to become somebody" mantra. Most of us that are looking at creating a second character are interested in telling a specific kind of story or character and it seems presumptuous that we should be "forced" into another mantra, "I met this Heroica person and followed them here, because they're cool/inspiring/hate-inducing/interesting/family/etc". I also fail to see how including other secondary characters could take away from the cohesiveness of the world. The world of Heroica is enormous and what better way to represent that than a populous character pool. Intertwining story lines and relationships are one of the greatest aspects of this game, however the best ones are those that occur naturally and spur of the moment, some of the poorest ones occur when people try to plan it all out out-of-character ahead of time. Creativity is like gardening, if you want it to flourish, you don't force it, you nourish it.

Edited July 26, 2013 by Waterbrick Down

[Sandy]

Intertwining story lines and relationships are one of the greatest aspects of this game, however the best ones are those that occur naturally and spur of the moment, some of the poorest ones occur when people try to plan it all out out-of-character ahead of time. Creativity is like gardening, if you want it to flourish, you don't force it, you nourish it.

But just because your second character knows your original character, doesn't mean he or she cannot be whoever from where-ever (within the confines of the setting). I still stand behind the thought that the second character will be much more purposeful if he or she is not a loner coming to the Heroica Hall without knowing anybody. We already had plenty of those in the original characters (well, practically everyone), so I want the second characters to have a slightly different starting point.

That way they are instantly tied to the world of the game, and don't have to start building the connection from the ground-up. It allows them to know a great deal about the organization and what it does through the first character, as well.

Trust me, this limitation will add to the cohesiveness of the world, not take anything away from it. And in my opinion I'm exactly nourishing creativity by having this one single limitation to the second character. It makes you think ahead and plan to fit the character to the world, whereas the original character came almost out of a void and shaped the world itself. Future first characters will continue to do that, so again, I want the second characters to be more connected from the get-go.

[Scubacarrot]

WBD, let me ask you this. Why would your second character not be able to either be somehow someway related to Skrall and why would he or she or it not be able to become it later?

Edited July 26, 2013 by Scubacarrot

[Waterbrick Down]

WBD, let me ask you this. Why would your second character not be able to either be somehow someway related to Skrall and why would he or she or it not be able to become it later?

Oh I'm sure I could come up with plenty of tie-ins to Skrall, however it's like Sandy described, I like the option of starting with a void character with no connections. The connection is the easy part, it's like checking a box, however if I'm going to check the box, I'd rather do it intentionally and because it's part of who my character is, not because I'm filling a requirement. As Sandy has expressed, her intent for the secondary characters is different from the first characters and I'm willing to abide by that, perhaps not cheerfully for the moment, but willing.

Edited July 26, 2013 by Waterbrick Down

[Scubacarrot]

Fair enough. Personally I see it as a challenge to try and find a good connection to Guts, especially since he cut ties with his past for the most part, and any connections he had are slowly going away. To try and find that connection that is not only able to find him in a different part of the world, a different name, most likely different appearance, it's got to be something good. More on that in the future.

[Flare]

Sandy, would an acceptable relation between first and second characters be, that the second character heard about the feats of the first character and was inspired so they joined?

Or do the two characters actually need to know each other?

Edited July 26, 2013 by Flare

[Scubacarrot]

What feats has Benji accomplished exactly?

[Flare]

What feats has Benji accomplished exactly?

Who ever mentioned Benji?

But since you asked... Um... He... Defeated Violetta! Oh but he let her go.... Gimme a sec... He defeated 26 thugs of the stars of destiny singlehandedly!

[Scubacarrot]

He defeated 26 thugs of the stars of destiny singlehandedly!

That's pretty good, actually! OR your second character is a wolfgang goon that adores Benji and is dreaming becoming as dreamy as him (as a half elf, I'm assuming Benji looks kinda like a mix of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, and I hear women think those are dreamy), and decides to join in taking over Heroica!

[Sandy]

The connection is the easy part, it's like checking a box, however if I'm going to check the box, I'd rather do it intentionally and because it's part of who my character is, not because I'm filling a requirement.

Haha, aren't you ever the rebel?

So you're saying that you'd happily have the second character know Skrall IF it wasn't mandatory?

Or do the two characters actually need to know each other?

Yes, they have to know each other. What would be the point otherwise?

[Scubacarrot]

Yes, they have to know each other. What would be the point otherwise?

I'd vote against that actually, that way you can't work in long lost siblings or children or something along those lines.

[Sandy]

I'd vote against that actually, that way you can't work in long lost siblings or children or something along those lines.

Well, even long lost siblings have known each other at one point in their life, haven't they?

Let's put it this way: the connection has to have been formed before the second character is introduced as a player character, but the two characters don't have to be in contact with each other right at that exact moment.

[Scubacarrot]

Well, even long lost siblings have known each other at one point in their life, haven't they?

Not if they got seperated at birth.

[Sandy]

Not if they got seperated at birth.

Then they knew each other as infants! Or in the womb! Come on!!!

[Kintobor]

Then they knew each other as infants! Or in the womb! Come on!!!

Yeah, unless they're dead at this point in time.

Would you be willing to accept kin of business associates? I could work a character around one of Maxwell Alderflask's clients.

Edited July 26, 2013 by Kintobor

[Dannylonglegs]

I still don't like the idea. When I create a new character, I don't want to have my previous one create extra baggage for them unless that's what I've intended. I'd like to start fresh with a new character and a new story unrelated to my previous PC. We'll see. Maybe I'll figure something out.

I'm not the hugest fan of the idea either, which is why when I get that far, I'm going to straight-up drop Sylph as my character and start again at level 1. Sylph already knew of Heroica and had plans and whatnot in a similar manner to what Sandy imagines secondary characters aught to, so I want my next character to be an unknown trying to make his way in the world. Also, Sylph doesn't have any past friend, literally no relatives, or anything but enemies.... And nobody knows who Sylph is, so anyone who would know Sylph wouldn't know Sylph. It was my plan to drop Sylph anyways though, so it's not a rebellion against the rules or anything. I've got my #2 planned out too, and he'll be basically the opposite of Sylph in many ways. Unlike Sylph, he'll be open, uncertain, and he won't have a stick up his rear.

~Insectoid Aristocrat

Edited July 26, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[UsernameMDM]

I like the idea as it allows to expand the story of the first character. I've already got #2 planned out, and it is pretty much not vanilla.