An Idea: the SoL character pool

[Mark_Romaneck]

So members of SoL Lon and I where talking the other day and… do you think im ugly?

Na not really, the thing is that we discussed the idea that the fan fiction forum might deserve a bit more of interaction, we had our ideas and discussed about what could be done to improve it or spice it up a bit.

So I have devised the SoL character pool, in which all of us would give some of our sight into what we consider good in warcraft in characters, for example I have always wondered what is it like for a female paladin, or a serious gnome character.

Just the same I often find it boring writing my own stories and characters within someone else´s universe (fan fiction) because I already know where things will end, so that got me thinking about an odd project.

What if we all made some characters, applies some tropes to them and establish them heavily even going as far as telling what their favorite food is and things like that.

Then comes the interesting part, with that character pool someone else writes tales involving your characters and who knows what it could grow into, anyone else interested?

[Nerub29]

We did something like that in the Old Taberna. It didn't go far, but mainly to a restriction to treat one and only one character someone proposed during certain amount of time.

My advise: go wild with this. Think "What could be interesting? Or what could shake the paradigms and tropes?"

I am enticed by the possibilites here and will keep watching.

Un saludo.

[AndyJP]

That sounds cool but I'm not sure what you want people to do. I create a character and then I write a story about a character someone else creates? Should it include the character's biography or is that for someone else to decide entirely? I want to make a Troll.

So members of SoL Lon and I where talking the other day and… do you think im ugly?


Kind of. You look like battle damaged Shrek.

[Omacron]

See, my problem is... my characters exist in a... unique state. I don't want to post them anywhere public because they may come in use later.

[Lon-ami]

The things is:

We create a character, and post it, and then, someone else writes about it.

If you don't like this version, we could go further with another one:

You create the NPCs, allies and enemies, and other people create their own characters they control.

This last one would play like a D&D game with many GMs, each one controlling some NPCs, and why not, a character of his own, too.

Or, if you don't like the second option, we could define some points, like the place and the time, and then build a story from that.

But the original point of this is to roleplay as characters you haven't created.

It's easier to develop and roleplay something when you have some defined points.

And if you don't like anything of what I posted above, then we could make this a RP game, where the GM asks for opinion when he wants, like "what would your character do in this situation?" and that would be all.

[Mark_Romaneck]

It does not have to be your main character or anything of the sorts, the tales could be completely unrelated at times, think of this as writting a comic book.

So you got batman right, and then you got a lot of authors that write about him some (like Nolan) get him in a realistic manner that some times forgets the details, others give us a grimdark vision and there are even those that would equip him with an anti-shark batspray.

So um yea, I guess Lon and I will have to lead with the example

[Gurtogg_Bloodboil]

So let me see if I got this premise right…

You want us to create a cast of characters as a group, and then individually write stories that feature those characters?

Are the stories going to be set in the same universe? Must they be consistent? Is this going to be a series of one shot stories, or are you trying to make this interactive and an on-going group story (similar to the on-going Great War story/game we have going)?

[Fordragon]

Well, I DO like round robin projects. Not sure who else can properly portray a paladin who uses science and religion like a two-headed dragon to fight Dracula and blow up the moon (which will, according to calculations, cause all Kaldorei and all offshoot races to die) though...

[Cantus]

Post up a test thread and I'll sticky it. If it gets enough use it'll stay stickied. Just make sure to give it a nice solid description of exactly how crazy detailed people should be with their offerings.

And considering how little time I have to make my own fan fics, I'll probably drop a troped up toon there at some point this winter too.

[Mark_Romaneck]

Well, I DO like round robin projects. Not sure who else can properly portray a paladin who uses science and religion like a two-headed dragon to fight Dracula and blow up the moon (which will, according to calculations, cause all Kaldorei and all offshoot races to die) though...

So let me see if I got this premise right…

You want us to create a cast of characters as a group, and then individually write stories that feature those characters?

Are the stories going to be set in the same universe? Must they be consistent? Is this going to be a series of one shot stories, or are you trying to make this interactive and an on-going group story (similar to the on-going Great War story/game we have going)?


