Roleplay Pet Peeves

[Ad Nauseam]

Oh boy, the list is long. 


Any kind of Mary Sue, Self-insert, overly angsty characters, or one-dimensional characters based only on a single concept, personality trait, design, et cetera. 


Forced romance or forced friendships with characters who have absolutely no chemistry whatsoever. Or basically anything forced at all, it doesn't feel organic. Unless of course the RP is based off of some sort of coercion. 


Small font, comic sans, weird formatting, lack of paragraphs (as in a "wall of text").


People who can't differ between "Your" and "You're". Grammatical errors isn't that big of a deal, but that one just sets me off for some reason. 


Changing the behavior, skillset or the like of ones character just for the sake of plot (or shipping, which only makes it worse).


Metagaming. Any kind of metagaming or powerplay.


The list goes on. RIP.

 

[Melpomene]

Any kind of Mary Sue, Self-insert, overly angsty characters, or one-dimensional characters based only on a single concept, personality trait, design, et cetera. 


Forced romance or forced friendships with characters who have absolutely no chemistry whatsoever. Or basically anything forced at all, it doesn't feel organic. Unless of course the RP is based off of some sort of coercion. 

I connect so much to this.


I think by biggest peeve as that those two seem to go hand in hand. The Mary-Sue esque character wants "Handsome Man #35" to fall in love with them because.... they look pretty? Must be so, 'cause god knows they don't have a personality.


This is actually why I usually don't like playing the male in romances (I will literally play a male any other time), because I always seem to end up with a Mary-Sue character that is impossible for me to write a romance for. I'm so sorry if my character didn't immediately fall in love with your one-dimensional character. That's just not how he thinks

 

[The J]

Trying to shoehorn in pre-made characters.


When someone loves a character very much (reasonable), they'll often try to put them into other RPs (again, reasonable). The problem, however, is when they refuse to adapt the character. When you join an RP, you bend to fit the RP's rules, not the other way around. If your character doesn't fit, either don't use them or change them appropriately.

 

[Umbrie]

I connect so much to this.


I think by biggest peeve as that those two seem to go hand in hand. The Mary-Sue esque character wants "Handsome Man #35" to fall in love with them because.... they look pretty? Must be so, 'cause god knows they don't have a personality.


This is actually why I usually don't like playing the male in romances (I will literally play a male any other time), because I always seem to end up with a Mary-Sue character that is impossible for me to write a romance for. I'm so sorry if my character didn't immediately fall in love with your one-dimensional character. That's just not how he thinks

what Personality does a Mary Sue of Either Gender have? Absolutely none. they are just a pretty face for the Writer playing as them to Wank themselves off to.

 

[Umbrie]

True Art neither Possesses nor Requires a "Clothes Off" "Feature".


Annoyingly enough, i wonder why most Mary Sue Avatars even bother to dress themselves when they are going to end up losing those clothes by the third post.

 

[call me rae]

True Art neither Possesses nor Requires a "Clothes Off" "Feature".


Annoyingly enough, i wonder why most Mary Sue Avatars even bother to dress themselves when they are going to end up losing those clothes by the third post.

I wonder if you could elaborate on that?what precisely is a close off feature and/or a Mary Sue Avatar.

 

[JKai]

True Art neither Possesses nor Requires a "Clothes Off" "Feature".


Annoyingly enough, i wonder why most Mary Sue Avatars even bother to dress themselves when they are going to end up losing those clothes by the third post.

You crack me up Umbrie.

 

[Umbrie]

I wonder if you could elaborate on that?what precisely is a close off feature and/or a Mary Sue Avatar.

by Mary Sue Avatar,i was referring to the Definition used by SoundofSilence, Curry and TheJ. a Character who is referred to as being extremely pretty, forces her romances on the characters of other roleplayers and literally has no personality beyond being a pretty face for the Writer playing as Him or Her to Wank themselves off to. the clothes off feature is a reference to those pretty fashion dolls you can either dress up or undress as you please. referring to the fact the Avatar in Question will probably force you into smut and call it Romance. essentially, the character in question isn't a character, it is an Avatar for the Writer to project thier Sexual Fantasies through while they masturbate to the smutty scenario they put the Avatar through. they are usually portrayed as female, but male ones exist too. Bellla Swan is a Good Example. a blank slate female character with pretty features and a generic personality who exists purely for the author to have mastabatory thoughts about because the author is projecting herself through the lense of Bella and imagining herself as the one involved in this Vampire/Werewolf Love Triangle using characters she deems attractive. it might not be an Erotica Novel, but it gets the point across.

