Attachment To Characters & Its Influence On Your RP

Argent Dawn
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A topic that’s been gnawing on my mind for so long I just had to make a thread about it.

Here’s the perceived problem I have: I tend to get extremely emotionally attached to my characters to the point that I’m sceptical whether I could cope with killing them off. Predominantly my main, which is my primary motivator to continue RPing.

Most of them tends to get into dangerous situations (hard not to in a World of Warcraft), and while I’m open to the idea of defeat (failure is much more character building than success, IMO), injuries and even loss of limbs, the moment I humour the idea of death as a consequence I get this overwhelming feeling of anxiety.

It seems that, for some people, one of the criteria to make a good/cooperative roleplayer is to accept death as an outcome for their characters in order to advance story development. I’ve been with players who’ve done it, and it certainly has proven quite significant, both for my own characters development and the overarching plot as a whole, and while I’d like to be able to return the ‘favour’, as it were, I’m quick to abandon the notion for the reasons stated above.

It technically shouldn’t be that hard, right? Authors do it all the time. With Addons such as TRP you don’t even have to level another toon. Just slap a new profile over the old one, change the appearance and voilà! Instant new character. Roleplay continues and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing your previous characters death prompted some memorable scenes for those of your friends/fellow RPers.

A player I know have killed off two of their characters in the past, and they state their regret in doing so from time to time, saying how they miss having them around and I guess I’m worried of falling into the same pit of longing.

I have great respect for those who do manage in overcoming any doubts, and for someone preaching give-and-take relationships between roleplayers I can’t help but feel hypocritical for my unwillingness to let the same fate befall one of my own creations.

So, I suppose the question I’d like to see discussed are:
How easy is it for you to get into deep emotional attachments to your characters, regardless how different they are from you in terms of persona and ideals?
Have you ever killed one off and can you see yourself doing it again?
Do you think less of roleplayers solely because they don’t want to let their characters die, even if it would help in driving a mutually shared story forward?

Note: Temporary villain characters/disposable NPCs wouldn’t really apply - that’s a different topic altogether!

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I get very attached to my characters, but at the same time, I can quite easily pick up a new one and fall in love with that one too, I have had this thing where I main one character, but I play several on the side with varying intensity, based on what I’m currently interested in.

The concept of death in roleplay is something I not only encourage, but fear at the same time, if it comes to from some grandeur roleplay, I am one hundred percent okay with my character dying, but I will not let some turd-lord ruin my hard work.

I’ve had characters killed off in the past and each time it has broken my heart just ever so slightly, I’ve shed tears for some, but that is the way the cookie crumbles, if they mess up, theres consequences.

I don’t particularly think less of anyone just because they do not want their character killed, but I -do- think less of them when they use that to place themselves in situations where there is no logical explanation to their survival.

For example, roleplaying a Blood Elf in Stormwind, and refusing to be killed when you’re found out, because you do not want to lose your character.

In cases like that, don’t put your char in a situation where it can die, if you do not want it to, if you do not accept consequences, overall, I will instantly put you on ignore and advice others to do the same.

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Aye, that does make sense and it’s something I too have mulled over when it comes to consequences.

Would you say this applies to everyone who engages in RP-PvP? Say they’re fine with loss/retreat, injury, even maiming - but not death; would that still elicit an ignore?

On the flipside, what about DM’d PvE events? I’d wager lots of players like to have moments where their characters are allowed to beat scenarios where the odds are in their favour, though still remain reluctant in letting their character meet their end.

I think, on that note, if I did kill off a character I’d prefer it to be at the hands of another player one rather than enemies solely represented by markers.

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As someone who cannot roll non-RP characters, i.e. they HAVE to have a background, a story and a character/feel to them, the investment for me is twofold.

Obviously, 1, they’re my creation, playing them and telling their story is an engaging part of play but even then I could stand to lose them if it makes sense IF, 2) levelling wasn’t such an obnoxious chore.
The level squish can’t come soon enough; I work long hours five days a week, if the choice is between levelling in ancient, outdated content for far too long or actually doing RP with a maxed out and fully fleshed out character then that’s no choice at all…

Edit: Also, what Rael said :stuck_out_tongue:

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I only kill my characters off when I’ve truly had enough of them.

Don’t feel pressured into killing off your character, to advance somebody else’s plot. Your enjoyment matters too.

One of my characters may as well be dead because she’s recovering from a grievous injury (I’ve shelved her for the moment)

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Generally speaking, I am very careful with intentionally killing off my characters.

I have character death set to yes, because if they get in too much of a pickle I won’t bend reality to save them. But character deaths, established character deaths that truly carry weight, must be used with the greatest care as it is a very finite resource and can deprive you of future RP opportunities.

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Nice topic there!

Personally i get attached to my characters too, namely this one, Gor’kamp (Kump). Both me and others loved the Character, had lots of stories and depth put innit.
Although personally i prefer to grant my chars a badass, special, cool death. One that makes others remember them, their names still being on other’s tongues. Not necessarily heroic, but still. Especially when i couldn’t RP and play them much (which is true for me currently) and feels bad. And about the ideals, they usually have a similarity to myself, but never exactly. I usually try to put a specific PoV about other stuff inside the characters i have.

