Ordinary person is very misleading.
Batman and Tony Stark are ordinary people.
Spider-man and The Human Torch are not.
Batman and Tony Stark are ordinary people.
Spider-man and The Human Torch are not.
Ordinary vs. Extraordinary - the origins of characters
- Thread starter Stormonu
- Start date
Jeff Wilder
First Post
Not anymore! Tony Stark has his latest armor iteration installed in his bones, where he can extrude it and become Shellhead. (And before that he had Extremis. He hasn't been baseline human for quite a few years.)
FireLance
Legend
A game in which the protagonists are truly ordinary people, and not just mostly ordinary people with a few extraordinary characteristics, is likely to:
1. Be largely centered around doing ordinary things. I generally do not enjoy game like these because this is not the game experience I am looking for, but YMMV; or
2. Have extraordinarily short character life spans when caught up in extraordinary events and extraordinarily long waits in between the characters doing anything extraordinary. Again, this is not the game experience I am looking for; or
3. Have game mechanics which allow ordinary characters to succeed at extraordinary tasks regularly. Such mechanics cause the game to lack realism and believability for me. It's all about the verisimilitude!
The Batman analogy is a good one. Batman might not have superpowers, but IMO, he is hardly "ordinary". He has extraordinary intelligence, willpower, wealth, and access to extraordinary gadgets and other technology. It makes little sense to me to draw an arbitrary line between "special" abilities (magic, superpowers) and abilities which although technically not "special", are so far above what can be achieved by a truly ordinary human being that they might as well be.
1. Be largely centered around doing ordinary things. I generally do not enjoy game like these because this is not the game experience I am looking for, but YMMV; or
2. Have extraordinarily short character life spans when caught up in extraordinary events and extraordinarily long waits in between the characters doing anything extraordinary. Again, this is not the game experience I am looking for; or
3. Have game mechanics which allow ordinary characters to succeed at extraordinary tasks regularly. Such mechanics cause the game to lack realism and believability for me. It's all about the verisimilitude!
The Batman analogy is a good one. Batman might not have superpowers, but IMO, he is hardly "ordinary". He has extraordinary intelligence, willpower, wealth, and access to extraordinary gadgets and other technology. It makes little sense to me to draw an arbitrary line between "special" abilities (magic, superpowers) and abilities which although technically not "special", are so far above what can be achieved by a truly ordinary human being that they might as well be.
Aus_Snow
First Post
Interesting. I think it makes perfect sense to draw a line (and it is anything but arbitrary) between "special" abilities, as you put it, and abilities (. . .) "so far above" (. . .), etc.
Sauce matters.*
A matter of degrees (high stats, experienced, occasionally good tactics, cool tech, can fight well, etc.) vs. a matter of whole other freaking categories (can summon forth fireballs from one's inner power and incinerate the surroundings and whoever or whatever happens to be in them, or something). More examples, hm. . . Former: some amazing genius prodigy kid, or what have you. Latter: Carrie.
* And therein lies that disconnect that once plagued the arpatubes. Some say yea, others nay. Seems to have cooled to a simmer now, which is probably a good thing. Er. . .
JRRNeiklot
First Post
Um, you do realize what an extraordinarily small portion of the population has the "stuff" to be a major college athlete let alone a professional one, correct?
Not really, I played baseball in college and I'm nothing special.
It is totally dependent on the game. In some, the characters are completely ordinary in terms of abilities, and maybe a little strange in terms of interests, placed in a very extraordinary situation (Call of Cthulhu). In others, they are, from the beginning, more powerful than a mortal can imagine (Exalted). Most games fit somewhere in between.
When I create my characters' backgrounds, I take care that the pre-game events fit the growth to the power level on which the game starts; I keep the history less strange, less awesome and less important than what I expect to do in game. In this sense, my characters start more ordinary and become extraordinary in play. But the starting, "ordinary" level may range from "I am a taxi driver, who gambles a little more than healthy" to "I am an exiled prince who seeks revenge on the man that killed my father and took over my kingdom. Oh, I also use sorcery and wear a magitech armor.", depending on what I play.
