Do you play careful, or risky?

[Gimfalisette]

For the purpose of this discussion, some definitions:

Careful play: Making sure to avoid anything and everything that might end up in harm to my character. This might include avoiding relationships of any kind, avoiding templars and nobles completely, never pissing anyone off, never making commitments, never starting plots. The "careful play" mentality sees the only important question to be "will this maybe end badly for my character?" And if the answer is yes, then the activity is avoided.

Risky play: Taking risks which make sense for the character. Might be things like falling in love or making friends, working for nobles and templars, making people angry, having goals and working toward them. Risks can be small or very large, the point is, they may possibly end in bad things for your character; and yet, you do them because they make sense to do or need to be done for some reason.

Stupid play: E.g., deciding that hunting bahamet is a good thing for your newbie warrior to do. Or going into the 'rinth in your new silk outfit.

Alright, so, stupid play is not what I'm talking about here. That is not what I mean in terms of risk.

So the question is, do you play careful? or do you play risky? And how's that working out for you?

I am realizing lately...now that I've been playing for almost but not quite a year...that my playstyle is changing more toward "risky." I started out being really "careful," not wanting other characters to be angry at or dislike my characters, etc.

But I think I'm finding that my best moments, and the greatest things I've accomplished, have come from "risky" play. When my characters have made alliances and enemies, have made bold moves, have risked pissing people off, etc...then great things happen. Yeah, sometimes it's ended badly, too. But still, I don't regret having done the (sometimes crazy) risky things.

Also, playing "careful" never ever made everyone love me and be nice to me. Waah. *chuckle* When I've played careful, seems like problems come to me anyways, only mixed up with a lot more boredom.

This is a good revelation for me, because by nature I'm sort of freaked out and paranoid and overly cautious.

What about you?

[Tarx]

Risky.  Hardcore risky.

[bardbard#4]

I play my character.

[Malken]

If the roleplay is boring, I tend to do a lot of risky things.. When things start becoming interesting, I'm more of the paranoid extra-careful type.

There's something great about being known as the newbie guy in town who took down a bahamet with just a few spears and managed to survive it, but there's also something really sucky about being known as the very well-known 50 days warrior who died to a carru because your connection dropped for 2 seconds.

So having a great balance between the two is good.. Armageddon is not a great game if you want to live 10+ IC years with your character, because there's so much that can happen, the cursed random deaths like I call them, that if you are too careful you'll never do anything in the game.

[Lizzie]

I like to mix a little of both in my characters. They might not trust anyone, or trust only a very few people. So that's playing it safe. But at the same time, they wouldn't normally let their distrust prevent them from having fun. Hypothetical example - my rinthi assassin chick doesn't trust southsiders at all, but she'll share drinks with an Oash aide and gossip about made-up stuff just to pass the time.

Another hypothetical - my independant hunter might not trust elves, but it woudn't stop her from going into the elven territory to skin a few critters that live there. She might not run immediately if an elf comes by, but she'd be ready to fight or flee if the situation calls for it.

So - my characters will take risks, but cautious risks balanced by a very healthy dose of skepticism and distrust.

In other words, they KNOW someone's out to get them, but it won't stop them from living their life as they see fit.

L. Stanson

[Ghost]

I feel like I am always over the edge.  That is where the most fun is.

Staying away from everything looks safer, but it looks dull if you are used to take risks.

[Morfeus]

As bardbard said: I play my character. That means, I take risks which are reasonable for him or her. I play the game mostly to see developing of the personality and I am willing to survive some "boredom" for this (read: moments which are not full of action, but perhaps filled with thinks, solo-rp, making plans...), as well as I am willing to go blindly into an obvious danger if it looks to me my character would do so.

[Marauder Moe]

I'm definitely more on the careful side of things.  I like my characters to live long and develop personal history, rather than go out in one glorious but short scene.  I get pretty invested in their lives, but I like to think that helps me roleplay them realistically.

