Forums » RP Discussion » Elitism In Roleplay/Making Characters Appealing

Honestly I don't know if that's the right title for this thread but I wanna put down my thoughts somewhere. It has stuff to do with potential elitism and stuff but. My thoughts are one big jumble of messes right now.

So first off. I've been trying to get more active in rp and honestly this site has helped a lot. One of my first ever roleplay communities was incredibly toxic. To the point where no one cared about you unless your character had a figure of a god, or your art skills were perfect. It was basically an unhealthy string of art elitists so to speak, along with a dash of "oh, you can't sit with us because your character ain't cool." sort of thing.

Back then I had pretty bad OCs, but even looking back on it now I would of thought that community would of helped me in developing my OCs more. But nah.

This website however I haven't really felt that feeling of being the outsider or someone not to be looked at. Until recently actually.

I can't help but feel like an outsider of sorts in terms of what I like to write and create. I work hard on my characters, most of them, if not all of them aren't finished. I always strive to improve my characters. Though I'll admit I'm not the best for plotting a good plot, but that's because I'm so focused on my comic's world I guess. Too invested to share what major plot I have for that in case I spoil it too much.

But that's not the real point here. I'm talking about characters and their appeal. Specifically mine.

How do I know if they're appealing? How do I know if they're not some god awful cheesy character or some Mary/Gary sue? I've always had this fear and I'm scared it puts people off from roleplaying with me. I want to learn from my mistakes and make better characters but I feel like I'm not getting that spark of success anymore.

So I want to know; does anyone else feel this way?

I want to make my characters approachable to all, and make them interesting and be able to play with any person, not just one group or a few select people. That's the exact opposite of what I want, because that just reminds me of those horrible days in that toxic community.

I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense. As I said earlier my thoughts are all over the place. Aha.

Your characters are dope, Tiny! Don't ever think otherwise. If anything, it's their kind of uniqueness people should strive after. You've built an image that is entirely you with the help of your art and creative way of promoting your characters. I lurk more on your character profiles than I care to admit...

And... I think the kind of friendly and relaxed environment that RPR provide is necessary for personal development like that to happen. This community is amazing, in so many ways.


As for myself... I try to attract like-minded people, and always have. I reject roleplayers I feel I don't match with because I want us both to be happy when roleplaying. If people don't like me for whatever reason, that's their problem. I do the things I like the way I like- and I think I'm doing it right because I'm enjoying the roleplays I'm having. When roleplaying becomes a chore, it's time to stop and think about things... And I think that happens easily with elitism- they're doing it, but not really enjoying it?

Nobody can appeal to everyone. This is perfectly fine! There are thousands of players in this site and everyone has their own interests and preferences, and often they're not as obvious as having certain kinds of characters or roleplaying in a specific genre. I know I have some steep preferences that can make or break a game even if the other person's a perfectly good player and person with perfectly good characters and stories to tell.

It is an impossible task to appeal to every kind of player out there - it's not just hard work, it also doesn't yield any results. All you can really do is create the characters YOU like, the ones that appeal to YOU, and have them attract the kind of player whose tastes align with your own. It's a very noble sentiment, wanting to make everyone happy and appeal to the widest possible range of people - but it's simply impossible. Don't forget that even if you don't play with someone, the site's so large and varied, they will easily find someone else to play with

If you do things too well, you might also find some people who shy away from your characters because they're intimidated by how good they are! I've actually seen this happen.

I used to worry a lot about power levels, themes, and the like. I did not want to make characters that were too powerful because I had been indoctrinated in the idea that you needed to make your character within certain 'acceptable' parameters. Which is usually a good rule of thumb, as overpowered characters can break an otherwise fun story, but some rules exist to be broken.

I found out I was not having fun anymore, because I was disregarding my fun for what other people would or would not find acceptable. Now, much like Cinders, I do what I want, and the people I have been playing with have been perfect matches. We've been telling fun stories together and I've never been more pleased.

(Of course, the "find good matches that like what you like and stick with them" approach can breed elitism if one's not careful. One must always keep in mind that as long as everyone is having fun, then this silly little game of playing pretend called RP is being successful. Just because one does not enjoy something, that makes it 'lesser' - this is, sadly, way too easy a trap to fall into, even for well-meaning people. Picking one's partners is a good thing, but being judgmental of the rest is just taking RP way too seriously.)

My only advice in this situation is: do what makes you happy, and people will come to you.

