Claiming authority? (by Aerthal)

Hello there

Some players tend to like to give their character (or characters) positions of some authority and I feel it should be thrown into discussion.

As you all know, giving your character power over someone else's character is a delicate matter. How it should be done is up to the players to decide, but it's always down to the other party accepting it, otherwise you're just banging your head against a wall. There is a fine line between forcing your character's authority down people's throats and doing it well enough for people to start respecting the self-proclaimed authority or power. To gain this respect is up to the player, it's a long trip towards the top. Along this trip, your character must've had ups and downs. Bursting straight to the top doesn't make it believable, hence it's best to just get to know people and slowly gain the opposing PLAYER'S trust, to trust in you that you'd continue to play your character well and to support your character's claimed authority or power, and so on...

Making your character's authority believable is another matter. I wouldn't suggest going over the top to claim that your character is the lover of the Regent Lord, or the lost son of Thrall. In fact, I wouldn't even go as far as playing a major lore character's right hand at all, or the left foot's first toe, for that matter. If you're going to work your way towards the top of the foodchain, I'd suggest "using" other players, and I don't mean grab onto them like broomsticks and once the trip to the top is over, dump them into the nearest ditch, no. I mean, get contacts and remain in touch with these said people. They will, even if rather unknowingly, help you towards the circles that you probably wanted to get to know anyway. If you're unsure whether this concept you've in your mind is believable, I'd suggest asking other people. Throw it onto the roleplaying forums, your Realm forums or ask around ingame, and perhaps gain some companions to support this idea to get started and perhaps (GASP!) gain a trusty friend through your mutual campaign and adventure.

Here's my two cents. Any comments?