____Getting to Know You

____RP Spotlight

____Character Spotlight

____Storyline Spotlight

____News

____Holly & Ashleys RP Advice

____ RPWA site

____ Archives

__December 14, 2003-- Jennifer

“As the great man once said, it's been a long strange trip.” Says Jennifer, owner and creator of the RPG, Low Country. “I started role playing with tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons when I was a thirteen, but about 5 years ago I found E-groups, which became Yahoo Groups and I've been addicted to online RPG’s ever since.”

Jennifer currently owns one group, Low Country, a drama based RPG, set on the island of Kill Devil, in swampy North Carolina. She’s also an active member in Purity of the Heart, Small Town Murders and Sinful Desires. And has role played in Bliss Inc and Remember Me Tomorrow in the past. When asked how many characters she currently plays, Jennifer laughs, “Ninety-five. Well, at least it seems that way.” Then after counting, she looks surprised, “Wow, I just counted it up and I play 10 characters in Low Country alone! And so far just one in Purity, one in Small Town Murders, and one in Sinful Desires.” She wishes she could handle more, but her priority right now is to keep Low Country running smoothly.

It’s no surprise, like most other group owners, that Jennifer’s favorite group is her own pride and joy, Low Country. “I'd have to say my own group is my favorite because I am a megalomanica and I created it.” She explains. “Ok, maybe not exactly for that reason. I love Low Country because it’s a tight group of players and we get some really good storylines going. I'm also proud of the back story for Low Country, because I really love the atmosphere and culture of small southern towns, even if they can sometimes have a dark side.”

Several other favorites of Jennifer come from Low Country as well, including her favorite character and favorite storyline, but that’s no surprise either. “My favorite character that I play is Belle Kelley in Low Country.” She smiles. Though she’s tells me she’s also played a similar version of Belle Kelley in the RPG Bliss Inc. “Like everyone else, I like to role play and explore different personalities, but we writers have to admit that we sometimes pour some of ourselves into our characters. In many ways, Belle is a lot like what I might have been if I hadn't earned the opportunity to get an education and to climb out of the "small town rut."

Next we move onto favorite storyline and Jennifer easily draws in my attention as she explains her favorite at the moment. “Right now in Low Country, my intrepid newspaper reporter, Sam Devlin is involved in a love triangle with a mother and daughter. His dilemma is this - the mother, Katherine Richards, was the love of his life, who abandoned him. On the other hand, he barely knows the daughter, Rachel Sullivan, but sparks are really flying between them. The best part about the storyline is the animosity between the mother and daughter. Their player, Daniel, has already had them in a knock down, hair pulling fight! It was hysterical!” She explains before laughing herself, obviously reviewing the storyline in her head.

Not all of my questions were as easy for her to answer though. When asked about her favorite role player to play opposite of, she honestly had to think for a moment to make a decision. “That is an incredibly hard question!” She finally answers. “At the moment, I have many, but two stand out. I really love Jason and Daniel from Low Country because they are both so creative. Daniel really keeps me on my toes. I always look forward to his posts because I never have any idea what he will be up to next.” She states with up most sincerity. “And Jason is incredibly funny and charming. With the way his character Jeff is wooing my character Belle, he should be teaching in a charm school”

This interview has been very entertaining from the beginning, but I’d have to say that what Jennifer had to say next really surprised me. I asked her if there were any role players she wished she could play opposite of more often and here’s what she had to say… “Yes! Ann and Ashley! We did an RPWA Challenge together and we were awesome, if I do say so myself. Even though I belong to a lot of groups with both of them, somehow we just manage to miss one another role playing-wise.” It’s always nice to hear that someone wishes they could role play with you more often, and I whole heartedly agree… She and I definitely need to interact more often in our RPG’s.

“My hardest character to play is Dr. Sadie Kennan in Low Country. She is a medical doctor, and is extremely shy and reserved. Sometimes it’s hard to keep from having her say or do more than the character realistically would, just to further the story line.” Jennifer relays after a moment of thought. And I’m sure we can all relate… but stepping into a character with a unique and differing personality is a welcome challenge to most role players.

Jennifer then easily answers my next question on which character is her easiest to play. “Oddly enough, the easiest characters for me to play are the real bastards. I hope that doesn't say anything about me personally...” She says with a worried look. “Right now, in Low Country, I play Ryan Gardner, the corrupt Sheriff of Kill Devil Island. When I'm playing Ryan I pretty much only have to think, "What would a complete asshole do in this situation?" and I have Ryan's post. The complete assholes I'm referring to are based on husbands and boyfriends of the women I used to work with at a battered women's shelter. It's strange, and scary, how a lot of those men all seem to have the same self-centered and controlling personality.” Although role playing is often a chance to escape our real lives, there is always that part of us that seeps into our characters. I’m sure if you look at every single one of your characters, you’ll find something that relates to your life within each character.

And finally, the question I always enjoy the most… When I asked Jennifer for advice on role playing, here’s what she had to say, “Hmm.... For one, write long posts. We want to know what your character is thinking and feeling, as well as what he/she's saying. Another thing I think inexperienced role players forget to do is to give their characters flaws. And I don't mean a flaw like "she can't choose between Mike and Chad." Give her realistic flaws -she's a compulsive gambler, and alcoholic, or she can't keep a job. Flaws serve to make characters seem more human, and people enjoy a story when they can relate to the characters. My last bit of advice is to ALWAYS keep conflict in a story. Sad but true, nobody wants to read about how you get up everyday with a huge smile on your face, go to the bank and pick up your lottery winnings, and then have great sex on your yacht with this month's Playmate. Yawn. Can you think of a TV show you watch that doesn't have conflict? Exactly! Remember, nothing is sweeter than when you follow a character through obstacles and adversity and then finally see him/her achieve a happy ending.”