How to RP a Death Knight

Ephitos wrote:We use Death's Breach.
What IC reason would moving to Northrend have? With under 75's especially.

Oh I dunno... Do what DKs are supposed to do? Fight the scourge?

I don't think so.
Perhaps with a better background story, but currently we don't need to move that far away.

Ephitos wrote:I don't think so.
Perhaps with a better background story, but currently we don't need to move that far away.

Maybe you do, since as you can see, most people frown upon the original idea.

Maybe we don't. With Cata I will have a fresh look at the landscape, territory and however it is split up between NPC factions. And then relocate. That would make more sense in my opinion.

Mandui wrote:

Ephitos wrote:I don't think so.
Perhaps with a better background story, but currently we don't need to move that far away.

Maybe you do, since as you can see, most people frown upon the original idea.

Well, I didn't heard anyone whining about the place we're meeting at currently. It was purely about us wondering around the Cathedral. /shrug

I get a bad feeling about how well I actually fit into the DB RP Scene when I read that most of the characteristics that makes both of my DKs (was a human first, gnome now) special, are shunned and frowned upon.

When my DK was a human, I didn't RP him as a Death Knight per-say. I RPed that he was a part of the expedition that Arthas brought to Northrend, and that he, having a limited grasp of arcane arts, had been able to adapt his growing (although limited) powers to necromancy when time would require it of him. He was a swordsman already, and basically became a warrior wielding necromantic spells against his oponents. Oh wait, I just stole the concept of a DK right there!

Basically, he would potentially use this guise to abuse the Scourge from time to time, stealing over some of the Lich King's undead minions for personal protection, or reanimating a group of undead to ambush areas where he would be able to harvest undead protectors. Basically, doing what he could to survive in Northrend.

Now, I assume that the thing about all sorts of arcane magic "corrupting" you to a degree, changing appearance etc, does apply to the humans aswell as elves/orcs/draenei etc, which is how I explained his eyes. I RPed him as having a definite cold, necromantic-ish eye colour, but not the immense glow that Blizz stuck me with. His eyes would basically look -very- much like the DK ones ingame, just that they looked like he was alive, as he managed to survive the trip to Northrend. He'd retain all the features that he'd have as a living person. He would feel sexual attraction just the same as Kel'thuzad pre-lich form, as that's basically the state of life he was in. He was a necromancer that knew how to use a sword, and chose to cross those two arts for maximum potential.


For my gnome, Rhyodan, I took another turn. This one is dead. His soul is either completely gone, or it is damaged badly from his trip to Lich King Land. He does however still have this eager behavior that characterizes gnomes, rather than being just another emo with dark spells. He has a sense of social behavior, as his gnomish behavior kind of begs for attention in order for it to be recognized. He reffers to himself as "Arch gearholder and grand tinker of the Ebon Hold", always followed by a /cheer.
He is however able to go srs-mode when time bids it. But I RP him with many of the same features that I would RP in a normal gnome.


And no, nobody will ever convince me that I'm doing it wrong. If you think I'm bad, don't RP with me. If everyone thinks I'm bad, maybe I should go find people that accept the way I chose to enjoy my character, as I honestly have not been able to find any official pieces of lore that would contradict any of my characters.

Don't forget ever forget that your character is your own, and you can RP yourself to any extent you want as long as you know it makes sense for others. If my DK joined the Crimson Flame would that make much sense?

In fact it's just one little piece on wow-wiki wich tells that all playable dk's are dead and have no heart or feelings.

And well, you can't take wow-wiki always as official lore, since it can be edited/manipulated by players.

All the in-game lore states that they (Acherus Death Knights) are dead. The introduction clearly spells out that you gave your life (and no, that can't be questioned, because the tone of it is clearly intended to mean 'you died'), and when you are in Acherus at the start, you see them with piles of corpses raising them to be judged worthy or not of becoming a Death Knight. Your DK is one of many of those. There is no evidence or support at all for a living Ebon Hold Death Knight, and clear evidence against it.

