Descriptions are cool

[Egon the Monkey]

So, recently I've seen a lot of Cleric PCs on the server, and since I like RPing my reaction to a faith, I often end up PMing them saying "Hi, can I ask you what holy symbol your PC is displaying?" if a char looks like a Cleric but a symbol's not on the description. Usually the Obligatory Mushroom-Fibre Spellslot Staff is a giveaway. It really helps if descriptions have what a character can see on your PC, if it's important to the concept. Especially if your guy always refers to himself by an alias, as it avoids:

"//Hey, he never says he name, he only calls himself Washed Up Pete!"
"//I can't keep track of a half-dozen PCs aliases without some sort of list, sorry"

Descriptions can help solve this either by putting "//This PC only calls himself by " in the description, or naming the PC by their alias and sticking the real name in there for the few people who'd know it.

Descriptions can be a great tool for facilitating RP and making your char stand out as distinctive, even if their look and gear is similar to others'. It doesn't have to be long either, just a couple of sentences can flesh out the look beyond [Human Head #23, Blonde Hair], and let you add a couple of RP hooks. A huge backstory with reference to social stat scores is actually rather immersion-breaking and loses you the chance to RP out your PCs past. However, something simple like "This rugged looking sailor is missing a chunk of his left ear, and has badly healed bite scars across his right hand" get a player thinking "So what sea monster did this PC tangle with in the past?". I like using it for stuff you can't pick on a head model or loot, like the fact that Alvin often wears reading glasses.

 EfU really helps in that regard with the chat commands to update your description.You can change it if you get some unusual-looking gear, pick up a nasty scar, start displaying a symbol of faith etc. I know most players have been here ages, but we've had some newer folks turn up over the last few months, so thought I'd mention the chat commands, becuse they're brilliant for showing physical development of the character. Case in point, Kreil Gotek's description changing to reflect the many freaky gubbins that have been grafted on to him over the course of the PC.

[Wrexsoul]

Good points. I'd especially like to add/emphasis something that I have thought of pretty often lately; Description lengths. I pretty often encounter PC's with very well written, very interesting descriptions. Sadly, though, with some it is not until the 10th time I see/interact with them I actually am made properly aware of this, since the descriptions also cover about an A4 of text and takes a few minutes of idling to read >_>. Exaggeration aside, my point is that EfU is often so fast-pased, with either actions, or typing taking up most of your interactive time, so it is very tricky, at least for me, to get a sense of someone's description if it is too long.

Be inventive, be eloquent, but keep it rather brief, or chances are people won't actually have time to read your description properly, no matter how well written it is.

Otherwise, descriptions should, in my opinion, be limited to what I can learn about your character without interacting with them, and things I would quickly notice while interacting with them that cannot be represented by the engine. I.e. exactly what it says on the tin; A description. Physical traits, visible mannerisms, accent, symbols, ever-present belongings, tattoos, etc are golden, but most personality, background story, events and so forth are much better roleplayed. A basic rule to keep in mind could be "would you have to specifically tell me/show me this for me to know it?". If the answer is 'no', put it in your description.

Lastly, the old rule "Do not put things in your description that force other people to act/feel a certain way" probably should be pointed out, as well.

Of course, every guideline has exceptions, and I have seen examples here on EfU that cross these but still were pretty awesome, but these are the guidelines I tend to abide by, at least.

I know a lot of this was touched on by Egon already, but I felt I wanted to chime in with my own opinion and elaborate on some things that are important to me.

-EDIT!- One thing that feels very important to me, is to have an easily and quickly readable part that would let people tell apart your character from everyone else by a quick examination. Often clearly visible physical traits work fine. It's very nice to be able to describe someone to a third part and have them be able to identify the person you describe ICly, without having to semi-metagame name tags and such.

[Nuclear Catastrophe]

Every character on EfU should start with a completely 'blank' description, I.E. delete your description from the character editor on creation.

Later on you can then customise it using "/c desc app (description)".

This is the best way to do it.

A more detailed post coming later on character generation in a seperate thread.

[Craig210]

Every character on EfU should start with a completely 'blank' description, I.E. delete your description from the character editor on creation.

Later on you can then customise it using "/c desc app (description)".

This is the best way to do it.

A more detailed post coming later on character generation in a seperate thread.

I completely agree with this. I have had characters change so much physically while playing them, that the original bio becomes worthless.

It can actually become exhausting emoting the same descriptions over and over again.

[Mort]

I disagree. "_" You should have a description, and you should just update it when appropriate.

Never have anything that is 'blank' or -rp- .

[derfo]

if you are so inclined to describe your character then do so, as much as you want. if not, don't. ok done

[Nightshadow]

I want to reach through the screen and strangle everyone who uses -RP for info-. Admittedly, few people do it on this server, it's something I used to see a lot (A LOT) on Arelith, though.

[Aethereal]

if you are so inclined to describe your character then do so, as much as you want. if not, don't. ok done

No wonder why your title is "Entirely Pointless." Quite fitting.

My opinion:

A sensory description is all you should have in your description... anything that can't be known merely by observing your character should be role played out. IE: History that is not apparent - scars, markings, tattoos can speak of history well though.

[derfo]

look out, i might prove it's not a big deal to forsake a description if you don't want to type it. there's totally no point to that

in efu it is what you do that matters, not as much so how you describe it

[9lives]

A paragraph is no trouble, and really adds a lot.

Just don't fall into the 1000 word treatise with multiple paragraphs and Harvard notation.

AND HIS GOSSAMER LOCKS, LIKE SPUN SILVER

[Pup]

A paragraph is no trouble, and really adds a lot.

Just don't fall into the 1000 word treatise with multiple paragraphs and Harvard notation.

AND HIS GOSSAMER LOCKS, LIKE SPUN SILVER

I'm with this.  If I have to scroll down to read your description, I just won't read it.  I prefer short, succinct descriptions.  Just tell me what I see when I meet you.

[MrGrendel]

A paragraph is no trouble, and really adds a lot.

Just don't fall into the 1000 word treatise with multiple paragraphs and Harvard notation.

AND HIS GOSSAMER LOCKS, LIKE SPUN SILVER

Sometimes I don't mind reading a bit more. However, I think a good compromise is this:

Put the important and obvious stuff in the first few sentences. The further on you go, the less important and/or harder to notice the details should be.

In other words, the first two or three sentences, tops, should detail the grisly scar across your character's face, their general height, weight and eyecolor and anything else that stands out. The birthmark shaped like an avocado that your character has on the inside of their left thigh, which they would only deign to reveal to anyone who beats a roll of DC 25 charisma (25 DC int will suffice if within a library and your character has points in lore: swedish massage) and etc etc... yeah, stick that in the last paragraph because chances are most people aren't reading it.

As far as emotes... descriptions really should only have what you can actually see about the character's body in any situation they may be in. Only behaviour that's really a constant part of the character should even be mentioned here, and then not as a particular action ("He glares at you" - what if someone is invisible?) but as a general note including circumstances. ("He tends to glare at anyone he speaks with, but especially mages.")

[el groso]

Whenever I have a char under disguise, provided he has decent Bluff score, I put in the description the hint that he is disguised. Example: Equip a bow, put quiver for backpack and some leathers (helmet, of course, since hoods cannot be considered disguise). Then set the desc to: "An archer". Or "This man looks like a hunter."

[The Beggar]

"RP for more" is RP fail.

More coolness on descriptions, I love them.

[Nuclear Catastrophe]

Mort misread me.  If you type out your description in full AFTER you've made your character with your description blank, it is fully customisable from then on.

I am all for good descriptions.  But I like knowing that they can be changed easily at the drop of a hat!