The Correct Description

[bloodedIrishman]

Hello,
This is a guideline on the way to write a description for yourself.
A personal description helps other players see what you look like. Most players add items to their body that couldn't be placed their with in game items. Therefore descriptions help roleplay.

However, I have noticed players put incidents from their past and the name of their guild which are not relevant to IC. This is because a person would not discern a past or a guild's name from looking at a body from the outlook.
So guys, just remember when you write your description to put in what you want yourself to look like, and what you wish for others to see you as in IC.

Also, things such as "You suddenly feel frightened by his strong aura of courage" or "You feel attracted to her perfect features" aren't right because its making decisions about someone else's feelings or movements. It's the same concept as when people RP fight and say "/me stabs Johnny in the face and he dies". It's just not fitting into IC.

[LigH]

There are indeed recommendations: Only add what people can see at a glance - or might see with more efforts. But don't add too much, the description should be readable in a moment. And don't add invisible information (like your whole life story). Furthermore, "godmodding" entries (enforcing a reaction or feeling) are discouraged. And faking system messages ("You evaluate that..."<newline><newline><newline><newline>) is forbidden.

[Timmothy Perriwinkle]

Also, it is a staple for every female character to note their "perfectly-shaped butt" and "large, busty chest".

[bloodedIrishman]

preferably mandatory   

[Under the moon]

This topic, as well as the RP one in the other thread have been covered many times in the past, and people have yet to listen to them. Here are the main reasons why:

1. The people you are talking to don't read forums.
2. People don't want to be told what to do.
3. Everyone thinks they are right.
4. People don't give a flying teffpile about playing in ways they think are stupid.
5. Those people are ignorant.

[LigH]

Your most constructive reply ever, UtM.

...


BTW: Those few 1337 people who want to play "correctly" (or talk about your opinion how to), visit the Stonehead Tavern forums too!

[Rigwyn]

Personally I like short brief descriptions since it takes less time to read them .. I am guilty though of having a longer multi-part description - mainly because I don't feel like retyping my description each time I cloak or uncloak. ( it would be nice if I could at least copy and paste ) . Worth noting -  the detaut description from character creation tells you all kinds of OOC stuff like religion, your mother's name, things you did in your past etc... I don't think it should say all this... but thats just my opinion.

I follow this convention:

** current status **
- unusual things that stick out - ie. looks badly beaten and has a fresh wound on his lower lip
**

Currently wearing: Normal Attire

When in Normal Attire:
-- description

When Cloaked:
-- description

[Oromir]

What I cannot understand is why people say they are wearing cloaks, when they aren't actually available in game, and thus you cannot physically perceive someone as wearing one.

The only concession I have made to people having to use their imagination when looking at a char, is my daughters char, as I want her to be perceived as just a child in game, as she is in RL. (she's 6, but already plays quite well), so her char description is "you see in front of you a female nolthrir child of around 8 years old, and you wonder idly where her parents are".

[LigH]

What I cannot understand is why people say they are wearing cloaks, when they aren't actually available in game, and thus you cannot physically perceive someone as wearing one.

Exactly because the cloaks are not yet implemented. This is the only chance to make your character look as it could not look due to game mechanics: I the imagination of the watcher.

...and you wonder idly where her parents are".

This could already be too much. Don't tell people what they shall think, seeing your char.

[Lhaa]

What I cannot understand is why people say they are wearing cloaks, when they aren't actually available in game

Yep, people cheats all the time.

They cheat in descriptions stating they wear cloaks...
...talking about "other levels" of Yliakum... (you really mean you can't train these?!?!)
...assuring diaboli are black skinned... (you colorblind fools)
...or that they even have a tail!... (hilarious, dude get some glasses)
...saying they're hammering the anvil when all they do is stand next to it all day (the lazy gits)
...making up sheathes for their weapons... (my char ate them, the avatar carries no sheathes)
...using /me to smile or frown.... (for god's sake, my avatar didn't move the mouth at all... and he can't blink, either ¬.¬)

...then they complain when I type "/me kills eveybody" and call me goofmodder or summit...
...cheaters all.

I hate cheaters.
I really do.
Ban all.

[Dralion1221]

...and you wonder idly where her parents are".

This could already be too much. Don't tell people what they shall think, seeing your char.

Yes, I agree. My character is also a child and while I did write the parents are deceased, it's all the way down at the bottom (with the basic info) of the description and it's in brackets saying that's OOC info. I don't say how they died or anything else about her past. You would have to ask IC to get this information.

Yes do try to make descriptions short. Often I come across a really long description and me not having any patience often skim the bio and usually miss something vital. This is what my description basically is:

{{some OOC info you need to know}}
Currently:
Mood: Normal
~any changes at the moment

You see a Nolthir about 10 years old. The rest is a basic description of what she looks like.