Fair questions in all, I think of it as a comic continuity, mayhap we could have an arc that involves characters in certain zone at the same time and if us (as writters) choose to aprove that continuity we do.

For example if Lon-Ami killed Wulf´s dwarf paladinete in outland and she was slain by an angry mob of space faring gnolls... god I know I would ignore that since that basically ends the character.

But then Zula writes how Wulf´s Paladinete had her brother kidnapped by forsaken on his way to silvermoon and later finds out that he is killed and hint that in one of my tales with Wulf´s char.

Similarly then Zula could writte upon the human rogue which the Paladinette spend time with at Alterac thus creating a smearing confusion that would make the community at the Fan fic forum interact a lot and see who ignores who and why and really see things from a different angle.

Well then lets make the character pool shall we?

[Gurtogg_Bloodboil]

Start us off. Maybe give a template of what info we should divulge at this time.

Also hit us with some basic info, such as: What time period are we in? (I assume modern unless otherwise specified)

[Fordragon]

Also, a standard format for making characters is better than just having people write out descriptions however they want. That way when you want to know where a character is from, you can skip to that part instead of reading the whole thing looking for the line that mentions it.

[Mark_Romaneck]

Well then here is a basic template of what I would guess be apropiated

Name:

Gender:

Age:

Appearance:

Personality:

Background:

And an example



Name: Frone Forgebound

Gender: Female

Age: 62

Appearance: Frone is a sturdy even for a dwarf and none too appealing to most eyes, a nose that looks as if it had been smashed against her face, fat cheeks and bedtime eyes that make her look as if she was about to go into bed or had just got out of it her skin is a grayish ash tone pointing at a possible dark iron lineage, her eyes however lack the red glow that marks that kin having instead chestnut colored ones.
Her hair is, or rather was black but she already sports more than one flock of gray hair, while the length of her hair reaches into her shoulders most of the time it is tied so to avoid it becoming a nuisance
Personality:

Frone has priorities in life land, duty and family.

As a result she is awkward at many times and has trouble being sociable, however she will not stand injustice and will see every wrong met with retribution.

Boasting a lot of inner conflict she finds herself in constant struggle between the devotion to the light, her love to her snowy motherland as well as the family she has there and the duty to Theramore, particularly the lady of her home away from home

When it comes to fight she will meet danger for what she is convinced is right, but like most dwarves she is too loyal for her own good at times and despite it all is quite emphatic and more often than not places herself in someone´s elses shoes to wonder how it feels from their point of view, this said she has a strong grudge against dragons, orcs and night elves to a lesser extent.

However, when wronged she will hold her grudges to the bitter end and it is hard to exit her bad side once you have entered it, thus she performs badly as a Paladin for she has yet to master the virtue of forgiveness

Background: Frone was born to Piedr a Mountain King of Khaz Modan, regrettably she was a she rather than a he and Piedr wished for a male first born while this did not carried with it a bad behavior towards her she was always aware that she had not lived to her father´s expectations on birth alone.

The void of this rejection was filled by the teachings of the holy light at first, but then… when the invaders from afar came and ravaged the mountains she had called home.

What little family and friends she had met their doom, tough her father lived most of the other faithful where not so lucky, then the humans came and helped to fight off the invasion and accelerate the restoration of the dwarven home.

After this Frone traveled with the alliance army to fight the forces of the Horde in order to repay her debt, during this time she befriended a human knight who eventually met his demise on battle, swearing to look after his young back at Lordareon.

While she was able to look after the young one her vow kept her from returning to the mountains, but as the boy grew into a man fate would not have her return for the scourge came and with it the vow of keeping the lad who was in his way to become a man kept her from returning.

Eventually traveling with Proudmore to Kalimndor there she would be forced to fight alongside the orcs that had blitzed trough her home, tough she could not come to forgive them she came to respect the honor that they had developed.

