The RPlague - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Meoshi · 04-28-2003, 05:36 PM

Recently I started a guided RPG in the Shire, and reviewing the various characters submitted, I noticed the remarkable cliches: About half of the people were missing parents, and three submitted virtually identical sword-wielding warrior maidens.

Then there's the problem with the elves. They often seem to have un-Tolkienish names, like "Rie" or "Moonflower". There are also a remarkable amount of Elvish characters who are sword-wielding warrior maidens.(Fortunately, I forbade Elves from my RPG, or it'd be swarmed with them).

Our Middle-Earth RPG settings, are, frankly, sounding less and less Middle-Earthly.

In all of the works of Tolkien, there were:

2 orphaned characters

1 sword-wielding warrior maiden(who was not an elf)

no characters with unknown pasts

and a grand total of zero characters with amnesia.

And yet these cliches are commonplace, although we are spared the worst ones thanks to the ban on assassins and half-elves.

What's gone wrong? Is this just a Shire thing? Does it get better in the other areas?

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: Meoshi ]

04-28-2003, 05:36 PM	#1
Meoshi Wight Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Atop the peak of Kalormë Posts: 163	The RPlague Recently I started a guided RPG in the Shire, and reviewing the various characters submitted, I noticed the remarkable cliches: About half of the people were missing parents, and three submitted virtually identical sword-wielding warrior maidens. Then there's the problem with the elves. They often seem to have un-Tolkienish names, like "Rie" or "Moonflower". There are also a remarkable amount of Elvish characters who are sword-wielding warrior maidens.(Fortunately, I forbade Elves from my RPG, or it'd be swarmed with them). Our Middle-Earth RPG settings, are, frankly, sounding less and less Middle-Earthly. In all of the works of Tolkien, there were: 2 orphaned characters 1 sword-wielding warrior maiden(who was not an elf) no characters with unknown pasts and a grand total of zero characters with amnesia. And yet these cliches are commonplace, although we are spared the worst ones thanks to the ban on assassins and half-elves. What's gone wrong? Is this just a Shire thing? Does it get better in the other areas? [ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: Meoshi ]