Mundane PC roles

[My 2 sids]

I've noticed how there seems to be this need to jump on and interigate non-clanned PCs in game.  It's a huge world filled with all kinds -- but it seems some PCs just can't accept that some players actually create normal, every-day, Amoses.   

Is it just me?  Or are other players seeing this happen in game as well?

[RogueGunslinger]

I voted for choice number one. But If I could I would have voted for both one and three.

OF course I always make assumptions on what a certain character might be. I can't help it. But I don't go so far as to condemn player or their characters for being everyday pc's. Fuck they're probably 50% of my apps.

[Cavaticus]

I voted for choice one.

Of course, playing an Amos isn't necessarily the greatest challenge. The greatest challenge is often STAYING an Amos.

[Cutthroat]

I voted for choice one also.

I'm not seeing this happen... at all. Over the past two years I rarely have.

Realistically, there's going to be tens of thousands of "everyday-Amos" vNPCs, so one PC that is like this should not make a difference, or be accused of something over the simple fact that they're not employed with a major organization.

When this does happen it's a problem of not accounting for the vNPC population, which -is- something I see happen a lot, but in different ways. But I digress.

[Is Friday]

I love amos-types.

[Boggis]

I've seen it happen. I think it's mainly a result of the gameworld being stretched too thin leaving clans under-populated and often in dire need of people. This results in clan recruiters going to odd lengths to try and recruit nearly anybody they see either for direct or "off the books" employment. This is usually followed by other clans thinking they need to either recruit or keep an eye on the same unclanned person as they will surely have been approached by some other clan. All a bit ridiculous but it's not going to change until the game has one major area of population and there's competition to actually get into clans as opposed to the current scramble for hires.

[Gimfalisette]

I remember a couple years ago now when there were two street-sweeper PCs simultaneously in Allanak for a VERY brief period, and how they came to blows over who'd get to sweep where, and how my militia PC got called in to help make sure no one got killed. I loved those PCs. I loved those -players-. I was sad when the PCs stopped showing up.

Personally, I don't interrogate PCs I meet in game. Why? I don't care if they're a sekret 'gicker, OOCly...and my PC wouldn't have a reason to suspect such.

[staggerlee]

I think that the biggest reason they get harassed as to their motives and career is that leader players are usually looking for people to fill roles. If the "amos" types are well played, leaders are going to try to find a job for them... when they refuse to take that job, it raises questions.
Especially because of the IC  logic. Who would want to greb, sweep streets, beg, or break rocks, when they can become an  aide, informant, soldier, or merchant and make their salary many times over. 

...unless they have something to hide.

[number13]

I enjoy seeing that sort of character, but recognize they are sustainable roles over the long run.  Eventually the everyday Amos is going to advance or store.

[AJM]

Amos types FTW. My mundane chars, still think the are the shit, weather they can nuke a city, or not.

[Gimfalisette]

I think that the biggest reason they get harassed as to their motives and career is that leader players are usually looking for people to fill roles. If the "amos" types are well played, leaders are going to try to find a job for them... when they refuse to take that job, it raises questions.
Especially because of the IC  logic. Who would want to greb, sweep streets, beg, or break rocks, when they can become an  aide, informant, soldier, or merchant and make their salary many times over. 

...unless they have something to hide.

When I've played a leader PC and encountered that type, the IC explanation my PC had for it was something along the lines of, "They don't have the strength of character for this job." I.e., not courageous, smart, strong-willed, enduring, or competent enough for the role.

I mean, really, it's not JUST sekret 'gickers or 'benders who don't join clans...it's also players who are burnt out on clans. I'd wager that OOC clan-burn-out is a much bigger factor than anything IC.

[Marauder Moe]

Feuding Allanaki street sweepers?  That is so epic...

[staggerlee]

I think that the biggest reason they get harassed as to their motives and career is that leader players are usually looking for people to fill roles. If the "amos" types are well played, leaders are going to try to find a job for them... when they refuse to take that job, it raises questions.
Especially because of the IC  logic. Who would want to greb, sweep streets, beg, or break rocks, when they can become an  aide, informant, soldier, or merchant and make their salary many times over. 

...unless they have something to hide.

When I've played a leader PC and encountered that type, the IC explanation my PC had for it was something along the lines of, "They don't have the strength of character for this job." I.e., not courageous, smart, strong-willed, enduring, or competent enough for the role.

I mean, really, it's not JUST sekret 'gickers or 'benders who don't join clans...it's also players who are burnt out on clans. I'd wager that OOC clan-burn-out is a much bigger factor than anything IC.

Absolutely, I approach it in a similar manner. I'm fairly sure you're right.
But still, from an ic perspective you can understand why eyebrows would be raised when someone turns down a job as an oashi aide so that they can continue sweeping streets.

[Gimfalisette]

But still, from an ic perspective you can understand why eyebrows would be raised when someone turns down a job as an oashi aide so that they can continue sweeping streets.

