Forums » RP Discussion » Historical, Ancient, or Period Characters

Since there don't seem to be too historical characters, I thought it would be nice to give them a little love. Human or not, bring out your characters! Who are they? When are they from? How did you get the idea for the character? What has been your favorite story or RP they've been in? What is your favorite thing about RPing in their time periods? If you don't have a historical character, would you ever? Why or why not.

(For the record, I'm an ardent fan of people being allowed to have whatever fun they want, however they want it. But, the question was posed to those of us who don't partake, so.)

I'm a history fan, and most historical settings simply don't work for me because their generally isn't a good reason to thrust modern, Western morws into them, and there isn't usually a good reason why character X would be off galavanting a out instead of tending to the crops or summat.

I tend to stick to modern settings, or somewhat of a futuristic bent (in more of a Star Trek, allegorical fashion than just blasty-shooty). I like the idea of historical settings, but I need a better reason for things to happen than can usually be given.

Ahh, I see. I've noticed that many people don't like romanticizing the past, even for entertainment. You were correct, this is open to everyone, and yours was a totally acceptable answer. Thank you!

Technically, Pes isn't for real world history, but he is a Manticore, a Persian mythological creature, and he's primarily made for varied time settings, though the furthest int othe future I've used him for his modern, and the furthest in the past I've used him for was a medieval setting.

But I have no real world Historical characters. Personally, I find limiting myself to what's realistic is extremely boring and pointless.

I have no "real world" historical characters either, The Seeker's points being some of the reasons. Historical fantasy, and drawing inspiration from global historical events, is more my thing.

Sounds like an interesting idea I technically also got Kara, whose story is set in a steampunk country that takes alot of inspiration from the Grim fairy tales. Not sure if that counts

Perhaps I should have included historical fantasy and simply just historically inspired as well? I'd like to hear about all of them, realistic or otherwise! Personally, I love the idea of a Persian Manticore running around terrorizing Medieval Europe!

Illantis, which historical events do you prefer?

The idea of a manticore terrorizing medieval europe sounds wonderful. Er. From a reader's perspective. I imagine the peasants wouldn't be very happy.

Anyway, I tend to find historical roleplays incredibly interesting, and it's a pity that they aren't more popular. Like Illantis and Sketch, I also prefer mixing fantasy with history. There are some really interesting things that can be thought up, specially when taking advantage of all the myths.

Ironically enough, though, I don't actually have any historical character. Instead, I have a couple of beings that can travel through time and space, and are heavily involved with legends and such.

I have a soft spot for Victorian and Edwardian London, because it's just awesome. Ancient eras are also probably fantastic, but I sadly don't have a lot of experience with them. But would like to. I also really like the Renaissance Era, and would really enjoy trying out something in Venice.

Also, I kinda like realism. Ish. Sort of. Even with dragons. The point is, I don't like "oh, let's say it's in a generic Ancient Greece and be done with it" concepts. They bug me.

History is neat, but as Rhygar points out, lots of it was working the same farm all your life and dying at forty, so neat and neat to roleplay in are different things. Not coincidentally, the most popular settings for historical RP (the Victorian Era/Italian Renaissance/Golden Age of Piracy/etc) are all times of great prosperity, social upheaval and sweet outfits; the further you get from there, the more history can get sucky fast and the more readily fantasy tends to be injected to compensate. Which isn't a bad thing, as I'd much rather my characters die to a gryphon than poverty.

I have a few period characters set in places like New France/Prohibition America/the Byzantine Empire, but interest in those settings is so low that I invariably wind up adapting them to somewhere else.

Oh no, most likely not! Some of the best stories come from the desire to be realistic with a magical twist! There are so many wonderful characters created off the backs of legends, and so many legends to work with! They look so enjoyable to play with. Venice was a wonderful (albeit a bit dirty) place, whenever mentioned it always brings to mind the movie 'Dangerous Beauty'. It's about a Venetian courtesan who saves her city, but later when things become hard had sickness racks the city, the citizens begin to prosecute courtesans. Eventually they let their heroine be taken to court and tried for witchcraft by the Church. It's a beautiful movie. Gorgeous costumes.

Sland, yes, you and Rhygar likely represent a large part of the RP community with your sentiments. However, there are some people who like to live vicariously through their characters. Much of it might have been working the same farm everyday, but that doesn't mean you have to play that story. The harder parts of history don't seem enjoyable, but there is an awesome amount of source material available to create rich story scenarios with. Also, remember that even in the lowest of times, there were people who got by with whatever means necessary. That is how we came to have great tales such as Robin Hood. Admittedly it isn't for everyone, like yourself. For those that enjoy it though, it can be very rewarding. I want to shine a little light on that.

