Welcome to Gaia! ::

I'm just wondering if it's normal in this guild to use the same character several times- I'm not sure if it would seem lazy, or if it would be fine.

Also, is it considered strange it have a character with many flaws? I always love those types. =|

Fem.

I guess the answer to your question depends on what you mean. If you mean "Can I use the EXACT same character each time with no changes and an established chronology and history, setting be damned," then the answer is probably no. If you mean "I like t play X character, altered for the scenario," then the answer is probably yes. I'd avoid using the same one over and over, though. Not EVERY situation could use a sexually insecure bishounen who is discovering both himself and how he fits into the world around him, or whatever your single repeated character is.

Lots of people have "stock characters" that they like to recycle. It's not necessarily lazy writing to stick to what you know works, though if you find yourself using the SAME three characters over and over again you should consider branching out. I know I certainly have a stable of them, though I haven't gone anywhere near using them all, yet.

A stock character isn't a bad thing unless you insist on carrying around backstory and character relations into every new scenario. One of my favorites is a character from a Mage: the Ascension game, a female ohomocide detective. Thus far I've transplanted her into an Exalted game, a Dungeons and Dragons game, two roleplaying settings, and I have her in her own series of stories, being similar in personality but vastly different in backstory and available skills. After all, in Exalted she can't be a member of the Order of Hermes with a Sphere focus on Time and Mind since those terms don't mean anything outside of Mage, but she CAN still look the same, be hard-nosed and independant, have a chip on her shoulder, rely on what she's learned herself more than what others tell her, and have an unusually great faith in hierarchy, all without going outside of the setting. In each game she turns out differently since the pressures are different, but that's the fun part.

Sometimes I pick a character to use and I end up turning him or her into a completely different character out of happenstance or necessity, just because it feels right, thus breeding a brand new character. It all depends on you!

A very interesting question, I must say.

I understand what people have been saying before me, but I have a sure-fire way to continue building up one character while playing one of your favorites. When I started role-playing, I focused mainly on simple plotted, semi-literate RP's. And this is where I really developed my characters. Once I had characters that had were steady, I moved them into more advanced RP's where, now that I had a character that was well crafted, I could focus on other things as well. I always think the best thing to do is to start out in lower level RP's if you have a new character.

And, it is WONDERFUL that your character has many flaws, because that is exactly what makes a good character. I personally despise Mary-Sues. All of my characters are either evil, seriously messed in the head or afraid of anything and everything.

~Soap
ps I hope this helps. xd

Flaws are not bad things to have, but having a character that is nothing but flaws can get obnoxious. Someone who is an absolute hindrance in every way, shape, and form kind of convinces people not to care. Someone with so many flaws they can barely (or can't at all!) function becomes more of a headache for a lot of people than otherwise. Sure, a character with plenty of flaws has the option of overcoming them, but that takes time and narrative skill and effort not everyone would be willing to contribute. Always be certain to balance their flaws with their virtues or you have something few people will be willing to play for long. An evil character is so much better when it's easy to understand their evil, filled with moral ambiguity as well as possessing some traits that may cause others to idolize them.

If you can pull it off, there is nothing wrong with an emotionally flawless character. They can be compelling heroes in worlds filled with gray, if you can pull it off.. The big caveat here is: if you can pull it off. Not many people can, and I'm fairly certain I can't.

Flaws can be props; you have to know how to function without them to figure out how best to function with them. Someone who is morally conflicted is only compelling if you understand what it is NOT to be conflicted and then choose, as a player, not to walk that path.

Wow. Simply reading these few posts has already helped me immensly. Thanks! xD