 

[Umbrie]

You crack me up Umbrie.

thankies. i will explain the difference between a character and an avatar in the lense i perceieve them


a character is a fictional, but living, breathing, growing, evolving entity. stories are made about them and they are truly a Role


an Avatar, might seem to have traits in common with being a character, but an Avatar Exists for the Writer to Project themselves through. most Avatars are usually Wish Fulfillment and most generally always make the choices the player themselves would make. when a character has more than 75% of their Writer's true or ideal personality. they might as well be an Avatar. common Avatars at my D&D Table include Dale's CIA Agent Mitch Raff. though his name is stolen from a book character, the character is Literally Dale playing himself how he percieves himself to be. they even make all the same choices in the same scenario and have a lot of the same skills.


a Persona is a Roleplayer's ideal or inner self. every roleplayer has one. mine is a Nyxad named Umbrie. when a roleplayer overuses or begins to identify as one of thier own characters. that character is a Persona. Personae are purely idealized selves the roleplayer wishes they could be.

 

[Negative Zone]

Re: all the Mary Sue chat, I feel like I have basically the opposite opinion. When I was younger I turned my nose up at them but in recent years I've really embraced the fact that RP, at least to me, is hella self indulgent and wish fulfillment. I think worrying about whether or not my OCs were "sueish" or not seriously messed up my writing for a while because I'd constantly be second guessing my writing in an attempt to avoid the dreaded scourge. Yay for low self confidence? So nowadays I'm like, live and let live about it and a lot of the anger I see directed at the concept of Mary Sue is honestly baffling to me. But I recognize my perceptions could be unusual because I pretty much only do 1x1 fandom RPs and I'm so damn hyperfocused with my interests that it's actually a rare event that I get to RP.

 

[Vudukudu]

Re: all the Mary Sue chat, I feel like I have basically the opposite opinion. When I was younger I turned my nose up at them but in recent years I've really embraced the fact that RP, at least to me, is hella self indulgent and wish fulfillment. I think worrying about whether or not my OCs were "sueish" or not seriously messed up my writing for a while because I'd constantly be second guessing my writing in an attempt to avoid the dreaded scourge. Yay for low self confidence? So nowadays I'm like, live and let live about it and a lot of the anger I see directed at the concept of Mary Sue is honestly baffling to me. But I recognize my perceptions could be unusual because I pretty much only do 1x1 fandom RPs and I'm so damn hyperfocused with my interests that it's actually a rare event that I get to RP.

Well, it depends on whether or not RP IS self indulgent and wish fulfillment for you. If those are the goals you pursue, Mary Sue-dom is for you. 


If you're looking for a story rife with interesting drama, character development, and serious plot, Mary Sues are an issue, as they derail all three of those things by 


A: Having exclusively solvable or minor problems


B: Having no capacity for character development, as they're already perfect. Any tragedy only makes them stronger, anyway, because most Mary Sues are secretly robots powered by misery, and
C :  No threat is that big a deal, because Mary Sue has a plan for it

 

[call me rae]

by Mary Sue Avatar,i was referring to the Definition used by SoundofSilence, Curry and TheJ. a Character who is referred to as being extremely pretty, forces her romances on the characters of other roleplayers and literally has no personality beyond being a pretty face for the Writer playing as Him or Her to Wank themselves off to. the clothes off feature is a reference to those pretty fashion dolls you can either dress up or undress as you please. referring to the fact the Avatar in Question will probably force you into smut and call it Romance. essentially, the character in question isn't a character, it is an Avatar for the Writer to project thier Sexual Fantasies through while they masturbate to the smutty scenario they put the Avatar through. they are usually portrayed as female, but male ones exist too. Bellla Swan is a Good Example. a blank slate female character with pretty features and a generic personality who exists purely for the author to have mastabatory thoughts about because the author is projecting herself through the lense of Bella and imagining herself as the one involved in this Vampire/Werewolf Love Triangle using characters she deems attractive. it might not be an Erotica Novel, but it gets the point across.

