#character customisation

[rosesrotofficial]

have a hairstyle you wanna see in killer chat: expanded edition? 👩‍🦱🧑‍🦱👩‍🦰

we're now taking suggestions from my apotheotic rotterlings on kofi and patreon for styles! ;)

alongside this, apotheotic rotterlings get to suggest headcanons and pitch ideas for me to add into my games! ❤️🥀 as well as a special secret bonus every now and then…

🥀 kofi

🥀 patreon

:) i look forward to seeing 'em!

[secundareforged]

Archone's creation for the Reforged!<зз

First version of scaling, eyeing serpentine concluded for the oncoming chapter!<з

Within the current character's creation there are approached:

Two dispositions for the Archone - of delicately so demure volitions, within of purely so visual practicality (for they shall not apply the way Archone is referenced, nor there are to be expressively expected changes of the storyline, narration withal, towards the change of disposition). Both body styles expect all-equal sets within the clothes, accessories and archetypes, and hairstyles strived~

Four earlier archetypes for open choosing - within the future, more of them to be added and approached forth. Within those archetypes, a variation of other story's figures to be added and concluded along by further chapters, too.

Seven hairstyles, all-equalised for every disposition, six variations, too, within the eyes!<з

Eight sections of jewelry approached, able to be put within the layers over each one another by a choice. Within of them - two necklaces, two types of earrings, two headbands, one headpiece, and one patch for eye.

And more to be then gradually added by other chapters and date's volitions!<зз

[cocoshomebrew]

So a week or so ago, I published a poll asking what sort of homebrews people would like to see more of next year. The most resounding response was for more subclasses (which I'm happy to oblige since they're my favourite thing to make anyway), but a close second was for more miscellaneous content for players. So, I've been working on something different which players can use for their characters called physical traits. This idea originally came to me while I was designing an older character, and I wondered why age wasn't a factor that influenced characters despite the fact it influences you in real life.

Physical traits are a bit like racial traits in that they are given to 1st level characters and influence the way they play, only you can choose them freely and they give both perks and detriments. You can have up to three: one that factors in physical size, one that factors in age, and one that factors in your weight. If your character is above or below average in any of these regards, consider trying out one of these traits! They should be perfectly balanced for normal play since their downsides and upsides are relatively even.

I'll be designing more content like this in future since I want to expand my repertoire beyond just races and subclasses. If you like this and want more random content for your characters, I've also designed some magic items and variant background features. If you want the high quality PDF versions of these or you just want to support me, please consider pledging to my patreon.

[doorbloggr]

Monday 31/5/21 - Identifying with your Videogame Proxy Character

Videogames offer a unique experience over other story-telling media forms because the player is in charge of the character, and influences how they interact with the world. But controlling the character is not the same as becoming the character. Different gamers may have a different experience across different videogames, in regards to how they view themselves participating in the world of the game.

Pictured: A Gamer

So today, I asked myself, some close friends, and polled twitter:

Is the videogame protagonist an extension of yourself?

The first question I asked the class was how you identify with a character that already has a name and backstory. Sure, when you're reading a book or watching a movie, you may see some of yourself in the main character, but ultimately, you are rooting for them on the side-lines.

Many videogame characters, say for example, Sora from Kingdom Hearts, have pre-established goals, motivations and often full personalities, BUT we direct their moment to moment actions. So do people see themselves as the character, or is it still watching as a bystander? I queried my friends on this with the following Poll:

Is it me, or Mario?

Super Mario Galaxy 2, 2010

Overwhelmingly, everyone voted that they are controlling Mario. Sure the experience they are having in the world is theirs, but Mario is not this world's version of them, he is simply a puppet, a vessel in which they drive their actions through. The main character is not me, its Mario. When we discussed this part further, my friends also added that in games where the main character is an established character, but nameable, such as many Final Fantasy or Legend of Zelda games, this did not change their perspective of their place in the world. Yes I may call Link "Mitchell", but I am simply along for the ride of Mitchell the Hylian's story; we may share a name, but they're still a different entity.

Who is your character?

