Character Creation
So you want to submit a Star Ocean character, eh? ^_^ Well, the first thing you should know is that the most important part about a character is the concept. SO2RPG is both a game and a story being written as we go along, and both parts are equally important. Consequently, I'll expect you to have a good idea of how the Star Ocean universe works and what your character would know, whether you've played the game or not. If you haven't played the game, it won't keep you from joining, but I'll expect you to please find a synopsis of the story before reading the background docs and filling out this application. :)
To write up this application, you'll probably want to use a word processor and save frequently. Many a potential role-player has been vexed by a well-placed computer crash! ~_~ Another good thing to do would be to read through this entire document before actually beginning. These may seem like simple, self-evident precautions, but I'm sure we all know the feeling of having a computer eat all our hard work in one gulp. One more thing... do NOT copy and paste this page into your character application and then write in the info; I want a tidy-looking email so I can read it clearly, please. Read on, and good luck! ^_^
Preface:
Player Info
Before you even start out on your character, there are some things you should note, please!
The first is that SO2RPG be held weekly, on Fridays, roughly 5pm to 9pm PST. This may fluctuate a little, too, so you should be prepared to flex somewhat. Additionally, we will switch to a biweekly schedule sometime before Lucca's CTRPG2 starts. SO2RPG will alternate with CTRPG2, so if you're planning on applying for both, don't worry about conflicts. By the way, CTRPG2 is slated to begin this winter.
There are several reasons I'm initially setting it at 5pm PST Friday:
1. It lessens the risk that we will keep players in eastern times zones up virtually until dawn,
2. Friday is the GMs day off from work, and...
3. Every other weekend time later than noon conflicts with an existing or coming RPG. :P
Now that that's over with, tell me a few things about yourself. ^_^
- Your online nickname, so I'll know who you are on IRC.
- Your favorite online chat RPG you've played in so far, if any.
- The type of character you most enjoy playing.
These will not be used to decide whether you are accepted to SO2RPG; your character will - however, it will help me to find the best spot for you in the story. ^_^
What I'm not looking for:
Characters with direct relations to main characters from Star Ocean: The Second Story.
Distant relations will be accepted cautiously. Honestly, they're not really compulsory for a good story.
Nedians surviving from Energy Nede.
I might conceivably accept a Nedian if you have a really good story, but you'd have to be very convincing.
Aliens that resemble something out of a bad acid trip.
Please, take freedoms, but remember this is a fantasy-like sci-fi game, and neither the setting nor the system can handle anything too weird -- like, say, giant super-intelligent one-celled gastropods.
Novel-length character backgrounds
Please try to avoid a ten-page novelette when writing up your app. ^_^;
Star Ocean 1 references
Actually, I have nothing against Star Ocean 1 references, but I have not played the game so be aware that I probably won't know anything about it.
More notes about how to submit are towards the bottom of this page, if you need a little extra advice.
Part 1: The Docs
There are two starting-off docs for you to read in Rich Text format:
SO2RPG Races doc
SO2RPG Locations doc
There are also two pages in web format that you should read:
Premise of the Story
Heraldic Magic and Technology
Read the docs! Reading up on the background of this game will help you to flesh out your character. SO2RPG takes place several years after the game, so there have been a few changes, and in addition the docs will tell you which of the variable SO2 endings the game will be based on.
It may not be necessary to read all of the information; details are in each doc. For instance, you'll probably only need to read up on the race you're interested in and the locations your character would know about. But if you read it all, you'll be even better off, so don't hesitate to do so if you are at all unsure.
Part 2: The Concept
Now, decide how your character would fit into the story, and how they would compare/contrast with other people. This is easily the most important part; everything else will just give me a quick run-down of your concept from a different perspective.
Make sure you have a solid idea for a character you like, with at least the personality and a central "plot catch" fleshed out. Getting this in your head is important before you go on. Once you're ready with your best idea waiting to be written out, you can continue on to part 2 of character creation.
Part 3: The Write-up
And now for the most important part about your character! Give me your best stuff that you've been thinking about until now. ^_^ Before you begin writing up your background, personality, etc., you need to write up a little bio, in the Star Ocean style. Details below.
