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Writing your description, or as we of the pantheon like to call it, making your face, is a very important step in the creation of your character. Even before you begin playing your character it is a very good idea to get a mental picture of what your character will look like. It is highly recommended that you write out the physical description of your character on a piece of paper or in a word processor on your computer. This will not only save you time when it comes to officially writing your description (also called desc) but it also gives you a chance to see your character as others will see it, in writing.
The pantheon understands that sometimes you would just rather play Dark Mists for a little than worry about writing your desc. We understand this and thus have given a grace period. Within the first 5 levels of your character's life, you are not required to have your desc written. However, once you reach level 6, it will be required. And this is strictly enforced.
Now you maybe asking yourself, 'What is so special about a desc and why must I have one?' The answer is quite simple. A desc is the means by which the world of Dark Mists and its many inhabitants, recognize you and remember you. Without a desc no one would know what you look like. No one would remember you. It is much easier to remember a person's personality when you can connect a mental picture to the personality. So it becomes crucial that every player have a good solid desc that they can be proud of.
Writing a desc, as easy as it may sound, does have some rules and guidelines that everyone must follow. These rules are few but they are strictly enforced. The first of these rules is simply this: no actions. Your character may not be performing any actions in your desc. Examples of what this means are the following.
John hefts his axe into the air and unleashes a primitive roar! or John steps out of the shadows as you walk by and pilfers your coin purse.
The second rule is equally as straightforward. Do not force the reader to react to your presence. This means that even though another person is looking at your character, this does not mean that you can see them. Thus, if you can not see them, how can you possible react to them looking at you? An example of this is the following:
John steps from the cover of his camouflage and grins at your menacingly.
These are examples of poor sentences that should never be found in your desc. Think of your desc as a photograph or a snapshot of your character. The detail in a photograph is "frozen," there is no motion in a still frame. There is only the detail of the character's looks, clothing, size, height, and anything else that might set him or her apart from the rest of the world. The first thing you should ask yourself when thinking of how to describe your character is the following. "If I were looking at myself in a mirror, what would I see?" That is what your physical description should represent.
Your character's description is vital to your stay in Dark Mists. Without it other players will not help you and you will find your stay fraught with constant reminders from the pantheon to write it up. The minimum length of a description is six lines. You are free, and most certainly encouraged, to write more than the minimum required. Should you be unable to write your desc, or unwilling, you will be brought to the Realm of the Dead by the immortal pantheon. There you will be required to write your desc in a satisfactory manner before you will be permitted to return to the game. So it is in your best interest to do it correctly. Follow the above rules, and do it to the best of your knowledge and ability.
Remember, that when you write your desc, picture your character as if you were looking at his or her image in the mirror or in a photograph. What would you see? Describe that as best you can, in the best english you possibly can, and you will have taken the next important step to a rewarding roleplaying experience in Dark Mists.
One final thing of importance regarding description writing. Changelings, a race of shapeshifters in Dark Mists, have three base forms as they increase in standing within their guilds. When each new form is discovered, the changeling will find that he or she must write a new description for this form. So in total, a changeling will have to write four descriptions, one for each of the three forms and one for their natural form. Keep this in mind if you desire to play a changeling.
the Psychological Description [Next]