Though... I suppose many of the more interesting moments I've played were when my characters threw caution to the wind and acted recklessly, irrationally, and such.  A mix is probably best.

[Angela Christine]

Usually I am more Risky.  When I've played very, very careful types my characters tend to live longer than a month, which is good, but I get so bored I want to slit my own throat, which is bad.

[Fathi]

Depends entirely on the character.

After all, what's considered risky for my 2-day noble's aide and what's considered risky for my 60-day ungemmed Rukkian are vastly different.

Even if I'm bored to tears, my PC's not going to act OOCly just to spice things up, so any and all perceived risks they'd take would be judged appropriate by my character's standards.

Hell, on more than one occasion now, I've had a character do something EXTREMELY risky from a PC-longevity standpoint simply because there were things they didn't know about the situation/area. Because I as a player know there's an uber-defiler hiding in this innocuous looking cottage after he killed my last two scavenger PCs in the woods doesn't mean my ranger from the other end of the world would have a clue.

[mansa]

I play BardBard's character.

[Maso]

I simply do whatever feels right and fits right with my character. And most of the time that calls for risk taking - though sometimes I do that carefully...again dependant on the character and how careful she/he is.

[Gimfalisette]

In the context of this discussion, acting ICly for the character was always assumed. This is not about acting OOCly...whether risky or careful...for any reason.

For example, one of my characters once planned to do, and then did do, something which could have gotten the character executed. (And almost did get the character executed.) I knew both ICly and OOCly that the action could lead to the death of the character. But ICly and OOCly, I also knew that the action made complete sense and, in a particular way, was necessary.

The result of that choice was quite a bit of immediate, fun roleplay for a number of characters, mine included, and then some fun and important long-term plot stuff as well.

There was certainly a voice inside of me, when I was deciding to do the thing, though, that said, "Wow, this is crazy. Your character could DIE for this!" Ultimately, I was really glad I ignored the voice.

[Gimfalisette]

I play BardBard's character.

I once followed mansa's character into a locked apartment. THAT IS HOW CRAZY I AM.

[FiveDisgruntledMonkeysWit]

Careful, generally. As Arm is coming to a close, I'm starting to regret not taking bigger risks. I'm starting to regret never playing the jerk, the mugger, the villain. My characters are generally nice, reasonable, level-headed, and cautious.
It sucks. My next character is going to be coarse, greedy, pompous, drunken asshole with no qualms about stabbing people in the back. He'll live hard and die fast, and it's gonna rock.

[Morfeus]

I think the problem is where is the line between "careful" and "risky". Going to hunt might be risky. Insulting templar might be risky as well (or insane, heh). Going to hunt with a partner might be risky or careful, depending on situation. Often there are things which a player considers "safe" and does not realize they are very, very risky. Often there are thing a character considers "safe" and does not realize they are risky - even if the player does.

I personally don't like this forced lines.

[Nile]

I'd say fairly risky. I love a bit of conflict when it comes along.

[V1agraKank]

I play different characters different ways.  Some careful, some risky.  My current character is careful.  I usually admire people who play the riskier characters.

[Janna]

Heh, I think you know the answer about that from me hmm, Gim?  :twisted:

[Malken]

[Derail]Am I the only one who doesn't know who everyone else plays?  :cry:[/derail]

[Gimfalisette]

[Derail]Am I the only one who doesn't know who everyone else plays?  :cry:[/derail]

Yes, and we all know who you play. But we're not out to get you. Not for at least five more minutes.

[Hot_Dancer]

My characters typically have common sense and take calculated risks.

[mansa]

Derail:

Gim only found out who I played, -after- they were gone and dead.

[Dresan]

How i would play a character is different then how someone else would play the same character, etc etc...all the choices for playing that same character would probably be correct though. Funny thing about playing any character is there are often a number of options to choose from when it encounters a situation. At the end of the day we are all motivated by OOC reasoning, for most the ooc reason is to have fun...if you've ever stored a character your in this group.