The Bio
I'm going to borrow this silly little idea from the SO2 instruction manual, since it's a good way to tell a lot about a character in just a few words. Please tell me the following things about your character, and please keep it to one sentence per item tops:
Sex:
Age:
Height and Weight:
Occupation:
Weapon(s):
Good at:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Favorite Food:
Favorite Type of Guy/Girl:
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[Earth-year equivalent]
[In feet / lbs. for us metric-impaired Americans]
[One or two types from the Weapons page, or your imagination]
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I hope you'll indulge me on that. ^_~ We'll need these bios for the page later.
Elements
Tell me what elements your character is capable of using. Please choose three. There are eight of them, listed on the Elemental and Status Effects page. Whether your character is a fighter or a mage, these will be important.
The Details
Now you get to tell me about your character with your own personal description of him/her. Tell it any way you want to, but please don't overdo it, and remember there are some things you need to address. In the description, please tell me about your character's:
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- Race,
- Hometown/planet and how they got to be where they are,
- Background and immediate objectives,
( don't go overboard on this one please! )
- Appearance and outstanding/noticable traits, and . . .
- Personality and demeanor.
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Remember: Incompleteness with give me nothing to work with... while fifteen pages of background will likely put me to sleep. ^^;; So even if you have more material ready, please just give me a healthy taste of the big picture for submission purposes; touch on the best and most interesting aspects of your character without being too short or too long. We can expound on things later.
Tips for submission:
Before you send everything in, here are some tips for making the most of your application!
Character Introductions
The story will begin in or near the kingdom of Lacour. To play a character at the beginning of the story you don't need much more than someone with an interesting personality and a whole load of potential, but opening up possibilities for further interesting development is also a plus.
Rules and System
The rules for the SO2RPG game system will be posted on the site, but only a few parts on this character creation page will be used in the system. Basically, the story is much more important to me -- I only ask that you have some experience with console RPGs, preferably Star Ocean 2 of course, and know that you enjoy them. Otherwise, you might not enjoy this game. ^_~ If you're still curious, read the system docs on this site.
Powerful Characters
If your character is especially powerful or has a more involved background, s/he might not be able to join for several weeks. But that's okay, if it complements the plot. However, beware of Power-gamers -- Twinkies, Munchkins, God-modders; whatever you call them. So help me, you will NOT become godlike without mastering the SO2RPG levels system! ^_~
Attendance
The last thing to remember before submitting is that attendance is very important. If you can't make a session, I'll be required to RP your character as an NPC in place of you. Therefore, by submitting a character, you are in effect giving permission for me to use your character and ideas at will in the story. Also, your character will receive decreased experience points while you're gone.
Finally, if you're really bad about attendance, I may be forced to phase you out of the story. An RPG can't happen without players, so the people who make it a priority to show up every week will be given precendence regardless. I hate being so heavy-handed, but it really is necessary. ^_^; Please take this as a serious commitment. Don't apply if you can't come regularly, and be honest with me when we plan sessions.
"Your Best Character"
Now, you'll want a character you can make "your own." Many times people will submit a handful of characters in the hopes that one of them will be what I'm "looking for." My answer to this is to ask "Which one do you feel the happiest playing?" If you're deciding between more than one idea and they each fit the setting just fine, choose the one that you're most interested in. It may up your chances of getting in, it may not -- but if you do make it in, you'll have much more fun role-playing him/her, and we'll have more fun RPing with you too. ^_^ So keep that in mind; it's the right way to go.
You're Done! ^_^
Congrats, you're finished! :D Now send the whole shiboodle to the GM, me, at radiens@geocities.com with the subject "SO2RPG application". When all the submitted applications have been reviewed and I've determined the group that will make up the game, I'll reply to you with info about what to do next. By the way, I'm looking for about six players, with a few temporary characters for specific points of the story, so you may get a chance to play even if you don't get to start immediately.
Thanks for taking the time to submit, and good luck! ^_~
Radien, SO2RPG Gamemaster
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