Character Death

[Kaiden Rohn]

In Chaos, people die. Characters die a lot. Some characters have been around since the board began, but many have perished in epic storylines. With Kaiden finally biting the dust, I was wondering how other people felt about character death, and what it means to them. For me, personally I feel as though characters only have a finite number of stories to tell, and once they've told their story or they've gone as far as they can/should go, they should go away. At least, that's the experience with my characters. All of my characters follow an arc, a sort of storyline that eventually leads to something, whether it be fading into obscurity, or being killed off. What do you all feel about character death? Do you have any experience with it? How does it impact your roleplay? Or does it at all?

 

[Kerri Aislinn]

Character death can be a way of eliminating unwanted characters... or adding a tragic or even happy end to the character. Imagine writing a thread where the character died in a death bed surrounded by family. Also, sacrifice deaths are overrated. It is awesome when unique deaths are made. Imagine a force user dying because an opponent force-brain-blasted them all Miss Martian style xD Even sacrifice threads can be done well. Imagine a dark sider dying for their tyrant dark side master because they legitimately believe they're doing the right thing.

Character deaths can be very cleverly done if done right.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Kaiden Rohn"]

I agree with you.

I've generally followed the thought that most characters have an end date. Personally I find it incredibly boring if a character is just sitting around doing the exact same thing over and over again. While I don't have everything planned out, I do feel that characters sometimes just have a natural ending and more often than not that ending is death. I've killed off several of my most developed characters because I felt their stories had simply run their course.

On the opposite side of the spectrum however I've also 'retired' characters under the excuse that theyre in the outer rim or something, and have had them come back when a story prompted them to do so. Alric is a great example of this.

In the end I think Character Death is important to bring a story to a close, but it's something that should be thought about, considered, and consulted on with people close to your character. I've seen all too often on Chaos people going "I'm going to kill this character and its gonna be such great story!" then a week later said character is back like nothing ever happened. Death should be a final(or almost final) thing, not a revolving door.

 

[Kaiden Rohn]

[member="Kerri Aislinn"] You make a good point. Although I've never really had 'unwanted' characters, just characters who never really went anywhere.

[member="Alric Kuhn"] Character death on Chaos is sometimes like comic books- although those stories aren't necessarily bad, as the way people get revived in Chaos sometimes surprises me with their cleverness.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Kaiden Rohn"]

I'm not against revival as a whole, but at a certain point I think it becomes rather played out.

I funnily enough hold the same opinion in regards to comic book deaths.

 

[Kaiden Rohn]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

I think revival when done right feels purposeful and meaningful. I think, for example, [member="Dredge"] in his current iteration is a good example of what can be done right- and then there are examples of poor resurrection that pop up here and there because people change their mind about permanent death. I think the hardest part for me personally about dead characters is the fact that when there's a new storyline popping up, and you want your character to be there for it- but I feel like on the same token, it forces me as a writer to assimilate new characters or current characters into them.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Kaiden Rohn"]

Yeah as I said it's not bad as a whole, but sometimes it can just get too much.

Also I agree with you on the last part. As I said I've killed off several of my most developed characters and over the last few years people crop up and tell me about stories and the like which make me go "Oh yeah I could totally bring him/her back and then we-"

Stuff like that. I get the temptation.

 

[Kaiden Rohn]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

I did that and I just killed off kaiden a few hours ago haha

 

[Gna Grimwasp]

same i tend to make a character then not use them

 

[Gna Grimwasp]

[member="Kaiden Rohn"] hold on if you are dead do i get a promotion to major General?

 

[Kaiden Rohn]

[member="Gna Grimwasp"]

corporal, tops

 

[Gna Grimwasp]

[member="Kaiden Rohn"] But i'd be the very model of a modern major General.

ok joking aside i agree. i have like 12 characters that are just rotting.

