Post by Sivoncé™ on Nov 28, 2010 13:39:34 GMT -5
Hiya!
So, since we've had a TON of open high ranks lately, I was hoping to maybe warm you guys up to the idea of having one by offering up a few tips from my own experiences of haivng alphas
I'd love it if others would join in with their questions, comments and advice as well -- the more we share, the more we'll learn about it. Hopefully, this means that if you guys know a little more about what it's like to play one, you'll want to have an alpha yourselves
Alphas
When playing an alpha, it's important to understand the difference and balance between taking charge and letting it go to your head. An alpha is a powerful figure that needs to make decisions that will majorly affect the plot and actions of other wolves. Alphas are far from perfect and make mistakes sometimes, but the point is that most alphas -- unless they are tyrants like Bain -- make decisions based on what they believe is best for their pack rather than best for their own goals.
So, for example's sake, it is an alpha's choice who to name for their beta, what battles they join, or what actions they take against other packs such as Blood Mist. I'm not going to tell you what battles to join, who to pick, etc -- this is for your alpha to decide. If you are a newer alpha and don't know who to pick for beta, I may make a suggestion, but it doesn't mean it's something you have to do; an alpha is a leader, and therefore must lead.
And by "getting to your head", I mean, please please remember that IC is not OOC. Your character has authority, and indirectly that means you have a little more power on shaping the stories, but it does not give you staff authority or authority to make decisions for this site. I don't think this has ever been a problem, but just in case
Something else to remember is that your alpha, though they're a leader, is just like any other wolf. They have character flaws, they mess up, they have egos sometimes, too. They are still who they always were, regardless of what position they hold
Betas
Beta aren't all that different from regular warriors, just with some added responsibilities. Should anything happen to the alpha, or if the alpha leaves for a long period of time, the beta assumes control until they return. Should the alpha die or leave their post, unless the rper wishes otherwise, the beta becomes the next alpha. I think of them as advisors to the alpha, or neophytes of the alpha; they give the alpha the best counsel they can, and in turn, they learn from the decisions their alpha chooses to make. They are second-in-command, but like I said, they are very much like regular warriors. Nothing scary here
Herb Healers (& Herb Healer Neophytes)
Healers aren't too popular nowadays, either, but they're actually quite fun ^^ Like the beta, they are an advisor to the alpha. Their main job is learning herblore and healing their packmates after battles or in times of sickness. However, there is also a spiritual aspect to healers as well. Though their role in interpreting the heavens was a bit greater in past plots, most wolves are looking to them to provide an answer for why Blood Mist was reincarnated, and how to they finish off the immortal Hellfirians. Obviously, little work has been done on this since there aren't too many active herb healers. But, normally, the herb healers would meet and speak with each other in the Twilight Clearing, sleep and have dreams sent from the Twilight Realm under a great tree in the Twilight Clearing (Eternal Tree) and attempt to interpret them when they woke. Dreams are very special to herb healers, and often hold hidden meanings that they must piece together. Often times, herb healers operate outside of normal pack boundaries as far as this spiritual aspect goes.
Herb healer neophytes, essentially, are the same, but they are obviously learning the tricks of the trade from the healers themselves
Anybody else got some tips to share? Questions?
So, since we've had a TON of open high ranks lately, I was hoping to maybe warm you guys up to the idea of having one by offering up a few tips from my own experiences of haivng alphas
I'd love it if others would join in with their questions, comments and advice as well -- the more we share, the more we'll learn about it. Hopefully, this means that if you guys know a little more about what it's like to play one, you'll want to have an alpha yourselves Alphas
When playing an alpha, it's important to understand the difference and balance between taking charge and letting it go to your head. An alpha is a powerful figure that needs to make decisions that will majorly affect the plot and actions of other wolves. Alphas are far from perfect and make mistakes sometimes, but the point is that most alphas -- unless they are tyrants like Bain -- make decisions based on what they believe is best for their pack rather than best for their own goals.
So, for example's sake, it is an alpha's choice who to name for their beta, what battles they join, or what actions they take against other packs such as Blood Mist. I'm not going to tell you what battles to join, who to pick, etc -- this is for your alpha to decide. If you are a newer alpha and don't know who to pick for beta, I may make a suggestion, but it doesn't mean it's something you have to do; an alpha is a leader, and therefore must lead.
And by "getting to your head", I mean, please please remember that IC is not OOC. Your character has authority, and indirectly that means you have a little more power on shaping the stories, but it does not give you staff authority or authority to make decisions for this site. I don't think this has ever been a problem, but just in case
Something else to remember is that your alpha, though they're a leader, is just like any other wolf. They have character flaws, they mess up, they have egos sometimes, too. They are still who they always were, regardless of what position they hold
Betas
Beta aren't all that different from regular warriors, just with some added responsibilities. Should anything happen to the alpha, or if the alpha leaves for a long period of time, the beta assumes control until they return. Should the alpha die or leave their post, unless the rper wishes otherwise, the beta becomes the next alpha. I think of them as advisors to the alpha, or neophytes of the alpha; they give the alpha the best counsel they can, and in turn, they learn from the decisions their alpha chooses to make. They are second-in-command, but like I said, they are very much like regular warriors. Nothing scary here
Herb Healers (& Herb Healer Neophytes)
Healers aren't too popular nowadays, either, but they're actually quite fun ^^ Like the beta, they are an advisor to the alpha. Their main job is learning herblore and healing their packmates after battles or in times of sickness. However, there is also a spiritual aspect to healers as well. Though their role in interpreting the heavens was a bit greater in past plots, most wolves are looking to them to provide an answer for why Blood Mist was reincarnated, and how to they finish off the immortal Hellfirians. Obviously, little work has been done on this since there aren't too many active herb healers. But, normally, the herb healers would meet and speak with each other in the Twilight Clearing, sleep and have dreams sent from the Twilight Realm under a great tree in the Twilight Clearing (Eternal Tree) and attempt to interpret them when they woke. Dreams are very special to herb healers, and often hold hidden meanings that they must piece together. Often times, herb healers operate outside of normal pack boundaries as far as this spiritual aspect goes.
Herb healer neophytes, essentially, are the same, but they are obviously learning the tricks of the trade from the healers themselves
Anybody else got some tips to share? Questions?
