Prettiness Guilt

[RogueGunslinger]

Play characters however you like them to be. I prefer ugly ones, myself, or at least thematically dark-skinned, bad teeth, chapped lips.

I think debate over whether Suk-Krath can tan people is silly and pointless. It can, it does, deal with it.

[Narf]

That is probably true, if also annoying. I don't think we have any good human examples of an isolated group of humans' physical changes over a period of 2000 years. That said, Zalanthas' sun may well(or it may not) be big enough a factor that paleness is selected against massively altogether.

You could refer to the greatest evolutionary experiment of our or any other time http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._coli_long-term_evolution_experiment

It's on bacteria though, but I'm sure you can extrapolate.

[Talia]

You could refer to the greatest evolutionary experiment of our or any other time http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._coli_long-term_evolution_experiment

It's on bacteria though, but I'm sure you can extrapolate.

tl;dr: The bacteria got prettier?

[Synthesis]

You could refer to the greatest evolutionary experiment of our or any other time http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._coli_long-term_evolution_experiment

It's on bacteria though, but I'm sure you can extrapolate.

tl;dr: The bacteria got prettier?

They all got tans.

[MeTekillot]

Im so pretteh! I'm so pretteh! I'll hitcha so hard, your grandma'll be sore!

[Jihelu]

I normally just list how tall/stronk my character naturally is and leave the rest to 'meh'.
Or pretty handsome.
Because everyone looks like Aladin and Aladin is pretty!

[Narf]

You could refer to the greatest evolutionary experiment of our or any other time http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._coli_long-term_evolution_experiment

It's on bacteria though, but I'm sure you can extrapolate.

tl;dr: The bacteria got prettier?

Their "skin" (membrane) changed so they can "eat" (absorb) citrate.

So yes, they got prettier.

[Clearsighted]

I, am telling you, player to player, play the PCs that please you. There is no pleasing me and the hordes of armchair (computer chair critics.) We won't be happy. We are overly critical. We are often assholes. I am your worst critic and I am telling you, unequivocally, write your PCs for you, not me. And don't feel guilty.

This is really good advice.

On a side note, I really wish the human height/weight parameters were more varied. I wouldn't mind the current range being 'average', and there being strength or agility penalties if one went over or under it.

Personally, my characters tend to be filthy mountain men.

[Hicksville Hoochie]

I'd personally say to play the PC that you want to play, appearance-wise. The only advice I can really offer on that, though, is to be aware of the world at large (or at least in relation to your character), and how that might affect the character once you've been approved and hopped in to start playing.

[Tetra]

Think outside the box a little, sure, but I'd beg you not not to do so in ways that simply justify ridiculousness (like ignoring the effects of the sun on your skin just to get away with being "pretty" by modern standards).

That's the point; it's never been established that the Zalanthanian sun would cause sunburns. I'd rather that this be clarified before telling people how to roleplay.

I can answer this question with some deduction, because I work in skincare and have been trained in color theory.

Ultra-violet rays (UVA: Aging, UVB: Burning) are what trigger melanin production in the skin, resulting in hyperpigmentation, discoloration, and tans.  A tan is actually just damaged skin, as the basal cells are sending a response to all of the keratinocytes to protect the skin.

Our sun is comprised of the entire electromagnetic spectrum, being 'white'.  Ultraviolet light is actually on the highest spectrum, beyond the 'visible' range of colours our eyes perceive such as red(which has the longest wavelength, a quite visible color).


Now, considering a lot of PCs are deeper colored, or are predominantly darker in skin coloration, it only makes sense that the sun exposure is causing this.  But if we're really assuming that Zalanthas sun is in fact red, these UV rays would not actually be present.

Actually, hilarious enough, red light LED (light-emitting diode) photomodu­lation is used as a professional treatment to rejuvenate skin in the production of collagen(responsible for your skin being firm at all) by stimulating fibroblasts, and even decreases enzyme activity that breaks down the skin protein.

[MeTekillot]

Defiling has corrupted the atmosphere, causing insects to reach enormous size and Krath's light to look red.

[Tetra]

Defiling has corrupted the atmosphere, causing insects to reach enormous size and Krath's light to look red.

Okay, in that case UV would still be there.  Fluorescent red lights work the same in that only the bulb is tinted.

[Fathi]

People are gonna picture your PC as a hottie unless you go out of your way to drive home how disgusting they are via emotes anyhow. 

[KankWhisperer]

Defiling has corrupted the atmosphere, causing insects to reach enormous size and Krath's light to look red.

Okay, in that case UV would still be there.  Fluorescent red lights work the same in that only the bulb is tinted.

Zalanthans get sun-tanned by whatever it is that comes out of a red sun because they are genetically different than earthers then.

[Zoan]

I like to roleplay being ugly because I'm so GORGEOUS in real life, I like to be something separate from myself.

I mean, I'm not going to play an elf, am I?

[HavokBlue]

it's funny because I typed up almost that exact post and but didn't post it because I didn't want anyone to get mad at my joke and think I was calling people who play pretty PCs ugly IRL

[Dakota]

Just play elves and assume that no matter how ugly you are, you're the prettiest thing in the known.

[Patuk]

One half this thread: people are mean so what they say don't matter

Other half: sun? Uhhhhhhh

[Barzalene]

I posted this about eight years ago. I'm just repeating myself on an endless loop now.
When I first started I made a couple of pretty pcs. Then I started to read the gdb. I didn't want people to think my pcs were all f-mes. So, I started knocking out their teeth and disfiguring them. Somewhere along the line, I realized that I shouldn't have to disfigure a woman's appearance so she would be taken seriously. So, I stopped doing that. Now I just write em as I see em, and I'm happy. Fuck you all if you don't like my lovingly crafted pcs. Just fuck you all.

My lovely lovely pcs.

[Desertman]

Somewhere along the line, I realized that I shouldn't have to disfigure a woman's appearance so she would be taken seriously. So, I stopped doing that.

If they aren't taking you seriously it isn't because, "People don't take pretty women seriously...oh the persecution of my gender.", it is because you aren't dangerous enough to demand respect.

In Armageddon, I have seen more than a few "attractive" females I was terrified of and gave them the proper respect that they had earned. I've seen more than a few "She Beasts" as well who at best got an eye roll out of me because no matter how "hardcore" they played, they simply weren't dangerous.

It doesn't matter how your PC looks if you are good at projecting them at being a dangerous/capable person and they are able to back that up. However, if you make them look like a cutesy ballerina and play them with a giggly little anime personality as well, expect to get treated that way. I can't think of a single instance personally where the badass ranger/warrior female PC who was also pretty didn't get taken seriously/wasn't feared based on the way they looked. If anything, it made them more exotic and more liked as well as feared and respected. The truly hardcore super attractive female PC's that have earned respect through their deeds are arguably some of the most potentially powerful PC's in the game. You have sex appeal, charm, and proven ability. I can't think of an easier character to play honestly in terms of "Raw attributes to help me succeed.".

[Barzalene]

I actually agree. Are you surprised?

[Desertman]

I actually agree. Are you surprised?

I have to admit, a little.

[Barzalene]

I actually agree. Are you surprised?

I have to admit, a little.

You really shouldn't be.

[Desertman]

I actually agree. Are you surprised?

I have to admit, a little.

You really shouldn't be.

You aren't my real dad!

[Barzalene]

That's why I beat you like a redheaded stepchild.