Goblin Squad Member
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This is something I've been thinking of because I spend much longer in character generation than the music any game provides. You usually* only do it once per character so I want to get it right.
POINT ONE - How basic are the basics?
Choose a name, race, core alignment. I expect there will be just a few selections for body type (maybe?), general faces, basic hair colors, but nothing on the order of height slider or tweaking nose width yet. You better eventually have light blue as a hair option!
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I don't know how easy this is to do but I HATE when everything looks fine on that super huge doll during creation but running around in the game it looks like the character has a wedge of cheese sticking out of their skull from certain angles, or something. Is a character preview possible running around in a small area as rendered by the game where we can see them moving around from different angles, zooming, and what our character will actually look like in the game for the next few years. Not that useless romanticized supergraphic doll we make so pretty that ceases to exist after generation is over.
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POINT TWO - Oh god
Should we all pick a personal deity from the get go? Would most options become greyed out due to being too far away from the core alignment we selected? Just a brief description of what each stands for with their alignment and list of domains to get a feel for them, changeable later. Most of the time it adds character flavor but will become important to anyone who trains clerical (and later paladin/ranger) abilities.
POINT THREE - Useless hunk of meat
What's life like if we start out with absolutely zero skills? I'm thinking each character should start with a small amount of skill; always the same number of xp (one or two day's worth?) but differently distributed based on an archetype the player decides on. Perhaps a few background questions about what your character was doing right before they arrived in the River Kingdoms and why they've come here to do can help the code decide between some starter packages of general feat training that we'll definitely need to get anyway. With that each character can start out able to swing a sword, pick, wand, purse, or anvil in a basic way or the tutorial or straight to eager exploration. I don't think players should be required to self assign skills directly on creation because they're total noobs at that point.
* - POINT FOUR - What's come before shall all happen again
Would it be so bad if at some distant point EE characters could have one trip through something that looks similar to the full character generation suite but keep our name and accumulated xp? Many of us will want to change to a race currently unavailable and there are plans to let us switch once. More options in face and body customization will be available later, etc. so as long as GW is preparing a time window for some characters to institute major updates I think it would be nice for everyone to have one crack at the full monty when it's ready. (Cosmetic updates are a winner at the MTX so this is very much in line with that and not a dead end of code at all).
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Goblin Squad Member
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What's life like if we start out with absolutely zero skills? ... Perhaps a few background questions about what your character was doing right before they arrived in the River Kingdoms and why they've come here to do can help the code decide between some starter packages of general feat training that we'll definitely need to get anyway.
Not to take away from people's character concepts, but perhaps each of our characters has a pretty similar backstory. Right before we arrived in the River Kingdoms, we were, ah ...dying*.
We don't know why we came here, but when we woke in the temple of Pharasma we were told that there are other like us. And the trauma of dying has left us blank slates; no starting skills.
* For a bonus, maybe most of us were dying. Maybe the twice-marked of Pharasma came here under their own power. </Fanfic lore attempt>
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Goblin Squad Member
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What's life like if we start out with absolutely zero skills? ... Perhaps a few background questions about what your character was doing right before they arrived in the River Kingdoms and why they've come here to do can help the code decide between some starter packages of general feat training that we'll definitely need to get anyway.Not to take away from people's character concepts, but perhaps each of our characters has a pretty similar backstory. Right before we arrived in the River Kingdoms, we were, ah ...dying*.
We don't know why we came here, but when we woke in the temple of Pharasma we were told that there are other like us. And the trauma of dying has left us blank slates; no starting skills.
* For a bonus, maybe most of us were dying. Maybe the twice-marked of Pharasma came here under their own power. </Fanfic lore attempt>
Reminds be a little bit of Torment. You started off by waking up on a slab with no memories.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Not to take away from people's character concepts, but perhaps each of our characters has a pretty similar backstory. Right before we arrived in the River Kingdoms, we were, ah ...dying*.
We don't know why we came here, but when we woke in the temple of Pharasma we were told that there are other like us. And the trauma of dying has left us blank slates; no starting skills.
* For a bonus, maybe most of us were dying. Maybe the twice-marked of Pharasma came here under their own power. </Fanfic lore attempt>
I would really like this. I asked Ryan directly for this and pretty much got shot down though. I think it would help the meta-story immensely. I don't see why it's a no go. Just a cut scene that establishes that you are marked by Pharasma and came to the River Kingdoms somehow.
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Goblin Squad Member
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POINT TWO - Oh god
Should we all pick a personal deity from the get go? Would most options become greyed out due to being too far away from the core alignment we selected? Just a brief description of what each stands for with their alignment and list of domains to get a feel for them, changeable later. Most of the time it adds character flavor but will become important to anyone who trains clerical (and later paladin/ranger) abilities.
