Zach

I don't see this being much of an issue. If it is, you create another char. I have personally put to rest my PowerChars for the challenge of capping myself and still overcoming obstacles.

Are we too powerful?
Vegeta can destroy planets at will and punch through mountains.
Babidi couldn't lift a barbell to save his life, but he controlled the most powerful fighter in DBZ (and subsequently, vegeta as well)

My point? Power is relative, to every ability is a weakness. The fun is in working around the faults.

It doesn't take much to destroy a football field. In contrast, the PC that I remember taking place is so devastatingly absurd that a football field would be no less a fly in the wake of uber-quantum-planar-rift-void-explode-implode-neutrino-plasma-die.

As for the heading of this blog, I don't see why there should be a distinction between the two.

Whilst you do raise an interesting question Rapture, some of the most engrossing/entertaining story-lines I have been in over the years have been with 'Power Players'/Power Characters. Although there is a huge temptation to abuse such formidable abilities, it really depends on the amount of self-control a player uses, and the skill a writer has at integrating those powers into a Roleplay.

Yahoo! Chat, and Ayenee in specific, had alot of problems with people running riot and hurling their weight around willy-nilly; though this was as much to do with inexperienced kids playing 'DBZ Wannabes', as characters actually being too strong overall. Valucre then, is different in both respects because abilities are much more restricted on here and, I would say, the majority of writers are competent enough to temper their Roleplay with restraint.

Unlocking abilities through actual Roleplay is a good concept, and coming from a D&D/Tabletop RP background I personally don't mind it, but you need to remember that not everyone has either 1. The time or 2. The patience to do things like that anymore. The great thing about Valucre though, is that if -you- want to run a Roleplay like that, then you can, (see Itoryn for reference), but those that don't want to participate don't -have- to. Choice is the key word here because as soon as you start imposing restrictions like "cannot cast a fireball without 10 weeks of RP), writers lose interest quickly.

In general though, I feel that we have a prime example of either A. Characters that arn't too powerful or B. Players talented enough to not make it an issue, here on Valucre, so there isn't any need to worry about it.

PS- I probably possess one of the oldest/strongest 'Power Characters' here on Valucre, though anyone that has ever Roleplayed with him can tell you 99% of the time he walks around with a sword lol, so just because someone's character might look intimidating or over the top on paper, doesn't mean they will be written that way.

One of the many wonderful attributes of Valucre is that she is a community that is very welcoming to creative minds; veteran and newer role players alike. Accomodating all, restricting none. It is for this reason that I even bothered to come here, and it is because of the sheer amount of creativity that is in abundance why I stay.

Though I wasn't around for the Yahoo! Chat, I have come across and written with some of the finest writers from those days that are still around. Every one of them has had or still has a Power Character, but his/her writing ability (role play ability) has kept their characters 'in check'. The fact that some of these characters are capable of destroying areas -larger- than the size of a mere football field and yet....they do not....should be proof enough that these players are not "too powerful" and have stayed well within the boundaries of Valucre's Mild Powers format.

Not every role player on Valucre just...randomly shat out their character, abilities and skills included. A lot of these characters achieved their status, abilities, skills, what-have-you through role play; some even over the course of several years. These are our veteran role players. But, what about newer writers, like myself, who has a character or two that, while currently incapable of leveling a world on a planular scope, can level a football field? Should I not be validated as a role player because I'm new to the role playing world? Or, better yet, why should my character's abilities be locked until she can 'prove' herself worthy of wielding powers? Who are you, or anyone else for that matter, to say that she hasn't already 'proven' her merit?

Lock a character's power? Seal a character's power and force the player to prove their mettle? Bar a character who has 'minor Psionic' abilities from entering a tournament? Stifle creativity in a community and the community will die. Perhaps you should be questioning your own skills as a writer instead of suggesting that restrictions be placed on another that would only make the field a more leveled playing ground for you.

Coming to Valucre does not instantly validate a writer's (or a character's) merit. Immersing yourself and your characters into the community and becoming an active, contributing part of Valucre does.

By the by, I simply -have- to ask:

How well did -you- perform in your Literature class?

"I'd hate to say it but in my mind I have come to the conclusion that were all in error ourselves. We may think ourselves not, however are we all to gifted to be blessed with power that it's not inherently earned? Are we as writers neglecting the details of our world by describing the destruction of it? These things I think about on a consistent basis. "

Then you should have no doubt by now come across the following facts about Valucre.

