|
Post by amerlynn on Jan 13, 2010 0:39:14 GMT -5
Whenever I make a character, one thing I love to do is make a list of all the virtue traits to decide which ones I'd like for that character. My method for selecting them is likely a bit unusual to the majority of the players in the game. See, personally, I don't pick virtues that I feel are the most powerful. I pick the ones that I feel go the farthest toward defining that character, and consequently, it really is an area of character 'creation' in the game that I really get into, and am ultimately proud of.
So, knowing all that, I started to wonder whether I was the only one? After all, virtue traits are basically just canned stats. They don't affect your character in any physical RP value way. And yet as an RPer, I think its really cool to be able to select virtues that suit that character. So how do the rest of you like to select your virtues? Stats? Significance to your character's personality? The number of letters in the name? Whatever it is, I just thought it would be an amusing little topic to make.
|
|
|
Post by breguilas on Jan 13, 2010 2:17:05 GMT -5
Not at all. While I would wager that Breg's traits are amazingly good for her in terms of stats, they also fit from an character definition standpoint.
(Discipline/Determination/Valour/Fortitude/Justice, in case you're curious).
|
|
|
Post by brendur on Jan 13, 2010 10:54:35 GMT -5
Definitely by if they fit the character. Determination/Mercy/Loyalty/Empathy/Idealism
|
|
|
Post by amariedan on Jan 13, 2010 11:38:37 GMT -5
youre not the only one who selecs them from fitting the character- that is a popular method amongst rpers.
me personally, because i'm not as hardcore in my rp, i pick what suits my class and playstyle from a game mechanics perspective.
if i WERE a hardcore rper tho, i wouldnt JUST pick them to suit my character- i would also level them as such! ie, if they have a sense of justice but its low and more along a vengeful style then i would only lvl it a couple lvls. if it was strong and dutiful like my cpn's tho, then i would max it out!
also. its my opinion hat all virtues reside in all of us to some extent- whether or not they shine thru all the time or only in rare instances... and i thnk lotro's method of alloing us to retrait them at will, basically, goes a lot longer way than was perhaps intendee to exemplify this- a character may be honourable now, but something could change him to be less or more so i the future!
edit: forgive typos- damn palmtop keys only lil better than cell phones lol
|
|
|
Post by Tallaith on Jan 13, 2010 12:56:13 GMT -5
I approach virtues myself very differently. I approach RPing my classes the same way that I look at virtues and traits.
When I make a character, I start with the class I think will be fun to play. Then I try to figure out how to incorporate the skills they have with the character. The devs work pretty hard to keep us hardcore Lore nerds happy while providing a fun game too. With enough creativity, I've built skills as I level into who my characters are. It takes a little thought and work but it enriches the gaming experience for me.
Virtues are something, like Amari says, that everyone has. It's just a matter of which ones really shine. Cay sees the light that's in everyone, even when folks try their hardest to hide it from others, and that's how I feel in RL about people. The same goes for my characters' virtues; in times of need, some of them are more brilliant and pronounced than others.
|
|
|
Post by Dolen on Jan 13, 2010 15:50:27 GMT -5
So, I'm in the minority when I pick mine only for stats? I would choose them as actual IC character traits if they would offer me vices. I tend to think that character flaws drive more story than virtues, so my critters tend not to be too shiny. And as you said, Amer, they are just canned stats and don't really affect roleplay directly in any way. It's kinda like I play my Minstrel as actually not being able to play any instruments, instead he's a surgeon. Or how even though my Guardian has gone all around Middle-Earth fighting dragons and stuff, he's never really ICly left the Bree-Land area. When it comes to picking out virtues, I tend to pick a few between all my characters, then the others dependent on what the character does. Valour and Justice for the Morale bonus, then Loyalty and Fidelity for the Vitality bonus - those go for everyone, then a bit of wiggle room for other stats, melee defense or agility, might, whichever needs to be raised the most Also like Cay said, I am -really- impressed with how well they worked all these game mechanics into a believable roleplay format. Going to a bard and discussing a story of your adventures gives you a boost to your Valour or something - very cool.
|
|
|
Post by oronberg on Jan 13, 2010 17:26:10 GMT -5
I don't actually pick the virtues, I let them pick me. What I mean is, I just do what ever I feel like doing, and go with what ever the game gives me for doing it. If I manage to kill 300 (or what ever number is required, I never look) wolves while I'm doing my quests, yay for me. If I don't manage it, oh well. Then every once in a while, I'll stop by a bard, look through what I do have and slot which ever helps the most.
|
|
brali
Full Member
Posts: 15
|
Post by brali on Mar 7, 2010 9:41:33 GMT -5
I just pick whatever sounds the coolest haha.
|
|
|
Post by fellrod on Jun 4, 2010 13:50:33 GMT -5
With a tag of "Virtues" I can certainly understand the RP'ers desire to select those things that seem most appropriate to your character's personality. However these things can have a very real affect on your character's effectiveness in their class once you get them worked up a bit in level, plus they aren't something that "shows" on your character from any sort of RP perspective. Thus, I'd strongly suggest giving more thought to the selection of Virtues than simply what sounds cool or seems to fit that character's personality since they do very different things and a Rune Keeper would be much better served with a different set of virtues than, say, a Champion would. Once you have played the game a while, particularly if you have played the class for a good while, you can probably do a good job of picking out which virtues would do you the most good. But what about when you are just starting the game, or at least just starting the class? Should you just ignore virtues and worry about them later? A lot of people appartently do, but I say NO! There are at least two good reasons for this: 1 - It takes quite a few levels before you start getting gear with much of a veriaty of stats on it. You might be able to use that extra power regeneration right now! 2 - And to me most important, if you plan out what virtues your new character is to have (at least the top three or four) you can work on them WHILE YOU ARE LEVELING. Innocence was one of my "must have" virtues for Fellrod, and Life of a Bounder (Final) in the Shire would get me +2 points. That's 75 quests in the Shire! It's much more fun doing those when you at least get some expreience for it. And it's sort of pittiful seeing level 65 characters running around carrying mail pouches and dodging Nosey Hobbits! Okay, so how do you decide which Virtues to choose? Here's a link to a pretty useful resource: lotro-wiki.com/index.php/VirtuesBut a quick look at this shows that almost any virtue will do you some good; the question is which ones will do the most good. For my last few alts (Fellrod being one) I went to the LotRO class forums and did a search. You'll usually find a number of threads on virtues. Among those you usually will find a couple of dozen or more level 65's that list which they use and if you're lucky why. I start a list and add hash marks after each as more and more people say they use it. It doesn't take long to pick out that top three or four. Well, that's my two coppers worth on Virtues. I know I'm resurrecting this thread, but I think it's a good one to think about.
|
|
|
Post by amariedan on Jun 4, 2010 23:00:53 GMT -5
with the semi-recent pacing changes to leveling up it can be real hard to focus on your virtue traits so early.
nowadays i generally wait til i hit my 20s when things start to slow down a bit (running hardcorely, i can hit lvl 15 in just a couple longish hours these days!)
it is a good idea to research into them tho and now in advance which ones you will want to work on. that can definitely save you a bunch of time in the long run as a lotta those deeds can be quite a grind-fest!
and lotro-wiki.com is an invaluable resource! don't foorgot lotro.mmodb.com as well!
|
|