Must they all die?

[Gwydion]

I want to applaud the players of PCs that have been on the server for a long time.  They add some continuity to the storyline, and make the experience more enjoyable in my opinion.

There are so many times I log on now, and in cycles of just a few weeks, the character list is almost completely devoid of names I recognize.  While I appreciate that this is the nature of the game, sometimes I wonder if we wouldn't be better off with a bit more permanence.

This is not a sour grapes post about my personal experience with my own character.  It's something that I noticed in the Underdark, and has seemed to crop now and again.

I'm not sure what the answer is, but there are so many permadeath PVP kills, I honestly can't keep track of them.  As a result, I have become somewhat blase about what should be prominent characters being killed and disappearing from the server.  

Maybe that's just the nature of the beast, and that's fine too.  Just wondering what others think about this issue.

So keep up the good work, those of you that play visible and memorable characters that define this server and keep some semblance of an evolving saga rather than just a compendium of short stories and tall tales.

[Jayde Moon]

I personally think that DMs might consider setting a standard at which points players may opt to have their PCs turned into NPCs.  You can't ever go to the character again and they belong entirely to the DMs, but it's a way to have your PC take up a practically permanent residence.

An example of how this might have worked is with the late Clarice Nemetski.  Let's say she attained whatever standard the DMs set for something like this.

Well, at 'retirement', the DMs take Nemetski and have her spawn permanently in the Mausoleum where she might offer the same benefits as some of the clerics in the other temples.

The trick would be setting a standard that isn't unattainable, but also isn't too simple.

alternately, this might simply be something you app for and the DMs arrove/disapprove it.

I dunno, but yes, it's off to me that the changeover is as fast as it is, sometimes.  But it is the nature of the beast.

[The Beggar]

I'm not sure what the answer is, but there are so many permadeath PVP kills, I honestly can't keep track of them.

I think you are grossly overstating the effect of PVP deaths on the server population. As someone who has had (in the past only, no longer) responded to PvP and followed outcomes it became apparent that the majority of PCs are dropped due to two reasons:

1) It was a hastily rolled PC and the player got bored with it, moving on to another PC
2) PC died on a scripted quest, player is pissed and permas

And yes, they must all die sometime, this being an action oriented server rather than a social one.

[ScottyB]

We have something like 400 to 700 different characters logged in each month (or did, at some point; Strife would know this better than me), and the vast majority of them are still alive at the end of the month.

It's not that so many characters die [to PvP] but that important and/or memorable characters end up in deadly situations (and then don't get out of them - alive, anyways).

[Howlando]

Vast majority of PCs are just abandoned (or die to something silly), probably a solid majority of PvP deaths the player of the PC was ready to move on to a new character anyway and welcomed it.

Long lasting PCs are good though.

[Howlando]

If people are playing an actual prominent PC and are sort of sick of it, they can talk with a DM about the possibility of turning it into a NPC. Most of the time we probably won't be interested though, unless the PC would provide a specific purpose.

[Random_White_Guy]

Me?

I love the short story. (Look at my PCs haha.)

A month is the ideal length for a character I personally believe.

You spend a week or so getting established, you spend a week tooling up for something big once established, once you're tooled up you spend a week or two rocking.

After that you're either dead, or not.

But a damn fine way to spend IG.

I'd much rather throw my heart and soul into a character for a short story (Often a tragic tale), and make it an interesting place where I feel like I did something cool.

Characters lasting longer than a month usually leave me feeling like I'm getting bored, and I hate being bored.

I'm a builder. I like my PCs setting up factions, getting groups off the ground. Every PC faction I've ever made has gone on after my death, but I get no joy more than watching other PC's enjoy a group I made, carrying on the story, and prospering.

Its one of those things where you can sit back and go "Hah. I made that."

Though that's probably why I went DM <_<

[Sandstorm]

Personally, I think characters should stick around for a long time. It'd be nice if people could find a character they liked playing for a long time, and just stick with it even if they died a sucky death. The intrigue of getting supplies back through loans and services can be just as cool as what you do with the supplies. From the perspective of a character who has been around for a while, I do find it a bit annoying when I need to find a new crew to chill with every few weeks or so!

[derfo]

bit of both types is the best, as per usual LOL. making some chars npcs after awhile isn't really going to remedy anything

[VanillaPudding]

I think it really depends on the character. If you get involved in a lot of dirty scandals or simply with the 'wrong' crowd, you should expect PvP to happen eventually.

If you die, so be it, it's the life you picked for the character and their story. If you survive and live on through PvP, I'd say that's even better because it provides great oppertunities for more RP.

[Gippy]

Longer lived PCs are awesome. I applaud the players that can play them. I cannot really. Though I've had some exceptions.

[Crod Mondoon]

Must they all die? Was the OP's question.
The answer, in game and out, is, unavoidably, unequivocally, ...

YES.

(If days are hours, and months are years, a PC with several months  real time has had a quite long career indeed.)

[Pestilence]

One thing I'd like to announce to everyone. Do -not- make new characters more often. Instead of making ten characters, 1 for each concept make one character. Try to make a character that gives you an amazing feeling and you WANT to stick with. Make one character, and play him until he permas, lives for a long time, or you have to do some other plot.
One of my first, but most favorite characters in the UD lasted for 4 months. I had a blast and enjoyed the greatest kinds of times. I was able to join the church of Dumathoin, Hang out in Upper and lower, enjoyed the remnants of montezzi, and had major fun with the other dwarves and with Prince Gyrrt. I met players, associated with them, and made friends. In the following, I made some enemies (Savraass worshippers!).
In the end he died during the exodus with some other dwarves trying to go to some dwarven kingdom for safety and aid in saving sanctuary. But on this trip he died in Mur with many others. It was glorious.
I would only lv6 Cleric but I lived for such a long time. My reccomendation for concepts is to start low, but work your way higher and higher until they gain many companions and foes. This way your character doesn't perma die within the first week. Always try to make your experience with characters long, strong, and far.
Remember that if you want to do perma battles make sure it is for a good cause, reason, and experience for your next characters.
Also: Levels don't matter! Although they help, I disaprove of power questing. Roleplaying is simple. So instead with a lv3 character that only has 15 mintues, roleplay instead of questing! Your characters strength and greatness is only shown in amount of items after helping others, your equiptment, and your companions who aid you.

[Mort]

They must all die. That's the cycle of life, yo. Alpha to Omega and all that crap.

[Pestilence]

It is ok if you die due to Pvp or Dm events. As long as the character had a long time, exceled in his goals, accomplished various things, and most of course....
 
HAD FUN! :)