History is amazing~ I love it~ It has its own twists and turns and it's just... I don't know... I've always loved history. Dinosaurs and nature documents were my childhood, when in 5th grade we had history for the first time it was probably the first exam that I really wanted to read for xD Strange enough. But history has always fascinated me, wether it be the inventions or the turns of events and what they lead to, or the wars and exitement

I literally like everything about history (well, except people liking to state the false things about it and then those that don't quite understand stuff and take things wrong but those would take forever to explain so I'll leave it at that)

For some reason, I find the World Wars most interesting. No, don't label me as a war crazy person just yet. It's just that, they show that the smallest things count. Every single thing could alter how it all will eventually turn out
And then there is the whole mystery part. There are so many things we don't yet even know about those times or Any period in history. There are so many things~


I personally don't reeeeally have historical characters, or, at least in here. I have created those kinds of characters too though, although the ones I managed to flesh out the best are Toffi's roots to the time of WWI (and that's like.......... E, A, G, B, C.... 5 generations all in all? I dunno, I just didn't want to take it too far xD Otherwice people would think of me as a crazy person. That is, if you aren't already....)
But I don't feel like bringing every single one of those characters here, because this is 'just a game' so we can alter stuff and so I can just alter time and space and throw the modern day army boy into the medieval time and give him new clothes and a job and vóla~

Another thing is that if we think about it, generic fantasy settings themselves are also, well, closely related to medieval periods. I.E, dying at forty and tending to the farms. Even in the Lost Kingdom of, I don't know, Twiddledum, where elves and dwarves are questing it up in evil woods and dragons rampage through wooden villages, the healthcare for the general populace isn't the best: most of the kingdom's citizens are more concerned with their crops than anything. Most won't ever leave their village to do epic deeds.

Well, Medieval times are said to have 'the things' for fantasy stories
Castles, knights, dragons or other creatures (that may or may not be connectable to the plague and such as 'the terrifying thing), swords, armory, royal families.... All sorts of stuff
And at least here we say that "the old times rocked, men were strong and the world economy wasn't everything we had" even if we're kinda sorta just refering to our first years of independence (which, really, wasn't all that magnificent time, but I do admit we did do a lot more physical labour then before technology came along)

Also, the 'going out of your town to do amazing deeds'...... MIght that derive from the crusaders? They weren't all that great people really when we look at them in a certain right today, but in their time, they were The Thing and they were The Heroes

In actuality this thread is making me want to do a historical fantasy rp

I'm planning on doing some sort of 'medieval chess type' RP, but I still need to work on making it more clear to those who don't know about it xD

I have a few. But more fantasy, and time period based.
Like medieval, but with centaurs, vampires, ect. Or based on things like Fable, ect.
Not much on actual history-based, because then I feel an obligation to follow what happened
during that time period, and I have a terrible memory and don't want
to mess up. Especially if my partner is a history-buff ;w;

I tend to use historically based characters and settings to make things seem more original (well in my eyes at least). Almost all my characters are based off history such as Siegfried and Mercuzio. Of course, they may not be accurate as much but it's a fun thing to do to use history to my advantage. I also have the intention of educating those I'm RPing with so it seems more interesting.

I have four(maybe five) so far, but haven't had much luck finding anyone to RP with them, aside from Victor and those RPs never lasted more than a few posts.

Victor is the one of the most developed ones and was originally a modern character. I retooled him into a 1600/1800s fur trader because it fits him better.

Mike Anchorson is medieval fantasy as is her rarely used brother Caleb Brightstar.

C. R. Missouri Browne(first one under females in my other characters profile) is the least developed and from the Victorian/Edwardian era or there about. She started out as a OC love interest for Sherlock Holmes for a fan story I never wrote(based off the original books not the newer TV versions).

I tend to be vague in the exact eras these characters are from to make things easier on myself.

I suppose G'oooo'h my wild woman could be historical too as she's based off Tarzan and Mowgli so roughly late 1800s early 1900s period. Back when ships were made of wood and didn't have motors; and airplanes weren't yet a thing.

Could Tea be considered historical?

NVM I re-read it I misread what you said. I don't see why she wouldn't count.