User blog:Flocklorico/On De-OPing...

Dunno why I’m doing this, but I decided to write some stuff about de-OPing an OC? I’m bored.

Opening
So, in case you didn’t know; OP characters are characters that are quite powerful and can use their skills with little setback.

Look; I get it as much as you do, if people said that your character has OP powers. Your character is cool! It sucks that your character can’t be as cool as you wanted.

I get that your character is possibly your persona. That’s pretty rad! We’re not asking you to make your character underwhelming.

This guide thing's for new characters, although I suppose they could be used for old. Newer characters are better fitted, though.

Before you point at characters like Leet, Leet is OP because Purple herself suggested it. So now that’s out of the way; let’s get into it.

Beginning Stuff
Before/When you get accepted or lightly confronted by Purple, Fire, or somebody else, here’s some things to consider:


 * Just because Purple or Fire don’t directly tell you no, doesn’t mean you can proceed with no further thought. We all try our best to be nice over here, and well, it’s hard to say no. When there’s a lack of direct disapproval, keep in mind that you could possibly have future problems.
 * If your character’s skills are the most important thing about your character, you should maybe elaborate on flaws and personality traits more. This isn’t an “arms race” of powers. This is the Dream SMP, not a competition.
 * Consider if you’re okay with letting your character lose sometimes. Plot armor because you like your character is okay, but we already have one extremely lucky and powerful character. Try not to make the RP into a Survival of the Fittest, where only the OP characters shine.
 * Be logical? Please? This is not just a Minecraft server roleplay. It's a Dream SMP roleplay. That means Dream, Karl, Techno, Ranboo, etc. exist. This also means that you have to think about if your character can actually coexist with the canon characters. Like actually fit in, not just one of your wistful dreams. That means no Creative mode or hacks, or futuristic technology.

In Roleplaying
Even when you’ve been approved, there’s still things you have to consider. You don’t NEED to do these, but they help make things more logical.


 * When roleplaying, keep powerplaying to a minimum. Try to make your OC’s actions “open-ended”. For example, instead of “[Your OC] suddenly stabs [Other OC]”, maybe do “[Your OC] raises the [weapon] above [Other OC]’s [back/chest], making a stabbing motion towards them”. Give them an opportunity to dodge.
 * When given the opportunity to let your character dodge or parry, don’t dodge all the time. Or, maybe let the weapon still cut them, but it’s not as bad as it would’ve been if they didn’t attempt the dodging maneuver.
 * Know that a cooldown isn’t good enough for a weakness to powers. It’s difficult to play, as you may lose track, and if the ability is really powerful, then just a cooldown is not sufficient.
 * Don’t introduce stuff out of nowhere. Also be at least a little logical. This RP is kinda already an unholy mixture (/lh) of real life and Minecraft. Let’s not suddenly have people with crazy technology. We kinda have enough of that already. (i still don’t get where the tanks and stuff come from when they haven’t been on the server for too long, and welp, let’s not make this an arms race)

How to Tell
“Okay,” you may be wondering. “But how exactly do I know if my OC is overpowered?”


 * Even though we try not to be pushy, sometimes other RP characters will remark on the oddity of your character.
 * In each difficult situation, how many times has your character gotten hurt? If there’s only very little scenarios or none that your character has gotten some injury/medium heart reduction, your character might be a bit over the top.
 * What’s the full capability of your character’s powers or abilities? If it gets to quite destructive levels, then your OC may be OP.
 * Did you make your character just to be “cool” or because the power ideas you had were cool? Characters aren’t supposed to be made just because their concepts are cool.

Ways to Nerf
So, maybe your characters turn out to be overpowered. How do you fix this? Here’s a few ways I know of:


 * It’s alright to have your character not really use their powers except in actual dire need. This is perfectly fine.
 * Make their abilities give them recoil. What I mean by that is a drawback to it. Perhaps they need rest. Maybe they get frighteningly nauseous.
 * Give the powers limits and rules. Maybe they can only use their powers at night. Maybe their combat magic/powers only work upon critical hits. Perhaps they take only a little bit of damage. Maybe it only works on certain special conditions.

Closing
Alright, that wraps up me providing personal tips. Just know that I’m nowhere near a professional or something either- this is just from stuff I see from experienced roleplayer areas, and what I’ve personally seen when I roleplay on other places.

That’s all! Have a great day.