Saundethen's Essay

Date: Tue Sep 21 17:12:55 1999 CDT
From: Saundethen (#15023)
To: Jueann (#5565)
Subject: Re: Essay Contest

'Twas hard to decide between IC and OOC... You said IC'd be preferred, but I could think of good reasons for both. I can only settle upon one essay combining both, if that's alright...

What first drew me, as a player, to the Harper Hall I'm not exactly sure of now. Currently, I find that when RPing about the hold, Harpers seem to be a good deal more respected than other Crafters; which may or may not be totally true. It's come to be a good thing for me and Saun--Both of us can explore ourselves more, musically and otherwise, odd as it may sound. I think it came as quite a surprise, the knowledge that is expressed between fictional characters on this MOO. While it might be nothing new for an apprentice to learn great, new things from their master, but I, at least, thought it oddly wonderful that the people somewhere out there, behind these bits of text and programming were so well-educated and informative on the subject. But maybe it's just me.

The craft also offers one of the best chances I've seen to mingle with hold-folk in other ways than taking orders for items or some-such. Not only gathers, but even a chance mention of apprenticeship on the beach can elude a short concert, which also happens to be one of the best RP sources I've found. It encourages co-operation, when playing in a group, among all those other literary-related things that are helped with the development of good RP skills. Something else, that I think plays a big part, is the lack of need to be a musical genius when RPing. It helps, sure, but almost anyone with a good ear for sound can pose their character playing through scales, express the dynamics and tempo of the piece, and even attempt to elude a certain feeling from the audience (without powerplay, of course).

Saundethen, my character, is certainly not exempt from all these OOC benefits. It's given me a chance to expand on him, and his history; and in an odd sort of way, it's helped him get to know himself. It's certainly not just plain ol' experience that's made Saun into such an interesting character, In my own eyes; of multiple alts, he's one of the few that's developed such a unique personality. Search, I've debated a few times for him--but I do think his future lies with the Harpers. Three Turns into his apprenticeship, he could still be taken off to the weyr, I suppose, but it might not be for the better.

Being a Harper is just to be a darned fun person doing a darned fun thing, things, actually. I can say that I've probably learned more than a few things about real-life harper things from Out of Character, certainly, and even In Character lessons. It does take a certain amount of work, though: I'd say that if I didn't know as much about music as I did when I joined the craft, I'd probably've had a harder time. Which isn't to say, of course, that I wouldn't have had as much fun! If anything, it's hard not to. There's something different, setting the Harpers far apart from the other crafts. You can tell it in the books, of course, but with other, real people out there, it just comes to life... Learning, teaching, performing, crafting. Long live Harpers, huzzah!

Lil' ol' Saun

--------------------------