Character-Knowledge IC and OOC

Re: The "Five-Character"-Problem

It is for precisely this reason that I DON'T tell anyone of any other characters I use, because no matter what, people always treat you different, even if you say "((Hey it's me, Dartanian))" I've created three characters in my time, each completely different. (I kind of felt bad after one because he was played as a stuck-up, rude, self-centered wizard) and I'd never tell people who they are because I don't want to be treated any different. The only problem is having a main one because you might slip (which I've done a few times) and reveal yourself. Fortunately no one noticed when I did that. ;) Or at least they didn't let on that they noticed.

Calling them your family is fine, but overdone. Personally, some characters I don't see WHY you have to even reveal that they're the same person in the first place. If you reveal that you are, no matter how "good" a roleplayer you are, you start to treat them differently. If they're a friend, you'll naturally act more friendly towards them. If there was some bad blood between you, your character will usually be more overcritical of what the other does.

Even the best roleplayers have a bad day and it affects their roleplaying. Or sometimes they even have a good day and it might affect a normally gloomy character. Likewise, while judging the character, we too often judge the person with them. Just because someone plays a real jerk doesn't always mean the person is (though with the lack of roleplaying, it just very well might.)

I'm wandering like I usually tend to. There should be an IC justification at least. But you could leave it alone at best. A better way to justify it rather than say that they are brother and sister, is just act as if the item disappeared on its own and some "mysterious thief" must have gotten away with it. Or maybe a wicked form of mind control caused them to send off the item and they have no recollection of giving it off. I personally wouldn't use the votes at all unless they might be family or you think that the character would support their actions too.

It all leads to the distinction. There is character knowledge and player knowledge. This you see in a lot of RPG books. Distinguishing between these two things is the toughest, but most rewarding thing about roleplaying. It's this that allows you to be surprised, angry, sorrowful, disgusted, etc. If you have "seen it all," try to not make it as if your character has. Trust me, it is a lot of fun.

-Dartanian Lestor