Home  | Login  | Register  | Help  | Play 

What do you use for good Rp source and refrence material?

 
Logged in as: Guest
  Printable Version
All Forums >> [Gaming Community] >> [Role Playing] >> Role Playing General Discussion >> What do you use for good Rp source and refrence material?
Page 1 of 212>
Forum Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
12/12/2012 18:57:12   
DaiTigris
How We Roll Winner
June14


The definition of many fantastical beasts and races naturally vary from culture to culture, but even now within the sub division of the fantasy genre it can get even more confusing. Most people know the basics personification of many of the fantastical races. The Elven folk are fair, The pixies/fairies tend to be mischievous, The Dwarfs are masters of metal and earth, The Orcs are barbarians; so on, and so on.

What source material do you use to help you out when working with any rather stereo typical races and creatures?
__
Okay so I was working on my biography for the workshop and it hit me. I didn't really know what made a Half-elf, or Elf for that matter, unique or a lot of there stereo typical traits. So I thought this would be something good to start a thread about this to help newer Rper's out in this aspect.
AQ DF MQ AQW  Post #: 1
12/12/2012 19:32:56   
TJByrum
Member

I really just base my stuff off of stereotypes found throughout history. But I play The Elder Scrolls, once played Warcraft II and then III, and also watched The Lord of the Rings, and read a lot of fantasy books in the past, so I get inspiration from those; except it's pretty much all the same.

That's the thing about fantasy. It's all unique, but the same races appear in almost every form of it.
DF AQW  Post #: 2
12/13/2012 3:14:38   
Legendium
Member

quote:

The Elven folk are fair, The pixies/fairies tend to be mischievous, The Dwarfs are masters of metal and earth, The Orcs are barbarians; so on, and so on.


Lol, we should make an RP where all of the stereotypes are mixed up; the orcs are mischievous, the dwarves are fair, the elves miners and the pixies barbarians.



I get most of my material from books, video games, and let's plays of video games I don't know. Oh, and I spend a lot of time lying on my bed letting my mind wander, which usually sprouts soe very interesting ideas.
DF MQ Epic  Post #: 3
12/13/2012 13:12:48   
black knight 1234567
Member

Fiction is pretty stagnant in terms of Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, and the ''basic'' races., it's what I call Tolkien Fantasy. He created all those stereotypes we call come to endorse.

AQ DF MQ AQW  Post #: 4
12/13/2012 14:40:09   
Riffus Maximus
Member

Agreed with bk1-7. I mostly use the general traits we know about Elves, Orcs and Dwarves from Tolkien and the D&D universes. After that, for the more obscure races, I tend to use what is proposed in D&D, as I think races there are greatly detailed in both physical and mental aspects.
AQ DF MQ AQW  Post #: 5
12/13/2012 18:54:31   
Starstruck
Member

I generally plow through whatever notions I have about The Way Fantasy Works. Sometimes, it gets a bit outlandish. superjars can confirm this >_>

My favorite character to date, that definitely typifies this love of strange concepts, was inspired by a biology lesson. Apparently, if the cell processed glucose directly instead of through adenine triphosphate (ATP), it would literally explode. Literally. Fire everywhere. And if that cell were to be from an herbivorous creature who can simply eat and eat glucose-rich materials for days on end to build up a storage of glucose, and naturally synthesize long-burning materials, why, that creature might be a FLAMING SPACE PONY.

And thus the flaming space pony was created. He's a pony. From space. On fire. And he doesn't like you.
DF MQ  Post #: 6
12/13/2012 20:12:49   
superjars
Member

Everything. Every book I read, every video game I play, every anime or movie I watch, every story I write, every bio I read, every RP I peruse or play, and on and on. Every thing you encounter gives you more information and creativity for what you want to do in RP.