Well, not really. A street sweeper being recruited as an aide for one of Nak's top houses? Yes, we've all -seen- people who were wildly inappropriate by background get elevated to positions like that...but should it really happen? I'd like to see leader PCs turning up their noses and refusing to hire PCs more often, honestly. If the PC isn't played by an obvious newbie--there should be some violent snubbing going on, at least on occasion. If the PC -is- played by an obvious newbie, then the Byn or a GMH is a better choice anyways, usually.

[X-D]

I voted for 3, but that is only because, as far as I am concerned all 3 voting options are the same.

[Halcyon]

I've noticed how there seems to be this need to jump on and interigate non-clanned PCs in game.  It's a huge world filled with all kinds -- but it seems some PCs just can't accept that some players actually create normal, every-day, Amoses.   

Is it just me?  Or are other players seeing this happen in game as well?

I dont think non-clanned has to mean magickal, karma, or above-normal characters.  I think there are any number of Ic or Ooc reasons to be unclanned, from disliking specific rules and prohibitions (controls on selling, what you can't hunt, time spent on some repeating non-interesting task, incompatible dwarven foci), to simple player or population issues.  At one point I went through a bunch of characters in short order, didnt want to create a third Salarri or third Kadian, and wasnt interested in some of the other options.

My part in this discussion to "integrate more non-clanned" sprang from playing with a couple groups of self-organizing independents who were doing fun things, and a perception that there were a significant number of other indeps also doing similar things.  I dont know if that's just the small percentage of the playerbase that I see.

[My 2 sids]

Staggerlee, how about that loggically that grubber knows their place in society?  For some grubber to take a job clearly ment for someone much further up the social latter than they would be an insult for the House.

It would be one thing to take a new recruit before a noble and say, "I know she's young and new but her brother works for one of the Great Merchant Houses and her mother is a well-respected carivan leader -- given time I believe this recruit will do well for the house."   It's quite another to bring a new recruit before a noble and say, "Here's someone I found on the street, has no connections to the political or well-known merchants, but she's breathing and can swing a sword"   Then there's is explaining the whole, "Well Lord, even though this person is living hand-to-mouth and scraping by, she believes she is better than the 10,000 other commoners and feels you should hire her and give her unlimited security, food, prestege, and water"


Likewise, if Navy Seals came to my house today and offered me a job I'd have to decline.  Not because I have a better offer, not because I think myself better than they, not because I'm secretly a Russian spy -- but because I know I don't have anywhere near the skills it would take to fill that position.

[LoD]

Well, not really. A street sweeper being recruited as an aide for one of Nak's top houses? Yes, we've all -seen- people who were wildly inappropriate by background get elevated to positions like that...but should it really happen? I'd like to see leader PCs turning up their noses and refusing to hire PCs more often, honestly. If the PC isn't played by an obvious newbie--there should be some violent snubbing going on, at least on occasion. If the PC -is- played by an obvious newbie, then the Byn or a GMH is a better choice anyways, usually.

Nobles attempting to recruit some poor common street sweeper would be an absolutely wonderful opportunity to make them instantly regret it.

Code Select Expand

Dirt Poor Tavern [N]
   The floors of this tavern are almost completely bare, the empty space wrapping about a single wooden table in the middle of the room.
A dirty, human street sweeper is here, sitting at the table.

The svelte, clean shaven man has arrived from the north.
A burly, broad-shouldered guard has arrived from the north.

The svelte, clean shaven man sits down at the table.

Plucking a glove gently from his hand, the svelte, clean shaven man says, at the table, in sirihish:
   "My good citizen, today is your lucky day.  I am looking for a new aide, and I've seen you about town."

The dirty, human street sweeper glances up toward the svelte, clean shaven man.

Spreading a mouth of broken teeth, the dirty, human street sweeper says, at the table, in sirihish:
   "Meh?  Really!?  Well, shit on a stone brick, I knew that mornin' romp wid' da one-legged whore would start the day off right..."

Slapping a hand to the table and guffawing, the dirty, human street sweeper says, at the table, in sirihish:
   "...an' I was right!  Ha-hoo!"

Clearing his throat, the svelte, clean shaven man says, at the table, in sirhish:
   "Yes, well, the pay is 500 black a month and you would report directly to me."

His eyes nearly squeezing out of his head, the dirty, human street sweeper, at the table, in sirihish:
   "FIVE HUNDRED 'SID'A MONTH!  Damn, that's like...that's like...almost a hundred bottles'a Sun!

Nearly howling toward the ceiling, the dirty, human street sweeper says, at the table, in sirihish:
   "Drunk all day an' night, yessir!"

His features quickly retreating to a more serious expression, the dirty, human street sweeper says, at the table, in sirihish:
   "I mean, uh -- yeah, sounds good!"

His hot breath forming an unpleasant front as it sweeps across the table, the dirty, human street sweeper says, at the table, in sirihish:
   "When do I start the ole' thingy-ma-jigger?"