There she met the Night Elves, who killed the very lad she had sworn to protect once they pushed deeper into Ashenvale while she undid the perpetrator of such crime the shame of having failed a vow was a solid strike against her pride.

After Hyjal she settled with the new family she had made at Theramore and swore that she would not fail neither the light, nor the Dwarven peaks and see that Jaina Proudmoore lived her years.

She is a proud paladin and will only leave her home when she feels it is absolutely necessary

[Lob_SG]

Just to throw in my two cents, and to bump the thread, I really like the idea. I have quite a bit I've been meaning to post in the fanfic section, but it seems like these long involved posts are always the last thing I can get around to posting.

I tend to act like characters I'm trying to write and can carry over in posts etc. so I'd like to throw up one for Bloodtüsk/Lob to try and lessen the asshole factor. This is the section that initially intrigued me to stick around but I tend to spend too much time having short conversations instead of the epic threads that I've always meant to make. I'd be down to do this with anyone who's still interested as a fun distraction.

Mark, I also hope this part of the forum gets more active but I think it's the nature of the beast to move sluggishly when trying to post in a fanfic forum. But just wanted to say I like the idea and think trying to write someone else's characters would be fun, especially when with people as critical as most of us. :kawaii:

[Adarin]

I like this idea very much. So what if we were to collectively work on a story where Mark would each assign us a chapter? Example, Mark would start the story off using several of the characters that we each create and then maybe Lon-Ami would write the second chapter, I would write the third and so-on. Obviously we would have to establish rules like first and fore-most 'no mary sues'. Each character should be human enough to experience loss at some point. Well, idk. I definitely love the idea but I think it should have some sort of continuity to it all.

Well, regardless - heres my character.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Name: Aciano Two-Moons

Gender: Male

Age: 102

Appearance:

His skin is a dark violet hue, as is common amongst the draenei people. He has four tentacles that hang from his cheek bones, with a white ring fastened about half-way up each tentacle. In life, he had bluish-black colored hair. Since his descent, however, the life has seemed to have been sucked out and he now has a color to his hair akin to the paleness of the moon. He is rather muscular in nature but not more-so than the average draenei.

He wears a helm similar to the Greathelm of the Scourge Champion and supports a full array of plate-mail armor that is crafted of Saronite (black), which the exception of a lack of bracers (for better mobility), though, he does sport a black cloth wrapped around his hands and wrists (for minor protection).

Personality: Though technically an adult according to draenei custom, he is still considered young by many of his peers. In life he was an outgoing person though since his transformation into a pawn of the Lich King he has felt nothing but a desire for vengeance. When the Lich King was slain (not by his own hand), his thirst for revenge continued on towards new enemies though they had nothing to do with the curse that had befallen him.

He has a strong sense of pride and duty to his people, though most shun him for what he has become. He refuses to deny his kin and, as such, lives (if it could be called that) each life of his day to try to prove himself to them (with the exception of Velen and Nobundo - who teach him to deal with these issues on a daily basis). His last name is not his given name. Since undeath has taken him, he gave himself the name to reflect, both, his past life on Draenor (which had two moons) and also to reflect the two sides of a coin which represent the contradicting emotions of his unlife (which is the only pain that he has felt since that fateful day).

Background: When the Exodar crash-landed in the Azuremyst Isles, the draenei needed assistance in any way they could recieve it. Through the aid of the Night Elves, Aciano Two-Moons led the expedition to Stormwind to seek an alliance, though they originally declined based on their similar appearance to the Eredar. When the necropolis first attacked the capital city, not long after the second War of the Shifting Sands, the humans of Stormwind sent out a courier to the Exodar stating that should they aid them in defense of Stormwind they would be granted protection under the Alliance. Hundreds of the surviving draenei marched into the capital city to defend it and, though, many survived Aciano Two-Moons was not among those survivors. In life, he was an experienced paladin of the Hand of Argus but in death he found no piece. He was resurrected by Kel'Thuzad and forced to serve under the order of the Lich King. Eventually, he was freed from this thrall during the events of the Battle for Light's Hope Chapel and rejoined his people in the Exodar.

