Roleplaying a corpse

[Sangwa]

That makes sense to me.

Though adding the /sleep command wouldn't be a bad idea. But it should be possible to see the char breathing.

[Hilon]

That's a rather gruesome, but also functional and accurate depiction in my opinion, UTM.   

[zorbels]

Moon well put and I agree completely. I mean if you are dead, your dead.

I also agree with Sangwa as well. It would be nice to have a /sleep funtion.

[Huget]

I agree, /sleep would be very useful. Not only for RPing corpses, but in other cases too. Let's say someone pushes me down and I fall, hit my head and become unconsious. I'd rather use /sleep than /sit, because the /sit animation looks too "relaxed" to appear unconcious, especially for my Ylian. /sleep could be the same animation as /die, though a /wake animation would have to be added. Anyway, that's my 4.2 cents.

* Huget casts a vote for the /die_hard_with_a_vengeance command

[Raa]

I think it would be better if you had /fall instead of /sleep because, if you were knocked down, you wouldn't suddenly fall asleep (unless you were knocked out.) It could say, "_____ falls," which could be interpretated in many forms, unlike /sleep. Then, when you wish to get up, you just type /stand, and you're up again. Or there could be /sleep and /fall, and could look different from each other.

[Zwenze]

Ok, maybe it was a stupid idea to use my main char as example. The idea is to set up a crime scene with an mule to spark an role play.

[Kieve]

Planeshift cheat: Enter "BruceWillis DiesHard" as charname to unlock secret Explosion Glyph and start the game with 9999 mana.


Also, three cheers for any form of /sleep, /fall, /passout, /keelover, etc command for alternate method of being on the ground.

[Duraza]

/truedeath

I could have used that before.....it would stop me from being tempted to play as characters I have perma dead because I'm too proud to delete them.

Still I could see a problem with it....Knowing that new characters will test it out from silliness then most likely complain on the fourms everytime they do it and claim to have not known it would be perma death. It would be a useful function but most likely create a lot of new problems.

[Under the moon]

 /truedeath

"You must be ingame for at least one hour before you can use this command."

Then:

"You are about to delete your character. Are you sure you wish to do this?"

[Earl_Listbard]

and then

"Dude, seriously, your character will be like, gone, forever"


still hits yes


"So if you go on the forums and complain because you can't play, you'll know why, right?"

and then

"Dude, seriously, are you really sure? this will destroy your character FOREVER"

and after

"You wont be able to play this character ever again, continue?"

and after that

"You do understand, like REALLY understand what you're doing?"

and then

"I don't think you know the sheer magnitude of your actions by clicking yes"

And if one persists

"Look why don't you just like not play as this character for a while?"

continuing

"I mean, what if you want to play as him again?"

and then

"I'm not gonna let you do this."

should one persist despite all the above, they truely know what they're doing. Or they're really, really brain dead.


Exaggerations aside I think about two message box should appear like utm stated.


"Are you sure? this will delete your character"

then one more, just to be safe

"Your character will be gone forever should you hit yes again, and there will be no way to retrieve it ever again, continue?"

then the player must enter the password for the account, so as to prevent violators...

then apply a countdown, in which the player has one last chance to cancel the action.


then, poof, character gone forever

[Duraza]

/truedeath

"You must be ingame for at least one hour before you can use this command."

Then:

"You are about to delete your character. Are you sure you wish to do this?"

Fine, I guess the warnings will make it better. That and an explanation of true death in the tutorial if there isn't one already. Then I would not feel sorry at all if someone did it while acting silly and then complained 

[Under the moon]

Good call on the password thing, Earl.

[Hilon]

Ok, maybe it was a stupid idea to use my main char as example. The idea is to set up a crime scene with an mule to spark an role play.

If you want to RP a corpse as a way of launching an RP story, then go for it.  Since a 'corpse' seems to indicate 'true death' as I understand it defined by settings, then I would suggest using an alt that will be deleted after the disposal of the corpse.  If you take the pose (lying down) out of the possible tools available to you at this time, you still have other options left.

1.  Character description:
Get creative with the physical description of the corpse.  Include visible clues that are apparent to anyone standing over the body and looking at it.  Include things like scars, torn clothing, unusual skin coloration, etc.  Make your target audience look for these hints and clues.

2.  Actions:
The /my command is your best tool for providing interactive feedback and deeper clues if someone is attentive enough to know what to look closer at.  A corpse can't speak, but can still be a character.

Examples:

Code: [Select]

Player: /me examines the back of the corpse's head.
Corpse: /my head has a wound that appears to have been caused by a blunt object.

Player: /me examines the body's pockets.
Corpse: /my pockets are empty.

If you want even more impact, have the future corpse be seen while still alive.  Make him a real character and play him for a few weeks before his unfortunate demise.  Give him a 'normal' description and then change the description as appropriate as soon as he becomes a corpse.  If people meet him while he is alive, there is a more personal connection to him.  The more 'different' or 'quirky' the character, the more likely he will be remembered.  The point is to 'make him known'.  Depending on the circumstances surrounding his demise, clues can dropped while he is alive as well ... clues to something that is going to happen to him.  This part isn't necessary and may not even work with what you have in mind.  I'm speaking in general terms only since I don't know the details of your idea.

Under the moon has pulled this sort of thing off beautifully in the past and may be able to offer additional suggestions that I have overlooked.

As far as the posing of the corpse, that is a relatively minor issue and can still be handled with some creativity either in the description or with /my.  Just have the corpse sitting and propped against a wall. 

Good luck.

[Under the moon]

I think Hilon is refering to the poor Klyros I nailed to the door of the temple. Yes, I did play that character for a week or two during that RP. He was helpful and kind, and did all he could to aid those that were getting sick. When he was found dead, nailed to the temple door, a few people did know him, and told the others that he had been seen a lot around the temple (a big clue). The description was gruesome, but full of clues as to how he dyed.

As for the use of /me and /my, that should not be used in open chat for a single viewer who is in a group, and /tell is better suited. I used this when I created the statue of Krook after he dyed, using /tell shortcuts for key info, and [[ooc instructions for players to either /me looks at [thing], or /tell Krook [what you are looking at.]

In the example of a corpse:

Player looks at head.

/tell $target [the player who is 'looking'] /me does not seem to have anything odd there. [standard response to all places with no clues.]

Player looks at foot.

/tell $target /my feet are bare, and smell of the sewer.

Player looks at pocket.

/tell $target /my pocket seems to have something in it.

etc.

The key is to think ahead, and have all the clues ready. Honestly, I would use any of my characters for this type of RP if called for, including Hyuken, Arnigus, or Aeshion (though I think I may be killed in real life for doing so. ). I know a few of my characters that would tear the entire realm apart if they found a little dwarf named Einnol in this state.