Thanks for picking Verity.
I think it's cool that Jemal's asked for feedback.
Fundamentally it's unfair that everyone can't get in, but I think that Jemal's concept just doesn't work with two groups (and he's running a lot of games already).
There are lots of awesome games here on enWorld, even if people don't get into this game I think there's a lot going on, and new games are starting constantly.
(I know that I'm not applying for anything else for a while too, and I'm seeing a lot of "regular faces" pulling back from new applications so I think that we'll finally get past this 15+ people posting to get into one game thing...)
I'll decide
based on rp background. We've got a paladin and a warlord. Beyond I don't care about party balance really.
I just don't think it matters the way people think it does.
[sblock=current party]
Ruthaer ar'Thar, Tiefling Warlord - vicious warlord possibly headed for a change of heart
Graf: Verity Thronble, Human Wizard(Illusionist) - infamous traitor on an impossible quest for redemption
Walking Dad: Ripper, Bugbear rogue - can't find rp/backstory block
Bialaska: Lady Keira, Human Paladin - matchmaker and diplomat (and our resident non-jerk)
[/sblock]
[sblock=These are just my personal reactions...]
I did make an effort to read everyone's posts, and did some searches to try to make sure I didn't miss anything, but I probably did...
I don't normally do this (at all, RPing is very personal, people tell different kinds of stories and that's a good thing) but since we've been asked to contribute (and I think that's a worthy goal as well).
Atanatotatos: Illian Soulstorm, Half-elf Fey Warlock
he's got a good epic history, I like the lute and the history fighting the formoreans. The character has good drive with clear RP goals. It also feels like Ata's got a strong sense of the character's personality and interactions with others.
No connection to the group, per se, though
ShaggySpellsword: Sylas Dardragon, Halfling Warlock
I like the idea of someone having started the group at the very beginning and still being with the party. And the "ultimate goal" of having been dealing with the lich is a nice clean link. But I don't see much really about Sylas personally (he's sickly and strange but...); does he like his mission? hate it? is he happy to have found his roll after all these years?
What's written is very clear and evocative, so I want to give points based on that but....
OutlawJT: Amintor Timon, Minotaur Ranger
Short, but punchy background. I've used the I-owe-you-a-debt-but-we're-really-friends thing a few times myself. It's got a lot of strength. But obviously, a bit one tone.
Lobo Lurker: 'Boy', Human Fighter
Love the concept. Fleshes out both our parties back story and the groups adventures (perhaps Gerard the Gray encouraged the group to free Verity and listened to him when he returned with dire proclamations about the Unseen Lord?). Recovering from cultist indoctrination is a "fresh" concept to me in terms of DnD and it offers a lot of play in different directions. And boy himself has an actual history of personal development.
SarahRequiem: Ash, Eladrin Fighter
a very strong initial concept... I guess I wonder what happened in the years between when her lover was killed and she became a hero? Is she really "frozen" at that moment?
How'd she become good enough at fighting to kill an entire village? what did she do in the feywild, before she met her soulmate?
[/sblock]
In some way's it's unfair to judge because I'm sure that people have a lot more backstory than they've shared with us (and it takes time to type etc etc). And some of the selected PCs don't seem to have much backstory themselves (so people are being judged on a different criteria than others).
And, re-reading Verity, I can see that I neglected to really flesh out his personality properly either. So in some ways I'd using critera that I'm not sure my own character would pass.
On the other hand it's just one vote.
1. I think
boy's backstory is really strong. In addition to a compelling backstory for his own character Lobo's built some NPCs, and helped flesh out the backstory for the rest of the group.
I can easily imagine Verity (maybe with the support of Lady Keira) trying to convince him to "please, just pick a name, we can't keep calling you <boy>".
2. And
boy again. (we can't vote for the same person twice?
)
Personally he's my favorite sort of character... it could be any race, or any class and it'd still hold up as a good solid concept AND it's tightly integrated into the groups history. This is the kind of character I hope I manage to create when I create one.