Nervously tapping a finger atop the table, the svelte, clean shaven man says, at the table, in sirihish:
   "Uhhh, well, you know -- I think, yes, someone just Wayed me and I have to...I have to go."

Hastily knocking his chair over as he rises, the svelte, clean shaven man says, in sirihish:
   "G-good day."

The svelte, clean shaven man rises from the table.

The svelte, clean shaven man runs north.
The burly, broad-shouldered man runs north.

It'd be no end of fun in that position. You could help employers recognize exactly why you're sweeping streets.

-LoD

[Semper]

Mundane, everyday characters are great. But who wants to be the average or below character for a long time? Usually these roles are just fillers for the big fish roles.

If people found a way to make these roles both long-term and enjoyable, then there'd be more of them.

Anyways, beggar, prostitute, drunk, orphan, etc, all start becoming the same thing over a long run. There's only so many ways to play these roles before you start running out of ideas, or someone else has tried it already.

And usually, these kinds of characters either are covering up something *unique* about them, or will be dragged into unique roles if they are around long enough.

Meaning, I don't think there's such a thing as a regular average Amos. All character's are special, end up being special, or die/store.

So I chose option 3.

[Jingo]

I've noticed how there seems to be this need to jump on and interigate non-clanned PCs in game.  It's a huge world filled with all kinds -- but it seems some PCs just can't accept that some players actually create normal, every-day, Amoses.   

Is it just me?  Or are other players seeing this happen in game as well?

I think I've rarely made this assumption with just some random pc dungsweeper/miner/hooker pc without some other reason to.

Aide PC's on the other hand are always secretly mages/psis/spies/thieves/hookers.

[Semper]

I've noticed how there seems to be this need to jump on and interigate non-clanned PCs in game.  It's a huge world filled with all kinds -- but it seems some PCs just can't accept that some players actually create normal, every-day, Amoses.   

Is it just me?  Or are other players seeing this happen in game as well?

I think I've rarely made this assumption with just some random pc dungsweeper/miner/hooker pc without some other reason to.

Aide PC's on the other hand are always secretly mages/psis/spies/thieves/hookers.

I didn't know hookers were on the same level as mages and psis. LoL.

[Ampere]

Mundane, everyday characters are great. But who wants to be the average or below character for a long time? Usually these roles are just fillers for the big fish roles.

If people found a way to make these roles both long-term and enjoyable, then there'd be more of them.

Anyways, beggar, prostitute, drunk, orphan, etc, all start becoming the same thing over a long run. There's only so many ways to play these roles before you start running out of ideas, or someone else has tried it already.

And usually, these kinds of characters either are covering up something *unique* about them, or will be dragged into unique roles if they are around long enough.

Meaning, I don't think there's such a thing as a regular average Amos. All character's are special, end up being special, or die/store.

So I chose option 3.

Sorry, but a janitor's motivation can be just as layered as that of a green beret.  As far as someone else trying it already?  I'm pretty sure the hypermasculine warrior's been done, but I still enjoy it if it's done well.

EDIT: Sorry about the rude, I guess I'm in a bad mood.  Dickish comments deleted.

[Semper]

Mundane, everyday characters are great. But who wants to be the average or below character for a long time? Usually these roles are just fillers for the big fish roles.

If people found a way to make these roles both long-term and enjoyable, then there'd be more of them.

Anyways, beggar, prostitute, drunk, orphan, etc, all start becoming the same thing over a long run. There's only so many ways to play these roles before you start running out of ideas, or someone else has tried it already.

And usually, these kinds of characters either are covering up something *unique* about them, or will be dragged into unique roles if they are around long enough.

Meaning, I don't think there's such a thing as a regular average Amos. All character's are special, end up being special, or die/store.

So I chose option 3.

Good point, Ampere.

How then do you make these roles enjoyable for the long run? Tips? Word of Advice from the experienced?

[Ampere]

Mundane, everyday characters are great. But who wants to be the average or below character for a long time? Usually these roles are just fillers for the big fish roles.

If people found a way to make these roles both long-term and enjoyable, then there'd be more of them.

Anyways, beggar, prostitute, drunk, orphan, etc, all start becoming the same thing over a long run. There's only so many ways to play these roles before you start running out of ideas, or someone else has tried it already.

And usually, these kinds of characters either are covering up something *unique* about them, or will be dragged into unique roles if they are around long enough.

Meaning, I don't think there's such a thing as a regular average Amos. All character's are special, end up being special, or die/store.

So I chose option 3.

Good point, Ampere.

How then do you make these roles enjoyable for the long run? Tips? Word of Advice from the experienced?

Regular people still have goals.  Find one. Attain it. Rinse. Repeat.

[zanthalandreams]

Mundane, everyday characters are great. But who wants to be the average or below character for a long time? Usually these roles are just fillers for the big fish roles.

Ever try to be a big fish without anyone willing to play filler roles for you?   

Just sayin'.