1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.



Are The Admin's Characters Important?

Discussion in 'Roleplay Talk' started by SavageDamsel, Oct 10, 2011.

  1. Offline

    SavageDamsel '♥' '♥' '♥'

    Member Since:
    Jan 19, 2010
    Total Posts:
    1,692
    Likes Received:
    1,829
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    The Isle of Apples
    I admit, my opinion of a game is heavily influenced by the characters played by the staff (admin/GM especially). When browsing around a site that interests me, I usually look at the bios of accepted characters (in addition to checking out rules/application/plots/Face Claim/ OOC behavior etc..) Often times, I'll read over a character belonging to the owner of the site and go 'Huh?'. Instantly, I'll become less enthused toward the game, because the character(s) being held by the staff seem so annoying, I can't possibly picture there not being any OOC drama between me and staff in the future. The evidence is clear that we aren't going to see eye to eye, because the type of characters we are into playing. What we each attribute to being a character that suits the setting is on the opposite side of the equator. I've shook my head reading a staff held character before, just because there were so many details that IMO 'broke setting'. It was a major turn-off for me, and I really couldn't overlook some of those details, because it felt 'off'.

    So... my question is, do the characters played by staff impact your perspective of a game? If so, does it turn you off enough you won't join the site?
  2. Offline

    AuroraL The Positive Impact Person

    Member Since:
    Apr 21, 2010
    Total Posts:
    1,260
    Likes Received:
    871
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Between dreams and reality
    • Awards
    Nope. Only way characters can impact my opinion of the game is if the staff/admin ones rule every major aspect or important plot and everyone else is a filler. That has to do with the way characters are used regardless of how they're written.
    I judge a game from threads, cbox behavior, rules and information and that's were I draw pro's and con's to weight. Everything else comes from actually roleplaying there and experience.
  3. Offline

    Kurai Wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey

    • Rapid Reviewer
    • Community Devoted
    Member Since:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Total Posts:
    1,911
    Likes Received:
    1,408
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Midwest United States
    • Awards
    I didn't realise until a few months ago how important something like that was. Looking at it now from a perspective members point? The characters a staff member holds do kind of influence my decision one way or another. I've noticed on a lot of fan based sites like Harry Potter and others like it that the staff members will take the main characters for the most part. Or that they'll make uber powerful characters simply because they can. Or that they'll just make characters that have a really big impact on the plot. It's a big turn off for me now. Why? Because it doesn't seem fair to me. As staff members, I don't agree that they should take all of the important characters or that the plot should revolve around their characters. To me it's not fair that something like that happens because it doesn't leave a lot of room for other members to get important characters.

    I try to pay attention to the characters that people have (staff members included) when I join a site. If I notice a pattern (they take the main characters, the plot revolves around their characters, etc.) then I don't stick around even if the rest of the site looks appealing. I'd much rather join a site where the meain characters are still available (or at least not grabbed up by staff members) or where a plot doesn't revolve around a certain character or a character type.
    Overlord_Fate and Cupcake like this.
  4. Offline

    Clockwork otter enthusiast

    • 'D Contributor
    • Community Devoted
    Member Since:
    Dec 17, 2010
    Total Posts:
    1,822
    Likes Received:
    3,074
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Texas
    • Awards
    The only time I'm impacted by the admin's characters (to the point of joining or not joining a site based on what characters the admin plays) is if it is a site with a single ruler... and that single ruler is played by an admin. For example, if there is a single King who rules the entire site (with no groups of opposition that work outside of the king's reign) or if there is a single god among a bunch of mortals... that will usually scare me away. It's one thing if those accounts are obviously NPCs and not often used. But if the admin appears to have created an entire roleplay just so they can "rule the peasants"... yea. That will prevent me from joining a site.
    3 people like this.
  5. Offline

    SavageDamsel '♥' '♥' '♥'

    Member Since:
    Jan 19, 2010
    Total Posts:
    1,692
    Likes Received:
    1,829
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    The Isle of Apples
    That's kinda the underlining issue for me, and what I actually feel is my problem with staff characters. If I join that game, I have to interact my characters with theirs in threads. I have to accept those characters will be in the game for the long run. It impacts my enjoyment level, because I will be dealing face to face with those characters on a regular basis, both IC and OOC. So if I can't stand them or feel they break setting, then my experience is greatly going to be impacted.

    I'm not just talking about power struggles or games with important canons played by admins (that's another topic in itself, and not even something that bothers me as a player). I'm talking about characters owned by the staff created for the game, because those are the characters the staff enjoys and wants to role play. If we're talking canon based games then I guess the handling of canons comes into play. If I despise the way a staff (or player) is playing a canon, then sure that would impact me too. Ultimately, I'm talking about characters belonging to the creative heads of the staff. The characters that are going to be around a lot, because they are the muses of the site's owners.
    1 people like this.
  6. Offline

    Travelling Brain scourge of the interbutts

    Member Since:
    Dec 26, 2010
    Total Posts:
    363
    Likes Received:
    664
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    candyland
    Ohhhh SavageDamsel I am terrifically in agreement with you!

    Someone mentioned
    but those are just more things influenced if not controlled by the admins.

    Administrators make or break games, plain and simple -- and you can look at their characters and see the kind of roleplaying they are interested in, and the atmosphere they are hoping to create; if there are co-admins, you can see what kind of clique they have going. If you are looking at a game and you see out of character, badly written, flat characters -- and these characters belong to the admins -- what kind of people is this game supposed to attract? RPGs are a pretty high point of 'birds of a feather flock together': you create games based on common interests and ideas, and common styles of exploring those ideas. Especially when forums are new, all you have to go by are the admins' characters. If it looks like you are going to fight with the staff due to 'artistic differences', it could be the coolest plot in the world, and you would find yourself on the short end of the stick.
    3 people like this.
  7. Offline

    AuroraL The Positive Impact Person

    Member Since:
    Apr 21, 2010
    Total Posts:
    1,260
    Likes Received:
    871
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Between dreams and reality
    • Awards
    Ah but what I mentioned is what will influence my decision. Characters? Don't care. But that's my view on things. I play with a lot of writers that write with styles that I don't agree with or have characters that sometimes make me wonder what's going on in their head but I roleplay with them all without any difference. And you know what? It's a blast.

    The only times I draw the line [regarding character topic of this thread] aside the part I mentioned in first post are: godmodding and abusing staff power through characters. Style, splicing, fluff, short, long, action based, introspection based... it's all completely unimportant because even if it is bad - I don't have to roleplay with them. Many members in the mix to choose from. Some you like better to post with, some not. How staff roleplays? Their choice. As long as they don't abuse their position I'm fine.
    Monee likes this.
  8. Offline

    Emilita a little strange

    • Template Coder
    • Support Skinner
    • Graphics Artist
    • All-Rounder
    • 'D Contributor
    • Community Challenger
    • Community Devoted
    Member Since:
    Nov 29, 2009
    Total Posts:
    3,736
    Likes Received:
    1,468
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Missouri
    • Awards
    Unless the site centers around the admin's characters (and it shouldn't), then I really don't care what sorts of characters they play. Personally, I play such a wide variety of characters (humans ranging from 9 to 58, plus a vampire and a mermaid on one site, a canon and an original on the other) that the most info you'd really get from looking over my characters (especially on Charming, which I've been on longer) is an idea of how varied characters we accept are. Heck, I've even got a couple of inactive characters (one was supposed to be temporary to begin with) and a character that got killed off and that might give you even more ideas ... I mean one's a burlesque dancer, one was the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and the third was his wife who left dramatically after her husband's death. So yeah ... I don't take it into account when I look at sites unless it appears people are not providing a good environment for play, and I don't care if anyone takes my characters into account.
    1 people like this.
  9. Offline

    Yield I was a heavy heart to carry; my beloved was weigh

    Member Since:
    Oct 10, 2011
    Total Posts:
    244
    Likes Received:
    60
    Gender:
    Female
    Honestly I think the way a staff portrays their character and the level of their writing is a good idea of how the rest of the site will be. I tend to see how the staff interact with members before joining because of that fact. And because I wouldn't want to be in a environment with people who didn't seem at all welcoming.
    2 people like this.
  10. Offline

    elle monster "Nice is an understatement, I look fabulous!"

    Member Since:
    Jul 28, 2010
    Total Posts:
    235
    Likes Received:
    34
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Texas
    First I'd like to say this is a very interesting question. Secondly, I'd like to note, that when I am looking at a prospective forum I look for two things -- how active and friendly the staff are OOC and if there is actual role playing going on and not just bunch of posts on a games/blog/aim etc. forum.

    I have a few points of my own I'd love to throw out there to hopefully offer some food for thought n_n

    I will use the Harry Potter example sited earlier on in the thread. So, the argument was that it is on canon sites it is easier to see where the admins have 'snagged' what are viewed as 'main characters' and only viewed as such because, in my opinion, that is the weight people put on them. Having run a Harry Potter forum myself, I've started off solo, meaning I am the only admin, and new people have joined taking on other 'main characters' and some of those people stuck around, helped out with stuff on the forum and later were given a spot as admin. Thus,how can you be certain that someone who is an admin and has this 'main character' didn't start off as a new member just like you?

    My other point about admins taking characters deemed 'major plot characters' is simple -- admins put a LOT of work into creating a place for you to play. They have ten times more work than any of the members that join and a good admin makes sure things run smoothly, are updated, etc. etc. So what if they take an important character? Truth be told, I've run forums and left what I feel are 'important characters' open and no one takes them which leads me to my next point --

    Importance of a character is up to the person who plays them. A good admin will be open to plotting and working every entering character into the story but it is NOT the job of the admin to go beyond that. I tell all my new members that their characters can be as involved and important to the plot as they are willing to dedicate time to. How many forums have fallen stagnant because members who have taken 'important plot characters' have vanished without a word? That isn't to say admin don't do similar things but it's less likely to happen and as a result another point I make as to why admin playing one or two main characters isn't a huge deal.

    Lastly, there are some plot points that admin don't wish to reveal right away OOC and as a result there are characters that need to be played by them in order to guide the plot in a certain direction. These may be conceived as 'major plot pushers' being taken, but again, if you talk to the admin I bet you'd be surprised to find there are other just as important characters involved.

    In closing I wouldn't be so worried about the characters the admins play so much as the admin themselves and how willing YOU as a player are to make your character vital to the story. There should never be an easy in, even admins work hard for the characters they play.

    Hope this helps play devils advocate and give some credit where credit is due to all the admins who work so hard to give us a place play.

    <3 Elle
  11. Offline

    Elijah One thing begets the next.

    Member Since:
    Feb 22, 2009
    Total Posts:
    2,781
    Likes Received:
    5,176
    Gender:
    Male
    • Awards
    I completely agree with you.

    There have been some uncountable number of games that I've passed over even though I liked the plot, simply because I didn't like the admin's character(s) for whatever reason. Naturally I don't mean that I didn't like them as "people," because of course there are going to be characters you dislike as a "person" but that are well-played, but I mean characters that are Mary Sues, or spot-light hogs, or ridiculous in some way.

    Now, as far as the admins snagging up all the canon characters... eh. I can see from both sides, sometimes you have to grab them up to even start up the game, or whatever - it doesn't affect me much because by and large I don't enjoy playing canons. So whatever!

    But I completely see where you're coming from in all other cases. It's easy to avoid roleplay with a member and any of their characters you don't like, but it's fairly difficult to get around it if you dislike the admin's.
  12. Offline

    RyanA Lurking here since 2006

    Member Since:
    May 18, 2006
    Total Posts:
    1,573
    Likes Received:
    822
    I can see the OP's side. If she can't really relate to the board owner's character(s), than she likely is going to be put off from joining the game. I'm not entirely sure I am understanding in what ways this is happening, but we all have things that irk us.

    I play a very difficult character who has been in the game for years now. He can be absolutely obnoxious at times and he is in position that allows him a lot of freedom to be just that sort of person. I could see that some people might take a look and say, "Oh boy, no thanks." And that's okay. Not every game works for every person.

    This is not my only character, I actually play quite a few and they are from all walks. This character is just the one that is most visible, I suppose.


    When the OP says this:


    I feel like the issue is not just the characters, but the writers. So maybe it's just about how you see yourself fitting into the mix in the entire sense. And that I understand. I recently joined a game and left because I felt like I couldn't find a way in with the characters or the writers. They seemed to all know each other and their characters seemed to all know each other. The chatbox was filled with all the chatter that let me know they all were a tight group. I tried to be active and be in threads and those threads would sort of be left hanging.

    So maybe in the end, it's just a vibe you pick up--not necessarily just the staff characters, but the whole feel of the board you are having second thoughts about.
  13. Offline

    Ismaire Member

    Member Since:
    Apr 30, 2010
    Total Posts:
    1,001
    Likes Received:
    601
    Gender:
    Female
    I only care specifically about the admin's character/s if they're super over-powered or break the rules or something. Otherwise - sure, I read over a few apps to see if I can picture me and my charries fitting in, but if the admins' are just uninteresting to me and there're others that seem cool, I don't care. On the other hand, for some reason, I do kinda consider it bonus points if the admin's characters are interesting too - guess it just makes me feel like we're closer to being on the same page, so I'm more likely to be happy there.
  14. Online

    Elenitsa a seadog looking for new crewmates

    • 'D Contributor
    • Community Devoted
    Member Since:
    Aug 3, 2009
    Total Posts:
    4,929
    Likes Received:
    3,892
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Bucharest, Romania
    • Awards
    I fully agree with the above.
    Well, I think first of all that the administrators know best what is appropriate to the setting, given that they have created the game and they are running it. (Try you to convince me that a woman pirate captain is appropriate to my setting, or a Navy officer who is already a captain at 22 and born in a commoner family, or as well that a mercenary or a runaway slave aren’t, and I am going to argue with you until dawn, giving you evidence for my statements.)

    I am looking at all the character bios in general, to see what is the kind accepted on the board and what isn’t recommended, what character types exist already and what character types are most needed for the story. If I join a board, I join it because I like the story and I feel inspired to further it, so I need to make characters not only matching the setting, but easily to get integrated into the story. If I have IC reasons to not like a character, he can be the enemy of my character, so I have no conflict with anyone for the characters they are playing. For me the writer is one, and the character is something else.
  15. Offline

    Rhi-Rhi Rules Lawyer of the Intarwebz

    Member Since:
    Sep 28, 2007
    Total Posts:
    5,787
    Likes Received:
    8,750
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Oh lawdy, then I'm in trouble. :B A lot of my characters have mostly blank profiles, save for their name, age, sex, and maybe a sentence or two about their personality and appearance. But we allow that on my games--we don't ask for complete profiles before people play and submitting a profile with just a name is totally acceptable, because some people use the profile to build their characters while others (like me) build our characters through playing them, so that process allows both styles.

    Anyway, when looking at a game...honestly, I don't care. xD I don't hold the staff to any standards I wouldn't hold anyone else to, because to me, staff aren't special--they're just regular players and people who have taken on the extra (and often trying xD) duties of running a game. But aside from that? They're just players that wanna have fun. So I don't hold them up as ~model RPers~, I just think of them as players looking to have a good time. Running a game isn't a job (though I drop money into mine xD), it's a hobby.

    Besides, I just can't judge characters based off profiles. I wanna see how they're played. Profiles tend to bore me in general and I really just read them for the physical description. Plus, I'm really just not all that picky. :B
    Monee likes this.
  16. Offline

    Mousie QUEENSLANDERRR!

    • 'D Contributor
    • Community Devoted
    Member Since:
    Sep 10, 2006
    Total Posts:
    6,140
    Likes Received:
    726
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Australia
    • Awards
    To a point it's a set standard for the game. If someone is going to judge whether your character is worthy of joining their game, you want to be assured that they match the standard that you expect. There's a lot of different writer types and levels, so the easiest way to scout out the level of a board is to see what the admin has.

    As far as the types of characters go, I don't really look much into that. The activity and setting of a board is much more important to me, and the possibilities that are there for me and the character(s) I have in mind.
  17. Offline

    Sherlocked Pixie The White Duke

    • Community Devoted
    Member Since:
    May 26, 2009
    Total Posts:
    2,819
    Likes Received:
    3,031
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    England
    • Awards
    I think the admins character should be some one who can move across the forum and RP with almost anyone. Especially when a forum is starting out you want your staff to have characters in which can welcome and play with new characters, drawing them into the world and setting.
    October and Elenitsa like this.
  18. Offline

    Zozma What the hell's a quatloon? Some kind of potato?

    Member Since:
    May 28, 2009
    Total Posts:
    3,186
    Likes Received:
    968
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    California
    When it comes to profiles and apps, I honestly don't really care. On one of my games, my co-admin refuses to accept certain types of characters, but really. I just don't care unless they're godmodding. If I don't like their character (and yes, I've accepted characters I personally didn't like), then I just avoid threading with them. Simple as that. The only time I'm judging the admin's characters in order to decide if I'll join or not is if they're the only member on the board so far. Otherwise, I actually look through a few of everybody's profiles to get an idea of what's acceptable and then check through several threads to see how they actually write. That's way more important to me than the profile/app.
  19. Offline

    Sydds hi.

    Member Since:
    Sep 2, 2011
    Total Posts:
    55
    Likes Received:
    20
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Earth
    I agree. Or if the admins get all the plotting. I like things to be even. Favoritism is a huge turnoff for me.
  20. Offline

    __LISA. Member

    Member Since:
    Feb 7, 2010
    Total Posts:
    27
    Likes Received:
    5
    Personally, the only reason the character's the admin play would turn me off a site completely would be if they're just horrible characters. Not horrible as in they're mean, but horrible as in they're poorly written. Which, really, isn't even a problem of the admin but a problem of me considering their characters badly written. My problem, and one that's easy to fix -- find a site that suits my level of writing / characterization. xD
    Monee, xexes and Elenitsa like this.

Share This Page