I've never stored a character (though i thought about it more then once), they are usually very longed lived and it takes quite a force to kill them.  My characters start careful but as they get older and more powerful they become riskier and risker (from plots to exploration) since they can afford it more. IC reasoning can range from ambition to arrogance or just plain curiousity for why they do certain things but its always fun for me and those around the character. Sometimes its rewarding ICly, something its not but i always learn something and have fun.

[LauraMars]

Self-sabotage is my favorite game.  Besides plain old sabotage, I mean.

[Dalmeth]

How could I explain how I play my characters?  It all depends on the level of desperation.  One character of mine died doing something stupid because he was poor and starving.  If my character is bored, yeah, it tends to make him things do more along the risky side in order to try to make headway into some goal of theirs.

Mostly, my ranger characters tend to be the sort to play things smart, as they've usually been mauled by one thing or another one time in their life before play even begins.  While they are cautious in their own way, they still push into places where there is danger, where a wrong decision could put them in a situation where they can only die.

So, you might say my characters tend toward more risk.  I can tell you, it's fun.

[Forest Junkie]

I'd have to say I'm more of a risky player.

My current pc is, by all accounts, batshit, and definitely my most goofy/hella crazy character to date.

I nearly die like 42345 times a day whenever I get a chance to log. I love the results though! :twisted:

[Anael]

I don't know who I play  :cry:

[Ghost]

Playing risky is a lot of fun till the moment you die.  Then it sucks.

However, not taking any risks sucks all the time.  (At least that is my opinion)

[Krath]

Almost Hardcore Risky.

[Reiloth]

I used to play carefully. Then woke up one day and said fuck it.

[cyberpatrol_735]

I'm a risk addict.

[Wolfsong]

What I do:

"Okay, I'll make this PC reckless and kick-butt; yup yup yup. I'm gonna maim, slaughter, wound and rage everywhere on everyone!"
(ten minutes into the game)
"Oh my God I love this PC; this is the most fun I've ever had-- how did I ever consider being reckless with this blissful jewel from heaven above, sweet, sweet, gentle PC-Jesus?"
(a few weeks later)
"I'm a bit bored. I think I might go and..."
(a few days later)
"What am I doing? I can't be reckless with this PC! It's -gold-!"
(inevitably, sometime after that)
"Oh my God, they killed it! They killed my PC! How dare they kill my PC! That was the best PC in the entire world, beautifully RPed, such character, such a wonderful opera! But they killed it!"
(the next day)
"I'll make a reckless PC to blow off steam. Reckless and kick-butt."

[rishenko]

Depends on how long I've been sitting in front of the computer.

1-3 hours = careful, thoughtful, wise, prudent, guru like understanding of the world around my character

3-5 hours = prone to the rare wild "why the hell not" moments, sharp edge of wisdom dulling a touch

5-7 hours = Bored...you know where this leads

7-9 hours = Hide and seek with kryl

8-11 hours = God only knows why my character isn't dead yet

11+ hours (usually around 4 AM, very very rare) = Late night juiced up comedian makes little mini quests of pure dumbassery to tempt fate

[Folker]

Very risky OOCly, depends on the character ICly.


examples.

When a mindbender makes your character curious how to open a doorway into the sun. Do you ... really try to figure out the keyword to do it, or do you fumble around in emotes, appearing to try to open it, but in reality ... nott do it. Me, I 'do' try to figure out a keyword to do it, even if it means insta death to my character.

When a templar enters a tavern, do you try to make your character as plain as possible, so as to not give the templar any IC excuse to take notice of the character and eventually kill him, or do you make the templar's half giants shove your character aside, or some other thing that while not provocative to templar ICly (mostly), still makes Templar as player take notice of you? Me, I try to interact with poor ass bored Templars as much as possible, without making my character do stupid things. Oddly, none of my charas ever died to a Templar though.