That being said, I don't see nothing wrong for a player to play a non-Ebon Hold DK as a 'melee Necromancer' or something similar and their character having ICly never been part of the Acherus storyline. I had originally planned on doing that myself (as my character had already been pursuing necromancy even before DK had been announced), but I really liked the Acherus lore/storyline and felt that doing something against that would be more hassle than it's worth.

So, Rhyodan, I don't have anything against your concepts. I think the Acherus lore is too interesting to ignore, personally, but as long as you can explain the reason your char is of that class convincingly, I don't have a problem with it. The biggest problem I see is with people automatically jumping to conclusions... doing a different backstory creates a hassle here, as you have to explain it all the time. I'd much rather go with the class origin story faithfully than try and do something different and have to explain why it's different all the time.

And yet Sharkhan you're grasping at straws, seeking to discredit the source because you cannot prove it wrong.

But, do tell, why is it that their eyes glow blue, a common characteristic of all Death Knights that were raised and used during the Acherus storyline. Why do not the willing Death Knights have these glowing eyes? Why only those who were raised at Acherus?

All playable Death Knights have these eyes, therefore, all playable Death Knights were raised at Acherus as there is no alternative explanation, nothing plausible etc. Playable Death Knights are dead, dead, dead, dead.

I don't mind being dead.
Antistia is just going to prove we are Forsaken eventually.
xD

Ephitos wrote:I don't mind being dead.
Antistia is just going to prove we are Forsaken eventually.
xD

Yes, now serve the Dark Lady!

<3

do we have to?

In my characters past I already did :O!

You know, I do respect people's view on DK's even though I'm not sure yet about the truth being that they're all Dead.
I'm simply keeping the possibilities open, for people who are not willing to RP an emo character amongst other emo chars...I like differences in character, wich makes RP fun. If everyone plays the same thing then RP would get very boring.
And you lot bashing our heads, because we don't like to have our fellow RPers (wich is only DK, because no one cares or wants us around) all the same, that's it's quite annoying and pretty bitchy...

Yes I agree that we do need to keep to the official guidelines wich the lore gives us, but you all apperently expect us all to be emo and one and the same, killing our joy in RP. While Blizzard themselves don't seem all too clear, not even the pre-quests tell us we're dead litterly...Only at the starting theme we're refered to as "dark rebirth" and "fallen heroes". Whereas rebirth and fallen, could both mean phisically -or- mentally, -or- both.

Whatever the case, I just like to think both dead or alive but manipulated is possible simply for the sake of good and enjoyable RP...
And as long as Blizzard doesn't makes it official in their lore-novels or anything like that, I prefer to keep it like that.

I don't encourage god-rp or power-rp or any such things at all really.
But RP is supposed to be enjoying the game on a new level, instead of just PvE and PvP grinding. Therefor, I pull a line when things are getting too shitty IC, while Blizz isn't clear about any facts, to keep it fun for others.

It's crazy that people hammer other people OOC with the maul of judgement, because they suck in RP thanks to their wider thinking and opinions, in their opinions.
No matter what is said here, no one will ever agree, untill they're forced to agree thanks to too much pressure. Very immature and discomfortable really...

You know, I do respect people's view on DK's even though I'm not sure yet about the truth being that they're all Dead.
I'm simply keeping the possibilities open, for people who are not willing to RP an emo character amongst other emo chars...I like differences in character, wich makes RP fun. If everyone plays the same thing then RP would get very boring.

True, true, an open mind is good yet nothing points to the direction of third generation Death Knights (the playable ones) being alive, everything points to them being dead. Even within the framework of a dead Death Knight there is plenty of variety possible (Same as with the Forsaken).

And you lot bashing our heads, because we don't like to have our fellow RPers (wich is only DK, because no one cares or wants us around) all the same, that's it's quite annoying and pretty bitchy...

