Newcomer Thoughts and a Request for Development Help

[KayleiAnn Steampunk]

I've been on SL for more than 3 years but it was my love for Steampunk, (and all that is included in that deliciously loaded word), that drew me into New Babbage. I do a lot of messing around in RL with Steampunk costumes and I thought one day, "I really need to see what sort of goodness SL creators have cooked up." I did a search for Steampunk in-world and made my first TP to Babbage.

I was instantly enchanted by the thought and creativity that each of you have put into this community and your characters. It wasn't until later, when someone pointed me to this ning site, that I started to understand how much dedicated work it takes for Babbage to be what it is. So for the beautiful structures, textures, maintenance, and general ambiance of the town, thank you. For the outstanding characters, storylines, and general feel of the townspeople, I also thank you.

As I'm not an English major, nor an aspiring writer, I must admit that I sometimes feel inadequate as a member of Babbage. Learning to respond as my character would, and not myself, and doing it on the fly, has been a challenge for me. Maybe one of the reasons is because my character is still so fuzzy in my head. She doesn't really have a clear cut personality yet, or even a strong backstory. She seems kind of.. ho hum. Not that exciting, or inspiring to me.

Here's what I DO have for her (and it's thin):
She used to live in what she claims is a very small rural town, on the family farm. She was sent to Babbage by her family to complete a dastardly mission that her controlling mother has been training her for all her life, but she just tells people she wanted to see the big city and start a life of her own. Now that she's actually IN Babbage she's feeling quite torn. She was overwhelming accepted into the community, (something she wasn't expecting), and is feeling quite bonded with the people, (something she REALLY wasn't expecting.) Pair that with the sudden freedom she has from her family/mother and she is having second thoughts about her lifelong mission. (Just wait till Mom finds out. Oh my...)

She can turn into a cat at night. Why? Because running around as a cat in mouseview and spying on people is just wicked fun. But only at night, and only a "real" cat, not a furry or human with cat features. She does not talk as a cat, but you may hear, "KayleiAnn Steampunk licks her paw and pretends not to notice the stranger" or something. She doesn't tell any of the townspeople about her secret night life and if they came right out and asked her she'd deny it.

She doesn't have any magic abilities, except maybe the cat shape shifting thing. I haven't really worked out why she turns into a cat and how it will affect her personal storyline. As a human though, she's just a regular ol' gal with secrets and baggage.

Personality wise, she seems to be ladylike but a tomboy none the less. Because of her highly structured past, she has all the training of a fine Victorian lady, (it was a critical part of her cover, her mother used to always say), but she is much more comfortable in pants, sitting in the pub. She's quite gullible because of her age and secluded upbringing, and probably why she chases excitement and danger at every corner.

That's really all I have for her. It isn't much, but it's a start, I hope. So now I put it to all of you. I would really love some help from all the Babbage'ites that are leagues of talent above me to help me flesh out, or change if need be, these basic concepts. Bonus points (!) for any help on her backstory and the mission she was sent to do.

Thanks for trudging through this if you made it this far. My hope is that I can create an interesting character that will add to the rich environment and colorful storyline of Babbage. That and add some fun for everyone, fun is good.

P.S. I hope I’ve posted in the right forum. If not feel free to kick me over to the right place.

[Penelope Strathearn]

Heh. My first several weeks (or was it months?) in Babbage were spent as an amnesiac recovering from a concussion gained during an airship crash. Why? Because I had NO idea who this character was, what she was doing here, where she came from, and I figured that a convenient case of amnesia would buy me time to figure all of that out. Not to mention that, since I was as new to SL as I was to Babbage, I figured a head injury would explain my frequent tumbles into canals and walking into walls. It was either that or establish my character as a heavy drinker. *grin*

Take your time. You're off to an excellent start. I loved your letter to your Mom! It gave just enough information about you to leave me wanting more, and in time you'll figure out what that "more" is and the best way to share it with us.