Well, and so on =). So yeah, I'm very flimsy with my characters lives, and sometimes sacrifice a GOOD character, for a VERY fun, but possibly short scene. Ofcourse, only if it actually reasonable for the character itself to do it.

[Yokunama]

I think I do a little of both.

[Briarfox]

11+ hours (usually around 4 AM, very very rare) = Late night juiced up comedian makes little mini quests of pure dumbassery to tempt fate

Very rare my ass. I remember, Rishenko, I -remember-.

[Bogre]

I generally put my characters in very risky situations but my characters are more often than not very cautious ICly in those situations.

Sometimes I play -very- risky though, and my characters will take a lot of risks.

[FiveDisgruntledMonkeysWit]

I play awesome.
That's how I frickin' play.

[rishenko]

11+ hours (usually around 4 AM, very very rare) = Late night juiced up comedian makes little mini quests of pure dumbassery to tempt fate

Very rare my ass. I remember, Rishenko, I -remember-.

Code Select Expand

Brushing the backs of his fingers off the bottom of his stubbly chin with a half-sneer, the youthful freckly gent says, in mock Italian accented english, "You remember nooothing..."

[Gimfalisette]

Having done a few more exceedingly crazy (and yet ICly totally appropriate) things in game since I started this thread, I must now come to the firm conclusion that I do, indeed, play risky. (When other characters stare at your character and say the Zalanthan equivalent of "OMFG you are crazy!" that is kind of a tipoff.) Along the way I've gotten to RP with some really cool characters and had some awesome scenes by doing this, so that's been nifty. The consequences of the risky play haven't always been quite so fun, but I'm working on being OOCly OK with that (Doubtful I'll ever post on the "most enjoyable deaths" thread, as I don't find it enjoyable when my characters die, no matter how well-RPed it is!)

[Xio]

It depends entirely on my character. I, as a player, prefer risky over careful, but I've never played a 100% careful character, by what you described. Though I've had some characters would rather not ever leave their room, but they want need sid so they 'risk' it. Then there is the occasional 'I'm so awed by this I don't even realize the risk I'm about to take' risks that make me go 'Stop you idiot!' but I let them run their course and hope they don't die

[Flying Erdlu]

I once led a whole clan of Borsail into what I was pretty certain OOCly was certain death back in the days of Allanaks occupation of Gol Krathu. My noble was many days old...I was REALLY attached to him. And I'm sure the other players were really attached to their characters as well.

I feel really bad, even to this day, that I not only killed my own PC, but I killed about 6 other PCs as well when I know I could have prevented it. (thanks Savak!) But if I would have played the -safe- method and backed out of what my character would not normally have backed out of, I would have in my opinion violated the spirit of the game and the very essence of what makes us call this game Crackageddon.

So my answer would be...as some others have said. Safe or risky - that depends on your character. Do what your character would do and you will have FUN.

[Lizzie]

I tend to take ridiculous risks, in comparison to what the "norm" of the populace would do ICly. I'd explain that, but it's too current and IC. But suffice to say these are things most sane, life-loving commoners would never do even if their lives depended on it.

It ends up not being nearly as much of a risk as I expected it to be, and all my PC's "omg im gonna die omgomg" thoughts end up for naught. I fully expect my character to end up dead as the result of something as ridiculously UNrisky as the risks that haven't killed her yet, such as taking a walk through town and being ganked by a random raging mul.

[Cutthroat]

I love throwing my character into risky situations, as long as it's IC to do so. A certain kind of satisfaction comes when your PC dies to something interesting and risky to approach (halflings, silt-horrors, bahamets, and other things) that I cannot get from dying to something that most PCs, NPCs, and vNPCs would come in contact with on a daily basis.

I think my last couple of characters have died in very interesting ways, and only because I allowed them to take risks. Armageddon is fun to play, but a good death is the cherry on top.

[Aruven]

Dude, I am the king of risky play. I have one character to prove it. His name was krasin.

