Info about roleplay

Balomew · Sep 13, 2015

INTRODUCTION

If you need reading material during meal breaks, then you're like me. This afternoon, the only interesting article I had in my bag was a guide for roleplaying and character class in Skyrim, a piece that I had written little over two years ago. Flipping slowly through the pages and struggling to ignore the errors, I decided that it was time to rewrite it. So here I am, and so are you, likely drawn to this thread by the vague title.

You will find three focuses in this guide:
CHARACTER - The character section includes about a dozen character class concepts. These are not your ordinary run-of-the-mill builds. I will not tell you what your skills, race, personality, and detailed history should be. If you're not drawn to any of these, then don't force yourself to use one.
TIPS - I have included a list of tips for immersive in-game immersion. These tips can also be applied to post-by-post roleplaying on this website.
LINKS - I have also included several links to roleplay sources that I find exceptionally helpful for character creation.

CHARACTER ORIGIN CONCEPTS

MADMAN
This character, due to a mental disease, is mentally disturbed and prone to brief bouts of unusual behavior. The character acts normally throughout the day with the exception of roughly one hour daily. During this short time period, the character goes mad, often haunted by hallucinations and paranoia. S/he may see, hear, feel, or smell something that is not there. They may also talk to inanimate objects or creatures, strike at things that are not there, or be paranoid about being in constant danger by someone or something. This is usually the result of trauma.
LOST ROYAL
This character is a descendant of the Hero of Kvatch, the greatest ally of the late Septim empire. This character's parents died in an undocumented disaster, forcing you to relocate to a safer location by an unnamed or familiar force. Previously, s/he had lived a luxurious noble life of great fame but no great skill. Skyrim was chosen as a safe haven, despite the civil war, because, as you were told by your guardians, is the safest province in the long run.
THANE
How this character choose to spend their days is up to them, but it must always be in honor of the Jarl they serve. Are they honorable or do they secretly deal with criminals? Perhaps they have a personal vendetta against a citizen, or work to escape family life.
MILLER
This character lives a simple life working at a lumber mill. Every Sundas, s/he prays to a nearby or handmade shrine of some deity. Travel to the nearest settlement once a week to get rumors and rations.
CANNIBAL
This character, an outcast from society by choice or force, feeds on raw flesh, and is barbaric in all but speech and appearance. S/he seems normal during the daytime but feeds at night in privacy. This character's weapons are particularly dangerous. S/he kills only to feed and rarely for entertainment. S/he enjoys this as a blessing or abhors it as a curse brought upon you by a decision gone rogue or by an unfriendly deity.
BOUNTY HUNTER
Travel from settlement to settlement, never staying anywhere for long. Talk to barkeeps to discover the names and locations of criminals whose deaths would be paid for by the local Jarl.
BOUNTY SPY
This character makes their living by observing people and investigating people for paying clients. For example, NPC A at City A sends the character on a mission to spy on NPC A's spouse. The client, NPC A, will pay them after agreeing that the issue has been resolved. S/he takes their job slowly and keeps his/her silence, eventually moving on to the next client.
JAILBREAKER
This character relies heavily on skills in lockpicking and stealth; consider also speech and illusion. Their job is to break people out of jail for a client. This is done by sneaking in or getting arrested and then breaking out to free prisoners. The character may hone their skills and gather client detail at the Thieves guild. The character's life goal may be to break out a family member or friend from Cidna Mine or the Winterhold prison. Don't open every jail cell, as some clients want specific people to stay in jail. S/he, as a professional specialized thief, avoids bloodshed. This character could begin as if a jailbreaking job went sour and s/he is now forced to serve their time imprisoned.
ROYAL ASSASSIN
A noble saved this character after a past of unwilling service to an unfriendly master. S/he was molded into a assassin for said noble, to whom s/he has sworn fealty to. This noble could be a Jarl or the Emperor, marking a twist in the final Dark Brotherhood quest. Acting also as a spy, s/he stalks their victims, learning their routine before assassinating them and going to a disclosed location for pay from a masked courier.
WEREWOLF
Though unknown by their Shield-Siblings and perhaps to even themselves, this character involuntarily shapeshifts into a werewolf during night hours and on special occasions, going completely rogue without any control or understanding of the crimes that they are committing. S/he is human by daybreak, but their clothes are torn and you don't remember why you feel weak and defiled. S/he has no bounty, but at some point someone is bound to discover the truth and make you face justice.
VIGILANTE
This character travels on foot or by horse unless their self-proposed contract otherwise permits. S/he steals to make coin. S/he prefers to not kill guards and they protect civilians, but criminals are always executed in cold blood after confessing to their crimes.
KNIGHT ERRANT
This character undertakes the most perilous quests, often with a companion by their side. S/he aids citizens and follows the main questline. Buy only an elaborate house. In their leisure time, this character bounty-hunts.
ANTI-HERO
S/he lives out their days at the base of a bottle, the survivor of a great trauma, dreaming always of vengeance. When others finally call upon them for aid, s/he accepts only for selfish reasons of wishing ill will upon the enemy, not out of pity or compassion for the employer. Their life is composed of hatred and a no-good feeling. When told to fight, s/he does so without mercy or restraint. This character is not a mercenary. S/he kills whomever they feel ought to. In the end, /she he is praised as a hero - others are eager to overlook the rest, partially in fear of their feeble loyalty.
HISTORIAN
This character collects and studies Tamrielic lore, working with the College of Winterhold and hiring only those you trust for handy work. S/he spends at least on day studying a ruin or dungeon, instead of simply clearing it out and looting as adventurers tend to do. Illusion would be a useful skill for this conceptual build.