We are all outsiders in this site - we've all got different styles, we come from different places, have different cultures and experiences, we like different things and play different characters. This is not a bad thing. It's what makes RPR so great and varied


Edit: I just realised I rambled so much, I ended up not answering your actual questions. I'm sorry! If you honestly want to appeal to as many people as possible, maybe reply to other people's Looking for RP threads and offer up some of your characters that you think would fit? I've found that approaching people first is a very good way of making them feel included. Maybe even offer to change some of your characters' details to better fit the story?

Seraph does have a point. It's very important not to look down at people or be judgmental to those whose taste doesn't happen to match your own. Everyone and their thoughts and opinions are valid- and that doesn't just go for the roleplaying community, but for everyone, always, everywhere.

What's that cheezy old saying... Make love, not war

To be frank I don't know all that much about your characters but what I have seen has made me like them. Like the whole shtick with the four being friends is something I only see once in a blue moon, and even then the folks i met before don't seem to explore it as well as you do. I think part of it is the writing medium but still. Its taking your writing a step further, and even if its not to everyone's taste its a heck of a lot more interesting, imo.

To add more tho: I do often feel like my characters are bland or uninteresting as well but its like the other folks here said. Still having fun with it, so I'll keep going.

I definitely understand how you feel. I cant draw very well at all, and it made it a pain to roleplay on the old site I was on because a lot of people would just flat out ignore me since my icons and backgrounds weren't all drawn out. Once i actually had been in the middle of an RP with someone and another person jumped in and hijacked my position in the story, and my partner just left me behind entirely. Those kinds of weird elitist RP communities are really draining.

By how ive been recieved here at RPR, id say its not the case. Everyones been very friendly even though none of my icons are drawn by me, and even tho I seem a little childish sometimes. I think its just how relaxed the community is.

As for your characters, theyre most definitely appealing. Ive always wanted to try and start up an RP with you since I saw your ask thread and all your characters, but I'm very nervous reaching out to people for RP cause I don't want to get rejected. I dont mean this to be rude, but your art was so good and your characters seemed on a whole other level, so I was scared you were going to reject mine because I wasn't good enough (that's that elitism thing at work in my head, haha).

But your characters are amazing, and they've got some serious depth to them. Its funny to see them bounce against cliches typically associated with their types. I dont think you have anything to worry about, when it comes to Mary-Sue characters.

Ahhh thank you everyone for replying. Reading through all of these replies made me feel a little better about the situation. Definitely wouldn't of got this kind of response on any other forum. ;u; so I thank you all for your kindness and good advice. I do tend to worry too much sometimes.

@Paranoid - I'm sorry you felt that way, but you're more than welcome to come Plot with me! I've yet to answer your question in my ask thread but I'll be sure to get round to that very soon.
Either way if you love fantasy we should totally plot. ouo

I think it's a good thing that I never encountered that elitism before, but then again this is my first time on a dedicated RP-site. And I have to join those, who can't draw at all. I'm already commissioning pictures of my characters on DA which is expensive and if I additionally have to let others draw my pages, I would go broke fast.

Regarding the characters, I know that feeling very well. Especially because I tend to hinder myself when creating them, as you'll find a lot of different opinions about interesting figures and even (strict) tests to determine if your OC is a Mary Sue or not. Then while trying to bring them to life, you always have those opinions in your head and then you are creating them for the others, and not for you. Result is an OC, that may appeal to your fellow players, but not to you. And it isn't really fun playing a character you dislike.
I also know it from my crew as well, since I have my personal canon regarding them and if I have to bend it a lot just to make them fit in, then I can't enjoy them anymore.

So regarding your question about appeal: I wouldn't look that much at what the others want. In the end it's important that you alone enjoy your characters and only you decide if they suit the specific RP or not.
And about the Mary Sue-problem, I'd say that it depends on the RP itself. A godlike OC is surely overpowered in a RP where the others are just ordinary people and could ruin it, but if the remaining cast consists of demigods as well?

Hopefully my garbled stuff makes some sense.

I'm sure that every character has a RP specific for them for likeminded people. Don't give up.

