Character Profile Section?

[Admin]

What would people think of a section where players could post character backstories? This could also be a post where players could post their 24 questions (or 12 or 48...however in depth you've chosen to be)?

This could also include player fiction...I know most of us have written a few backstory items that could be featured here (Andy's story about Jyoli comes to mind!)...obviously you don't have to spill character secret stuff...but it would be nice to have a bit more to work with for some characters.

Let me know what you all think...

Kari

[David]

I like it. In fact, I think it would be handy for those PCs who "know" a character, but who haven't done the in-depth, face-to-face time between characters...you know, like waste a perfectly good night drinking at a dive bar talking about character history...

I mean seriously (and pokes at AMM aside), many of us have characters that have LONG term relationships with one another, and yet have never shared our 12, 24, or 48 questions -- I'll pick on my own PC and his wife, namely Kalavor and Jessica Talgris, now married, what, almost 20 years (don't forget, we lived an EXTRA 10 years on Eon because of the temporal displacement). I think once, VERY long ago, I read Jessica's questions.

I mean this reminds me of another issue that was bouncing around my head, one which I tried to bring to life at least a little during the New Heroes when those PCs found innovative expressions of their former relationships. Confused? Let me illuminate...

Dnd is a SERIOUSLY class-based, elitist, heavily socially-stratified society. It HAS to be; it's feudal! So, titles, honorifics, alligences, etc are the name-of-the-game. Take Moorak. To most people, he's a major folk hero, on par with Elvis, Michael Jackson, Madonna, John Wayne, and James Dean. And like those other figures, you can say what you want, but his image to the masses is pervassive (that's what a Social Level of 18* MEANS). But, he's also a Baron. And a Saint. And a Knight. And a Mage (notice the capital letter there). And (for some) a Liege-lord.

So? You ask. Well, with all the behind him, nearly anyone who meets him BETTER call him AT LEAST Sir (Knight) or Your Emminence (Baron) if not Your Holiness (Saint) or My Lord (Liege-Lord). To do otherwise would be a very tangible insult (one which we moderns in our egalitarian society may not initially grasp at first). But if you think about it, Moorak's relationship with Artec is profoundly different than his relationship with Jessica. Artec is his vassal with all the feudal commitments that entails. To our 21st Century ears, listening to these two talk we be odd -- Artec should always publically address Moorak as "My Lord" or "Your Emminence" with "Sir" only heard rarely. Anything less would be to show disrespect before the troops, regardless of the relationship the two men may want. The interaction between Zoe and Captain Mel from Firefly is a good example, I think.

Anyway, these kind of interactions can really cool the relationships of characters. I mean, who would expect Artec not to side with his liege-lord in all things. Sure, you'd expect that of Kalavor vis-a-vis his wife, Jessica, but a similar (heck, in the pre-Renaissance world, STRONGER) bond would exist between feudal master-and-subject. In a similar vein, Chastity may think Pope Hazem is smoking CRACK, but she would NEVER say such a thing where it could be publically heard; in front of others, it would ALWAYS be "Your Holiness" or "Your Majesty". I think only family gets to short cut all this crap (hello, Lori/Arch-Duchess Damelia!).

Anyway, that was a nice bunny-trail. I think post character questions and stories to the site is a great idea.