Even more Aralis.
Aralis was overall a good event for me with some unexpected PC-PC development, character direction flopping, and the squalidness ramping up another notch. Physically and emotionally I was pretty much scraping the barrel by the end, which has gave me some food for thought. Having played Caulder and Ross for the past few years, I know that I enjoy a nearly unhealthy degree of squalor and that my style of play creates character conflict out of thin air... but do I appreciate it because of the intensity of emotion, the retrospective tragedy of it, or being a shiny snowflake? Perhaps a bit of each in all honesty! I don't claim to be the perfect masochist- sometimes, I wish I was playing a fluffy, light-weight character as opposed to every other character I play.
At the end of Ross' plotline this spring, I came to the realization that:
a) Ross was rapidly becoming unplayable from several directions.
b) I endeavored to not kamikaze as Caulder.
Fast forward 2.5 sessions later and I can see the looming spotlights of the mack plot truck in the distance. Despite all appearances, I do have a great desire for Caulder to last (physically, mentally, and socially- at least nominally) to the end of Aralis. Trouble is that I seem to have a knack for diving into and drowning in trouble even when I try really hard not to. It seems to be an eternal balance between character longevity (i.e. not pissing people off) versus my playing style. It's not even interpersonal character conflict per say (Ross was not particularly confrontational), but character circumstances and choices I make tend to rub people worse than most. Any thoughts on this from those I have rubbed would be appreciated so I can pin that down. Hopefully I've made some steps in the right direction last weekend as opposed to bailing oil out of a burning ship in a sea of napalm.
I give major props to sithlorddarren and Ernest for being a one-man versus the town for the former, and the latter for being in every fight, big and small. bitsyboo gave a really good lecture on the elements, which I love how the elemental blessings can be tied into (lectures now have systemic effects!). ravensgrace was terrifying as Mariko(-sama) and proved that she was very much Clan Death. aumshantih was pretty hilarious as Akia's uncle ("Oh yeah, I've been to the moon"- good thing Caulder has an open mind). Adam was alternatively angstalicious and funny as a thrall and a poor undergraduate respectively. I enjoyed the low-key interactions with daemo and the inadvertent WTF at what other players have mentioned to her. I was glad to see my throwing rocks being used on darkwhimsy by "the mob" on Sunday morning. Oh, and hilariarex proves that she can be deeply, deeply sketchy.
There are way too many PCs to thank for their wonderful interactions and shifting Caulder's directions, so I'll give me thank you here, even those who threaten my life. Repeatedly.
At the end of Ross' plotline this spring, I came to the realization that:
a) Ross was rapidly becoming unplayable from several directions.
b) I endeavored to not kamikaze as Caulder.
Fast forward 2.5 sessions later and I can see the looming spotlights of the mack plot truck in the distance. Despite all appearances, I do have a great desire for Caulder to last (physically, mentally, and socially- at least nominally) to the end of Aralis. Trouble is that I seem to have a knack for diving into and drowning in trouble even when I try really hard not to. It seems to be an eternal balance between character longevity (i.e. not pissing people off) versus my playing style. It's not even interpersonal character conflict per say (Ross was not particularly confrontational), but character circumstances and choices I make tend to rub people worse than most. Any thoughts on this from those I have rubbed would be appreciated so I can pin that down. Hopefully I've made some steps in the right direction last weekend as opposed to bailing oil out of a burning ship in a sea of napalm.
I give major props to sithlorddarren and Ernest for being a one-man versus the town for the former, and the latter for being in every fight, big and small. bitsyboo gave a really good lecture on the elements, which I love how the elemental blessings can be tied into (lectures now have systemic effects!). ravensgrace was terrifying as Mariko(-sama) and proved that she was very much Clan Death. aumshantih was pretty hilarious as Akia's uncle ("Oh yeah, I've been to the moon"- good thing Caulder has an open mind). Adam was alternatively angstalicious and funny as a thrall and a poor undergraduate respectively. I enjoyed the low-key interactions with daemo and the inadvertent WTF at what other players have mentioned to her. I was glad to see my throwing rocks being used on darkwhimsy by "the mob" on Sunday morning. Oh, and hilariarex proves that she can be deeply, deeply sketchy.
There are way too many PCs to thank for their wonderful interactions and shifting Caulder's directions, so I'll give me thank you here, even those who threaten my life. Repeatedly.