Apprentice, Journeyman and Grand Master Storytelling; Using Professions to Embellish RP

Today’s guest post is brought to us by Illithias, of US Feathermoon. Illi is a long time Feathermoonie and RPer–both table top and in WoW–and we’re lucky enough to have him write us a guest post–Bricu.

Teothy leant over his workbench, tiny file in hand and tongue stuck out the corner of his mouth in concentration. In his other hand was a delicate mithril tube, ends being smoothed down to ensure the closest fit he could ensure. Leakages were bad. Sweat beaded on his brow above his goggles as he focused on his fragile task, his mechanised squirrel-cum-workbench assistant peering at the activity with tiny jeweled eyes. It was difficult work this, but Teothy didn’t mind. At least with this tube, it wasn’t going to burn his entire workshop down should he slip. A second time.

Core mechanics influences a great majority of roleplay in World of Warcraft; at the most basic, a character’s race and faction has a fundamental significance in shaping them, a character’s class and spec can have almost as an important effect. It’s pretty understandable – these core “Who You Are” aspects of the game client are going to translate readily to “Who You Are” in regards to a character’s personality and history. Other aspects of the game can have varying influence; Exalted status with various factions, or character mounts and vanity pets. One of the fundamental game facets which perhaps does not get as much use in facilitating RP stories, behaviour and histories is that of Professions.

Most people have professions on their characters; up to two primaries, and the three secondaries (Riding doesn’t count here). They’re selected for varying reasons – some people min/max in regards to the game, some people chose when they rolled a character because they appealed or seemed to fit, some people don’t even go for them, often in the case of alts or some of the secondary (cooking) professions. I won’t delve into a technical discourse on the ingame professions here, but look at how and why professions can be incorporated into roleplaying to widen both it’s breadth and depth.

At it’s most basic, a profession is just that – a profession. A job. They can provide a framework to a character’s “real life/history”, in as much as a character’s class can. A priest with Tailoring, with a bit of elaboration, easily becomes a merchant class seamstress who joined the Church of the Light in order to assist with the Third War. It provides depth to a character, and can provide additional details with which to run with. The priest of the example? Did she come from a family of clothiers? Is there a shop somewhere? Who taught her?

A lot of professions suit specific classes in a thematic way – Blacksmithing warriors, for example, or Enchanting mages – which allows the conventions to be flipped. Your dress-wearing warlock is a Miner? How did that happen, and why? Not only what a character “does” in regards to a profession itself is a source for roleplay inspiration, but also the relationship between the character and the profession in question. A hunter with Inscription, stemming from his compulsive need to chronicle his travels and experiences?

How a character “expresses” their profession is a rich source of ideas and material for roleplay. It can provide a character’s day to day livelihood, when they’re not out slaying internet dragons. But it can also be the professional solider who marches into battle with bandoliers of goblin explosives and strange teleportation technology. A mage who incorporates alchemical studies in their obsession with harnessing the arcane. A rogue who’s skill at forging documents has risen to an almost mystical level.

While professions can be used to enhance background, they also offer ample opportunity for “current” ideas and storylines. The most basic being; how exactly are they done? How exactly does a druid take a pile of animal hide, scales, and magical thread, and turn it into a brand new suit of amour? What’s involved in crafting a brand new boomstick, or imbuing someone’s claymore with the ability to drink its foe’s vitaity? Is it special armour – then what about special materials? What is rune thread exactly? Alchemical transmutes; how does someone turn a common jewel and some Eternals (which are what, exactly?) into something rare and prized? The possibility of elaboration is vast.

Do you use your character’s professions as roleplay device? Howso – are they their class primarily, or their profession? Or neither? How do you incorporate your character’s professions into your roleplay? Let us know in the comments field. For extra credit, put together a one-to-three paragraph piece based around your character and their professions, and which way you would like. I’ll be grading accordingly.

• «Previous Post
• Next Post »