This article concerns itself with the roleplay in Skyrates, an free to play MMORPG. The roleplay forums are rather dedicated, and many of the things that go on in roleplay end up accepted into canon.
This work provides examples of:
Ace Custom: Any pilot worth their salt is probably going to have a tricked-out version of a stock plane, or possibly a completely custom Super Prototype-esque design. Some of these stray really far from their base models. Armada Kingfishers have an uncanny habit of turning into (A)C-130s, for example...
Ace Pilot: Considering that this is a flight related game set in a flight related world, yeah, there are plenty.
Airborne Aircraft Carrier: Some of the more affluent of the characters own these. For example, the Black Pearl and The Big Figure, both Zeppelins (Not blimps), both capable of carrying a fleet of ships.
Even if they can't support a fleet of planes, some of the larger airship-type craft might carry at least one 'escape plane' (you don't want to be on an airship when it's going to hit the water) or a recon craft of some kind, much like the seaplanes launched from American and Japanese ships in the Pacific Theater of World War II.
Alternate Character Interpretation: Are some of the characters misguided souls, pushed to bad deeds by societal pressure, or simply evil people who would have taken that path anyways?
Mary Ann and Lena were this during their time on Earthbreach
Cloud Cuckoo Lander: The Azure League is often treated as this, not entirely without cause.
Corrupt Corporate Executive: George Stallengrant, whose job as a realtor, while not quite corrupt (yet), can be a bit unscrupulous.
A much better example would be Xethos Borgenwelch.
Coat Full of Contraband: Tabitha Sharp, who claims to "trade in medicines" is almost never seen without her trenchcoat either on or nearby. similarly so with her bookbag, which she claims holds her sketchbook and camera, things she doesn't want to lose. In reality, however, they both hold drugs, in addition to aforementioned supplies.
Hidden Depths: Since everybody has only a few characters to work on, most of them have some depth to them. Characters may often play their cards close to their chest for other reasons.
Homeschooled Kids: Several characters have been stated to have been homeschooled.
Naes Draw was homeschooled by his parents, leading to him having some interesting skills.
Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: Mooks rarely tend to hit anyone. Sometimes someone'll get nicked or injured and out of action for a couple of weeks, but life-threatening injuries (unless pre-planned by all parties involved) are exceptionally rare.
One of the characters is named "Hau Long." The name is such easy bait for these jokes.
Inn Between The Worlds / Good Guy Bar / Local Hangout: Whilst not strictly between 'worlds', The Rotor & Prop is exactly where it needs to be, when it needs to be, all as the plot demands. Villainous types are usually tolerated as long as they behave themselves/don't brag about what they've done/aren't beyond the Moral Event Horizon yet, and it's where a lot of casual interaction takes place.
Intoxication Ensues: Two notable instances both stem from Rubrum dosing other characters, as well as himself once.
another time Thales Miletus, a new-to-join gentleman asked for "the strongest scotch you have, off the rocks." Tabitha, seeing a good chance to prank him switched it out for F the World, which "may as well be rocket fuel."
It's All My Fault: Kaylee Stallengrant is quick to blame herself when things go wrong.
Karma Houdini: Xethos gets away after killing Flint.
Also, Blake (the person) has said that Blake (the character) has gotten off pretty easy, considering what he'd done.
Loads and Loads of Characters: Considering that it's an rp forum, it's to be expected. In fact, there is a spreadsheet dedicated to keeping track of these characters here: Dramatis Personæ
Of a sort - Herley Danika is engaged to Artemus Delphus. Artemus is also engaged to Maya Muldrake. The key part is that he loves the both equally, so...polygamy.
not so much of a love triangle, as a love string. Canid's chased Troy, who was chasing Sinen, who was dating Tabitha,
Ludicrous Gibs: The hallways of the big Figure were painted red.
MacGyvering: Artemus Delphus, when face with a boast about Terrance "Pistol" Hick's mechanical feats, gets into an argument as to who can out Mac Gyver who:
Pistol: Whatever you gotta do mate... you know your stuff but I've fixed/built more than a few things in much worse conditions... you ever repaired a tractor in a hail storm, or fixed your planes feul intake in a jungle?
Artemus: Yeah....I've fixed my sister's Nova with nothin' but a hammer, three bands of rubber, a top hat, some brass, and a bottle of Lengish Red in the middle of Grottopolis all while trying to make a trade to Uurwerk within the next 6 hours....what's your point?
Pistol: That's more like it, but instead of having a my story top yours war I was just pointing out that 'soundproof' might be a bit errr hopefull.... oh and did I ever tell you about the time that I fixed my havoc in flight, between luz and Tehras, with a towers shots resounding around me with only a pair of plyers, my teeth, a piece of leather, and some chewing gum?
Artemus: For shame....What's real skill is trying to fix a scout ballon, midflight between here and Echo because the engine exploded. I had to build a new engine with naught but two friends, the brass horn of a victrolla, and a sophisticated looking picture of Fuseli.
Pistol: Thats lil' stuff, I once used naught more than a coffee cup, a quarter, 2 lemons, and a dartboard fashioned in the shape of volstoy to build a glider that took me clear from midgard to Islo...
Mood Whiplash: The next thing roleplayed after the pause in the Unobtainium Project's finale was between a one-tusked elephant and comic relief character.
Mooks: Because at some point, somebody's gotta die, and if it ain't a player character, then it's gonna be a mook.
Poor Communication Kills: Xethos Borgenwelch believes that Flint and Aeson had intentionally killed his family, and is now trying to kill them. However, the death of his family was due to a misunderstanding, and not intentional... yeah.
She Is Not My Girlfriend: Played with. Tabitha subtlely tries to pry information out of Farth who she believes bombed a casino. while sitting next to her boyfriend.
Farth: Mrs. Sharp, I did not have any involvement, is that understood?
Tabitha: (After recovering from shock, her boyfriend glaring at Farth) Did you just call me 'Mrs'?
Farth:(Indicating between the two.) I did. Aren't you-
Shout Out: Certain characters are named after other famous figures, most notably, one "Jay Gatzby." One League "officer" intentionally shares a first name with a certain Miss Starshine.
Also a common theme of plane naming.
A combat medic named Jenkins. First name Leroy.
To say nothing of George, a rabbit. George Babbitt
The Sixth Ranger: Rudolf, joining Dana, Morgan and Rubrum right before the invasion.
Sky Pirate: Lots of them. No, really. They can be both the 'evil villain' and 'dashing rogue' kinds as mentioned on the Pirate page.
Status Quo Is God: While there are certainly changes made, it's frowned upon to kill off any characters.
Less frowned upon and more that very few people are actually willing to off their characters for good. Sometimes they get Put on a Bus, but very rarely is anyone Killed Off for Real. If they Never Found the Body, good bets the character may yet return. The number of relatively major characters (i.e. not Mauve Shirts) that've actually died for good could probably be counted on two hands.
These Questions Three: On entrance to the Rotor and Prop tavern, new folks are asked three questions before they can order or spend the night.
"Who are you?"
"Where did you come from?"
"Where are you going?"
Thicker Than Water: Naes is willing to put himself in harms way to save Wai (Who he barely knows), just because his sister (Who also he barely knows) is set on doing so. "Family is Everything".
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