IN-GAME AND SF ROLEPLAY TIPS

Chances are you don't constantly run from destination to destination. Have your character walk, take breaks, and take the easiest routes for faster, safer travel. Travel only if the weather permits, with some reasonable exceptions. Wear appropriate travel and weather apparel, and seek shelter when needed.
If your character comes across a settlement, do not pass it as though it is nothing unless for a legitimate reason. Take a break at this friendly place and check on the folk.
If finding yourself in the wilderness at night, set up camp to the side of the road.
Try to abstain from fast travel. Use the map realistically by ignoring the compass HUD and take into consideration if the conditions allow for searching the provincial map.
When in a dungeon, carry a light source, and walk slowly and cautiously with an unsheathed weapon.
If your character takes notice of significant eye-candy, take a moment to let them appreciate it and perhaps plan to visit it again another time. Take time to relax, or take a walk to clear your mind.
Eat, drink, and bathe regularly. Sit down for a bit after eating to digest; do not cross into cold areas directly after bathing. Bring silverware for meals on the road and use a linen wrap as a napkin.
Sleep regularly and relax beforehand. Wear appropriate clothes to bed. Store inventory items in a nearby chest or cabinet before sleeping.
If you must, Wait in a comfortable area, e.g. under a tree.
Keep to a realistic carry weight and item-bulk restriction.
Simulate damage taken from combat besides losing health/stamina/magicka. Rest after combat. After a major battle, take time to heal and do less physically-demanding activities.
Honor late friends by scattering flowers over their casket or corpse. Straighten out corpses into natural and comfortable positions. Drag floating corpses onto land. Honor also memorable enemies by leaving their items with them.
Follow a particular Divine or Daedric prince. Worship them and do activities that would please them.
Write letters to family and friends unless unable to.
Treat your character's spouse and children with respect by spending leisure time with them.

LINKS

shadowlightwolf · Sep 17, 2015

I'm only replying to this post so that it will get saved to my subscriptions on TapaTalk XD. I'd like to be able to refer to this at any time heh.
Posted from my Nokia Lumia running Windows 10 via TapaTalk.

Info about roleplay

Latest Videos

Did this thread help you?

Yes

No

Balomew

Active Member

shadowlightwolf

Member

Share this page

Recent chat visitors

Latest posts