[WIP] OP characters that people often fail to recognize

[Idea]

I don't play too many RPs with powers, I think, so most traditional OP scenarios don't really concern me. What I found is mental "OP"ness is very common. Those characters never crack and always stay on top of the situation. And if they were designed as weak or disturbed, they never truely suffer. They make it look like such, but there's never really any harm done whatsoever. Very unpleasant to play with to me.

True, very true. Kind of what I was going to address with the "energy costs". People say the character is getting tired, but that never really happens, or at least, it never had any effect.

 

[call me rae]

Again, those fandoms and situations where you actually have discussed that you will be using an OP character are exceptional situations.
Of course, that method is perfectly acceptable, and if you choose to accept a power using the method you described, I doubt you`ll really have any trouble with those powers.


However (and as I mentioned before) I wasn`t aiming at saying these powers are unacceptable, but that GMs should be giving them some thought and be a little harsher in where the line is drawn between what is or not accepted and what changes should be made before accepting something.

In that case if you'll pardon the expression I think you tackled the wrong end of the horse with this thread. Now I don't know if you intended to clarify this and didn't get the chance or not but the way your roleplay thread stands now I think your focusing on the wrong end of the character for the point you are trying to get across.


As I understand it you intended this to be either a cautionary tale or a guide for less experienced GMs in spotting over-powered characters.


But by focusing on specific powers and their flaws I think your putting emphasis in the wrong place. Because one your alienating those GMs in other kind of roleplays that might also benefit from your advice and your also indirectly insinuating that you believe those of us who do run powered roleplays don't know what we're doing when we accept these so called OP powers.


Now I don't believe either of those scenarios were your intention but it's how the thread came across and why I think you got so many people commenting in defense of super-powers rather than focusing on your advice.


A clearer way of going about this would have been to ditch the super-powered example entirely or just make it one specific example among broader advice.


Instead of telling people to look out for what you believe are over-powered abilities ( because as @augmentedspartan pointed out all special abilities have the potential to be over powered ) you should tell them to look out for specific issues within the character application yourself.


As you've said yourself it's not the powers that are the issue but their execution. So instead of focusing on the powers you should have focused on the failure to execute them properly.


So explain why a vague description of a power can be dangerous or the importance of having consequence for the use of a special ability.


That way people are getting the advice without the insinuation that having powers is someone wrong.

 

[Idea]

In that case if you'll pardon the expression I think you tackled the wrong end of the horse with this thread. Now I don't know if you intended to clarify this and didn't get the chance or not but the way your roleplay thread stands now I think your focusing on the wrong end of the character for the point you are trying to get across.
As I understand it you intended this to be either a cautionary tale or a guide for less experienced GMs in spotting over-powered characters.


But by focusing on specific powers and their flaws I think your putting emphasis in the wrong place. Because one your alienating those GMs in other kind of roleplays that might also benefit from your advice and your also indirectly insinuating that you believe those of us who do run powered roleplays don't know what we're doing when we accept these so called OP powers.


Now I don't believe either of those scenarios were your intention but it's how the thread came across and why I think you got so many people commenting in defense of super-powers rather than focusing on your advice.


A clearer way of going about this would have been to ditch the super-powered example entirely or just make it one specific example among broader advice.


Instead of telling people to look out for what you believe are over-powered abilities ( because as @augmentedspartan pointed out all special abilities have the potential to be over powered ) you should tell them to look out for specific discuss within the character application yourself.


As you've said yourself it's not the powers that are the issue but their execution. So instead of focusing on the powers you should have focused on the failure to execute the, properly.


So explain why a vague description of a power can be dangerous or the importance of having consequence for the use of a special ability.


That way people are getting the advice without the insinuation that having powers is someone wrong.

I guess you have a point.


The only thing I really must contest is this: I do not aim at saying anything about execution. Why? Because you can`t predict execution. However, it`s easy to identify which powers are likely to be used as excuses to do things that`ll screw with the roleplay, and such is what led me to the conclusion that either people are hardly aware of what they`re looking at when approving characters or they aren`t even reading it properly.