We are criticizing where we believe criticism is needed, we shall also praise where we think praise is deserving. Constructive criticism is, however, in no way bitchy.

Yes I agree that we do need to keep to the official guidelines wich the lore gives us, but you all apperently expect us all to be emo and one and the same, killing our joy in RP. While Blizzard themselves don't seem all too clear, not even the pre-quests tell us we're dead litterly...Only at the starting theme we're refered to as "dark rebirth" and "fallen heroes". Whereas rebirth and fallen, could both mean phisically -or- mentally, -or- both.

As said, variety is possible within this context as a Forsaken RPer I know this quite well and my fellow Forsaken RPers will agree with me on this one. Not to mention that I also have a long experience of being a Death Knight RPer, the second in command (both IC and OOC) of a guild called The Ebon Hold, to some this may ring a bell or two.

The intro cinematic tells you that you purchased a new dawn for the world at the cost of your life. So, whatever you did, it cost you your life, so it does state this quite clearly. The blue glowing eyes, a characteristic of all third generation Death Knights and none of the willing ones, also point in this direction as does Razuvious choosing corpses that would be fit for being raised.

Whatever the case, I just like to think both dead or alive but manipulated is possible simply for the sake of good and enjoyable RP...
And as long as Blizzard doesn't makes it official in their lore-novels or anything like that, I prefer to keep it like that.

And yet everything point to this, it's even explicitly said that you purchased a new dawn for the world with your life.

It's crazy that people hammer other people OOC with the maul of judgement, because they suck in RP thanks to their wider thinking and opinions, in their opinions.
No matter what is said here, no one will ever agree, untill they're forced to agree thanks to too much pressure. Very immature and discomfortable really...

We criticize and consider this not to be correct with regards to the other lore, we don't condemn you as you seem to believe, I, personally, try to discuss it, educate, and if need be allow myself to be educated simply because I'm not always right, I do however believe things need to be backed up with facts and that the facts point to my 'side' being correct.

As I said before with constructive criticism not being bitchy, neither is it immature, it is the most mature way of expressing one's disagreement with something, uncomfortable is what oneself makes of it.

Sharkhan wrote:Yes I agree that we do need to keep to the official guidelines wich the lore gives us, but you all apperently expect us all to be emo and one and the same, killing our joy in RP. While Blizzard themselves don't seem all too clear, not even the pre-quests tell us we're dead litterly...Only at the starting theme we're refered to as "dark rebirth" and "fallen heroes". Whereas rebirth and fallen, could both mean phisically -or- mentally, -or- both.

If you are just looking at the text of the introduction, then you could make that distinction. But not when you actually listen to it. The ominous tone used when saying "... with your life..." gives no doubt about what it means. There is more to language than just the words used. Intonation gives a more clear intention than just the words.

Other clear indications we're undead:

"The endless hunger will soon take hold of you, death knight. When it does, you will feel pain immeasurable. There is only one remedy for the suffering: the hunger must be sated." -Instructor Razuvious

"Do you feel it, <name>? That sensation is raw power coursing through your body. Such a thing cannot exist for mortals." -Prince Valanar

"Look at this pumpkin patch! Notice anything missing? Of course you don't, because you're a moron! Your brain was probably the first thing to die." -Noth the Plaguebearer

"Now, death knight, a brief lesson in plague cauldrons. The gas that the cauldron emits is deadly to the living, but empowers Scourge. As with all scourge creations, it feeds off death and grows stronger the longer it feeds." -Noth the Plaguebearer. Note that the cauldron potions you get BOOST your abilities, clearly showing you AREN'T living.

"here will be no atonement for us, <name>. We are forever damned to walk the earth as monsters." -Highlord Darion Mograine

And, once again... one of the first things you see, is wagons full of corpses. Each are being raised in a practically assembly line order to judge the dead as worthy of being a death knight, or not. You, as the player, are one of those. There are no living death knights at Acherus. Even the various books strewn about the place that you can read make it clear that all DKs are dead.