Ah I thought it might be a D&D term. Because to the best of my knowledge an avatar is either


- the icon you use on this site. for instance your avatar is of a anime girl, mine just says "on hiatus"


- or it's a something like this

Spoiler

Which is just essentially a doll your given on another site I am on. You start out with a male/female/or pet base. You dress it up as you like by making site money and buying clothes. While some people do Avatar based roleplay I wouldn't really think that has anything to do with self-inserts. As most of the time your avatar ( as evidence by my little magical girl and reindeer ) don't really represent yourself in any significant way. 


What your describing is what on forum based sites ( at least the ones I've been on ) is called : Self Inserts.


A self insert as the name suggests a self-insert is just when you put yourself in a roleplay. Whether that is literally ( for instance I make a character named Rae who is a librarian, in her late twenties, and a harry potter nerd ) or a fictional character that shares your attributes.


For instance I'm in a guild on another site ( a guild being like a hosted project here ) which is based on Pern. My character Haira is basically a slightly exagerated version of myself - and many of her relations are based on my own relations.


Now Self Inserts in and of themselves aren't really a problem. Although when paired with a romance plot they can be problematic if only because as you indicated it leads to people identifying a little too closely with their characters for comfort.


Now I'm not really familiar with a Persona but it sounds like a more neutral version of a Self-Insert. As I said a self-insert is really just putting yourself into a roleplay. Which isn't really a bad thing, for instance Haira was made to be an insert because I'm new to the world of Pern and I thought it would be easier for me to roleplay if I didn't have to come up with a totally original character as well as navigate a new roleplay world with it's distinct rules. Plus Haira is hardly a idealized version of myself. She's really basically me if I lived in a world where Dragons existed. She's not perfect, she's not really meant to be the center of attention or the smartest person, and I fully expect her to be on the fringes largely ignored ( well by the other characters not the players ).


I would say it's much like Umbrie in a way only at times ( and you'll forgive me for saying this ) but you can get slightly defensive over Umbrie, which I think is a side effect of identifying with her so strongly. Now you don't do it in an attention seeking or negative way. But it is I a bit noticeable at times that she's someone who is important to you.


But the way I see it as long as your not shoving her down other people's throats there isn't anything wrong with being attached to a character. 

 

[JKai]

Research can be a very good thing if done correctly.


Now saying that, I have a peeve of seeing characters of a different race portrayed inaccurately.


I've seen characters of my own race written for lack of a better term negatively and profoundly inaccurate.


I'm not saying everyone should know 100 percent about every race, but some research would be good.

 

[call me rae]

Well, it depends on whether or not RP IS self indulgent and wish fulfillment for you. If those are the goals you pursue, Mary Sue-dom is for you. 


If you're looking for a story rife with interesting drama, character development, and serious plot, Mary Sues are an issue, as they derail all three of those things by 


A: Having exclusively solvable or minor problems


B: Having no capacity for character development, as they're already perfect. Any tragedy only makes them stronger, anyway, because most Mary Sues are secretly robots powered by misery, and
C :  No threat is that big a deal, because Mary Sue has a plan for it

Ah that is a misconception as that's a specific breed of Mary Sue which is really just a Special Snowflake Player in disguise. As that's not really a character problem so much as it's a player problem. Someone who doesn't understand the concept of collaboration or really roleplaying in general. And just thinks this is an excuse to showcase their own "awesomeness".


A Mary Sue at it's core is just a super tropey, cliche, or over the top character.


All of which can be played perfectly realistically by sticking them in a roleplay with straight men. In their best incarnations they exist to be the butt of jokes or bring out comedy relief.


Think of like a Harley Quinn or well almost any anime protagonist.


They're supposed to be over the top basket cases, but the key is to treat them that way. If their player has a sense of humor about it they're actually extremely fun to play.


And just because they don't THINK they have a problem doesn't translate to them not actually having one. Even if the problem is just - the most obnoxious person in ten galaxies, who drives people away with their incessant cutesy drivel and innane chatter.


So long as they aren't meant to be the main focus ( this character type does not do well as a protagonist from any kind of realistic standpoint ) they're really not that bad.


That said they are most definately an acquired taste. I just happen to live and breathe sparkles, rainbows, and camp. So Mary Sues as a concept don't bother me. 

 

[Vudukudu]

Ah that is a misconception as that's a specific breed of Mary Sue which is really just a Special Snowflake Player in disguise. As that's not really a character problem so much as it's a player problem. Someone who doesn't understand the concept of collaboration or really roleplaying in general. And just thinks this is an excuse to showcase their own "awesomeness".


A Mary Sue at it's core is just a super tropey, cliche, or over the top character.