Still, as you said, maybe it was a mistake to focus on examples rather than general rules. I shall correct my mistake in the future.

 

[call me rae]

I guess you have a point.
The only thing I really must contest is this: I do not aim at saying anything about execution. Why? Because you can`t predict execution. However, it`s easy to identify which powers are likely to be used as excuses to do things that`ll screw with the roleplay, and such is what led me to the conclusion that either people are hardly aware of what they`re looking at when approving characters or they aren`t even reading it properly..

 

[Idea]

likely

 

[call me rae]

Sorry hit reply on accident before I got my response up. N


But the bold portion I think proved both our points.


Ad the issue you have is with EXECUTION not with specific powers. Again people have given multiple example all ready on how the execution of a power is what indicated whether or not it's Over Powered. just like execution is how you determine if someone is god modding or being a Mary Sue.


What I think your doing is making the assumption that all roleplays must interact at the same level and have the same purpose. Your inferring that because someone is allowing characters that are OP into a roleplay it must be the fault of the specific attributes that players character has and that's just not true. A player is what makes character overpowers not the characters abilities.


For that matter roleplays that cater to a less experienced level of roleplayer are going to have characters with more execution issues than detailed ones. It doesn't make the GMs wrong for accepting those characters it's part of being inclusive.


And if as a result of that the roleplay happens to fail due to said inclusion well you can always make more roleplays.

 

[Idea]

Sorry hit reply on accident before I got my response up. N
But the bold portion I think proved both our points.


Ad the issue you have is with EXECUTION not with specific powers. Again people have given multiple example all ready on how the execution of a power is what indicated whether or not it's Over Powered. just like execution is how you determine if someone is god modding or being a Mary Sue.


What I think your doing is making the assumption that all roleplays must interact at the same level and have the same purpose. Your inferring that because someone is allowing characters that are OC into a roleplay it must be the fault of the specific attributes that players character has and that's just not true. A player is what a character overpowers not the characters abilities,

At this point, I must restate something that going to make me seem really bad:


I follow the murphy`s law: If something can go wrong, it will


and I follow it in everything that experience has told me it`s true. I have no doubt you have met tons of wonderful RPers who could pull stunts like mind reading and darkness control with no problems. Heck, for all I know almost everyone does.


But when defending a castle, you have succeed EVERY time, cause it only takes one failure to loose it.

 

[call me rae]

At this point, I must restate something that going to make me seem really bad:
I follow the murphy`s law: If something can go wrong, it will


and I follow it in everything that experience has told me it`s true. I have no doubt you have met tons of wonderful RPers who could pull stunts like mind reading and darkness control with no problems. Heck, for all I know almost everyone does.


But when defending a castle, you have succeed EVERY time, cause it only takes one failure to loose it.

I think your missing the point I'm trying to make. Your focusing to much on specific examples of what I'm assuming our players and or characters you have met that you deemed Overpowered.


But rather than saying these people are the ones who made over powered characters due to lack of experience your saying that anyone who makes a character that has the same power must likewise be OP.


It's a false analogy because everyone plays characters differently.


To use example say as a child you were bullied by a man named Bob. He treated you cruelty and called you awful names every day.


Well you grow up and you get a job. Your coworkers name is also Bob.


By the reasoning your showing you would automatically assume that your coworker Bob is also a bully and will treat you poorly.


This is regardless of whether or not it is within Your coworkers personality to do so. His name is Bob therefore he must be a terrible person.


But doing this greatly limits your ability to interact with your coworker and get to know him as his own person. Because you've already made up your mind based entirely on passed experiences.


Your doing the same thing with the powers your describing. Your assuming that because you have only ever seen them done poorly they must always be an indicator of a poor roleplayer.


This is going to cheat you out of some very good roleplayer in the future as well as get you stick with some less than perfect ones that you might let in just because the fit your guidelines without actually being better roleplayers.


THAT was what I was trying to say, that you have to look at the roleplayer not the character when deter,inning whether or not something is OP.


