Playing with Personality

[Cmdr Laura Issia 0]

There are a number of differences between the Academies and the Advanced sims, most of which center in one important area: character development.   Because we only have the one hour to get through a plot, there isn't time for intense personal sub-plotlines the way there is on Advanced ships, nor will you be asked to write a log to share with all your Academy shipmates.  But that doesn't mean you can't develop a character.

 

In a case like this, it's the small things that matter most.  You don't really have the luxury of space and time to create an entire background (and if you did, your crewmates wouldn't have time to listen to you explain it), but you can and should have a personality.

 

No, not the kind you get points for in Miss Universe pageants.

 

If you think about it, everything you do or say is affected by your general outlook on life; your sim persona should be this way too.  Anyone can ::tap the console:: -- but is that it?  Of course not!  Pick one trait, and think about how you might perform a basic action to display that emotion.   For instance, you could:

 

::hesitantly picks the launch sequence out on her console::

 

::fingers fly over the console, launching the torpedos::

 

::slams out the launch sequence::

 

Wow.  Pretty big difference, right?  And then you can add facial expressions, off-hand comments, thoughts...

 

Maybe you're thinking, "But, why should I worry about this when I'm busy keeping up with the sim?"   Well, yes, the sim can move pretty quickly sometimes, but you won't lose that much time typing out something with personality -- even one adjective or adverb can make a big impact.   But the best place to play with this is in those slow moments.   We've all seen the player who decides that ::is bored:: is a good action; some of us may have even been guilty of it at one point.  (This is where I confess to having done a ::snores at her console:: waaaaay back in the dark ages when I was a cadet.)  ::P:

 

Ok.  You're bored.  Check.  We've all been there, believe me.  But even if you absolutely can't think of anything else to do, you can do so much better than ::is bored::, right?  What do you do in real life when you're bored?  What would your character do?  Hum, whistle, drum annoying patterns on the console, replicate wood and start whittling, serve coffee to your department colleagues?

 

The next time you go into an academy, try picking just one trait before you begin and see if you can bring it into your actions.  Believe me, it quickly becomes a snowball effect, and you'll find that your interactions are suddenly much more interestings.   (Bonus: you'll get an idea of what sort of character you like to play when you finally reach the promised land... promotion.)  :D

 

 

(If you need a little inspiration, there are lots of sites out there with lists of possible character traits.   Here's a couple to get you started, but there are lots more.  

http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-2669.html

http://tritt.wirefire.com/tip8.html  (scroll down almost to the end))

[Travis Kroells 0]

Wow with your, "How to tap the panels" and my "How to set up a force field" we'd take out moose in the competitive sport of tips any day!

[Images 0]

:D   wow with this course i lost 75 pounds!  :)

 

 

 

...i did my bit now pay me  :P

[Grom 0]

The next time you go into an academy, try picking just one trait before you begin and see if you can bring it into your actions.  Believe me, it quickly becomes a snowball effect, and you'll find that your interactions are suddenly much more interestings.   (Bonus: you'll get an idea of what sort of character you like to play when you finally reach the promised land... promotion.)  :)

::is bored:: j/k :P

 

An excellent post Laura! See you Tuesday at 12 PM EST in the Holodeck for an Academy Simulation! (Cheap plug, I know!  :D )

[Cmdr Laura Issia 0]

(Cheap plug, I know!  :) )

Yes, but they won't give us the budget for expensive ones, so...

 

I will definitely see you Tuesday at 2400 for a terrific Academy sim!

[Captain Huff 0]

What would your character do?  Hum, whistle, drum annoying patterns on the console, replicate wood and start whittling, serve coffee to your department colleagues?

I recommend the last one there...  :)

[Anika818 0]

These are some good ideas...thank you