All of which can be played perfectly realistically by sticking them in a roleplay with straight men. In their best incarnations they exist to be the butt of jokes or bring out comedy relief.


Think of like a Harley Quinn or well almost any anime protagonist.


They're supposed to be over the top basket cases, but the key is to treat them that way. If their player has a sense of humor about it they're actually extremely fun to play.


And just because they don't THINK they have a problem doesn't translate to them not actually having one. Even if the problem is just - the most obnoxious person in ten galaxies, who drives people away with their incessant cutesy drivel and innane chatter.


So long as they aren't meant to be the main focus ( this character type does not do well as a protagonist from any kind of realistic standpoint ) they're really not that bad.


That said they are most definately an acquired taste. I just happen to live and breathe sparkles, rainbows, and camp. So Mary Sues as a concept don't bother me. 

The problem is that the overwhelming majority of Mary Sue players would rather drink a gallon of hydrochloric acid than not be the center of attention for more than 3 nano-seconds.


And they're also not usually self-aware, so they're not good as parody and they'll cry if you tease their character.  

 

[Negative Zone]

Well, it depends on whether or not RP IS self indulgent and wish fulfillment for you. If those are the goals you pursue, Mary Sue-dom is for you. 


If you're looking for a story rife with interesting drama, character development, and serious plot, Mary Sues are an issue, as they derail all three of those things by 


A: Having exclusively solvable or minor problems


B: Having no capacity for character development, as they're already perfect. Any tragedy only makes them stronger, anyway, because most Mary Sues are secretly robots powered by misery, and
C :  No threat is that big a deal, because Mary Sue has a plan for it

I think some of it is honestly the fact that there's no one total concrete definition for Mary Sue and depending on who you ask you'll get like, 50 different answers. Honestly some of my objection to the term is a feminist issue but that's not something I'm comfortable with going into detail about on this site anymore.


Do I write characters like A, B, and C? Not usually, no. Do I mind that they exist? Nah. If the person that writes 'em is having fun and the people they're writing with are having fun then go hog wild. If the problem is the latter (the people they're writing with aren't having fun) then that's another issue but I'm not going to say the problem rests entirely on the concept of a Mary Sue.

 

[call me rae]

The problem is that the overwhelming majority of Mary Sue players would rather drink a gallon of hydrochloric acid than not be the center of attention for more than 3 nano-seconds. 

lol which is why I said it's not really a Mary Sue problem and more a problem of a Special Snowflake Player in disguise. As the problem is nothing to do with the character and everything to do with the player refusing to not play god.


Like I do understand your frustration - I just come from a comic/magical girl backgrounds. So most of my source material is littered with Mary Sues and for the most part they're played well ( it being a published medium helps I'm sure )


So I don't really lay the blame for a lot of issues attributed to "Mary Sues" at the feet of the character concept. And rather at the player behind the character who is a power mad ten year old ( or someone with a ten year old mentality anyway ) who basically is only roleplaying for three reasons :


To see boobies 


To set explosions


And to be the most awesome/badass/prettiest/most extreme [ insert descriptor here ] person in the roleplay.


And oh yeah win at life ( *cough*imeantheroleplay*cough*) 

 

[Vudukudu]

lol which is why I said it's not really a Mary Sue problem and more a problem of a Special Snowflake Player in disguise. As the problem is nothing to do with the character and everything to do with the player refusing to not play god.


Like I do understand your frustration - I just come from a comic/magical girl backgrounds. So most of my source material is littered with Mary Sues and for the most part they're played well ( it being a published medium helps I'm sure )


So I don't really lay the blame for a lot of issues attributed to "Mary Sues" at the feet of the character concept. And rather at the player behind the character who is a power mad ten year old ( or someone with a ten year old mentality anyway ) who basically is only roleplaying for three reasons :


To see boobies 


To set explosions


And to be the most awesome/badass/prettiest/most extreme [ insert descriptor here ] person in the roleplay.


And oh yeah win at life ( *cough*imeantheroleplay*cough*) 

I'd consider that a fairly cause and effect relationship. Person is special snowflake, produces McCoy's never-mentioned-sister who was at the top of the Starfleet Academy class and can solve problems the whole cast has been unable to solve the entire series, all the while simultaneously romancing Kirk and Spock. 


Edit 1: Though there are people who just frankly don't know better (and while they still bother me to a degree) I would at least have mercy on those souls if I were to become the Tribunal. 