For this i came up with a… Solution of sorts.
Having some chars MADE FOR conflict RP, and being one who you don’t mind them to die, and making it with this mindset.
Generally would be better if character death is acceptable, but makes sense if it’s not, especially when wanting their story to continue. And sometimes stories are very incomplete!

I myself had my characters going missing, gravely injured and stuff, but didn’t kill any yet, except some characters which didn’t really matter much.

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I’ve offed more characters than established ones (5-1)

Idc, it happens if it happens

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Ha, Death, It’s never going to happen!

Nar’zagh the Dud Dies in BFA

Well :poop:.

Nar’zagh returns as a Powerful spirit/lesser Loa of Irritation

Looks like I went SICKO MODE

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I can say I’ve never gotten over attached with my characters until Fuse Flarespark came along, and it didn’t take until the actual event that I pieced together with small stories leading up towards of her being put on trial that’d ultimately decide her fate that it hit me. My character could die (she did) and that’d be that, onto the next character.

I’m adamant on accepting consequences for my characters, because most actions bring a reaction to the table. Whilst I miss having there to roleplay with to this day, part of me is also satisfied I brought a conclusion to their story that suited them best.

I think that’s the comfort for me really, I can get attached to characters and it can influence my roleplay in the sense that if it ever comes to an end I want to be in control of the narrative presented for it so that I can just say good bye to the character as -I- feel they were meant to go.

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Then do not kill your characters, simple as

People treat “killing a character” as some sort of ultimate form roleplayer can achieve, where as that is just yet another continuation of a story one can possibly have. Do not get involved into scenarios that will force you to choose these life and death outcomes and roleplay your best out of everything else.

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No, not at all. I don’t expect anyone to actually kill their character off in RP-PVP or in DM’d PVE events, that’s another tale.

I’m specifically speaking about IN CHARACTER scenarios with other players, as an example, if you attempt to kill my character with your own, that instantly ticks the box of you accepting death, and as my orc is, she will try to kill you, even if it may take her own life.

A good example of the “no-consequences” rule ruining roleplay is;

The Stormwind City Guard, a guard guild that came to in 2015 and quickly established itself as the largest body of “lawmakers” in roleplay, they used buzzboxes to meta-game and stop all criminal rp, never accepted any injuries, death or anything of the sort.

They singlehandedly killed criminal roleplay with their antics. There was no way to fight back, because they simply would not allow you to.

To this day, I condemn any who was in that guild, as they ruined one of the most fun parts of roleplay for me, they were the worst people on AD.

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It’s important to keep in mind, and this isn’t directed at you Raelka, that when it comes to touchy subjects that shape and change another persons characters in such a way that can be long lasting or permanent (death). That there’s another person behind the screen who’s invested time, creativity and love into this character.

Pulling these stunts such as the one that you’ve presented just shows a complete disrespect towards all that, and pretty much deters others from roleplaying with you future. Furthermore it puts a halt into what could have been an interesting bit of roleplay, and stories to share.

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I see. On that, I agree with. I don’t think I’ve ever had my characters actively trying to kill another in that sense (unless it’s an enemy on the opposite faction). Thank you for clarifying!

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This character has 1 shotted hunters with a 2h in 2006… just sayin.

Does it influence my rp?
Nah, im a casual rp anyways.

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I only RP a character if I am really invested and attached to them. I cannot continue RP’ing a character I don’t like, and a result I’ve never actually killed off a character of mine.

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I admit I find it very hard to kill my characters off, and I do my best to stay out of situations where they would logically end up killed. And when I tire of a character, I just say they retired and went to live somewhere. That allows me to stop playing them and try something new, but still leave the option open of bringing them back if I ever feel the need.

Like, some of you might remember the time I posted alot on a worgen named Hargorin, Desartin’s IC brother. I gave him that treatment, and now he’s off living somewhere quiet, untill I -might- bring him back, though for now it doesnt seem likely unless the Worgen models end up being good, then it’s debatable.

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I’m honestly more interested in the story, rather than the character. If killing off Bearan would influence a story in a fascinating/engaging way, I’d happily do it. After all, race changes are a thing, and I’d be back with a new, fresh character to RP in an instant.

The biggest thing holding back my character’s death is my GM won’t let me… argh…

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I get attached to characters I have roleplayed on lots, I tend to focus on one or two characters at a time, And it always feels nice to RP a character that has a lot of back story and history and you are in their mindset when it comes to what they would do, say, act in different situations.

I have killed characters off in the past, as part of a story arc where it made sense for them to die, other characters I have almost retired as there story lines came to a kind of natural end.

I don’t think you should ever feel you need to kill off a character because of a story/event they get into, And I personally would need a very good reason that made sense to me, to kill one of my loved characters off, Azeroth is a fantasy world and characters that live there face way more danger every day than we as players would ever experience, and there are always ways to avoid killing a character off, as long as the character is sensible and doesn’t go round doing stupid things all the time.

Some of my lesser played characters or ones I felt had little more story wise to do I would consider killing off more easily, but again I would want to get a decent amount of story writing material out of any event that I killed a character off in or it would feel some what a waste to me.

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I can’t say I really get attatched to my characters anymore. I dunno whether that makes me jaded or just maturing from when I first started but if a character I makes dies, gets injured ect, ect, i just see it as an excuse to start over now. It takes a special something to get invested emotionally and mentally into my characters.

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