Your Average Zalanthian Supermodel

[Rhyden]

True with Pam Anderson, but I think there could be women in Zalanthas looking similar to Tara Reid.

[Anonymous]

True with Pam Anderson, but I think there could be women in Zalanthas looking similar to Tara Reid.

I probably have my boobs mixed up.  I would think the average Zalanthan woman would have more of a Renee Zellweger build.

[Rhyden]

True with Pam Anderson, but I think there could be women in Zalanthas looking similar to Tara Reid.

I probably have my boobs mixed up.  I would think the average Zalanthan woman would have more of a Renee Zellweger build.

Lol...nah, more Keira Knightly than anything.

[Spoon]

From what I've seen on TV of different tribes and middle-eastern countries there are attractive women.

Yeah, you know, they almost look human like us. :roll:

Your going to get attractive people all over the place because of genetics.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, you know, they almost look human like us. :roll

Thanks.  I'm running a clan rally next week.  People who hate beautiful PCs seem to imply or say that its somehow bringing western ideals into the game.  It's possible to be attractive and non-western was my point.

[WarriorPoet]

I've watched alot of pigmy documentaries, and I'm positive I've never seen an attractive one. That's probably due to lack of nutrition and a different culture than I'm used to, but the point remains that there are gorgeous people in the world, just like there are average and hideous people. If you want to play an fme, that's fine with me. Sometimes I get the urge to play a disgusting, wrinkled old beggar. Other times I want to play that tall blonde hero with the chiseled features and the huge bulge. I can play either one and have a good time.

It's been said already: Your desc doesn't make your character unique, or even attractive. Your roleplaying does that.

[SanityAssassin]

I don't see anything wrong with people taking attractive/ugly roles.  Barbie doll proportions or bodybuilder physiques don't belong on Zalanthas (not that I've seen it yet) but culturally appropriate beauty is cool with me.  PCs are the dramatis personae of the world, so to speak.  They are not representative of the population at large.  PCs are given opportunity, lead more interesting lives, and have greater potential than the average Zalanthan.  What's wrong with them being more distinctive in appearance?  

With gender roles being so blurred on Zalanthas (physically and socially) the world probably has some cultural kinks on beauty that are strange or unattractive to us.  The only real issue I have is that the appearance of a character should suit the setting.

The reason that many non-Western peoples are seemingly unattractive is due to wretched health and poor nutrition, not racism or cultural snobbery.  Go visit poor people in a third world country sometime.  You'll notice once they're out of their teens (and often before that), they look like hell!  Certainly, all cultures can have attractive members so long as they get enough to eat and haven't been ravaged by toil and disease.  Health is the universal trait of physical beauty, after all.

On the side discussion concerning Zalanthan breasts:  
According to An Underground Education by Richard Zacks, the Western obsession with large breasts is a very recent phenomenon.  For most of history small, pert breasts have been the ideal.  Yes, I know Armageddon isn't the real word yadda yadda yadda but it's something to consider.  Furthermore, naturally large breasts usually belong to women with weight problems (or possibly those who drank RBST-laden milk).  That's not something you're going to see on Zalanthas too often.

[Akaramu]

I am SO going to make an ugly dwarven assassin with the focus to rid the world of all pretty females.

Take that, you cat-like, kohl-eyed assassins with dancer bodies, you dirty commoners who were born with innate elegance and noble gaits, large-breasted warriors with cute little flower tattoos instead of scars, unblemished females with perfect bodies and full red lips everywhere.

Play what you want... but be ready to face my dwarf.  

[Bestatte]

Can I play your third cousin, Akaramu? Ya know, so we can be a legitimate "family" of beauty-killers. Kohl-eyed, berry-red lipped, glossy luxurious cascading tressed, full-bosomed, gently-flaring-hipped, curvaceous muscular thighed, flawless skinned beauties - all evil, all the result of vile magicks, all must be destroyed!

Oh yeah and my dwarf's focus will be to fashion a wig from all that luxurious perfectly coiffeured raven-black, golden-blonde, silvery-shadowed glossy tumbling cascading hair.

[JollyGreenGiant]

A poorly written or cliche description bothers me, whether it's for someone stunning, average-looking, or hideous.  Well-written descriptions don't bother me a bit, even if they are describing some extraordinary beauty.  In all fairness, being annoyed at mediocrity in the technical aspect of the writing is just as shallow as being annoyed at the content.

[Akaramu]

A poorly written or cliche description bothers me, whether it's for someone stunning, average-looking, or hideous.  Well-written descriptions don't bother me a bit, even if they are describing some extraordinary beauty.

A lot of beautiful female descs look very cliche to me. They (almost) all have the same full red lips and graceful dancer-like bodies. I'd love to see more descriptions that are not 'porn star' pretty, but interesting in some exotic way, including some blemishes.

You probably wouldnt like my descs, they are not quite as well-written as I would like them to be. Have mercy with us poor ever-struggling europeans!

If I manage to have one that is really well-written, chances are I got support from a helper. Two thumbs up for Nin.  

[JollyGreenGiant]

Here's an example of one of my favorite descriptions.

It is the color of a bleached skull, his flesh; and the long hair which flows below his shoulders is milk-white. From the tapering, beautiful head stare two slanting eyes, crimson and moody, and from the loose sleeves of his yellow gown emerge two slender hands, also the color of bone.

The writing is intriguing.  It draws you in, even though the face is described as beautiful.  The structure impresses a sense of somewhat inhuman beauty on the reader.  There are no complex or obscure words; there is no need.  Moorcock very simply and efficiently paints his picture of Elric.

You may disagree with me.  You might dislike the above description, for whatever reason you have.  My point was that one standard for crying foul on a description, or praising a description, is just as good as any other.

A lot of beautiful female descs look very cliche to me.

I agree.  Perhaps if fewer "beautiful" descriptions were cliche or drably written, people would be less inclined to find them irksome.

[Larrath]

Personally, I just play down these super-beautiful descriptions.
Whenever I get an actual mental image of Zalanthas (which sadly is becoming a rarer event), I'd just picture that perfectly flowing hair as a little more strawlike and those impossibly large breasts as smaller, and what not.

Ugly characters actually never bothered me, but I've only ever seen them in moderation.


Besides, let's not forget that in a place like Zalanthas, thin people shouldn't be all that attractive.  A flat stomach isn't a turn-on, a double chin is a turn-on!  And if we're talking some warrior society then not having any scars isn't a good thing.  It means that either they don't fight enough, are cowardly, or use evil sekret ways to get rid of these scars.

So, well, let's just keep it all in perspective, yeah?  People with a lot of money get to be pretty.  People without a lot of money don't get to be pretty unless it's some very special circumstance, and just being the daughter of some average merchant doesn't always cut it.

I think that's all I have to say about this.

[Cuusardo]

People with characters written to be beautiful don't annoy me.  It's the people who emote things like "with a smile on her pretty face" or "with a smile on his comely features" bother me.

I've also seen some mdescs where people outright have written "her face is pretty" or "his face is handsome".  How in the world do these slip past the staff?  Don't tell me that you're pretty.  Describe WHY you think your character is pretty.  Everyone is attracted to something different.  (For example, not everyone likes huge breasts, or facial hair.)  Just saying that you're attractive is too vague and too subjective.  It's telling someone what their opinion of you should be, and people should be allowed to form their own opinions.

[sarahjc]

I always liked that guy that made the handsome man.  Heh..

In reality though.. this is fantasy. I know we all strive for realism, but who wants to play a toothless, saggy old hag at 30 years old? I know I don't. Well, maybe I do.. but not all the time.

That said, the world is not Cancun MTV spring break either. There is a limit, and it's important to remember that.

You aren't going to stop people from wanting to be attractive.. Hell, most of us that play this game are playing it to get away from the person we are for a few hours and immerse themselves in another role, another life. Who wants to be the beer bellied computer geek? Anyone? Anyone?

One thing I think it is important to stress is that those off color roles may not make you the mud sex king, but they can be way more fun. Playing an old hag, or a defeated cripple, or being able to spit some chewling leaves from your mouth with great skill due to a missing front tooth. These can all be fun roles. Or just being the average looking person. I find I am more attracted to Rp with the characters that have beautifully written main descriptions as opposed to beautiful looking ones. But more importantly those people who immerse themselves in a role, besides just sitting there looking pretty.

I also tend to assoicate seriouse role players with more realistic and worldly descriptions, because these are the people that care about the entire feel of the game world.

We only get a small idea of what the people we interact with look like from a main description. There is lots of room for interpretation and mostly that is done through how we emote, and interact with other players.

I wouldn't stress too much on how people look. If you think there is too many pretty people in the world, play an ugly one and show the pretty folk just how much fun it can be.

[Anonymous]

who wants to play a toothless, saggy old hag at 30 years old?

The question should be rephrased: Who hasn't played a toothless, saggy old hag at 30 years old? Come on! That's the first concept I applied for.

Sa'alam,

Dirr

[Karianna]

One of my absolute favorite characters was a woman who was obese, gap-toothed, snuffled when she breathed and good-natured as all getout. She was incredibly loyal and loving, and obnoxious at the same time, and it got a lot of reactions from other PCs around her.

I think as long as people are having fun and keeping descs realistic and set by the guidelines of app creation - have at it. Personally, I like to alternate between playing chars with 'horrid', 'average' and 'woohoo' descs time to time. I like variety.

S.K.

[ShaLeah]

People often confuse well written or poetic descriptions with "beauty" on Zalanthas.  

I had a mutant whore. She was silver from head to toe except for her eyes and yet because the description was poetic and -she- was sensual people looked past the fact that this character was a knock off of the... get ready for this.. BLUE MAN GROUP . . . cept she was silver.

I found her very unattractive but I played her like she was a supermodel.

Next time you come across a supermodel take a real look, break her/him down piece by piece.

Aside from this there is the beauty is in the eye of the beholder theory, just because someone says their lips are sensuous doesn't mean your character has to think so. Maybe your character likes firm, thin lips?

Aside from THAT, who the hell wants to play someone mundane... isn't that what we are here in RL?  I want my characters to be extraordinary, be it in psychosis, looks, wealth or demons.


ShaLeah
-the F'Me PC advocate...

[Spoon]

Here's an example of one of my favorite descriptions.

It is the color of a bleached skull, his flesh; and the long hair which flows below his shoulders is milk-white. From the tapering, beautiful head stare two slanting eyes, crimson and moody, and from the loose sleeves of his yellow gown emerge two slender hands, also the color of bone.

The writing is intriguing.  It draws you in, even though the face is described as beautiful.  The structure impresses a sense of somewhat inhuman beauty on the reader.

Might be a bit of a derailment, but wasn't Elric some sort of elf?

And on topic perhaps we can conclude f-me pornstars: bad; inhuman beauty:good and possobly wonderful

But bad in a 'marrying your cousin' sort of way, so not impossible. In the end no-one can really stop you creating any character you want (to an extent).

[Anonymous]

And on topic perhaps we can conclude f-me pornstars: bad; inhuman beauty:good and possobly wonderful

But bad in a 'marrying your cousin' sort of way, so not impossible. In the end no-one can really stop you creating any character you want (to an extent).

See, I just can't agree with the idea that we are calling something 'bad'.

There are beautiful people in the world, so why not Zalanthas?  I've never played a PC I wrote up to be handsome, but why would it be 'bad' if I decided I wanted to make a gigolo who had found ways around working so his hands were softer than normal?

I just don't think an F-me PC should be looked down as much as it is.  Players who find themselves playing nothing but F-me's are doing a disservice to the mud but no moreso than folks who play nothing but variants on the tall, muscular warrior.

[Larrath]

Beautiful women in Zalanthas are perfectly alright, as long as they are something more than just beautiful.
ANY cookie-cut character is a bad addition to the game.  No fearless warriors who feel no pain and are secretly artist prodigies, no giggly weak tender supermodels who need constant nurture, and no people whose sole purpose in life is to promote equality among the races and to, ehh, release the gaj from captivity.


I have no problems with any beautiful characters who show me depth.  No, it's not their duty to do so, but I'll mark them as shallow f-mes until I have evidence that indicates otherwise.  There are so many attitudes that a beautiful person can have that I truly feel it's a shame that we--or at least, I--don't see them played.  Self-loathing, narcissism, laziness, depression, fear of being used, anger at only being seen as a pretty thing...you name it.

There are so many things past the old giggly tease love-me-love-me-I-am-flawless part that it makes me sad.


(This post is NOT about anyone's character, and if you think that it's about you then you're wrong.  No harm is meant for anyone and I seriously am not talking about anyone in particular.  No, your character is not pointlessly shallow and these pants don't make your butt look big).

[Akaramu]

Aside from THAT, who the hell wants to play someone mundane... isn't that what we are here in RL?  I want my characters to be extraordinary, be it in be it in psychosis, looks, wealth or demons.

A normal looking PC doesnt have to be mundane at all. Some of my normal looking PCs have been very deep, and special. Why not be extraordinary and ugly, for a change?  :wink:

Besides, when 90% of all female PCs are supermodels, it really isnt that special anymore.

[Rhyden]

Besides, when 90% of all female PCs are supermodels, it really isnt that special anymore.

Precisely, Akarumu. You couldn't have stated it better.

[Angela Christine]

Aside from THAT, who the hell wants to play someone mundane... isn't that what we are here in RL?  I want my characters to be extraordinary, be it in be it in psychosis, looks, wealth or demons.

A normal looking PC doesnt have to be mundane at all. Some of my normal looking PCs have been very deep, and special. Why not be extraordinary and ugly, for a change?  

There are plenty of hideously ugly PCs, and plenty of suspiciously good looking PCs.  They are two sides of the same coin, and equally realistic.


AC

[Akaramu]

There are plenty of hideously ugly PCs, and plenty of suspiciously good looking PCs.  They are two sides of the same coin, and equally realistic.

Where are the ugly PCs? I've seen a bunch of male ones (bravo, guys!), but in 100ish days played I dont remember ever having seen an ugly female PC. And only very few normal looking ones. I dont consider supermodels in combat roles realistic, nor those extremely curvy porn stars who dont come from a very well off and pampered background.