Edit 2: That's literally an example I have bumped into, not a joke.


Edit 3: I am sleepy and this whole post is just agreeing with you unnecessarily. 

 

[call me rae]

I'd consider that a fairly cause and effect relationship. Person is special snowflake, produces McCoy's never-mentioned-sister who was at the top of the Starfleet Academy class and can solve problems the whole cast has been unable to solve the entire series, all the while simultaneously romancing Kirk and Spock. 


Edit 1: Though there are people who just frankly don't know better (and while they still bother me to a degree) I would at least have mercy on those souls if I were to become the Tribunal. 

Edit 2: That's literally an example I have bumped into, not a joke.


Edit 3: I am sleepy and this whole post is just agreeing with you unnecessarily. 

It's fine I liked the example it's pretty much hits the nail on the head. Whereas when I talk Mary Sue's I'm thinking more about some of my over the top character.


Like the extra french ( extra because overkill is a filthy four lettered word that no self respecting american believes in ) witch who sometimes has veela blood and who pretty much speaks only in broken french like Fleur Delecour from the Harry Potter franchise. She gives out baked goods like a weird french santa and pretty much has no real purpose other than to be super stereotypically french.


Or my lovely mutant Pixe/Lady Luck who has green skin, orange hair and eyes, dragonfly wings, and luck manipulation. She is unkilleable ( oh but how the masses wish she wasn't ) and pretty much exists to gossip and proclaim her own awesomeness.


She's super obnoxious and kind of insane. But A BLAST to write. Like people hate this character it's kind of hilarious. I mean she like the extra french witch serves no real purpose. The plot is immaterial to her and she cares about people only as players on her own internal reality tv show. But she's at least a kind of self-aware and blithely oblivious kind of obnoxious monster. She knows she's obnoxious to other people and she doesn't really try to make others like her. She just goes on about her life making other people miserable. You know for funsies.


Now I only put her in threads that can handle this kind of character obviously. If she doesn't fit the world - or if there are enough OP kind of obnoxious airheads already - I won't add her. But she makes a great contrast and foil for Edgelord McEdgeyton. Because she is basically unhittable. So she laughs in the face of their OPness. Mostly literally. SHe likes to cackle. 

 

[Vudukudu]

It's fine I liked the example it's pretty much hits the nail on the head. Whereas when I talk Mary Sue's I'm thinking more about some of my over the top character.


Like the extra french ( extra because overkill is a filthy four lettered word that no self respecting american believes in ) witch who sometimes has veela blood and who pretty much speaks only in broken french like Fleur Delecour from the Harry Potter franchise. She gives out baked goods like a weird french santa and pretty much has no real purpose other than to be super stereotypically french.


Or my lovely mutant Pixe/Lady Luck who has green skin, orange hair and eyes, dragonfly wings, and luck manipulation. She is unkilleable ( oh but how the masses wish she wasn't ) and pretty much exists to gossip and proclaim her own awesomeness.


She's super obnoxious and kind of insane. But A BLAST to write. Like people hate this character it's kind of hilarious. I mean she like the extra french witch serves no real purpose. The plot is immaterial to her and she cares about people only as players on her own internal reality tv show. But she's at least a kind of self-aware and blithely oblivious kind of obnoxious monster. She knows she's obnoxious to other people and she doesn't really try to make others like her. She just goes on about her life making other people miserable. You know for funsies.


Now I only put her in threads that can handle this kind of character obviously. If she doesn't fit the world - or if there are enough OP kind of obnoxious airheads already - I won't add her. But she makes a great contrast and foil for Edgelord McEdgeyton. Because she is basically unhittable. So she laughs in the face of their OPness. Mostly literally. SHe likes to cackle. 

Oh, see, here's our issue.


Those aren't Mary Sues. Those are just.. peculiar characters, which can be oddly charming in their own way (as yours appear to be). 


I mean THIS.


http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CommonMarySueTraits

 

[call me rae]

Oh, see, here's our issue.


Those aren't Mary Sues. Those are just.. peculiar characters, which can be oddly charming in their own way (as yours appear to be). 


I mean THIS.


http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CommonMarySueTraits

lol they are actually. just the more played for laughs versions. but yeah most of the time i would say a mary sue is more or less just one of three things.

