Some Advice

[Howlando]

Here are some thoughts about playing in EfU that will hopefully be of some use to you in getting more enjoyment out of your EfU experience.

Ultimately I want playing EfU and involvement in our community to be a relatively meaningful, responsible use of your recreational time. I feel strongly that players should not spend their time in EfU if they are escaping their responsibilities, unable to control the time they spend, or otherwise wasting their time.

Of course EfU does require a considerable time investment, and some might argue that it will always be a waste of time when compared to other more meaningful activities (reading great literature, volunteering, physical activity, active self-education, etc.). However, realistically human beings rarely possess that degree of energy and discipline. Many people in the developed world have an abundance of leisure time, and I think EfU is a far better use of time than spending hours watching television of playing other kinds of video games such as World of Warcraft. For many people, I think EfU can be a good part of a healthy, balanced, and creative life.

The question of how much time you want to invest in EfU is, however, essential to coming up with a concept for a character.

If you have only a little bit of time, you should consider playing an independent free-agent kind of character that is perhaps loosely associated with a regional-based group or pursues a particular kind of goal in a more casual manner. For example, a sternly responsible adventurer who supports the Duke and the Dominion but spends most of his time seeking profit and glory through adventures would be a good kind of concept if you have this kind of time investment. It's no problem if you can't get on for a week or two, but when you can you have a rough cause to support and can find something to do when you log on.

If you have more time, you should consider finding a concept where you can become part of an active group that matches your time-zone and play-hours. There's almost always lots of recruitment going on for both DM Factions and PC Factions.

DM Factions are good if you have more patience, prefer playing more long-term, and are good at demonstrating initiative and independence. It is a common misconception among new players that when you join a DM Faction you will be given direct guidance by the DMs. This is rare. Generally we want players involved in DM Factions to represent the faction responsibly and independently, recruit for it actively, and make it fun. Basically we are saying, "Here is a cool faction, make it awesome, and we'll help out with occasional advice from a NPC and some other minor perks." There will also likewise be more responsibilities, as well as more "work" and generally more requests from other characters for your time. It can be a very rewarding experience for the right kind of player.

PC Factions have less stability and are less likely to stick around for a long time, but can be more fun. An interesting group can spring up in the process of days, and won't be encumbered by the lengthy process of application-approvals. An active PC group is more likely to offer the sense of belonging/constant involvement that many players enjoy.

If you have a lot of time to spend on EfU, you might want to consider playing an independent leader-type. Finding other characters for your group can be difficult, but is very doable if you have an interesting concept and offer a rewarding experience for other players.

I think the interaction aspect of EfU and the important component of how much time you have to spend to be somewhat overlooked at times by players, so I wanted to draw attention to it.

Creative characterization, strength of concept, and sheer roleplay ability are complex topics on their own that have been written about at length elsewhere. For now, I want to make two final points.

The first is that if you really want to make an impact, it can be very important to play your character for a decently long period of time. If you play a character for only a few days before you make a new one, the PC is unlikely to make much of an impact. But no matter how crappy a player you are, if you make a character that you regularly play for a period of months he or she will be a major character in the world.

Second - I think it is important to find a hook and emphasize it, again and again. There are so many characters in the world, that it can be easy to miss nuance and complexity. I definitely think nuance and complexity is important, but I also would advise you consider having one primary trait or aspect that you spend a lot of time in your roleplay focusing on.

For example -

A barbarian who enjoys feasting and eating interesting new things, always seeking new creatures to kill and devour.

A bard who is constantly asking strangers if they have seen his missing sister, composing songs and poems about her.

A cleric whose deep faith is demonstrated in an interesting and creative way.

A druid who associates with a particular aspect of nature - perhaps one particular animal.

A fighter who is love with a particular kind of weapon, at the utter exclusion of all others.

A monk with a philosophy or code that is rigidly adhered to.

A paladin on a particular kind of noble quest.

A ranger who seeks to master a particular territory or area.

A rogue with some special talent or interest.

A sorcerer who harvests the blood of his enemies.

A wizard with a clear and specific area of research.

I think particularly for newer or less talented roleplayers, having this kind of singular trait can really help a mediocre character turn into a memorable one.

Take a memorable character and involve yourself with others, in a time-suitable way, and your experience in EfU will hopefully be very rewarding!

[Aethereal]

You make some brilliant points there, Howland. And it is something I, in my relatively short yet intense time on EFU can agree with.

I would also add that as a player you should chose a character that you would enjoy roleplaying regardless of what you achieve in the game. Of course that might just be my opinion, because what I love most about EFU is the roleplaying - there are some minor issues with people meta/power-gaming but I usually overcome them.:evil:

The way that I play I conjure up a mindset for my character, all their traits, goals, desires and background then I become the character, or at least try to. The result is a very potent character that is fun to play... just try not getting too attached.

[Howlando]

there are some minor issues with people meta/power-gaming but I usually overcome them.

Please do not hesitate to bring any kind of issue to the attention of the DM team or myself.

I'm glad you enjoyed the post, it's always nice to have a new player around.

[Egon the Monkey]

Ultimately I want playing EfU and involvement in our community to be a  relatively meaningful, responsible use of your recreational time.

Damn true. Although EfU has eaten up countless hours of my life over the last four years, it's also put me back in regular contact with my brothers after leaving for university for one thing :D.

Have to say my advice is "Don't be afraid to go off the rails a bit". The characters I've enjoyed playing the most and those I've enjoyed RPing with the most have been ones that have stood out from the usual archetypes of a class or concept, and those that have grown away from their start over time. I try to prevent boredom on a PC by giving up if a major goal seems unattainable IC, and inventing a new one, rather than quit the PC. I made Alvin with the intention of going Conclave, but ICly found it frustrating due to a lack of PCs that needed Consorts and with whom Alvin would actually get along. Currently trying to pull together new ideas for him.

If you think an idea's stupid but you really like it, try and find a way to make it work. Currently I'm playing the result of several concept/build ideas on how to make a half-orc intellectual actually work. Sure I get a lot of "WTF, Egon?", but I have fun and I at least know my chars won't get mistaken for another PC ;).