[Mark_Romaneck]

The old saying says that 3 is multitude so if lon, wulf, zula or cantus join well have something more than a torrid love affair :confused:.

Yea sure lets see where this leads

[Exxile87]

Name: Eraatu

Gender: Male

Age: Exact age has been forgotten, however he is in excess of 30,000

Appearance: Tall, nearly ten feet high, with a rich azure skintone and stark white hair, pulled up into a topknot.

Personality: Always smiling a grandfatherly smile and laughing a kind laugh, Eraatu is the epitome of a gentle soul. After living for so long, bearing witness to both the horrors of the Legion and the love of the Light, Eraatu has learned the secret to contentment. That isn't to say that he's not given to his passions. To call Eraatu a master mage is an understatement. His knowledge of magic could fill the libraries of Dalaran a thousand times over. He is humbled, however. Due to his alien heritage the full might of his magic has been lost to him, a victim of birth and the inability to utilize the strange Titanic ley lines of Azeroth.


Background:

Born on the world of Argus, Eraatu began his magical training early on. For centuries he studied, until he was finally considered a master. He opened his own school, high in the Kaarinos mountains. Centuries passed, and Eraatu's renown grew.

He was in close counsel with the most prominent names of Eredar magical study. It was rumored that he would soon be asked to join the ruling body of Argus. However, this would never be. Eraatu was contacted by Talgath, one of Velen's closest friends, and learned a terrible truth. Archimonde and Kil'KJaeden planned to sell the Eredar into slavery to a demon. Eraatu helped gather those eredar he knew would listen, and joined up with Velen on the face of their holy mountain. That was when the Burning Legion attacked.

After being saved by the Naaru, the former eredar, now called draenei (exiled ones) moved from planet to planet using the naaru's light-based magic. Very soon, the fell into the hands of the Legion. They fought and survived, only to flee and eventually be caught again. This pattern went on to be repeated on many, many worlds.

Finally, the draenei arrived on the planet they would call Draenor. They etched out a living among the peoples of the planet. Eraatu resided in Terrokar Forrest, living among his people in Shattrath. For over two hundred years, they lived in peace with the orcs.

That peace ended, however, and Eraatu fought against the orcs in defense of his people. After the draenei lost the war against then orcs and Shattrath fell, Eraatu and his people took the naaru vessel known as the Exodar and arrived on Azeroth. There they joined the Alliance and together, they combated the evils that plagued their new home.

Eraatu has many accolades to his name; he fought against Illidan in the Black Temple, he was present at the Sunwell when Kil'Jaeden was banished from Azeroth, he battled all across Northrend and into Icecrown Citadel. What adventures lie in wait for this great mage of the draenei people? What is there for him now, as the world reels from Deathwing's cataclysm? Only time will tell.

[Mark_Romaneck]

Now how the hell should we tie these oddballs up hmmm Ill think of something these days

[DreamingGod]

Name: Daever Merrovin

Gender: Male

Age: 35(ish)

Appearance: He has Golden-Brown hair this is starting to gray, he stands a little over six feet tall, and is well muscled.

Personality: A fervent Light worshiper, this paladin is always kind to friends and fierce to enemies, around friends he is usually jovial, though his time in Outland has darkened his mood.

Background: Daever is the son of Leodegar Merrovin, also known as Leodegar the Aegis, who is one of the first Paladins from the second war, and wealthy land owner. As the oldest son, Daever had first followed his father's footsteps in becoming a Knight, he then became a paladin near the end of the Second war. The war was hard on his family, his mother had died, and his father became depressed. By the end of the Second War his father was but a shell of what he once was, as to spare his two brothers Daever went in his father's stead to Draenor on Khadgar's Expedition.

It was rough, tough fighting on an alien world, but his faith never wavered. The aftermath of the world exploding affected him, he survived, but he was tired and jaded. He dwelled alone for years in Terrokar, until he was roused to fight Illidan, he now returns home virtually unknown...what awaits him now?

Family: Leodegar (deceased), Tiramis (Deceased) Aeiric (Death Knighted, 'alive') Meroveus (Half-brother, Worgen)

[heliacal rising]

Name: Samwize Gleamgold (nicknames including 'Sam', 'Sammy', and 'the Steam Shiv')

Race: Gnome

Profession(s): Banker / Gnomish Patriot / Spy

Gender: Male

Age: 49

Appearance:
The build and height of his diminutive frame are average for a male gnome. Regardless, the grip of his handshake is surprisingly firm. His facial features are neither handsome, nor particularly hideous. His eyes are amber. His hair, a bright bleached blonde, is a haphazard mess atop his head, standing on end in just about every direction imaginable. His facial hair, also blonde, consists of a waxed (and slightly upturned) mustache and a medium length beard. His clothing is always expensive and elegant, often trimmed with gold. When assuming the pseudonym 'Steam Shiv' for covert operations, he is often garbed in black (with a hood and mask concealing his features). Nearly every one of his outfits has the emblem of Gnomeregan proudly displayed for all to see.

He is often accompanied by one of two companions:
A golden dragonhawk named Lumina and a rambunctious core hound pup named Brutus.


Personality:
Though he is physically pint-sized, Samwize's presence is larger than life. He will not be ignored or swept to the side by anyone, no matter how important (or tall) they think they are. Furthermore, anyone bringing gnome-hate to the table will be swiftly and systematically cut down to size (and probably publically embarrassed in the process). He is ruthless when dealing with racists.

He can be bright and energetic while expressing himself (when it is appropriate). His most recent venture, motivational speaking, is a testament to this charisma. However, if a situation requires serious and meticulous thought, he is more than willing to rise to the occasion. Chances are, you aren't going to see him clowning around like other 'wacky' gnomes. Pointless, silly antics are for cretins who serve to reinforce racial stereotypes.

He normally gets along pretty well with most people, though some may be offended by his brutal honesty and taunting sense of humor.


Background:
For generations, the Gleamgold family was a major player in Gnomeregan's financial world. The majority of Samwize's family members were involved in banking and/or investing at some point in their lives, accumulating a sizeable fortune. All of that changed with the trogg attack and subsequent irradiation of Gnomeregan. The casualties were significant and the Gleamgolds that managed to escape (Samwize included) were left with little to none of their former wealth.

For the next few years, Samwize was reduced to living on the streets of Ironforge and Kharanos, resorting to begging and thievery in order to survive. His more underhanded activities caught the eye of Hulfdan Blackbeard and his roguish comrades in Ironforge's Forlorn Cavern. They took Samwize under their wing, teaching him subterfuge, combat tactics, and other aspects of the shadowy arts. During that time, Samwize amassed a reasonable amount of money performing odd jobs for Blackbeard and his companions.

It wasn't too long until Samwize bid his farewells and moved to Stormwind to further his training and establish his own organization, the Azerothian Credit Union. The 'ACU' is a financial institution devoted to providing top-notch financial solutions (with competitive interest rates) to its associates. Some believe the ACU is merely a front for Mr. Gleamgold's shadier operations. Of course, Mr. Gleamgold would be the first to tell you that these beliefs are nothing more than nasty lies created by dastardly villains to tarnish his sterling image. <cough cough>

His business dealings, both legitimate and not, have since brought him an impressive amount of success. Samwize has also served as a freelance spy for organizations such as SI:7 and Ravenholdt (as the elusive "Steam Shiv").

Like many gnomes, Samwize has an affinity for tinkering. Engineering has been a hobby of his ever since he was a small child, fiddling with gears and cogs in back of the family bank while his parents conducted business. Today, he uses many devices of his own design as espionage tools while carrying out covert operations. This application of technology is primarily why his contacts in espionage coined his nickname, Steam Shiv.