[WWYD]

What about the other one? The one that used his unwitting brother to stop three people from going to the Gold Nugget's balcony so he could make out with his girlfriend? Or whatever you did there.  

I rarely take many risks anymore, so I'm mostly..careful, I guess.

[Aruven]

What about the other one? The one that used his unwitting brother to stop three people from going to the Gold Nugget's balcony so he could make out with his girlfriend? Or whatever you did there.  

I rarely take many risks anymore, so I'm mostly..careful, I guess.

Oh yes those were the days.  

[Melody]

What about the other one? The one that used his unwitting brother to stop three people from going to the Gold Nugget's balcony so he could make out with his girlfriend? Or whatever you did there.  

I rarely take many risks anymore, so I'm mostly..careful, I guess.

Oh yes those were the days.  

::shifty eyed::

Why do I always end up with your characters?

[Aruven]

What about the other one? The one that used his unwitting brother to stop three people from going to the Gold Nugget's balcony so he could make out with his girlfriend? Or whatever you did there.  

I rarely take many risks anymore, so I'm mostly..careful, I guess.

Oh yes those were the days.  

::shifty eyed::

Why do I always end up with your characters?

Probably because I'm everywhere. No seriously. Every character I have -will- go everywhere except for red storm in their lifetime. I don't know why.

[Tarx]

Because red storm smells like poo and sand lord ass.

[X-D]

I tend to play mine as people.

And yes, this means they will take calculated risks.

This of course normaly means that they live for a very long time.

[Pale Horse]

For most of my playing career, I've played characters that tend to get into very high risk situations, most of the time due to OOC desires than for anything the actual character wants.

Lately, though, I've grown bored with that and I've managed to keep several characters alive for a surprising amount of time, considering that they've been sucked into some of the most dangerous plot lines that I've had the pleasure of participating in, to date.

[BlackMagic0]

For most of my playing career, I've played characters that tend to get into very high risk situations, most of the time due to OOC desires than for anything the actual character wants.

Lately, though, I've grown bored with that and I've managed to keep several characters alive for a surprising amount of time, considering that they've been sucked into some of the most dangerous plot lines that I've had the pleasure of participating in, to date.

I'm semi-careful semi-risky.. Seems most my chars make one risky move or so a week.. then careful the rest.. (maybe two or so if he feels lucky)

But Pale horse I got that in common, my character also always seems to be draged into dangerous plots.. everytime... It doesn't matter what he is doing

[Qzzrbl]

My characters always start off SUPER careful, but always wind up edging closer and closer to risky, until he becomes realistic...

[Cerelum]

My characters all are super risky, I mean to the tune of attempting to hunt a silt horror with a two day old ranger.

But, I unfortunately have a problem that causes me to change drastically.  If I get involved in some life changing plot, I tend to swing to super careful to keep my character alive and jumping in the plot.  And if I end up owing a character something, like say that noble pays me 800 sid for x and y, I tend to get to super careful while I'm in debt.

I don't wanna be the character that noble or templar goes out on a limb for, then just fucks them in the ass.

So my preferred method of play is by the seat of my pants, unless I feel I owe someone something.

[Shiroi Tsuki]

I would say it depends on the character.  And often times, depends on the specific character's mood at the time.  For me.

[jstorrie]

Not always risky, but always stupid.

[Mood]

Not always risky, but always stupid.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

I nearly universally play long-lived characters that do what they are supposed to do and stay in their clan and follow most of the rules and act smart. Nearly universally.

So, careful, I guess, is the best way to describe me.

[Adiadochokinesis]

Not always risky, but always stupid.

[Barzalene]

It changes a lot moment to moment. Both sometimes both or all three in the same moment.

[Is Friday]

Not always risky, but always stupid.

*sigh* ...yes.

[Akaramu]

Though... I suppose many of the more interesting moments I've played were when my characters threw caution to the wind and acted recklessly, irrationally, and such.  A mix is probably best.