Whatever the case, I just like to think both dead or alive but manipulated is possible simply for the sake of good and enjoyable RP...
And as long as Blizzard doesn't makes it official in their lore-novels or anything like that, I prefer to keep it like that.

It is official, for reasons given above.

I don't encourage god-rp or power-rp or any such things at all really.
But RP is supposed to be enjoying the game on a new level, instead of just PvE and PvP grinding. Therefor, I pull a line when things are getting too shitty IC, while Blizz isn't clear about any facts, to keep it fun for others.

It's crazy that people hammer other people OOC with the maul of judgement, because they suck in RP thanks to their wider thinking and opinions, in their opinions.
No matter what is said here, no one will ever agree, untill they're forced to agree thanks to too much pressure. Very immature and discomfortable really...

I personally have no problem with someone playing a living death knight if they were pretending the class is something else (like Rhyodan's melee necromancer thing). Afterall, you don't have to follow the origin story to be a character that uses frost/necromantic powers and swordplay, as long as you can explain away the eyes convincingly. However, if someone is playing an Acherus Death Knight, going by the official origin story, then they are dead--case closed.

"case closed"...

This is what I meant with the pressure thingy...
You didn't needed to add that, really. It sounds very elitist, wich kind of makes a discussion already decided, without listening to other opinions.
As you explained it, it's very clear and I can indeed give in.

You know, constructive critism is brought constructively as well. In some cases I kind of failed to see that. Please do keep that in mind...
I was totally unknown with the true DK RP. And specially since this death issue would force me to change a lot of my RP character, I wished to see clear facts.

That's all.
Now I guess I should do some revamps on Sharkhan, to make him as he should be.

...

*waits impatiently at the cursed WoW-updater* >.<

That comment wasn't meant to sound elitist, sorry.

I personally don't really care about lore as longs its reasonable and I and the people I provide an environment to RP in have fun.
Otherwise, to hell with these details!
Drustai come meet the Brotherhood!

Maybe I will when I have the chance. I won't be showing up at the Cathedral for IC reasons but if there are any events at Acherus or Death's Breach or wherever I'll look into it. Planning on joining LFDK next time I'm in-game.

Antistia wrote:And yet Sharkhan you're grasping at straws, seeking to discredit the source because you cannot prove it wrong.

But, do tell, why is it that their eyes glow blue, a common characteristic of all Death Knights that were raised and used during the Acherus storyline. Why do not the willing Death Knights have these glowing eyes? Why only those who were raised at Acherus?

All playable Death Knights have these eyes, therefore, all playable Death Knights were raised at Acherus as there is no alternative explanation, nothing plausible etc. Playable Death Knights are dead, dead, dead, dead.

In that case, all trolls are darkspear, all tauren are bloodhoof, all humans stormwindians, all dwarves are under the Bronzebeard hammer, etc. etc. Because that's what game mechanics say they are.

Yet we have the Gurubashi, we have multiple Tauren tribes that should not exist due to them being bloodhoof tribe members. We have Arathorian and Lordaeronian humans.

I did the exact same thing with my human. Only I did it with the class that is prejudiced against, so I get the flame for it.

I think the question we need to ask ourselves, would the Alliance and the Horde accept any non-Acherus DK's?
For Acherus we have that "fighting with Tyrion against the Lich King" event/quest.

No they would not. Because I discussed this at length with Perturbo,
All death knights NOT under the banner of Darion would be seen as enemies. Because those only under him were credited for assistance by Tirion. Any other DK in theory is evil.
That is FACT.

So every non-Acherus DK has no chance to join the alliance and every Acherus risen DK is prob dead (that brings the question where some of the NPC's without glowy eyes come from, as I understand it, only the Blood Trainer could possibly be living human->DK but might be one of those 2nd generation cases).
Further, certain NPC's that are in Acherus in the beginning and leave, siding with the Lk later, don't have the glowy blue eyes either.