Next, I asked my friends if the answer changes if the character is a blank-slate and also customisable. In World Simulation games such as Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, or Free-Roam Adventure games such as Skyrim or Cyberpunk, your character, how they look, behave, grow and specialise, is all up to the player.

Animal Crossing New Horizons, 2020

The response was a bit complicated on this one.

One friend used Pokémon as example on how self-insert characters work for them. The trainer that they control and run around with is not them. It is a character separate to them who they are in charge of. BUT, the Pokémon they use are their Pokémon, it is just the proxy trainer they control who commands them. Another friend used farm sims such as Stardew Valley to express a similar opinion. The character they play as is not them; but the farm, the crops, livestock belong to the player, not the character.

Pokémon Sword/Shield, 2019

So to summarise, Mitchell is just a Pokémon Trainer who shares my name, but the Pokémon Mitchell uses are mine. That is my Mudkip, not Mitchell the Pokémon Trainer's Mudkip, he just uses them.

I would say that in very few games, I do consider myself to be the main character, but Animal Crossing is the only example I'd personally use. Echoing that statement my friend said earlier, the island, the landscaping, and taste in décor, they are all of my design. But even if I can't say the Villager I control is a 1-1 Animal Crossing me, they are as close as I'll get to myself in the game.

How do you make your character?

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, 2011

The last query I asked my friends about is when you do have varied character customisation in front of you, do you try to make yourself in the game, or do you create something else entirely? I didn't use a poll for this one, since the range of responses was sure to vary.

In most cases, the responses seemed to push towards using character creation to just design a character that looks cool. One of my friends said that if there are options to make a character look like himself, he will only do so if the game specifies in-game that this is "you, the player", but he will still consider this character separate to himself. Just a look-alike he controls. But most often, given the tools, he would choose to "just make characters think look cool or dumb as hell."

Bloodborne, 2015

As an artist, I use the term OC, or Original Character, a lot. And even if it is a bit out of context here, I have likened my friend's use of character creators as a way to make OCs. Games like Darksouls and Skyrim have the tools to make the player character a total rad-looking badass or maybe the ugliest MF on the planet. Why obey reality when fantasy has so many more options?

Since a lot of the time spent in Action-Adventure games is spent looking at a character's back, why wouldn't I give my character a look/outfit that accentuates their butt? Another friend said that she's never interested in making a character into herself, "I make someone super pretty with the big boobs". I myself hand-picked my Monster Hunter character's physical attributes and fashion outfit to look as cool and cute as i could. And then I treat her like I would any other Art OC.

Monster Hunter Rise, 2021 (Right),

My drawing of my Hunter (Left)

In Conclusion

If the character has a name and backstory, players see themselves in control of them, but do not put themselves in their boots at all.

If the character is name-able and customisable, then in general, players will still say that character is not them, they just control them. But the actions and possessions of that custom character are owned more by the player.

When players have the choice to make a character look however they want, rarely will people make themselves, rather they'll make an original character who's as cool or ugly or sexy as their imagination and the tools given allow.

Thankyou for taking the time to read my little case-study on Proxy Characters and Self-Recognition of their Players.

[smilingperformer]

Sooooooo.... I went on a shopping spree last night. :DDD

[cylawsonwrites]

Hey, love this new WIP! I was just wondering what kind of skill stats you were thinking of implementing, and if we could host one or two skills a bit while held by the CDC. I mean, they provide books so you could learn a bit, or you could add a little workout routine. Although, if I'm being honest, I'd probably just be a couch potato and stream shows if I were in that situation 😅

Yeah, tbh I will likely let MC tell what kind of skills they picked up on during their time at the CDC during Chapter 4! I'm not sure what type of skills there will be yet... I'll prolly let there be "specializations" kind of like in Mass Effect? Skills you picked up and continue to get good in. I'm not sure yet.

[seraphinitegames]

I gotta say, I'm a little confused about what the difference is between the short hair option and the very short hair option?

Short hair I was thinking was like pixie cut kinda thing, or maybe a bob.

Very short , my thinking was more like shaved or crew cut.

Hope that helps! Thank you so much for the ask :)

[nautilusopus]

also gen 6 was really fucking good, y’all are just salty fairy types didn’t look “cool” enough