 

[Lief]

I killed off my two main characters, Asha and Kara, in completely different circumstances. Asha died at the hands of Kaine Zambrano, her long term rival who had destroyed most of her family. In the end she became one with the Force and aside from a few Ghostly visits she's remained dead. Kara died by a freak accident at the hands of her (then) devoted student and bodyguard... And during the whole Mirrorverse saga, namely the Dark Mirror Treasure Hunt, I had an alternate universe version of herself come through the veil and find herself stuck here. The idea was that she'd be rather different to this universes Kara. Since then its been like writing a new character, its sparked replays she never would have had if she hadn't died, etc. Usually I would never even think about reviving my characters if I killed them off... But as I say doing so with Kara was very rewarding from a writing point of view.

I agree with the sentiment that having characters hanging around doing the same thing or nothing is a sign that perhaps its their time. Or if the story warrants it, as it did with Asha. I feel like each individual knows when its their characters time.

 

[Zaiden Dean]

Personally, for me, its mostly about story. Certain characters death is a finality, such as one of my favorites I wrote, Valashu. He was this do gooder turned Darkside, and when the time came, I killed him off without any player opposition. The story I was writing simply called for it. I faded to black though to leave it ambiguous.

Others though, such as my last main, and my second oldest on site, Damien, he learned to bind spirits to empower himself. This simply meant, whenever I put my mind in his shoes, that he wouldn't die. Hell twice he let himself die off just so he could have his spirit bound to a new body.

My favorite character on site, this one, simply has had unique means of coming back. I simply can't stay away honestly so when it calls for it I bring him back

 

[Kaiden Rohn]

[member="Vokun"]

so death has no consequence to him

 

[Zaiden Dean]

Yes and no. During the Netherworld event or whatever it was called, Zaiden (Vokun) had no body and no one ready for it. I had been writing a clone character at the time, and spent a decent amount writing him speaking to the clone, showing him memories that the clone had blocked out. As it was coming close to the end zone, he almost faded out if you will, but the clone allowed himself to be possessed.

So... No, only those I have written really. One death was Ashin killing him cause I had deemed him overpowered at that point, allowing Jon a PC kill. But that again was my design and I allowed the autohit etcetera.

But... Yes still. I always instate downsides. For example when he first was drawn back most recently his mind was altered, and his power was drained. So he came back much more neutral and at a Knight level. After he came to terms with his new life i have written it off as his full power returned. But this still has effected him as now relationships he once possessed, even such as Ashin, mean basically nothing like they once did. I wrote him with major mental issues, and he had become heavily reliant on Ashin during life, being her Hand in almost every faction they shared. Now he views her as a weakness and has deemed too never speak to her again, unless forced too.

I don't know lol. No it doesn't mean anything to him in the sense of it all ending, as it has so many times now (not as much as Damien), but yes still because everything changes each time.

 

[Ellie Mors]

I like (most of) my characters like I like my lobster.

Tortured and then dead.

 

[Zaiden Dean]

I like (most of) my characters like I like my lobster.
Tortured and then dead.

This message was brought to you by Chaos Brand© AntiPsychotics and we approve this message.

 

[Connor Harrison]

[member="Kaiden Rohn"] I've killed off two of my characters. The timing is usually right if the muse is waning for them OR, naturally, their journey is coming to a point they can't return from.

I also like to incorporate it to help another writer. My two characters were actually finished off by Miss [member="Matsu Xiangu"] for the sake of story, and I felt that is a perfect "end" - to let them give another writer a step forward while they bow out.

As long as it feels natural, but importantly as long as YOU want to do it. Of course in this world, death is never really final, but for most of us we take it as being final (as it should really), so once it is done, for me at least, it can't be undone. So be sure you've exhausted your resources or they have taken a great journey to bow out on.

It's wonderful to have that connection with a character you create, big or small, to see their beginning and end, and if you want to end it then you know you're doing the right thing for them.

 

[Darth Ferus]

Character death to me is like any other character wvent. A story device that should be used to create an awesome tale. But at the same time for some its difficult to get into another character, and death (whether or not its permanent) can put someone into a bad situation muse wise.

On another RP site they enforced character death. Ypu couldn't just come back to life. And I, in yputhful arrogance, killed my main for story on an impulse. A week later I realized how much I enjoyed writing him and the stories I wanted to continue, but couldn't.

There's a lot of grief about people bringing characters back from the dead and I've said my fair share about it, but its just a story tool. And the wonderful part about Chaos is how free you are to use it, or in most cases, dont.