For that matter in my previous post I wasn't event talking about superpowers anyway but special abilities in general.

 

[Idea]

I think your missing the point I'm trying to make. Your focusing to much on specific examples of what I'm assuming our players and or characters you have met that you deemed Overpowered.
But rather than saying these people are the ones who made over powered characters due to lack of experience your saying that anyone who makes a character that has the same power must likewise be OP.


It's a false analogy because everyone plays characters differently.


To use example say as a child you were bullied by a man named Bob. He treated you cruelty and called you awful names every day.


Well you grow up and you get a job. Your coworkers name is also Bob.


By the reasoning your showing you would automatically assume that your coworker Bob is also a bully and will treat you poorly.


This is regardless of whether or not it is within Your coworkers personality to do so. His name is Bob therefore he must be a terrible person.


But doing this greatly limits your ability to interact with your coworker and get to know him as his own person. Because you've already made up your mind based entirely on passed experiences.


Your doing the same thing with the powers your describing. Your assuming that because you have only ever seen them done poorly they must always be an indicator of a poor roleplayer.


This is going to cheat you out of some very good roleplayer in the future as well as get you stick with some less than perfect ones that you might let in just because the fit your guidelines without actually being better roleplayers.


THAT was what I was trying to say, that you have to look at the roleplayer not the character when deter,inning whether or not something is OP.


For that matter in my previous post I wasn't event talking about superpowers anyway but special abilities in general.

I`m afraid you`re wrong. Not only was I making NO assumption about roleplayers based on the powers they picked, but I also stated several times that yes, I am aware there are roleplayers who can pull this off.


To help you understand my feelings and thoughts, take this analogy: No one`s ever seen a pink crow. Is it possible that there is a pink crow? Yes. Is anyone likely to see one the next time they see a crow? Not really. And the reason we can say this is because so far no crow seen was pink. Therefore, although not certain, it is likely that all crows are not pink.


Similarly, it is quite possible that those powers can and are pulled off well. But my experience tells me it always goes wrong if the power itself doesn`t come with proper limiters.


And about missing good roleplayers, I`d rather not roleplay with someone who can`t accept it when their GM tells them their abilities are not accepted.

 

[call me rae]

I`m afraid you`re wrong. Not only was I making NO assumption about roleplayers based on the powers they picked, but I also stated several times that yes, I am aware there are roleplayers who can pull this off.
To help you understand my feelings and thoughts, take this analogy: No one`s ever seen a pink crow. Is it possible that there is a pink crow? Yes. Is anyone likely to see one the next time they see a crow? Not really. And the reason we can say this is because so far no crow seen was pink. Therefore, although not certain, it is likely that all crows are not pink.


Similarly, it is quite possible that those powers can and are pulled off well. But my experience tells me it always goes wrong if the power itself doesn`t come with proper limiters.


And about missing good roleplayers, I`d rather not roleplay with someone who can`t accept it when their GM tells them their abilities are not accepted.

And again were both making the same argument were just coming at it from opposite directions. Your saying that the power is the importan thing to look for when accepting characters whereas I'm saying that you should focus more on the player,.


Because using your analogy you can find pink cows - Google them on and your find pictures of people who have either dyed farm animals or used photoshop.


So therefore what I saying is instead of focusing on the color - which can be altered with a bit of ingenuity - focus on the personality or taste of the cows milk which is a better indication of its usefulness.


So what I'm saying is don't get so attached to the powers specifically instead focus on how the person indicates they will use them in the roleplay. That will be a far more accurate judge of whether or not a player will fit into your roleplay.


Plus it has the benefit of being applicable across all roleplay genres rather than focusing on a specific issue.

 

[call me rae]

(:3) Because it's to cute not to I give to u the ultra rare pink cow :

 

[Idea]

(:3) Because it's to cute not to I give to u the ultra rare pink cow :

Actually I said pink CROW

 

[Idea]

And again were both making the same argument were just coming at it from opposite directions. Your saying that the power is the importan thing to look for when accepting characters whereas I'm saying that you should focus more on the player,.
Because using your analogy you can find pink cows - Google them on and your find pictures of people who have either dyed farm animals or used photoshop.


