Waxing philosophical about pretendy fun times. Again.
It occurs to me that I should actually update this journal with something of substance: my daily goings-on, the details of that first date, or the next episode of the Randomizer (which will hopefully be up sometime tomorrow). My mind, however, is in a completely different place tonight, and so that's what I'll be rambling about for a bit.
I've been thinking about RP, specifically about the latest addition to my brood: Dr. Facilier. People who chat with me will know that, despite assurances that I am "doin' it rite," I really don't have a lot of confidence in the muse. I think I may have started to pick up on why.
Look at the other characters I play: minor characters or major characters in minor canons.
Rosette: There are maybe three other Rosette RPers, and I know where they all play. It's a pretty small community.
DEATH: I know Discworld RPers exist! Somewhere! I'm pretty sure there's another DEATH at Island, actually. For the most part, however, it's passed over in favor of other canons.
Luxord: It's not like he's unknown by any stretch of the imagination, but Luxord RPers are far outnumbered by the Soras, Rikus, Roxases, and Axels of the series. I know maybe a half dozen, tops, and only one of them personally.
J: Exactly two other players, one of whom was inactive at last check. There's also the matter that J has virtually no canon to go off - accent and basic personality are agreed-upon fanon, and the rest is all me. He's as close to an OC as I think I'll ever get.
Levitas: ...If I'm not the only Levitas on LJ, I've gotta be close. His role in the books is the definition of a "bit part." Plus, in the one place I play him, he's AU.
The pattern is pretty simple: whether a result of lack of canon or lack of interest in the canon, there is virtually nobody to look at my characterization and tell me I'm wrong. Picking up Facilier has been a totally different experience - most of the people I talk to have seen The Princess and the Frog already, and most of those who have not fully intend to (it is a very small percentage who simply don't care). A good number of the RP population knows my canon.
It gets better! Within that canon, Facilier really isn't developed. We get his personality, certainly, and his motivations, but his back story, the details of his voodoo, who or what the hell the Friends are...nothing. All of that is open to interpretation, and as I've experienced with J, back story is really going to influence how a character is played. Different interpretations of back story for the Shadow Man convert to different interpretations of him showing up on dear_mun.
Now, add my inexperience in playing well-known characters to the appearance of multiple variations on the same theme, some of which are widely praised (ggggentlemen got praise on the anon meme, of all places), and you have an instant self-confidence drain - for me, at least. I can't vouch for anyone else, but I tend to compare my characters to others' interpretations.
It's taken me until tonight to realize that they're just that - interpretations. Until we get the DVD release, nobody's going to know anything about Facilier's back story (and it's entirely possible that the much-hoped-for commentaries and director's notes will be lacking in that department) and the different interpretations will persist. Do I need to compare mine to theirs incessantly? No, probably not. Can I learn from them? Certainly.
Though I suppose I should actually do some intros and get my drive back before I do that, huh.
In other news, Sega is releasing a new Sonic game this summer and Disney is making a sequel to Enchanted. In other words, two very different uses of the phrase, "what the hell."
Also, you'd think Marvel could afford to hire someone who recognizes a comma splice when they see it. It's a pretty spiffy graphic otherwise, forever ruined by wayward punctuation. Le sigh.
And that is more than enough out of me tonight. It's bedtime.
I've been thinking about RP, specifically about the latest addition to my brood: Dr. Facilier. People who chat with me will know that, despite assurances that I am "doin' it rite," I really don't have a lot of confidence in the muse. I think I may have started to pick up on why.
Look at the other characters I play: minor characters or major characters in minor canons.
Rosette: There are maybe three other Rosette RPers, and I know where they all play. It's a pretty small community.
DEATH: I know Discworld RPers exist! Somewhere! I'm pretty sure there's another DEATH at Island, actually. For the most part, however, it's passed over in favor of other canons.
Luxord: It's not like he's unknown by any stretch of the imagination, but Luxord RPers are far outnumbered by the Soras, Rikus, Roxases, and Axels of the series. I know maybe a half dozen, tops, and only one of them personally.
J: Exactly two other players, one of whom was inactive at last check. There's also the matter that J has virtually no canon to go off - accent and basic personality are agreed-upon fanon, and the rest is all me. He's as close to an OC as I think I'll ever get.
Levitas: ...If I'm not the only Levitas on LJ, I've gotta be close. His role in the books is the definition of a "bit part." Plus, in the one place I play him, he's AU.
The pattern is pretty simple: whether a result of lack of canon or lack of interest in the canon, there is virtually nobody to look at my characterization and tell me I'm wrong. Picking up Facilier has been a totally different experience - most of the people I talk to have seen The Princess and the Frog already, and most of those who have not fully intend to (it is a very small percentage who simply don't care). A good number of the RP population knows my canon.
It gets better! Within that canon, Facilier really isn't developed. We get his personality, certainly, and his motivations, but his back story, the details of his voodoo, who or what the hell the Friends are...nothing. All of that is open to interpretation, and as I've experienced with J, back story is really going to influence how a character is played. Different interpretations of back story for the Shadow Man convert to different interpretations of him showing up on dear_mun.
Now, add my inexperience in playing well-known characters to the appearance of multiple variations on the same theme, some of which are widely praised (ggggentlemen got praise on the anon meme, of all places), and you have an instant self-confidence drain - for me, at least. I can't vouch for anyone else, but I tend to compare my characters to others' interpretations.
It's taken me until tonight to realize that they're just that - interpretations. Until we get the DVD release, nobody's going to know anything about Facilier's back story (and it's entirely possible that the much-hoped-for commentaries and director's notes will be lacking in that department) and the different interpretations will persist. Do I need to compare mine to theirs incessantly? No, probably not. Can I learn from them? Certainly.
Though I suppose I should actually do some intros and get my drive back before I do that, huh.
In other news, Sega is releasing a new Sonic game this summer and Disney is making a sequel to Enchanted. In other words, two very different uses of the phrase, "what the hell."
Also, you'd think Marvel could afford to hire someone who recognizes a comma splice when they see it. It's a pretty spiffy graphic otherwise, forever ruined by wayward punctuation. Le sigh.
And that is more than enough out of me tonight. It's bedtime.