need the character help info, please

[Terry Griffith]

I was wondering whether, if one chooses a noble persona, it must be an actual historical person.

Lady Morna,

If you are on cast, they will pretty much tell you who you should be so that you can fit in with the rest of the cast.  If you are a playtron you should still find out if the character that you want to be is already assigned to someone if it is historically correct.  Just like in real life, there were many people of many different walks of life and many different lineages.  You could be whoever you are most comfortable being.  The important thing is, you can be the person that is inside even if it is completely different from your mundane self.  That's why we do it afterall. That should be your first priority in choosing a persona after making sure it fits in with the period and cast.

We have 18th century pirates, barbarians, ninjas, storm troopers and all mixed in with actual personages from 1534.  The freedom to be who you want to be is something that no one who understands the experience would take away.  There are some who would criticize but they are just being who they are inside too. 

[LadyMorna]

I shall, I think, go with making things up.  I'm a playtron, not cast, and historical accuracy can get boring.  There's a castle I found in Ireland called Dundrum Castle, and I think I shall make my home to be "Conundrum Castle", since I love a play on words!  This is going to be fun! Now to work on details for my lord husband!

Lady Morna

LadyMorna...

I think a lot of that depends on the faire or atmosphere that you are in. Some faires are more historically accurate than others, some bend the rules to fit, and others are more fantasy based. Also, if you aren't in cast it doesn't matter as much except for you own piece of mind and you can get as crazy with that as you like. Sometimes you need to stretch things to make them fit or, if not, come up with plausible backstory for why the inaccuracies are there. Most common patrons don't know enough of the facts to know that something is a few years off or whatever. Example: If you choose a real title that didn't exist yet and someone calls you out on it, you could cover that by saying "Well, His Majesty didn't want to make it public just yet, so lets just keep that little secret between us, aye?"

And just have fun with it! Like I said, most people aren't gonna get too bogged down with your details and those who do and want to make an issue about it...just walk away. A lot of the old Scottish and Irish titles aren't that well known anyway and a lot of their old castles aren't around anymore, so you could likely get away with some creative character work (aka, make it up). If you aren't cast with constraints and requirements, just go with what you like.

My $0.02.

[girlmacbeth]

i'm wanting to go asa bard how historically accurate is a female bard in medival England?

[anne of oaktower]

i'm wanting to go asa bard how historically accurate is a female bard in medival England?

See the posts from Colleen McGuiness and Terry Griffith, above.  As they have pointed out, most of us aren't too hung up on the historical accuracy, and you can always stretch your story a bit to make it fit various situations.  Honestly, it's all about the fun, Hon.  Make up a story, and others here will give you feedback.  Good luck and enjoy the journey!

[girlmacbeth]

thanks so much I will this is really becoming my major obession but what a one to have

[Dayna]

A bard in medieval England?  Gee, the new issue of Renaissance Magazine has an article (If I recall correctly) about female troubadours.  Go for it!

Dayna

[DT_Masters]

I eventually need a character so I can play more, if that is possible because I am there primarily to take pictures.

It's not a necessarily new thing for me, having done a LARP, being a writer, taken two semesters of acting. But the way I see it, this one needs to be a gentleman of a type, someone who has lots of money and free time so he can play with this thing known as a "camera". Sounds rather Whovian.

Further, there is what I have on hand in the closet for outfit accessories. Lots of belly dancing chain jewelry, sword, costume patterns from those days, and a llama wool parka that I used last year and before that, at parties for an outfit of a crown of grapes on my head, a goatskin canteen, and a corkscrew in my belt. The Wine Consuier of the African Continent. Perhaps you have heard of him?




Tarzan of the Grapes? (I do have a sense of humor).

At any rate, maybe a Spanish or Portequese or even Arabian plantation owner from the New World? Maybe a Greek or Alexanderian based Egyptian? Thoughts?

[anne of oaktower]

I eventually need a character so I can play more, if that is possible because I am there primarily to take pictures...

How about leaning in the direction of one who comes from a long line of wizards and sorcerers, or one who has left home to dabble in the magikal arts?  Perhaps a wealthy gentleman who had gotten bored with all the wealth and trappings, so has left home in search of adventure and was given this magic device by a gypsy/trader he happened to spend a few weeks with.  Remember that something like a camera may have been looked upon as the work of the fae/devils/witches/etc.  Some may say it will "steal their soul."  You can play on that.

[DT_Masters]

..........Perhaps a wealthy gentleman who had gotten bored with all the wealth and trappings, so has left home in search of adventure and was given this magic device by a gypsy/trader he happened to spend a few weeks with.  Remember that something like a camera may have been looked upon as the work of the fae/devils/witches/etc.  Some may say it will "steal their soul."  You can play on that.

I like that! It sounds definetly Whovian! Thank you!

As far as stealing the souls, yes, I've been told that! I believe it was in the last century, at TX RF, where a fairy looked up and exclaimed "He's got a shadow box!" (or words to that effect). Of course, that was before there was such an explosion of cameras at TX RF.

Interestingly enough, I have come across someone like you describe in my travels.


"If any local of this time should have a camera......."
_________________________________________________________________
("I have these dreams where I have another life, where I am an adventurer of sorts."--Headmaster John Smith (The Doctor), (wtte), Dr. Who "Human Nature")

[DuCoeur]

I chose an historically fictional character.  One that could have exhisted in history.

This give me alot of freedom as a platron...First I am not bound to any real time period.  The As most Faires I attend are Tudor or Elizabethan...I have found garb that could be more transitional....

For the Medieval Faire at Great Lakes???  Well It is more of a Fantassy Faire so the garb can shift to late medieval to early renaissance and none would care.

I have also chosen to not make my charater wholey English or Scottish.  DuCoeur is French, and under the rule of Francois I...which also gives me alot of room to develope my character outside the traditional roles of established courts on cast.

I pay homage to the King and quuen but not necessarily the other so called nobles of the court.  I can play with them since I am of the same status...but from a different country.

Just go....Play and have fun.

[stonethrow]

My thought is - I'm paying to get in. Then I can be a Klingon.  If I'm working it - I play by their rules.

"You said a period costume.  You didn't say which period.  The future is a period.  So I want my $2 discount."