Short sentences that describe a little bit more about her. (i.e. You might see her singing songs to herself, cares a lot about younger children. etc.)

Last bit is the basic info that comes with the char when first created.

Okay so some of my description is OOC stuff. But mostly things you would see.

What I cannot understand is why people say they are wearing cloaks, when they aren't actually available in game

Yep, people cheats all the time.

They cheat in descriptions stating they wear cloaks...
...talking about "other levels" of Yliakum... (you really mean you can't train these?!?!)
...assuring diaboli are black skinned... (you colorblind fools)
...or that they even have a tail!... (hilarious, dude get some glasses)
...saying they're hammering the anvil when all they do is stand next to it all day (the lazy gits)
...making up sheathes for their weapons... (my char ate them, the avatar carries no sheathes)
...using /me to smile or frown.... (for god's sake, my avatar didn't move the mouth at all... and he can't blink, either ¬.¬)

...then they complain when I type "/me kills eveybody" and call me goofmodder or summit...
...cheaters all.

I hate cheaters.
I really do.
Ban all.

Twould be quite a boring world if all we right all day is /me stands next to blah blah and nobody wouldn't be able to say anything since the avatar mouths don't move. That's why you have to use your **IMAGINATON**

[Rigwyn]

LOL ...

Oromir - Think of what you see on the screen as an imperfect representation of reality. There are a lot of things that *shoud* be there but aren't so you cannot really go by that logic.

There are no bathrooms, there is nowhere to wash ( lake of tears would become the lake of swill ) , people don't starve if they stop eating, characters never get out of breath, they never bleed, kran don't have mouths (yet they eat rocks), characters do a funny levitation turn without moving their feet, bones don't break, swords can go though you without doing harm, apples can be stuck in walls, characters can walk *though* each other etc...

to add to Lhaa's list:

...assuring Nolthrir's are wearing heavy armor when they are in fact scantily dressed.

[Raekh]

Something comes to my mind reading over this thread.
You play, and roleplay, your char over months and years. You always tried to backup all your actions by trained skills and such, by mechanics.
And while RPing your char along, during battles and wars, your char might be granted some "features", or "skills" by other chars", and you carry on with your char assimilating such skills.
After a while such skills might become most ridiculous.

As a vague example:
Your char was fighting a baddie, the baddie was defeated, and the baddies players tells you, by having defeated his char, your char is granted the ability of residence to blunt weapons.
Now multiply this by 10 baddies and 10 different skills or features.
Another example:
Your char was given a weapon that grants immunity against Dark Magic after a hard fight - gosh, from now on your char is invulnerable against any Dark Magic!

How would this fit into this thread?
People, dont be too greedy or well-taking, but remember that your chars wont be able to learn EVERYTHING. Keep it realistic and fun - to you and to others.

Oh, and dont put into your description: "You see a Nolthrir carrying a weapon making him inharmable by Dark Magic" lol

PS: Regards to Kaerli for the sake of greeting

[Koios]

A very good point imo. In a game that is supposed to very much evolve around RP it's important to give the people you interact with freedom to interpret you the way they decide. Stating that you wear a cloak would, in my case of RP at least, make me a bit vary of the person and why they have decided to cloak themselves. Other things mentioned in the description might lead to good dialogs and RPs about the person's background and history, a great way for storytellers to have a startingpoint!
Of coarse with much not implemented yet, people will have to use their imagination. And we can all agree that we at least got a little of it, you wouldn't play videogames if you didn't. At least not one with stonepeople and blue wingy thingies

That being said, a trait I've wondered a bit about: The Dark Way is said to have some kind of bad/unfortunate effects to the ones who have great knowledge of it. Do they mean physical alteration or mental? For now I'd say this is up to the player, just don't overdo it and levitate with black eyes and speak with 5 voices at once as the surrounding area drops in temperature.

Starting point duly noted and I've rewritten my description a bit from what it used to be I haven't changed my background or history, just taken out the storytelling and added items/frequent actions instead.

"You see a proud Klyros with a gentle look, but black veins run through the translucent skin of his wings. He also have a small scar on his right wing.
He wears a small pendant showing a pair of widespread wings over a faded badge of The Warriors on his chest. His right arm armor is filled with Enki tribalmarkings.
He will seem irritated at the mentioning of gods or in the presence of divine or blessed objects.
He is often found singing or humming to a tune by the band "Klyros Ulber Farm". "

At the end a little bracket with what languages I speak. I have previously found it to be useful for others who aren't necessarily most comfortable with english and have problems asking about game mechanics and such using english.

[Ceraline]

Forgive me if you think this is naïve but how is limiting descriptions to only what you can see at a glance conducive to good role play? I know this topic has been raised many times but have yet to hear a good reason for it. In fact if this is your view then why not go all the way and have no description at all as I can already see what race you are and whether you are wearing armour/ swords etc.?