Edit: Yes, I can confirm that. Starstruck can go completely off the rocker with some of his concepts. It totally fits some RPs really well, but others he doesn't fit at all. Star and I often go back and forth when he's in one of my RPs.
AQ DF MQ AQW Epic  Post #: 7
12/13/2012 21:34:30   
TormentedDragon
Member

I'm with Jars on this. Literally everything is a potential source. Can't stress enough that copious amounts of reading is one of the single best ways to expand your creative horizons.

In other words, read all the books.
AQ DF MQ  Post #: 8
12/13/2012 22:05:19   
TJByrum
Member

I use to read a lot of books in Middle School. Chronicles of Narnia, Eragon, and many many other fantasy books.
DF AQW  Post #: 9
12/13/2012 22:50:53   
Ryu Viranesh
Member

Reading everything is the best medicine. I've read tons of fantasy, sci-fi, and even historical fiction books and found a multitude of sources to refer back to and use as sparks of inspiration for concepts that leap into my mind. The more you read, the more you know, and thus the more you can create.
AQ DF MQ  Post #: 10
12/13/2012 22:53:54   
UnderSoul
Member

Reading and dreams
AQ DF MQ AQW Epic  Post #: 11
12/13/2012 23:06:16   
TJByrum
Member

I just want to say that while I do encourage people to go about and create their own races (cause it further enhances the mind and imagination), I also encourage people to use the standard typical fantasy races. Elves, Orcs, and Goblins and such are all the standard run of the gun fantasy races, and when we use them people can relate to them and things can flow a lot more easily.
DF AQW  Post #: 12
12/14/2012 0:04:02   
jerenda
Member

Can I just add that Starstruck is crazy? No? I have to contribute to the thread? Oh, fine...

I get inspiration from good music and from talking to people. I get the best inspiration when I'm frustrated and ranting. I just know that if I express my problem to as many people as possible, someone will say exactly what I need to hear to fix it. Oftentimes I know there's a problem, I just don't know what it is.

I can't understand people who don't read. I need to read to live. You can't develop creativity without reading. Read everything. Read crazily. If you "used to read", take it up again! The person who does not read good books has no advantage over the person who cannot. Mark Twain.
AQ DF  Post #: 13
12/14/2012 4:43:17   
Legendium
Member

@Jerenda

Actually, although reading is often the best way to get inspiration, I'd say it's more being told stories that gives a good amount of inspiration. Reading isn't the only way. Video games, art, stories told through any means suffice. So I can understand people who don't read. I can't understand people who don't listen to stories.
DF MQ Epic  Post #: 14
12/14/2012 9:44:35   
TJByrum
Member

I'd have to agree with a portion of that Legendium. I'm not trying to sound stupid or anything, but I swear I made much higher grades in Middle School (when I read a lot) as compared to High School (only read books that were mandatory, if that). But I tend to play a lot of story-based games; I listen to the dialogue, I watch the cutscenes, and I watch for character development. It's just something I do. Mindlessly killing people for no apparent reason is what I dislike in a video game. If instead I saw a cutscene, grew onto the main character, then saw people kidnap his daughter, then I'd have good reason to kill those people... if that makes sense. In other words, I prefer a story behind things.

And as Legendium said, people need stories. /agree
DF AQW  Post #: 15
12/14/2012 21:24:28   
Starstruck
Member

I think it's because I'm blond, but I've been repeatedly reminded that hair color is not a valid measure of intelligence.

Source material. OK. Typically, my sources stem from a single basic idea. (It is at this point that, if you were to tilt your head to one side, you could hear superjars laughing) From there, I like to consider other ideas that mesh well with that idea. For instance, Yuxe. The basic idea for him (upon reinvention, since his first incarnation was basically "does really cool things") is that he is an Earth-aligned shapeshifter. That segued naturally into racial traits, history, abilities, and whether he was dirt, stone, or clay (he turned out to be crystal instead, which was a pretty cool decision that led to some nice traits).

