Occupations and Character Ideas

So you have a character name, but what are you going to do out here in the big wide world of danger, intrigue and adventure? What can you do, well I'll tell you now there's no real limit bar that of common sense and your own mind. You're in a world of make believe, and high adventure. The only current big no-no are Noble characters, these are usually specially approved and since we don't have that many large Kingdoms that are grid capable around Ashirion I prefer to keep Nobles to a very low minimum. Nobility to me should be earned and not just applied to a character at creation so you can say. I am the third Son of Duke Grundlebar the Second, Lord of Seicholm, and bearer of the title of Privy Councillor. That will get you a big resounding 'who?' from the real Noble characters on the world.

So play well, impress the rulers of Ashirion and you could find yourself with a title and if they are feeling generous, lands and wealth.

So what kinds of characters exist in a High Fantasy World?

Gods, no not GODS, but Gods, that's a tricky question to answer, if you read a lot, and I do you'll find a wealth of ideas out there in novel land. Got a favourite hero you like or something inside your head that might fit with the theme here? then perhaps you should be thinking along those lines?

Warriors, fighters, gladiators (not in Ruatha), bladesmen and women if you like to battle then these are the kinds of characters for you, but it's not always about combat. You could play a retired general, a kindly knight, anything you just have to put your imagination to work. And work with my staff on a concept, even myself. I'll take time if I have it to work with you on a resonable and sensible character idea. Remember +staff is your friend.

But if you don't like blades then perhaps you might wish to try out a more learned character, the scholar, the scribe, perhaps a wizard or magus of some description, male or female. Again the mind is the only limitation. It's all about creating a unique and interesting concept without overpowering it.

Foresty types, a shy and reclusive woodsman, ranger or scout, look at our races, history and theme and think. If I were a hero or villain on this world, what kind would I be and what kind of race would I play. We suggest if you're new to rp stay away from the Shakari and the Eldrin to begin with. Meet a few in game and play alongside them, see how they're played. If you like them then by all means apply for your next alternate character to be one.

Sneaky types, the thief and the rogue, general vagabonds. Play a robin hood type, or a downright selfish cuss, just remember that to every action there's an equal and opposite reaction, and if you pick the pocket of a lonely mage on the street you might be getting more than you bargained for. Or of course you might make friends with that character through skill and through good roleplaying. In this case it's an example of rp'ing working to a mutual advantage. Fun and a good scene, the reward being two good friends.

So there's no real list of what you can be, or what you can't be the idea is to come forwards and ask, the worst you'll get is a no to your request if it is highly unreasonable or considered overpowered. Asking to play any kind of Over the Top Character is indeed grounds for a long winded approval as the massive spell list and powers list is whittled down into a more usable form. Asking to play a feature NPC will usually be refused since most of those are played by the Admin who know them extremely well.

You can be a Victim Character if you like, these are pretty much throw away characters who are going to die in the end, or be abused by the game's villains. Flower girls or street brats who might find bullying guards, evil wizards, or hungry Dragons. But there's nothing to stop you from playing a Flower Girl as a Player who's not a Victim. The key here is imagination and working with the theme of the gameworld.

Assassins (Player Character Assassins)

The Assassin is a class that has been restricted to NPC only now as of this day 16/12/2001. Due to the preponderance of requests to join this particular caste of clandestine killer. And the fact that the Assassin is something I personally think has been overdone to death in Fantasy as well as Modern day. Hell face it. It's been just overdone.

The last Assassin to be approved is the LAST PC Assassin to be approved full stop, don't ask me or my Admin if you can be one, you'll be told NO, no way, EVER.

I have several problems anyways with Assassins in an RPG environment and today has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that PC Assassins require a great deal of book-keeping and monitoring. Something that I am totally unwilling to do for a dozen or so characters.

Assassins are not a fair class, they are mostly often cold hearted amoral beings who slay anyone for the right price. There really should be no such thing as a Noble Assassin. IMEHO they're a pain to RP in a consent based MU* and I have /yet/ to see one played properly to my strict specifications.

This goes for Hired Killers of any kind, Ninjas etc. Ashirion doesn't support a Oriental Base of theme, there are really not all that many Hand to hand types on the MU* because once again it's all been done to death already. Ashirion is about non-Stereotypes. IMHO Assassins are just yet another Stereotype. I do really get sick of hearing the same old story about how my character is a cold hearted man or woman who will kill someone because of ZZzzzzzzZZZZZZZzzz

Get the Impression that the Bosswolf doesn't quite like the idea of having on-camera Assassins?

Why? you might ask?

Often they use Poisons, lethal or non-lethal, remember my Policy, don't make a pose for another player or influence their actions. I kind of feel that said skills, powers, alchemical means do just that. If there is a lethal poison used on a character it will be because that character is an NPC who I want dead, or the player has consented via GM intervention to be removed via those means. I'm likely to hit the roof if I find anyone has broken this rule. You have been warned.

It's like the skill Death-blow, the moment that I approve just one of these skills, I lose the power to say no to someone for good. Soon we'll have nothing more than Assassin Wars and I'm sorry but most of the time the Assassin is the class that I've seen most Twinks play in my long years of RP'ing.

So there you have it. The Assassin is a non-viable class for Occupations period as of now. Those already approved as such, count yourselves among the lucky few who have made it this far...because there won't be another...ever.

In Conclusion and this might sound heavy handed, this is my world, my sandbox, these are my rules...if you don't like them then find a place that allows you to play an Assassin...there are other occupations apart from a badly done and overused, boring idea to play. Harsh yes, play something that's not a stereotype. A good example of this is a new player, V'nion who has created a wonderfully simple, yet engaging concept that's not a killer of killers, or a killer of people for money. But I am not going to tell you what he is, you'll have to find out for yourselves.

~Wolf...