1.  Self Insert - has been covered already so I won't get into it
   
2. Special Snowflake - what most people mean when they say Mary Sue. Just a player who wants to play god essentially
   
3. Perfect Love Interest - this is kind of the demonic unholy spawn of the first two. It's not a character that is supposed to really win anything or really be a hero but more exists only to act as some kind of [ insert relevant gender ] magnent and act like a damsel in distress. Also called FRIs and Lampshades.
   

Now what I showed is more of Mary Sue played for Laughs ( so not a true Mary Sue I guess in that I'm perfectly aware of what I'm doing ) But with similar Mary Sue-ish traits.


Pixie especially - unkilleable, and even if people dislike her it rarely effects her character, she is fairly stagnant as well. How she begins is pretty much how she ends. This is not a personality that Learns Her Lesson. Ever. 


But as she is played for laughs she isn't really supposed to change. She's just a punchline. 

 

[Umbrie]

the reason i consider Umbrie more of a Persona than a Self insert, is because Umbrie has a lot of Traits i lack that i honestly wish i had. for example, Agility is my lowest Attribute IRL with Charisma as a close Second. Umbrie's highest Attributes are Intellect, Charisma and Agility in that order. with her lowest being strength, in my own case, my Strength is pretty high compared to Umbrie's. i'm actually living proof that you can both be physically strong and physically sickly at the same time.

 

[call me rae]

the reason i consider Umbrie more of a Persona than a Self insert, is because Umbrie has a lot of Traits i lack that i honestly wish i had. for example, Agility is my lowest Attribute IRL with Charisma as a close Second. Umbrie's highest Attributes are Intellect, Charisma and Agility in that order. with her lowest being strength, in my own case, my Strength is pretty high compared to Umbrie's. i'm actually living proof that you can both be physically strong and physically sickly at the same time.

Lol your describing yourself as what I'm presuming is aD&D character, this amuses me greatly.


again we're describing the same thing just your coming from a table top background which means you look at characters differently.


but yeah as I said Umbria is a self insert in the sense she is literally meant to represent you in the roleplay.


like she is less a character and more of a way for you to put a version of yourself in the story. 


A character is more like say Harry Potter or a forty year old single dad or something. Someone who who doesn't really represent you directly they just are a person in the story.


a self insert is some version of yourself ( either a literal copy or a idealized copy )

 

[Umbrie]

Lol your describing yourself as what I'm presuming is aD&D character, this amuses me greatly.


again we're describing the same thing just your coming from a table top background which means you look at characters differently.


but yeah as I said Umbria is a self insert in the sense she is literally meant to represent you in the roleplay.


like she is less a character and more of a way for you to put a version of yourself in the story. 


A character is more like say Harry Potter or a forty year old single dad or something. Someone who who doesn't really represent you directly they just are a person in the story.


a self insert is some version of yourself ( either a literal copy or a idealized copy )

essentially.


Umbrie is my stand in for inserting myself into an RP. and it's Umbrie, which is short for Umbriere, which i beleive is either a French or Latin noun that translates to shroud. sometimes i use Ilina instead in a more realistic setting. either way. we do see things through a different lens because i mostly do tabletop RPs, where most of the player characters tend to be self inserts of idealized versions of the players, with such minor changes as the name, age, gender or species. i often use shroud as a Synonym for Shadow and reference the darkness beyond reality as "The Shroud". and i have been doing both of these things long before the dragon age games were developed.

 

[call me rae]

essentially.


Umbrie is my stand in for inserting myself into an RP. and it's Umbrie, which is short for Umbriere, which i beleive is either a French or Latin noun that translates to shroud. sometimes i use Ilina instead in a more realistic setting. either way. we do see things through a different lens because i mostly do tabletop RPs, where most of the player characters tend to be self inserts of idealized versions of the players, with such minor changes as the name, age, gender or species. i often use shroud as a Synonym for Shadow and reference the darkness beyond reality as "The Shroud". and i have been doing both of these things long before the dragon age games were developed.

Lol most of that was Greek to me. But yeah I know the name is Umbri.e. It's just my IPad automatically autocorrects to Umbria. 


And yeah what your describing is just a self-insert. And there isn't really anything wrong with it ( well to me, other people can and do disagree )


For me it's when someone shoves their character down my throats with how awesome and amazing the person thinks they are. It's like yeah I don't care how perfect you think your character is. Me and my characters will form their own opinions. 


But yeah other than that I don't mind what kind of character you make. I mean if it doesn't fit the roleplay I won't let you play them but that doesn't really bother me.