My only problem with this method has been the typical Overboard issue, in which I throw myself under the bus by over complicating things far past the point they should ever need to go past. This is my primary weakness and is most likely inherent in the method, though my personal experiences and personality may be involved somewhere.
DF MQ  Post #: 16
12/15/2012 6:21:01   
black knight 1234567
Member

Starstruck@ Blonde*
HAHA! after all those years of waiting, I finally corrected you on something!
*Ahem* anyways:
I get alot of inspiration from video games, myself. Every spec ops type of character I ever did had atleast some inspiration from Big Boss.
AQ DF MQ AQW  Post #: 17
12/15/2012 7:35:09   
Legendium
Member

@BK

Star could have been typing blonde in German, in which case, Star spelled it correctly.
Anyway.

What is Spec Ops?
DF MQ Epic  Post #: 18
12/15/2012 7:39:32   
black knight 1234567
Member

Special forces, or special operations forces are military units highly-trained to perform unconventional, often high-risk missions. Or black ops type of character, too, take some inspiration from the same place.
AQ DF MQ AQW  Post #: 19
12/18/2012 19:06:43   
DaiTigris
How We Roll Winner
June14


Thanks thanks again everyone for adding something here.

I love reading, no pass time is better spent than reading books, and I find that I have a liking for anything written by Twain. Also personally I am taking up, to actually finish this time, reading through the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

I like to derive a lot of my inspirations from existing myths, fairytales, archetypes, and movies. Now I know someone's going to slap me for the next thing I'm going to mention, but I think it's alright if used properly. I find that using Tv Tropes can be helpful when I'm comparing character traits and how they've been used. On a side note relating to that site, I've found that it's always better to compare than to try and copy paste several tropes in when working with character creation.
AQ DF MQ AQW  Post #: 20
12/21/2012 12:06:56   
TJByrum
Member

For some reason, I got interested in The Lord of the Rings. I rented Return of the King, though I would prefer to have The Two Towers. I think Tolkien's work provides an excellent source or fantasy material. As a matter of fact, I might consider using Tolkien's fantasy stuff as reference.

The Warcraft Universe seems to take a bit of reference from Tolkien (good humans vs evil orcs, with elves in existence as well), but most of that changed after Warcraft III (when undead and night elves came into the picture). Orcs were no longer perceived as 'evil' in a sense.

But anyway, I like the idea of men, elves, dwarves, and evil orcs, along with trolls and ogres and dragons, plus the wood-elves who appeared in the Hobbit. My RP's will probably reference that.
DF AQW  Post #: 21
12/21/2012 12:33:52   
Sir Nicholas
Member

I agree with Ghost. Professor Tolkien really was a genius you know. He created several languages, and an entire fantasy world, upon which countless imitators have popped up over the years. He isn't called the "Father of Modern Fantasy" for nothing.

On a different note, I also like to use R.A Salvatore's "Drizzt" series, as a character source.

I particularly like the idea of the outcast - an anomaly that rejects his species' regular social values and standards and instead follows his own idea of right and wrong. He rises to the occasion, eventually becoming a powerful figure in his own world until his reputation and his ideals become the stuff of legend.

Then, along the way he gathers a group of like-minded individuals that help him, provide him with emotional support and reason, and aid during times of strife. Even when confronted with the dark half of himself (reflected in a rival character of opposite alignment) he only displays steadfast conviction in his ideals.


But unlike Drizzt, my character's efforts actually have changed his entire race's ideals, and for the better. He gives them the idea that they can live in peace with others.

The particular ideas I play with regarding this character are Knight of Faith, and the "Reforming Crusader".

Unlike many other examples however, my character isn't at all angsty or guilt ridden at his nature. He is really a cheerful, sunny and optimistic fellow. He's not immune to self doubt, but he deals with it when it's appropriate, and not in the heat of battle.

