Poll: Dragons Dogma: What age should my character be?

[Infernai]

OK, so I'm a little bit of a narcissist when it comes to character creators in my games. I tend to have this bad habit of the first character i create looking as close to myself as it possibly can. I don't always make them in my image but it's usually the very first thing i will attempt in every game with a character creator.
As of recently i have gotten my hands on Dragons Dogma, along with the Devil May Cry HD collection, for my birthday. I have seen some video's about this games character creator and i have a very good idea about who my pawn shall be based off. But, i am faced with something interesting conundrum wise for this character creator: Age.

This is one of the few character creators I've seen that actually seem to allow your character to be played as anything from a kid to a elderly citizen and thus my morbid curiosity has gotten me wandering if i should try to make a version of myself at a different age to what i normally am.

So Escapists, which of these options should i go with:
1. Make the character a child (I find the image of a little runt going around wielding a two handed sword to be a hilarious image)
2. Make the character a child, but over the course of the game age them up as they grow higher in level.
3. Make the character around my own age.
4. Make the character around my own age but gradually age them up over the course of the game.
5. Make the character an older character (Having recently been playing Nier, i've become intrigued at the prospect of playing an older version of myself and seeing what i might look like)
6. Just make a completely random character that looks nothing like myself
7. Something else entirely?

I'll go with whatever has the most votes. My characters appearance is in your hands escapists, so choose wisely..cause i sure as hell can't decide.

 

[Infernai]

Ok, hmm, so one vote in Older character and another in other.

Well....seems I might have to throw a coin to decide which of those to go with at this rate.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

Play as a badass grandpa wielding a hammer.
Name him Durnfalootin.
Use only old looking pawns.

You now have The League of Superior Senior Citizens.
My vote anywho.
If you have the plugs, maybe take some screenshots or record some footage and start a LP on here about it?

 

[AppleShrapnel]

Went with "other"... I like the idea of aging your character over time, but really, until you get near-end game and get enough rift crystals* to buy an item that'll allow character (and pawn) edits whenever you fancy (from the main menu), it's not all that viable of an idea starting off. Really, you'd have to save this for new game+.

*- If you don't already know, rift crystals are earned by having people hire your pawn out. if someone lower level hires him, you get a decent lump sum, up front. You'll also accrue more, depending on how long/how much xp he gains with others. And the item I'm referring to is 10,000rc. A pretty penny starting out, but by the time it unlocks, it may not be so bad for ya. Totally depends on how well you "pimp" your pawn, as far as equipment and skill load-out.

Something else to consider; as great as kid characters [can] look, they suffer from an innate lack of speed, due to their short stature. It isn't that bad, but to illustrate- if one of your pawns is the minimum height while you aren't, they'll constantly lag behind... on the other hand, if you're a kid, that won't really be an issue. It'll take some indeterminate percentage of time longer to go places, but if you're patient (or better yet, make your first character a kid, so you won't notice the difference at all), it's all right. But the romance sub-plots will be kinda strange during cutscenes...

 

[Infernai]

Play as a badass grandpa wielding a hammer.
Name him Durnfalootin.
Use only old looking pawns.

You now have The League of Superior Senior Citizens.
My vote anywho.
If you have the plugs, maybe take some screenshots or record some footage and start a LP on here about it?

I admit i am intrigued of doing a 'first timers' lets play of this in a manner not unlike a kind of Freemans mind/Dark ID Drakengard mesh aka. Comedic. But, well, it's on Xbox 360 and...last i checked getting that many screenshots might be a whee bit difficult as i havn't the slightest clue how to do it.

 

[Infernai]

Went with "other"... I like the idea of aging your character over time, but really, until you get near-end game and get enough rift crystals* to buy an item that'll allow character (and pawn) edits whenever you fancy (from the main menu), it's not all that viable of an idea starting off. Really, you'd have to save this for new game+.

*- If you don't already know, rift crystals are earned by having people hire your pawn out. if someone lower level hires him, you get a decent lump sum, up front. You'll also accrue more, depending on how long/how much xp he gains with others. And the item I'm referring to is 10,000rc. A pretty penny starting out, but by the time it unlocks, it may not be so bad for ya. Totally depends on how well you "pimp" your pawn, as far as equipment and skill load-out.

