Character Descriptions/Whose Who

Some games I've played in before had these sort of whose who that would tell what a NPC or PC looked like, their demeanor and what else was known about them. Could such a thing be done here? Sometimes even opinions and rumors about the character were put up by others.

Well...in terms of description and basic info, I think the user info works well (not always, but mostly.) If the PC (or ST in the case of NPCs) fills out the character sheet info, you would have the basic details, plus a pic (of something, if not the character.)

Not sure on opinions and rumors. On the one hand, it would be fascinating. On the other, a lot of that is really stuff that wouldn't be shared broadly IC.

Pictures still don't give a real feel of the character like personality and there is also general info people would probably hear about a character.

Would only be chatter about someone beyond the general IC conversations with other players if you were to put an ear out for such information. Making a brief character history for the ST's use may be helpful but most character info I don't necessarily agree with being broadcast openly to the city.

What Scott is talking about is something that we used to do at the LARPs in Davis to help new players get acclimated to the enormous number of characters in our games. (I was responsible for maintaining one of them.)

The who's who list didn't broadcast background information or what a character looked like. It gave short descriptions of what anyone in the city would know or be able to easily learn about the characters. For example, an entry about Vai could possibly note that she's Nosferatu, that she turned up in town with Marius and clearly has prior history with him, and that she's kindof a bitch.

Who's who lists can be fun, but it seems like an awful lot of extra work to put on the STs plates right at the moment.

This sort of thing is really valuable for NPCs more than PCs considering the size of the larp. Its easy for me to keep track of players' characters, but I am constantly forgetting the names of the Toreador, Tremere and Gangrel.

I'm just of the impression that freely broadcasting that eliminates the conversations with other players to find out basic information about eachother which eliminates potentially interesting role playing as other people's opinion of things isn't always the same as your own.

NPC's are a different story considering with as many as there are in the game they can be very difficult to remember and keep track of. Often times I don't even remember how many members there are in my own clan as over half are npc's. Given time I'll figure it out but a list to know how many there are, who's running the npc, there percieved/claimed clan and a brief description would be a nice tool to have.

But how many times can you have the same conversations about PCs or NPC's before that gets old? I believe there should indeed be info about PCs and NPC's that is easily attained or "everyman info" that pretty much anyone could know without much digging.

How many times do you need to have the conversation with your allies and/or clan to get learn that this guys with the Gangrel and kind of a prick and that other guy is with the Brujah and kind of an idealist and soforth? Not to mention most of how someone is viewed is changed by perspective so while I think the character I play is a bit of a stubborn prick you may find some people that I haven't rubbed the wrong way IC that would vouch for me being a great guy. That being the case I just happen to think it kind of cheapens things to make universally known truths in a game setting like this that are free or as you put it "everyman info". Besides, digging to find dirt on eachother is half the fun to me in this type of game setting.

After a while I still feel a character would have a reputation and having to ask around every time you have a new character or every time a new person comes to game they have to ask around is going to get old.

Well for someone to have a reputation that actually crosses city, state, country lines you would have to take some pretty severe actions as it takes alot to impress some if not most immortals as they all are able to do some pretty amazing things. As is the nature of the masquerade I've always assumed most immortals try not to develop a reputation that beats them to a city, though it happens sometimes. Those that do have a reputation that preceeds them it is that players responsibility to make sure that reputation is known and if you choose to ignore them it's your ass. I'm of the impression with the exception of a couple NPC's nobody in game is too big of a deal in the world of darkness as a whole so other then the reputation they are developing in Sac currently there wouldn't be much to know. For example this isn't my characters first rodeo but without doing some digging even inside the clan there isn't anything horribly remarkable about his history, especially in comparison to the fact there's an Archon currently roaming the city. Just my opinion though.

All of that being said I personally don't see any harm in people doing this if they want, I just won't be contributing things about my furry self to the list. If people want to know about Theseus he's approachable in Gangrel terms or you can discuss amungst yourselfs.

Then we will put stuff up about him ourselves! And ruin his reputation! MWA HA HA!

Not much reputation to ruin

Not yet, but certainly a wildly inaccurate reputation that can be created

I'm sure it could, question being would he care what the rest of the city thought of him?

He's a Gangrel, I would hope not!

(In all honesty, I agree with your arguments against such a directory,but like you, don't really care what others would do. Larissa and/or I would only participate if the rumors and/or opinions about her offended her sensibilities.)

Such a directory should AT LEAST exist for the NPCs. Sam has a good point that it's too hard to remember them all.

Possibly such a thing might be contained under the City Directory. Since all characters in the city are listed, if the ST has time (and no pressure on the ST meant, if they don't have time, I totally get that real life is more important) descriptions could be added. Then if PCs want to add their own descriptions, they could communicate that with the ST, via PM or this thread, or whatever method the ST prefers. That way, the directory and descriptions are both in the same place.

Thoughts (Particularly ST thoughts?)??

I give Salut Gayid the status trait of "Toreador Stooge".

Hahaha. No Solomon...I think Sayd Galut is fully capable of being an asshole without needing the Toreador's to put him up to it. lmao

Just to be clear. I'm ok with this, but i'm not going to be the one to describe the appearance, and personality of the npc's. It would be taken as too literal a meaning. It's better if there is a margin of error. I'd prefer it if there were a few mistakes based on people's assumptions about NPC's personalities. It leaves things open for all kinds of twists and turns. If I post about the personalities of the NPC's then it will be treated as Gospel.

Plus, people change. Or are purposefully presenting one type of personality, for a nefarious purpose.

I understand you guys are just feeling this idea out....If and when you come to a final decision, it will be up to some brave soul to begin it, and let others fill in their opinions of NPC's. Work with your Admin's to give it struction...perhaps utilizing sticky posts or something.

Good Luck. I won't be looking back in this thread for a while. I don't want to meddle

Well I do feel that a good role player (As I saw all of you being my first night.) was good enough for me to fell out the characters I came in contact with. And any and all such fourms that would tell Joe Blo Jr. coming to the game would sort of get rid of the first night, "Get to know all." part of the game, out of the game, and well that gets rid of good role playing, and if you get rid of that we might as well go back to table top gaming. This is just how I fell about it.
Thank you for leting me have a say,
DelRay