(And by the way, I am an English/Secondary Educ. major. Your writing skills are just fine. Absolutely no need to feel self-conscious about them; it's the City, and its story and that of its citizenry, that matters. Everyone has a voice. And if you're just not comfortable with blogging a story, there's other ways to express yourself here as well. Katri's snapshots, for instance, can delight and move me just as deeply as a 1000-word IC blog entry, or even more so. *smile*)

[Mr Underby]

I have only been in Babbage since mid-July, and at first had no idea what Underby was... he had been different things in different sims... he was a bizarre priest in a post apocalyptic wasteland, a regular t-shirt and jeans kinda guy in a hobo sim... then he stumbled upon Babbage and fell in love with its gritty and sooty streets...

At first he was based on Spring-Heeled Jack, and would pounce down from rooftops to frighten women (ask Talisa, she was one of them)... slowly I started to feel changes brewing in him and he began to write himself. I rarely think his dialogue up beforehand, he has a voice of his own.

And, further, he continues to change and write himself... embarrassingly, even since just a few days ago when I started the "Limitations of Magic" thread I have redefined his magical abilities in my mind... sigh... it's a work in progress...

[Ghilayne Andrew]

Characters are always a work in progress... the ones that are rich, interesting and fun to play and play with, anyway!

[Loki Eliot]

it's interesting to me that new people to Babbage feel an urgent need to have a back story. I guess this is the power of New Babbage.

There is one belief in RP that if you start a character with a little backstory, then you have much to build upon, but if fill your character with a huge backstory then you leave no room for expansion.

My advice to new people is to try and just be yourself and let New Babbage do its magic. I dont think the town ever expects people to just appear with a full fantastical back story, and anyone who has an interest in Steampunk is always welcome to explore its many themes and philosophies.

Welcome to New Babbage miss KayleiAnn i look forward to bumping into you sometime :)

[Clarabella Lucy Corryong]

The amnesia thing works for some folks. My own lack of backstory is now turning int my first story arc as I unlock the truth under all the delusions and become more of a Girl Genius style spark....
As for your own situation. Make stuff up as you go.

[DreddPirateBob]

well said Loki

I turned up in babbage as a sky pirate type adult. No backstory or plan just having a wander about having a look.

its been 2 years and only the last few months have raised the idea of a history. fortunatly dredd can't remember a thing so i dont have much work to do :D

[Edward Pearse, Duke of Argylle]

Now you've blossomed into a mouthy little guttersnipe with a penchant for anarchy and rats :-)

[Captain Finley Twine]

don't forget his penchant for buggery

[DreddPirateBob]

ARG! LIES! I'm not the one swanning about in yer foppery!

[Jedburgh Dagger]

Heya kiddo!
Sometimes, it is good to have a backstory, but it isn't an absolute. Sometimes, I feel as if my own is thin to the point of transparency, but what we do helps write that as much as what we want to establish.

Character development should be an on-going and dynamic thing. My only caution is if you err to one side or the other, err to the side of simplicity. It may be more fun to say your predispositon for violence was because you were raised by a secret coven of witch-ninjas who taught you the mystic arts of Wang-Fu, it's easier to say you had lots of brothers.

[Ghilayne Andrew]

What Jed says is perfect... character development is an on-going and dynamic thing. The persona grows and changes over time, and hopefully is never "finished". If you decide to change details or even major story bits for her, do it! Play and have fun. It's the whole point :)

[KayleiAnn Steampunk]

It looks like the general consensus here is this: Relax. Everything falls into place after a while. So, I'm doing that and I'm sure it will. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

*zoiks!*

Truly, since I've written that post, I've been so wrapped up in getting to the know the people and typists of Babbage, that my shtick has been the last thing on my mind. And not surprisingly, Babbage has been a wonderful muse. I'm getting all sorts of goofy, fun ideas now...

(And Jed, that is friggin' hilarious! I can just see that in someone's profile. "I'm prone to violence. I have brothers.")