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Character FAQ
How do I pick a name?
Think of a name you want to use for your character. You want to be able to pronounce their name and have other people do so as well. If you can't think of a name, you can look on Google for different names. There are plenty of websites with names from different languages, such as English, Welsh, Scottish, Gaelic and Spanish. If you still think that no one will be able to pronounce their name, you can always have a pronounciation key in the profile for others so they know how to say your character's name.
What names can I have?
Names that are original are always welcome. Don't limit yourself to two syllables, but don't make them so long that people can't pronounce them. Don't make apostrophes in your name just to make your name sound cool. Chances are, they pretty much do not even affect your characters name. This does not mean you cannot have them in your name. It is just discouraged to make it simply for the sake of making it.Other types of names that are not acceptable are the following:
- SpaceMan or TangoChip: These are examples of two words put together. Your character is a person, not a product.
- LadyLaura or SirKnightRichard: They have titles in their names. Besides the fact that monks are less bothered by status, this is just rude. You are free to hold a title elsewhere, but it is not part of your name.
- Krueller666 or Ginger21342: They have numbers in their names. Is your name like this in real life? No. Alright then.
- Assman or Shithead: They have profane words in them. We do not accept these, period.
The rule of thumb is this: if the names sound too weird and sticks out like a sore thumb, do not use it. If you still want to use it, that's fine: just be prepared to have someone ask you if the name was taken from something else.
What are races?
This refers to what species your character belongs to. The most common examples are human, elf, half-elf, dwarf, centaur, halfling and some species of animal.
What races can I choose?
We allow any race that is within reason. We do not encourage that you make up your own race. The reason for this is because people will have to read about it to just understand what you are. If they have to do that, then some may be confused more.
What are classes?
These are more like jobs your characters have. The most common examples are fighter, mage, ninja and cleric.
What can I pick?
You can pick anything that is within reason, but keep in mind the setting that your character will be in. You want to describe what your character does in a small space. Classes like "GOD OF THE UNIVERSE" and "Dark Lord" are not acceptable.
How do I describe what my character looks like?
Basically, you want to think in terms that are easy to understand. If words you are using are not in the dictionary, do not use them. You want to write something that people can react to. The things that you should include in your apperance are your hair color, eye color, clothing that your character wears, what their facial and body features are, build and poise. For an example, click here.
What about personality?
Again, make it something that people can react to. For examples of what kinds of personalities not to play, we suggest looking at this Elftown Wiki, by Captain Kiva. This goes into most of the clichés and into some of the personality types that ruin good role plays.
What can I own?
Well, what does your character need to ply their craft? A blacksmith is going to need a hammer and anvil, a mage might need their wand and spellbook, etc. Aside from that, many characters own items which are related to their past or relationships. Don't go into too much detail; that's for the roleplaying. Besides these general guidelines, remember that Haven roleplay is entirely contained in a monastery; you will not have much use for 5 thousand gold coins or for that matter, a compass. See the question about Magic for an idea of the kind of power level these items can be. A few examples follow.- a gold-leafed quiver of arrows: Fine, if you're an archer. Otherwise possibly not so useful, unless you want to donate to the monastery's weapon stock.
- a silver ring encrusted with opals: It's a bit flashy, but there's no reason why not. Don't explain why you have it yet, let people ask.
- a digital watch: Not so good. Haven is in a predominantly fantasy setting, and as such technology is somewhat limited.
- the sacred tablets of R'lyeh: Definitely not. First of all, this is a direct copy from the Call of Cthulhu universe, secondly they would be too powerful. Rethink this.
What skills can I have?
Just about anything! Some quick examples to get you started: fletching, fencing, gymnastics, appraisal, wordplay. Be prepared to roleplay these when the situation calls for it. Also indicate the relative level of competence for each you list. While there is no fixed limit to the amount of skills you may have, try to link it to your age. A 10-year old is not the master of dark sorcery, 7 foreign languages and tennis. Magic or anything like it (mysticism, psionics) is a special case; read the next section for more information.
How does magic work?
That's mostly up to you. There are many roleplaying systems which implement magic in their own ways. You are, of course, welcome to invent your own. Pick some major domain to have the grand majority of your talent inside, and pick some specialities within that. We discourage the use of spell names in character; this often leads to animesque "skill announcement", which is bad form. There is a separate page discussing this large topic, if you want examples of magic systems and spells.
I have a spell which can destroy the world!
. . . umm. Abort/Retry/Fail?
How much should I write for a history?
A character profile is just that - a profile. It's not your entire biography, nor is it your memoirs. On the other hand, we do want to know something. Tell us some of the major events in your lifetime; try to list at least 3. If you have an unusual posession, mention where it came from. Most importantly of all, explain why you chose to come to Haven. Leaving everyday life and spending time in a secluded monatery is a major decision and deserves attention.
Can I have a picture? Yes, you can have a portrait for your character. However, due to art thieves, we are not allowing people to upload images via their character profiles. E-mail one of the email links at the bottom with the picture you want uploaded to your profile, and please have your subject line be something related to your character profile. Also, you must give credit. If you drew it, tell us so we can link to your website/email. If you did not, we must have a link and or the name of the person who drew it. If you do not provide us with this information, your image will not be uploaded.
How many characters am I allowed to play?
At any one time, one. There are only three characters available on each account, so choose carefully. You will not be allowed to make a second account. This should promote a close-knit community.Some 'characters' do not need profiles. Here's a non-exhaustive list:
- Sentient posessions deserve some space in their owner's profile, but nothing more.
- NPCs do not count if you are a GM and running a roleplay.
- Pets or Familiars are not counted, unless they are significantly anthropomorphised (for example, they can talk, perform tasks)
But wait! What if my character dies?
Once a character dies in RP, you will be able to delete that character from your account, using the slot that is free to create another character. The same rules apply as if you were creating a brand new character for them.
What shouldn’t I play?
Again, refer to this link, or you can look at this and this for examples on people you should not make your profiles off of.
I'm having trouble creating a character. Is there somewhere I can look for good examples?
As a matter of fact, there are plenty of places you can look. You can look at the example here or here to see what a good character description should look like.
Do I have a certain amount of time to complete my character?
You are not in any rush to complete a character. In fact, the more time you take thinking about your character, the greater chance it will have at being a successful character description.
I'm out of ideas! What can I do?
Try browsing the profiles on this site! While we definitely don't want you to copy one verbatim, take some aspects and adapt them to your own style. Please do not just roleplay as yourself. This is no challenge and will not help you develop your skills. Pick something simple by all means, but stay away from Mary Sue/Gary Stu. Other roleplayers will aid in fleshing out your character if need be, but you should provide the starting point.
If you have any questions which are not answered here, either ask in the chat and email either Ryvnn or Lag.Com.