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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jhaelen" data-source="post: 5584994" data-attributes="member: 46713">Ah, well, I don't know. I think this is a bit simplistic.It already starts with the premise: My 'ideal self' is a moving target, it changes and evolves all the time. It's not a steady progression or development towards a fixed target. It can at times be circular or involve backtracking.And applying it to my rpg chars? Very doubtful. My #1 goal is usually this: "Don't repeat yourself!"I always try to come up with fresh character concepts that I've never played in exactly the same configuration. It's also why I often end up with pretty exotic, convoluted backgrounds.As a player, I reread my character's traits before every session to make sure I stay true to my original vision rather than 'defaulting' into playing my alter-ego.I don't doubt that a little bit of my personality can be found in every character, but I think it's different aspects and degrees. I also enjoy exploring character motivations that are alien to my real self, i.e. put myself into someone else's shoes to see how it 'feels like'. Those characters tend to be short-lived, though (this is also one reason why I enjoy being the DM: you get to play all kinds of different persons in a very short time. It's also one of the biggest benefits of adopting Ars Magica's troupe style of playing).Finally, the very specific case of Paladins: With the expection of one player in my group, they aren't popular at all (that player also happens to be a cop in real life - go figure!). The only time I've been interested in playing one was after reading some novels by Eddings about a bunch of knights that had very differing views of what 'behaving like a knight' meant. I.e. I wanted to play a 'Greyguard' paladin.The 'standard' paladin is too predictable and boring for my taste.There are many players that seem to enjoy playing themselves or a certain heroic image of themselves regularly or even exclusively, but it's not a general phenomenon. It's just one approach of many towards roleplaying.</blockquote>

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