Something else to consider; as great as kid characters [can] look, they suffer from an innate lack of speed, due to their short stature. It isn't that bad, but to illustrate- if one of your pawns is the minimum height while you aren't, they'll constantly lag behind... on the other hand, if you're a kid, that won't really be an issue. It'll take some indeterminate percentage of time longer to go places, but if you're patient (or better yet, make your first character a kid, so you won't notice the difference at all), it's all right. But the romance sub-plots will be kinda strange during cutscenes...

Apologies for apologising twice in a row like this but, i felt it necesarry.

I admit i only just got the game and I'm keeping myself reading major plot points to avoid spoiling myself too much.

However, i had no clue about the romance sub-plots...umm, is there anyway to avoid it or is that kind of a no-go?

 

[AppleShrapnel]

However, i had no clue about the romance sub-plots...umm, is there anyway to avoid it or is that kind of a no-go?

Honestly? ... you can technically kind of avoid it throughout the game, yes. BUT... well, towards the end, if you haven't wooed someone (which my first character did by complete accident and ended up in a lesbian relationship out of nowhere), a seemingly random npc gets more or less forced on you.

A bit jarring, to be sure, but it's there as a motivational plot device... basically. ._.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

I admit i am intrigued of doing a 'first timers' lets play of this in a manner not unlike a kind of Freemans mind/Dark ID Drakengard mesh aka. Comedic. But, well, it's on Xbox 360 and...last i checked getting that many screenshots might be a whee bit difficult as i havn't the slightest clue how to do it.

Well being the technological GENIUS that I am[footnote]Not, but I can be a good liar.[/footnote], all I can guess is record your plays[footnote]There's a cable-box-thingy you can buy for that, although Google's mentioning capture cards a lot so you may need that as well, honestly I'd just ask the Computer Help Group or something similar for the details.[/footnote] and if you decide against using the footage then simply take Screenshots of the footage.
Just by all means don't do the "Holding up a camcorder to the screen" thing. It usually looks like amateur work and always looks like shit. You'd be better off making a completely text adventure of it or even using crude MS Paint drawings than holding a camcorder.

-Snip-

Just Quoting you as it seemed like you might be a person who would find the [ Footnote ] code useful for future Posts.

Also you probably should have mentioned that size affect weight, which in turn affects the Stamina' total vs regen, as well as the amount of stuff you can carry.

 

[AppleShrapnel]

Just Quoting you as it seemed like you might be a person who would find the [ Footnote ] code useful for future Posts.

I was the one who coded that. I just think most people don't wanna feel like they're on wikipedia. [footnote]Ok, not really- always wondered how people did that, but too gun shy to ask. Many thanks for the info. You are a gentleman and a scholar. [/footnote]

Also you probably should have mentioned that size affect weight, which in turn affects the Stamina' total vs regen, as well as the amount of stuff you can carry.

That, I didn't know. My personal characters have both been fairly tall and lean, and only once did I make my pawn a little mage girl, which is when I noticed the running speed difference.

Captcha: honey mustard

Great, now I'm hungry.

 

[TehCookie]

Go shouta! If you already have an idea of what you want your character to look like what age does he look the best?

 

[Infernai]

Go shouta! If you already have an idea of what you want your character to look like what age does he look the best?

Hmm. Well, i guess i can leave this up to a randomized dice roll. Seeing as those two ages have been the only ones really stated.

That said, i still want to do a lets play at some point of a comedic nature starring this character basically reacting to all the crazy shit happening around them (From what i have seen the DD main characters don't speak so i can picture fun times going freemans mind on this with a bit of Dark ID's Drakengard LP thrown in for good measure). Great, now you've got me wandering about how to play this future LP out..thanks guys! xD

My guess: If he's the young one, he'll be idealistic and naive but still sort of question out of place things only to end up with his innocence totally shattered by games end. If he's the old one, he'll question out of place things AND viciously deconstruct them while solving almost everything with violence (Say hello to Caim as a grandpa xD).

 

[Infernai]

Aaaand, it looks like the dice roll has decided to go with Old man character for my first run.

This is gonna be interesting!

 

[AppleShrapnel]

Oh dear. Well, just take care on slopes and uneven terrain. Can't have the Arisen breaking a hip or something. XD

 

[Infernai]

Oh dear. Well, just take care on slopes and uneven terrain. Can't have the Arisen breaking a hip or something. XD

He's gonna be around his late 40's or about 50 so...he's not gonna be TOO old. But, it's still Far older then i normally play my characters.