1.) There are, by far, more threads, players, and posts written that describe the beauty and peace of the world than there are not.

2.) At least half of the posts concerning violence and destruction are done so to discuss ways to stop it.

3.) On this forum, to the best of my knowledge, there are only two factions that deal with destruction without years of experience building the tools they use to destroy with.


Let's talk about those two groups for a minute. One of them is Roku, role-played by Jeff. I don't know for sure if statement three accurately assesses this case. For all I know, he could be an experienced character that just recently made an appearance. If he is, then no problem. If he isn't, I still vote no problem. The reason for this is quite simple. The violence that Jeff instigates is not pointless, and it is not without merit. He spent several posts and I'm sure multiple hours fortifying his character and the value behind his actions. Power and destruction - these things are not measured by years from across OOC and IC; they are measured by effort and purpose. More often than not these things are intertwined with time, but it isn't mandatory if you pull it out right. Jeff is truly instigating Role Play and writing. There is an equal, perhaps superior amount of effort detailing PEACE in response to the violence than there is violence. If Jeff's character was without power, then his entire goal would be shut down in moments.

The second is the ninja group started by paradigm. I think there are other blogs and posts that detail his defense quite well. If you have any other doubts, ask him yourself.

"Though the mold of Valucre is as is stated a Mild Powers Format. I can help but ask myself if we still push the boundary to far. From what I can tell no, we have a balance of description of the layout of each place. As we do descriptions pertaining to attacks. However I have to ask myself on the days preceding the Fresh to Death tournament. Are we even pushing the envelope to far to let people walk in with minorly Psionic characters?"

No. Minor psionic characters means they would have to spend several turns focusing without interruption to do anything worth while. In a tournament, they're useless. (Moderate Psionic characters would be different, but the FtD tournament has an equal-opportunity playing field that doesn't dictate an advantage for psions. If your argument is for psionics vs. magic, send me a PM and I'll explain why psionics is no more devastating to the forum than magic is in the scale dictated by the realm.)

"Like coming into valucre merits instant validations for your characters abilities."

Enigmatic Surrenders post responds to this beautifully.

"My question would be to all of you if we are not too powerful. How would you convince me in saying we are not, when our characters can wreck entire football fields."

I could punch you in the face until you're dead. Am I too powerful? No? Word. Even if I was, there's a thing called restraint and purpose. See, again, Enigmatic Surrenders post.

"At the same time I would perhaps argue that powers should be locked. However that would put me at a grave disadvantage with a lot of you."

That's because your argument would be weak. Powers are a subjective matter and we're pretty good at being justified in our subjections.

"However thinking on this in a private manner. I have to ask, should a characters powers be sealed. Until they do something in their rp career that releases them? Like a quest, the journey, an item, an event, etc?"

GO GO GADGET ENIGMATIC SURRENDERS POST

"It took me many years that power was not always a good thing to be in the company of. It caused a slight deviation for all involved with them. As it has also destroyed more then one foolish mind. In the end I have to ask, do we seal individuals rights to mild powers until they prove they can handle them?"

Your position is the result of a bias gathered by your own weaknesses and upbringing. Many people on Valucre do not come from the same background as you. Those that do are likely not to have had the same struggles. (If they have, they're either being quiet about it or they dealt with it within themselves, realizing that in today’s society, or, more specifically, on this website, they're non-issues.)

In summary, the power level on Valucre is fine. Besides, it's gradually decreasing anyway, as the natural need for higher powers diminishes for purposes of peace as you described.

It was a good question and legitimate concern. It merited some good, comprehensive, thought out responses, aside from some silly ad hominem attacks (I see you! lol). I liked the read.

Why lock powers and abilities, when some people, more particularly here recently [that I can think of] really do obtain/attain certain powers and skills throughout their characters ongoing rp history?

More than saying "I have X power and it will be unlocked at Y time by going through Z quest" there is a number of people with characters who simply do not have "X power" and obtain it through the course of rp.

For example. Carlos' character Donovan Cutler; he never possessed the skillset that an "Artifacture Cartographer" does -- it wasn't listed on his sheet, it wasn't something he said he had and then "unlocked it." He roleplayed the character, and through choices and events, he obtained said skillset. ...it's easy. ...it's simple.