Independance, is it possible?

[Jarod550]

Is it possible, to play a totally independant who doesn't rely on a house for training, money, food or water, and still become worth anything?

Houses tend to be too silly and strict, yet I don't know of any immortals who monitor "non house" folks.

I think it would be great to start up a character and bow to no house and have him train up and become a good whatever class.  Unfortunately it seems like all the interaction and attention from staff is situated around houses only.  Is there hope for an independant who wouldn't mind doing jobs for houses, but not having to follow thier rules or join said house?

Jarod

[My 2 sids]

Depends on you're idea of independence I suppose.  I've made a few independent characters and they've managed.   However, understand that because of how the PC population is spread out almost anyone in the city (esp. if they play a law abiding citizen) will directly or indirectly have to rely on the houses for money and plots.  After all, that is why we have PC nobles:  to spread the money and keep characters occupied.

I think there are now Imms who work with non-clanned characters.

[Bebop]

Of course, of course, of course.  These are pretty much the only types of characters I play.  Try a ranger.  But expect to die quiet a few times in the process.

[Delirium]

Depends on if you want coded or real power.

[Agent_137]

independents die. often. which is why, ICly, house positions are prized.

But it is possible. Just takes some skill and a lot of luck to do it without serious twinking.

Read this document:
http://www.armageddon.org/rp/subguilds/hunter.html

[WarriorPoet]

Agent_137 hit it right on. Independants die. It's very possible to have a successful indy, it just takes luck, patience, and skill.

I've found it's easier to make a heap of coins as an indy, but the coins go to waste because without friends to call on, you die. Make friends. Join a House. Help each other stay alive.

Want the freedom to roam while still having buddies? Try a delf. Or Kurac.

-WP

[Jarod550]

Agent_137 hit it right on. Independants die. It's very possible to have a successful indy, it just takes luck, patience, and skill.

I've found it's easier to make a heap of coins as an indy, but the coins go to waste because without friends to call on, you die. Make friends. Join a House. Help each other stay alive.

Want the freedom to roam while still having buddies? Try a delf. Or Kurac.

-WP

I dunno, this is just my feelings on the situation that is rp here in arm.

on one hand, it's great, on a player to player level, I don't think I've ever seen anything ooc -said- by character yet.  The people are deep and make the world lively.

The part that gets silly for me, and I think I stumble up on the most is the stupid vnpcs, I play to play and have fun, I love rping with -pcs-, but the nonsense of roleplaying while you kick a training dummy with nobody around is silly.

Do I understand wrong or what? We rp here, because we want to make the game real to other players, why the hell would I rp doing things on my own, when there is nobody to watch?

I'm not going to give out ic information, but in a past character I was told that I "hunted too much" by a staff member.  That right there sorta ticked me off because if there is nobody I can find to interact with, there isn't an imm making a npc talk to me or something.  What the heck is wrong with my character running out the gate and hunting?

I dislike how the people who do nothing but make their way from their estate, to the bar, sit there for hours posing and emoting like crazy, are looked upon better then a guy just playing for fun, but roleplaying whenever he encounters another person...

It's almost like they want the world to be dull.  Or the game to be like a MUSH where EVERYTHING is emotes.  There is a reason I can walk my happy little rear out the gate, pull my weapon of choice and bash said creatures head in or be eaten.  It's my choice.

Yet it seems with every combat character that I make, they think just because I like to do things that are enjoyable, I'm powergaming, well I'll tell you what, for a powergamer I sure suck if that were the case, cause I don't think I've ever even branched a skill.  But yet I'm accused.

<don't know where this rant came from> Just figured I would get this off my chest.

I will sit here, playing the same character types and same starting races forever if the only way to gain the "trust" of the staff to play the others, is to sit on your ass in the city tavern, emoting and posing for 5 hours then leaving...

[amoeba]

Putting this into some perspective.  You ask if an independent can make a difference in the game. The answer is a definitive yes.  It is also very diffucult.  That being said, it is in many ways more importaint to enjoy the role. In fact I would say if you don't enjoy it, you can't achive the first goal.

Do I understand wrong or what? We rp here, because we want to make the game real to other players, why the hell would I rp doing things on my own, when there is nobody to watch?

There often is someone watching, much more than you may think.  Also roleplaying for yourself makes it more real for the most importiant character of all, yourself.  No I'm an not a grand solo RP'er. At times I find it tedious, others times I don't.  So don't think you need to go whole hog to get your point across, sometimes a little goes a long way.

I'm not going to give out ic information, but in a past character I was told that I "hunted too much" by a staff member. That right there sorta ticked me off because if there is nobody I can find to interact with, there isn't an imm making a npc talk to me or something. What the heck is wrong with my character running out the gate and hunting?

Think of it this way.  It's not the non solo RPing so much I suspect, but rather acting in a way inconsistaint with the character.  Think of the person as a living, breathing person, not a character.  How often would he hunt?  Not how often do you as a player want to hunt.  At times it can be hard holding back on something that you as a player want to do, such as thinking you'd like to see if you could kick a halflings ass, yet your character would never think of trying.  None of this has anything to do with solo RP persay.

I dislike how the people who do nothing but make their way from their estate, to the bar, sit there for hours posing and emoting like crazy, are looked upon better then a guy just playing for fun, but roleplaying whenever he encounters another person...

It's almost like they want the world to be dull. Or the game to be like a MUSH where EVERYTHING is emotes. There is a reason I can walk my happy little rear out the gate, pull my weapon of choice and bash said creatures head in or be eaten. It's my choice.

It is your choice, but let me ask you this.  Based on the topic of the thread, you seem to feel you are missing out on something.  It may be that what you are really missing out on, is that very thing you are trying so hard to avoid.  Make the development of your character's life and goals your prime purpose. Don't once think about his skills, of if you are solo RP or emoting too much or too little.  Put yourself into his eyes and drive his life.  If you find there is not enough interaction or challange, make him a nosey little shit, get in everyone's business. Trust me, you start doing these things, you'll enjoy the character.  You enjoy the character then making a difference is much more possible.

[WarriorPoet]

There is plenty to do, aside from hunting down everything in sight. I've played alot, and I mean alot of hunter characters, and I've never once been called down by an Immortal. If you're moving about, hunting and skinning and roleplaying the situations -realistically-, there is no reason you should be killing so many NPC's that you get called down for it. You just won't have the time.

I don't think anyone expects you to solo RP constantly, or to sit in the tavern -at all-. However, there is more to this game than killing and running amok.

He's a hunter? That's fine. Hunt it up, but do it realistically. Emote stalking your prey. Emote skinning it. Emote cooking. Talk with your kank. Have you hunted this area alot? You don't want to overhunt, that's for sure. Why don't you ride aways and look for new prey? Is the shell from that animal not bringing enough in your home city? Load up your kank and ride somewhere else. Find a market for your materials. Not familiar with the other lands? Find a partner who is. Is this partner's company expensive? Mine some obsidian to make up the cost. Obsidian hard to come by? Maybe Jal...

Trust me, man. If all you can think of to do is hunting scrab for five hours straight, you're missing the best parts of Armageddon, which are the possibilities generated by roleplay.

Regardless, this isn't a mud about hunting constantly, bashing monsters, or improving your l33t skills. This game isn't for everyone, by any means. Character development. You build that character, and everything else falls into place.

Luck with it.

-WP

[Jarod550]

I don't know, I guess I'm just ticked off cause I try hard as hell to play my characters as if I am them, I sleep, I eat, I drink, I do stuff for fun, I emote almost everything, such as kneeling down before skinning, tossing sids to another person for something ect ect.

Then I look at a few of the roleplaying logs (no offence if any of you are one of the ones I'm going to mention) I see simple crap like a water elementalist who finds a bleeding gortok, kneels near it, talks a few sentences, emotes a few spells, then cures it and heads on his way.  And
-that- is considered "great" roleplaying (which I personally have no issue with) However I have been involved in hour long rp events with various people and done things far better then healing a stupid dog and the comments I get are "You hunt too much".

Even -if- I thought I didn't rp out all my huntings (which I did) and even
-if- they were right that I do it too much, (which they aren't).  It's shitty to have a glass is half full approach to everything I do.  I have never once heard a good comment from the staff and trust me, I've spoken with them.  They aren't happy with anything I do it seems.  I feel that they concentrate on what they perceive to be bad rp or actions more then they concentrate on the good.  Like that old saying, 50 thataboys can be wiped away with one "oh shit", which is wrong and silly.

Honestly if it wasn't for the fact that they deny me gaining of karma for the way they obviously dislike my rp, I wouldn't as a person give a rats ass, but since I can never do anything but the most base roles because they slap me down at every occurance, that's why I care.  I could sit here and lie to you telling you how their impression of me means so much to me and it hurts my feelings to be looked down upon, but it would be a bold face lie, it bothers me because it affects what I can do and say in a game I like, if karma wasn't required I wouldn't care one bit.

Jarod

[Marauder Moe]

Most people will with karma will tell you that getting their first point took about a RL year of playing.

[Jarod550]

Most people will with karma will tell you that getting their first point took about a RL year of playing.

Heh, that just irritates me more then, cause I've been playing more then a year, I just didn't join the forums right away...

I don't even know why I bother trying...

Jarod

[Seeker]

Trust me.  Chat with a Helper.  Honest.


Seeker

[Jarod550]

Trust me.  Chat with a Helper.  Honest.


Seeker

Have done that many a times.  -think- I even wandered into one of the helpers characters one time in game.  From every one I talk to, I'm not doing anything wrong so long as I us emotes to describe actions, think so that my reasoning is known and don't do anything silly like slap a mekillot.

Just forget it, close this stupid post down already it doesn't matter, I'll just be a cookie cutter guild or race forever, screw it.

Jarod

[Jakahri]

If I were you I'd be looking at those examples of people "curing stupid dogs" as inspiration and instances of great roleplay. If it were totally in character for a water elementalist to heal an injured gortok, then by all means they were roleplaying well and should be commended.

Personally, I find it hard to believe that you as a person or character would leave the city every day and burn a fire of do0m and destruction through hordes of mobs. That, to me, seems slightly hack 'n' slash. I will not judge as a player for I do not know you, but when you say things like:

However I have been involved in hour long rp events with various people and done things far better then healing a stupid dog and the comments I get are "You hunt too much".

I find this statement, my friend, to be highly ignorant. You are no one to judge if your roleplay is better than another's. Besides, I doubt a staff member would say "you hunt too much" unless they really had a damn good reason to think so.

What the heck is wrong with my character running out the gate and hunting?

Nothing is wrong with this. As long as it fits the concept of your pc and you are roleplaying in a realistic fashion. ie Not letting a tembo drop you to 10 health, fleeing, sleeping off the damage, then waking to return and repeat the process until you wittle its hp down. Or killing every critter within a 20 room radius of your home city.

There is a reason I can walk my happy little rear out the gate, pull my weapon of choice and bash said creatures head in or be eaten. It's my choice.

It is your choice, this is correct. That does not mean it was a smart or correct choice to make. Think about it.

Most of us do not play this mud to go around and kill mobs. We're here for pvp interaction just as you yourself say you are here for. If you truly mean this, then don't leave the gates to "kill shit" just because you are bored or tired of seeing tavern sitters show off their uber emote skillz.

Consider the opinions of players and staff "tough love".  :wink:

[Jarod550]

If I were you I'd be looking at those examples of people "curing stupid dogs" as inspiration and instances of great roleplay. If it were totally in character for a water elementalist to heal an injured gortok, then by all means they were roleplaying well and should be commended.

Personally, I find it hard to believe that you as a person or character would leave the city every day and burn a fire of do0m and destruction through hordes of mobs. That, to me, seems slightly hack 'n' slash. I will not judge as a player for I do not know you, but when you say things like:

However I have been involved in hour long rp events with various people and done things far better then healing a stupid dog and the comments I get are "You hunt too much".

I find this statement, my friend, to be highly ignorant. You are no one to judge if your roleplay is better than another's. Besides, I doubt a staff member would say "you hunt too much" unless they really had a damn good reason to think so.

What the heck is wrong with my character running out the gate and hunting?

Nothing is wrong with this. As long as it fits the concept of your pc and you are roleplaying in a realistic fashion. ie Not letting a tembo drop you to 10 health, fleeing, sleeping off the damage, then waking to return and repeat the process until you wittle its hp down. Or killing every critter within a 20 room radius of your home city.

There is a reason I can walk my happy little rear out the gate, pull my weapon of choice and bash said creatures head in or be eaten. It's my choice.

It is your choice, this is correct. That does not mean it was a smart or correct choice to make. Think about it.

Most of us do not play this mud to go around and kill mobs. We're here for pvp interaction just as you yourself say you are here for. If you truly mean this, then don't leave the gates to "kill shit" just because you are bored or tired of seeing tavern sitters show off their uber emote skillz.

Consider the opinions of players and staff "tough love".  :wink:

Well I guess that's just why I'll never fit in, I play games for fun, I -make- the character bend or rationalize to -my- concept of fun, because I think it would be even more boring than sitting in the tavern watching fancy emoters, to play a character I don't like.  My fellow killing two low level creatures in a day is not unrealistic, and my -skills- of rp should be judged on how I interact with other people, not on whether I wore my green or purple hooded cloak today.

This is stupid and it just pisses me off the more I talk about it, cause I just finished reading a post from someone else who said they have been playing a character they hate for however long and just hate it.  Then retire em!  Who clubbed you people upside the head and said that you have to endure displeasure for the sake of playing a game?

You're here to have fun, I'm here to have fun.  You -character- is a fake thing that you made up and help to make appear living with a bunch of programming code.  To talk about -him- like it's another person bordered on nuts.

Like people who talk about themselves in the third person.  I just would like to know when having fun, was over-ruled by being uber realistic to the point of boredom to be considered a -good player-.

And about the roleplaying comment up there, I'm not saying I'm better then that fellow who cured the stupid dog.  I said that I think it was good roleplay, not every thing you do and every action you make in a fictional world has to look and read like a grand opera or movie.  My point was that I feel I was involved in a lot more complex and challenging situations, that I reacted to well and realisticly, and find it ironic that someone (albeit handled well) can rp healing a dog which takes 5 minutes and be memorialized for it on the web site..

I know some of what I say comes off as cocky, and really it probably is, cause I'm a cocky individual.  But I know I can't be so "unrealistic" as the staff likes to make me feel, when things like curing a stupid dog, is considered very realistic...

I don't give a damn who likes me or dislikes me as a player, person or any combination of the two, what pisses me off is pretty much them telling me "you're not good enough" when I know damned well I am.

Jarod

[spawnloser]

Just forget it, close this stupid post down already it doesn't matter, I'll just be a cookie cutter guild or race forever, screw it.

Just because you don't have karma options doesn't mean that you're limited to 'cookie cutter' roles.  It's all in the character, not race/guild of the character.

Bitching like this isn't gonna help you.  If you really feel that you deserve some karma, first thing you may wish to do is turn on 'review' so that the IMMs know that you want them to watch you.

Continuing along to another thing you may wish to know, there ARE IMMs in charge of handling the unclanned.  You should get in touch with them (they should be listed in the most recent weekly update) and keep them up to date on your character's goals/actions so that they can see how you're doing.

[Jarod550]

Just forget it, close this stupid post down already it doesn't matter, I'll just be a cookie cutter guild or race forever, screw it.

Just because you don't have karma options doesn't mean that you're limited to 'cookie cutter' roles.  It's all in the character, not race/guild of the character.

Bitching like this isn't gonna help you.  If you really feel that you deserve some karma, first thing you may wish to do is turn on 'review' so that the IMMs know that you want them to watch you.

Continuing along to another thing you may wish to know, there ARE IMMs in charge of handling the unclanned.  You should get in touch with them (they should be listed in the most recent weekly update) and keep them up to date on your character's goals/actions so that they can see how you're doing.

Again, roleplay and emotes and imagination is all great and fun, but we would all be playing dungeons and dragons Dark Sun games with 20-sided dice and pen and paper if we didn't care about the venue and the options available to us.

Everyone is here for the game, the actually computer coded game, if you took away the coded aspects and made this purely a mush I'm sure half of you would drop off and go play another game.

Why? Because there is no computer generated and regulated code to judge who "wins" each arguement or challenge or skill.

To say that I can take a say -merchant- and make him into a captain of the guard for a noble house let's say if I try and play him hard enough is correct, you can do anything as anybody, but there are times when you want the burden of imagination and creativity off of your ability to emote things and into the game.

I could run around and mentally think I'm a mindbender, contact everyone and rp I'm a mindbender till I'm blue in the face, hell maybe even someone will believe me, but then when it all comes down to it, you don't have the hard coded skills and that IS a part of the game, that IS a reason why people are warriors instead of rangers, rangers instead of warriors for the pros and cons that come along with this computer generated set of skills you receive.

So it is -greatly- about the character correct, but it is NOT only about the character, guild and race play a damned part, so don't give me the little figurative pat on the head and dismiss me with comments like "It's all in the character, not race/guild of the character."

Because that's a half-truth.

Jarod

[WarriorPoet]

Well, I don't know how you play InGame, but if your attitude here is any gauge, I wouldn't trust you with karma, myself.

Instead of pining for karma and whining about unfair treatment, why not use the karma you have in a realistic way, and show the Immortals why you deserve to play a TRUSTED role? That's the point of Karma. To show that you're capable of playing a potentially VERY POWERFUL role without running hog wild and 'hunting' the game clean on a whim.

Buck up, my friend. Play your non-karma roles as best you can, according to the documentation. That is how you get karma, not by pitching a fit on the GDB. The Karma system is a good one. You'll learn to love it.

I'll bow out of this thread here, and hope you find your niche. You have enthusiasm, and that's in your favor. Luck with it. There is some solid advice in this thread. You'd do well to think about it.

-WP

[amoeba]

This is stupid and it just pisses me off the more I talk about it, cause I just finished reading a post from someone else who said they have been playing a character they hate for however long and just hate it.  Then retire em!  Who clubbed you people upside the head and said that you have to endure displeasure for the sake of playing a game?

You're here to have fun, I'm here to have fun.  You -character- is a fake thing that you made up and help to make appear living with a bunch of programming code.  To talk about -him- like it's another person bordered on nuts.

Like people who talk about themselves in the third person.  I just would like to know when having fun, was over-ruled by being uber realistic to the point of boredom to be considered a -good player-.

In some ways you make a good point here.  However there is a method to the madness here. For one thing, what you are describing as fun is not so much for me.  I tire quickly of sparring, and of critter killing.  Once you burn through the novelty of it, tedium sets in.  That is why I tire of most muds and mmorgs in general fairly quickly.  If all I was interested in was the kill, I'd play the nice graphicals muds out there, and I do when I am in the mood for them.

The thing is, that is not why I play here.  You commented that people acting like thier character is a real person is "nuts", however that is what I work on getting my character to be.  When that person feels real to me, that is when the game is the most rewarding to me.  In the long run we play this game to be part of an interactive, dynamic story.  When we read a book, that book becomes a great read when the story entrances you, and the characters feel real.  You could state that a book is nothing more than typeset words on paper, but you know there are those times when a book totally sucks you in. At least I hope you do.

If you read a book that was filled with characters doing nothing but moving from one hunt to the other, you would tire of it and put it down quickly.  We want to see a character who is interesting to watch and interact with.  Each of us have varing skill levels, but as with everything in life, we get better with practice.  Why should this be any less true with this place?  I will never admit to being a great roleplayer, but I will say I am better at it than when I started two years ago.

To answer your point, as it looks like I'm starting to ramble, there have been times I have been quite bored with my character.  Mostly I would stick with and work the concept, one because I enjoy the challange. Yes you can be bored and still enjoy playing.  Two, I know that it can turn around and be something totally awsome in time.  This has happened to me a number of times, having a kick assed time after a lull in playing.  Those times make it all worth it, plus some.  When I am at an impass, I'll take a break from things play some brainless H&S, ask an IMM for advice, or just go watch TV.  There is nothing wrong with that.

One difference between this game and others such as WoW and Eve and the like.  Here the story and the characters can move you to tears, make you laugh outloud, or drive you into a fury wanting choke the living shit out of another character.  That can only be done by paying attention to the story, and the characters involved first.  You can't always be the lead in the story, but you can contribute to it.

[Folker]

You know, as a total newb I must say ... that there 'is' novelty in skill improvement. And it 'does' feel a bit intimidating, knowing that no matter how interesting and innovative your character concept is, no matter in how many interesting plotlines your character is involved in, your character can be killed instantly or near instantly by some ... 30 day warrior/strong animal, unless ... you spend a considerable amount of time raising skills to assure reasonable level of independance and potency.

So the whole philosophy of "think of roleplay, not of skills" is faulty, because a 'great' portion of roleplay in armageddon DOES revolve around skills, and saying it's not so is simply gullible. It might not involve skills in some plotlines (often merchant related), but in most cases ... it does. And while veteran players feel more secured while their characters are still untrained, newer ones dont.

I personally can still understand the desire to twink and raise the skills as fast as possible, and I hope ... that most do not do that to become 'uber' most powerful characters in the game. But it's simply a drive to become self sufficient as fast as possible, to be able to participate in as many roleplay plots as possible. Instead of pulling out, or being ignored because well ... their character is useless.

Best thing to do in cases likes that, is support the twinks untill they branch their skills, learn their ropes, get their cockiness, start realizing how empty the powergaming in itself is and die off from a templar or on some dangerous mission that they were eager to take in order to get involved in a roleplaying plot.

[Larrath]

There is a measure of risk in new players getting characters who are very powerful in the ways of combat.  There, I've said it.
A new player, who still doesn't understand how the game work, can cause a lot of trouble in the game.  It's enough that we all have to suffer the twink-stealers every now and then - can you imagine how it would be like if you'd get sapped, backstabbed or right-out murdered instead?

Making a new character in the 'rinth could be impossible because there's no crime code to protect you from the mass pk.  Making a gemmer in Allanak could also be very dangerous, as would any aide or merchant who doesn't have a bodyguard.

Sure, it would create plotlines for the Militia, but if all you get after you hunt that murderer down is the same character being generated again, things begin to suck for everyone.

Having a long-lived or powerful character has nothing to do with coded strength.  A powerful character is the one that can ask the templar to kill you as a favor and get it granted.  When you start giving trouble to a powerful character in the middle of a tavern, you'll often see at least a couple of PCs stand up to their defense.  And when you attack a powerful character and they slip away, you know you're a dead man walking at that point.
It's perfectly possible to have moderate wealth, no combat skills and no bodyguards/clan members and still be quite powerful.

You need no skills to become self-sufficient.  You can perform in a tavern, or beg, or run minor errands to easily get yourself some money for cheap water or flour.  You can get friendly with a Vivaduan, or you can get a tidbit of information and sell it for 50 'sids to four different people.  You can do smuggling, or mine obsidian/forage salt, or take common things from Tuluk and sell them for high profit in Allanak and vice versa.  You can even just hop along with someone else doing a caravan and guard them for a couple of hundreds.

The bottom line, for me, is this - coded strength is simply not needed in order to have true strength, and if every combat-oriented PC had very high combat capabilities then the game would be filled with senseless PK and would suffer greatly.
We are roleplay intensive.

[spawnloser]

To say that I can take a say -merchant- and make him into a captain of the guard for a noble house let's say if I try and play him hard enough is correct, you can do anything as anybody, but there are times when you want the burden of imagination and creativity off of your ability to emote things and into the game.

What you're doing here?  You're twisting my words.  You're making it seem like what I said was that you could playing anything you wanted, regardless of whether you had karma.  I said that you have plenty of options that are not the 'cookie cutter' roles you were bitching about being restricted to.

You feel entitled, it seems.  You seem to think, at least in my perception, that this roleplaying game has little to do with the what you make of your characters coded abilities and it's all about those abilities.  I would be LESS likely, were I staff, to give you karma after this little hissy fit of yours.  Karma-restricted race/guild options are restricted because things are NOT balanced in this game and these race/guild options are on the heavy side of the scale.  They are not as easy to play realistically.  If the staff trusts you, they'll give you karma.  It's that simple.  If you don't like it, well, tough.  That's how it is.

Now, if you don't understand, I'm tired of trying to help you.  Take this for the advice it is intended to be and you'll be a better player for it.  Disregard it if you'd like, though.

[marko]

Is it possible, to play a totally independant who doesn't rely on a house for training, money, food or water, and still become worth anything?

Houses tend to be too silly and strict, yet I don't know of any immortals who monitor "non house" folks.

I think it would be great to start up a character and bow to no house and have him train up and become a good whatever class.  Unfortunately it seems like all the interaction and attention from staff is situated around houses only.  Is there hope for an independant who wouldn't mind doing jobs for houses, but not having to follow thier rules or join said house?

To go right back to the initial question.

Yes, it is very possible.  It is also far more difficult to do but the rewards tend to be even greater.  

As per imm interaction I'm not certain what you are seeking here.  There are immortals who watch independents.

Now, going on to the point of what is considered good roleplaying and what is considered twinking and / or powergaming.  This comes down to playing in a realistic and probable manner consistent with the game environment.  When you ignore the game environment to pursue an action because the code allows it - then that is twinking.  EG, Twinky finds an npc or linkdead pc standing on top of a cliff so Twinky runs in and subdues.  Twinky fails subdue.  So Twinky subdues again.  Twinky fails, Twinky repeat for as long as it takes to finally subdue the other.  Then Twinky tosses the other down the cliff.  Twinky goes down the cliff and kills the now unconscious other.  That is twinking.

Powergaming example - The weather out is a massive storm the weather message talks about gale-like forces of winds.  Powerranger then goes out hunting for no pressing need (Powerranger is fully fed and watered) other than to go hunting.  In this case, Powerranger is ignoring the environment in favor of trying for some skillz.  As you can see, power gaming and twinking are closely related.

If you get a comment that you are hunting too much then it is likely that this is all the imms see when they watch your character.

You may be doing everything else but when an imm watches you they see you hunting.  You may be doing some emotes now and then but, again, when an imm was watching you they just saw you hunting... and hunting... and hunting... and hunting.  

Continually hunting every day, day in and day out, may or may not be appropriate for your character.  If your character is tribal and gathering supplies for their tribe, that's fine.  If your character is an independent and collecting skins, hides, and bones for the Houses is probably alright as well.  But if all the character is doing is hunting without a reason, leaving parts behind, etc.. then you need to rethink the hunting strategy.  There should be a reason in the game as to why the character is hunting all the time and then not really doing anything with the gathered goods.

Again, you want to play your character in a manner that is consistent with the game environment.  So, if your character is a hunter and hunts a lot, then do the hunting at the cooler times of the day - do the cleaning of the skins and the like during the hot part of the days or at night.  Build camp fires to cook the meat.  And play it out like you're part of the game and not playing the game.  You'll have more fun too.

Usually when you get a comment like that it is an attempt to nudge you to do a few other things with the character.  In other words, they've seen your character and they _like_ your character and want to see your character involved in other stuff.

I've seen a lot of miscellaneous comments about other stuff such as playing for karma and karma being a necessity for advancing in the game.  The reality is that it is nothing like that.  The best roles are independent of the karma.  Play the role and worry about the skills as an after thought.  One of my best characters ever used one whole skill - and that skill was contact.  Originally, when I was playing him, he didn't even use that (for about ten days played).

My one suggestion to Jarod550 is this - slow down.  Your characters start out weak.  No matter how you wish it otherwise they start out weak.  If you try and power game your character from the get-go you will be bored and miss out on opportunities to player the character and not the skills.  This is a common thing by a lot of players new and experienced alike - they start a character with a certain image in their mind and then skill up to that image by doing whatever it takes.  When you make a character accept and know that your character will suck and will likely suck for a long time.

This is a game about the stories of our characters and the interactions with other characters develop the tapestry of their lives. These interactions can take a lot of different forms but it is the interactions that will end up defining the character and not the character's skill.  What I'm saying is this, when you play a character play the character first and the skills secondary.  Don't play the skills in an attempt to define the character.  Play the character and try to keep the character consistent with the game world.  

When you are doing something think to yourself, "does this make sense in the area the character is in?"  IE, does it make sense to be in a fight with a sentient humanoid and run two rooms then start walking, walk two more rooms, and rest?  No.  That humanoid could and probably is hunting down your character - therefore your char would want to get out.  It's the small things like this that if you are consistent about and continually show a heads-up awareness of the environment your character is in that will, in time, lead towards karma.

Now, all that being said, I wanna say this:  I play for one reason and one reason only - fun.  In that, I totally agree with you.  I am an advocate of playing roles that you enjoy.  If someone hates their role and sees no way to progress with it then I will usually suggest retiring the character and playing something they enjoy.  I do not believe in the game becoming 'work' or a chore to play.  I do not believe in playing and feeling pressured or forced into doing something that you wouldn't enjoy doing.

[Vanth]

Is it possible to create a skilled character without joining a clan?  Yes.  You can probably also amass a certain degree of wealth that way, so you have both physical and social power.

However, if you're truly independent, a loner, you're not going to have much use for that wealth and power, because at some point you run out of shiny new things to buy, and things to kill.

If you're only independent in the sense that you're not employed by a clan, but still have connections with other PCs, then you're going to have a lot more options for roleplay and things to do with that wealth and power.

As far as imm interaction, there are imms for unclanned characters.  You might consider sending them an update from time to time, letting them know what your character is up to.  Because there are a lot of indy characters, if they know something about yours, there is a better chance they will watch you and, perhaps, award karma.

It is also true, though, that clanned characters get more attention and are more likely to be awarded karma.  The system we have is not perfect, it is simply the most efficient one we could think of.  By assigning most imms to clans, they have a specific group of people they watch, and they get a chance to watch them over a period of time.  I've never gotten a complete picture of a character by watching them once.  But the longer I watch them, the more I know about them.  That is why there are two suggestions (beyond roleplaying well and being trustworthy) that can help you get karma: join a clan, and live awhile.  That doesn't mean that's a requirement, just that it increases the odds.