 

[Dr.Panties]

Make sure to employ a suitable name for your character. Some fine examples might include:

(1) Dildoria Shepherd (for the Mass Effect femme fatale, obviously)
(2) Urethral Flamespurter
(3) Mod Banhammer
(4) Diuretica Diabolis
(5) Hilt Spankenfist

You're welcome.

 

[Vanitas likes Bubbles]

You should have played as a kid and cladded him in heavy armour and made him wield the heaviest weapons.

I know that when I get this game I'm gonna do that

 

[Infernai]

Make sure to employ a suitable name for your character. Some fine examples might include:

(1) Dildoria Shepherd (for the Mass Effect femme fatale, obviously)
(2) Urethral Flamespurter
(3) Mod Banhammer
(4) Diuretica Diabolis
(5) Hilt Spankenfist

You're welcome.

I just went with something more basic: Joshua. Cause that's a nice name.

He's a warrior in his late 40's, a former sword for hire who eventually got kicked out of the merc band he was travelling after getting into a scrap with the leader ). This forced him into retirement to a fishing village and did odd jobs here and there until he got his heart torn out by a dragon.

In personality, the guys a total Jerkass. His Pawns, if they become to vocal, end up receiving a boot to the back or thrown into walls and along with anyone who bothers him too much. He also tends to enjoy combat with monsters a WHEE bit too much, but doesn't enjoy killing actual people. Apart from that, decent enough bloke aside from the negative traits...kinda like Caim from the Dark ID LP only not having flung himself that far off the moral event horizon. He's still an ass though..xD

Yeah, i like making stories for my characters. Might make this LP funnier when i finally get around to it.

 

[Dr.Panties]

Make sure to employ a suitable name for your character. Some fine examples might include:

(1) Dildoria Shepherd (for the Mass Effect femme fatale, obviously)
(2) Urethral Flamespurter
(3) Mod Banhammer
(4) Diuretica Diabolis
(5) Hilt Spankenfist

You're welcome.

I just went with something more basic: Joshua. Cause that's a nice name.

He's a warrior in his late 40's, a former sword for hire who eventually got kicked out of the merc band he was travelling after getting into a scrap with the leader ). This forced him into retirement to a fishing village and did odd jobs here and there until he got his heart torn out by a dragon.

In personality, the guys a total Jerkass. His Pawns, if they become to vocal, end up receiving a boot to the back or thrown into walls and along with anyone who bothers him too much. He also tends to enjoy combat with monsters a WHEE bit too much, but doesn't enjoy killing actual people. Apart from that, decent enough bloke aside from the negative traits...kinda like Caim from the Dark ID LP only not having flung himself that far off the moral event horizon. He's still an ass though..xD

Yeah, i like making stories for my characters. Might make this LP funnier when i finally get around to it.

Oh. "Joshua". Well...that's a "nice" name, isn't it? Ho-hum. Doo-dee doo...

Oh, hey look everybody, let's go and talk to "Chunderbluss the Dwarf" and his pawns "Toza Sperma" and "Cunj Munjer" instead. Because they have real warrior names. Bye, Joshua!

 

[Kae]

Wait you can play as a kid?
Interesting I also like to make myself on games and being that when I was a kid I was a thief, I tend to play the thief class even if it makes combat harder sometimes, but it always seems a little odd since I'm no longer a thief, it would be interesting if I had my old self and my present self in the same team, of course since old self is thief, I guess I'd have to be a tank since my only combat talent is taking a LOT of hits, and I'm not smart enought to pretend I'd be a mage, well I guess I went into too much detail about something that has nothing to do with this...

 

[kyogen]

However, i had no clue about the romance sub-plots...umm, is there anyway to avoid it or is that kind of a no-go?

AppleShrapnel is right that it's a motivational plot device, but it's less about anyone's feelings than about how you define your character by her or his actions in a given situation. You can't avoid it, but you don't have to see it as some kind of OTP if you prefer to think of your character as independent.

Regarding your character's build, I know you've decided, but keep in mind for future playthroughs that the character's size and weight will affect how he/she handles. Give an 80-lb runt a huge two-hander if you like, but you'll have to learn how to fight around the physical awkwardness it will cause. It can be done--and it's often entertaining--but it will probably slow your story progression a bit. Age is less of a game-changer, but you still have to spend many hours (and cutscenes) looking at what you make. I'm thinking of making a spry old crone (strider/ranger) at some point, but it will mean avoiding some quest lines because, um, ew.

PS--Nier is awesome! Glad you tried it.