When I create my characters' backgrounds, I take care that the pre-game events fit the growth to the power level on which the game starts; I keep the history less strange, less awesome and less important than what I expect to do in game. In this sense, my characters start more ordinary and become extraordinary in play. But the starting, "ordinary" level may range from "I am a taxi driver, who gambles a little more than healthy" to "I am an exiled prince who seeks revenge on the man that killed my father and took over my kingdom. Oh, I also use sorcery and wear a magitech armor.", depending on what I play.
FireLance
Legend
Well, as with most things, context matters too
, and in the context of how extraordinary a character in a game is, I tend to find that the character's level of extraordinariness is more important than whether reaching that level of extraordinariness is impossible or almost impossible for the average man. Or, to use 4E terminology: level usually matters more than power source.
Kaiyanwang
Adventurer
I voted "mix". I prefer ordinary people becoming extraordinary - somewhat earning it. But not always. For some campaing is better change this.
Moreover, be straordinary could mean be a freak, too, Some race or class across the editions have this characteristic.
Moreover, be straordinary could mean be a freak, too, Some race or class across the editions have this characteristic.
Leatherhead
Possibly a Idiot.
I honestly don't care so long as their exploits in game are greater than the exploits in their backstory.
Mostly ordinary, but some not so much?
In my 10-year long email campaign, there's a wide variety in the depth of background story (much of it added to overtime), how "wazoo" their start was, and whether they seem to have an epic destiny or be more like regular grunts.
Read & enjoy.
1) Human Female Ranger/Rogue. Sent out as a spy from an underground city that survived Greyhawk's Twin Cataclysms, she comes from a lost and nearly alienly ancient civilization. Originally didn't speak Common, had all Bronze Age gear. However, she is from the second lowest cast -- the military and used to be shepherd.
Verdict: Lowly as an individual, but with epic potential.
2) Human Male Fighter. Served in the Furyondian military along the Veng River front with the Empire of Iuz. Kicked out for bedding the commanders daughter, he became a wanderer. Now the leader of the party, in service to the Margrave of Bissel. His background is in the peasantry, in a lowly ethnic group who are actually a fallen race from Middle Earth (related to the Wose). Recently a ballad about his duel with the undead warlord Saithnar has become popular across the region.
Verdict: Pretty lowly start. No longer a nobody.
3) Elvish Male Fighter/Wizard. Came to the war in Bissel to aid the humans, even though his country - Celene - is strictly neutral. His father has connections to the secretive Knights of Luna, an elvish secret order dedicated to helping humans despite their Queen's isolationism, and liked the Archmage Melf Brightflame.
Verdict: Lowly as individual, but with connections.
4) Human Male Monk. Came from the Holds of the Sea Princes, before they were a hive of scum and villany. Turned to stone in the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth 100 years ago, rescued by PC's with a spare Stone to Flesh scroll. Recently knighted for heroism, after single handedly holding off an platoon of orcs and a squad of werewolves, saving the lives of about 100 peasants.
Verdict: Definitely not your ordinary start to an adventuring career. Seems to have an epic destiny of some sort.
5) Human Male Cleric. Came from Onnwall (not yet invaded by the Scarlet Brotherhood in my timeline). Wandering cleric, wandering with his best friend (#2 above).
Verdict: Ordinary.
6) Elvish Female Wizard. Originally a weaver, was attacked by bandits while travelling near the Kron Hills, rescued by humans. Vowed to become an adventurer and aid the human cause. Family friend and travelling companion to #3.
Verdict: Ordinary
7) Human Male Wizard/Sorcerer. Second son of a noble family of fighters, raised by his uncle the mage/baronet and his uncle's partner (they're gay, but that's not acknowledged in their culture), and stands to inherit the uncle's title (as the uncle has no offspring). Wanted to strike out on his own, without using family resources, first worked as a lawyer and scrivener before finding a suitable adventuring party. Aims to become an archmage. Turns out his father was just promoted to Grand Marshall of Furyondy (like Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff).