I must say you're one of my favourite players since one of those moments. 

Personally I am also on the careful side of things. The one time where I dared have a somewhat bitchy character who acted irrationally at times, a lot of people developed an interest in killing her, but (and thats the sucky part about it) the staff forced me to store her before any PC got a chance to help her to the afterlife. I'm still grumpy about that.

Usually, when my characters do risky things, it is out of sheer ignorance. And that happens often enough for me to at least ATTEMPT to play careful the rest of the time.

[Mr.B]

I'd have to say I prefer risky. There's always that satisfaction if you survive something life-threatening, and live to tell stories about it, but I'm sure few characters never ever take it easy from time to time.

[Malken]

I play the same way my grandpa plays with my grandma. Slowly, carefully and always worried that I'll break a bone or worst.

[Fnord]

That which does not kill you only makes you stronger. Risky. Ultimately dependent on the character's personalty, but yeah...

[manonfire]

Risky.

I just don't have fun if my character isn't on the verge of getting <something doubleplusungood) by <a doubleplusungood'er>

By the way, Ween rocks.

[rishenko]

Risky, with the occasional doses of insanity.

[Desertman]

I usually play moderate characters...I have been known to be very risky, the point of just flat stupid, with some characters...I mostly call those throw-away characters and make them for no better purpose than to get reactions out of the people they encounter, which is usually fun for me -and- them.

[Gimfalisette]

I have noticed lately that I play much less risky when there are other characters depending on my character. I think it's partly in the interest of not killing/harming their characters, but also because they need my character to be not dead. This is probably a good thing. Kind of makes for boring, though.

[Zoltan]

Everytime I've done something extremely risky/retarded with one of my PCs, I've liked them a lot more. Typically I play them middle-of-the-road though, on a character-by-character basis.

[Tomeglow]

I try my best to be very careful when playing a character. If I'm dealing with scenarios outside the city, it's strict business and an attempt at total safety. If it's in the city, it might be a bit more risky, as I find the domestic plots to be fun, especially when you stumble into it while taking risks. Also, whenever I take risks and change a character, I normally like them more, so I use it as a way to reinvigorate my interest.

[Rhyden]

If I couldn't play riskily with my characters, I wouldn't play.

[Adiadochokinesis]

I play extremely risky no matter what.

I'm careful in real life. There's no fun for me in being careful in a world filled with evil, monstrous horrors and backstabbing ninjas.

[RoannTantreal]

I would consider insulting templar in the Gaj risky play.

And sleeping in public in the labyrinth risky as well.

So, I play pretty risky.

But for my character, that's normal.

If your character is openly cynical, they may find themselves faced with a lot of adverse situations.

The fun part is getting out of trouble alive.

[jstorrie]

Insulting templars is generally more noob-insane than genuinely risky, I've found.

[Only He Stands There]

My current PC is pretty meticulously careful, but has bouts of pretty risky behavior. A lot of it, I find, is risky because it's realistic.

[Rhyden]

Insulting templars is generally more noob-insane than genuinely risky, I've found.

There's only one way to learn. 

[BlackMagic0]

Depends entirely on the character.

Also... I like to go out with a bang. 

[brytta.leofa]

Insulting templars is generally more noob-insane than genuinely risky, I've found.

You realize you just made the templar-players a double-dog dare? 

[RogueGunslinger]

I've had twenty three characters since November. I have a tendency to create characters that speak their mind about things. I'm learning that having characters that are loud-mouths can be very bad for their health. Even when insulting commoners who you wouldn't think could do anything to you. People find a way...

Also a lot of my characters take risks in other ways too. Exploring has killed most of my characters.

But recently I'm trying to stop and keep my characters alive longer because I want to start getting into the more interesting plots, and dig up the more interesting things about the game before it dies.

[RoannTantreal]

I'm actually still alive, and still speaking my mind!