And as well, he's made complete peace with his animal-instinct. He has in fact harnessed it, used it for the greater good. He thinks nothing of it in fact, citing it as the same way a human might use tools to overcome obstacles that cannot be bypassed with physical might.
_____________________________________________

Then of course, there's another character I'm working on, which I happen to take certain concepts from both Ciaphas Cain (Warhammer 40K's own Hero of the Imperium!) and Commissar Ibram Gaunt (also from 40K) - the title character of Gaunt's Ghosts.

His name and basic archetype are that of the ronin: A wandering, masterless samurai - though he eventually becomes an authority figure in a military organization. He even becomes a full-fledged Colonel. With a reputation as both a master swordsman and a skilled leader, he fights his way through every major threat that comes his way.

Morever, he comes to terms with himself as a fighter and as a leader. He eventually comes to enjoy the life of a soldier - realizing that he's become something of an example to his men, though he also sometimes wonders where he would be in peacetime.

The general idea I like to play with, with him is the "Old Soldier - looking for a purpose after the War is won".

He eventually has to come to grips with the fact that the war will end sooner or later, and that there's always room for greater aspirations than just fighting and killing, and that not all warriors get to die in battle - with their pride intact.

He later becomes a rather famous artist, having made peace with himself.
AQ  Post #: 22
12/21/2012 12:44:58   
Eukara Vox
Legendary AdventureGuide!


quote:

I think it's because I'm blond, but I've been repeatedly reminded that hair color is not a valid measure of intelligence.
*stabs Starstruck repeatedly* Please do not be proactive in the propagation of this overused stereotype. It annoys me to no end. I am blonde and am extremely intelligent. Hair colour has nothing to do with intelligence. *stabs Starstruck once more for good measure*


My biggest resources are mythology and ancient history, both things I not only love and research, but teach. There is nothing better than reality, folks. Our ancestors are full of incredible examples of heroes, villains, regular and exceptional people. And mythology is merely the self-expression of a people, their culture and their way of coping with what is happening around them.
AQ DF MQ AQW Epic  Post #: 23
12/22/2012 11:41:19   
TJByrum
Member

@Eukara: I don't know a whole lot about mythology, but I love reading about the Roman Empire, Medieval Era, and about the Vikings (and other northern cultures). I especially love reading about the battles and wars that took place. I like Scandinavian (?) mythology, but like I said: don't know much about it. But the whole Valhalla, Valkyries, and stuff I like.
DF AQW  Post #: 24
12/24/2012 12:36:48   
Starstruck
Member

I cannot call myself blonde; it is a gender distinction carried over from the word's original language, French. Sorry, BK :P (didn't know it was a word in German, though; thanks Legend!)

@Ol' Sir Nick: Ho! Ho! Ho! (please don't come down my chimney)

I like your characters, though I would never in a million years dream of ever playing them (which means: next time I feel like pushing my boundaries I'm going to be playing an Upright and Virtuous Paladin). The second one's story seems a little silly, though. "I was a great soldier and then I have to realize the war is over...and then I become a rather famous artist!"

The main issue I see with this is the setting. If it was the real world, when there are periods in the history of a country that make it almost patently impossible to fight two wars (WWI and WWII are a notable exception), I'd say he's set. But this is an RP board where fantasy is the norm, and there's always something for a soldier/mercenary to do to keep his fighting skills sharp and his blade in use. Adventuring!

That said, you could easily have him come to terms with Not Everything Is Fighting by adventuring, as not everything is fighting when adventuring. $.02
DF MQ  Post #: 25
Page:   [1] 2   next >   >>
All Forums >> [Gaming Community] >> [Role Playing] >> Role Playing General Discussion >> What do you use for good Rp source and refrence material?
Page 1 of 212>
Jump to:



Advertisement




Icon Legend
New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts




Forum Content Copyright © 2018 Artix Entertainment, LLC.

"AdventureQuest", "DragonFable", "MechQuest", "EpicDuel", "BattleOn.com", "AdventureQuest Worlds", "Artix Entertainment"
and all game character names are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Artix Entertainment, LLC. All rights are reserved.
PRIVACY POLICY


Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition