(Includes a description of "Character's Name") should be prohibited.

[TooManyPotatoes]

You also have their portrait.

I love you, GrumpyCat, but all the portraits I see are the same bald men and hooded women.



When I meet these low effort description characters, my best advice is to be quietly disappointed in them.

Any good, persistent villain wants to be recognised. The ones that don't will likely get bored of their character after a month, or aren't going to be a significant force in the world.

My real advice would be to send a tell to these guys. Let them know you'd like to tell their story, and how you could best cooperate to do that. You might find someone receptive on the other end - if not, you've confirmed what you thought about them and may even have a DM report you can file! Happy days!

Otherwise we can continue to assume the worst in everyone and see where that gets us.

[Aelryn Bloodmoon]

I'm with Logger on this one.

I agree that using someone's name IC that you don't know is lame and cheesy.

I also agree that not filling out a basic character description (eye color, hair color, height, weight, race, etc) is lame and metagamey.

The argument "put in effort and describe what you see" is also lame and cheesy. In the same way that my character doesn't necessarily know the difference in a sirloin cut or a filet mignon the way I do, just because I might happen to have the screen zoomed out, or heaven forbid, be color-blind, doesn't mean my character shouldn't be able to remember what you looked like up-close, including the fact that your hair was red and your armor was bright green.

We seem to be really big on "just because you know this doesn't mean your character knows this," here, but for some reason no one ever examines the possibility "just because you don't know this, doesn't mean your character doesn't." I'm not a surgeon, but 30 ranks in heal says I can use a healing kit to bring someone from the brink of death to a serviceable state of health.

Admittedly, circumstances and situations apply, but in my opinion, someone uncovered, unhooded, and unwarded with no description and a disguise tag up, should be able to be "described" in this fashion for others if the spotter passes the spot check, because at that point you have a mechanical notification that your character did, in fact, stare this person down and study them in enough detail to break their disguise- why aren't you able to [describe person] in this case?

To me, this is one of those things that overtly enables people to hide from consequences. I'm not asking for a novel. There is no reason you can't have signs in the starting area requiring this basic rundown on all character descriptions; hair, eyes, skin, height, weight. If the response is that this is "asking too much," then I weep for how low the bar has fallen that such is too much, especially with the custom description tools this server has.

[Ork]

If you're made about descriptions not being filled out, try to really place where that emotion is coming from. Cause it really just sounds like you're upset you can't "win" at uncovering them.

Use the characters appearance. Use their weapon. Use the stats. Dividers get an aura. Bring the witness with you(???!) when you go looking for this person? Cmon. Use some ingenuity.

[DM Rex]

GrumpyCat gives the words we all on the DM Staff are looking for.
We expect people to do their best, regardless of the behaviors of other players. Whether it be a massive description or a lack thereof, you are required to write to the best of your ability an actual description, and not just use disguise names or *looks like John Doe Lou*

It is a rule, if you violate it, you will be spoken to about it.
If you don't feel up to the task of doing a proper job of it, don't post about it then on in game boards.

[ReverentBlade]

Make descriptions mandatory for RPR.

[Hazard]

*Describes proper way to describe character*

[Eters]

It would be nice if descriptions become mandatory. There is already an automated system that helps people make their description with basic things "height eye colors grooming etc.." but it is underused.

And while every point made above makes sense. I find it unfair that it is up to the people who want to roleplay to make all the effort to accomodate for the other's lack of. After all roleplay is give and take and you cannot ask people to put in all the effort when the other side is putting none.

Somehow the solution proposed is that we seek ways to identify someone who didn't bother with the basic courtesy of writing a description. While the solution in my humble opinion is that everyone should be required to have a basic description.

Perhaps make it so that the description helper script should fire right after the one for height setting when you just make your character for the first time. With an option to skip it (if you want to write your own description following a different format) as well as with a warning that if a DM catches you without a proper description, that the RPR will be dropped to 10.

If people complain about having basic descriptions in a roleplay server, then what are they even doing here?

[Shadowy Reality]

If there is no description WYSIWYG. Just use that. Most characters are different enough to be able to describe solely through their model, stats, clothing, weapons, fighting style.

[Hazard]

If there is no description I try to describe their clothing style/model/fighting technique etc..

If they are warded, then I describe the wards and maybe the shape of their silhouette.

[malcolm_mountainslayer]

I'm with Logger on this one.

I agree that using someone's name IC that you don't know is lame and cheesy.

I also agree that not filling out a basic character description (eye color, hair color, height, weight, race, etc) is lame and metagamey.

The argument "put in effort and describe what you see" is also lame and cheesy. In the same way that my character doesn't necessarily know the difference in a sirloin cut or a filet mignon the way I do, just because I might happen to have the screen zoomed out, or heaven forbid, be color-blind, doesn't mean my character shouldn't be able to remember what you looked like up-close, including the fact that your hair was red and your armor was bright green.

We seem to be really big on "just because you know this doesn't mean your character knows this," here, but for some reason no one ever examines the possibility "just because you don't know this, doesn't mean your character doesn't." I'm not a surgeon, but 30 ranks in heal says I can use a healing kit to bring someone from the brink of death to a serviceable state of health.

Admittedly, circumstances and situations apply, but in my opinion, someone uncovered, unhooded, and unwarded with no description and a disguise tag up, should be able to be "described" in this fashion for others if the spotter passes the spot check, because at that point you have a mechanical notification that your character did, in fact, stare this person down and study them in enough detail to break their disguise- why aren't you able to [describe person] in this case?

To me, this is one of those things that overtly enables people to hide from consequences. I'm not asking for a novel. There is no reason you can't have signs in the starting area requiring this basic rundown on all character descriptions; hair, eyes, skin, height, weight. If the response is that this is "asking too much," then I weep for how low the bar has fallen that such is too much, especially with the custom description tools this server has.

Bar was never there to begin with. We have had iconic Arelith characters for over a decade dime and go who never had literal detailed descriptions of height weight etc. Especially in old days when we couldn't edit after creating and our character was a pure abstract.

In fact, I will sooner write you a novella, details about their weapon, signs of religion, etc. But will never give "height, weight, etc." As i have troubles viewing people that way in real life. I can't describe in those terms nor understand if you were to tell me said details. 90% or my characters have black hair because I accidentally created a green haired elf once because i am colour challenged too.

Obvously you should not use names you don't know though.

[Kuma]

It would be nice if descriptions become mandatory. There is already an automated system that helps people make their description with basic things "height eye colors grooming etc.." but it is underused.

if that became mandatory i'd fill it with memes

I dislike that sort of dating site description, and much prefer a narrative sort of description. I'd be upset if I had to figure out what my character's height is because boy howdy that's impossible

You also have their portrait.

"I was attacked by a man who closely resembles a penguin."

id be a bit leery of people using portraits in this way

[Drowboy]

I was attacked by a blank faced bronze man in a sort of off-bronze background.

I know this is the Forum Thing of the week, but this isn't anything new, really. It's been a rule for like twelve years.

Work around it or send a report.

[Might-N-Magic]

Ok, instead let's just all go, "Kill every guy using head_32."

I'd hardly bother with clothing descriptions even in the real world unless the event just happened. Even less so when we all know someone can type "-loadoutfit G" and have an instant quick change 5 seconds after murdering someone.

Can't change your head though!

"I wore a hood" isn't enough. If your hood is so low I can't see your face, you can't see a thing. A disguise will protect you (if I can't pierce it), but if I do, I'm just going to assume my character knows what your face looks like adequately to relay it to others.

[Party in the forest at midnight]

My characters tend to be average height and weight. I usually only include unique character details like eye colour, but outside of that, if the character has no unique features, then there's not much to say. I'm not writing fluff for the sake of it.

When I'm writing descriptions of what another character looks like I don't really use many profile details, long profiles usually have a lot of unnecessary fluff that doesn't actually help identify someone. Like if someone writes how arrogantly they walk and how their armour has lost its shine, or go into great detail describing their swords, that is a lot of stuff I am not going to include in any sort of description I write. Notes are 2000 characters or less, I'm often struggling to shave off as much as I can, and the most important thing to write is what the character actually looks like.


There's a whole lot you can write about someone based on their appearance alone. Even with obscured appearances. Here's an example:



Elven male. Obscured with stoneskin and improved invisibility. Wears a cloak over top a trench coat. Has a green gem magic staff with a weird handle bar.


Maybe this doesn't seem like much, but these details are so unique to this character, I could identify him every time I saw him, even if he was disguised and in stoneskin.

[matheusgraef]

If you're made about descriptions not being filled out, try to really place where that emotion is coming from. Cause it really just sounds like you're upset you can't "win" at uncovering them.

Use the characters appearance. Use their weapon. Use the stats. Dividers get an aura. Bring the witness with you(???!) when you go looking for this person? Cmon. Use some ingenuity.

+1

It is a rule, if you violate it, you will be spoken to about it.
If you don't feel up to the task of doing a proper job of it, don't post about it then on in game boards.

+1

Also just +1 to the post above, I really have nothing to add but I want to emphasize them.

[NPC Logger Number 2]

If you're made about descriptions not being filled out, try to really place where that emotion is coming from. Cause it really just sounds like you're upset you can't "win" at uncovering them.

Use the characters appearance. Use their weapon. Use the stats. Dividers get an aura. Bring the witness with you(???!) when you go looking for this person? Cmon. Use some ingenuity.

Human with quarterstaff in stoneskin. Had high dexterity.

Seriously, I can't believe what I'm reading. How about this, maybe they are upset that they can't "win" at being disguised so they use lazy, cheap, metagaming tactics such as blank descriptions to make it so even if I break their disguise I can't glean any information from that to use in RP. They bring the entire quality of the server's RP down just so they can "win" at being disguised and promote cheap, lazy conflict without fear of later repercussion.

It would be nice if descriptions become mandatory. There is already an automated system that helps people make their description with basic things "height eye colors grooming etc.." but it is underused.

And while every point made above makes sense. I find it unfair that it is up to the people who want to roleplay to make all the effort to accomodate for the other's lack of. After all roleplay is give and take and you cannot ask people to put in all the effort when the other side is putting none.

Somehow the solution proposed is that we seek ways to identify someone who didn't bother with the basic courtesy of writing a description. While the solution in my humble opinion is that everyone should be required to have a basic description.

Perhaps make it so that the description helper script should fire right after the one for height setting when you just make your character for the first time. With an option to skip it (if you want to write your own description following a different format) as well as with a warning that if a DM catches you without a proper description, that the RPR will be dropped to 10.

If people complain about having basic descriptions in a roleplay server, then what are they even doing here?

I agree with this entirely. Maybe they should go play Elder Scrolls Online or something if they don't want to RP and don't want to face consequences later down the road for the PVP's they initiate.

[Eters]

Alright do the issue since everyone seems oblivious to it.

Mage 1 : Joe the Necromancer. Has a description explaining basic information on him, male standing at 5 ft 9 with black hair. Has a scar on his left cheek in the shape of a donut.

Joe the necromancer attacks someone in the road, disguised, and the target breaks the disguise then reports to the guards the donut shaped scar. People search for Joe specifically due to the report.

Mage 2 : Fred the Necromancer. Has no description. He attacks a target on the road, disguised, and the target breaks disguise. Learns absolutely nothing. Reports Fred as a necromancer with wards. It's so vague they cannot ever find him.

Tldr, not having a description is a net advantage on having it. And unless everyone has one. May as well remove descriptions all together.

[Shadowy Reality]

It is not metagaming to have an empty description, stop trying to push that. WYSIWYG, that is the most basic rule we have. Just like no one is a worse roleplayer forhaving an optimized build no one is a worse roleplayer because they don't have a description. That description can be constructed by anyone that actually roleplays with said PC, with a mix of visual, emote and dialog queues.

Just describe what you see, it's not hard. I don't need to fill out my description for you to do that. Even when I fill my description I don't describe clothing at all, because that can change and it would not be accurate again.

Many people remove their descriptions when they disguise, to avoid being metagamed when the disguise is not broken. Or for people to mistakenly take that description as the disguise's instead of Joe's.

[NPC Logger Number 2]

It is not metagaming to have an empty description, stop trying to push that. WYSIWYG, that is the most basic rule we have. Just like no one is a worse roleplayer forhaving an optimized build no one is a worse roleplayer because they don't have a description. That description can be constructed by anyone that actually roleplays with said PC, with a mix of visual, emote and dialog queues.

Just describe what you see, it's not hard. I don't need to fill out my description for you to do that. Even when I fill my description I don't describe clothing at all, because that can change and it would not be accurate again.

Many people remove their descriptions when they disguise, to avoid being metagamed when the disguise is not broken. Or for people to mistakenly take that description as the disguise's instead of Joe's.

But then when their disguise IS broken they lose absolutely NOTHING! The Spotter gains NOTHING! It is a cheap, lazy, unfair tactic, based on making the worst possible assumption about other players, that promotes cheap, lazy conflict without consequence or repercussion, that completely circumvents the mechanical skills of the game just to spite the other player. If the ONLY option you're gonna leave me to identify you is to bash your corpse and take your head and show it around then I'll just do that.

[Kuma]

no one is a worse roleplayer forhaving an optimized build no one is a worse roleplayer because they don't have a description

hm. dont think this is how that one works boys

[Shadowy Reality]

It is not metagaming to have an empty description, stop trying to push that. WYSIWYG, that is the most basic rule we have. Just like no one is a worse roleplayer forhaving an optimized build no one is a worse roleplayer because they don't have a description. That description can be constructed by anyone that actually roleplays with said PC, with a mix of visual, emote and dialog queues.

Just describe what you see, it's not hard. I don't need to fill out my description for you to do that. Even when I fill my description I don't describe clothing at all, because that can change and it would not be accurate again.

Many people remove their descriptions when they disguise, to avoid being metagamed when the disguise is not broken. Or for people to mistakenly take that description as the disguise's instead of Joe's.

But then when their disguise IS broken they lose absolutely NOTHING! The Spotter gains NOTHING! It is a cheap, lazy, unfair tactic, based on making the worst possible assumption about other players, that promotes cheap, lazy conflict without consequence or repercussion, that completely circumvents the mechanical skills of the game just to spite the other player. If the ONLY option you're gonna leave me to identify you is to bash your corpse and take your head and show it around then I'll just do that.

You are not supposed to get everything just because you broke a disguise, that's not what breaking a disguise means.

It means that you notice something is off (this is how you know someone is disguised, even when you never met them undisguised). If you have met the person undisguised then you found something to make a relation. If you have never seen then undisguised? You don't know much, you are not supposed to, you don't have enough information to easily identify them.

[Shadowy Reality]

no one is a worse roleplayer forhaving an optimized build no one is a worse roleplayer because they don't have a description

hm. dont think this is how that one works boys

As people have mentioned before, we used to live in times when stellar roleplayers had no description, because they didn't set one during character creation. I don't care if you have no description, or 30 pages worth of description, it does not make a roleplayer.

[NPC Logger Number 2]

no one is a worse roleplayer forhaving an optimized build no one is a worse roleplayer because they don't have a description

hm. dont think this is how that one works boys

"Your only hope for fame and fortune...." TOP QUALITY RP RIGHT THERE BRUH! Seriously though, I don't want to throw shade at new players or people with new characters who just haven't had time to set the description yet, but these people with blank descriptions, punctuation marks as descriptions, or incredibly vague descriptions that might as well just be blank, I don't see what that contributes to any kind of RP anywhere. It is clear their motivation is to "win" against spotters by just being a jerk and refusing to give them ANYTHING to work with. Then when us spotters bash them and go showing their head around so we can try to put a name to the "Hooded Figure" that has been going around attacking lowbies in the Bramble Woods they cry and act like we are bad role players.

[Eters]

People not having descriptions is the reason the issue brought up by the OP exists in the first place.

Descriptions are a form of roleplay. You give the person that passes you a general overview of what they see. Rather than emote it everytime you run into someone. It's not active roleplay but it is roleplay none the less, it is part of the world. And I believe that anything that gives depth to the world should be encouraged, and not shunned.

So people freaking out about needing to write 5 sentences explaining what is it that they play is, if anything, worrying to see.

[NPC Logger Number 2]

People not having descriptions is the reason the issue brought up by the OP exists in the first place.

Descriptions are a form of roleplay. You give the person that passes you a general overview of what they see. Rather than emote it everytime you run into someone. It's not active roleplay but it is roleplay none the less, it is part of the world. And I believe that anything that gives depth to the world should be encouraged, and not shunned.

So people freaking out about needing to write 5 sentences explaining what is it that they play is, if anything, worrying to see.

I guarantee they aren't refusing to write descriptions because they are making fun and engaging role play for those around them.