So therefore what I saying is instead of focusing on the color - which can be altered with a bit of ingenuity - focus on the personality or taste of the cows milk which is a better indication of its usefulness.


So what I'm saying is don't get so attached to the powers specifically instead focus on how the person indicates they will use them in the roleplay. That will be a far more accurate judge of whether or not a player will fit into your roleplay.


Plus it has the benefit of being applicable across all roleplay genres rather than focusing on a specific issue.

However, this is somewhat elitist. It says "YOU`RE NO GOOD" before a person has the chance to be.


I believe what I was saying gives everyone a chance to participate while still keeping the issue in check, on the other hand. As you said powers are something "which can be altered with a bit of ingenuity"

 

[call me rae]

However, this is somewhat elitist. It says "YOU`RE NO GOOD" before a person has the chance to be.
I believe what I was saying gives everyone a chance to participate while still keeping the issue in check, on the other hand. As you said powers are something "which can be altered with a bit of ingenuity"

Um no it's not. I said you judge people on the character they submit not any preconceived notion that this or that power is no good. How is that elitist when I'm letting people apply with an open mind regardless of what special ability they might choose. If anything your way is way more elitist As it indicates that your judging people based on a power not their skill level..


I. Just saying show me you can create a character that fits the roleplay regardless of what my personal feelings are on the particulars of their character.


If said character fits and the rules are followed than welcome aboard, if they don't then I'll explain why and you can change what you see fit.


That is in no way elitist,.

 

[call me rae]

Actually I said pink CROW

Lol my point still stands tho it's just an arbitrary characteristic that you can change if you put some thought into it.

 

[Idea]

their skill level..

My comment was regarding to this. Maybe it`s an issue in phrasing, but if you say you`re excluding someone based on skill...That`s elitism. This is, unless they aren`t able to write at all.

 

[Idea]

Lol my point still stands tho it's just an arbitrary characteristic that you can change if you put some thought into it.

But ya can`t just google it. I tried

 

[call me rae]

My comment was regarding to this. Maybe it`s an issue in phrasing, but if you say you`re excluding someone based on skill...That`s elitism. This is, unless they aren`t able to write at all.

Well no it's not. If your doing a detailed group than chances are you'll accept detailed players as in players that can make the minimum requirement put down in both your own rules and the requirements of RPNation.


That's not elitist anymore than telling someone they have to have a college degree to do a retain job is elitist. Different roleplays require different experience.


Further more places where skill is often a nonissue tend to be inclusive by nature. It's the whole concept of equality - if your going to accept everyone than accept everyone.


But that means that you can't turn around and say Well I really meant everyone who makes a character that I like, so the rest of you aren't welcome

 

[call me rae]

But ya can`t just google it. I tried

Honey your missing the point. I'm saying that turning some away because they don't fit some preconceived notion off what YOU think is right and wrong is no different than judging someone based on their writing level or their skin tone.


Either way you are claiming you are/know better than someone without giving them a chance to prove themselves.


Now your entitles to your opinion and way of doing things all I saying is that in my opinion you would be better suited to being a little less literal and a little more open minded.


While you Aare making good points the fact that you tie them to your own opinions so tightly makes them hard to use as a general advice because different people might have experienced superpowers different to you.

 

[Idea]

Well no it's not. If your doing a detailed group than chances are you'll accept detailed players as in players that can make the minimum requirement put down in both your own rules and the requirements of RPNation.
That's not elitist anymore than telling someone they have to have a college degree to do a retain job is elitist. Different roleplays require different experience.


Further more places where skill is often a nonissue tend to be inclusive by nature. It's the whole concept of equality - if your going to accept everyone than accept everyone.


But that means that you can't turn around and say Well I really meant everyone who makes a character that I like, so the rest of you aren't welcome

Minimum requirement? Ah...


So, indeed, it was a misunderstanding. The word "skill" here was not matching between our posts.