I would prefer to see a 'mini quest' or sorts, where a character needs to visit a shrine, or altar or what have you, to devote themselves to their deity of choice. These might be as easy as finding them scattered amongst the starter NPC towns, right down to finding one hidden deep in the wilds.
Makes for some fun, gives those weirdo RP types something to do and adds flavour to a character rather than just a point and click at startup.
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Goblin Squad Member
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What's life like if we start out with absolutely zero skills? ... Perhaps a few background questions about what your character was doing right before they arrived in the River Kingdoms and why they've come here to do can help the code decide between some starter packages of general feat training that we'll definitely need to get anyway.Not to take away from people's character concepts, but perhaps each of our characters has a pretty similar backstory. Right before we arrived in the River Kingdoms, we were, ah ...dying*.
We don't know why we came here, but when we woke in the temple of Pharasma we were told that there are other like us. And the trauma of dying has left us blank slates; no starting skills.
* For a bonus, maybe most of us were dying. Maybe the twice-marked of Pharasma came here under their own power. </Fanfic lore attempt>
In my opinion this has been overdone in many RPG's and MMO's lately. Different iterations but all of the "refugee, shipwrecked, risen from the dead, destined to be a hero, dunno who I am, let us name thyselves" variety. Age of Conan, Reckoning, Elder Scrolls games, even EQ2 started like this.
I much prefer a method where you can choose different backgrounds already written for you, and include a Deity of some sorts. Or write it yourself.
The Regional Traitpack that you can buy in the Pledgetool (and hopefully the Store later on) pretty much points in this direction.
Here is the description of that pack:
You can choose a homeland somewhere in Golarion for your character. A Region Trait Pack provides one character with an achievement stating the country they hail from, a title, and a small bonus or special effect based on the country of origin selected when the pack is used. Select one region: Absalom, Andoran, Cheliax, Five King’s Mountain, Galt, Katapesh, Kyonin, Lands of the Linnorm Kings, Mwangi Expanse, Osirion, Qadira, Rahadoum, The Shackles, Taldor, Ustalav, and Varisia. You may purchase this Add-On multiple times; each purchase provides one Regional Trait Pack, which is expended when it is assigned to a character.
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Goblin Squad Member
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....
POINT ONE - How basic are the basics?
Choose a name, race, core alignment. I expect there will be just a few selections for body type (maybe?), general faces, basic hair colors, but nothing on the order of height slider or tweaking nose width yet. You better eventually have light blue as a hair option!.....
Point one has been talked about alot
Character Model system and Character Creator DemoCharacter-customization
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Goblin Squad Member
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I plan on have a slightly ludicrous background for my character. Brother Zael is a delusional activist who originally was an inquisitor for a church (not sure which one yet) but due to unorthodox methods and ideals was excommunicated for heresy. Because of his past service the inquisitors merely tortured his powers from him using colorful magics and sent him away, never to return on pain of death. Having become disenchanted with religious orders and structures as a whole he has become a political/social activist who uses rather direct means to accomplish his goals. He dislikes the structured Lawful Good establishments at the moment thinking them on a whole to be rather close-minded.
In the end he is a slightly insane individual who is chaotic evil (not fully set) but thinks he is lawful neutral. His goals are basically to curb LG communities and eradicate scum which is more or less whoever has a big bounty or whom he doesn't like, though he doesn't think of it like that, of course.
So you see my background is rather unique, I mean who else got excommunicated and tortured to oblivion as a setup? And I am sure mine is but one of a myriad of equally enticing backgrounds that will be used.
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Goblin Squad Member
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That is so odd.
That is the exact background for my character also.He is also a brother.
His name will be Brother Mmicus.Wanna join up?
Brother Mmicus? I seem to have a... Brother Mmicus in my recollections of the... past. Another proof of the... degrading society held so close to the hearts of the days'... Sacrilege, to see an esteemed companion like yourself... cast off into the darkness.
If you can give me the only wealth I desire I will be more than willing to share in your... suffering.
Tell me, then... who are you?
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Goblin Squad Member
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In my opinion this has been overdone in many RPG's and MMO's lately. Different iterations but all of the "refugee, shipwrecked, risen from the dead, destined to be a hero, dunno who I am, let us name thyselves" variety. Age of Conan, Reckoning, Elder Scrolls games, even EQ2 started like this.
I much prefer a method where you can choose different backgrounds already written for you, and include a Deity of some sorts. Or write it yourself.