Verdict: About as ordinary as a young John McCain, as in his family tree says he's destined for at least minor greatness.
8) Half-Elf Druid. Raised by the elves of Vesve Forest, he is currently doing his "walkabout" as part of coming of age among his people. He has a light attitude towards most things.
Verdict: Ordinary.
9) Human Male Warrior. Son of a river fisherman, became a guard at the local baronet's tower. Promoted to sergeant. Acted as a liaison with the adventurers, and was told by the noble to accompany them when they moved on -- the noble told him his destiny is elsewhere.
Verdict: Ordinary to start (used to be an NPC), but clearly, there's may be more going on here!
In my 10-year long email campaign, there's a wide variety in the depth of background story (much of it added to overtime), how "wazoo" their start was, and whether they seem to have an epic destiny or be more like regular grunts.
Read & enjoy.
1) Human Female Ranger/Rogue. Sent out as a spy from an underground city that survived Greyhawk's Twin Cataclysms, she comes from a lost and nearly alienly ancient civilization. Originally didn't speak Common, had all Bronze Age gear. However, she is from the second lowest cast -- the military and used to be shepherd.
Verdict: Lowly as an individual, but with epic potential.
2) Human Male Fighter. Served in the Furyondian military along the Veng River front with the Empire of Iuz. Kicked out for bedding the commanders daughter, he became a wanderer. Now the leader of the party, in service to the Margrave of Bissel. His background is in the peasantry, in a lowly ethnic group who are actually a fallen race from Middle Earth (related to the Wose). Recently a ballad about his duel with the undead warlord Saithnar has become popular across the region.
Verdict: Pretty lowly start. No longer a nobody.
3) Elvish Male Fighter/Wizard. Came to the war in Bissel to aid the humans, even though his country - Celene - is strictly neutral. His father has connections to the secretive Knights of Luna, an elvish secret order dedicated to helping humans despite their Queen's isolationism, and liked the Archmage Melf Brightflame.
Verdict: Lowly as individual, but with connections.
4) Human Male Monk. Came from the Holds of the Sea Princes, before they were a hive of scum and villany. Turned to stone in the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth 100 years ago, rescued by PC's with a spare Stone to Flesh scroll. Recently knighted for heroism, after single handedly holding off an platoon of orcs and a squad of werewolves, saving the lives of about 100 peasants.
Verdict: Definitely not your ordinary start to an adventuring career. Seems to have an epic destiny of some sort.
5) Human Male Cleric. Came from Onnwall (not yet invaded by the Scarlet Brotherhood in my timeline). Wandering cleric, wandering with his best friend (#2 above).
Verdict: Ordinary.
6) Elvish Female Wizard. Originally a weaver, was attacked by bandits while travelling near the Kron Hills, rescued by humans. Vowed to become an adventurer and aid the human cause. Family friend and travelling companion to #3.
Verdict: Ordinary
7) Human Male Wizard/Sorcerer. Second son of a noble family of fighters, raised by his uncle the mage/baronet and his uncle's partner (they're gay, but that's not acknowledged in their culture), and stands to inherit the uncle's title (as the uncle has no offspring). Wanted to strike out on his own, without using family resources, first worked as a lawyer and scrivener before finding a suitable adventuring party. Aims to become an archmage. Turns out his father was just promoted to Grand Marshall of Furyondy (like Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff).
Verdict: About as ordinary as a young John McCain, as in his family tree says he's destined for at least minor greatness.
8) Half-Elf Druid. Raised by the elves of Vesve Forest, he is currently doing his "walkabout" as part of coming of age among his people. He has a light attitude towards most things.
Verdict: Ordinary.
9) Human Male Warrior. Son of a river fisherman, became a guard at the local baronet's tower. Promoted to sergeant. Acted as a liaison with the adventurers, and was told by the noble to accompany them when they moved on -- the noble told him his destiny is elsewhere.
Verdict: Ordinary to start (used to be an NPC), but clearly, there's may be more going on here!
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