There's already a lot of replies here that share my sentiment, so I'll keep it brief: nothing is universally appealing. I think what's most important is that you're happy with your characters. Someone who thinks so too will eventually come along and it'll be good times all around. Roleplaying is supposed to be fun! And creative, and even self-reflective. The whole idea is to collaborate with others. Speaking as someone who's done their fair share of time on elitist-type forums, it isn't worth trying to please them. They're just people in the end. If they insist on being unpleasant exhibitionists, then I think they've completely missed the point of roleplaying. The fact that you're examining your characters and actively trying to avoid this tells me you're probably fine.

(And for what it's worth, I browsed through your characters and think they're all interesting and not exclusionary at all! Lovely art, too.)

I will not lie and say I haven't noticed some elitism and cliquey behavior with other people in RPs. Once upon a time, I used to kinda be like that too until it all fell apart. But overall, I do feel more welcome here than I did back on DA, Furcadia, or other sites I once frequented, even if I'm not RPing as much as I need to. So it's okay to feel like an outsider in my opinion. We've all been there once!

When it comes to my own characters, I know they're a work in progress, always. World building, lore, and whatnot is always going to be my thing. Sometimes it doesn't attract people or appeal to them and their own genres, and I understand that. I will admit worrying that my characters are way too Mary Sue or overpowered, and that's why no one's really approached me for RPs anymore. (That and my slow replies doesn't make me look that good either.)

However, I share everyone's sentiment as well. You just gotta do what makes you happy and proud, and not follow the crowd in hopes of fitting in. Gaia knows I'm learning that the hard way. For example, I thought that one reason no one liked my characters or read their profiles was because I had way too much text and information (and some gaming jargon notes that still needs definitions to them). Maybe my profile wasn't as good-looking or eye-catching as everyone else's either. I tried following the crowd, and now every profile layout I have doesn't feel or look right to me. It may look amazing to someone else, but I don't feel like my heart was put into it like it was before.

But I've seen your characters and world building and I think it's actually really amazing. Each one of them caught my eye and I love them all, especially Primrose~

Edit: Forget it

Elitism is all relative.

Some people think powerful characters are bad, and act snobbish about how flawed their characters are.

I think this is fallacious and tend to make characters that are good at a lot of different things (which isn't really even that unrealistic). And I like a lot of high fantasy/wuxia stuff, so that reflects in the power level too.
Mostly since that's what I want to play.

And, really, if I'm being honest I'd have to cop to this being my own little bit of elitism. (If I didn't think my way was better, I wouldn't be taking shots at people who don't like it).



So yeah. It's the hardest in in roleplaying. The quest to do you and find people who are down with that, while trying to stay out of drama with people who aren't.

Just wanted to poke my nose in here if you guys don't mind...

But I have found that it is important to remember that its called "constructive" criticism for a reason. It is supposed to be there to help a person, not tear them down, and some folks don't know the difference. You have to learn to recognize it. Those that are trying to be helpful, heed their advice. Those who are just being snobby and elitist, drop em. Its not worth your time or the hit to your self esteem.

The Mary Sue trap is an easy one to fall into I admit. And I tend to be very critical of my own characters for that reason because I worry about my characters grating on people's nerves. The issue is that a lot of roleplaying is wish fulfillment, we tend to play the characters we want to be. We all want to be the hero of the story. And some less experienced players have a hard time separating their ego from their character. Thats not an accusation or a dig against new players, its just a fact of life, and I personally used to be one of the worst offenders. Its something you learn as you go. And learning it will make a better writer.

My advice, and a bit of a TL;DR, is by all means seek out constructive criticism, but don't let toxic personalities tear you down. Write the characters you enjoy, and that like-minded RP partner will find you. And then its all gravy

There is already really good advice on here and I'm sure we all sound like a broken record at this point, but they're right. You can't appeal to everyone and that's okay. We all have our different tastes and are into different things. That's the beauty of RP. You can play as whomever you wish and it creates unique characters all around us. Of course, some players strive for improvement while others are comfortable where they're at. It doesn't matter as long as we're all having fun. That's what RP is for. Fun.

It's a shame how some people take it way too seriously and put down others for it and ruin the experience for them. What I have found on this site the short time I've been here is that everyone is nice and open-minded. We all admit we have our own insecurities. We're all in the same boat here. My character may be too intimidating to most due to how much detail I put in which will drive them away from asking me for a scene. I tend to be afraid to ask people for a scene because of how obscure my character is. It doesn't make it impossible for me to find a scene with someone. As someone mentioned here, you will find a partner. Not everyone will find your characters appealing, but that doesn't mean that no one will. Someone out there will look at your character's profile and will want to play.