The Interview

 

Sadistic_Cheese: o.o although I'm still wondering how Alex came up

Nami: Magic!

Sadistic_Cheese: riiight. Anyway...as for questions I think as a player/user would be better, although if you wanna do both I could do a few questions from his point of view.

Nami: Cool then.
Let's get started. So, please describe Alex Greystone briefly, in about 4-5 sentences? =)

Sadistic_Cheese: He's a man out-of-place. He has outdated means and methods and a weary worldview to boot. Often he wonders why he's even in the modern age, but he's beginning to realize he can make his own reason.

Nami: What about the inspiration behind the character?
I notice there's a distinct difference in how he talks compared to say, modern speech.

Sadistic_Cheese: By and large my inspiration for Greystone came from what most people would call 'noir' or classic detective novels, along with some modern media that used that same theme. Most of the novels are set in the 40s and 50s, and like with any long-gone time-period, they had certain slang phrases that were in use then that have been quietly retired for a long time. Google 'Phillip Marlowe' sometime and you'll get the gist of it.

Nami: What do you think is the most interesting aspect(s) of him?

Sadistic_Cheese: Probably his attitude towards modern society, technology in particular. It's not that he hates it, it's simply that there's an overwhelming amount for him to learn and he's not entirely convinced that 'improvements' like having a cell phone are good things. He wants to show that there's a simpler way of doing things that doesn't require batteries or touch-screens that lets you get the same, or better, results. We'll find out if he's right or not on that.

Nami: What about aspects you dislike about him or find difficult to roleplay? He's a relatively fresh character though, but is there something that makes it difficult to work with?

Sadistic_Cheese: I think the toughest part to work around is his experience. He's already had a full life. He died at a ripe old age. Aside from not knowing the quirks of modern society or living in a forigen country, it's difficult making him surprised by things, especially interpersonal things. You say "I can't believe my boyfriend cheated on me!" he says: "She's 5' 4", blonde, and wears a d-cup bra, you were expecting him to control himself?"

He's just seen a lot, so he's not too surprised. Oftetimes I worry he borders on Gary Stu territory with how unflappable he is in most situations.

Nami: I wouldn't think so. Gary Stu is mainly a concept. I think it's how you play it. Oh. Speaking of playing... =o What do you have planned for him in the future? Like, you're having his SL running at the moment. Any plans with anyone in particular?

Sadistic_Cheese: For now, just working cases. Trouble is his business, and there's a lot of people in Fukuoka who are in it. I'm working on building a rogues' gallery of sorts, people who will know him....and likely want his hide nailed to their office door. Drugs, guns, money, jewels, women....it's all part of the life Alex knew before. He'll find that while lots of things change with time, those sure don't.

Nami: Have you ever thought about how Alex's story would end? Say if you were going with the Film Noir aspect and inspiration. Would you perhaps envision a tragic ending for Alex? Or would you prefer something of a lighter tone as a conclusion?

Sadistic_Cheese: Oh sure. Knowing the guy as I do he'll either retire to a condo on the beach or bleed out in an alley....again. Marlowe himself ended on a high-note when Raymond Chandler died, having gotten married to a multimillionare's daughter. Of course years later Chandler's family found a manuscript where Marlowe couldn't stop working and the marriage ended in divorce. So I suppose it's still typical.

Nami: That's kind of romantic. Retiring to a condo on the beach. With a woman? =P

Sadistic_Cheese: One thing to remember about the Hard-Boild Detective: They see so much of the grit and grime of the world that they're a sucker for a happy ending. I have no doubts Alex would seriously consider not turning a guy in if it were to break up what he saw as a genuinely happy and loving relationship or family.

and of course he'd have a woman! Well, at least for as long as she could stand him, anyway. He's a terrible smart-mouth.

Nami: Probably an indirect shout-out to all the ladies -cough- What does he think of modern women? Because they have changed quite a bit from his era.

Sadistic_Cheese: He enjoys ladies of any kind, although I suspect if they're going to babble on about building a computer or anything technical it would be best to do so in a swimsuit or something. At least then you can keep his attention.

Seriously though, I think the biggest issue he might have with modern women is the fact that many allow their boyfriends or husbands to effectively ignore them. Going out to the club or something and leaving them at home, then whining at the girls when they call and ask to spend some time together.

To Alex if you're dating or married to a woman she should be an important part of your life, not something you just pay attention to when you want to.

Nami: I would have thought the problem would have been well, the attitudes and priorities of women have changed. Moving onto his ideals, though... How has he adapted to the modern world? How much of his values has he retained from his era?

Sadistic_Cheese: He's adjusted surprisingly well, I think. In his line of business he has to be capable of rolling with things when they change and being willing to admit when he's wrong or re-think things when new information comes around. That ability seems to have served him well so far. Mostly the values he's maintained are his philosophy towards the opposite sex, as well as his insistence that just working hard can get you by in one way or another.

Nami: Well, I'm making your icon pretty now. I think we've got enough to appetize the members. ^^
Any last words?

Sadistic_Cheese: Alex is a cliche, an Archetype if you will. He has a lot of stereotypical tendencies and traits of the genre I designed him from. However I think that's part of the appeal of him for me. So many people who build characters are focused so hard on making them a hundred percent original.

Sometimes I think they forget or don't realize that when you build someone like Alex, the broader strokes are in a sense done for you. That gives you the freedom to put in and work on the details and quirks that are both important to set them apart from the Archetype you made them from, and also makes them enjoyable to play.