Motivations:
The Gleamgold family has always enjoyed the prosperity and luxury that wealth can bring. Samwize is no different. But if there is something he holds closer to his heart than money, it is a profound and unrequited love for Gnomeregan and its people. His current primary goal is to play a hand in the total liberation of Gnomeregan and see it safely returned to the rule of High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque. His secondary goals include the advancing of his espionage training and furthering the success of the ACU (and his other business ventures).

Recently, Samwize has contemplated forming a group called the Gnomeregan Liberation Initiative. He envisions the Initiative as an assembly of likeminded individuals who (through carefully planned strategy and the application of technology) intend on reclaiming Gnomeregan and completely clearing it of radioactive contamination.


Weapon of Choice:
Primary: A keen tongue, a fat wallet, and a damn good lawyer
Secondary: Wickedly sharp, serrated blades and a penchant for slicing Achilles tendons (and necks, if he gets some sweet air on his flying leap)


A Couple of Sam's Inventions:

TK-Nade ('Tea Kettle Grenade')
A plum-sized mithril sphere that rapidly releases a large amount of scalding steam upon impact, acting as a rather painful smoke screen (for dramatic escapes that require minimal subtlety). Affixed to the grenade are four small metal tubes, resembling miniature pan pipes. They emit a cripplingly loud, high-pitched shriek as the steam is fired, serving to further incapacitate and confuse the grenade's victims.

ISS-Nade ('Innocuous Steam Screen Grenade')
This mithril sphere is almost identical to the TK-Nade in appearance, excluding the pipes. It releases steam at a much cooler temperature, only hindering visibility (without the additional effect of burning those caught in it). Ideal for situations where stealth us important, the steam is deployed silently without the piercing whistle of the TK-Nade.

-------------------------------

"What do I want more than anything in the world? A free Gnomeregan. Free from the grubby claws of those damn troggs. Free from the repercussions of Thermaplugg's folly. Free and returned to the bosom of Gnomekind. And you better believe I'm gonna watch it happen firsthand, friend. You mark my words...right here, right now."
-Samwize Gleamgold

[Mark_Romaneck]

Well as of now, Kalimndor seems to be the stage of the tale I intend to begin and there will be an elf whose very existence is a menace to the order of the Night Elf society.

Which Side will you choose? the greater good delivered with bloodstained hands? Or the upholding of virtue and valor even against terrible odds?


I am working on some plot, so aye aye stay tunned

[Exxile87]

To anyone not paying attention, I based Eraatu largely on Albus Dumbledore. The idea of a grandfatherly wizard really appeals to me, and I don't know why.

[Dark Avenger]

Never mind...

[Zula]

Ohhh Mark I really owe you a character for this thing. Its all full of your favorite Draneredar stuff, you need some troll mojo in here.

[Mark_Romaneck]

Ohhh Mark I really owe you a character for this thing. Its all full of your favorite Draneredar stuff, you need some troll mojo in here.

Indeed it is, you dont have to be bound to just one character you can come up with tons of them and add them as the story goes.


Im still working on the plot, on how it "could" end more than anything

[Exxile87]

Indeed it is, you dont have to be bound to just one character you can come up with tons of them and add them as the story goes.


Im still working on the plot, on how it "could" end more than anything

It is kind of draenei heavy. Maybe I'll use my warlock then.

Sylar Keves is a young human, just past his 20th year. In his short life, he has studied the Light, but ended up being dropped from the early stages of priest training (Keves started as a priest and I got bored :P). He then applied for apprenticeship with a local wizard, but his studies soon slacked off and he was again rejected (tried to play another mage, got bored :P). Keves then discovered a book of demonic magic and, applying his previous (albeit limited) magical training, taught himself to be a warlock.


Keves is lazy, easily distracted, and would rather find an easy way to get by than to actually work. He's also got a violent streak and really enjoys inflicting pain on others, though this behavior didn't start until after he tried to summon a demon the first time. The demon didn't appear, but ever since then, Keves has sensed a presence with him at all times.

[Mark_Romaneck]

Its all about enjoying ourselves so no worries

[Exxile87]

Its all about enjoying ourselves so no worries

Meh, I'll use the warlock anyway. He's pretty cool.