Overdone or not, I don't see why you would establish a RP element like the Mark of Pharasma as canon for the setting and then not use it for introduction to the setting.
I'd agree the whole amnesia thing wouldn't work, but I would still like to see an intro that establishes the Mark.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Overdone or not, I don't see why you would establish a RP element like the Mark of Pharasma as canon for the setting and then not use it for introduction to the setting.
I'd agree the whole amnesia thing wouldn't work, but I would still like to see an intro that establishes the Mark.
Well it could be the simple process of a supernatural ward that does it upon immediate arrival to the land, marking you as a way for the Goddess to better watch the comings and goings of her favorite little melting pot.
There are plenty of ways to do it, but that is a very simple, very easy to implement, very low-impacting one. It allows everyone to keep their backstory to a relative degree (I'm looking at you Barbarian who only allows ritual tattoos and scarring!) and can easily be elaborated upon.
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Goblin Squad Member
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@T7V Avari I agree that there's no need for amnesia. We can have complex backgrounds and histories. Yet there's some reason our stats are average, we don't have advanced skills, and regardless of our noble backgrounds we have no access to family resources, and it's all related to the Mark.
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Goblin Squad Member
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....
POINT ONE - How basic are the basics?
Choose a name, race, core alignment. I expect there will be just a few selections for body type (maybe?), general faces, basic hair colors, but nothing on the order of height slider or tweaking nose width yet. You better eventually have light blue as a hair option!.....
Point one has been talked about alot
Character Model system and Character Creator Demo
Character-customization
It's been a long time now. Are there still plans to make a character's appearance change based on stat or skills gained through out the game?
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Goblin Squad Member
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You guys are all welcome to adopt TSV lore...we already have a rationale for our "condition".
*grin*
Seriously though, I have no problem "not knowing". Who are the gods...Pharasma, The Mad Prophet, in particular to explain her intent to we mere mortals.
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Goblin Squad Member
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(description of regional trait pack)
You can choose a homeland somewhere in Golarion for your character. A Region Trait Pack provides one character with an achievement stating the country they hail from, a title, and a small bonus or special effect based on the country of origin selected when the pack is used. Select one region: Absalom, Andoran, Cheliax, Five King’s Mountain, Galt, Katapesh, Kyonin, Lands of the Linnorm Kings, Mwangi Expanse, Osirion, Qadira, Rahadoum, The Shackles, Taldor, Ustalav, and
now, I understand why Geb, Nex, Alkenstar, Numeria, Mammoth Lords, Medioganti etc. etc. are not on that list.
but.. Brevoy or Nirmathas please?
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Goblin Squad Member
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The reasons behind having the Mark of Pharasma should be a big f'ing deal.
If there's no explanation provided (for the first one) as each character starts the game then I fully expect that point to be developed in the themepark areas of the game for those of us that care about why we never stay dead.
That is underneath the further mystery surrounding the second Mark of Pharasma some have.
tl;dr +1 for the perennially drunk guy in the NPC town tavern always going on about how he's twice marked by Pharasma but really it's just tattoos on each arm of old girlfriends whom he hasn't laid eyes on in over 20 years.
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Goblin Squad Member
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As long as our EE fugly faces can't be reproduced later I'm all for keeping my wedge of cheese nose. The limited options would give EE a unique look admired by newer players.
"Damn that boy/girl has a messed up face!"
"Yep they've been playing the game from before release. Don't mess with them!"
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Goblin Squad Member
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Yeah. My guy (at least in RP concept) wears a metallic blank faced, steel-grey mask and full ex-inquisitor coat (read trenchcoat) and a hat. This is because he is scarred like a someone who has been through the spanish inquisition (as nobody would suspect) and looks just fugly because of it. It would be cool if in game it would look as we envisioned but I accept that it won't, and kind of look forward to seeing everyone's best attempts.
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Goblin Squad Member
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In EE we may all look much the same, or not. It is minimum product. It is alpha test (I know they say alpha is before EE, but it will not really be beta). We get to help make it work. We are the testers and we actively enrolled in this.
In my RL, I am known for breaking new product roll out. I quote, "We didn't think anyone would try that."
8-)
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Goblin Squad Member
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In EE we may all look much the same, or not. It is minimum product. It is alpha test (I know they say alpha is before EE, but it will not really be beta). We get to help make it work. We are the testers and we actively enrolled in this.
In my RL, I am known for breaking new product roll out. I quote, "We didn't think anyone would try that."
8-)
That's my favorite kind of user! From a developer standpoint, I can tell you it's extremely valuable to have testers who have a tendency to use the system in really unexpected ways.