This is spooky because the catch is, the longer you stay alive after pissing people off, the longer they have to think about getting back at you.

Then you either live risky, or die.

(or run north)

[Gimfalisette]

Speaking one's mind is not necessarily fatal. I've done so to individual templars, nobles, merchants...hell, once I even told off the entire templarate of a particular city and my character lived It's kind of an art form which involves knowing the limits of what you can say, being protected somehow from negative consequences (i.e., someone other than the folks you're insulting want you kept alive and useful), and the social skills to talk/bargain/bribe your way out of the situation you've created.

Oh, did I mention bribes? That's worth saying over and over. It's hard to go wrong with passing money/gifts to people you've pissed off. Or to people you might piss off soon...or later.

[Mood]

I've had twenty three characters since November.

This made me feel somewhat better about my own vast number of characters.

[Only He Stands There]

My current character is, by far, my loudest-mouthed, most brash, arrogant, almost universally abrasive asshole to date, and has done far more combat and exploring than all of my other PCs combined.

Said character is also my longest lived by about 80 days of playtime. So - it can be done.

[RogueGunslinger]

I've had twenty three characters since November.

This made me feel somewhat better about my own vast number of characters.

It's so much fun playing like this.. I don't know why more people don't do it... Then again, dying so much probably isn't so realistic...



Edit: I'd also like to add that not having a character who is powerful ever... Really suck a lot. I special apped one... but he died because he mouthed off to a very powerful character...

[Gimfalisette]

It's so much fun playing like this.. I don't know why more people don't do it... Then again, dying so much probably isn't so realistic...

But recently I'm trying to stop and keep my characters alive longer because I want to start getting into the more interesting plots, and dig up the more interesting things about the game before it dies.

I think you already answered your own question

Longer-lived characters have the opportunity to become more deeply embroiled in long-running plots, they can become well-known amongst the playerbase, they can amass power and coin and influence, they can be deeply changed in interesting / disturbing / heart-wrenching ways, they can acquire scars and oddities, they can tell stories to newer characters about amazing things actually experienced in-game, they can become useful to others in many ways, they can achieve / build things in game that later can be pointed to proudly after the character is gone, they can get to know a variety of very interesting characters around them really well...

The benefits are many.

[a strange shadow]

It's nice when you can say "Hey, Amos remember that time, ten years ago, when..." and have it be true.

[Gimfalisette]

Edit: I'd also like to add that not having a character who is powerful ever... Really suck a lot. I special apped one... but he died because he mouthed off to a very powerful character...

True power comes not from code, but from roleplay. Learn this and you will be wise.

[jstorrie]

Insulting templars is generally more noob-insane than genuinely risky, I've found.

You realize you just made the templar-players a double-dog dare? 

Maybe. I was more implying that general risk-taking is done with the idea of some sort of possible reward. Flipping off templars, conversely, is something we all did on our first few PCs when we didn't really 'get it.'

[jstorrie]

But recently I'm trying to stop and keep my characters alive longer because I want to start getting into the more interesting plots, and dig up the more interesting things about the game before it dies.

That's cool. Personally, I'm keeping my characters alive longer so that they can max out their combat skills and pk all yr dudez (in yr basez.)

[Maybe42or54]

I'm not really creative, I've found. So I tend to do what I do in real life and just copy what others do IG. If my player plays with risky people, I'm a lot riskier. If I play with Hot_dancer, I live forever. Until a freak accident comes out of left field to take my head off.

[RogueGunslinger]

But recently I'm trying to stop and keep my characters alive longer because I want to start getting into the more interesting plots, and dig up the more interesting things about the game before it dies.

That's cool. Personally, I'm keeping my characters alive longer so that they can max out their combat skills and pk all yr dudez (in yr basez.)

It isn't working so well, I've been trying this for my last three characters.

[psionic fungus]

I think this varies greatly depending on the character, but in general I'd say risky, because it's more funner.