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We need a discussion thread, already, so try this one on for size. Sorry for the grandiose title.

This is one I've always wondered about, but nobody can ever seem to make a decent argument. Which is better for an RP character, a single image salvaged from the interweb, or a lengthy, personalized description? I sometimes sketch my characters, but my art is not very impressive so I rarely upload the images and stick with just a written description. I can never bring myself to substitute an image from the web because to me it feels like it violates the originality of my character. I can't stand to see "Image:" in a profile template in the place of "Appearance:" because it means that I simply can not participate in that thread, and I often miss out because even if descriptions are accepted, I would be the only one using one.

Discuss: Do you prefer images or descriptions? In your own threads, will you accept the alternative? How do you choose an image for your character? What do you include in a description? How long should a description be?

Description over images. I under no uncertain terms REFUSE to accept an image that is not theirs by right or was created for that specific character. So I'm with Ivaylo: originals or GTFO.

I tend to avoid those that demand an image because it tends to encourage a sloppier game with characters that have little personality. This is not true with all, but has been a running trend from what I've experienced.

As for tableaus: There's a good chance folks were following example and I just wanted to encourage people to think a little deeper. I feel Umbraja's method is far more successful in that regard and intend to learn from it.

Well... I am kind of new, so I don't want to step over the line but... As someone who is in a semi-lit RP, images suit it more because well, people are less descriptive there, as well as less imaginative. So for all the people who don't have the creativity or imagination to come up with a character from scratch, I prefer images. For me, Images allow me to better envision the character in motion, while descriptions burn the little amount of brain power I have just imagining what they look like.

This could be a major issue for the school side of the guild. Image VS Description can drive a wedge between more serious roleplayers, and the anime fans with a moderate interest in writing cooperative fanfic via roleplay forums that make up the majority of Gaian roleplayers.

I believe that is the "wedge" Stormy was talking about, dear. You've been having a rough day at work, haven't you?

As for handling the problem, we simply need to have different levels of schooling with different expectations for each. I'm writing up the stuff for the Academy thing and have such a levels system that I hope will allow casual players to participate (as underclassmen) alongside intermediate (upperclassmen) and advanced players (faculty, staff, grad students).

I believe this is probably what started the RP Level system within the guild and it seems to work decently well allowing guild members to play with those of their same skill/commitment level in whatever style is most comfortable to them. The only improvement I could see making is possibly to move away from the "Beginner" stigma and use something like "Casual" instead as it carries less negative connotation.

Also I would say we may want to make a guild toolbox of character templates, RP rules, and so forth to help GMs but then I look at Venom's handling of SOUL's and am not sure we should standardize that.

I'm always right wink

And I can answer that as when I first started I used to prefer images. Because a picture is worth 1,000 words and no matter how good a writer you are you're just not going to be able to describe it as well as an image would. Because that is just the nature of images vs words. Words are often quite arbitrary and especially in English have many meanings. I can say my character has "red hair" or even "dark auburn locks of copper curls" and both of those could mean several shades of red (though the later fewer than the former). A good picture would literally show you what color I mean.

The reason I no longer prefer images is the same as Blackbird. I GM and they encourage laziness.

In a perfect world I would prefer an image over a written character description but this is not a perfect world. Giving people the option of slapping an image on their character sheet instead of words encourages an image over substance mindset, a pervasive problem in modern culture, and it discourages those like Stormy who are better writers than artists and care too much about their characters to use a stock image. Those are the kind of players I want, not the ones I want to exclude. As Vay said, RP is a written medium. The writing is more important. I wish I could have both but we all have to prioritize.



Character creation is the first 'class' in the Academy. I'll have that up soon.

Also don't say never. Some of the players in Aelzwyr are not advanced and I've had a few more characters submit that fell closer to intermediate or beginner which I've had to put a hold on accepting to balance the expected load of the upcoming Academy and SOUL.

These more casual players don't stand out because my character submission process went like a workshop for those that did not submit sufficiently developed characters and because in the first few posts I set a very high standard of posting. Casual players will rise to your expectations if you ask them to. This is part of the learning process.

What I think is intimidating them is us.

I hate to say this guys but I think part of the reason we don't see the beginners is because of inbreeding. There's an active core that leaps into most of each others' games so they never really have to advertise their RPs. Not that I'm not guilty of it too but this clique is kind of daunting and if y'all weren't such friendly people and I wasn't strangely extroverted on the web (not irl) I wouldn't be an active member at all. In fact Vay has been a member of this guild for a while but until he convinced me to join to give him someone to talk to he just lurked in the background.

We all need to work on being more open and encouraging of new as well as lurking members.

Open discussion like this is a good step in the right direction and I hope we see more of it. Possibly a weekly topic?



My former self answers: All of the above.

Longer answer: I usually build the image mentally at the same time I develop the personality putting the pieces together organically as the ideas come. Often times certain physical traits will be manifestations of the personality or visa versa - depending which good idea I had first.

Sometimes I will draw the image or write the personality first and then learn their story or see them (respectively) after but this is only when true inspiration hits. Or occasionally as an exercise.

I will sometimes imitate characters however it is rarely anime instead taking my sources from literature, movies, and history. When I do this I always make a point to change the character enough to still be unique.

More often I will base characters off real people that I really know and those I often try to get as close to the real as possible, because it's fun to show them later.

I'm, thus far, the only vote for "I prefer descriptions, but will accept images" and feel the need to qualify what EXACTLY I mean:

You're going to have a description. This is not up to debate. If your description is good, but you want to have an image along for the ride, I won't stop you.

But if, upon reading, someone cannot visualize your character from the description, something has gone wrong.

I'm not leeeeearning enough, here. I want to hear from some image people. I want the hows and whys. Come out of the shadows and speak your opinion. I'll give you a cookie.